Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
gulag
The term carries a heavy historical weight, specifically tied to the Soviet era's state-sponsored brutality. When used in its literal sense, it evokes images of extreme cold, starvation, and political persecution. It is rarely used as a neutral term for a prison, as it implies a systemic intent to break the spirit of the prisoner through forced labor.
In figurative usage, the word is employed as a hyperbole to describe any environment characterized by oppressive discipline or misery. Using "gulag" to describe a modern office or a strict school is a stark rhetorical choice that emphasizes a feeling of helplessness and lack of freedom, though it can be seen as insensitive given the historical reality of the actual camps.
Meanings
Examples
Millions of people suffered under the brutal conditions of the Soviet gulag.
He spent five years in a gulag for criticizing the government.
The survivors of the gulag shared harrowing stories of starvation and cold.
I cannot believe they expect us to work in this gulag of an office.
The regime used the gulag to silence any form of political opposition.
My current project feels like a digital gulag because of the strict deadlines.
The historian lectured on the vast network of the gulag across Siberia.