The Death of Ivan Ilych: A Realistic Tale of Redemption

The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy is an example of realistic writing. It tells a personal tale of redemption, influenced by Christian ideology, highlighting a moral framework that guides us on how to live, understand our morality, and act compassionately towards others.

This novel is not just about death but also a critical examination of the society and class Ivan Ilych belongs. Tolstoy’s characters, except for Gerasim, act in ways that reflect their social class. Gerasim stands out as an idealized representation of a peasant and is the only character who shows Ivan pity and care, embodying different, more humane ideas about death.

The novel deals with not just death but also how Ivan lives, and we see that he hasn’t lived well so far. The society we see in the novel is showing us the bad side of society in reality. In the novel, they are only interested in material things. They are not aware of their morality which is why they don’t have sympathy for Ivan. Death makes them uncomfortable. Ivan himself is overly concerned with how others perceive him, highlighting the superficiality and selfishness prevalent in his social circle. His wife, upon his death, is more concerned with her suffering and the financial gain she might receive rather than mourning her husband’s loss.

Ivan’s life is portrayed as simple and ordinary, having done everything expected of him by society. His father, also a societal man, passes down these values to him. Ivan’s marriage, too, is a subject of criticism; he married to fulfill societal expectations, finding little personal satisfaction and making no effort to improve his relationship, thus becoming an awful husband.

A significant symbol in the novel is the stepladder Ivan climbs, representing his social status. Though he feels he is rising in society, this climb ultimately leads to the injury causing his death. Ivan symbolizes the kind of person Tolstoy criticizes—someone who thinks he is unique but is just like everyone else, lacking any meaningful relationships.

His illness makes him consider his life. He can’t stop thinking about death. Nothing matters to him anymore. He understands material things have no value. He begins to show concern for Gerasim and recognizes the falsehood of his previous life, seeing it as a waste. Tolstoy uses Ivan’s journey to critique the society of his time, portraying events that resonate even in today’s world.

The novel realistically portrays Ivan’s changing psychology, and in the end, he expresses sympathy for everyone, aligning with the Christian idea of a deathbed confession. Tolstoy emphasizes that for those with religious beliefs, death is not the end, but a transition, making The Death of Ivan Ilych not just a social critique, but also a Christian story.

The novel contains profound criticism of the class Ivan Ilych belongs to, making it a timeless and realistic portrayal of human life and society’s flaws.