Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych is a novella that mirrors the contemporary life and the people’s perception of life. The last four chapters of the novella describe the misery and suffering that Ivan Ilych goes through as his death beckons. Ivan, a seasoned lawyer who lived a life engulfed in victories of legal battles, seemed to have hit the pinnacles of life before he met an untimely accident that brought an end to his illustrious life. The fatal crash he had while designing his house set the precedence for anguish, suffering, self-repudiation, and eventually a turn-around on his perception of a well-lived life. Facing his impending death row, the now recalls the life he has lived trying to find the memories of happiness in it. The attempt is however futile because, despite his perceived glorious life, Ivan finds that the memories he has of true happiness and fulfillment are scanty. The flashes of true happiness he has are of his childhood. His socially well-placed friends, marriage, or stellar career had not made him as happy as he had been in his childhood. In this sense, Ivan realizes that everything he sought thinking that he was pursuing happiness was a wild chase. The trivial material possession, the friendship, and marriage founded on falsehood do not conceive true happiness and fulfillment in life. “ And his professional duties and the whole arrangement of his life and his family, and all his social and official interests might all have been false.” (Chapter 11). At the time of his death, Ivan has had a new revelation about the true essence of life, a revelation that is compelled by an affectionate touch from his son. Through this narration, Tolstoy depicts a worldview understanding of a purposeful life in Russian society, raising the question “what is the real purpose of life?”
Throughout the entire last four chapters of the novella, Ivan asks himself in several instances if his life really had a purpose. He tries to find out what he really wants in life. “What do you want? What do you want?” “To live? How?” asked his inner voice. “Why, to live as I used to — well and pleasantly.” “As you lived before, well and pleasantly?” the voice repeated. (Chapter 9). The truth is that the society highly regarded social conformity, in which materialism and social class were perceived as the hallmark of a pleasantly lived life. The characters in the novella, Ivan included, seemed contended with living a life furnished with trivial materialism and shallow-rooted friendship. Marriage was part of the societal conformation and not a sacred institution for companionship. The extent of family breakdown is highlighted when even in his death bed, Ivan is unpleased by his family. He detests the presence of his wife whom he does not love. The essence of marriage should be comfort and consolation in times of strife and anguish. The view depicted in the narration is however contrary to this. This family breakdown and resentment of one’s spouse could be as a result of sincerity and affection. Family breakdown transcends the Russian society of the novella into today’s society.
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Death is dreaded, and the thought of it sends chills down everyone’s spine. People often dread death because of the fear of “losing it all” forever. Just like Ivan’s, most people’s lives are contingent on material possession that they toil their entire lives for. When death reckons, there is the fear that all the assets and wealth amassed in a person’ lifetime will have to be forfeited. Ivan knew this. “What is this? Can it be that it is Death?” And the inner voice answered: “Yes, it is Death.” (Chapter 10). This though is prevalent in a society preoccupied with material wealth and the worship of prosperity and success. In their pursuit of there possessions, people fail to realize how the worth of life embedded in emotional ties and virtues. In his novella, Tolstoy portrays how people don’t realize the paramount role of meaningful relationships in a person’s pleasant life. The race for self-fulfillment and self-actualization has made people forfeit the constructs of social interactions and charitable deeds. The fear of death that befalls humans when death beckons are less indomitable than the realization that life ended long before the physical death. Ivan knew that he should have lived a better life, he should have treated the lowly and the serfs with kindness. Even though it was evident curtains of life were drawing on him, nobody admitted to Ivan that he was dying. His friends, family, and doctors all told him that it would be well, disregarding his deteriorating condition. Only his lowly servant – Gerasim – dared to speak the truth about death. The fear of death engulfs everyone in society. It takes valor to admit to oneself and others that death is unavoidable.
Analyzing this novella has given me insight into people’s perception of life in different situations. Life seems pleasant and meaningful when everything seems to be working out for people when their dreams are being achieved, and desires are being met. During this phase, we seldom realize that we are neglecting other facets of life. When everything starts falling apart, a realization of the true purpose of life sets in. In this phase of life, we start appreciating the things and people that we looked down upon during our ascent to the summit of life. The value of relationships – family and friendships – belittles trivial materialism, social status, and class. The experience has taught me that it is imperative for one to have a perception of life beyond what they can see. In the end, all wealth and status gained will not provide solace and comfort during misery. Love and compassion from those we relate with are the true measures of a person’s happiness, and should not be ignored in pursuit of social conformity.
Reference
Tolstoy, L. (2014). The Death of Ivan Ilych. The University of Adelaide. Retrieved on 05 February 2019 from https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/tolstoy/leo/t65d/index.html
