Paper Summary:

Within this essay an overview is provided of the central themes found within and woven together in Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych". Additionally, examples are provided of some of the symbols used throughout the story that help to further illustrate the thematic content found within the novella. Themes reviewed include existentialism and man's struggle for meaning as well as death and spiritual rebirth.

From the Paper:

"One of the major themes found within Tolstoy's story of Ivan is the struggle faced by humans as they attempt to make rational decisions despite living within a world that can be largely irrational. Driven by a search for meaning and that which gives us some sense of being and larger purpose in the universe, we look to logic as Ivan did in hopes of doing that which seems right and necessary in order to be rewarded with an existential understanding of our place within the larger universe. The reader learns early on within the story that Ivan had spent most of his life directed toward conforming to what was expected of him by family, society, professionally and personally. Within Chapter II, a more than accurate summary is provided that helps the reader to understand Ivan's commitment to doing what was right."

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