The Death If Ivan Aich Tolstoy Sparknotes

Death occupies a central role in Tolstoi’s consciousness, i particular after he lost his brother (not to mention the early loss of his mother). In The Death if Ivan Ilich, Tolstoy explores a dying man’s review of his life, its meaning, and possible resolution. The Death of Ivan Ilych is uncomfortable as Tolstoy takes us through the life of a dying man and we feel his suffering and discontent. Tolstoy introduces us to the protagonist with, “Ivan Ilych’s life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible.” As we follow Ivan through his unhappy family life, the reupholstering of his new house, or his successes in the courts there is emptiness to it all and you can feel Tolstoy’s contempt. Characters like Pierre and Levin, who are plagued by doubt through the entirety of their life, constantly search for meaning. Ivan is not searching. He finds his satisfaction through bridge and his career as a judge, both serving as a middle-aged man’s escape from family life. His thoughts lack depth and are mainly self-serving.