Simple and Commonplace- The Death of Ivan Ilych

[Lillian]

Chapter Two begins with an important claim: “Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” Why might Tolstoy consider Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying”?

[Marielena]

In chapter two Tolstoy explained “Ivan’s Ilych’s life as most simple and commonplace and most horrifying” because Ivan was going trough a lot of changes in his life in chapter two. Ivan was in a place in life that everyone experiences, when there is new beginnings, right before marriage, mainly when people are at the age of wanting to settle down but at the same time not wanting responsibility. At one point Ivan decided to get married and his life was based on expectations. Every thing Ivan did was expected from everyone else so Ivan was always basing every action he did according to what was expected. After marriage life was not what he himself expected because of the result of his marriage life. Ivan’s wife Praskovya Fyodrovna was a psychopath because she could not control her jealousy and was given Ivan too many problems and the more Ivan ignored his wife Praskovya the worst Ivan’s marriage would get so what Ivan eventually ended up doing was staying at home and focusing on his new jobs. A great quote directly from the story is “ Praskovya Fyodrovna, and Ivan llych began to use his official position and the duties arising from it in struggle with his wife to fence off his own independent world apart”. That is why I believe Tolstoy considered Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying because of how Ivan’s life was turning out and Ivan’s jobs were well paid but not so exciting jobs. My favorite quote was “ as a fly to the light, to persons of good standing in the world, assimilated their manners and their views of life, and established friendly relations with them.”

[Angel]

As a young man, Ivan’s life was looking prosperous, both personally and professionally. He was on he's way up the social latter, making influential net workings. “Why not,” was his own response to if he should get married. After all he was doing well, and it seemed it was the next step for him to make. The author describes Ivan’s life as, “most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” The author is trying to say that even though people strive to have an ordinary life, the life that is ordinary is the most horrifying. The simple life is pledged with chores and even your significant other becomes a burden to deal with. Ivan, to distract himself of his commonplace life, buries himself in his professional life. While others mite rush home to get to their families, I can only imagine him struggling to find more work to distract himself of his problematic life.

[Victoria]

When Tolstoy says “Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” I believe that means that in the beginning Ivan was very pleased with his life. He was well educated, he had a good paying job, and had a good social life. Then he met his wife who he wasn't in love with but thought it was necessary to marry her he says "After all, why not get married?" to himself. Simply like "why not" and just did it. To me that is sad. To get married because you see it fit but not because your in love. Though I want to say that kinda back fired on Ivan. Giving the fact that later on his life he was stuck with someone, who he didn't love, bore children and had to deal with her nagging all the time. So he stuck his head in work and social events with his friends to keep away from the madness with his family. He didn't like the ordinary life with a family but much rather liked how his life was before. So I believe in the beginning of his life it was simple and he was pleased but later after making a family is where it seems it started to get horrifying to him.

[Luis]

Ivan Ilych’s life had been simple and common place. He grew up, went to school, he was successful in his youth. Because of his father’s influence, Ilych never really had to work for anything. “receiving from his father a sum of money for his outfit, Ivan Ilych ordered his clothes at Sharmer’s”. Ilych followed his father’s footsteps, became preoccupied with how other’s viewed him, and never lived life for himself. He excelled and desired more wealth, popularity, and most of all power. Ilych “behaved with dignity both with his superiors and inferiors; and with exactitude and an incorruptible honesty of which he could not help feeling proud”. That is something everyone wants, that is why I believe Tolstoy referred to it is as common place. He married because “he was doing what was agreeable to himself in securing such a wife, and at the same time doing what persons of higher standing looked upon as the correct thing” Ilych’s home life was not that great. He would bury himself at work to avoid the troubles of family life. He never wanted to “bothered” in raising his children or interacting with his wife. Ilych became so involved in living a material life he never lived to enjoy life. This is why, in my opinion, Tolstoy called Ivan Ilych was the simplest, the most ordinary, and the most awful.

[Pearl]

“Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” I feel that Tolstoy considered Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying” due to the way Ivan's life began and then ended. Ivan was a very successful and vigorous individual who was only ascending and striving in life. This man had worked hard for his education and to get to where he initially was to have only settled when it came to marrying the one who he would spend the rest of his life with. He stated that he didn't marry for love but rather did what persons of higher standing looked upon as the correct thing. Then as his wife became pregnant he began to experience the unexpected tiresome element which he stated would never have had been anticipated and from which there was no escape. Then he explains how his wife changed and her jealousy and abuse drove him to get away as much as he could. Eventually she triumphed and got him to stay home and become as dull as she was. After a couple of children died, their home became even less agreeable. He states that for every mischance that occurred in their new home, Praskovya blamed her husband. I believe that at the beginning he found getting married to be the simple and common thing to do but with time life just became most horrifying for him and felt he had no escape.

