Blog #11: Chapter 2 of Ivan Ilych opens with the narrative comment that "Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible." What does this mean?
This brief commentary from the author is describing how terribly original Ivan's life is lead. Ivan solely focuses on obtaining social power, wealth, and prestige; all being shallow and meaningless values in life. Ivan does not realize the true values in life that deal with relationships with others, love, trust and family. Because Ivan lives such a shallow life, Ivan's life is terrible, and aslo original, because everyone strives to become a little bit wealthy throughout their lives.
Ivan certainly is shallow but at the end he realizes it. He did something good when he spares his son watching him die.
ReplyDeleteHow is it original?
ReplyDelete