Part I, Chapter 33, Five Steps by Three Summary and Analysis

In Part I, Chapter 33, Ginzburg recounts how she can still see every detail of prison cell 3 where she was kept. It is a dingy cell with mold growing at the bases of the walls. Ginzburg is allowed outside for exercise and looks forward with great anticipation to sounds and light. Otherwise, she had sixteen hours of her day to attempt to fill up.

Ginzburg tries exercising in her cell, but is told it is forbidden. She decides to lay down, but is told this is also forbidden. She composes poetry, but has no pen to write it down. The hours after supper before sleep are the worst, for Ginzburg finds that darkness oppressing. She also begins losing sleep because she remembers being up all night due to the Conveyor...