The curtains in the story appear to be symbolic of Ilyich’s view towards others. This demonstrates that the condition of the soul can change when faced with death because this is the factor that unites all life.

For the first time, it appears that he cares about others. At the end, Ilyich makes a major transformation, as this mental state teaches him to pity those that he will leave behind in this world. Later in the story, when Ilyich begins to learn the truth of the meaning of his life, he begins to slip into insanity because he cannot cope with this new understanding of himself. The plot of the story revolves around clarifying the truth of this statement. As the story continues, we learn that Ilyich wasn’t liked, but was tolerated due to his social status and influence. However, this description of Ilyich’s relationship with these individuals is superficial, just like his life. When the death of the main character is introduced in the first chapter, it explains that “Ivan Ilych had been a colleague of the gentlemen present and was liked by them all” (Tolstoy 6). Simply put, his life does not mean much to others, so it doesn’t mean anything at all. In a sense, this shows that he is finally able to view himself the way that others do. The plot of the story demonstrates how Ilyich goes from being a successful and well-revered man in his own mind to one without a grasp on reality. All of these elements are used to demonstrate the transformation of Ilyich’s soul. Thus, the symbolism of the story works well with the tone, because even despite Ilyich’s belief that the curtains mark happiness and success, to the reader it seems that they cast a shadow on his household that lead to his mental degradation. The setting of the story is symbolic of Ilyich’s status, as his house is marked by luxurious curtains and we can expect that aspects of his home that were not described in the tale were grand as well. Furthermore, Ilyich’s situation reminds us that we must live through others to truly live at all, as these relationships last longer than life itself. The story revolves around an individual who is considered to be high in society, but his death teaches us that despite the status we obtain in life, we are all equal in death. The author emphasizes the importance of this theme by utilizing the literary elements of plot, symbolism, and tone. Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather ConditionĪ major theme of The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy is the morality and condition of the soul. Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes

A Morte de Ivan Ilich by Leo Tolstoy