# What Survival and Agency means in Yashka

> Despite being a semi-literate peasant woman, Bochkareva actively shapes her own destiny—escaping abusive relationships, seeking work, enlisting in the army, and petitioning the Tsar—demonstrating fierce determination to control her life.

## Explanation

Despite being a semi-literate peasant woman, Bochkareva actively shapes her own destiny—escaping abusive relationships, seeking work, enlisting in the army, and petitioning the Tsar—demonstrating fierce determination to control her life.

Maria escapes abusive situations and makes choices to preserve her life, such as fleeing her husband and the brothel.

Despite being a child, Maria makes decisions to run away and later to remain at work, showing early signs of agency in dire circumstances.

Maria repeatedly takes initiative to find work, escapes a brothel by force, and later supports herself through ice cream sales and caring for the poor.

Maria navigates the exile system, makes difficult choices to protect Yasha, and takes action to secure their survival, even at great personal cost.

## Links

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