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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
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.
I read the translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky and it was just absolutely amazing! It was so easy to read, yet it was still written so intricately. The progression of ivans physical pain and his thoughts throughout of it were portrayed so well. Had to stare at the wall for a few minutes sometimes tbh
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"'Can it be that I have not lived as one ought?' suddenly came into his head. 'But how not so, when I've done everything as it should be done?' [..] Ivan's life had been most simple, most ordinary, and therefore most terrible."
Perhaps one of the biggest fears of mine put into writing. Death will come one day, but I pray the death of me is not like the Death of Ivan Ilych.
Memento mori.
What happens when someone is dead? What that means for closest people?
In this book, the living keep on living, Ivan‘s wife finds new life quality bwcause of finantial aspect, his coworkers find new career opputunities. The empty space is filled so fast, the resources and possibilities are distributed and life continues.
Ivan‘s explorations and realizations are universal. I read this book when I was afraid of a death of a very close person. It‘s also a good book when someone is contemplating the purpose and meaning of their life.
On a side note, I‘m not a fan of short stories, but this format works for Tolstoy. Usually he‘s making a bit of a mess of the main message with repetetiveness and rambling.
What happens when someone is dead? What that means for closest people?
In this book, the living keep on living, Ivan‘s wife finds new life quality bwcause of finantial aspect, his coworkers find new career opputunities. The empty space is filled so fast, the resources and possibilities are distributed and life continues.
Ivan‘s explorations and realizations are universal. I read this book when I was afraid of a death of a very close person. It‘s also a good book when someone is contemplating the purpose and meaning of their life.
On a side note, I‘m not a fan of short stories, but this format works for Tolstoy. Usually he‘s making a bit of a mess of the main message with repetetiveness and rambling.
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have found that I tend not to like Russian writers on the whole, just because the writing seems to me to be without much feeling. However, I generally like the stories that they write. So I dislike the writing style, but like the story. I will say that in this story it seemed like Ivan brought a great deal of his suffering on himself by not accepting the help of others and just thinking in a completely negative way.