alexander solzhenitsyn one day in the life of ivan denisovich

He worried about anything he could make use of, about every scrap of work he could do–nothing must be wasted without good reason”(88). ‘eight years in a camp couldn’t change his nature. Shukhov’s impressive strength of character is also shown in this quote discussing his personality. By focusing his attention on his meals, Shukhov is able to survive the camps without having too much of his psyche destroyed. “He’d learned to keep his whole mind on the food he was eating” (258). An example of prisoners regaining their humanity is shown through the way that Shukhov eats. Solzhenitsyn shows how humanity can survive grueling experiences. By having a sense of control when going to bed and waking up, they are able to leave the demanding camps for a short period of time.Ĭonstant perseverance through pain is another common theme in this book. This tiny freedom helps prisoners like Ivan retain their sanity. Each tiny moment a prisoner can have that authorities don’t control, gives them a feeling of hope and power.

Following a recount during the evening, the narrator says “After the recount a prisoner became a free man again-for the first time since morning (105). A majority of the people convicted in the camps are not guilty but have been forced to give up years of their lives with no personal freedom. Time is a precious commodity and stolen from the prisoners of the soviet camps. The theme of time is prevalent throughout this book. The novel simultaneously acts as a negative representation of communism under Lenin’s rule. This book offers the idea that human resilience knows no bounds and people are able to endure horrific moments in their lives through the themes of time and perseverance. Each prisoner is dehumanized and ultimately forced to discover ways to survive and retain their unique personality. This camp has awful conditions and causes the prisoners to rely on others for basic human needs. The novel, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn is a story surrounding the life of a man as he lives a day through the harsh camps of the Soviet Gulag.

Alexander solzhenitsyn one day in the life of ivan denisovich