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Death, death is a topic that is avoided by both children and adults. However, it will happen to everybody sooner or later. There’s no way of avoiding it. We hear about it everywhere although it isn’t a happy thing, it’s a part of life. If you haven’t experienced the death of a loved one. You definitely heard of others experiencing it. It’s not an easy thing to go threw. But can you imagine having to experience it yourself? Can you imagine laying on your deathbed, and knowing that you are dying? But everyone around you denies it and goes about their life like nothing is happening. Well, that’s what Ivan Ilyich in Tolstoys novel The Death of Ivan Ilyich had to go through. Tolstoy uses the existentialist elements of the absurd in order to develop the conclusion that Ivan Ilych finds light in his dark life realizing that death is a part of life not separate from it. The novel is titled The Death of Ivan Ilyich. It tells us a story about a Russian man living in the 19th century. Ilyich throughout his whole life worked very hard and did everything to become wealthy and live up to society’s expectations. One day he becomes sick and as he’s on his deathbed he realizes that he has led the wrong form of life, in his pursuit of wealth and hypocritical relations, and is unable to find the true meaning in life.
Ilyich, like many people, looked for reassurance from society. Ilyich never followed any of his big dreams or passions. He never did anything that he was passionate about. He was always concerned about what other people and society would think of him. All of Ilyich’s actions were based on making himself look good, in the eyes of society. For instance, when Ilyich found his future wife the narrator said, Praskovya Fedorovna came from a good family, was not bad looking, and had some little property. Ilych might have aspired to a more brilliant match, but even this was good. He had his salary, and she, he hoped, would have an equal income. She was well connected and was a sweet, pretty, and thoroughly correct young woman. To say that Ilych married because he fell in love with Praskovya Fedorovna and found that she sympathized with his views of life would be as incorrect as to say that he married because his social circle approved of the match. He was swayed by both these considerations: the marriage gave him personal satisfaction, and at the same time it was considered the right thing by the most highly placed of his associates (Tolstoy 2.15-16) . This shows that he didn’t marry her because he was in love, wanted a family, and saw a very bright future with her. He married her because she came from a rich family. Which would make him look good in society. It would help improve his social status and help him become more wealthy. The meaning of life that Ilyich created for himself was one that he wasn’t necessarily happy with. However, it was one that people thought that he was a successful person, and looked up to him because of it. Ilyich’s view on life and motivation shows the existential element of the absurd, taking place in Ilyichs life. Ilyich isn’t able to find meaning in his life so he bases his actions based on what society would think highly of him for. Aside from his unsuccessful marriage, Ilyich also had children. Whenever there would be a problem at home a fight between his kids or a problem with his wife. Ilyich would disappear and go to work. It was Ilyichs way of escaping his problems; going to work. In society’s eyes, people thought he was a very hard worker and had a very good work ethic. However, no one knew that he would never spend time with his wife or children. To support my statement the text states, With the birth of their child, the attempts to feed it and the various failures in doing so, and with the real and imaginary illnesses of mother and child, in which Ilych’s sympathy was demanded but about which he understood nothing, the need of securing for himself an existence outside his family life became still more imperative (Tolstoy 2.20-21) . Which shows that he was far from a family Man. He didn’t have a very strong relationship with his children and his wife and Ilyich lived his whole life like this. He viewed his family as a problem and limitation that he had to deal with. Trying to escape his problems and trick society into thinking that he is this awesome father, husband, and human being. The element of the obscured shows up again in Ilyichs life. He is unable to find meaning in his life so he tries to escape from it by going to work. He doesn’t confronts and try to resolve his familys issues, but instead runs away from them, and hopes that they will resolve them on their own. At one point in time Ilyich’s wife gets so tired if Ilyich’s actions that she comes to the conclusion that, her husband had a dreadful temper and made her life miserable, she began to feel sorry for herself, and the more she pitied herself the more she hated her husband. She began to wish he would die (Tolstoy 4.2) . Ilyich kept creating a darker life for himself and his family. He keeps digging himself into a hole that is making him more depressed and is causing his life and self-esteem to decrease. While his image in society and out in public keeps growing in a positive direction.
However, one day Ilyichs life changes. He becomes sick and the pain that he experiences is so strong that he can’t even go to work. At first, he thinks that he will recover but sooner than later he realizes that his illness will get the best of him. Although, he knows that he’s sick and will die soon. Society and the people that he is surrounded by including his family chooses to ignore the fact that their coworker, father, and husband is slowly dying. They tend to go about their day ignoring the facts and being unable to face the truth. Because of this Ilyich is left alone. Completely isolated from everybody else. He has to deal with his thoughts, emotions, and the fact that he will be dying all alone. The only way his pain can be slightly eased is by his feet being held up. Which is done by a servant named Gerasim. Ilyich is oftentimes comforted by Gerasim. Not only does he hold his legs up and take care of any of his needs. Gerasim says that We shall all of us die, so why should I grudge a little trouble? (Tolstoy 7.3) . This shows that Gerasim is accepting of death, unlike his other family members. Which comforted Ilyich. Ilyich is understood by Gerasim, and Ilyich appreciates the level of Gerasims authenticity and how accepting he is of death. This shows Ilyich that death is a part of life and slowly helps him accept the fact that he will die. However, as he puts more and more thought into it the more concerned he gets that he has lived a happy life. The more he searches for meaning in his life the more frustrated he gets. At this point, Ilyich is so sick that he can no longer leave the sofa. He spends all his time analyzing the life that he has lived and reflecting on it. After reflecting he comes to the conclusion that.
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