I Must Betray You

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. The year was 1987. United States President Ronald Reagan stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and implored: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” What wall was he referring to, and what was the broader political significance of this moment? How did this speech fit into larger Cold War history?

Teaching Suggestion: Use Reagan’s Berlin Wall speech as an entry point into discussing the Cold War, the Iron Curtain, and the Revolutions of 1989, which students will likely have already had some exposure to in their history and/or social studies classes. Broadly speaking, the Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension that split the world in two: The democratic Western Bloc, comprised of the United States and their Western European allies; and the communist Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union and their allies throughout Eastern Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the end of the Iron Curtain and the conclusion of the Cold War. This period in history saw increased espionage on both sides, which heightened matters of Loyalty and Betrayal. Guide students to understand how Romania fit into broader Cold War history, as a member of the Eastern Bloc.

• In this 3-minute video by History Brief, “What Was the Iron Curtain?” gives the background behind this key Cold War term.
• Radio Free Europe’s “The Revolutions of 1989” is a 6-minute video that gives an overview of the dramatic fall of communism across Eastern Europe.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced classes, this prompt could be used to give students a deeper understanding of the American political system by having them learn about what goes into political speechwriting, along with giving them further context around this pivotal moment in history. Have students read the National Archives article “How Top Advisers Opposed Reagan’s Challenge to Gorbachev—But Lost,” which gives a behind-the-scenes peek at the crafting of this infamous speech.

2. Published in February 1848, The Communist Manifesto is the paradigmatic political manifesto written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. What are the key ideas contained in the book? What is the relationship between communism and dictatorships?

Teaching Suggestion: Throughout history, numerous dictators have hijacked communist ideology to support their dogmatic control over a nation, as Ceaușescu did with Romania. Cristian, like so many citizens living under a dictatorship, is often forced to make impossible decisions, having to weigh Self-Interest Versus Collective Interests. This prompt will help students understand the underlying principles of communism and how they are related to—and yet also very different from—the ideology enacted by dictators like Ceaușescu.

• In this 2-minute video by Illustrate to Educate, the differences between belief systems are explained: “What’s the Difference Between Communism, Socially, and Capitalism?”
• History’s “13 Photos of Powerful Communist Leaders and Dictators” is a rundown of how the higher vision of communism, as outlined by Marx and Engels, was appropriated by various dictators in history.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

During the Cold War, one of Ronald Reagan’s signature phrases in discussing relations between the United States and the Soviet Union was: “Trust, but verify.” How do you interpret this advice? Beyond politics, do you consider it to be good personal advice?

Teaching Suggestion: During the Cold War, a sense of mistrust was pervasive—among citizens, among political leaders, and even within families, as with Cristian and his family throughout I Must Betray You. In such a climate, The Difficulty of Finding Truth was evident. In this prompt, students will consider Reagan’s advice to “trust, but verify” on a personal level, while also becoming better acquainted with the atmosphere of distrust that was characteristic of the era.  

• LBM Journal’s analyzes Reagan’s advice from a business perspective in “‘Trust, But Verify’ is Sound Leadership Advice.”
• WBUR’s “Essential Trust: How Healthy Skepticism Builds Trust” argues in favor of Reagan’s advice.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced classes, you may want to approach this prompt with a discussion of a counterargument, regarding why Reagan’s “trust, but verify” is not a solid piece of personal or political advice. Have them read the Washington Post opinion piece “‘Trust, but verify’: An Untrustworthy Political Phrase.” After reading the article, ask students to re-think their original response to the prompt: Does this change anything for them about how they regard Reagan’s advice?