Analysis Of Ivan Denisovich

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Other than maintaining manners and being considerate toward others, another element of being an irrepressible person living under wildly unfair conditions is having hope for the future and belief in a higher power than oneself. Ivan Denisovich has both of these. In a conversation with the bishop, Alyosha, he claims to “believe in God” (163). At the end of his day, before he goes asleep, he prays to God, thanking him for not spending the night in the prison cells (160). While his daily routine is designed to make him pessimistic and dispirited, Ivan Denisovich finds a way to think positively and remain heartened. As he reflects on his day, he describes how “he’d had such a good day, he felt in such good spirits… [it was] a day without