The Death Of Ivan Ilych

“The Death of Ivan Ilych” is a classic piece of Realist Literature. It was written by the Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. Realist Writers were known for their works being about plain ordinary people(Textbook). Realist writers wrote more about the outcast of society such as the lower class(Textbook). “The Metamorphosis” was written by Franz Kafka. Kafka’s story was written during the Modernist era. Modernists were known to write about more out of the box aspects than that of realist writers(Textbook). Tolstoy’s and Kafka’s stories are very similar. Both of the main characters are men who are unhappy with the state of their life. They both undergo changes that gives them insight into their own life that they had never realized before. In Tolstoy’s

He was forced to have a career that he was not interested in because it was what society deemed as appropriate. When he marries his wife and and they experience the terrible loss of losing a child, he responds by showing no sympathy for his wife and retreats into his career (Leo Tolstoy 1828- 1910). Ivan also begins to focus on decorating his house in order to keep up with the appearances of the upper class. While trying to decorate his home he falls and discovers that he has some sort of disease. The doctors can not figure out what kind of disease he has. Ivan pretends it is not happening and tries not to face his imminent death. Tolstoy writes, “And it seemed to him that the meaning of what the doctor had said was that it was very bad. Everything in the streets seemed depressing. The cabmen, the houses, the passers-by, and the shops, were dismal. His ache, this dull gnawing ache that never ceased for a moment, seemed to have acquired a new and more serious significance from the doctor's dubious remarks. Ivan Ilych now watched it with a new and oppressive feeling.”(Textbook) When he heard the news he sank further into his state of isolation. No one understands what Ivan was going through because they had never experienced the feeling of death.

He had no sympathy for his wife, children, friends, or coworkers. On the other hand, his wife did not have any sympathy for him when he died. She was more concerned with when and how she was going to spend the money she got after his funeral. His coworkers were only at his funeral because it was considered the socially moral thing to do. Tolstoy writes, ”Besides considerations as to the possible transfers and promotions likely to result from Ivan Ilych's death, the mere fact of the death of a near acquaintance aroused, as usual, in all who heard of it the complacent feeling that, "it is he who is dead and not I." (Textbook)The only person who shows any sympathy in the story is Gerasim. Gerasim is the caregiver for Ivan. He cares for him like a nurse.(Taylor) Gerasim is the only one who sees Ivan as an actual person, rather than a dying person. Gerasim makes Ivan feel more comfortable though his kind nature. At first Ivan does not understand why he is being so kind him and he responds,”Why shouldn't I help you? You are a sick man.”(textbook) Gerasim’s kindness to Ivan makes him realize that he has been living his life the wrong way. He had been so preoccupied with trying to live the status quo of the upperclass, but through the sympathy that Gerasim gives him he realizes that it is not material objects that makes one happen, it is living a simple life with loved