Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Reading this book is almost like dying yourself - so simple yet powerful Tolstoy describes the illness of Ivan. I think it comes in all books of Tolstoy - that there is no lie in death, you stay painfully honest to yourself - and here Tolstoy, almost like a doctor, provides a detail “diagnosis” on how emotional pain can be more destroying than physical.
Refreshing, scary, painfully beautiful read.
Refreshing, scary, painfully beautiful read.
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Why, what for, all this horror?”
I know I am expressing a dissenting opinion here, but I think this is one of Tolstoy's lesser novellas. It focuses on the suffering and death of the apparently successful judge Ivan Ilyich. From the outset, the main thesis of this novella becomes clear: the hypocrisy, the unfulfillment and the immorality of petty bourgeois life. Tolstoy does delve deep into the physical and mental suffering of Ivan Ilyich on his sick bed, with spontaneous references to the biblical Job story, including the tormented questions: “Can it be that life is so meaningless and vile? And if it is indeed so vile and meaningless, then why die, and die suffering? Something's not right.” (…) “Why these torments? And the voice replied: Just so, for no reason. Beyond and besides that there was nothing.” Eventually Ivan Ilyich realizes that his supposedly successful life was “not right” (a nice double bottom here with his function as a judge who has to pursue exactly “the right thing”), too much of a copy of the aristocratic social class he strive to belong to, instead of pursuing an authentic life. Typically for Tolstoy, Ivan Ilyich’ servant, the simple muzhik Gerasim, is presented as a counterexample.
As said: this novella convinced me a little less of Tolstoy's storytelling talent, especially because Ivan Ilyich's entire suffering process is spread very broadly, but also because the moral of the story is laid on just a bit too thick. On the other hand, I guess this is one of the first times in world literature that a character's internal struggle on his deathbed has been described so intensely and detailed. Rating 2.5 stars
I know I am expressing a dissenting opinion here, but I think this is one of Tolstoy's lesser novellas. It focuses on the suffering and death of the apparently successful judge Ivan Ilyich. From the outset, the main thesis of this novella becomes clear: the hypocrisy, the unfulfillment and the immorality of petty bourgeois life. Tolstoy does delve deep into the physical and mental suffering of Ivan Ilyich on his sick bed, with spontaneous references to the biblical Job story, including the tormented questions: “Can it be that life is so meaningless and vile? And if it is indeed so vile and meaningless, then why die, and die suffering? Something's not right.” (…) “Why these torments? And the voice replied: Just so, for no reason. Beyond and besides that there was nothing.” Eventually Ivan Ilyich realizes that his supposedly successful life was “not right” (a nice double bottom here with his function as a judge who has to pursue exactly “the right thing”), too much of a copy of the aristocratic social class he strive to belong to, instead of pursuing an authentic life. Typically for Tolstoy, Ivan Ilyich’ servant, the simple muzhik Gerasim, is presented as a counterexample.
As said: this novella convinced me a little less of Tolstoy's storytelling talent, especially because Ivan Ilyich's entire suffering process is spread very broadly, but also because the moral of the story is laid on just a bit too thick. On the other hand, I guess this is one of the first times in world literature that a character's internal struggle on his deathbed has been described so intensely and detailed. Rating 2.5 stars
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Aborda de uma forma nua e crua a condição humana e como olhamos o fim e a morte. Deixando ao leitor uma reflexão sobre o real sofrimento e a real dor, mostrando na realidade o que é a morte e porque a tememos tanto…se no ponto de vista de Tolstoi, bem fundamentado, a morte como último suspiro, pode ser luz para quem parte e não sofrimento; o real sofrimento de Ivan Ilitch foi sentido em vida!
An intriguing look at how one man who has lived a superficial life struggles to face death when it comes near.