[Yvonne]

In this story Tolstoy describes “Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” I believe that Tolstoy considers Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying” because it was routine, so planned, and everything he did had to be considered agreeable to other people. He even married his wife not because he truly wanted to but because he considered that fact that people of higher standards would find this the right thing to do. He lived a life that lived up to the standards and expectations of other people. He was a prisoner of his own world that he created. A world in which he escaped to when circumstances did not fit what he considered to be perfect in the eyes of others, especially people considered of higher standards. He was a slave to doing what he thought was the right and acceptable in the eyes of the public. Everyone soon had forgotten him. He had been so occupied by keeping himself busy with his work and social life, just to stay away from his home, that he shut himself off in his own little world. He became so consumed by his selfishness and vanity that he was left in isolation in his own world.

“…because not even his death could save her.” The Death of Ivan Ilyich

[Hilda]

Tolstoy might consider Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying" because Ivan had an ordinary life. At first his life is described as being pleasant. He had no plans to get married but still does."She fell in love with him.Ivan Ilych had at first no definite intention of marrying, but when the girl fell in love with him he said to himself:"Really, why shouldn't I marry?" After marrying his wife it still seems to be pleasant in the beginning of their marriage but it is after she gets pregnant that is when things start to change. "But from the first months of
his wife's pregnancy, something new, unpleasant, depressing, and unseemly, and from which there was no way of escape, unexpectedly showed itself."Ivan's wife starts to become moody and jealous. Ivan rather distract himself at work then be around his family ,and that can be "horrifying". Not wanting to go home to your family is depressing. He becomes isolated from his personal life and focuses on his professional life.

[Kirsten]

In chapter two, Tolstoy mentions "Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying" because he had to live up societies standards. His workplace was going great: as the years went by his job promoted him which meant that he had more power. Ivan loved having power and since his job had promoted him it meant that he had to spend more time away from home. Ivan didn't like being home because his wife would be moody. She got even more moody when she started having babies by Ivan. Ivan hated how his wife was acting so he started hanging out with friends and working, ignoring his personal life at home. Money also started getting tight because Ivan like spending money. Things for Ivan were not the best. Ivan was living a double life. Although in the eyes of society everything seemed normal things were not going healthy in his personal life. This is why Tolstoy describe Ivans life as "simple and commonplace" yet it was "horrifying."

"Ivan Ilych had begun to think that marriage would not impair the easy, agreeable, gay and always decorous character of his life, approved of by society and regarded by himself as natural, but would even improve it."

[Rosie]

I believe Iván did not live as he was meant to and that his life felt meaningless and was unhappy. Iván never thought his life would have turn out the way it did. Yes,he did have a great job. And yes Iván also got marry just to fit in. Iván was unhappy with his wife,because she became very jealousy. This caused him to go out from the home. He instead found ways to ignore his family. Which in my opinión its sad and depressing. Iván acts only to obtain the good for himself and has no value for his family. He starts isolating himself from the demands of his family. I believe Iván is closing himself off from everything including life itself.

[Kimberly]

Tolstoy consideration of Ivan’s life been simple and commonplace to becoming horrifying is because as a young boy, Ivan had a good start in life. His youth was a success as he grew to be intelligent and professional This success went downhill when he started to live for people's expectations. You see, I feel as if all of us are like that in one point in life. But yet, he took a major step to please others, which was marriage. A commitment that brought him misery since his wife was a psychopath type of partner to be with. His marriage brought him isolation and plenty of work which I feel as if it was for distraction to himself.

[Kimberly]

Angel wrote: "As a young man, Ivan’s life was looking prosperous, both personally and professionally. He was on he's way up the social latter, making influential net workings. “Why not,” was the his own response..."

Ivan took the step to get married as a simple choice "Why not?", like it was a little test that he could pass or fail. Yet, this choice brought him misery to his life.

[Marielena]

Hilda wrote: "Tolstoy might consider Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying" because Ivan had an ordinary life. At first his life is described as being pleasent. After marrying his wife it still ..."

i agree with you hilda i agree with the responds you give based on Ivan's life and how it dramatically changes. life has a way of flowing in different directions and Ivans life unfortunately did not go the way we consider normal it was painful and solitary.

[Yvonne]

Rosie wrote: "I believe Iván did not live as he was meant to and that his life felt meaningless and was unhappy. Iván never thought his life would have turn out the way it did. Yes,he did have a great job. And y..."

