The Comparison of the Soldier and Citizen

The story of “Good Soldier Schweik” was the description of individual attempts of soldiering despite his condition.  The soldier, Josef Schweik, was described as retarded, yet he was always promoted.  The faithful duties that he was assigned was described as not being clear as it was sometimes perceived as undermining his superiors.   The novel, “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”, was written by Alesksato Solzhenitsyn.  His character resembles the experience that an inmate during the Stalinist campaign.  Shakhov’s abilities were described as an uneducated peasant.  His efforts to experience what was scene in society had led him to decide between religion and desire.

            The stories parallel each other as the efforts of the individual seek to fulfill the hero part of the society’s situation.  The citizen and soldier often are perceived as opposites; however, the metaphor a mentally challenged individual in trying to fulfill his duties and a prisoner deciding from his experiences for seeking spirituality.  The soldiering that finds the efforts of an incapable individual humorous are the tones that Joroslevo Hasck conveys.  His story was never completed yet the experience relates to any individual’s ignorance that leads to situations in their life.  Mistaken identity, futile attempts, and the hopes that rely on a superior to save his life are the re-occurring events that guide him through his existence.

            The soldier, Schweik, is the adventurer. He is admitted into the Army at the beginning of World War I despite his natural limitations.  The Czech army accepts him despite his mental retardation and then they promote him to orderly.  His ordeal is such that appeasing his supervisor leaves him confused and often unable for his superior to completely trust him.   The affect that a soldier that is easily disoriented which results in his arrest.  The problem of being recognized and released only repeats the situation when he is re-arrested for being in the wrong uniform.  His attempts to keep with his duties are often futile as his recent arrest results in a scheduled hanging.  His only salvation is his superior officer recognizing him. His role of an orderly is perceived as undermining his superior’s officer recognizing him.  His role of an orderly is perceived as undermining his superior’s obligation when his arrest as a deserter and then as a spy. His experiences are left unfinished as the author never completed the story.

            Aleskanto Solykenitsy is the author of “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”.  Ivan Shakhov is the example of an uneducated illiterate man.  His role in Soviet society was the peasant that was sent to a labor camp.  He finds that his ability to live, eat, and work are the only controls that he has in his life.  His experiences are as a slave and he still believes that he is the king of his little world.  His experiences in the labor camp develop the curiosity that he associates with the distant lands.  Being confident his mentality is seeking the appeal that he associates with the exotic travels.  Despite his efforts the common situation is that he finds his beliefs are part of his understanding.  The religion that he develops is because of the spirituality that is needed in the similar experiences.

            The two main characters in their stories are always questioning their situation.  Either the eager to appease the superior or to continue with avoiding the negativity of prison was their motivation.  It is the common experience that is shared, such as Ivan or John. The names are common in both cultures and both mean that God is gracious.  It is the same knowledge that has their experiences of an uneducated mind as it will seek to be heroes as representation of their culture.  The differences for which they seek respect is because of the continual differences as the role of a soldier and citizen or mentally challenged and a prisoner.  Both exist in their mind’s perception of society.