Beyond the humanity? (Towards Varlam Shalamov''s 110-th anniversary)

Abstract

V. Shalamov in his "The Kolyma stories" presented a picture of social "hell" in which human sufferings pass a limit beyond which the essence of the person is dissolved and disappears in illusive existence. In this "hell" there is no place for morality: the absolute evil triumphs. However, the hopelessness of "the hell" paradoxically gives chance to preserve fundamental distinctions of the good and evil. This chance is given by understanding of the threat of the spiritual death and by resistance against it. Shalamov constructed a paradoxical and sublime interpretation of personal spiritual immortality which depends on the person's determination to resist against this threat.