"The czar was always sending us commands - you shall not do this and you shall not do that - till there was very little left that we might do, except pay tribute and die"

This quote by Mary Antin paints a brilliant photo of the overbearing policy of the czar in Russia. The czar was frequently providing commands to the people, restricting their flexibility as well as dictating their actions. The people were not allowed to do anything without the czar's consent, as well as were only entrusted to 2 alternatives: commemorate the czar or die. This quote highlights the severe power the czar had more than the people, and the absence of freedom they needed to make their very own choices. It additionally works as a suggestion of the severe problems individuals were living under during the czar's rule. Mary Antin's quote is a powerful tip of the oppressive rule of the czar as well as the absence of flexibility individuals had throughout this time around.