The sound of "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"
The sound of "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is often mocking and ironic, and it is subtly pedagogical to a large extent. Tolstoy seems to be above all he describes. He exudes the aura of understanding all that needs to be learned (Tolstoy 27).
Thorough presentation of the story
Furthermore, the writer demonstrates a thorough presentation of it. He has the ability to focus on each character's mind. In total honesty and faith, he explains what it's like to be there. "In the depths of his bones, he knew he was dying, but he was not only not used to the idea, he really did not and could not comprehend it," he says (Tolstoy 34). With this line, the narrator summarizes Ivan's state of mind and convinces the audience of his perspective about the characters in the story.
The tone and the meaning of life
The tone shows that the narrator is the master of the universe concerning Ivan Ilyich. Through the tone, he reveals the meaning of life. Through the tone, Tolstoy depicts human life as a conflict between the outer and the inner, the physical life and spiritual life. Up to chapter 9, Ivan is purely a physical being without spiritual life (Tolstoy 27). He relates with others as long as they promote his desires. He mistakes his physical life for spiritual life and thinks that his existence is right.
Tolstoy's perspective and the relevance of the tone
The tone is relevant to the message of the story in that Tolstoy does not give his perspective but leave it to the audience. Tolstoy is the one who knows the truth through and through and as such he is the one who can separate false from the truth. In this context, it is not the reality that is speaking but the world Tolstoy has imagined and created that has an effect on us.
Work Cited
Tolstoy, Leo. The death of Ivan Ilyich and other stories. Random House, 2010.
