Why does Chapter 2 begin Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible?
Why is it important to acknowledge one's own mortality?
Did Ivan Ilych die at peace? If so, why?
At the conclusion Ivan Ilych says "Death is finished," he said to himself. "It is no more!" What does these words mean? Is this a suitable conclusion to the novel?
I think the beginning of Chapter 2 begins describing Ivan Illych's life as "simple, commonplace, and most terrible" (11) because it's clear Ivan Illych lived an unexamined life, and as Socrates says, "The unexamined life is not worth living." He just kept trying to climb the social hierarchy and didn't really stop to think about the real meaning of life outside of his own selfish desires. Once he's faced with the reality of his own death (even though most of his "loved" ones haven't quite come to face this reality) and "was in continual despair," (36) he realizes that life is much more than what he had been seeking. "His relationship with Gerasim comforted him" (43) because he saw in him what life was all about, selfless love.
There are many major themes within the Death of Ivan Ilych. Mortality is a major theme due to his terminal illness. He is forced to confront the enemy before him which is death. But before his death, he had completely ignored his mortality like Katie said above. Knowing that you are going to die really changes a person's point of view and this is what happens to Ivan Ilych. He then re-evaluates his own life and the author Tolstoy believes that death can reveal our own life's meaning.
I do believe that Ivan Ilych died at peace because at the end of the book his soul was released of suffering even though his body was in pain throughout the process. It took Ivan the entire process of dying to realize how to be at peace. In the beginning, he is alone with all of his suffering because no one can empathize with the pain he is dealing with. In chapter 5, he realizes that he is dying and the thought of dying terrifies him greatly.In chapters 6, Ivan tries to convince himself that he is not dying because death can't happen to someone like him. Ivan is resenting the lie going about that he is merely ill and not dying. Death is teaching him to value the truth over the deceptions of life. Chapter 7 allows him to see death as it is and wants others to stop making lies to try and make death not seem so bad. As his life gets shorter, he realized the things that are important to him and he asks his wife to die in peace. He doesn't want the doctors near him, but he wants to be alone. Ivan also understand that his suffering is making others suffer and when they are suffering, his soul is also suffering. When he comes to this conclusion, I feel as if he found peace in his soul.
I think the quote "Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible" is an interesting quote. I think sometimes people think a simple life would be a good life, not terrible. But in Ivan Ilych’s case, I think this quote is saying that he made the wrong things important in his life, and this ultimately made his life terrible. Ivan wanted money and wanted to be of a high social power. He thought those things were more important than his family and his happiness. This led to his “terrible” life. During his life, he did not realize this, but in his death, he realized that his life was not as good as he thought it was.
I do believe that Ivan Ilych died at peace. He suffered for a while leading up to his death, but I think, in the end, he died at peace with his life. I think that he would have liked to make some of the realizations a little bit earlier in life, so that he could have lived a more “authentic” life like Gerasim. But at the end, when he dies, he knows that life will be better for his family once he dies, and I think that brings him some peace. Throughout the story, he fears death, and he even tries to convince himself that he is not dying. In his last moments, when he is dying, and he sees the light, he stops fearing death and becomes happier. Although his life might not have been as peaceful as he thought, at the moment of his death, he makes realizations that put him more at peace. He also hopes that his death will bring peace to other people.
I just felt bad for Ivan right after he got married, that just seemed like the worst thing to happen to him except for his kidney problem later to come. I just wish he could've found someone so much better for him, I think that marriage definitely impacted the way he felt and how he was acting on his death bed. If he were to have had love all those years, desire to come home to his lady rather than rushing off to work or to play cards with his friends, a sweet and kind wife, maybe he wouldn't have gotten so sick in the first place. Because stress anyway weakens the immune system. Even if the disease was inevitable, I would think had he known his lovely wife was there for him, loved him, making him feel everything would be okay or whatever I think he wouldn't have been so bitter. But, because he sort of resented her and didn't always get along with her I feel like that contributed to him being so angry with everyone which made it all so much worse on himself. I felt pretty sorry for him not being able to realize his bitterness was making everyone just as miserable as he until the 10 minutes before he took his final breath. But I'm glad he died in peace realizing it even if it was only for 10 minutes. Every moment counts. "Death is finished, It is no more!" was a wonderful conclusion. It sounds like the terrible pain he endured for as long as he did while dying made the final moment of painless understanding a moment for him to realize that the process of his death was finally going to be over. No more will he have to suffer, it's over. Thinking about having the right to end one's own life for the sake of quality, I wonder if that were acceptable for the time period and area if Ivan would have chosen assisted suicide to end his suffering. But had he chosen that route he would have never reached that point of finally understanding, gifting himself the ability to die in peace. So it makes me wonder about the other assisted suicides and whether or not they would go back in time to change their minds if they knew sticking it out in suffering would lead to a special kind of human enlightenment like that or something similar.
