February 22nd

 "There is no place where people become acquainted more quickly than in prison,"

- Page 302, Ginzburg


        In this recount, Ginzburg is speaking of her time in prison where she was surrounded by woman and children in constant distress. More particularly, she touches on the mental anguish that she went through while serving her time and the camaraderie that came from that within the prison. At the end of the day, all of the inmates could relate to each other on a personal and humane level. They were all people once, living normal and seemingly regular lives until they came into this prison where they were violated, surrendering all of their privacy and humanity. For Ginzburg, she was a well educated woman who went from being well respected and recognized, smart and civil, to being degraded constantly and seen as "less than" just because she had been accused of crimes. 

    It is amazing to me the optimism that she shares within this story as she even goes as far to say that she is luckier than a lot of the other prisoners. If I had been in her situation, I am not sure if I would have the same outlook as she did and the same humility to be able to recognize and compare my situation to others. If I was being treated animalistic-ally and lost all of my rights, I would not have remained as calm and composed as she seemed to have done in this recollection. I think Ginzburg is an excellent example of the products of the Russian regime during this time and the civil unrest that came from it-- especially when normal citizens are acknowledging that they will live, breathe and die in their home country, as prisoners. This story should be used for the coming ages to show the effect that this type of incarceration can have on people in general, but especially woman and their state of minds. 

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