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Comparing Death Of Ivan Ilyich And Letter To Major Von Wiseman

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Exploring Existential Realities Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” and “Letter to Major von Wiseman” both give examples of themes like morality, societal facades, and the search for genuine existence. This essay will compare their exploration of these themes, offering an inside look into human experience. Tolstoy's novella follows Ivan Ilyich who is faced with death, and he realizes that the way society works is awful. On the other hand, the letter talks about how horrible war is and how it damages people emotionally and makes them question what is right and wrong. Even though both of these works talk about different things and are from different times. They both make readers think deeply about what it means to be human. Both texts offer …show more content…

He realizes he's been living the way society expects him to. Following sets of rules that don't really make him happy. Ivan realized this makes him feel unbelievably bad. It then starts to make him unsure about what's really important in life. Ivan says “What if my whole life has been wrong?”...... Ivan is reflecting on the superficiality of his existence and the possibility that he has been living a life devoid of true meaning. In similarity, the letter describes the horrors of war and how it has an emotional impact on humans. Soldiers feel scared and lost, they seem to question the meaning of their actions and the morality of the conflict. “We’re fighting for our country, but what are we really fighting for? Is it worth the lives that are being lost”? This quote reflects the soldiers internal struggle and existential questioning in the face of the horrible realities of war. Both works show the struggle of individuals facing difficult situations and circumstances, prompting them to reassess their priorities and values. Through Ivan's introspections and the soldiers' emotional turmoil, readers see the universal human struggle to find meaning and authenticity amidst facing life's challenges. Both the quotes that were used capture the essence of the themes discussed in this

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