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The Death Of Ivan And By Leo Tolstoy

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In “The Death of Ivan Ilych”, Leo Tolstoy purposely focuses on Gerasim, the assistants Butler, to establish a transformation in Ivan Ilych that makes him realize the true meaning of life. Gerasim is used as an important tool through the events that lead up until Ivan’s death. Through Gerasim, the author conveys the themes of death, family, and propriety by emphasizing the impact that he brings upon Ivan’s life. Gerasim acts as a guide in the shift of Ivan’s perception by helping Ivan change his views and perspective towards death which no other person could have done if Gerasim was removed from the novelette.

Ivan Ilych does not live his last years before death to his fullest potential and it is as if he is not living at all. Ivan can not bring himself to accept death because he believes he does not deserve to die and questions why this is happening to him. Ivan is not ready to face death so soon since his life is going as planned. Ivan is lying to himself about him dying and tries to avoid the word death by saying it, “He went to his study, lay down, and once again was left alone with it. Face to face with It, unable to do anything with It. Simply look at It and grow numb with horror” (Tolstoy 80). Ivan is referring to death as it because he can not fully grasp the idea that death is really and seriously a lot closer than he expected. Instead of Ivan living each remaining years like it is his last, he makes himself miserable and depressed by the thought of dying.

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