Seen from the majority of poor Russian peasantry, the outcome of the revolution can be seen as a process of just redistribution of privilege and wealth. But Rand harbors no such sympathies, as she sides with the feelings of the recently dispossessed. The drastic change in fortunes of the bourgeois was presented by the author in empathetic tones. Much of this empathy emerges from the new biting realities under the Soviet regime. Not only was there much political and social chaos, but the Soviet leadership continued to pursue illegitimate means for completing the revolution. The standard of living declines rapidly post-revolution, as cities (including Petrograd) are filled with scenes of disorganization. Under nourished people waiting in long queues to avail of their rations is a common sight. By citing these ugly realities under the Communists, Ayn Rand implicitly bemoans the collective losses incurred by the nation, and especially the members of its bourgeois such as Kira. Discussing the novel with Nathaniel Branden, Rand elaborates on the character of Leo:
“The character of Leo was inspired by a man I was in love with. Nothing ever happened between us, just a few dates, certainly not an affair, and when he stopped calling me, I suffered horribly. In some ways, that was the most painful experience of my life. Much later, I heard that he ended up in a conventional marriage. What I saw in him, what he meant to me, is what I gave to the character of Leo in the novel.” (Branden, 1999, p.61)
If the character of Kira and Leo were tragic enough, then that of Andrei Taganov was more so. He is a participant in the revolution and earnestly believed that the radical change is for a good cause. He supports his brothers and sisters and tries to lift their standard of living. Reacting in good faith “to the deprivations he had suffered as a child, he sees communism as a system for the alleviation of the horrors of Czarist Russia. It is only after he experiences the system in action that he begins to realize the magnitude of his miscalculation.” (Gladstein, 1999, p.35)
The originality of the author’s handling of the subject is the way in which she intensifies and magnifies the conflict and makes it more complex. In similar love-triangle plots, the man to whom the woman sells herself is the antagonist whom the woman hates (she knows that she is selling herself). But in the case of Rand’s work though, the character of Andrei is not a villain. Not only does he sincerely love Kira but also believes that the feeling is reciprocal. He also does not know of her love for Leo. Kira, who never despised Andrei, eventually comes to respect him for his virtues. Hence, the plot is unique and the sentiments and actions expressed by the three characters are refreshing too. (Gray, 2010, p.48)
Another characteristic feature of the novel is the rather philosophical mindsets of the three characters. Their conversations tend to be heavy and deliberative. But Rand is trying to present a case against the principles of Communism through these lines. For example, “It’s because…you see, if we had souls, which we haven’t, and if our souls met–yours and mine–they’d fight to the death. But after they had torn eachother to pieces, to the very bottom, they’d see that they had the same root.” (We The Living, 1936, p.17) Elsewhere in story it goes “Well, if I asked people whether they believed in life, they’d never understand what I mean. It’s a bad question. It can mean so much that it really means nothing. So I ask them if they believe in God. And if they say they do–then, I know they don’t believe in life.” (We The Living, 1936, p.18)