One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich Analysis

The Existential Molding: Guarding a Delicate Flame

Existentialism is highly focused on the formation of the individual. The construction of said individual is completed through a process of exercising free will and self-government. This concept is evident in Ivan Denisovich: a man sentenced to an unjust term of imprisonment in a Russian gulag. The Russian gulag is an environment in which the individual is a faint spark, struggling to survive. If the environment is unable to smother the flame, the tough guards will be sure to extinguish the delicate glimpse of any individualism. Through such harsh conditions, Ivan utilizes both free will and self-government to become the existential self- made individual and maintain what is at times a dull flicker of originality. This is well represented in Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich in which he demonstrates the vitality of the self-made individual through the existential conflicts and relationships of Ivan.

Throughout the book, it is quite apparent that the guards will do nearly anything to suck the

individual from all who attempt to stand out. Conformity and monotony are used to bring forth the utmost misery within the confines of the camp. Despite this draining atmosphere created by the camp, Ivan still finds ways to defy this concept. Such defiance is apparent in the portion of the book telling of how the men in the camp are given the opportunity to write letters to people on the outside. This is hardly a freedom however. The guards will strip the letters of any significance. Ivan finds more freedom in not writing letters. As stated in an article on existentialism, there is an emphasis on authenticity (Crowell). These letters, however, are in no way what Ivan was intending to get across to his letter's recipient. He says, "Writing now was like dropping stones in some deep, bottomless pool. They drop; they sink-but there is no answer." (Solzhenitsyn 33). In not writing the letters, he is actually able to express himself more. He will not write if there is no significance in what he is saying. He expresses his individual right to refrain from writing to those on the outside.
Another case in which Ivan's struggle to preserve his individualism is palpable when the squad is sent to build the wall. By the end of the shift, everyone is ready to be done. There were extra materials but Tiurin says to conceal it and move on. The prison system has defeated most of the prisoner's desire to complete any job. Shukov feels differently however. Solzhenitsyn states "But Shukov wasn't made that way--eight years in a camp couldn't change his nature. 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). In an article about existentialism, the author defines one of the underlying traits as, "A person is best when struggling against their individual nature, fighting for life" (Existentialism). The apparent nature in the camp is to avoid the work and give up, but he takes on the struggle and completes the job. This is another way Ivan holds on to who he was before entering the camp.
Finally, Solzhenitsyn expresses his opinion on the self-made individual in the portion of the book when Der is introduced.

Der believes himself to be an engineer, however Solzhenitsyn displays his disagreement when he states, "A man should build a house with his own hands before he calls himself an engineer." (81). The article previously mentioned informs the reader that existentialists emphasize that the human nature is defined through individual decisions (Existentialism). This means that in order to become an individual, one must work their way through personal decisions and exercising free will. The same goes for being an engineer. If one has no background in engineering, this person cannot call themselves an engineer. If there is no effort to develop individuality, there is no individual. In the existential mindset, it is absurd to give titles to those who are not deserving of

them.
Solzhenitsyn is a strong supporter of the existential individual, whether his support is direct or indirect. The description of his main character and the challenges he faces mold him to be the ideal individual for an existentialist way of life. He is able to defy the camps' monotonous cloud and hold on to who he was before his unjust imprisonment. The vitality of individualism is well exemplified through the self-governing, strong willed attitude of Ivan Denisovich.