Sharwan’s Reviews > The Death of Ivan Ilych > Status Update

Tolstoy sharply contrasts death with social hypocrisy. Colleagues eye promotions and card games, while the widow bargains over pensions. Only the peasant Gerasim accepts mortality with quiet truth: "We'll all come to it someday." Brilliant start.

Tolstoy sharply contrasts death with social hypocrisy. Colleagues eye promotions and card games, while the widow bargains over pensions. Only the peasant Gerasim accepts mortality with quiet truth: "We'll all come to it someday." Brilliant start.