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. The story communicates the realistic experience of the spiritual conversion of a judge, an ordinary, unthinking man, in the face of the terrible fear of his approaching death. It is the exposition of the degrading terror with which an average man approaches his own end and his failure to find justification for his life. Part of the Realism of the story is the way it dwells, with unsparing detail, on the physical horrors of disease and death. The story also presents Ivan's attempts to deny, evade, and postpone the inevitable horror.
Why does this story begin at the end, with his funeral? We are given a look at his society, a criteria for which to judge Ivan's life. The mourners" self-interest, the routine and the unfelt condolences, the forms rather than feelings, all build a sympathy for Ivan that we might not have had if we had know him before he died. He would have reacted the same way that these people did, if they had died instead of him. His wife's obituary was much like their marriage: cold, unfeeling, and business like. He would have written a similar one for her. Like her, he would also have been relieved to be free of a burden.
In addition, we see all of the things that Ivan loved going on without him: the talk of the officials, the bridge games, his house and possessions. His "stuff" is all that's left, no real feelings or sadness, except from his son and his servant.
Also beginning with the funeral and then, by way of flashback, telling Ivan's story allows the story to build to the climax of Ivan's conversion at the end.
His co-workers" first response to hearing of his death is who will get his position and how the changes that his loss brings about will effect everyone else. Their thoughts are of their own ambitions.