The Cancer Ward by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a novel which examines the concept of personal freedom and the Russia of mid-1950s through its characters and their struggles with cancer. It was written during the era of Soviet Union, and is considered as a classic of that era. The novel is divided into three parts, which are further divided into several stories and episodes that are non-sequential.
The novel’s structure creates a mosaic of personalities, thoughts and experiences, and provides an in-depth look at the people and the environment of Soviet-era life. The primary focus of the narrative is the struggle of its characters with cancer and their individual assertion against the Communist oppression that affected their daily lives.
The main protagonists are Oleg Kostoglotov, Dontsova, Rusanov and Sashka. Kostoglotov is the only patient in the cancer ward of a hospital in Tashkent. He is a thirty year old with a tragic past; he was arrested for being ‘anti-Soviet’ and sentenced to hard labor in Siberia's notorious labor camp. Though he survived the ordeal, he has developed cancer as a result of the trauma.
Throughout the novel, Kostoglotov resists to accept the harsh reality and struggles with the idea of freedom and his past life. He befriends a doctor in the hospital, Dr. Dontsova, and their relationship becomes the primary source of emotional healing for Kostoglotov. Despite the political and social restrictions of 1950s Russia, Kostoglotov and Dontsova eventually find solace in each other's company.
The other protagonist, Rusanov is a student from the Soviet Union and has been sent to the hospital with stomach cancer. He is determined to live his life to the fullest and does so in his own way, like going out for movies and despite of being threatened by the police for spreading false information.
Meanwhile, Kostoglotov and Rusanov are joined by a new patient, Sashka, who is suffering from an undescribed and mysterious disease. Despite the medical treatments, Sashka declines and eventual passes away in the hospital. His death leads to an intense discussion between the patients and the doctors in the hospital.
The novel ends with Kostoglotov emerging victorious in his struggle against cancer; he is sent back to his homeland and the final words of the novel portray his emotions as he is welcomed by a crowd of people waving and shouting.
The Cancer Ward is a heartbreaking yet hopeful novel which gives readers a vivid insight into the oppressive political atmosphere of 1950s Soviet Union. Through its characters and their struggle for freedom, Solzhenitsyn creates a powerful narrative that conveys the idea of hope and resilience in the face of hardship. This novel is an important literary work of the Soviet Union and its literature and has had a far-reaching influence on writers of the 20th century.
