The Death of Ivan Ilyich

According to Tolstoy, what is the right way to live? Analyze how Tolstoy’s story attempts to answer this question. Finally, compare and contrast your response from the Personal Connection Prompt with Tolstoy’s perspective. What are the differences and/or similarities, if any?

Teaching Suggestion: This Discussion/Analysis Prompt invites students to recontextualize their responses from the Personal Connection Prompt to the story. For Tolstoy, empathy and compassion are essential elements for a fulfilled human life, and people who spend their lives working to please societal expectations as opposed to making personal connections with others will ultimately be left feeling unfulfilled. Ivan’s upward mobility is contrasted with his downward spiritual spiral, juxtaposed by the moment where he injures himself on the ladder at the pinnacle of his newfound professional and monetary success. It is only upon reflection in his final moments that he realizes he was only truly happy as a child, before he attempted to check the boxes of society.

Ironically, although he did everything society asked and expected of him, his death does not profoundly affect any of his peers; his wife is more concerned with her surviving finances, and his peers are interested in the vacancy left at his office. In this way, Tolstoy uses Ivan's narrative to caution readers about focusing on Misplaced Priorities or pursuing Personal Gain Overshadows Personal Connection, as neither will amount to a fulfilling life.