For The Good ofFor The Good of The Cause The Cause

A novel by Alexander SolzhenitsynA novel by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

SummarySummaryThe novel is set at the beginning of the school year at The novel is set at the beginning of the school year at

a small technical school in a provincial Russian town, around a small technical school in a provincial Russian town, around the time of the post-Stalinist “thaw”. During the previous the time of the post-Stalinist “thaw”. During the previous summer, the students and teachers from the technical school summer, the students and teachers from the technical school got together to work on building a new school complex. got together to work on building a new school complex.

During the summer, they only got to finish one of the During the summer, they only got to finish one of the school buildings and had just begun working on the second. school buildings and had just begun working on the second. However, once the school year was about to begin, the However, once the school year was about to begin, the Town committee decided to use the new building for a new Town committee decided to use the new building for a new research institute for the town, rather than the school it was research institute for the town, rather than the school it was supposed to be. supposed to be.

The story then focuses on the battle being fought The story then focuses on the battle being fought between the teachers and students and the town council for between the teachers and students and the town council for the use of the building.the use of the building.

ThemesThemes

The main focus of the novel is on moral, rather The main focus of the novel is on moral, rather than political themes.than political themes.

A major theme of this novel is the clash between A major theme of this novel is the clash between right and wrong.right and wrong.

A smaller theme in the novel is a focus on A smaller theme in the novel is a focus on Solzhenitsyn’s opinion that, although Stalin was Solzhenitsyn’s opinion that, although Stalin was already long dead at the time of publication, “little already long dead at the time of publication, “little Stalin's” perpetuate StalinismStalin's” perpetuate Stalinism

QuotationsQuotations

““It was Knorozov’s boast that he never It was Knorozov’s boast that he never went back on his word. As it had been once in went back on his word. As it had been once in Moscow with Stalin’s word, so it was still today Moscow with Stalin’s word, so it was still today with Knorozov’s word: It was never changed and with Knorozov’s word: It was never changed and never taken back. And although Stalin was long never taken back. And although Stalin was long dead, Knorozov was still here. He was a leading dead, Knorozov was still here. He was a leading proponent of the “strong willed school of proponent of the “strong willed school of leadership”, and he saw in this his greatest leadership”, and he saw in this his greatest virtue. He could not imagine any other way of virtue. He could not imagine any other way of running things.” -Page 83running things.” -Page 83

Quotations (continued)Quotations (continued)

““Grachikov was neither convinced Grachikov was neither convinced nor crushed by Knorozov’s words, which nor crushed by Knorozov’s words, which fell like steel girders, and he felt he was fell like steel girders, and he felt he was coming to one of those critical moments in coming to one of those critical moments in his life when his legs were rooted to the his life when his legs were rooted to the spot and he had to stand his ground. spot and he had to stand his ground. Because once again it was a clash or right Because once again it was a clash or right and wrong.” -page 85and wrong.” -page 85

Quotations (Continued)Quotations (Continued)

““And only when his task was done did he And only when his task was done did he turn to Fydor to say:turn to Fydor to say:

““That’s the way it has to be, dear Comrade.”That’s the way it has to be, dear Comrade.”

““Why does it Why does it havehave to be?” Fydor asked to be?” Fydor asked angrily, with a shake of his head. “For the good of angrily, with a shake of his head. “For the good of the cause, I suppose. Is that it? Well just you the cause, I suppose. Is that it? Well just you wait!” And he clenched his fists. But he could no wait!” And he clenched his fists. But he could no longer speak. He turned away and strode off longer speak. He turned away and strode off quickly towards the road, muttering to himself:quickly towards the road, muttering to himself:

““Just wait, you pig! Just wait, you swine!” Just wait, you pig! Just wait, you swine!”

(page 94)(page 94)

Works CitedWorks Cited

Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. For The Good of For The Good of The Cause.The Cause. New York: Praeger New York: Praeger Publishers, 1964.Publishers, 1964.

Ericson, Edward E. Ericson, Edward E. Solzhenitsyn- The Solzhenitsyn- The Moral Vision.Moral Vision. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids, Michigan. William B. Eerdmans Publishing William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1980.Company, 1980.