The death of Ivan Ilyich touches upon the topic of the existential wandering of the person. The novel’s main character is tormented by the illness, which provokes thoughts about the meaning of being in his mind. Facing death, Ivan Ilyich realizes that he lived his life according to the forced by society’s values which have never made him feel happy. The novel’s author strives to show that understanding the true essence of being is in constant seeking, which can only be achieved by accepting death as a part of life.
The ideas reflected in Tolstoy’s story can be connected with the philosophical position of Heidegger. From the philosopher’s perspective, the being is what is asked, the questions, doubts, and concerns (Kearney 32). Death in Tolstoy is not a protagonist but rather an antagonist. Death does not play the main role for him in the life of the characters; instead, it shows the importance of life. The final scene where Ilya says, “Death is finished,” shows that death is only part of authentic living on the way of accepting the essence of a human being (Tolstoy 63). Author similar concept of being in the works of Tolstoy and Heidegger is the concept of the ultimate loneliness. Ivan wants to be heard and supported, but his family’s attention is unpleasant for him (Tolstoy 44). This is connected with the ontological loneliness idea offered by Heidegger.
The person is thrown into being to understand that all humans are beings-toward-death creatures. According to Heidegger, man is being-towards-death since his existence, as an eternal projection on his life ultimately culminates in death (Kearney 35). The same situation is shown in Tolstoy’s story when Ivan analyzes his life as being worth living. In other words, the reflection of the character is the protection that culminates in death. Only by realizing that the end of life is near can the person truly understand the genuine truth of existence. Overestimating and analyzing life facing death, people realize that there is no sense of life because life itself is the essence. This idea can be supported by the phrase, “In place of death, there was light” (Tolstoy 63). Tolstoy shows that by confronting death, a person can be free from social boundaries and reveal the deepest desires of the soul.
By creating such a story, Tolstoy strives to awaken the readers’ understanding that the only thing that is worth it is life. It is so precious because it has an end. Seeking for the essence of the human being, asking a question, and constantly finding new answers through self-reflection can be called ‘being’ itself. This story performs the function of literature creation, which strives to justify human actions and emotions. As discussed by Simone de Beauvoir, each situation can be reflected in the mind of the people, and literature performs the enveloping function for the readers (199). People share a similar experience, and through Ivan Ilyich ‘s example, Tolstoy shows that dining the final answer to the being is impossible. Death is not the end but rather a part of life.
Therefore, the story about Ivan Ilyich is deeply philosophical, communicating many important truths about human existence for the readers. The ideas of Tolstoy and Heidegger show that human beings and existence are bound to constant transcendence. The vicious circle of constantly finding the answers is what makes people reflective and deliberate about their lives, causing doubts, suffering, and the feeling of ultimate loneliness. Such conditions are normal and can be considered a part of life as well as death.
Works Cited
Beauvoir, Simone. “The Useless Mouths “And Other Literary Writings. Edited by Margaret A. Simons and Marybeth Timmermann, University of Illinois Press, 2011.
Kearney, Richard. Modern Movements in European Philosophy. Manchester University Press, 1994.
Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories. Tantor Media, 2009.