Humanistic Thinking In Solzhenitsyn's Novel

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008), a well-known contemporary Russion writer, is the 1970 Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature, and also a controversial figure because of the political tendency in his works. To understand Solzhenitsyn the writer and interpret the thoughts of his works appropriately, it is necessary to start with analysis of the text from the literary perspective. At the presentation of the Nobel prizes on 10 December 1970, Karl·Ragnar·Gierow, Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy, read out the award speech in literature, saying that Solzhenitsyn was awarded Nobel Prize for his works , not only an assurance "of the individual's indestructible dignity," but also an accusation against those who attempts to violate this dignity, are full of the essence of humanistic thinking. His humanism is not only a heritage for the traditional spirit of Russian literature,but also a reflection of his personal experiences; it has been influenced by the Orthodox and is also from the particular era where he lived. A series of his novels accuse all attempts that intend to constrain, harm and destroy human dignity so as to awaken the humanitarian spirit hidden in human nature;they advocate to "fight" against violence, autarchy and absurdity and claim to remould the Russian spirit by means of such religious beliefs as moral self-improvement, self-restraint and repentance. Besides, a large quantity of refined, vivid and enlightening Russian proverbs are quoted in some works, which enhances the level and readibality of the works. Solzhenitsyn shoulders the mission of a writer as a "representative of human lofty soul" in the spirit of "the calf goes against the oak tree" to assert and praise dignity of human nature. It is this sublime spirit of humanism that enables Solzhenitsyn and his works to go beyond the univeral significence of regions, national boundaries as well as time.