I believe Rosie makes a point when she states that “he has no value for his family.” He was so self-involved and so selfish that he had no regards for his own family.

[Yvonne]

Pearl wrote: "“Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” I feel that Tolstoy considered Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying” due to the way Ivan's life bega..."

I have to disagree with Pearl when she says, “he felt he had no escape.” I believe that’s why he never wanted to be home. His escape was his obsession with his work and his social life. His escape was setting himself apart from the family life.

[Pearl]

Marielena wrote: "In chapter two Tolstoy explained “Ivan’s Ilych’s life as most simple and commonplace and most horrifying” because Ivan was going trough a lot of changes in his life in chapter two. Ivan was in a p..."

I believe Marielena makes a point when she states Ivan's life was based on expectations. He thought that getting married it was the simple and most common thing to do but didn't do it out of love or because it was something he really desired.
Rather he did it because it looked upon as the correct thing for people of his higher standards.

[Pearl]

Luis wrote: "Ivan Ilych’s life had been simple and common place. He grew up, went to school, he was successful in his youth. Because of his father’s influence, Ilych never really had to work for anything. “r..."

I believe Luis makes a point when he states that Ivan was doing what was agreeable to himself. I believe that at the beginning he found getting married to be the simple and common thing to do but with time everything he "expected" was not as expected. Ivan ended up living such a horrifying life which he felt he had to keep busy so he could stay away from his home as much as he could. Little did he know that he ended up shutting himself out into his own little world..

[Luis]

Angel wrote: "As a young man, Ivan’s life was looking prosperous, both personally and professionally. He was on he's way up the social latter, making influential net workings. “Why not,” was the his own response..."

I agree with Angel's comments for the most part, but I believe that it was seeking wealth in combination with social expectations and the dullness of family life that was the horrible part.

[Luis]

Victoria wrote: "When Tolstoy says “Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” I believe that means that in the beginning Ivan was very pleased with his life. He was well educated..."

Very well said. I agree that he preferred the young single life. He had everything going for him but decided to follow what society decided was appropriate and got married. His life was horrible because he let everyone decide what was correct for him.

[Shanda]

Ivan Ilyich did what society expected him to do. He went to school for his higher education he married what was considered a good woman. He had a good job. He kept going up in his field of work. This is what society says is what you should do. This is conformity at it's peak was Ivan really happy with all of his success and the answer is no. He only did these things because it was expected of him. He did not marry for love his response to getting married was "Why not" this leads to many unhappy moments with his wife. So with "simple and commonplace life to be horrifying" I imagine my own life doing what is expected not what I enjoy or what I want to do with my life not fulfilling my dreams it is heartbreaking in my eyes. You live your life going through the motions not really doing what you want but what others say is successful is a unfulfilled life for you.

[Shanda]

Angel wrote: "As a young man, Ivan’s life was looking prosperous, both personally and professionally. He was on he's way up the social latter, making influential net workings. “Why not,” was the his own response..."
I can see your point but do you see him just doing these things because society says do it. I feel as though he is only doing those things because society says so this is what is expected of him. If he had a choice he would have done things differently.

[Monique]

Tolstoy considers Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying” probably because it is a pretty simple nothing out of the ordinary life that relies too much on the opinions of others. He is described as a “happy mean”, he enters law school and is a social and modest student. Those of high social standing draw Ivan and he conforms to their way of life from their behavior to their outlook on life, he soaks it all in. All in all his life is pleasant, every aspect of his life he carries with meticulousness. After moving to a new province his social life practically picks up where it left off as he surrounds himself with the best circle of legal gentlemen he could find. He later meets this woman who even though he had no intention of marrying, he does anyway even if he wasn’t in love with her but only because others thought it was the right thing for him to do. I think him doing that was a big mistake, he shouldn’t have had to take this big leap in life purely cause of the opinion of others. Their married life was easy at first until things took a turn for the worst when his wife’s behavior took a nose dive and she became a jealous, moody and all around unpleasant woman. He was stuck in this unpleasant union because of his need to fit in with expectations set by the elite class.

[Rosie]

Luis wrote: "Ivan Ilych’s life had been simple and common place. He grew up, went to school, he was successful in his youth. Because of his father’s influence, Ilych never really had to work for anything. “r..."
I agree with you Luis when you say he rather be at work than with his own family..He was avoiding his responsibilities as a father and husband.Ivan ended up living a horrible life in which he bought upon himself for making a mistake of just fitting in society.

