Paper Summary:

This paper explains that "The Death of Ivan Illych" by Leo Tolstoy is a story inspired by the death of the writer's own brother. The author points out that this novel, written in Russia in 1886, is about a man's realization of the worthlessness of his life due to his impending death. The paper relates that Ivan Illych, who was a man of apparent wealth and status according to external standards, was an ideal of success; however, despite what was assumed by the surrounding community, Ivan Illych's life was empty and hollow--he felt desolate and abandoned.

From the Paper:

"When the annoyed Peter Ivanovich, one of Ivan Illych's dearest friends, went to the funeral scheduled for one o' clock that day, he was somewhat surprised at the attitude of Mrs. Ivan Illych. Figuring he would be needed to comfort her, Peter was essentially desired by Praskovya to discuss the possibility of obtaining a grant of money from the government on the occasion of her husband's death. Even Praskovya Fedorovna Golovina could not help but to expose her selfishness; rather than speaking sympathetically of the agonizing pain her husband endured during the last days of his life, ..."

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