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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper analyzes Tolstoy's short story, The Death of Ivan Ilyich for themes about materialism and its affects on mankind. Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 0 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MBivan.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Leo Tolstoy, one of the great minds of the past century found himself concerned with this question as well as how society deceives itself on lifes definition. To that end,
then, his short story, The Death of Ivan Ilyich speaks about materialism as the great diversion, that it pulls mankind away from the truth of the meaning of life.
Tolstoy, through the character of Ivan, seems to be illustrating the raw irony of the fact that human lives are so short and fame/fortune such
a toss of the dice, and yet mankind pursues both as if he has total control over them. This is what Ivan realizes at the end of his life as
he lies dying. Ivan finds himself in this terminal position after having sustained a minor injury to his leg. At first, the injury
was nothing, a trifle at best. However, upon visiting the doctors, it becomes evident that they cannot agree on what is wrong with his leg. "The doctors couldnt say -
at least they could, but each of them said something different. When last I saw him I though he was getting better"(Tolstoy). In fact, they continue to charge him
exorbitant fees for consulting them. Thus, Tolstoy is indicating that materialism diverts the true calling of the professional, such as the doctor, from their true nature, which is to care
for and heal the sick. Likewise, materialism causes Ivans homelife to be bad. Outwardly he seems to have the perfect family. However, we soon
learn that his wife is a greedy shrew of a woman. When Ivan is sick she claims that it is she that is suffering because she cannot go and do
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