Guilt
The entire story and the telling of the story is based around the idea of guilt and the effects that guilt can have on a person. This theme is showcased from the very beginning when we hear the narrator Mikhail Semyonov begin to talk about secrets from his life in Russia that he must tell. These secrets have been weary on his soul for the last few decades and due to the fact that he is one of the few people who witnessed those events, he knows he must shed light on the truth. This guilt leads to the creation of the entire novel and is the driving force behind the storytelling.
Youth and Innocence
An overarching theme of the novel is the idea of youth and innocence and the circumstances it can present. The book shifts to the viewpoint of the young boy Leonid, who is the kitchen boy and the one in contact with the Romanov family and the outside world. The Romanov family is extremely isolated from the rest of the world. Their windows are painted over and have bars on them. Soldiers line the perimeter of the complex menacingly. And anyone in close contact with the Tsar and his family is severely interrogated. All except for the young boy Leonid, who is able to escape questioning due to his young age and innocent look. Because of this, Leonid is able to exchange the secret messages which were so vital for the Tsar and his plans to escape. This emphasizes why the theme of youth and innocence was so important in the book.
Violence
The book takes place in Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution, an event historically known for its bloody violence and the destruction of the monarchy. Rebels and Communist leaders deposed of the royal family and their loyal affiliates, slaughtering anyone who stood in their path. One example of the violence that is eminent is the soldiers surrounding the Impatiev House where the Tsar and his family have been imprisoned. Soldiers are a symbol for violence and their presence means the arrival of danger and fighting. A second example of when the theme of violence can be seen in the book is when the Romanov family is executed. They are woken up in the middle of the night and hastily taken to a nearby building, under the guise that the Impatiev House was no longer safe. As they stumbled into the night, they were taken into the cellar of the nearby complex. There, a firing squad shot and murdered the Tsar, his wife, and their five young children. This event is the climax of the novel and clearly highlights the theme of violence.
