Summary: One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich

001003-0369
“Recouping Identification”

Commonly, the journey to liberty intertwines with the path of resistance. In the novel, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, this concept is portrayed as a social commentary as represented by the prisoners. It depicts the prisoners’ pursuit of regaining their suppressed individualities through non-violent defiance. Solzhenitsyn effectively displays the successful retention of the prisoners’ individualities through their passive resistance and survival tactics.
Solzhenitsyn accentuates the camp prisoners’ ability to gain individuality through passive resistance. He portrays the discrete distinctiveness of the inmates through their possession of a contraband. This is evident with the protagonist, Shukhov, who stealthily carries a personalised spoon with him. As a result, every time he eats dinner, “Shukhov pull[s] out his spoon out of his boot...He’d made it himself from aluminum wire and cast it in sand. And he’d scratched on it: ‘Ust-Izhma,1944’ ” (Solzhenitsyn 12). He becomes very fond of his self-made spoon that he carries it with him everywhere. The possession of a contraband within the gulags

creates a sense of distinctiveness within Shukhov. This practice, in turn, applies to the rest of the prisoners held in this labour camp as well. The maintenance of such a routine sets Shukhov apart from the other prisoners as the spoon forges and enhances his individuality. Furthermore, the author challenges the labor camps’ efforts of dehumanization by establishing an altruistic nature within the prisoners. When the guards take Shukhov away from his cabin, he leaves reassured that, “[the inmates] would keep his breakfast for him and [would not] have to be told [to do so]” (6). Shukhov is assured that his fellow inmates are selfless in nature and will aid him in times of need. This forges a positive relationship within the gang that will allow them to express their individuality through passive resistance. The prisoners all resist dehumanization by retaining their humane traits whereby loyalty predominates, allowing them to preserve their identities and survive. Additionally, Solzhenitsyn emphasizes the concept of natural selection through the utilisation of mental and spiritual strength. Evidently, the author explores this concept through Alyoshka, whose religious convictions define his self-sacrificing and content personality. Whilst conversing with Shukov, he questions and argues “What d’you want your freedom for? What faith you have left will be choked in thorns. Rejoice that [you are] in prison. Here you can think of your soul” (141). Religion ultimately develops a common ground for Alyoshka and characterises him as the Baptist amongst the others. Alyoshka pleasantly serves his time in the camp, disregarding its ruthless conditions. The resulting hope present from religion forms a non-violent resistance; It thereby allows the prisoners to sustain their opinions and empower the Stalin and Soviet Union’s creeds. Solzhenitsyn sufficiently showcases the success of passive resistance against the gulags’ suppression of the prisoners’ individualities through their preservation of belongings, selfless natures and pertainance to religious beliefs.
Solzhenitsyn emphasizes the need for prisoners to gain stability within difficult situations whilst retaining their ethics to allow them to express their individuality. He stresses the need to resort to certain survival tactics in the gulags to survive. Initially, he portrays these tactics through Shukhov’s ideologies and resilience to the unreasonable and extreme labour work. While serving his earlier punishment for awakening late, Shukhov mops the floor and advises that, “If you’re working for human beings then do a real job of it, but if you work for dopes, then you just go through the motions. Otherwise they’d have kicked the bucket long ago” (10). Through the protagonist, the author indirectly advises chain gang members to assess and understand the minimal expectations required for vitality. The comprehension of displaying work void of quality allows prisoners to avoid the detrimental consequences they may face due to the exhausting labour. As the authorities disregard the quality of work, prisoners can therein learn to maintain their physical strength through feeble work efforts. Moreover, the author gives prominence to upholding self-dignity and self-respect as a survival tactic in order to survive. Inevitably, Shukhov thrives within the camps as he continually maintains his decency in various situations. Particularly during his meal times, he always “[takes] off his cap off his shaved head-however cold it was, he would never eat with it on” (12). Shukov’s routine aids in upholding his dignity as he does not succumb to the brutal circumstances he has to withstand in the gulags. He preserves his sense of civilized manner despite the dehumanizing nature of the camp. His etiquette becomes his defining status as a moral and respectable being that further aids his chances of survival. Shukhov’s dignity further promotes his influence upon others and benefits his relationships with the campers. Similar to understanding and gaining insight within the gulags’ organization, the author highlights the presence of a hierarchical system. He repeatedly shows the importance and perks that a given status provides, thus, stressing the need to please others to reap mutual benefits. Although Shukhov altogether avoids bribing others within the camp, he firmly resorts to obtaining a communal assistance. More specifically, he cleverly aids higher ranking gang members to receive a favor in return. After he helps Caesar hide his package of various contents, dutifully, “Caesar reache[s] up and [gives] him two cookies, two lumps of sugar, and a slice of sausage” (142). Shukhov chooses to help Caesar in his desperate time of need largely due to satisfying his own needs. Solzhenitsyn successfully depicts Shukhov’s clever biddings alongside his intact moralities. Unlike the others, Shukhov manages to accomplish a helpful deed to gain one in return without scavenging and bribing his way through. The author, ultimately, claims that prisoners must know how to get around and beat the system to reap its limited benefits. Therefore, Solzhenitsyn competently displays the lucrative retention of suppressed identities with his advise of understanding the gulags’ working systems, maintaining virtue and understanding the camps’ hierarchical systems.
All in all, Solzhenitsyn thoroughly displays the triumph behind reobtaining the prisoners’ individualities through non violent resistance and implementing certain survival techniques.

He portrays the uniqueness of the inmates as a result of them safeguarding their belongings, retaining their human traits and resorting to religion for mental strength. He emphasizes the need to assiduously understand the system within the gulags by preserving physical strength where possible, upholding dignity and understanding the hierarchical order of the camps. The author shows that through these passive forms of resistance, prisoners can ultimately triumph in these unsurvivable situations. Thereby pertaining to the fact that the pursuit of freedom comes harmoniously with the formation of

resistance.