"The Death of Ivan Ilych"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych", by integrating the theories of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan in order to examine the development and indeed demise of the main character. It looks at how Ivan develops from a young person with very idealistic, if somewhat mundane ambitions, to a disillusioned and emaciated man on his death bed. The paper further discusses how Ilych's condition of ego-idealism and narcissism was to a great extent to blamed upon both his society and his childhood and how tragically, he appears to have left this legacy to his children as well.

From the Paper:

"Many of Freud's theories have been popularized by today's cultures in terms such as repression, libido, superego, fetishism, and others. Felluga however warns that such terms should not be taken at the often shallow interpretations presented today, but that they should be investigated in terms of Freud's original meanings. Particularly applicable to Tolstoy's main character in The Death of Ivan Ilych are Freud's concepts of repression and superego. Lacan built upon Freud's work to create his theory of the subconscious, and also to create new terms such as the natural or essential reasons for psychic processes. Of use here are instincts and ideology."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilych" online version: http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/tolstoydeath.html
• Feldman, Steven P. The Professional Conscience: A Psychoanalytic Study of Moral character in Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych. Journal of Business Ethics 49:311-238, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004.
• Felluga, Dino."General Introduction to Psychoanalysis." Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. you accessed the site. http://www.purdue.edu/guidetotheory/psychoanalysis/psychintroframes.html

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