Leo Tolstoy’s story, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, is a story that takes the reader on a journey through a man’s life and death. Life and death are two of the most rewarding and scariest things that we have to face in our lives while on Earth, but what if you are coming close to death and realize that the life you have lived was not true to yourself. Would you want to hold onto it or let it go? Life and death must coexist for us to live a life we are pleased with and our lives on Earth are only for a moment of time. Life is an interesting concept and I believe that Tolstoy’s message for this story is for readers to think about the life they are currently living; he wants us to question our lives and wonder if we are prepared for death. Tolstoy
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One scenario is of the main character, Ivan, and the other is the life of Gerasim, the butler’s assistant, who Ivan grows fondly of. Ivan is a man that lived for power, “Ivan Ilyich felt that everyone without exception, even the most important and self-satisfied, was in his power” (p 820), whereas Gerasim is a man that lives a happy life pleasing others, “Gerasim was a clean, fresh peasant lad, grown stout on town food and always cheerful and bright” (p 837). Ivan’s life is the complete opposite form Gerasim’s, Ivan lived life to please others, “maybe I did not live as I ought to have done” (p 845). I believe that Tolstoy introduces the character of Gerasim to show that how we live our lives affects others around us. Gerasim had a humble spirit about him, he cared for Ivan and accepted the fact that Ivan was dying, “only Gerasim recognized it and pitied him” (p 839). Gerasim and Ivan had completely different outlooks on life, but that is what makes their relationship a powerful one. Ivan found comfort in Gerasim’s positive outlook on life, “Gerasim smiled again and turned to leave the room. But Ivan Ilyich felt his presence such a comfort that he did not want to let him go” (p 838). I also believe that Tolstoy connects the two lifestyles to help readers reflect on the lives that we are currently living. Do we want to …show more content…
Death is something that haunts everyone, and in this story, death is Ivan’s greatest weakness. Ivan is afraid to leave his life behind and forget all the great things he has accomplished. Ivan is a man that refuses to let go of his life and suffers tremendously for it. “He felt that his agony was due to his being thrust into that black hole and still more to his not being able to get right into it. He was hindered from getting into it by his conviction that his life had been a good one” (p 849). However, while Ivan is on his death bed, his inner soul speaks to him and he realizes that the life he has been living, is a life not worth going back to. He lived the life of a typical middle class family life. He moved around, worked a number of jobs, and had to deal with a lot of disappointment, “an unanticipated and unpleasant occurrence quite upset the peaceful course of his life” (p 823). Throughout the story, Tolstoy’s ideas on life and death change for the reader. At first a good life is doing all the “normal” things, be well educated, get married, and have kids. Ivan believed that he lived a good life and that’s why he continues to hold onto it, but once he realizes that he didn’t live a meaningful life for himself, he lets go, “’death is finished,’ he said to himself. ‘It is no more!’” (p 850). Ivan’s new out look on life allows him to not fear death and in fact he is filled with joy, “he
One scenario is of the main character, Ivan, and the other is the life of Gerasim, the butler’s assistant, who Ivan grows fondly of. Ivan is a man that lived for power, “Ivan Ilyich felt that everyone without exception, even the most important and self-satisfied, was in his power” (p 820), whereas Gerasim is a man that lives a happy life pleasing others, “Gerasim was a clean, fresh peasant lad, grown stout on town food and always cheerful and bright” (p 837). Ivan’s life is the complete opposite form Gerasim’s, Ivan lived life to please others, “maybe I did not live as I ought to have done” (p 845). I believe that Tolstoy introduces the character of Gerasim to show that how we live our lives affects others around us. Gerasim had a humble spirit about him, he cared for Ivan and accepted the fact that Ivan was dying, “only Gerasim recognized it and pitied him” (p 839). Gerasim and Ivan had completely different outlooks on life, but that is what makes their relationship a powerful one. Ivan found comfort in Gerasim’s positive outlook on life, “Gerasim smiled again and turned to leave the room. But Ivan Ilyich felt his presence such a comfort that he did not want to let him go” (p 838). I also believe that Tolstoy connects the two lifestyles to help readers reflect on the lives that we are currently living. Do we want to …show more content…
Death is something that haunts everyone, and in this story, death is Ivan’s greatest weakness. Ivan is afraid to leave his life behind and forget all the great things he has accomplished. Ivan is a man that refuses to let go of his life and suffers tremendously for it. “He felt that his agony was due to his being thrust into that black hole and still more to his not being able to get right into it. He was hindered from getting into it by his conviction that his life had been a good one” (p 849). However, while Ivan is on his death bed, his inner soul speaks to him and he realizes that the life he has been living, is a life not worth going back to. He lived the life of a typical middle class family life. He moved around, worked a number of jobs, and had to deal with a lot of disappointment, “an unanticipated and unpleasant occurrence quite upset the peaceful course of his life” (p 823). Throughout the story, Tolstoy’s ideas on life and death change for the reader. At first a good life is doing all the “normal” things, be well educated, get married, and have kids. Ivan believed that he lived a good life and that’s why he continues to hold onto it, but once he realizes that he didn’t live a meaningful life for himself, he lets go, “’death is finished,’ he said to himself. ‘It is no more!’” (p 850). Ivan’s new out look on life allows him to not fear death and in fact he is filled with joy, “he