Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910): Leo was known as a high ranked aristocrat, gambler, womanizer, vegetarian, anarchist, pacifist, and advocate for the Russian peasantry. He produced some of the best fiction of the century but many thought it was immoral. He was born in 1828, belonging to two parent's of the highest ranking class in Russian society but never took advantage of it to become a diplomat.
- Lost his parent's at a early age.
- isolated youth.
- Had many affairs with women of the peasant class.
- He joined the military and after began to write about it because of the devastation he witnessed.
- Influenced by Charles Dickens.
- Became a famous writer at the age of 34 and married an 18 year old aristocrat.
- His brother Dmitry's death had an affect on Leo and led to him writing a book called, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" which was heavily inspired because of Dmitry.
"The Death of Ivan Ilyich" By: Leo Tolstoy
(Pg. 740)
- Ivan Egorovich Shebek's private room, Peter tells the room (Fedor) that Ivan is dead.
- Ivan was a member of the Court of Justice.
- Ivan was well liked by all the people he worked with.
- His death made them all wonder who would be promoted among the colleagues.
- Peter's brother in law is very sick and would use the promotion to transfer him to a better hospital.
- "Each one thought or felt, " Well he's dead but I'm alive!" But the more intimate of Ivan Ilyich's acquaintances, his so-called friends, could not help thinking also that they would now have to fulfill the very tiresome demands of propriety by attending the funeral service and paying a visit of condolence to the widow." (pg.741)
- Ivan and peter were his closest friends.
(Pg.744-749)
- Ivan's death was painful the last few days before his death he was suffering.
- Died at 45
- Ivan never abused his power, was a fair man.
- Ivan's wife became very jealous when he was not with her and expected him to spend all of his time with her.
- She abused him when he did not fulfill her needs.
(Pg. 750-755 )
- The more children him and his wife had the worst his wife would act towards him making him question marriage.
- He was transferred to a new job meaning they moved to a new house and even then his wife got worst, also blaming him for everything that went wrong.
- Year of 180 was the hardest for him and the salary wasn't enough to raise a family.
- He became depressed after having to move his family to his wife's brother's house because he felt abandoned by everybody. His father even declined to help Ivan.
- A change in positions at his old job sent Ivan promoted to stages higher than his colleagues. Things bean to look up for Ivan and he was feeling 15 years younger.
(Pg. 756- 762)
- His wife began to feel sorry for herself after convincing herself that Ivan was a man with a temper. This was not true though but his wife liked to think it.
- He was told he was sick but not if it was dangerous or not. He tried to tell his wife but she would not listen long so he ended up convincing himself not to worry about it.
- He became depressed from the sickness and his family was upset that he was always depressed blaming everything on him.
- His friends noticed he was not himself and would ask if he would like to go to bed when playing cards.
- "Exaggerating! Don't you see it? Why, he's a dead man! Look at his his eyes- there's no light in them. But what is it that is wrong with him?"(Pg. 760)"
- He took his medicine feeling better but then thinking it would never end and thought the problem was his kidney or appendix.
(Pg. 763-774)
- Ivan sees that he is on his way towards death.
- He began making mistakes at his work and his colleagues noticed that something is wrong with him for it was unlike himself.
- His butler was the only one who recognized he was sick and pitied him.
- Ivan believed the doctor was always telling a lie and would call the doctor out on it but the doctor would shrug it off.
- Anything his wife began to help with it was for herself rather than to help her husband get better.
- Ivan's loneliness was catching up with him leaving him often weeping when no one was around.
(Pg.775-777)
- Ivan was miserable and wanted to die in peace shunning any coming to him.
- The final days he would scream in horror because of the pain and finally felt a pain in his side making it harder to breathe.
- Right before he died he looked at his son kissing his hand seeing both his son and wife crying made him feel sorry for him, but he came to the conclusion it would be easier for everyone if he was dead shortly after the thought he died.
Tolstoy, Leo. (735-777) "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", The Norton Anthology World Literature Volume E.
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