The Death of Ivan Ilych â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About The Death of Ivan Ilych

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Answered Questions (8)

Do you think that while the book is a cautionary tale about death, that it also portrays individuals who know how to live well and fully ... Ivan's servant and his young son perfect examples of the value and healing power of love and devotion?

Maureen Spengel Oh, yes. I think that is a key aspect of this novella; that despite the sheer indifference within life, it is We, with the power to love and show kindâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðOh, yes. I think that is a key aspect of this novella; that despite the sheer indifference within life, it is We, with the power to love and show kindness that create meaning and beauty in life, as well as in the lives of those close to us. The selfless servant is an embodiment of this quiet virtue. (less)

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Is it in English?

Maha I translated it from English to Arabic

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Which translation is the most true to the original text? The first sentence of the second chapter has been translated in different ways. 1) "Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary, and therefore most terrible." 2) "The past history of Ivan Ilyich's life had been straightforward, ordinary and dreadful in the extreme." My Dutch one leans towards the second. The 'therefore' seems significant though!

Andrey Astakhov I'm not a professional translator but a native speaker.
I think that the second translation is more accurate. There is no explicit "therefore" in the oâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI'm not a professional translator but a native speaker.
I think that the second translation is more accurate. There is no explicit "therefore" in the original text.(less)

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I usually don't like Tolstoy, or any Russian writers for that matter, but this had theat Kafka-esque quality to it that had a similar message: don't be a creep, live your life, not somebody else's. Any thoughts?

Oriana Van Vlaanderen If this interests you, you might like this book by Victor Brombert ->Musings on Mortality: From Tolstoy to Primo Levi. He analyses eight writers amongâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðIf this interests you, you might like this book by Victor Brombert ->Musings on Mortality: From Tolstoy to Primo Levi. He analyses eight writers among which both Tolstoy and Kafka.(less)

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What is the spiritual message in this short story? What is the turning point in the narrative?

Du Ibra The turning point may be marked in his new phase of life after getting his new position with higher salary, getting moved to a new town and establishiâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðThe turning point may be marked in his new phase of life after getting his new position with higher salary, getting moved to a new town and establishing his new house which makes a real difference in his relation with his own family as whole and especially his wife.
Regarding the spiritual massage, Tolstoy concludes his short story in one message which is Death is inevitable end, and how Ivan Illych excavates for salvation.
May be there is another spiritual message.

The whole comment is according to my own viewpoint.(less)

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