Ivan Ilyich's life started his life a very talented, likable, cheerfully sociable, but always strictly fulfilling what he felt was his duties (12). Ivan was a very driven person and worked very had and started out with a very simple life. He believed it would be good for him to marry a suitable woman and settle down because that is what a suitable man does. He did what every ordinary person was doing at that time. Unfortunately I think he was playing more of the part of keeping up with the Jones's and ended up not being a very happy man at all. Not respected by his wife or children. When death hit he realized how terrible his life was and the only comfort he found was in Gerasim who was a peasant. Gerasium brought him light and joy and companionship which he should of found in his wife but all she cared about was money. They had grown so far apart. I think the most terrible thing for Ivan was his struggle with not finding peace in death, he did not want to die. He felt a little peace after the priest had given him communion. His eye filled with tears and he told his wife he felt some peace but the next 3 days he screamed in horrible pain. Poor Ivan Ilyich not tull the last hour of life realized it could all be put right.
Ivan Ilyich's life started his life a very talented, likable, cheerfully sociable, but always strictly fulfilling what he felt was his duties (12). Ivan was a very driven person and worked very had and started out with a very simple life. He believed it would be good for him to marry a suitable woman and settle down because that is what a suitable man does. He did what every ordinary person was doing at that time. Unfortunately I think he was playing more of the part of keeping up with the Jones's and ended up not being a very happy man at all. Not respected by his wife or children. When death hit he realized how terrible his life was and the only comfort he found was in Gerasim who was a peasant. Gerasium brought him light and joy and companionship which he should of found in his wife but all she cared about was money. They had grown so far apart. I think the most terrible thing for Ivan was his struggle with not finding peace in death, he did not want to die. He felt a little peace after the priest had given him communion. His eye filled with tears and he told his wife he felt some peace but the next 3 days he screamed in horrible pain. Poor Ivan Ilyich not tull the last hour of life realized it could all be put right.
What are the major themes?
ReplyDeleteWhy does Chapter 2 begin Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible?
Why is it important to acknowledge one's own mortality?
Did Ivan Ilych die at peace? If so, why?
At the conclusion Ivan Ilych says "Death is finished," he said to himself. "It is no more!" What does these words mean? Is this a suitable conclusion to the novel?
I think the beginning of Chapter 2 begins describing Ivan Illych's life as "simple, commonplace, and most terrible" (11) because it's clear Ivan Illych lived an unexamined life, and as Socrates says, "The unexamined life is not worth living." He just kept trying to climb the social hierarchy and didn't really stop to think about the real meaning of life outside of his own selfish desires. Once he's faced with the reality of his own death (even though most of his "loved" ones haven't quite come to face this reality) and "was in continual despair," (36) he realizes that life is much more than what he had been seeking. "His relationship with Gerasim comforted him" (43) because he saw in him what life was all about, selfless love.
ReplyDeleteThere are many major themes within the Death of Ivan Ilych. Mortality is a major theme due to his terminal illness. He is forced to confront the enemy before him which is death. But before his death, he had completely ignored his mortality like Katie said above. Knowing that you are going to die really changes a person's point of view and this is what happens to Ivan Ilych. He then re-evaluates his own life and the author Tolstoy believes that death can reveal our own life's meaning.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Ivan Ilych died at peace because at the end of the book his soul was released of suffering even though his body was in pain throughout the process. It took Ivan the entire process of dying to realize how to be at peace. In the beginning, he is alone with all of his suffering because no one can empathize with the pain he is dealing with. In chapter 5, he realizes that he is dying and the thought of dying terrifies him greatly.In chapters 6, Ivan tries to convince himself that he is not dying because death can't happen to someone like him. Ivan is resenting the lie going about that he is merely ill and not dying. Death is teaching him to value the truth over the deceptions of life. Chapter 7 allows him to see death as it is and wants others to stop making lies to try and make death not seem so bad. As his life gets shorter, he realized the things that are important to him and he asks his wife to die in peace. He doesn't want the doctors near him, but he wants to be alone. Ivan also understand that his suffering is making others suffer and when they are suffering, his soul is also suffering. When he comes to this conclusion, I feel as if he found peace in his soul.
