# The Cost of Idealism in Under Western Eyes

> Theme guide for Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad.

Idealistic characters like Victor Haldin and his sister Nathalie pursue noble aspirations for freedom and justice, but their trust and devotion lead to betrayal, suffering, and disillusionment, showing the tragic consequences of idealism in a corrupt society.

## Where it surfaces

- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/epigraph): The quote reflects an idealistic and desperate pursuit of freedom, hinting at the sacrifices one might make.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-i-ii): Razumov sacrifices his personal liberal longings for what he perceives as the stern Russian truth, illustrating the personal cost of political conviction.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-ii-i): Victor Haldin's revolutionary ideals lead to his disappearance and the family's suffering, illustrating the personal cost of political conviction.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-ii-iii): The narrator describes revolutionaries as victims of disgust and disenchantment, and Miss Haldin clings to her brother's idealistic vision.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-ii-v): Razumov's lost prospects and sacrificed life illustrate the personal cost of revolutionary involvement.
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-iii-iii): Sophia's narrative of her father's suffering and her own revolutionary commitment highlights the personal costs and sacrifices demanded by idealism.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-iv-i): Kostia's theft for the revolutionary cause and Razumov's sacrifice of his integrity highlight the destructive consequences of blind ideological commitment.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/chapters/part-iv-v): Razumov's physical and moral ruin, and Natalia Haldin's decision to return to Russia, illustrate the heavy price of revolutionary commitment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/themes/the_cost_of_idealism
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/under_western_eyes_se/themes