[Kimberly]

Shanda wrote: "Ivan Ilyich did what society expected him to do. He went to school for his higher education he married what was considered a good woman. He had a good job. He kept going up in his field of work. Th..."

As you explain "He did not marry for love his response to getting married was "Why not" this leads to many unhappy moments with his wife.'' is an outcome of Ivan's decisione to getting married for pleasing others.

[Kimberly]

Victoria wrote: "When Tolstoy says “Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying.” I believe that means that in the beginning Ivan was very pleased with his life. He was well educated..."

Ivan definately married to fit in to everybody's expecations, his was of saying "Why not?" is a way of taking that decision so slight than later paying the consequences.

[Rogerio]

Tolstoy considered Ivan’s life to be horrifying because he was so driven to be wealthy and to be powerful, leaving all the important things in life aside. The story is about a painfully ordinary government official who comes down with an untreatable illness and dies at home slowly, painfully, and full of loneliness. Ivan is middle aged and unhappy with his family life, and a regretful personality. Rather than turning to religion, art, or the love of his life he decided to cope with death, he turns to medical doctors as his savior.
This story is very similar to day to day life and is why it can be considered to be realistic. Ivan Ilych is a materialist, who loves and worships money. His primary goal in life was to make money and to have the very best things in life. As a result of his dedication to the pursuit of wealth, he neglects his family and the chance for good friendships. His friends’ first concern when they learned of his death is who will get promoted next.

[Alicia]

Tolstoy considers Ivan Ilyich’s life “simple and commonplace—and most horrifying,” because Ivan’s life as a young man was prosperous but it did not go that well after marriage. He was considered, “le phenix de la famille,” meaning that he was “the prize of the family.” He had finished his studies and his father had found a well suited job for him. Ivan was an “incorruptible honesty of which he could not help feeling proud.” He met his wife, Praskovya Fyodorovna Mikhel, who he married, not because he fell in love with her, but because she was a good match which it was approved by the people of his level. I think that was his biggest mistake because she resulted all the contrary of what he expected. “She began without any suit of justification to be jealous, exacting in her demands on his attention, squabbled over everything, and treated him to the coarsest and most unpleasant scenes.” Things got worst with time that not even Ivan’s accomplishments in his carrier and highly paid job was enough for the wife. To prevent further problems Ivan adopted to stay home. “And he attained this aim by spending less and less time with his family; and when he was forced to be at home, he secured his tranquility by the presence of outsiders.” This was living hell!

[Monique]

Kirsten wrote: "In chapter two, Tolstoy mentions "Ivan Ilyich’s life had been most simple and commonplace—and most horrifying" because he had to live up societies standards. His workplace was going great: as the y..."

I agree with your explanation, he lived a life many live nowadays. Many live the horrifying “simple and commonplace”, there’s always going to be someone who is unhappy with things at home which results in them wanting to bury themselves in their work and focus on their success.

[Scarlett]

Tolstoy describes Ivan Ilyich's life to be, "most simple and commonplace -and most horrifying." I feel like he described Ivan Ilyich as what he also describes him as the "agreeable man". As in that one guy that will do whatever because it's what society thinks is best for you. He was the middle child, and his mood were the average of two. "He is neither cold and formal as his older brother, nor as wild and reckless as his younger brother. He is the "happy mean" between the two." He wasn't too into his work but he wasn't too social that would put him in trouble. He was a simple, educated, respectful, social and strict when it came to his profession. Once he got married, it wasn't what he'd thought it'd be. He did almost everything to take the work home, that way his life would have a happy balance that work gave him. To me, Ivan Ilyich is the common successful workaholic man. He works hard how he is suppose too, puts on a face that everything is great but at home he wishes to be at work because home is just sadness and misery. The common life, too ordinary that its misery. He was afraid to do the things he actually wanted because he was afraid to be unhappy, so he chose the ordinary life; the life that was expected of him, and be miserable.

[Scarlett]

Monique wrote: "Tolstoy considers Ivan’s “simple and commonplace” life to be “horrifying” probably because it is a pretty simple nothing out of the ordinary life that relies too much on the opinions of others. He ..."

I agree with you Monique. He is so entitled in fitting into this image that society has for him. He doest fall in love and marries, he instead sees it as a business approach and says "why not?"

[Scarlett]

Shanda wrote: "Ivan Ilyich did what society expected him to do. He went to school for his higher education he married what was considered a good woman. He had a good job. He kept going up in his field of work. Th..."

I agree with you Shanda. I also think if he had not done things because it was expected of him by his family then on by society, some of the things he did, I feel would have gone different. He was the "agreeable" man.