Part I, Chapter 6, My Last Year Summary and Analysis

In Part I, Chapter 6, Ginzburg is in Moscow to appeal her reprimand. All over, people are being rounded up, arrested, or accused of crimes against the state. During a public funeral, Ginzburg gets a glimpse of Stalin. She finds him ugly and repulsive. She meets a number of people, including the manager of a factory in Kharkov and a printer, all accused for the slightest of circumstances. The printer mentioned a name frowned upon by the Party during an interrogation, for example.

During Ginzburg's meetings, it is revealed to her that her sentence will be reduced and eventually lifted. She returns home, but is summoned back to Moscow immediately for her final hearing. Beylin has gone to Moscow, complained, and falsely accused Ginzburg of other associations. The head of the final...