Analysis of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera - Essay Example

Themes in literature serve as the backbone of the text. At times it is a conscious effort on the part of the to be entrenched in his surroundings that more often than not it becomes the underlying premise of his writing. But then there are those who cannot help but be critical of such specified topics that whether they are aware or not, it becomes inherent in their way of writing. Whichever may be the case, the idea of a particular approach is often indispensable in literary criticism and there is no such escape from the pruning appraisal of the reader and most especially of those who are in authority. Such is the inevitability of communism as a foremost part of “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” and “The Unbearble Lightness of Being.” Both novels expound whether more delicately as in the work of Milan Kundera or more outright, as in the work of Alexander Solzhenitsyn. The mark of communism is inculcated within the two stories incorporates it to a great extent to the development of the story line of the characters within the text. It is apparent that the political and societal concept which brings the conflict in the story becomes a major point that allows the authors to develop the characters and map out the story. The Adherence to Human Dignity in “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” Solzhenitsyn’s story is a subtle retelling of a day in the life of Shukhov in the prison camp where he was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment for a crime he did not commit. "Somehow it works out all right for you: Jesus Christ wanted you to sit in prison and so you are--sitting there for His sake. But for whose sake am I here? Because we werent ready for war in forty-one? For that? But was that my fault?" (Solzhenitsyn, p. 89). What is interesting to note is the nature of the crime of the inmates within the story. They were locked away for seemingly meager crimes and their punishments is nothing less than unjustified in relation to their offense. The anti-Stalinist tone of the novel is what gives it the pathos that it obtained from its readers, Russian or not. The simple retelling of a singular day in the life of its imprisoned character gives an emphatic sense to the reader. With it we are presented with the brutality of the Communist Party and of the guards in maintaining the ‘order’ of things within the camp. The intensive labor which they are subjected to recapitulates our abhorrence for the possibilities that the absence of the due process of law can bring. At one point, Shukhov was apprehensive about his freedom. “The law can be stood on its head. When your ten years are up they can say, "Heres another ten for you." Or exile you” (Solzhenitsyn, p. 39). Such things do happen and the prospect of being unable to do anything about it is what makes their state terrifying. No comprehensible court of law or plausible defender at your side. That is why they are resolved to prayers. The reminiscent of Greek tragedies and the rule of the single revolution of the sun storytelling of Solzhenitsyn is nothing short of artistic sophistication in subtlety. Just an ordinary day, nothing much more than any of the other 3,653 days including the three leap days of the ten-year sentence that the main character has to endure. The quality of life that the guards had taken away from them paints the reader a picture of the suffering they were experiencing. Given their circumstance, Shukhov still adheres to the simple acts which enables him to think that they are still civilized human beings. Despite the gruesome cold of the winter which could lead to frost bite and hypothermia, he still insists on removing his cap whenever they eat as he has overseen it as a custom of proper behavior. He is also vehement in his conviction never to result to bribery during his time in prison. He sees it that nothing good would ever come of acquiring anything the easy way and that one should work for whatetever it is that he has to truly appreciate his labor and the work that comes with it. "Youve no right to strip men in the cold. You dont know Article Nine of the Criminal Code." But they did have the right. They knew the code. You, friend, are the one who doesnt know it. "Youre not behaving like Soviet people," Buinovsky went on saying. "Youre not behaving like communists" (Solzhenitsyn, p.23). And just how exactly should one behave? The brutality of the guards in the story develops into the representation of communism, especially of Stalin’s administration, and its tendency towards seizing the human spirit. Though this should not be the case if we are to refer to the core principles of communism as expounded upon by Karl Marx, those in authority and base on our history they seem to have a penchance for turning inside out the noble pursuit of equality among people. The musing over the parcel was a bittersweet incident in the novel. The profound longing that Shukhov would receive a parcel gives us a closer look into his vulnerabilities in missing his family and the freedom that was taken away from him. During the earlier days when he was sentenced his wife was voluntarily sending him things and food to eat. But because he knows that it is difficult for them being that their lives is hard enough as it is, then he was the one to ask them to stop sending anything and that his wife should just give to their children