Even at the brink of starvation, the GULAG labor camps forced over a million people to do hard labor in extreme conditions of Siberia. In the fictional novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, the author Alexander Solzhenitsyn depicts of the conditions prisoners had to face in the GULAG labor camp system. Based on the experience of Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, the author portrays a typical day of a prisoner while revealing the effects of the inhuman conditions have and how the prisoners learn to cope with it. By working together to improve their group dynamics, the prisoners incorporate group dynamics to help lessen the inhumanity of the Gulag system. The idea of grouping and handling task together was developed early on in the
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For one, they share ideas that help solve varies problems, but they also look out for each other doing favors for one another. During a work session, the gang had trouble keeping the bricklayers busy enough so that the mortar does not freeze. To solve this complication, one prisoner suggested, “‘We’ll work two to a wall so the mortar doesn’t freeze in the hods.’” (Solzhenitsyn 75). By demonstrating cooperation, coordination, and problem-solving, the gang manages to receive extra rations, coping with the bitterness of the camps. They also so humanity by sharing responsibilities to lessen the burden of the inhumanities. They hold each other’s food, share tips,tricks, but most importantly, share provisions with to those who need it most. Since Caesar Markovich, a fellow gang member, had received a package full of food, he did not need his ration of bread and gruel. Ivan Denisovich, who returned a favor by saving a spot in line for Markovich, presented Markovich ration of bread to him. In response, Caesar Markovich said, “‘You keep it, Ivan Denisovich’” (Solzhenitsyn 127). This shows a great deal of humanity as Markovich could have taken it for himself. Instead, he gave it to Ivan Denisovich, who currently needed it more than he
For one, they share ideas that help solve varies problems, but they also look out for each other doing favors for one another. During a work session, the gang had trouble keeping the bricklayers busy enough so that the mortar does not freeze. To solve this complication, one prisoner suggested, “‘We’ll work two to a wall so the mortar doesn’t freeze in the hods.’” (Solzhenitsyn 75). By demonstrating cooperation, coordination, and problem-solving, the gang manages to receive extra rations, coping with the bitterness of the camps. They also so humanity by sharing responsibilities to lessen the burden of the inhumanities. They hold each other’s food, share tips,tricks, but most importantly, share provisions with to those who need it most. Since Caesar Markovich, a fellow gang member, had received a package full of food, he did not need his ration of bread and gruel. Ivan Denisovich, who returned a favor by saving a spot in line for Markovich, presented Markovich ration of bread to him. In response, Caesar Markovich said, “‘You keep it, Ivan Denisovich’” (Solzhenitsyn 127). This shows a great deal of humanity as Markovich could have taken it for himself. Instead, he gave it to Ivan Denisovich, who currently needed it more than he