Death as we know it is a phenomenon that usually triggers sentiments of fear and anxiety for the average person. Most of us aren’t really able to comprehend it to its full extent. Some argue that in death, we find peace and eternal rest, while others argue that it is the time in which we face judgment, where our previous actions in life are put to the test in determining whether we ascend to heaven or descend into hell.
Logically, one would think that the agony of death lies in its unknown nature and our lack of control over what the Hereafter awaits us. But what if the real pain of dying lies in the sudden realization that our whole life was lived in vain? This is the dilemma that is explored in Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilych.” An extraordinary novel, as experts refer to it, that explores the life of a high-ranking official residing in the comforts of societal norms.
I had the privilege of reading this book for my philosophy class a few weeks ago while touching upon the subject of death. Tolstoy wrote this book during a period of intense and spiritual crisis, where he questioned the meaning of life and death’s inevitability. Through the book, Tolstoy attempts to explore the agony of confronting one’s mortality and the emptiness of leading a materialistic life.
The book’s overall purpose truly inspired me and motivated me to spark a change in the world and to not conform to society’s standards. The novel follows Ivan Ilych, a wealthy man who served as .
