Character Relationship Map: Babylon XX

Characters

• Fabian (played by Ivan Mykolaichuk) — protagonist

  Babylon's gravedigger and local philosopher. Attempts to mediate during a peasant riot sparked by kulak unrest. Ultimately shot by Danko while protecting Malva.

• Malva (played by Lyubov Polishchuk) — supporting

  A villager who loves Fabian but is courted by Danko. Rejected by Synytsia from joining the commune, she later falls for poet Volodya Yavorskyi and becomes pregnant. Targeted by Danko.

• Danko (played by Les Serdyuk) — supporting

  One of the village brothers planning a marriage. Jealous of Malva's involvement with Yavorskyi, he joins the kulaks and attempts to assassinate Malva, accidentally shooting Fabian instead.

• Lukian (played by Yaroslav Havryliuk) — supporting

  Danko's brother, also planning a marriage. Entrusts their mother's care to orphan Darynka. Chooses to fight alongside the communists during the village clash.

• Darynka (played by Lyudmila Chinshevaya) — supporting

  An orphan caretaker for the brothers' mother. Discovers Bubela's weapon collection plot to assassinate Synytsia and warns Danko and Lukian.

• Bubela (played by Kostiantyn Stepankov) — supporting

  A wealthy villager fearing Soviet confiscation. Secretly collects weapons to assassinate Synytsia, incites a kulak riot, kills Yavorskyi, and leads the counter-revolutionary forces in the clash.

• Klym Synytsia (played by Ivan Havryliuk) — supporting

  A Red Navy sailor and native of Babylon. Arrives to establish a communist commune, destroys Tsarist statues, and rejects Malva's request to join his commune.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Klym Synytsia → Malva (Power Rejected Recruit) — Synytsia controls access to the commune and excludes Malva.

  Malva visits Synytsia's manor to join the commune, but Synytsia rejects her because he distrusts her.

• Darynka → Lukian (Professional Caretaker And Guardian) — Her caretaking role connects her directly to Lukian and the family crisis.

  Darynka cares for the mother of Danko and Lukian and informs the brothers about Bubela's assassination plot.

• Darynka → Danko (Professional Caretaker And Guardian) — Darynka serves the family and provides Danko with a crucial warning.

  Darynka is entrusted with caring for the brothers' sickly and elderly mother, and she warns Danko about Bubela's weapons.

• Danko → Malva (Romantic Rejected Suitor) — Danko's desire for Malva develops into jealousy and violence.

  Danko courts Malva, but she becomes involved with the poet and remains committed to joining the commune.

• Fabian → Malva (Romantic Unrequited Love) — Malva's affection for Fabian is not reciprocated.

  Malva loves Fabian, but Fabian has no romantic feelings for her and fears for his sanity.

• Danko → Lukian (Family Brothers) — The brothers begin with shared family responsibilities but later choose opposing sides.

  Danko and Lukian are identified as brothers who plan their marriages and share responsibility for their elderly mother.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Klym Synytsia → Lukian (Alliance Political Allies) — Lukian ultimately fights on the political side represented by Synytsia.

  Synytsia arrives to establish a communist commune, and Lukian later joins the communists during the village clash.

• Bubela → Fabian (Conflict Opposing Riot Leaders) — They represent opposing responses to the village uprising.

  Bubela incites the peasants into a riot, while Fabian tries to bring the unrest under control.

• Bubela → Danko (Alliance Political Allies) — Danko becomes aligned with Bubela's anti-communist faction.

  Danko joins the kulaks during the clash, while Bubela leads and incites the kulak forces.

• Bubela → Klym Synytsia (Conflict Assassination Rivals) — Bubela's opposition to Synytsia drives the counter-revolutionary plot.

  Bubela collects weapons to kill Synytsia because he fears that Soviet authorities will confiscate his wealth.

• Fabian → Danko (Conflict Victim And Shooter) — Their relationship culminates in accidental lethal violence.

  Danko's attempted shooting of Malva instead strikes Fabian while Fabian is trying to bring the riot under control.

Story Analysis

A village is torn apart when revolutionary politics, class resistance, jealousy, and family division converge in violent upheaval.

Plot Progression

1. Revolution Reaches Babylon — Klym Synytsia returns to Babylon and announces a communist project through symbolic destruction. Fabian also returns as the village philosopher and gravedigger.
2. Secrets Beneath the Village — Darynka discovers Bubela's weapons plot and warns the brothers. Romantic tensions involving Malva, Fabian, and Danko intensify as political suspicion spreads.
3. Grief and Buried Weapons — The brothers' mother dies, and the funeral leads to the discovery of buried Cossack weapons. Malva forms a new romance, becomes pregnant, and loses the poet to Bubela's militia.
4. Epiphany of Violence — Bubela prepares his attack and orders his own grave from Fabian. The kulaks capture the communists, forcing the brothers to fight on opposite sides.
5. The Failed Shot — Bubela's riot escalates into a battle, but the kulaks are defeated and flee. Danko then targets Malva, accidentally shooting Fabian while Fabian protects her.