Shukhov, Ivan Denisovich
Shukhov Ivan Denisovich is the main character, prisoner Shch-854, who has been imprisoned in various camps for eight years. Now he is in a Special Camp, where they are imprisoned under Article 58 - traitors to the Motherland and spies. So Shukhov is imprisoned for treason, like a spy. In fact, he was simply surrounded, captured by the Nazis and spent only two days in captivity. After which the five of them ran away and through the forests and swamps managed, but only the two of them, to reach their own. It was for this “crime” that Shukhov received ten years. He signed all the papers, since he was severely beaten in counterintelligence and Shukhov decided that it was better to sign than to be beaten to death. Shukhov is only 40 years old, and half of his teeth and half of his hair have already fallen out.
Shukhov has a wife and children in the village who are starving. He strictly forbade his wife to send parcels or to tear the parcels away from their children. She is waiting for Shukhov to come home and even found him a job as a carpet dyer, this is what many men in their village do and live richly. But Shukhov does not believe in release, he sees that no one is sent home - after serving their sentence, everyone is given a new term and they remain in prison further.
Shukhov is in good standing in the camp, he is respected in the brigade and is entrusted with the most important work. He is a jack of all trades - he can sew slippers, and he can also work as a bricklayer. The story describes one of his days in the camp, which turned out extremely well for him. He could have ended up in a punishment cell, but he didn’t, he ate two servings for breakfast and dinner, managed to carry a hacksaw blade into the camp and didn’t get sick, although he felt bad in the morning. And he fell asleep that day in a very good mood.
Characteristics of the main characters of the story “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”
Alexander Solzhenitsyn decided to write the work “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” while in the Ekibastuz concentration camp. Serving his sentence became the impetus for the creation of a book that sank into the souls of many readers.
At the center of the story is Ivan Denisovich Shukhov. The character ended up in the camp by accident, due to a misunderstanding. “It is believed in the case that Shukhov was imprisoned for treason. And he testified that yes, he surrendered, wanting to betray his homeland, and returned from captivity because he was carrying out an assignment from German intelligence. What a task - neither Shukhov himself nor the investigator could come up with. They left it just like that - a task.”
Readers live with the hero one day of his ten-year imprisonment. Ivan Denisovich was a simple soldier. The character came from an ordinary peasant family. The hero was not afraid of any work. He knew that everything in life must be achieved through hard work. Despite the hardships and hardships, Ivan Denisovich had a kind heart. Even in prison, Shukhov did not lose his human dignity. He was responsive to the misfortune of others and was always ready to lend a helping hand.
“One joy in the gruel can be hot, but Shukhov now got a completely cold one. However, he began to eat it just as slowly, attentively. Even though the roof is on fire, there’s no need to rush. Apart from sleep, a camp inmate lives for himself only for ten minutes in the morning at breakfast, five at lunch, and five at dinner.” Every day of existence in the camp was similar to the other. The characters did not belong to themselves. But even in such difficult conditions, the hero found a little time to think and reflect. These few minutes helped him forget about the difficulties he faced.
“This is something Shukhov cannot understand in any way: they live at home and work on the side.” Ivan Denisovich has always been for honesty and justice. He loved his native land, it was difficult for him to understand the new trends that swept the residents living in his village.
You could always rely on Shukhov. He was a loyal friend and reliable comrade. Alexander Solzhenitsyn endowed his character with traits characteristic of the life-loving and resilient Russian people. Shukhov has not lost the ability to enjoy every new day. Even in the camp, the character noticed the blue sky, favorable weather, and the sun overhead.
“Baptist Alyoshka, Shukhov’s neighbor, clean and washed, was reading his notebook, where he had copied half of the Gospel.” The patient and calm character was a deeply religious man. But the conclusion did not shake his faith, but only strengthened it. “Next to Shukhov, Alyoshka looks at the sun and rejoices, the smile on his lips has disappeared.” Camp life did not change Alyoshka’s inner convictions. Often the character argued with Ivan Denisovich about religion and attitude towards it.
“At least the foreman doesn’t receive the parcels himself—he doesn’t sit without lard. Whoever from the brigade receives it now bears the gift to him. Otherwise you won’t live.” Brigadier Tyurin cannot be called a tough, heartless person. He respected the members of his team, and they reciprocated. The brigadier was always on the side of justice. The hero can be described as a real Russian man who has willpower.
Another minor character is captain of the second rank Buinovsky. He arrived at the camp recently, so he did not yet fully understand the unspoken laws adopted in the zone. Buinovsky is not afraid to express his opinion. The character is respected among the other prisoners. Buinovsky will never hide behind others to avoid punishment.
“Senka Klevshin is a quiet, poor fellow. One of his ears burst, back in '41. Then he was captured, escaped three times, and was caught.” Due to health problems, the hero prefers to remain silent. The character visited the concentration camp in Buchenwald. He was sent to the Soviet zone for “treason to the Motherland.”
Among the secondary characters, film director Cesar Markovich stands out. The character doesn’t seem to fully understand where he is. The hero receives rich parcels that are handed over to him from home. This provided him with good conditions in the camp. Shukhov treats Caesar Markovich favorably, because the hero lacks anger and greed. The character's interests include art and cinema.
Each of the heroes of the work by A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” is endowed with special character traits that distinguish it from the rest. The characters are forced to overcome the hardships of camp life. An example of perseverance and fortitude is Ivan Denisovich Shukhov. Despite the injustice, the character did not become embittered. He loves life, loves people and tries to help everyone who needs it.
