Death of Ivan Ilyich

First book by Tolstoy, and it was a great surprise. A surprise at how easy it was to read. Have been struggling to get anything substantial progress through crime and punishment for all the Russian characters and their oh so many nicknames.

But when reading this book, The Scream by Van Gogh came to mind. I picture Ivan Ilyich screaming into void for all his pain and suffering as he journeys towards the inevitability of death. With no rhyme or reason, his body fails him.

And to make matters worse, he hasn’t come to terms yet with his mediocre life. Angry / resentful towards his wife and his entitled daughter. Ivan Ilyich lived life like many of us, chasing the material luxuries like they may panacea to a not so enriched life or a gateway to happiness. Or more commonly known as being Trapped by the produce of earthly desires.

Only towards the end, when Ivan Ilyich has come to terms with death, exclaiming “Death is over” and “there is no more death”, he found peace and content. And just like a light switched off, he went. He had found the end of death.

Though, what comes after was also amusing and rather human (which still holds true to this day). His friends / colleagues gunning for his position or a promotion from his departure, his wife trying to seek out the most of his wealth and insurance pay out.

Time to read more on the theme of Death like Ernest Becker’s Denial of Death, and perhaps more of Tolstoy.