Tolstoy: The Chronology Of The Death Of Ivan

The Chronology of The death of Ivan

Why does the story begin with the death? Most books use mystery in the beginning and announce the death at the death. But Tolstoy used a different chronology he started with the death of Ivan and then uses a flashback to show the reader what really happened. Also he chooses to start with the death to make the story seem realistic and not fiction. At the funeral, nobody seemed devastated by the loss of Ivan, this gave the reader an understanding of how little Ivan’s life meant to the people close to him. Ivan later on in the story questions how he lived his mortality life and what if he lived his life properly, then before his death he realized that his death would benefit others around him. "The Death of

The story begins with the memorial of Ivan and it focuses on how his family/ coworkers are reacting to the death. Tolstoy was able to go in Ivan’s wife head and to write, “to ask in connection with her husband’s death, she could obtain a grant of money from the government. She made it appear that she was asking Pyotr Ivanovich’s advice about a pension.” (pg. 40) from this quote one can conclude that she didn’t really care about her husband’s death but she cared more about the pension. She didn’t even wait until the ceremony is over to discuss this with Pyotr, instead she showed no sympathy to her husband. Ivan and his wife weren’t on great terms, they used to fight about so many things. Tolstoy stated, “ and the more she pitied herself, the more she hated her husband. She began to wish he would die, yet she could not really wish that, for then there would be no income.”(pg.64) Ivan’s wife didn’t care if he dies but she cared more about the income in the house if he is alive. This point shows selfishness from his wife

The first thought that occurred of Ivan Ilyich’s death, was what effect it would have on their own transfers and promotions. “All they can think of is Ivan is death, then who will take over his position. His coworkers are selfish and greedy. But from this one can understand that Ivan didn’t have a good relationship with his coworkers. “(pg.32). Ivan’s coworkers thought of him as “he is dead but we are not so what will happen to our positions.” They were selfish and didn’t have mercy on the dead men they once know. One can also conclude that Ivan might have been not good terms with his friends or maybe he was isolated from them. But all of this is realistic people die everyday and not everyone cares but rather they move on and continue their