Death Of Ivan Ilyich Analysis

Death in Leo Tolstoy’s Death of Ivan Ilyich and “Three Deaths”
Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, author of the acclaimed novels War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich is well-known for applying the theme of death to his works. Tolstoy utilizes distinctive techniques to depict demise contingent upon the social positions of his characters. For instance, in The Death of Ivan Ilyich it is entirely evident that Tolstoy believes there are two types of lives—the artificial and authentic. The artificial life is represented by Ivan Ilyich and most everyone in his society and company, and the authentic life is represented by his peasant, Gerasim. He was the only person that was there for Ivan at the time of his death and remorse. Moreover, …show more content…
He utilizes different methods to depict death depending on the social positions of his characters. For instance, the characters in The Death of Ivan Ilyich represent the authentic and artificial life. Ivan Ilyich dies regretting have lived an artificial life. It is not until Gerasim’s presence in his life, that he comes to terms with the fact that his entire life was made up of falseness and accepts his death. Eventually, Ivan lets go of his artificial life and embraces authenticity, which allows him to pass peacefully. Tolstoy utilizes this technique to emphasize the importance of authenticity in life. Moreover, “Three Deaths” symbolizes the underlying similarities despite surface differences between the upper and lower classes in regards to death, how the living respond to those who are dying, and nature’s role in this cycle of life and death. Marya Dmitriyevna, of the upper class refuses to believe she is dying and is in a battle with the concept of death until her very last breath. She wholeheartedly believes that it is not her time to die because she has so much left to accomplish in her life. Uncle Fyodor, of the lower class, is a peasant who accepts death and believes that he has lived the life he was meant to live and dies peacefully. Despite differences in social class, the two receive the same reaction from those around during their final days. Lastly, the death of the tree represents the cycle of life and death. One tree must die in order to give life to another. Finally, Tolstoy’s use of siuzhet and defamiliarization forces readers to confront the harsh realities of both life and