Part II, Chapter 8, Tree-Felling Summary and Analysis

In Part II, Chapter 8, the timber camp is remote and isolated. The overseer is named Kostik, nicknamed "The Actor" for his past education and work in the theater. He is kinder toward the prisoners than his superior, Keyzin. Keyzin demands a high output from the prisoners, even in the heavy snow and cold. Their rations equaled what they earned in terms of output. Eventually the low output was labeled sabotage and Ginzburg and the other political prisoners are put in punishment cells.

Tree-felling is dangerous and bitter work, especially when it is done in the snow. Already suffering from poor health, Ginzburg and the other female prisoners struggle to do their work for each day. As their output decreases, so does their food, until they are eventually accused of attempting to sabotage the tree-felling system...