Tolstoy, a summary of "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"

Tolstoy has a story dedicated to the history of a man who sensed the meaninglessness of his life at the threshold of death. The way the great Russian writer portrayed the torment of a dying soul can not be understood by reading a brief summary. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" (and this is what this story is called) is a profound work, suggestive of gloomy reflections. Read it should be leisurely, analyzing each piece of text.

However, those who do not want to delve into the bleak philosophical reflections, will approach the concise narrative of the story. In this article - its brief content.

The death of Ivan Ilyich - the protagonist of the work - is an event that formed the basis of the plot. But the narrative begins from the moment when the soul of the aforementioned character has already left the mortal body.

The first chapter (summary)

The death of Ivan Ilyich became an event not that ordinary, but far from paramount in importance. In the building of judicial institutions, during a break, Peter Ivanovich - a colleague of the deceased - learned of the sad news from the newspaper. After telling other members of the court session about the death of Ivan Ilyich, he thought first of all about what event this would turn out for him and for his relatives. The place of the deceased will be occupied by another official. So, there will be one more vacant position. Pyotr Ivanovich will put her on it and attach her brother-in-law.

It is worth mentioning one feature of the work of Tolstoy, without which it is not easy to state a brief content. The death of Ivan Ilyich, as well as the last days of his life, are described in the story from the position of the main character. And he always suffers not only from physical pain, but from the thought that everyone around him is waiting for his death. In this terrible belief Ivan Ilyich is partly right. After all, each of his colleagues after the tragic news comes thoughts about the impending transfer of posts. And also the feeling of relief that arises from the fact that an unpleasant phenomenon called "death" happened somewhere near, but not with him. In addition, everyone thought about the boring duties of decency, according to which one should go to the requiem and express condolences.

As you know, the expert of human souls was Leo Tolstoy. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," the summary of which is set forth in this article, is a soulful work. The author outlined in the small composition the fate of the hero, all his joys and sorrows. And most importantly - the rethinking of spiritual values, which occurred in the last days of life.

Ordinary and terrible history

The reader can not understand the depth of Ivan Ilyich's frantic feelings without knowing the basic data from his biography. Therefore, in the second chapter we are talking about the life of the main character. And only then, in all colors, Tolstoy describes the death of Ivan Ilyich. The summary of the story is only a story of the hero's life and death. But, perhaps, it will inspire you to read the original.

Ivan Ilyich was the son of a secret adviser. His father was one of those lucky people who managed to rise to high ranks, receive fictitious places and an inactive money reward. The family of the secret counselor had three sons. The elder is right and successful. The younger studied badly, his career failed, and it was not accepted in a close circle to remember him. The middle son was Ivan Ilyich. He studied well. And already in the student body he became what he later appeared almost to his death: a man who wants to be closer to high-ranking officials. He succeeded.

This is the portrait of the character that Tolstoy created. The death of Ivan Ilyich is, in a sense, not only the physical cessation of his existence. It is also a spiritual rebirth. A few days before his death, Ivan Ilyich begins to understand that his life was somehow wrong. However, others do not know about this. Yes, and nothing can be changed.

Marriage

In his youth Ivan Ilyich had a social and easy life. There were connections with the milliners, and drinking with the adjutant's outhouse, and distant amusement trips. Ivan Ilyich served diligently. All this was surrounded by decency, aristocratic manners and French words. And after two years of service, he met with a special person who ideally suited the role of wife. Praskovia Fedorovna was a smart and attractive girl. But above all - a good noble family. Ivan Ilyich had a good salary. Praskovia Fedorovna - a good dowry. Marriage with such a girl seemed not only pleasant, but also profitable. So Ivan Ilyich got married.

Family life

Marriage promised him only joy. In fact, it turned out otherwise. Difficulties in family life are one of the themes raised by Leo Tolstoy in his work. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," whose plot at first glance may seem very simple, is a complex philosophical work. The hero of this story tried to make his existence easy and problem-free. But even in his family life he had to be disappointed.

Praskovia Fedorovna suited her husband jealousy, she was always dissatisfied with something. Ivan Ilyich increasingly went into a separate, arranged by him world. This world was a service. In the judicial field, he squandered all his forces, for which he was soon promoted to office. However, for the next seventeen years, the chiefs did not dignify him with attention. The desired place with a salary of five thousand he did not receive, because, according to his own understanding, he was not appreciated in the ministry where he worked.

New post

Once there was an event that affected the fate of Ivan Ilyich. In the ministry, a coup took place, as a result of which he received a new appointment. The family moved to St. Petersburg. In the capital, Ivan Ilyich bought a house. For several years in the family, the main theme was the purchase of one or another detail of the interior. Life began to play with new bright colors. Quarrels with Praskovia Fedorovna, although they occurred from time to time, but did not depress Ivan Ilyich so much as before. After all, he now had a good position and a significant position in society.

All would be well, if not for the death of Ivan Ilyich. Summarize the last months of his life in the following way: he suffered and hated everyone who knew his pain.

Disease

The disease came to his life unexpectedly. However, it is hardly possible to treat the terrible disease with cold-bloodedness. But the case of Ivan Ilyich was especially tragic. None of the doctors could tell with accuracy, from what exactly he suffers. It was a wandering kidney or inflammation of the intestine, or even an unknown disease. And most importantly, neither the doctors nor Ivan Ilyich's family wanted to understand that for him the diagnosis was not so important, but as simple as that, although it was a terrible truth. Will he live? Is the illness sick, which causes so much pain?

Gerasim

It is worth mentioning that Ivan Ilyich's physical suffering was incomparable with his mental torments. The thought that he was leaving caused him unbearable pain. The healthy skin color of Praskovia Fedorovna, her calm and hypocritical tone caused only anger. He did not need the wife's care and constant doctor examinations. Ivan Ilyich needed compassion. The only person who was capable of this was the servant Gerasim.

This young man turned to the dying gentleman with simple kindness. The main thing that tormented Ivan Ilyich was that it was a lie. Praskovya Fedorovna pretended that the husband was only sick, that he needed to be treated and stay calm. But Ivan Ilyich knew that he was dying, and in difficult moments he wanted to be pitied. Gerasim did not lie, he sincerely sympathized with the spoiled and weak master. And he increasingly called this simple peasant and talked with him for a long time.

The death of Ivan Ilyich

Read the summary, as already said, is not enough to feel the depth of the story of the great Russian writer. Tolstoy described the last minutes in a person's life so brightly that it seems that he and his hero experienced a sensation of the soul leaving the body. Ivan Ilyich in the last minute began to understand that he was torturing his relatives. He wanted to say something, but he only had the strength to say the word "forgive." He did not feel the fear of death, which became habitual in recent months. Only a sense of relief. The last thing Ivan Ilyich heard was the word "Ended" uttered by someone nearby.