On July 30, McCandless makes an ominous entry in his journal: "EXTREMELY WEAK, FAULT OF POT. Tolstoy was born the fourth of five children to wealthy Russian aristocrats. Indeed, Ivan Ilich is alive for the entire novella, save the first chapter and the final word of the final chapter. For me, The Death of Ivan Ilyich said more about the relationship between society and death rather than about the person that was dying. I get the sense that in Ivan’s final moments, like in Andrei’s, he experiences joy because he is able to conceptualize death in a way that nobody–not even Tolstoi– can do unless he or she has crossed a sort of threshold, which seems to happen only at the very end. He finds that he wants to die now, not so much to put an end to his own sufferings, but to end the suffering of his family. Tolstoy soon joined the army and began to write, publishing his first novel. The Death of Ivan Ilych: Important Quotes Explained, page 5 | SparkNotes The Death of Ivan Ilych Suddenly some force struck him in the chest and side, making it still harder to breathe, and he fell through the hole and there at the bottom was a light…Just then his schoolboy son had crept softly in … This article seeks to establish the ambiguous nature of Ivan Ilych’s illness in Leo Tolstoy’s novella The Death of Ivan Ilych (1886), and it then proceeds to offer sociocultural commentary on an incurable illness that results in the death of the title character. “[…] I heard the words of Christ and understood them; and then life and death no longer seemed to be evils; instead of despair I felt the joy of possessing a life that death has no power to destroy.” These words are the main link between “What I Believe” and “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”. This contrast emphasizes Ivan’s discovery, which shows that only through a direct encounter with death will we be able to overcome our fear. Ivan has gone his entire life under the illusion that he is living well; he then spends most of his “dying” days (or weeks, or months) under the illusion that ALL is lost; but at the moment of death, he is stripped of any illusion and understands not the meaning of life but the meaning of death, or perhaps more specifically the meaning of the soul. MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. Tolstoy introduces us to the protagonist with, “Ivan Ilych’s life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible.” As we follow Ivan through his unhappy family life, the reupholstering of his new house, or his successes in the courts there is emptiness to it all and you can feel Tolstoy’s contempt. My major question is how does Ivan Ilyich’s Christianity, in which Ivan accepts Christ at the last hour of his life, having no where else to turn, at all coincide with the Christianity of action and deed that Tolstoy preaches in “What I Believe?”. and find homework help for other Literature questions at eNotes The Death of Ivan Illych brings an excellent in-depth description of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s 5 cycles of grief theory. At the outset, however, Ivan Ilych is oblivious to the notion of his own destructibility. I don’t know that this technique can quite be called irony, but it reminds me of Kierkegaard’s idea that ‘aesthetic irony’ can be used to free an individual from the ‘immediacy’ of his/her societal context: “Just as philosophy begins with doubt, so also a life that may be called human begins with irony.” The emphasis on defamiliarization lines up with Tolstoy’s. Ivan, however, is a peculiar example because he never contemplates death as a man who is truly living, but only as a man who is already about to die. Ivan’s acquaintances in the beginning “it is he who is dead and not I”). Right away, we know that a man named Ivan Ilyich has died. The description of the revelation Ivan undergoes two hours before dying, in which he realizes that his life was entirely selfish and meaningless, is rich with religious imagery, showing the protagonist undergoing a radical process of metanoia: “At that very moment Ivan Ilych fell through and caught sight of the light, and it was revealed to him that though his life had not been what it should have been, this could still be rectified.” Unlike the other characters in the novel, Gerasim interacts with people in an authentic and reflective way. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. It was when looking at Gerasim that Ivan realized that his life was all wrong. I think its interesting that Sam points out how Ivan’s death is the manner in which he redeems himself in the eyes of the Lord. Ivan’s materialism, greed, and thoughtlessness generate disgust like the stench of his dead body in the first chapter. Eventually, the absence of answers drives Ivan to despair. But Ivan deludes himself: just as he embodies the behavior of a man “of moderate means who wants to appear rich”, so does he deny the idea of the fragility of his existence—a thought foreshadowed by Peter Ivanovich’s conviction that “it should not and could not happen to him”. (Side note: twice after describing Gerasim, Tolstoy adds a remark about his white, healthy peasant teeth, which somehow reminded me of “Death In Venice”, where the rotting teeth will become the symbol of decaying soul and imminent death.) Ivan sees a light and his family is all around him crying and he forgives his family, then dies. As Ivan is dying, he wonders if he lived a good life and tries to deny that he wasted his life. The protagonist’s crisis is remarkably similar to that of Tolstoy himself as described in Ispoved (1884; My Confession).. Tolstoi’s disdain for Ivan and his immoral lifestyle is obvious in his narration and in his choice to have Ivan experience his fatal wound while hanging new drapes. All the items he purchased for his new home in St. Petersburg later remind him of his petty existence: “The same room, the same pictures, curtains, wallpaper […].” His family life is far from happy and he feels alone and abandoned. Finally, even upon buying a beautiful house and decorating it exactly how they have dreamed it to be, Ivan is still unhappy with his life. As he dies, he accepts the meaningless of his former life and he accepts Christ. Ivan is convinced to see a doctor, and none of the doctors know what is wrong with him. His death itself can be seen as an act of compassion – possibly his first one. Of course, this is primarily due to the subjects it