Review Book | The Death of Ivan Ilyich

       Tiara Zahra Fauzia Failika (30802400053)

Title: The Death of Ivan Ilyich 

Author: Leo Tolstoy 

Genre: Classic Fiction / Philosophical / Realism

 Publication Year: 1886 

Publisher: Penguin Classics 

Page Count: 86 pages 

Questioning the Meaning of a "Proper Life" Through a 90-Page Tragedy

Have you ever imagined what would cross your mind if a doctor told you that you had only days left to live? Would you reflect on your career achievements or the luxurious home you managed to buy, or would you instead realize that everything you had been chasing all along was actually meaningless? This is the existential question posed by Leo Tolstoy—one of Russia’s greatest literary figures—in his legendary novella, *The Death of Ivan Ilyich*. Though brief enough to be read in a single sitting, the book delivers a profound philosophical blow to anyone too busy pursuing the trophies of modern life.

This book outlines the protagonist's fate from the very beginning. Ivan Ilyich is a high-ranking Russian judge whose life appears idyllic to the outside world. Born into a distinguished family, he is well-educated, married to a woman of equal social standing, and has successfully climbed the career ladder to attain a respected position in society. All of Ivan’s life choices are guided by a single, simple principle: doing what the upper class deems "proper" and "fashionable." Yet, this perfection crumbles due to a seemingly trivial incident. While hanging curtains in his luxurious new home, Ivan slips and injures his side. Initially, the pain seems insignificant, but over time, the injury develops into a mysterious, wasting illness. Doctor after doctor examines him, yet no one is able to cure him. Lying on his bed, as his body grew weaker and death drew near, Ivan struggled not only against a terrible physical illness but also suffered an even more harrowing inner torment: the anxiety that the entire life he had lived "correctly" had, in fact, been a colossal mistake.

Amidst his suffering, Tolstoy sharply exposes the hollowness of social relationships and the absence of empathy surrounding Ivan. His professional colleagues do come to visit, yet their minds are preoccupied with speculation about who will take over Ivan’s position after his death. His wife, too, puts on a dramatic performance—feigning public concern while actually resenting the high cost of his medical care and busily calculating the pension she stands to receive. Within this cold, bourgeois circle, Tolstoy introduces Gerasim—a young peasant servant—as a striking moral contrast. Unlike Ivan’s family, who pretend he will recover, Gerasim is the only truly sincere person, willing to tend to Ivan’s physical needs without a trace of revulsion. ...and honestly acknowledges that Ivan is indeed facing death. Through Gerasim, Ivan experiences a warmth and affection he never received from his own social class, prompting an internal monologue filled with regret as he nears his end. He had long believed himself to be a "good person" for adhering to society's rules, yet in his final moments, he realizes he lived solely to meet the expectations of others rather than for himself. Ivan’s physical death is merely a formality, for spiritually, he had long since "died" the moment he chose to live a life of falsehood.

Although written in 19th-century Russia, the issues Tolstoy raised feel highly relevant to life today. Ivan Ilyich mirrors modern society—trapped in a frenetic culture, the cultivation of a social media image, and consumerist standards of financial success. We are often preoccupied with building a "fine house" to garner the admiration of others. ...yet fail to consider whether we are truly happy within them. With Tolstoy’s writing style—remarkably direct and economical, yet charged with emotional tension—this book immediately immerses the reader in the mind of a man cornered by the approach of death. *The Death of Ivan Ilyich* is not merely a story about a sick man awaiting his end; it serves as a profound mirror for the living, urging us to pause our daily routines and reflect on the direction of our lives. If you are looking for a classic literary work that is neither tedious nor lengthy, yet leaves you in deep contemplation for days after finishing it, this book belongs on your reading list.