Fetyukov
Shukhov's teammate, a dejected prisoner, ready to be humiliated just to get extra food or a smoke. He used to be a big boss in some office and drove a car. After he was imprisoned, his wife got married, and his three children abandoned him, and he had no help from his will. Now he collected cigarette butts, licked others' bowls, and was lazy. The author constantly calls him a jackal.
Summary
The story begins with a description of Shukhov's awakening. Ivan always woke up 1.5 hours before getting up. The need to get up was indicated by the blow of a hammer on a rail fixed near the headquarters barracks. That morning the man was not feeling well, he was shivering and felt aches in his body. Patients were usually severely punished - they were sent to a punishment cell, but for Ivan it was all about cleaning the floor. After going to the commandant’s office, the man, along with others, started breakfast. The prisoners' menu that day was as follows:
- magara porridge;
- blackened cabbage;
- fish soup (soup).
After breakfast, Ivan went to the paramedic. A young graduate of a literary institute worked in the medical unit, who ended up in this place through the patronage of a doctor he knew. The thermometer showed 37.32 degrees, and the paramedic suggested that Ivan go to work, although he added that “at his own peril” he could stay and wait for the doctor.
The first half of the day
Shukhov did not wait for the paramedic to arrive. He went into the barracks and took his daily ration, which consisted of a piece of sugar and bread. The prisoner divided this meager food into two parts: he hid one under the mattress, the other under his shower jacket. The prisoners went outside, where they had to undergo an inspection procedure. It was cold, but the guards forced us to unbutton our padded jackets and shirts to check whether anyone had hidden letters, knives or anything else forbidden.
After the “shmona,” the frozen people went to work in a column. Shukhov was hungry because he ate his breakfast cold and had to hide his rations. The year 51 began, in which Ivan Denisovich, like other prisoners, could receive 2 letters from freedom. Shukhov left home on June 23, 1941, the day after the start of the Great Patriotic War.
Ivan Shukhov and Latvian Jan Kildigs were considered the best workers in the brigade. They were given the task of building cinder block walls at a combined heat and power plant and insulating the workshop building. Among the prisoners was Gopchik, whose guilt was that he carried milk to the “Bendera men” hiding in the forest. To Ivan Shukhov he reminded him of his deceased son.
The main character worked and thought that he didn’t have much time left until the end of his sentence. When the war began, he fought on the North-Western Front. The Soviet soldiers were surrounded, there was nowhere to get provisions from, people ate by “sharing the hooves” of fallen horses. The matter ended with Shukhov and other soldiers being captured by the Germans. Soon Ivan escaped and reached his own.
Officials considered the soldier a traitor and decided that the Nazis had sent him to spy. However, during interrogation, Ivan could not tell what the task was, and the investigator also could not come up with anything. Nevertheless, Shukhov was sent to serve his sentence. So the first half of the day passed with care and reflection.
Lunch break and evening
The lunch menu was as meager as the morning menu, only this time the porridge was made from oatmeal. Ivan managed to take 2 servings, deceiving the cook. Oatmeal in the camp was considered one of the best porridges - it quenched hunger for a while, and prisoners almost always felt it. After lunch, the main character went to the construction site again, and along the way he picked up a piece of a hacksaw.
Work in the 104th brigade proceeded at a fast pace, the prisoners felt like one big family. Until the sun set, craftsmen were laying cinder blocks to build the second floor of the power plant. The foreman complained that after Shukhov’s release, “the prison will cry,” because there are few such good workers. Evening came and the workers went to the barracks. There was going to be a “shmon” again, and Ivan suddenly remembered that he had a piece of a steel hacksaw hidden under his clothes. This valuable find could not be allowed to be discovered, so Shukhov hid it in a mitten. The guards did not suspect anything, and the prisoner went to where the parcels were distributed.
No parcels were sent to Ivan Denisovich because he asked his wife not to take a piece from the children. The man took a place in line at Caesar’s request - he was supposed to be sent food from home. For this, Caesar gave him his portion of food. For dinner there was again thin gruel, tasteless, but hot. Taking a sip of it, the hero felt warmth spreading throughout his body, and thought that it was moments like these that prisoners lived for.
In the camp, the main character earned money by fulfilling small orders. One needed his clothes sewn up, the other needed his shoes repaired. The camp comrades paid with small money, but they were enough to buy tobacco, some food and things from time to time. Arriving at the barracks, Ivan saw that Caesar had already opened the parcel. Now the cellmate needed a knife to cut sausage, and Shukhov gave him his.
Again there was an inspection, and the comrades agreed to do this: Caesar would pretend to be sick and leave last, and Shukhov would try to return earlier after the inspection so that the parcel would not be stolen. For the service rendered, Caesar donated him a whole food set:
- a piece of sausage;
- 2 pieces of sugar;
- 2 cookies.
Thoughts before bed
In the same barracks with Shukhov and Caesar was the Baptist Alyoshka. He loved to read the gospel, which he hid in a hole in the wall. The inspectors never found the book. That evening Alexei spoke to the hero about God. In his opinion, a person should be glad that he ended up in the camp. There is a lot of time to think, there is an opportunity to take care of the soul and get rid of sinful thoughts.
Shukhov did not argue, he listened silently and thought that he himself did not know whether he wanted to be released. Going over the events of the whole day in his mind, the hero noted that good things happened to him:
- were not sent to a punishment cell;
- they didn’t send a brigade to Sotsgorodok;
- at lunch I managed to eat more porridge than I should have;
- no hacksaw was found during the search;
- worked in the evening;
- bought some tobacco;
- didn't get sick.
For the entire period it was necessary to live 3653 days, 3 more were added due to leap days.
