Essay --

Angelica CienegaProfessor R. DickersonENG 232-102417 November, 2013Textual analytic thinkingFor Leo Tolstoys character Ivan Ilych, death is an end to an empty life. It is non until after he gets a vague diagnosis of disease that he realizes his mortality. In this epiph both, he realizes that his relationships with his family, friends, and colleagues are tout ensemble artificial, if not at least superficial. Because of this, he becomes depressed and wonders whether he really lived his live the right way. Ilych unendingly treated his relationships in a very formal manner and, when he died, his so-called friends barely managed to pay their respects. Through Ilych, Tolstoy shows that life is not but a play or a business deal. Tolstoys narration sends a warning to his readers that if they do not have genuineness or passion or individuality in their lives, then they will not experience a real fulfilling life.In chapter two the readers first learns the accounting of Ilychs early lif e. Ilych is described as a man who had ceaselessly been drawn to people of high status in society, so that is the fictitious character of life he pursued for himself. He was the second and most accessible of three brothers, a law school graduate, and was the most successful in earning the good favor of the people he met. The people he well-tried hardest to make the good favor of were merely of good position, not truly good people, and the things he did to earn their favor, made him feel disgusted with himself when he did them (Tolstoy 746). Tolstoy goes on to tell that it does not bother Ilych too deeply because at one time he realized that the people didnt think those disgusting things were ill-use, he was able to forget them entirely or not be at all troubled at remembering them (747). Not but was ... ...lych endures the final days of his life, he spends his time reflecting on his actions and relationships with people. He realizes that the perplexity for his outward life was the flaw of his inward personality. He spent all of his time trying to make his life seem successful, which he effected in the eyes of the shallow high-society people. Unfortunately though, he sacrificed his personal take and ruined his relationships in the process. Or rather, he did not build whatsoever true relationships to ruin, just hung on to empty ones that led to resentment and sorrow. Tolstoys story of Ilychs life warns readers that their opinion of themselves is more important than a rotten opinion of anyone elses, honesty and romance are important in marriage, that friendships are not won in competition, and that children will be any better than their parents if they are not taught to be.