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The strenght and power in the human spirit of Ivan Denisovich Ivan Denisovich, is a struggling prisoner attempting survival inside a Soviet gulag. Ivan Denisovich was also referred to as Shukhov. Within the novel, Shukhov is simply describing one typical day at the prison, which was located in the coldest part of Russian, Siberia. Denisovich is serving his eighth year of the ten-year sentence that he was given for accusations of treason against his own countrys government. When he was questioned about his loyalty to his country, he had two choices, either to tell the truth (that he always served the working people and he was always loyal to his country) and get killed or, he couldve untruthfully confessed to treason and be sent to jail. Shukhov began to realize that he wasnt going to be let out of jail when he saw the old man (Y- 81) from gang 64 sit near him at supper.
Denisovich herd numerous theories about this old man, which all somehow connected to the fact that he has been here for as long as anyone could remember. Before your sentence is up the guards will find something to pick on you and slap another ten-year sentence in addition to the first. The living conditions were very poor and unfortunate. Furthermore, daily food provisions are barely enough for survival. For example, during any meal time, when they were finished with their bowl of mush they would scope around the mess hall to find a bowl that hasnt been licked clean. The prisoner would pick that bowl up and couldnt help himself but to lick it clean.
Another example of the poor food supply is, sometimes, Ivan along with many others had to steal bowls filled with mush for their gang. So, at least someone would get an extra bowl of disgusting mush. Life for Ivan Denisovich inside the walls of the soviet gulag is difficult. As the novel begins, Ivan awakes not feeling well. Rather than immediately getting out of bed as he usually would, Ivan remains in bed a few minutes longer. One of the guards, The Tartar, walks inside and sees Ivan still in bed.
For staying in bed past the reveille call Ivan is punished and sent off to clean the floors of the guardroom. This punishment is unjust because the first ninety minutes after the reveille call are personal time for the prisoners to do as they please before work starts. Additionally, the prisoners are forced to work in the sub-zero temperatures outside. They are given the benefit that if the temperature drops below negative forty-two degrees, they do not have to work.
Moreover, Ivan is only allowed one pair of footwear, which were provided by the gulag and this footwear was nothing precious. It was simply felt boots or what Ivan called them valenti. Ivan, must be careful when he works because if he gets his valenti or felt boots wet, his feet will freeze. Furthermore, the food Ivan has to eat is extremely unsanitary and very poorly cooked. Ivan is considered one of the best workers, because he has a positive attitude toward his work. For example, the brick wall Ivan was constructing, along with other members of the gang he belonged to (gang 104), they all had much respect for that job and were extremely proud of how fast they were able to construct the portions of it.
He stayed to finish his day's work on building the walls and additionally, before he left, looks it over to examine its quality. He takes great pride in a job well done. After being in the camp so long, Ivans spirit begins to dwindle, and he gradually loses faith and no longer feels that he will be leaving when he expected. Another character is Tyurin. He is the leader of the 104 th squad, of witch Ivan is apart of. Tyurin has spent nineteen years in prison and is characterized as a nice guy who always supports his gang and will never let anyone down.
A few other crucial characters from this novel were; Alyosha, Senka and, Caesar. Alyosha was the Baptist from the Christian Orthodox church. He was the most religious and most devoted to the bible and god. This also portrays that under communism there was no religion either. He always tried to get Ivan to pray, because he always said to Ivan that his soul is begging to pray. However Ivan didnt believe god and prayers would be able to get him out of the gulag.
The other crucial character was Senka. Even though he wasnt much of a person and he didnt say much, Ivan always thought he was a special character. Senka was deaf due to being injured however, he was built solidly and he was an excellent worker. Many would mock him and say he is a fraud because sometimes he would understand whats going on around him and he would begin to argue back with the men who mocked him. Ivan liked him though. Ivan always supported him.
And the final crucial character was Caesar. He was much favored by Ivan. Caesar was rich and he always received packages form home and they would contain plenty of food, cigarettes and clothing. Ivan would help out Caesar a lot. Shukhov stood inline for Caesars packages and always brought him his bread ration. However, Caesar would usually give up his supper to Ivan due to plenty of food received in packages.
Another example of situations becoming worse due to communism was, when packages were received the authorities would open them dump everything out in front of your eyes. And it was said that who received the package has to bring a bad with him to get all the things he wanted. Also, if the authorities saw you wear extra clothes, they would quickly rip it off of you. This was illustrated during the frisks, before and after work.
The frisks were when the authorities would pat you down and undress your coats and see weather they were wearing extra clothes that wasnt provided by the gulag. Undoubtedly, communism did not meet its proposed objectives by means of improving life for the proletarians, as seen in Alexander Solzhenitsyns novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. The living environment inside the soviet gulag is unbearable. The prisoners are forced to work long hours in the bitter cold. Additionally, the rations they are fed are hardly ample or appetizing. Furthermore, everything they do is monitored and controlled by aggressive guards.
Communism created a harsher and stricter ways of life. People abandoned the suburban kalo and began to move out to the cities in search of wealth and jobs. However, when they reached their destination, they found nothing but communism and fear of being killed because of contacts with the anticommunists. Thus, communism didnt bring anything profitable to the country of Russia. It only destroyed the people, the cities, and normal private way of living.
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