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A review by anoriega
The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Confession by Leo Tolstoy
4.0
I was inclined to pick up "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" from a several mentions in Atul Gawande's own book, "Being Mortal." I brought this with me on vacation and wasn't able to pick it up. Finally, when I returned, I opened it up and decided to finally dwell into Ivan Ilyich. I've never read anything by Tolstoy, but having heard the significance and praise with which people talk about him and his works, I knew I was in for something special and insightful.
Ivan Ilyich's story was a straightforward read. It relates the life of Ilyich who has lived his entire life trying to be a good, above average citizen. He works in government, is amicable, has a number of friends and family, went to law school, and takes pride and joy from his career. He considers himself respectable and just in everything he does- especially when he is called upon to resolve civil cases. After a couple years of being a bachelor, he meets a well-off woman and decides to marry her. He believes her sensible manner is a permanent quality in her character but is proven wrong. His marriage and family life begins to crumble and finds refuge by completely immersing himself in work.
Soon, Ivan becomes ill. At first, he thinks nothing of it, then his pain increasingly intensifies, becoming a burden not only to him but to all his friends and family. Instead, of finding solace and understanding from his family, he receives the opposite- humiliation, abandonment and apathy. Why won't Ivan simply get better? Why can't he just do as the doctor's say? Why is he leading them down a path full of sadness and disease? He is bringing all his family down with him and his misery.
In his lonely nights, lying prostrate in bed, Ivan begins to question his entire life and all the causes that have led him to where he is now. If he has tried to live a decent and moral life, why are his final days ending in torment? Everything he once thought was 'right,' ended up askew.
Once I finished "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," I moved on to "Confession" by Leo Tolstoy. Surprisingly, I found myself completely engrossed. Tolstoy begins with a religious declaration- he has been Christian his entire life. Like all children, he inculcated those religious teachings taught to him from adults. These seemed right and comprehensible until he reaches a certain age (which we all encounter) and begins to question what he truly believes in.
"Confession" is about Tolstoy trying to unearth what the meaning of life is, through science and philosophy, through other renowned scholars, and through his own experiences. I wouldn't say it's a light read, but a dense one, one that is completely worth it. I intend on buying my own copy and going back to reread it.
Ivan Ilyich's story was a straightforward read. It relates the life of Ilyich who has lived his entire life trying to be a good, above average citizen. He works in government, is amicable, has a number of friends and family, went to law school, and takes pride and joy from his career. He considers himself respectable and just in everything he does- especially when he is called upon to resolve civil cases. After a couple years of being a bachelor, he meets a well-off woman and decides to marry her. He believes her sensible manner is a permanent quality in her character but is proven wrong. His marriage and family life begins to crumble and finds refuge by completely immersing himself in work.
Soon, Ivan becomes ill. At first, he thinks nothing of it, then his pain increasingly intensifies, becoming a burden not only to him but to all his friends and family. Instead, of finding solace and understanding from his family, he receives the opposite- humiliation, abandonment and apathy. Why won't Ivan simply get better? Why can't he just do as the doctor's say? Why is he leading them down a path full of sadness and disease? He is bringing all his family down with him and his misery.
In his lonely nights, lying prostrate in bed, Ivan begins to question his entire life and all the causes that have led him to where he is now. If he has tried to live a decent and moral life, why are his final days ending in torment? Everything he once thought was 'right,' ended up askew.
Once I finished "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," I moved on to "Confession" by Leo Tolstoy. Surprisingly, I found myself completely engrossed. Tolstoy begins with a religious declaration- he has been Christian his entire life. Like all children, he inculcated those religious teachings taught to him from adults. These seemed right and comprehensible until he reaches a certain age (which we all encounter) and begins to question what he truly believes in.
"Confession" is about Tolstoy trying to unearth what the meaning of life is, through science and philosophy, through other renowned scholars, and through his own experiences. I wouldn't say it's a light read, but a dense one, one that is completely worth it. I intend on buying my own copy and going back to reread it.