One of the main themes that Vassily Aksyonov explores is the necessity to be true to oneself. He combines this with the theme of coming of age, which differs for each of the four protagonists. In addition, he presents the theme of the importance of family, as borne out primarily by the relationship between Dimka and his brother but also including their parents. More generally, the author explores the challenges of finding a meaningful way of life in a repressive political system. After the Second World War, the harsh conditions in the USSR combined with strict political control to create a restrictive way of life for Soviet citizens. Aksyonov writes from his own and family experience as they were arrested as dissidents.

The four high school graduates who decide to opt out of the social norms initially feel liberated from the burdens that society, and their parents, placed on them. They have a romantic notion of living freely at the edges of the national territory, literally at the end of the line. As they learn to understand the daily challenges of work, and develop romantic relationships that upset the balance of their friendships, they gain a deeper understanding of what adulthood is really like.

Aside from the four friends, Dimka’s brother Victor plays a significant role in developing the theme of finding one’s true path. His commitment to the principles of science led him to break from the pressures to succeed in his graduate studies. Although he later lost his life in an accident, Dimka realizes that he would have pursued his dream regardless. He comes to appreciate the model his brother provided of personal integrity as well as passion for a specific subject. Although Dimka has yet to identify what really moves him, he is ready to embark on that path thanks to Victor’s example.