The Death of Ivan Ilych Summary

The narrative begins with the passing of Ivan Ilych, a respected judge, as announced by Peter Ivanovich, his colleague and friend, during a meeting. The judges contemplate the career opportunities that Ivan's demise might offer them, and Peter later attends Ivan's funeral. Upon observing Ivan's body, Peter notices an expression of disapproval and warning on Ivan's face, which unsettles him. Meanwhile, Ivan's wife Praskovya discusses with Peter about maximizing her late husband's government pension. As Peter departs, he shares a conversation with Gerasim, Ivan's nurse, who makes a profound remark about the inevitability of death.

Flashback to Ivan's life, he is portrayed as an ordinary individual who, at the age of thirteen, enters law school and learns to mimic the behavior of the socially elite. He eventually becomes an examining magistrate and moves to a new province where he marries and starts a family. However, when Praskovya's pregnancy disrupts his cherished lifestyle, Ivan retreats further into his work and becomes increasingly distant from his family. With time, Ivan ascends the professional ladder, but when he is overlooked for a significant promotion, he moves his family to the countryside and goes to St. Petersburg in search of a higher paying job. Upon securing a high-ranking position through a friend, Ivan moves alone to the city to prepare a new house for his family, but during the preparations, he falls, hitting his side against the window frame.

Following the incident, Ivan starts experiencing discomfort and unusual taste in his mouth, which gradually intensifies, making him irritable. The doctors he consults provide no consensus about his condition, intensifying Ivan's fear and depression. As Ivan's health deteriorates, he is visited by thoughts of mortality. His wife, Praskovya, seems oblivious to his predicament, causing Ivan to despise her. Amid his suffering, Gerasim, his humble servant, provides Ivan with much-needed compassion and honesty. As his condition worsens, Ivan realizes that his existence is filled with artificiality, with everyone around him denying his impending death. He experiences a profound connection with his son, Vasya, and Gerasim, who understand his situation. After days of introspection, Ivan starts questioning the meaning of his life and suffering, and in a moment of epiphany, he realizes that his official life and social relations were all superficial. At the brink of death, Ivan experiences a moment of intense joy and clarity before he expires.