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The Death of Ivan Illych

However, his irritable, ongoing dissatisfaction with the condition of his new house (his life) suggests that Ivan Illych's compulsive behavior was beginning to take control of his life. Any unwanted disturbance to the "official business" of his work and preferences would only drive his madness further. The eventual downfall and end to his life was becoming inevitable. A very significant passage reads " a medallion inscribed "respice finem" "("consider your end", pg.738) was hung around him by a tailor. To me this helps represent the notion that someone with a social classification below Ivan Illych (the taylor), would provide a medallion like that demonstrating almost a warning of events to come.
             An interesting turn of events occurred later in the story. Early in their marriage it was Ivan Illych who was irritated by the demand for attention from his wife. But as his illness progressed, Ivan Illych was the one in need of shared feelings from his spouse. In connection with his short tempered personality, all Ivan Illych received were feelings of neglect from his by then distant wife. Ivan Illych's need at capturing "personal satisfaction" (pg.740) as a reason for marriage was short lived. His mistake at not considering feelings of love towards Praskovya Fedorvna as a reason for marriage but instead his "official business" would come back to haunt him as he drew nearer to death. Likewise, Prakovya Fedorvna felt the same way in the later years of their marriage. " Yet she did not want him to die because than his salary would cease not even his death could save her that hidden exasperation increased his irritation also" (pg. 748).
             As an immense "Lord of The Rings" fan, I had to mention the vague connection between Gollumn's mad obsession with the ring and Ivan Illych's need for power and authority and how both led to their eventual demise. Gollumn was overtaken by the power of the ring which eventually led to his death as he bit it off Frodo's finger and fell to his death.


Essays Related to The Death of Ivan Illych

1. Death

In the two passages "Death be not Proud" and "The Death of Ivan Illych," both Leo Tolstoy and John Donne use various literally techniques in order to show their dissimilar attitudes towards death. ... In the composition of Leo Tolstoy however "The Death of Ivan Illych" the main character fears death, he is desperate and depressed, unwilling to believe that the death is approaching. ... Ivan new that death was coming, but feared it and saw no logic in it. ... We feel piety for him due to the following quote "Ivan Illych was not some logical abstraction he was unique, different He had been cal...

  • Word Count: 1035
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Realism and Tolstoy

In "The Death of Ivan Illyich" the Russian author Leo Tolstoy uses description, psychological and social realism and the power of the senses to convey a portrait of a dying man's life. In the first pages of the story, Peter, a friend of Ivan, attends the funeral. ... When Ivan Illych is lying in the casket, the reader gets an impression of how Peter feels to see this dead man, how it smells, what expression he has. ... However, in "The Death of Ivan Illych", Ivan looks back on his life and remembers what steps he took to better his life. ... Maybe this is Tolstoy expressing his own tho...

  • Word Count: 489
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Afterlife

Throughout the short story, "The Death of Ivan Illych", death is personified as something terrible and threatens the main character, while in the poem, "Death Not Be Proud" the writer seems to be fear free of death. In the short story "The Death of Ivan Illych" as soon as Ivan recognizes his death he begin nothing but despair and uncertainty. ... As much as Ivan tried not to think about his death it seemed to bother him. ... The irony here is that while death is what kills people, in the end death dies, "One short sleep past, we wake eternally and death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt...

  • Word Count: 549
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Ivan Illych

The Death of Ivan Ilyich-analysis of the main character. Tolstoy wrote The Death of Ivan Ilyich in the later years of his life, and it reflects his increasing fear of and preoccupation with death. ... In death, Ivan is trying to tell his friend something. ... Death is part of living. He has accepted death. ...

  • Word Count: 2046
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

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