Ivan Ilyich is the protagonist of the novel "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" by Leo Tolstoy. Ivan Ilyich is a person who admires and wants to imitate other people who have high social standings. Tolstoy describes the people in this story as materialistic who show little emotional connection and sympathy toward each other. .
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Ivan Ilyich went to law school and was one the judges in the state. Ivan Illyich got married to Praskova Fyodorovna who has some money and was attractive. "Ivan Ilyich married for both reason: in acquiring such a wife and did something that gave him pleasure and, at the same time, did what people of the highest standing considered correct." (Tolstoy 49) He was not in love with his wife. He considered in marrying her because people thought that it was a good idea for him to marry her because she had money and she worked. Ivan Ilyich was pleased because he thought that they both would bring equal amount of money to the household. When his wife was pregnant she changed and was always nagging him, so Ivan Ilyich distanced himself with his work. .
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He was always involved in his work and he thought he was going to get promoted for a position in a university town but Hoppe was given the position. Ivan became disguised and quits and then he moves in with his brother in-law in the countryside to save money. He became bored and decides to go to Petersburg to get a position that would pay him five thousand rubles. He wanted to make more money because he lived a more lavishly lifestyle than what he can afford. When he did get the job that paid him what he wanted he thought he was going to be happy but as we know it led to his untimely death.
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Ivan Ilyich was an ambitious person that had no sincere relationship with his family. He was always fighting with his wife. He was happier spending his time working. Ivan Ilyich was able separate his feeling in a case while eliminating all considerations irrelevant to the legal aspect of the case.