The American Dream: Evaluated Through The Death of Ivan Ilych
The dictionary definition for the American dream is “A life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.” (Dictionary.com). Sounds perfect does it not? However, Ivan in Leo Tolstoy’s novel The Death of Ivan Ilych, appears to be pursuing the American Dream. He has a position with great power and status, possessions, and an excellent salary; every action he makes is based on a desire for comfort, greed, or power. Yet, he is unsatisfied, and at death’s door Ivan discovers that everything he “accomplished” has no value. As illustrated in Leo Tolstoy’s novella, The Death of Ivan Ilych, seeking personal happiness through worldly prides, …show more content…
Tolstoy writes that Ivan is “attracted to people of high station as a fly is drawn to the light, assimilating their ways and views of life and establishing friendly relations with them.” illustrating Ivan’s desire for status (Tolstoy 13). Ivan maintained a position in the higher class. He had friends with great positions, and was considered “an intelligent, polished, lively, and agreeable man” and in general was well liked (Tolstoy 12). Ivan pursued social status and he found it. Also observable is Ivan’s craving for power, “the consciousness of it [the power of his position]… supplied the chief interest and attraction of his office.”(Tolstoy 15). It is also shown that Ivan had power “As an examining magistrate, Ivan Ilych felt that everyone… was in his power” (Tolstoy 15). Ivan desires a comfortable life “To live as I used to-well and pleasantly.” and Tolstoy often describes his life this way (Tolstoy 56). The final desire illustrated through Ivan is material wealth, Ivan received a salary that was considered “fortunate”, but was not satisfied (Tolstoy 20). Often he lived beyond his means, and even when his salary was greatly increased Ivan was only temporally satisfied. Putting his dissatisfaction to the side momentarily, we can safely say that Ivan was well-off materially. Ivan maintained and even achieved all the desires of the American Dream. However his focuses were selfish and trivial, and thus brought no lasting
The dictionary definition for the American dream is “A life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.” (Dictionary.com). Sounds perfect does it not? However, Ivan in Leo Tolstoy’s novel The Death of Ivan Ilych, appears to be pursuing the American Dream. He has a position with great power and status, possessions, and an excellent salary; every action he makes is based on a desire for comfort, greed, or power. Yet, he is unsatisfied, and at death’s door Ivan discovers that everything he “accomplished” has no value. As illustrated in Leo Tolstoy’s novella, The Death of Ivan Ilych, seeking personal happiness through worldly prides, …show more content…
Tolstoy writes that Ivan is “attracted to people of high station as a fly is drawn to the light, assimilating their ways and views of life and establishing friendly relations with them.” illustrating Ivan’s desire for status (Tolstoy 13). Ivan maintained a position in the higher class. He had friends with great positions, and was considered “an intelligent, polished, lively, and agreeable man” and in general was well liked (Tolstoy 12). Ivan pursued social status and he found it. Also observable is Ivan’s craving for power, “the consciousness of it [the power of his position]… supplied the chief interest and attraction of his office.”(Tolstoy 15). It is also shown that Ivan had power “As an examining magistrate, Ivan Ilych felt that everyone… was in his power” (Tolstoy 15). Ivan desires a comfortable life “To live as I used to-well and pleasantly.” and Tolstoy often describes his life this way (Tolstoy 56). The final desire illustrated through Ivan is material wealth, Ivan received a salary that was considered “fortunate”, but was not satisfied (Tolstoy 20). Often he lived beyond his means, and even when his salary was greatly increased Ivan was only temporally satisfied. Putting his dissatisfaction to the side momentarily, we can safely say that Ivan was well-off materially. Ivan maintained and even achieved all the desires of the American Dream. However his focuses were selfish and trivial, and thus brought no lasting