Envy Volodya Comparison

to be towards the betterment of the state as a whole. Volodya is depicted as the ideal, selfless Soviet sportsman while Getzke exhibits a Western ideal of a sportsman favoring individual freedom. Volodya puts his body on the line when he jumps in front of the German team’s shots. His saves were described as “mathematically impossible” (103) and feats that “violated physics” (103) which depict Volodya as a larger than life individual worthy of his depiction as an ideal Soviet man. Volodya desired victory for his nation and team as a whole and he “worried about each of his players” (104) which is in complete contradiction to Getzke who “valued only his own success” (104). The Russian player is depicted as a personable player who cares about others while the German player is depicted as a selfish player who cares only about himself. The readers of Olesha’s “Envy” receive a positive image with regards to Volodya and a negative image associated with Getzke, who is depicted as the enemy (Olesha).

Getzke is described as a hack, a gypsy, and he is physically round shouldered and small which further emphasizes Olesha’s degradation of the character. …show more content…
When the players enter the field at the onset of the match they are described as “seeing no one individually,” (107) but rather they saw the entire crowd as a united front. Kavalerov who is depicted as an outsider throughout the novel is publicly laughed at when the whole crowd turned their heads when he froze up when the ball landed at his feet. Getzke is also alienated for “not helping” (104) his team and only caring about his own athletic success and wellbeing. It is clear from the alienation of Kavalerov and Getzke that under totalitarian regimes those that do not conform to the social norms that are established will be made outcasts to society or as we know from history even killed