On the day of his release from hospital he visits a zoo , seeing in the animals people he knew : The most confusing thing about the imprisoned animals was that even supposing Oleg took their side and had the power , he would still not want to break into the cages and liberate them . This was because , deprived of their home surroundings , they had lost the idea of rational freedom .
On the day of his release from the cancer ward , toward the end of the novel , he visits a zoo , seeing in the animals people he knew : '' [ E ] ven supposing Oleg took their side and had the power , he would still not want to break into the cages and liberate them ... [ D ] eprived of their home surroundings , they had lost the idea of rational freedom .