Status Updates From A Morte de Ivan Ilitch

Chapters X-XII. More pain and philosophy from Ivan's point of view. He's easily vexed at this point, and at simple comments from his wife and daughter about his own health, he replies that soon they'll be free of him. Tolstoy portrays a very ill man, full of bouts of pain and internal rambles.

Chapters VII-IX. Ivan, still deeply ill, believes himself to be dying. He's able to stay positive, in part, by appreciating the vigor and youth of his servant Gerasim, even putting his legs upon the lad's shoulders sometimes to ease the pain, but then slowly spins into depression again. Internal monologues race through his mind, and I wonder if Ivan is at the edge of insanity, or has already stepped into it.

Chapters IV-VI. Emotional panic as Ivan's stream of consciousness fills this section, and he is convinced that the long-term (several months) illness has taken place because of a simple poke to his side by a metallic object, causing some kind of appendicitis.

When I read the beginning of the book, judging from the characters’ reactions to Ivan’s death, all I could interpret was that Ivan was dead, and everyone was eager to know how his death could benefit them. For some, it was about job positions and promotions, while for Ivan’s wife, it was about the financial benefit. It made me sad. No one seemed truly grieving. Interested to understand the book further.

Chapters I - III. Lot of well-crafted prose, with many little details that seem to flow effortlessly onto the page. Tolstoy paints the recently deceased main character as a workaholic, trying to do well in his magistrate career while not spending much time at home. There is very little dialogue as much of this section is dedicated to how Ivan lived.