Death of Ivan Ily(*itch)

In the first chapter, which is actually the last chapter, of “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”, it mainly shows the reactions of the people in his life. By having the ending where Ivan is actually said to have died first, it allows the reader to make his or her own conclusions about what type of person Ivan must have been. Everyone who finds out about the death of Ivan does not look at it with sorrow or pity, but rather with an idea of turning it into something beneficial for himself or herself. Ivan was a member of the Court of Justice. The thoughts of his co-workers, “and so the first thought that occurred to each of the gentlemen in this office, learning of Ivan Ilyich’s death, was what effect would have on their own transitions and promotions of those of their acquaintances” (page 36). They did not even feel that bad about it. His co-workers just wanted to know which of them would be getting a promotion. Even Pyotr Ivanovich, one of Ilyich’s closest friends, made a small joke about it, “I must put in a request to have my brother-in-law transferred from Kaluga … Now my wife won’t be able to say I never do anything for her family” (page 36). Everyone had the same reaction. The most sorrow that any of the co-workers had, was when they had realized that they had “fulfill the tedious demands” of going to visit Ilyich’s wife. The men just complained that it is so far away and it would be too much of a hassle. Also, it was not just the fact that Ivan himself had died, but rather that one of them had not, “Well isn’t that something—he is dead, but I am not,” was what each of them thought or felt (page 37). Pyotr Ivanovich had gone to the funeral service at Ilyich’s house. There he saw a man by the name of Schwarts. Schwarts had made a gesture to Pyotr to talk to him, which Pyotr knew, was about the nightly bridge game. Schwarts had said, “In no way can the incident of this funeral service for Ivan Ilyich be considered sufficient grounds for canceling the regular session; that is, nothing can prevent us from meeting tonight an flipping through a fresh deck of card…” (page 40). Even at an event as serious as a funeral, they decide to find out whereto play a little card game.

Even Ivan’s wife had made it seem as if she did not care too much about his death. She was talking to Pyotr about the constant pain that Ivan was going through during his last hours of his life. But she made it seem as if he was a nuisance. “You could hear his screaming 3 rooms away…” which makes it seem like she was not being very supportive. Also, while she was speaking to Pyotr, she made it seem as if she was asking him about the grant from the government but in fact, she knew exactly how big of a pension she could milk out from them. But what made it even worse, was the fact that she asked him if he knew of a way to get even more. Even his own wife was trying to gain benefits from his death, which in my point of view, is not the kindest thing. In the first chapter, there is only one person who seemed to have truly cared about Ivan’s death, his son. His son is barely mentioned in the first chapter, but is said to have a great resemblance to his father. But he is seen by Pyotr with bright red eyes from crying so much, and “had a look common boys of thirteen to fourteen whose thoughts are no longer innocent” (page 46). It did not seem like Ivan Ilyich had the biggest crowd of people who loved him, which means he had must have been some sort of a tyrant during his life.

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