Stop!- 'Destruction is a creative passion' You're such a . . . child! We have to go to the people, bring them with us, step by step.Later, Bakunin offers a toast "The liberty of each, for the equality of all!" and Herzen objects "What does that mean? It doesn't mean anything" and Bakunin replies "It means I am not free unless you, too, are free - and Herzen says "That's nonsense - you were free when I was locked up." Herzen finally concludes
"I am devoted to you, Bakunin. I delight in the fanfare, no, the funfair of your pronouncements. I would name my child for you, but equally I would name you for my child, because everything which is simple you make difficult and everything difficult simple. You've made yourself a European reputation by a kind of revolutionary word-music from which it is impossible to extract an ounce of meaning, let alone a political idea, let alone a course of action".
Stoppard's dialog is, naturally, fast and clever, but there are moments of heart-rending tragedy, and the personalities are indelible.
