Oppression

"Journey into the Whirlwind" is the story of Eugenia Ginzburg's experiences while imprisoned under Communism. At every step of the way, Stalin and the Communist government attempts to suppress freedom and oppress the people. The Communists fear a revolution, just as they led a revolution against the Czar two short decades before. In so doing, any acts of revolt against the government are brutally put down, and the punishments become more and more severe. Oppression is one of the major themes of Ginzburg's work.

For the killing of a prominent Communist official, the government begins arrested anyone associated with the assassins or their ideas. In an effort to head off any possible popular revolt, the government does everything from banning particular books to arresting people in the middle of the night in order to instill fear in the people. Over time, more and more people are arrested, and...