I thought it was very successful putting the funeral at the beginning of the story of Ivan Ilych in order to convey to the reader that this is not a superficial story merely conveying a point in someone’s life, and a storyline that is told in chronological life order. Simply put, it expresses to the reader the notion that the most important thing in this story is not the physical outcome. This story goes deeper than creating suspense or a dramatic event, but it dives into the mind of Ivan as he succumbs to death, by not enforcing the event of death itself.
It takes the acceptance of Ivan dying to bring about true thoughts that he has avoided all of his life until now. Many people try and avoid going through deep thoughts in order to maintain a shallow life without worry, and easily accomplished goals. Who can say that this is a bad thing since many of us are victims? We all are involved with consumerism, and “ideal” commercial images that are thrust upon us all, and the goals that end up with obtaining things in order to become this ideal state are easier to obtain than our own intellectual, or emotional enlightenment. Different cultures dedicate their lives to finding this enlightenment, and meaning of life, whereas more industrialized nations have sought out other mechanical ways of enlightenment, which are not necessarily more advanced.
I think that Tolstoy wanted to convey that no matter how long we all avoid the inner questions that we all slip out of our psyche throughout the day, everyone must deal with them in death. He brings up important questions that make us think of whether or not it is better to deal with them as they come or let them pile up. We all want to go the safe route, and Ivan is a cultural representation of the social norm that we have all created to lead a “safe” lifestyle. In death, what can all those days of security bring you but the questions that you have continued to ask all of your life? Ivan ended up wanted to shed his figure of authority for a shoulder to cry on. Must we all put on these personas, and lead the lives we are bound to lead in order to confound to what others deem as normal? Even facing death, Ivan never cried. I wonder if anyone ever figured out why when people grow older that they always crave the past full of innocence. Ignorance is bliss, but maybe the true path of enlightenment is reached by being honest with oneself, and not waiting until death to do so. It was a sad novel because he wasted his life not dealing with the inner struggles, and regarding them as pointless since he was dealing with his entire life’s struggles in one sitting, only to have a funeral where no one grieved. It is part of human nature to want to slow down, and be alone in order to figure out who we all are. We have been hearing quotes over and over telling us that God has made us all different for a reason, but no one ever stops to try and figure out or accept how different they really are.
Tolstoy takes a dramatic existentialist storyline in order to express this point of inner coherence. Some people might get it, and others may have fallen so deep in the social manipulations to deem it as boring and a poor read, but to me it might be those things, but the underlying message is what carries out an important message of illumination. (609).
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Caitie--I had a hunch you would get a lot out of this story, because you're someone who thinks about the big questions as you read. It's a quality I've noticed in your blog all year and wrote about in your college letter.
I especially liked your description of the cost of taking what you call the "safe" route in life, only to end up in the end with too many unanswered questions. Also, how most of the questions we avoid answering are the inner ones.
Good entry.
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