Although they represent heroic communist figures, Gleb and Dasha Chumalov, are not simply mouthpieces of the communist ideology; they are realistic and represent the truthful inner conflict a typical Soviet citizen was experiencing at the time. In particular, the opening passage of the novel introduces the protagonist, Gleb Chumalov. Gladkov provides Gleb with excellent credentials of an ideal Soviet citizen, such as his history as a factory worker, and his experience as a soldier in the army. Furthermore, he has the motivation and the right ideology to inspire others. Upon Gleb's return to his hometown, the narrator describes, "In Gleb's heart-swollen and throbbing-he heard the mountains and the quarries, the smoke stacks and the dwellings the factory Diesel engines the revolving cylinders in the furnace room" (Gladkov 3). Gleb's fond memories of the factory in the early paragraphs of the novel suggest his passion; indeed, the industry seems to be a living, essential part of him.
While this description alone represents a strictly idealized communist, Gladkov goes further to describe the pain Gleb experiences as well upon his arrival, particularly when he becomes nostalgic about his previous relationship with his wife, Dasha. Greeting him coldly, she exclaims, "What's wrong with you, Comrade Gleb? Don't be so wild. Calm yourself" (Gladkov 5). Gladkov quickly establishes this conflict between the couple in order to emphasize Gleb's emotional capability. Alongside the image of a strong, communist worker is that of a typical husband desiring the comforting love of his wife. Although the excitement of returning back to the worker's factory is present, the pain of returning to a permanently changed home is even more emotionally potent.
His longing for a loving wife reveals a more human side, and it becomes understood that Gleb is not simply a definition of the communist ideals.
