death of Ivan Illyach
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In reading "The Death of Ivan Ilych" by Leo Tolstoy, it is apparent that the author is sending a message about our views of death, as well as, life. Tolstoy uses the main character, Ivan Ilych, as an example of how not to live our lives. He is warning us not to just go through the motions of life thoughtlessly because it is something we may regret, and not be able to take back. The story implies not to take life for granted, and to examine the things that are really important in our lives. Everything in Ivan's life was so trivial; it is ironic that he develops a fatal injury while doing something so trivial. Tolstoy also uses Ivan's friends, Peter and Schwartz, in the story to make a point. These men have an "I'm glad it's not me" attitude about death. They look at their friend's death as something that could not happen to them. This is a parallel to the denial that most people feel about their own death. The suggestion here is that death is going to happen to everyone, and not to think we are going to be able to avoid it by denying it...