This novel is set in the 1950’s in a forced labor prison camp, run by the Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps and Settlements, better known by the Russian acronym: GULAG. Although subject to the harsh, frosty winter conditions the prisoners were entitled to the slightest of independence in terms of food, clothing, leisure’s and much more. This altogether contributes largely to the theme of injustice in the novel. The protagonist of novel is Ivan Denisovich Shukhov. He is a prisoner in the Gulag Camp headquarters. The novel highlights the routines, oppressive conditions faced and the ways of life of the prisoners in the labor camp. This is done by providing the readers a glimpse of a single day in the life of Ivan Denisovich Shukhov.
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Aleksander Solzhenitsyn has used clothing as a means of marking the prisoners and guards and it has been a sign of status in the labor camp as shown in the novel. The guards and the wealthy prisoners are shown wearing nice fur and hats. On the other hand, the average Zek wears a basic black uniform. The sense of clothing shown in the labor camp depicts how the system tries to rob the prisoners not only of their individuality but also of the hypocritical system that is corrupt and unjust and the struggle of the prisoners to maintain their …show more content…
Behind this very conscious and responsible nature of his, the unjust ways of the camp are shown when they compulsively traded Ivan’s great pair of shoes with these boots. Even due to the oppressive conditions in the camp, there are certain places in the novel where we observe Shukhov portraying his individuality and humanity in terms of clothing. “Then he removed his hat from his clean shaven head-however cold it might be, he could never bring himself to eat with his hat on” . This quote shows us how the small action of Shukhov removing his hat signals his gesticulation towards the appearance of a civilized life that still has meaning. The camp does not force the prisoners to remove their hats while eating. Although the bad conditions causing Ivan some discomfort, he sacrifices it to assert his humanity. Ivan Denisovich is another example of one of the zeks demonstrating individuality even after the unfair society prevailing. His words in the novel reveal this claim. He says, “From the outside, everyone in the squad looked the same – their numbered black coats were identical but within the squad there were great distinctions” . Thus, the novel strongly ascertains that the camp may be able to destroy the prisoners physically but not spiritually. Clothing has been repeated throughout the novel to highlight the themes as the ‘Struggle for human dignity’ and ‘oppressive and
Aleksander Solzhenitsyn has used clothing as a means of marking the prisoners and guards and it has been a sign of status in the labor camp as shown in the novel. The guards and the wealthy prisoners are shown wearing nice fur and hats. On the other hand, the average Zek wears a basic black uniform. The sense of clothing shown in the labor camp depicts how the system tries to rob the prisoners not only of their individuality but also of the hypocritical system that is corrupt and unjust and the struggle of the prisoners to maintain their …show more content…
Behind this very conscious and responsible nature of his, the unjust ways of the camp are shown when they compulsively traded Ivan’s great pair of shoes with these boots. Even due to the oppressive conditions in the camp, there are certain places in the novel where we observe Shukhov portraying his individuality and humanity in terms of clothing. “Then he removed his hat from his clean shaven head-however cold it might be, he could never bring himself to eat with his hat on” . This quote shows us how the small action of Shukhov removing his hat signals his gesticulation towards the appearance of a civilized life that still has meaning. The camp does not force the prisoners to remove their hats while eating. Although the bad conditions causing Ivan some discomfort, he sacrifices it to assert his humanity. Ivan Denisovich is another example of one of the zeks demonstrating individuality even after the unfair society prevailing. His words in the novel reveal this claim. He says, “From the outside, everyone in the squad looked the same – their numbered black coats were identical but within the squad there were great distinctions” . Thus, the novel strongly ascertains that the camp may be able to destroy the prisoners physically but not spiritually. Clothing has been repeated throughout the novel to highlight the themes as the ‘Struggle for human dignity’ and ‘oppressive and