Death of Ivan Ilyich Essay

Billy Wood
IDST 01H
The Examined Life

Death of Ivan Ilyich Essay

Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich was a wonderful piece of work. The story reminded me of similar events from my own life. In this short essay I will try to cover the questions asked of this assignment. Tolstoy writes that Ivan’s life,"… had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible." (Tolstoy, 2010). It is a tragedy to live that kind of life.

What is the “authentic life” represented by Gerasim and the “artificial life” represented by most of the other characters in the story?

Authenticity can be defined as the truthfulness of origins, sincerity, intentions, and devotion. The “authentic life” means a life of originality, sincerity, good intentions, devotion, and commitment. Carl Rogers would use the terms unconditional positive regard, genuine (ness), and empathetic. Frankl would describe the “authentic life” in the following way;
“No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being until he loves him. By his love he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him, which is not yet actualized. Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities. By making him aware of what he can be and what he should become, he makes these potentialities come true” (Viktor, 1959).
In the character of Gerasim, we find an amalgamation of Rogers and Frankl in the form of the “authentic life”. Gerasim portrays the role of a client centered therapist to the dying Ivan Ilyich. Gerasim listens without showing judgment, displays empathy, compassion, and gives a feeling of trust to Ivan. Gerasim’s companionship allows Ivan to find illumination to his conundrum. We see Gerasim helping Ilyich to see his own potential and realize actualization.

The relationship between Gerasim and Ilyich is more than superficial. The authentic life is demonstrated through Gerasim by his joyfulness, connectedness to others, and his altruistic manner. Ivan’s son Vladimir is the only other character who is living the authentic life. Vladimir understands that his father is dying and feels sympathy for him. The majority of the other characters in the story represent the “artificial life”.

Artificial can be defined as false or misleading. Leo Tolstoy characterizes the “artificial life” as a life of self interest, greediness, and superficiality. Tolstoy’s thoughts on the artificial life are revealed though his characters, Praskovya Fedorovna Golovina (Ivan’s wife), Schwartz (Ivan’s peer), and Lisa (Ivan’s daughter). Peter Ivanovich is one of Ivan’s closer peers and appears not to have fully succumbed to the artificial life. Life’s true meaning cannot be revealed through living the artificial life. The artificial life blinds one as to what his full potential could be.

How do people around Ivan Ilyich respond to his death and dying?

Peter Ivanovich, a fellow judge, first thinks of having his brother transferred in to fill the void left by Ivan Ilyich’s death. Peter avoids dwelling on Ivan’s death not because he is remorseful at the loss of a friend, but because he does not want to think about his own empty life and inevitable death.
Swartz is a character that Ivan sees his own self reflected through. Swartz plays down the gloominess of death and tries to remain jovial and unconcerned. Like Ivan and Peter, Swartz evades unpleasant situations.

The wife of Ivan Ilyich, Praskovya Fedorovna Golovina, acts as though she cares that her husband is dead. In reality, she is relieved by his death. Ivan never treated her nicely. As Ivan reelects upon his life, we see that he focused much of his shortcomings and resentment on to his wife. Perhaps her greediness, presented in the story by her asking Peter to help her obtain more money from the state for Ivan’s death, may be a result of the way Ivan treated her.

Lisa and her fiancé, Fedor Petrovich, have little to say about her father’s condition and eventual death. At times it appears that the condition of her father is an inconvenience. This is exemplified by her impatience while visiting her father before going to the play.

What meaning does Ivan Ilyich take from life just prior to his death?

Ivan understands empathy, love, and the importance of human relationships as he dies. He reverses course in his artificial life and steers towards the authentic life. The empathetic human connection happens when Vasya weeps for his father. This change of direction could not have occurred without the love shown through Gerasim. As Frankl stated “No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being until he loves him.” (Viktor, 1959). Ivan discovers love for his son which helps Ivan actualize his own potential.

What did you find most meaningful from reading the story?

The most meaningful thing in the story for me is the reality that everyone dies. That being said I want to make sure that I live the most authentic life that I can. I love my family and I see that love reflected back. I must strive to see that my personal ambitions never take me down a road to the artificial life. If I were to succumb to self interest, I fear that I would lead my family into that life too. I do not want to be an Ivan Ilyich.

What experiences or observations from your life are similar to events described by Tolstoy in his story?

In 2006, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. The rank of lieutenant comes with great responsibility and commitment. The position also carries some prestige in the fire service. In the first year of being promoted I found myself completely consumed with self interest. This self interest revolved around striving to be the best lieutenant that I could be. I spent many nights and weekends away from my wife and one year old daughter. I missed so much of her development that year. In my second year of being a lieutenant I began to become infatuated with the job. I worked long hours and continued to work when I got home. Success was number one. Family came second during that year. Finally in my third and final year as lieutenant I came to see the artificial way that I was living. This epiphany came to me through the reality that my mother was dying. Soon I learned that I could save her. On April 20th 2009, after 16 hours of surgery, I became a living organ donor and a different person.

During my recovery I spent three months at home. I had the majority of the day to myself during the weekdays. This was a time of much inflection, soul searching, and discovery. My career was no longer my primary motivation in life. I was able to spend every weeknight and weekend with my family. In my new search for meaning I placed my family and our relationship as my primary motivation in life.
When I returned to work at the end of those three months, I made my intentions known that I would be voluntarily seeking a demotion to fire fighter. Next I enrolled in the SCS Weekend program promising that family would come before school. I made family life my number one goal. So far I met that goal and have still been very successful with my academics.

Now as I think of the road ahead I face the potential to end up like Ivan once again. I am planning to take the LSAT this summer and beginning applying to law school in the fall. If accepted, I will start in the fall of 2012. It was quite a strange coincidence that we had to read The Death of Ivan Ilyich right after my wife and I discussed me seeking a career as a lawyer. That being said, the story of Ivan will always be a reminder for me of what is truly important in life.

William M. Wood Jr.

Works Cited
Tolstoy, L. (2010). The Death of Ivan Ilych. Amazon Digital Services.
Viktor, F. (1959). Man's Search For Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.