In his work "Existentialism is Humanism," Satre makes the claim that there is no excuse for the person we become (Sartre, 2007). He states the starting point of existentialism- the non-existence of God- this makes us responsible for all our actions (Sartre, 2007). Ivan Ilyich's life is exemplary of Sartre's claim; Ivan's demise arises from several choices he freely makes throughout the novel. In this paper I will be providing evidence to Sartre's claim that we have no excuse for who we've become, due to the fact of our ultimately condemned freedom to make the choice's and take action that lead to who we become. Ivan Ilyich becomes sick and ultimately dies from the desire he had to become affluent and inauthentic. In this paper I will display how Ivan has no excuse for who he becomes.
In the death of Ivan Ilyich, Ivan is born to a civil servant, and was a pleasant and respectable man (Tolstoy, 2003). Ivan enrolls into the School of Jurisprudence alongside his younger brother, Ivan remains at the school but his younger brother does not. He stays at the school and graduates creditably. Ivan makes the choice to remain in the school, and while at the he is talented, likeable and cheerfully sociable (Tolstoy, 2003). The choice to complete his education at the School of Jurisprudence is Ivan's choice. In staying and completing his education at the school Ivan is choosing to become a civil servant. Ivan Ilyich cannot make an excuse for as to why he becomes a civil servant. Ivan Ilyich adopts the attitudes of being sociable, proper and respected while at his Law school, these attitudes form the person Ivan becomes. He becomes drawn to high social standing and adopts the behavior of those in such standing in his life. It is possible to argue that Ivan only became a civil servant due to his father and that he had to go to the School of Jurisprudence because of his father. However, he is not obliged to go to law school upon graduation but Ivan does so and becomes an official for the governor.
Ivan Ilyich is the protagonist of the novel "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" by Leo Tolstoy. ... Ivan Ilyich went to law school and was one the judges in the state. ... Ivan Ilyich was not given an exact illness. ... (Tolstoy 65) It was important for Ivan Ilyich because it was his life. ... Ivan Ilyich went through agonizing pain and suffering up to hours of his death. ...
Realism in "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" Realism is exactly as its root suggests it is. ... Though they are in complete control of their actions, they are being lead blindly by the actions of their peers, as is Ivan Ilyich. ... Money, which begets social status, which begets a certain way of life whether one wanted it or not quintessentially is the primary theme of "The Death of Ivan Ilyich." Ivan's life was in its purest form as a young lad. ... This incident marks a downhill slide in Ivan's life. ...
Parallel Themes in Metamorphosis and The Death of Ivan Ilyich Several themes occur in both Franz Kafka's, Metmorphosis and Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich, however the way in which these themes are presented and the meanings associated with them vary in each work. ... The isolation Ivan feels is in part self-inflicted. ... Money means something different in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. For Ivan, money makes him fit in. The Ilyich family bases itself upon the unsure foundation of wealth. ...
Masterpieces of Literature II The Death of Ivan Ilyich follows the theme of death and the acceptance of death throughout the entire story. ... This bag is a representation of death and Ivan's fear of facing his own death. In the beginning of his realization of his impending death he is upset by the fact that everyone else insists he is only sick: What tormented Ivan Ilyich most was the deception, the lie, which for some reason they all accepted, that he was not dying but was simply ill This deception tortured him wanting to lie to him concerning his condition and forcing him to part...
The Death of Ivan Ilyich-analysis of the main character. Tolstoy wrote The Death of Ivan Ilyich in the later years of his life, and it reflects his increasing fear of and preoccupation with death. ... In death, Ivan is trying to tell his friend something. ... So that on the whole Ivan Ilyich's life continued to flow as he considered it should -- pleasantly and properly" (page 1194). ... "But just through this most unpleasant matter, Ivan Ilyich obtained comfort. ...
A perfect example of this is Tolstoy's, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich-; even though this is a short story the author does not give you any room for interpretation. ... A perfect example of a short story is "The Death of Ivan Ilyich-. ... "The Death of Ivan Ilyich-, is a story made up of forty pages, but these forty pages do not limit its ability to guide the reader through every scene, with specific details, and thorough reading. ... But in this case, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich- does not limit the reader in any way. ... In "The Death of Ivan Ilyich-, Tolstoy goes out of his way to describ...
When the news of Ivan's death circulated amongst his friends they did not grieve but used this tragedy to think of how it would benefit them in their careers. ... If Ivan could have only understood death before it came upon him, he could have faced his situation in a more peaceful and tolerant manner. The ignorance of death in these characters left them defenseless in the war of death. ... Ivan cherishes his time spent with his servant Gerasim; a man who, from the very beginning of the novel, acknowledged death and embraced a warm and cheerful attitude towards life. ... "Gerasim did ev...
As such, we will study three literary works (Candide, The Metamorphosis, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich) , and the respective context of each, in hopes of finding, if not an answer, at least a better understanding of man's changed perception towards our place over time. ... In contrast, Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich reflects the objective realism of his time. ... Nothing symbolizes this transformation more than the change in Ivan's closest personal relationships. As his family and friends slip away, Gerasim becomes closer to Ivan than anyone else. ... Staying true to...
Also this essay will explain the significance of "The Death of Ivan Ilych" in comparison to the life Tolstoy. ... However, the story is actually about Ivan Ilych's stages leading up to his death. ... Nevertheless, the story of the death of Ivan Ilych is in no way ineffectual. ... In "The Death of Ivan Ilych," Tolstoy's motive was to show death as a beautiful phenomenon. ... These expressions explained an enormous amount about Ivan Ilyich's life. ...