The novella, The Death of Ivan Ilych, written by Leo Tolstoy is one of the most discussed pieces of literature that has come from Russia. This classic piece presents the readers with a unique way of looking at life. It also gives the audience a great perspective on what life was like for the newly formed middle class in Russia during the late eighteen hundreds. Throughout Tolstoy 's life he witnessed major cosmopolitan cities, such as Saint Petersburg, fall victim to the European influence which made them pretentious and narcissistic.
To understand The Death of Ivan Ilych we need to realize what was happening in Russia during the 19th century. The country was still being run by a Czar, until 1917, when the communist were able to overthrow the acting government . While the Czar and other nobles were prospering in wealth and knowledge; the people in the …show more content…
Tolstoy takes the readers on a journey of Ivan 's life by visiting all of the places he had lived in his short forty-five year long life. During this narration, Tolstoy is able to paint a picture of what Russia looked like during the time period. Ivan Ilych is Tolstoy 's way of attacking his motherland though satire. He is able to portray though Ivan 's life what a life well lived (or not) looks like and how easily it is for us to conform to the ways people want us to live. Leo Tolstoy sees these people in a rat race chasing nothing but greed. Although written as a cautionary tale of how not to live at the time, these same themes are as applicable in modern American society as they were in the 1800’s. The Death of Ivan Ilych gives the readers a perspective of the middle class battle with materialism, loneliness and isolation, and regret that is as prevalent for today’s middle class as it was 150 years
To understand The Death of Ivan Ilych we need to realize what was happening in Russia during the 19th century. The country was still being run by a Czar, until 1917, when the communist were able to overthrow the acting government . While the Czar and other nobles were prospering in wealth and knowledge; the people in the …show more content…
Tolstoy takes the readers on a journey of Ivan 's life by visiting all of the places he had lived in his short forty-five year long life. During this narration, Tolstoy is able to paint a picture of what Russia looked like during the time period. Ivan Ilych is Tolstoy 's way of attacking his motherland though satire. He is able to portray though Ivan 's life what a life well lived (or not) looks like and how easily it is for us to conform to the ways people want us to live. Leo Tolstoy sees these people in a rat race chasing nothing but greed. Although written as a cautionary tale of how not to live at the time, these same themes are as applicable in modern American society as they were in the 1800’s. The Death of Ivan Ilych gives the readers a perspective of the middle class battle with materialism, loneliness and isolation, and regret that is as prevalent for today’s middle class as it was 150 years