The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a novella by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1886 It tells the story of a high-ranking government official in Imperial Russia who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and must come to terms with mortality. The story has become a classic of Russian literature, with its themes of mortality, suffering, and existential dread resonating with readers.
The title character, Ivan Ilyich, was a successful magistrate in the Imperial Russian court system. He was a man of wealth and privilege, enjoying the comforts of his highly esteemed social standing. But when he is diagnosed with a terminal condition, he realizes that he has wasted his life, and all of his accomplishments and possessions mean nothing in the face of death. He begins to question his life and relationships, and, ultimately, his own mortality.
The story is a meditation on the concept of death, and is often seen as Tolstoy's exploration of his own mortality. It is a powerful reminder that death is inevitable, and that life must be lived to the fullest in order to make the most of the time one has.
FIVE INTERESTING ESSAY TOPIC IDEAS
1. An exploration of the existential dread that Ivan Ilyich experiences in the face of his impending death. How does this dread shape his view of life, and what lessons can be taken from his story?
2. A discussion of the theme of human relationships in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. How do Ivan's relationships change as he comes to terms with his mortality, and how do these changes affect him?
3. An analysis of Tolstoy's portrayal of mortality in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. How does Tolstoy use Ivan to examine the inevitability of death and the strength of the human will to cope with it?
4. A comparison of The Death of Ivan Ilyich to other works of literature that deal with mortality and suffering, including Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Kafka's The Metamorphosis, and Camus' The Stranger.
5. An examination of how The Death of Ivan Ilyich has remained relevant in the centuries since it was first published. How has the story resonated with readers since its initial release, and what can be learned from it today?