“The Death of Ivan Ilych” by Leo Tolstoy tells the story of the eponymous man’s life and death. After exploring the initial reactions to Ivan’s death by his colleagues and wife, the story traces Ivan’s life from a boy in school to a dying middle-aged man. The majority of the story recounts the last several months of Ivan’s life. As the story progresses, Ivan is shown realizing that his illness will lead to death. The last portion of the story describes his physical and mental anguish as he slowly dies. As Ivan finds himself on the brink of death, he realizes that his suffering cannot end unless he accepts and internalizes his true condition both physically and spiritually.
Ivan’s primary method of coping with his physical suffering is distraction. …show more content…
As Ivan tries to find a meaning in his suffering, he thinks, “‘But if one could at least comprehend what it’s for. Even that’s impossible…It could be explained if one were to say that I hadn’t lived as I ought. But that can’t be alleged,’ he said to himself, thinking of all the regularity, correctness, and propriety of his life… ‘No explanation! Agony, death… What for’” (304)? Throughout his life, Ivan had focused on following those people who were more successful than himself, making choices not because he thought it was right in a moral sense, but because it is the correct thing to do for a man trying to become successful and move up in society (277). Ivan cannot begin to gain any relief from his terror and suffering until he admits that his life has not been right. Three days before his death, Ivan admits to himself that, “All that in which you lived and are living is lying, deceit, hiding life and death away from you” (305). After this acknowledgement, Ivan realizes that he deserves this end after living an immoral? …show more content…
Hours before his death, Ivan switches his focus from considering the truth about his life and death, to thinking, “What is the right thing” (306)? Having come to a clear understanding of his true physical and spiritual condition, Ivan is able to see what he must do, coming to the realization that his hatred toward his family has been making them miserable. He completes the process of internalizing his spiritual state when he asks for forgiveness from his wife. Immediately, “...what had tortured him and would not leave him was suddenly dropping away, all at once…” (307). “Releasing” his family from the suffering he has inflicted on them, he too is “released” (307). His realizations about his physical and spiritual condition and this last action are able to take away his suffering at the end. He no longer fears death and he has peace in his last
Ivan’s primary method of coping with his physical suffering is distraction. …show more content…
As Ivan tries to find a meaning in his suffering, he thinks, “‘But if one could at least comprehend what it’s for. Even that’s impossible…It could be explained if one were to say that I hadn’t lived as I ought. But that can’t be alleged,’ he said to himself, thinking of all the regularity, correctness, and propriety of his life… ‘No explanation! Agony, death… What for’” (304)? Throughout his life, Ivan had focused on following those people who were more successful than himself, making choices not because he thought it was right in a moral sense, but because it is the correct thing to do for a man trying to become successful and move up in society (277). Ivan cannot begin to gain any relief from his terror and suffering until he admits that his life has not been right. Three days before his death, Ivan admits to himself that, “All that in which you lived and are living is lying, deceit, hiding life and death away from you” (305). After this acknowledgement, Ivan realizes that he deserves this end after living an immoral? …show more content…
Hours before his death, Ivan switches his focus from considering the truth about his life and death, to thinking, “What is the right thing” (306)? Having come to a clear understanding of his true physical and spiritual condition, Ivan is able to see what he must do, coming to the realization that his hatred toward his family has been making them miserable. He completes the process of internalizing his spiritual state when he asks for forgiveness from his wife. Immediately, “...what had tortured him and would not leave him was suddenly dropping away, all at once…” (307). “Releasing” his family from the suffering he has inflicted on them, he too is “released” (307). His realizations about his physical and spiritual condition and this last action are able to take away his suffering at the end. He no longer fears death and he has peace in his last