whatever measly portions of food they have. The Parallelism of Communist Opinions and Relationship within “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” Arguably, one of the best 20th century novels, Milan Kundera presents us with an intense insight into the love, life and relationships of the characters in “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.” It gives us a sense of the point of views of the different people towards communism which may be related to the tug and pull relationship of Tomas, Tereza, Sabina and Franz. The encumbered love that the main characters share is connected to the deep feelings and strong opinions of the people on the issue of communism as it spreads through Europe and the rest of the world. “In spite of their love, they had made each other’s life a hell. The fact that they loved each other was merely proof that the fault lay not in themselves, in their bahavior or inconstancy of feeling, but rather in their incompatibility; he was strong and she was weak. She was like Dubcek, who made a thirty-second pause in the middle of the sentence; she was like her country, which stuttered, gasped for breath, could not speak. But when the strong were too weak to hurt the weak, the weak had to be strong enough to leave” (Kundera, p.74). With these words she attempted to leave him and live independently. This seemed to be the major theme within the story. More than anything, the catastrophe of the love that Tereza suffers for Tomas is foolish subsistence. Much like the passivity with which some would regard what is happening in communist occupied states. The gall to be able to accept the injustices is more than parallel with the story of Tereza and how she lets herself submissively acknowledge her husband’s womanizing. The polarities of the different political regimes, Czech or not, is deeply integrated within the novel. In the span of the lives of the characters, it was simultaneously a chronicling of the world and how it was evolving within their very eyes. Their political bearings play an important role in the progression and outcome of how they are living. From being a renowned surgeon to being degraded to a blue collar job, the consequences of their actions is unapologetic but rather an explanation of the natural cycle of things as decisions are made and consequences are faced inadvertently. The incidence of Tomas writing an article which led to his condemnation and the revocation of his license is a definitive and significant manifestation of his firm devotion to his beliefs. In an encounter with his son, he was complimented by the boy on his writing. That his son now has convictions and opinions of his own presents him with double-edged options. “Your refusal to compromise…The Communists have the excuse that Stalin misled them. Murderers have the excuse that their mothers did not love them. And suddenly you come out and say: there is no excuse. No one could be more innocent, in his soul and conscience, than Oedipus. And yet he punished himself when he saw what he had done” (Kundera, p.218). Communism has brought many changes to the life of the people in the country. Villagers are not the same as they were before. Churches were no longer visited by people, taverns became offices, holidays were prohibited. There was little to no social interaction left. People had no alternative but to be contented to resign to the four walls of their houses once work is finished. Almost everyone wanted to leave the village and go to the towns where they would have a seeminly more interesting life. In View of Choices It was fascinating to see that on the later part of “The Unbearble Lightness of Being” as much as with “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” the reference on christianity was apparent. It is notable that there are those who consider Jesus Christ as among the first communist because he advocates for equality among people. Among his teachings, he considers loving thy neighbor to be one of the greatest virtues. That the meek should inherit the earth is another. In one of his parables he also encourages the giving of all material possessions for the benefit of others. And this in essence is the primary goal of communism. Putting aside the negativity that surrounds it, specifically, during the time of Stalin, what the social paradigm aims for is providing a balance in the society through a communal order imposed upon by the ruling communist party. What the main characters of both novels demonstrate is our capacity to be steadfast in our convictions despite the test of times. Tomas and Shukhov, though not without their flaws, represented characters with principles. The authors, with their firsthand experiences on society as it transforms before their eyes cannot dismiss integrating issues that otherwise led to the enrichment and growth of the characters. As the times changed before them, they were transformed themselves. It may not always be that one’s writing is directed toward persuasive means to convince of a personal belief but it is inevitable that signs will show. And as literature is a great marker of our history as a people, then communism and anything else would undeniably be integrated in different writings, fiction or nonfiction. Bibliography Kundera, Milan. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. New York: HarperPerennial, 1999. Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. New York: Penguin Books, 1963. Read More