Among the Betrayed

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, and death. 

Nina’s experiences in the novel exemplify life under a totalitarian regime that has dismantled moral norms and personal freedom. In a world plagued by overpopulation and a food crisis, the Government’s rigid laws, particularly its criminalization of third children, reflect a system of oppression and fear. 

As the characters struggle to survive within this repressive environment, they grapple with the loss of their humanity and sense of self. For instance, Nina, a third child, is born as Elodie Luria but is compelled to assume a fake identity as Nina Idi to evade arrest by the Population Police. This causes her to feel a profound sense of self-alienation—with this new identity, the young girl feels she “[isn’t] anybody at all” (18). Further, she is separated from her family and sent to the controlled environment of a girls’ school, which fractures her sense of identity. Her experiences reflect how the totalitarian regime’s policies strip individuals of their humanity.

Since her very existence is considered illegal, Nina lives on the margins of society and has little knowledge of the real world—including its dangers and possibilities.