At first Ivan’s life seems quite ordinary; Ivan is the second of three sons, and in all respects, is an average and common person. At a young age, he attends school to involve himself in a career of law, and he eventually assimilates to the high culture of living that members of this career practice. Ivan realizes that he enjoys living in high society, and he enjoys the approval of others. In his attempt to reach that perfect life, he lives his life the standard way. Ivan marries a young woman, not because he particularly loves her, but because it was considered the right thing by highly placed associates (Tolstoy 1142). Unfortunately, Ivan realizes that his perfect life is quickly deteriorating when his wife falls pregnant and she suddenly
