The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Lev Tolstoy - Research Paper Example

The death of ivan ilyich A short novel ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ is written by ‘Leo Tolstoy’. This novel is one of the extraordinary works of an artthat was first time produced in the printed form in 1886. This novel is about the life of judge, who practices in high court. A dejected husband, a wonderful father but besides this he is a quick member of the society. One day when he was hanging new curtains, he slipped and strikes on the floor. He felt that there is something wrong but he ignores. After some days he has no option other than to have a prescription from a good doctor (Topham, 2009). Doctors prescribed him with many treatments one after the other, but lastly they lose their hope and he come to know that he has no more time. When seeing death in front, he talk to himself that, I passed my life in a very good manner and committed no sins then why these troubles choose me. He thinks a lot but all for nothing, eventually just an hour before his death everything becomes clear against him and he sees that, in whole of his life he gives no importance to others, he only thinks for his own self. So in actuality it can be said that he lived a bad life (Gradesaver, 2009). Ivan Ilyich, lived in St. Petersburg with his family, is a high court judge. Ivan Ilyich life is without worries and he is always struggled to raise his social status in the society. For this purpose he has to become a two faced person like others. Ivan Ilyich is sick of his wife, who has nothing new instead of demanding all the time but he persist his relations with her. He works day and night as a magistrate just to keep his impact on his friends and juniors. He gives more attention to his office work and as a result, his normal life becomes unhappy. As depicted by Betty Bender, “When people go to work, they shouldnt have to leave their hearts at home” (Tolstoy, 1981). Because if in the offices people start thinking about their families then they cannot work properly. Ivan Ilyich bought a new apartment for his family and wants to furnish it according to their status. One day when Ivan Ilyich hanging the curtains, he slipped and hit on the ground. At first he neglects this and become busy in routine life but pain starts there. And with the passage of time when pain increases his conduct with his family members and office colleagues become grouchy. Now his wife persists that he has to visit a doctor. Doctors cannot judge the source of disease or it can be said that they cannot understand his disease (Hudspith, 2006). But after some days they said that he is now at verge of death. Everyone has to die but now when it is clarified against someone that he/she die after three or four days then who miserable his/her situation is? As depicted by Maurice Maeterlinck, “All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing” (Tolstoy, 1981). Ivan Ilyich is of the view that he lived his life in a correct manner and he does not be worthy of these hardships. He thinks that if he not spends his life in a proper way then there is a point for these hardships, but now these hardships are pointless. In his last days he start disliking his family members because he thinks that they feigned against him as he is not expiring and will recover in some days. He like the attitude of his servant boy, named Gerasim, who has no concern about death, he is of the view that, all that happen is good. Besides this his own son shows sympathy for him. Ivan Ilyich likes to become like his servant, who is of the view as depicted by Mark Twain, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life.  A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time” (Tolstoy, 1981). On the bed of death, every time one question clicks Ivan Ilyich mind that either he spend a good life or a bad life. After thinking a lot of time in the last days of his life he makes a difference betwixt the simulated life and the genuine life. Simulated life is the life of selfishness or egotism, in which one person always thinks for him, whereas in case of genuine life there is a mercy and pity in your heart for everyone, and that is what life demands from us. When these ideas come in the mind of Ivan Ilyich, suddenly he feels that someone hit him on his side and he comes under the bright light. He put his hand on the head of his son and show sympathy for him (Hudspith, 2006). In last time he feels that he no more dislike his wife, but now he felt distress that he cannot tell them the real face of life. But this is what life all about as depicted by the Ralph Waldo Emerson, “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better” (Tolstoy, 1981).  If we analyze in a broader spectrum then this is the story of every house. It is the nature of human being that he/she never ever thankful to what he/she has, but always looks for more. Similarly in the case of life we said that we must have this, we must have that. As it is discussed in the discussion above, that life is too short and to grasp the true meaning of life is a purpose for which we all are here on the face of earth. Task is to manage the life in such a way as depicted by Marion Howard, “Life is like a blanket too short.  You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night” (Tolstoy, 1981). In this quote word ‘night’ stands for this ‘world’. Everyone works for the worldly desires but instead of running behind the money and fame, one must be able to live his life in what he has. Besides this it is discussed in paper that Ivan Ilyich cannot give enough time to his family. Now here comes a point that no doubt Ivan Ilyich worked hard and earned for his family, but what is the purpose and aim of that earning if they cannot give a smile to your family member. Because if someone have happy and supportive family then he has all what he needed otherwise who hardworking he may be, he cannot get the desired results in the life. As depicted by Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, “I dont care how poor a man is; if he has family, hes rich”. And family does not means, the people who just live in one house but the people who have common interests and common sources of pleasure and grieves is known as family. So to have a family, need is to manage the available time properly (Tolstoy, 1981). One must have the guts to face all the worldly pressures and then after draft a solution for them. Later on it was also discussed that he works hard to show off his self in front of friends and juniors. This is dishonesty with one’s own self because one has to work hard for his self or to put an example for others, not to show off others. Besides this promotions and worldly successes one thing that is important, is character. And what you do it describes your character, as depicted by Mignon McLaughlin, “Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway” (Tolstoy, 1981). So if importance is given to the character then all the other related matters are solved unintentionally. As someone think that I have to work hard and reach that destination or to earn enough to purchase that particular thing for the family, but foremost he/she thinks that path must be straight, means to say that there is no deceptions and leg pulling involved in this. Now they gained both destination and inner peace and this is the central idea of the story (Spark Notes, 2009). In last it can be concluded that the idea given in this novel is perfect and related to everyday life. In this novel as discussed above nearly all the aspects of life are discussed and in the end answer to all the queries are given and that is a perfect way to convey your ideas to the reader. In short it can be said that, life is very short and we do not know that either we have a one more minute to live or not, then why we all indulge ourselves in the worldly matters. So, need is to educate the people, besides the knowledge of sciences and arts, like how they have to live their lives? How they have to manage all the problems, faced in everyday life? Work Cited Topham, James. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich." About.com. 2009. Web. 4 May 2010. . Spark Notes, "The Death of Ivan Ilych." 2009. Web. 4 May 2010. . Hudspith, Sarah . "Life in the Present: Time and Immortality in the Works of Tolstoy." Modern Language Review. 101. (2006): Print. Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Bantam Classics). 1st. Bantam Dell, 1981. Print. Gradesaver, "The Death of Ivan Ilych Study Guid." N.p., 2009. Web. 4 May 2010. . Read More