THE COMPLETE NOVELS OF LEO TOLSTOY: THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYICH

"Everyone around him either did not understand or did not want to understand and thought that everything in the world was going on as before." Written in 1886 by Tolstoy, The Death of Ian Ilich is considered a reflection of what the author himself felt at the time, It was thought to be one of the finest novels of its time and is known for its take on greed, corruption and for its realism. This novella is the about the life of Ivan Ilyich, the perfect burcaucrat, who is happy to focus on his career and to live as high society expects. Diagnosed with an incurable disease that leaves him incapacitated, he struggles with his reality: As the story ends he finds comforts in the simple acceptance of death by a servant as a natural part of life and dies in peace. Can this story help us understand the connection bewween death and the true meaning of life, love and compassion?