Alexander Solzhenitsyn's One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich
Nature has always impacted the human condition. Sometimes lives are touched in subtle ways, and at other times, nature's force is more pronounced. It can affect the total wellbeing of a person; mind, body, and soul. People, such as Ivan Denisovich who live in extreme climates know this all too well. In Alexander Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, the cold is a symbol of the nature of people as a whole and also a symbol of nature's impact on society.
In the prison, the men struggle for survival on a day-to day basis. Not only are they fighting for their lives, they are fighting for their dignity as well. While the camp is trying to take away the prisoner's physical and spiritual individuality, the prisoners are trying to hang on to their own pride . This task becomes very hard when the living conditions of the camp are unbearable. Mattresses do not have sheets; prisoners eat only …show more content…
In some cultures, folklore is used to explain occurrences in nature. As scientific explanations are discovered, some people find comfort in the simplicity of the folklore explanations. Shukhov follows this folklore explanation for his ideas about the moon. After the men are done laying down bricks, Shukhov asks the captain where he thinks the moon goes after the night is over. The captain responds by saying that the moon is not visible. Shukov replies, "In our village, folk say God crumbles up the moon into stars. ---the stars fall down now and then The gaps have to be filled"(90-91). This perception of the moon provides comfort for Shukhov and helps him to survive the prison camps. He does not rely on others' explanations, but finds enough sustenance in his own. This personal point of view that Shukhov possesses allows him to survive the camp when the more objective opinion that subjects him to low standards would overpower him. It enables him to live his life one day at a time, with himself as the
In the prison, the men struggle for survival on a day-to day basis. Not only are they fighting for their lives, they are fighting for their dignity as well. While the camp is trying to take away the prisoner's physical and spiritual individuality, the prisoners are trying to hang on to their own pride . This task becomes very hard when the living conditions of the camp are unbearable. Mattresses do not have sheets; prisoners eat only …show more content…
In some cultures, folklore is used to explain occurrences in nature. As scientific explanations are discovered, some people find comfort in the simplicity of the folklore explanations. Shukhov follows this folklore explanation for his ideas about the moon. After the men are done laying down bricks, Shukhov asks the captain where he thinks the moon goes after the night is over. The captain responds by saying that the moon is not visible. Shukov replies, "In our village, folk say God crumbles up the moon into stars. ---the stars fall down now and then The gaps have to be filled"(90-91). This perception of the moon provides comfort for Shukhov and helps him to survive the prison camps. He does not rely on others' explanations, but finds enough sustenance in his own. This personal point of view that Shukhov possesses allows him to survive the camp when the more objective opinion that subjects him to low standards would overpower him. It enables him to live his life one day at a time, with himself as the