The Theme of The Death of Ivan Ilych :: Tolstoy Death Ivan Ilych Essays

The Theme of The Death of Ivan Ilych   One Work Cited        In The Death of Ivan Ilych, Leo Tolstoy examines the life of a man, Ivan, who would seem to have lived an exemplary life with mark wealth, high station, and family. By storys end, however, Ivans life will be shown to be devoid of passion -- a life of duties, responsibilities, respect, work, and cold objectivity to everything and everyone around Ivan. It is not until Ivan is on his death bed in his final moments that he realizes what will become the major theme of the story that the personal relationships we forge are more grand in life than who we are or what we own.   This point of the story is indirectly brought out in the very beginning when Ivans colleagues, and supposedly his friends, learn of his death. The narrator states in paragraph 5   So on receiving the news of Ivan Ilychs death the first thought of each of the gentlemen in that private room was of the changes and pro motions it might occasion among themselves or their acquaintances.   This line reveals that among Ivans peers, he was no more than an obstacle. It also reveals that these men regarded Ivan with the aforementioned(prenominal) respect and cold, professional indifference with which he regarded them. Ivans own wife appears to be except going through the motions of grieving, when in fact she is more concerned with monetary matters. Of all the characters presented in this story, none truly mourns the passing of Ivan Ilych.   Of the things Ivan seemed to pride himself on during his lifespan was his professionalism while performing his job at the Court of Justice. The narrator explains in some detail how Ivan was able to detach himself from the emotional turmoil surrounding a case while eliminating all considerations irrelevant to the legal aspect of the case (paragraph 65). This portrays Ivan Ilych as a shrewd, calculating, apathetic magistrate, whose only concern was for the p rocess of justice, and not for the throng his rulings affected. He is made to realize, too late, the dehumanizing effect his unemotional demeanor has had on others when a physician gives him like treatment. Ivan recognizes that the doctor put on just the same air towards him as he himself put on towards an accused person (paragraph 115).