ReplyDeleteI think the quote "Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible" is an interesting quote. I think sometimes people think a simple life would be a good life, not terrible. But in Ivan Ilych’s case, I think this quote is saying that he made the wrong things important in his life, and this ultimately made his life terrible. Ivan wanted money and wanted to be of a high social power. He thought those things were more important than his family and his happiness. This led to his “terrible” life. During his life, he did not realize this, but in his death, he realized that his life was not as good as he thought it was.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Ivan Ilych died at peace. He suffered for a while leading up to his death, but I think, in the end, he died at peace with his life. I think that he would have liked to make some of the realizations a little bit earlier in life, so that he could have lived a more “authentic” life like Gerasim. But at the end, when he dies, he knows that life will be better for his family once he dies, and I think that brings him some peace. Throughout the story, he fears death, and he even tries to convince himself that he is not dying. In his last moments, when he is dying, and he sees the light, he stops fearing death and becomes happier. Although his life might not have been as peaceful as he thought, at the moment of his death, he makes realizations that put him more at peace. He also hopes that his death will bring peace to other people.
I just felt bad for Ivan right after he got married, that just seemed like the worst thing to happen to him except for his kidney problem later to come. I just wish he could've found someone so much better for him, I think that marriage definitely impacted the way he felt and how he was acting on his death bed. If he were to have had love all those years, desire to come home to his lady rather than rushing off to work or to play cards with his friends, a sweet and kind wife, maybe he wouldn't have gotten so sick in the first place. Because stress anyway weakens the immune system. Even if the disease was inevitable, I would think had he known his lovely wife was there for him, loved him, making him feel everything would be okay or whatever I think he wouldn't have been so bitter. But, because he sort of resented her and didn't always get along with her I feel like that contributed to him being so angry with everyone which made it all so much worse on himself. I felt pretty sorry for him not being able to realize his bitterness was making everyone just as miserable as he until the 10 minutes before he took his final breath. But I'm glad he died in peace realizing it even if it was only for 10 minutes. Every moment counts. "Death is finished, It is no more!" was a wonderful conclusion. It sounds like the terrible pain he endured for as long as he did while dying made the final moment of painless understanding a moment for him to realize that the process of his death was finally going to be over. No more will he have to suffer, it's over.
ReplyDeleteThinking about having the right to end one's own life for the sake of quality, I wonder if that were acceptable for the time period and area if Ivan would have chosen assisted suicide to end his suffering. But had he chosen that route he would have never reached that point of finally understanding, gifting himself the ability to die in peace. So it makes me wonder about the other assisted suicides and whether or not they would go back in time to change their minds if they knew sticking it out in suffering would lead to a special kind of human enlightenment like that or something similar.
Ivan Ilyich's life started his life a very talented, likable, cheerfully sociable, but always strictly fulfilling what he felt was his duties (12). Ivan was a very driven person and worked very had and started out with a very simple life. He believed it would be good for him to marry a suitable woman and settle down because that is what a suitable man does. He did what every ordinary person was doing at that time. Unfortunately I think he was playing more of the part of keeping up with the Jones's and ended up not being a very happy man at all. Not respected by his wife or children. When death hit he realized how terrible his life was and the only comfort he found was in Gerasim who was a peasant. Gerasium brought him light and joy and companionship which he should of found in his wife but all she cared about was money. They had grown so far apart. I think the most terrible thing for Ivan was his struggle with not finding peace in death, he did not want to die. He felt a little peace after the priest had given him communion. His eye filled with tears and he told his wife he felt some peace but the next 3 days he screamed in horrible pain. Poor Ivan Ilyich not tull the last hour of life realized it could all be put right.
ReplyDeleteIvan Ilyich's life started his life a very talented, likable, cheerfully sociable, but always strictly fulfilling what he felt was his duties (12). Ivan was a very driven person and worked very had and started out with a very simple life. He believed it would be good for him to marry a suitable woman and settle down because that is what a suitable man does. He did what every ordinary person was doing at that time. Unfortunately I think he was playing more of the part of keeping up with the Jones's and ended up not being a very happy man at all. Not respected by his wife or children. When death hit he realized how terrible his life was and the only comfort he found was in Gerasim who was a peasant. Gerasium brought him light and joy and companionship which he should of found in his wife but all she cared about was money. They had grown so far apart. I think the most terrible thing for Ivan was his struggle with not finding peace in death, he did not want to die. He felt a little peace after the priest had given him communion. His eye filled with tears and he told his wife he felt some peace but the next 3 days he screamed in horrible pain. Poor Ivan Ilyich not tull the last hour of life realized it could all be put right.
ReplyDelete