deals with—things humans continue to be curious about: the state of death and the act of dying. When Ivan has a job that pays a very reasonable amount of money, he still finds himself feeling that it isn’t enough. In response to Sam’s question, I believe that Ivan’s ultimate acceptance of Christ is in fact in keeping with Tolstoy’s brand of Christianity (as he puts forth in “What I Believe”). Ivan, as my peers have clearly noted, remains cold and bitter throughout his final moments and “felt nothing”. Overall, I think that Tolstoy meant to show that since Ivan was so preoccupied throughout his entire life worrying about what he wanted to accomplish next, rather than spending loving time with his family, the major part of his life became his death; something that Ivan was so afraid of became his defining feature. Tolstoy begins the story by presenting a certain meaninglessness associated with death. Ivan’s redemption is a classic example of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in chapter 20 of Matthew (a parable that Tolstoy seems to applaud in his religious writings). This story begins at the end—already putting a focus in death. Moreover, I agree that his life was like a living death. He kills himself, literally, deciding whether he should have straight or curved cornices for his curtains. I am thinking in particular of lines like “But the more intimate of Ivan Ilych’s acquaintances, his so-called friends, could not help thinking also that they would now have to fulfill the very tiresome demands of propriety by attending the funeral service and paying a visit of condolence When Peter Ivanovich pays tribute to Ivan Ilych at his funeral, he grows aware of “a faint odour of a decomposing body”. In the last chapter, we see that Ivan finally finds some happiness and eventually decides to accept his death. The family is ashamed of his condition; his wife and daughter are attending soirees instead of providing companionship for a dying husband and father. So that, on hearing of Ivan Ilyich's death, the first thought of each of the gentlemen assembled in the office was of what this death … Death occupies a central role in Tolstoi’s consciousness, i particular after he lost his brother (not to mention the early loss of his mother). Ivan Ilych: a man engulfed in the habits of a class bred by hypocrisy—a sine qua non of cosmopolitan courtesy. Ivan Ilyich Golovin, a high court judge in St. Petersburg with a wife and family, lives a carefree life and like everyone he is aware of, he lives a life spent almost entirely in climbing the social ladder, and his … We have often discussed Tolstoy’s crisis with faith after losing his brother – but it was very interesting to observe how the room in which Ivan is spending his last hour does in fact contain love, and that to me offers a sincere hope to this bleak story. The Death of Ivan Ilyich, one of the greatest stories dealing with the subject of death, marked Tolstoys return to fiction writing after his religious conversion. Possibly capturing the way Tolstoy himself wrestled with the idea of science and faith and recognizing that life goes on. This final acceptance is reminiscent of Tolstoi’s alignment with the Socratic teaching that “the destruction of the body is a blessing, and we should desire it”. Literature in this movement tends to present complex issues—such as those of philosophical dilemma, class struggle, or interpersonal conflict—in a bluntly realistic and truthful manner. Of course, the situations are inherently sad, and the story of Ivan is grim and bitter to read, but I find something rather hopeful in this idea, as it suggests to me that, although he clearly struggled with the idea, Tolstoi thought of the process of dying not merely as a wrenching reflection on life, but as an uncomfortable yet surmountable obstacle to true clarity and spiritual peace in Heaven. (including. When his brother in law comes he says of Ivan: “Why, he’s a dead man! I do believe that our dissatisfaction with the story of Ivan’s life is intentional, and part of the story’s power, as it so effectively mirrors his own experiences and his pitifully morose reflection on the time he spent alive; but what I gleaned primarily from the story reminded me of the conversation we had in class last week regarding the epiphanic aspect of death, and the final sense of clarity, if we might call it that. Rather than expressing their sincere condolences, people like Peter Ivanovich only attended Ivan’s wake for a brief moment before escaping again to the milieu of Russian aristocracy—of drinks, bridge, and spending pleasant evenings. As others have pointed out, Tolstoy’s attitude here is akin to Socrates’, whom he quotes in his “Confession”: “For what do we, who love truth, strive after in life? Through the story “the Death of Ivan Ilych” Tolstoy explores the concept of death through the perspective of Ivan Ilych, the dying man himself, and those around Ivan who experience the death of their so-called “loved one”. He doesn’t confront death without fear, but tries to find an escape. Those who accept the invitation to Christ’s Kingdom of Heaven, regardless of how late in life, will be received. Characters like Pierre and Levin, who are plagued by doubt through the entirety of their life, constantly search for meaning. I was going up in public opinion, but to the same extent life was ebbing away from me. This description is, from the get-go, keenly cynical and critical of society, but what I think is interesting is the way that Tolstoy “defamiliarizes” the situation to draw attention to realities that we ignore, having been brought up in a context in which those realities are accepted as normal. His death is long and painful. But finally, as the candle wanes, Ivan recognizes that he is making his loved ones “wretched”, and that there is something redeeming in death, and possibly beyond death. It seems that Ivan rectifies his life by dying. As several of us have pointed out, the story’s title seems at first glance to be a bit misleading. This seems to be the ideological core of Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilich.” Living a life in which “all is vanity,” and worldly success is the aim, is equated to the death of one’s soul, of one’s morality. His physical death is paired with a spiritual rejuvenation and while his body dies, Tolstoy conveys the sense that Ivan’s soul finally begins to live in the last moments of the