Tolstoy's Death Of Ivan Ilych

Tolstoy is a modern writer. His style plays with literary conventions while his writing questions society itself. However, towards the end of his life, Tolstoy notices the growing anti-materialism in the middle class (Ress). The growing detachment between the Russian middle class with nature, life, and tradition irritates Tolstoy. By focusing his later works on anti-materialism, Tolstoy awakens the middle class to what it has become—disillusioned. To reveal this disillusionment, Tolstoy writes an anti-materialistic ending to the Death of Ivan Ilych because by focusing on God’s forgiveness, Tolstoy demonstrates how the Russian middle class has become anti-materialistic.

The disillusionment Tolstoy sees is best described by Wordsworth’s poem,

Modernism and anti-materialism are heavily connected because by revealing how anti-materialistic the middle class has become, Tolstoy shocks the middle class. Anti-materialism is the method used to demonstrate the modern theme. However, the ending ends in a Christian and traditional way, which is why the ending as a whole is considered more anti-materialistic than modern. Tolstoy makes the middle class realize what they have become and understand why it is wrong to be materialistic. By creating a traditional ending, Tolstoy demonstrates the need to fall back on the natural—accepting death, and the traditional—the Christian

The ending is heavily influenced by Tolstoy’s desire for a Christian revival—he not only becomes more religious, but believes society as a whole should fall back on the faith (Ress). The ending is Christian because it shows the Christian moral that it is never too late to be forgiven by God. Ivan Ilych feels his son kiss his hand and realizes that “though his life had not been what it should have been, this could still be rectified…he felt sorry for [his son],” (Tolstoy 62). By feeling sorry for his son, Ivan Ilych shows compassion for someone else and acts in a way that will benefit his son instead of an act for personal gain. Ivan Ilych, although acting for himself throughout his entire life, saves himself with this small act of kindness just before his death. Ivan Ilych knows “that He whose understanding mattered would understand,” (Tolstoy 62), showing that God’s opinion is what matters the most, and the only way to end his suffering is to have God forgive him and finally accept death. “It grew clear to [Ivan Ilych] that what had been oppressing him and would not leave him was all dropping away at once…he must…release them and free himself from these sufferings,” (Tolstoy 62). Ivan Ilych is saved by God; “in place of death there was light,”—Ivan Ilych,