Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilych, part 1

The great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy's brilliant novella exhibits many of the author's great gifts, chiefly his talent for dialogue. It isn't the fact of Ivan's death so much as the way in which he (and his society) constructs his life to avoid the reality of death that is the subject of Tolstoy's scrutiny. This universal attitude of avoidance is contrasted with that of a single character, Gerasim, who piously embraces both suffering and death. This first lecture focuses on the basic themes and the structure of the novella.
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[@kaliyugavideoentertainment4066]

Great clip!

[@mementomori8685]

We all are destined to be Ivan Ilych sooner or later. This novella is more than a literature.

[@LitProf]

Great literature is more than literature

[@johnforkner]

32:23 The genius of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and even Dickens is their ability to get into the minds of their different characters. I read these books and think, “I’ve felt the same thing! How did he know??” In an age when we are increasingly divided and dehumanized, the fact that I share the same thoughts and hopes and fears, the same inner world as people from 150 years ago is incredible to me. I started reading Ivan Ilyich because of this lecture and, having witnessed a couple of sudden deaths recently, I find the novella utterly captivating in its accuracy. Nothing has changed. Humans still behave the same way and think the same things. The suggestion that these kinds of books are more for girls is a little dispiriting. It’s been gnawing on me since I watched this lecture, making me wish I had more of a taste for Greek epic poetry. Maybe you can clarify. I understand that women tend to be more relational and men more action-oriented.

[@LitProf]

The novel was originally written for a largely female audience. By the time Tolstoy writes it is no longer so.

[@stevehays5029]

Your observation about how most students have never seen anyone die, in contrast to most of human experience in the past, is part of what's fueling panic over the coronavirus.

[@LitProf]

I think that it is certainly a part of it.

[@albairisrayton2491]

anna

[@aaronokyere2510]

Channel very helpful, what do we do with modernity

[@stevehays5029]

One of the supreme works of Christian literature

[@mikehess3927]

Ivan Ilyich's daughter was angry at her father because she had been proposed to and a wedding was expected, the beginning of a new life for her. And here her father interferes with her with his illness and dying and funeral. He interferes with her happiness with his sick presence.

[@LitProf]

How inconsiderate!

[@mikehess3927]

​@@LitProf Dear Dr Scott Masson First of all, I want to thank you for the excellent and accurate analysis of Tolstoy's novel. Russian is my native language and I have reviewed and read many reviews and analyses of this story and I must note that your lectures are among the best. Tolstoy was always interested in the topic of death. His short story "Three Deaths" in 1859 helps to better understand the "Death of Ivan Ilyich" the course of his thoughts and the main ideas of understanding the nature of death. And he shows the apotheosis of his worldview of life and death in the parable-story "The Master and the Worker" or "Master and Man" of 1895. Once again, I am extremely grateful to you for the light of knowledge that you give us! All the Best!