book. He is isolated and alienated, and in the end his life is a mere form. But his recollections of his childhood, and the societal influences and self-deception that colored everything after, eventually makes him willing to wrestle with the truth. It tells the story of a forty-five year old lawyer who is self-interested, opportunistic, and busy with mundane affairs. Whist Symbol Timeline in The Death of Ivan Ilyich The timeline below shows where the symbol Whist appears in The Death of Ivan Ilyich . Ivan is not searching. But what is it that is wrong with him?” This seems to hint that it is not only a physical ailment that plagues Ivan, but some type of spiritual lacking as well. As Ivan’s health deteriorates after his injury, Ivan convinces himself that no one really cares about his impending suffering and death. What purpose do they serve? The second is the real life which shows the truer meaning of life through deep human relationships, sense of … To free ourselves from the body, and from all the evil that is caused by the life of the body.” Ivan’s death is no tragedy, rather it is the crowning achievement of his life. He realizes he must ask for forgiveness from his wife and son, for life is about serving others and not pursuing selfish interests. But when they are unable to hear his pleas he does not worry because he knows “He whose understanding mattered would understand.” Having truly repented, Ivan is redeemed and, like Christ, conquers death by achieving life immortal—fittingly, he dies stretched out. Only when Ivan comes to this conclusion he is able to embrace death. The experience of “being ill” is a dramatic dimension – the tension – of the story. He is a successful judge who lives simply, observing all of the social proprieties and conventions expected of a man of his rank. For me, the problem is that Ivan only realizes that he has not lived at the moment of his death. what for?”, echoes Tolstoi’s questions during his brother’s deterioration. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Tolstoy goes on to depict Ivan’s life as more or less a farce, “simple and ordinary and therefore most terrible”, in which by following the approved path of society Ivan rejects any kind of gut feeling that he ought to live any differently. “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is full of French words. However, even though he continued to ascend governmental ranks and earned praise from the public, Ivan neglected his own family. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). He works a job in government, has only a brief period where he worries about money, and marries his wife because it was convenient and seemed what he should do – not because he had any strong feelings toward her. THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYICH .<:0 there was an understanding that, in case of his death, Alexeev might be named to his post, and to Alexeev's post either Vinnikov or Shtabel. Then on his deathbed, Ivan has an epiphany, sees ‘the truth’ and how poorly he led his life. Death is a personal act – a spiritual loss of the self in which there is no pain and only light. From the beginning of his career up until his injury, Ivan’s life is dominated by greed and desire for comfort. He is as disingenuous as anyone in his social circle: nurturing shallow yet fashionable friendships, forcing a bad marriage that looked good, and utilizing career to define his worth. He finds his satisfaction through bridge and his career as a judge, both serving as a middle-aged man’s escape from family life. Ivan’s appeal, “there is no explanation! It appears as if neither the dying man nor those attending him have any time for death, and never really allow themselves to give Ivan’s death their full attention. When he wishes to remember happier times, he can only conjure moments from his childhood, before his death began. The main reason why we tolerate death in others is because it pushes it away from ourselves….I think Tolstoy did a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of this by highlighting the inevitable aloneness of the dying process; particularly after supper when Ivan realizes that “his life had been poisoned and was poisoning the life of others…..he had to go on living like this, on the brink of disaster without a single person to understand and pity him”. I don’t think it’s right to say that Ivan was living a life unaware of the problem of death. It is not until the final paragraphs of the story that Ivan realizes his mistake and asks, “but what is the right thing?”. The Death of Ivan Ilych Summary During an interval in a trial, several legal professionals converse in a private room. When Ivan attempts to apologize and cannot speak clearly, it is of no importance because God understands. The message seems to be twofold: one, that life without love and kindness is no life at all; and two, that death is only death of the body and a new life for the soul. As Nabokov points out, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is really the story of Ivan’s life, not his death. Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych Chapter Summary. The evidence of lies become most apparent only as he begins dying, and notices the self-deceiving way he is treated by others: “What tormented Ivan Ilych most was the deception, the lie, which for some reason they all accepted, that he was not dying but was simply ill, and he only need keep quiet and undergo a treatment and then something very good would result…. It would be obvious to think that the focus is death by just considering the title, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. “The Death of Ivan Ilich” traces Ivan’s life from the beginning of his professional career up to his death, which might well lead to the suggestion that the story should be titled “The Life of Ivan Ilich”. He desired for wealth and power. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. In the book, it shows how Ivan Illych goes through these cycles in their own individual way. Ivan did not live fully, but rather artificially. In contrast The Death of Ivan Ilych is uncomfortable as Tolstoy takes us through the life of a dying man and we feel his suffering and discontent. Ivan is nasty to all of his family and realizes he will die. For him, this is agony, and it is accentuated by the fact that he cannot find any answers to explain it. 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