The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- First Published: 1886
- Type of Work: Novella
- Genres: Psychological fiction, Short fiction, Domestic realism
- Subjects: Values, Self-discovery, Nineteenth century, Middle classes, Truth, Death or dying, Lawyers, Funeral rites or ceremonies, Terminal illness or terminally ill, Materialism, Russia or Russian people
- Locales: St. Petersburg, Russia
Tolstoy’s narrative opens with the revelation to a group of Ivan Ilyich’s friends that Ivan Ilyich has died. As he presents the reactions of Ivan’s friends and family to this event, Tolstoy exposes the hypocrisy and egocentricity that prevails in the cultured society of late nineteenth century Russia. He then provides an account of Ivan’s life, showing how this ordinary individual, a kind of Everyman, became caught in the pursuit of material well-being and career success. Finally, Tolstoy narrows his focus to Ivan’s psychology, closely examining the dying man as he tries to...
[The entire page is 543 words long]
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