Literature

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Stranger are two readings that bring about the main themes of Survival and Absurd by featuring weather in the settings consequences of events as they happen. The book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is an important reading in the history of Russian literature during Krushchev Era. Russian Literature often highlights the theme of suffering. Alexander Solzhenitsyn tries to highlight the prevailing dehumanizing conditions during Stalin reign in his book and at the face of it highlights the dehumanizing conditions of the prison camps and the lengthy hours of labor that the prisoners amount to generate, to keep themselves largely occupied. The special camps worked hand-in-glove with hard weather conditions which worsen the situations of the prison inmates. Likewise, Albert Camus The Stranger displays weather as a significant part of his book making the arguments of crime present by the protagonist fall in the Theatre of Absurd.  As an example, the motif of sun is a recurring symbol in both the books. In Solzhenitsyns One Day in the Life of Evan Denisovich, Sukhov tries to pre-occupy himself by working hard like his other brethrens in the camp. The sun highlights not only the immense work load shoulder to them under it but it also played a part of displaying time in the book. Despite severe weather conditions the prisoners are only allowed to wear limited clothes and made to work for longer hours, keeping them in dire straits. They warm only their hands because the leather boots held near the fire with will melt and steam. One of the interesting points in Solzhenitsyns book is that escape or scheming of escape from the camps by the prisoners is never mentioned. The mere thought of escape from Siberia seems intangible because of the way it has been described in context with the novel to the readers. Siberian prisons were located in the frost biting cold of minus forty degree Celsius where the political prisoners were kept with no heating facility moreover with limited clothes to wear. The prison compound was surrounded by a thick blanket of snow and treeless plains thus, making it a Devils Island of north. Although Sukhov who is a shrewd and daring peasant finds peace in bricklaying in the subzero weather until the night befalls. The weather in itself is a metaphor for prison thus, keeping all the prisoners caged in the frightful temperature. In her article Chloe Bolan stated how Tundra region serves as a quintessential prison where hunger and cold are on the look out for human bodies as their prey. Ironically, the place which Sukhov calls home is free from excruciating cold and he takes out leisure time for himself. The harsh weather condition not only adds to the misery of the inmates of the special camps but it also corresponds to the theme of Survival in the novel. Limited supply of food and indomitable sub-zero degree cold maintain the decorum of the prison. The camps inmates are punished by Volkovoi with stripping off their shirts in the sub-zero cold making them fall prey of the cold weather. Another example of such dehumanizing condition is that the prison inmates should remove their hats in subfreezing cold when passing guards. The prison protocols are laid in such a way that it keeps the inmates at bay and wholly work hand-in-glove during Stalin reign.
 
In Camus The Stranger when Meursault is tried in court for stabbing an Arab, he is asked for the reason behind his action to which Meursault answers that he never intended to kill the Arab but it happened only because of sun (Camus, The Stranger, p.102-103). The sun struck Meursaults eye, reflecting off the Arabs knife.On further revelation he says how the sun burnt his cheeks and aggravated his move to kill the Arab. It was burning, which I could not stand anymore, that made me move forward (Camus, The Stranger, p.58-59). On one hand sun intensifies Meursaults action to kill the Arab that he fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace. And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness (Camus, The Stranger, p.59). The courtroom laughs at his reply brings the banality of expression to the world. Thus, Sun as a motif sharpens the Absurd in Camus The Stranger. The blinding Sun highlights the Meursaults inability to control his emotions. Here Sun is contemplated as our natural response to the stimuli thus keeping in tact the Absurd content. Camus highlights how strong is our desire for meaning that we tend to dismiss out of hand the idea that there is none to be found. In another incident where Meursault is told by the nurse how weather affects the human body. The nurse addresses to Meursault that if he goes too slowly, he will risk his life getting a sunstroke but he paces up fast, he will work up a sweat and catch a chill inside (Camus, The Stranger, p.17). The consequence of heat is anticpated.  It affects the human body despite the speed one is travelling. To this Meursault replies She was right. There was no way out (Camus, The Stranger, p.17). Even when the protagonists mother dies, the readers are introduced to the theme of Absurd in The Stranger. Camus writes, Maman died today. Or maybe yesterday, I dont know. I had a telegram from the home Mother passed away. funeral tomorrow. Yours sincerely. That doesnt mean anything. It may have been yesterday (Camus, The Stranger, p.9). Robert Champigny sees Meursaults killing of his mothersymbolical, that he has not made a public sacrifice before the idol of the mother.He has killed the myth of the mother within himself (Camus, The Stranger, p.75).
 
Solzhenitsyns One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich gives its reader an account of hardships faced by human beings and the strength of human spirit to endure it whether its Tartars punishment to Sukhov to draw water from well in -27 degrees or the rooted faith in God which makes him endure all the harshness. On the other hand, Camus The Stranger shows no rational meaning or order of life therefore, conforming to the Theatre of Absurd. The protagonist Meursault seems like an outsider to society which seeks to find meaning to every feat. The trial is absurd because Camus highlights societys attempt in drawing out meaning from Meursaults action. Everyone except Meursault have their own reason behind Meursaults action but none of them can be correct. When Meursault approaches the inevitable state of dying, he says the following well, so Im going to die. Sooner than other people will, obviously...deep down I know perfectly will that it doesnt much matter whether you die at thirty or at seventy, since in either case other men and women will naturally go in living (Camus, The Stranger, p.114). Meursault here exhibits to us the true notion behind existence and living.

 Both the novels highlight the theme of absurdity and fallible human conditions with the backdrop of weather as a sub-text. Whether it is Sukhov or Meursault both are pliabele by the weather conditions thus, corresponding to the plot. Hence, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Stranger truly reflect different human conditions and ones own rationale to cope with it therefore, attributing to the genre of existentialism in the latter.