What is Varykino

Varykino is where Yuri's father once had businesses and an estate. Yuri and his family go to Varykino and try to make as good a life as they can. When hiding from the government, Yuri and Lara go to Varykino.

Varykino is the country estate that serves as a significant setting in Boris Pasternak's novel "Doctor Zhivago". It is the family estate of the Gromeko family, which is the maternal side of Yuri Zhivago, the novel's protagonist.

Varykino is situated in the Ural Mountains, a remote and picturesque area that offers a stark contrast to the urban centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The estate is described as a peaceful retreat, with lush gardens, fruit trees, and a large, well-stocked library. The estate is a sanctuary for Yuri and his family, providing a respite from the chaos of the outside world.

Throughout the novel, Varykino represents the tranquil life that Yuri longs for. He spends much of the novel yearning for a return to the simple pleasures of the estate, even as he is drawn into the political turmoil of the time. Varykino is also a symbol of the traditional Russian way of life that is threatened by the Bolshevik revolution.

In the later part of the novel, Varykino becomes a refuge for Yuri and Lara, who flee there to escape the violence and upheaval of the Russian Civil War. The estate becomes a place of healing and renewal for the two lovers, who find a brief moment of happiness before they are forced to flee again.

In summary, Varykino is a significant setting in "Doctor Zhivago" as it represents the simple pleasures of rural life, the traditional Russian way of life, and a sanctuary for the novel's characters. It is also a symbol of the way of life that is threatened by the Bolshevik revolution and the violence and upheaval that followed.