The Death of Ivan Ilych" is about a man's realization of the meaninglessness of his existence in light of his impending death. By all external definitions, Ivan's life was the picture of success. He had risen to the top of his profession; he had married an attractive and well-thought of woman; and he seemed to be satisfied with the pleasantness of it all. Yet under this exterior, his life was empty, hollow, and completely motivated by worldly trappings. Other people's expectations dominated Ivan's life. He had to do what was proper. He went into the law, took a good job, and could even rationalize his carousing because everybody said that that was what young people did. It is also interesting to note that many of Ivan's rationalizations come in the form of French phrases. He needs to be part of that upper class, regardless of the personal cost. He continually seeks out higher wages and better jobs to keep pace with his cost of living. Paring down his living expenses is not a viable option. In addition to this driving need to "be somebody" in the social and financial world, Ivan has a propensity to run away from his problems at home. It is unclear in the story what brings on his wife's change of heart and mood, but she starts to nag and complain. It starts during her pregnancy and never stops. She was quite the catch when Ivan married her, although Ivan may never have really been in love with her. Rather, he seems to marry her out of some social convenience and a careless "why not?" attitude. But to her defense, how could you not turn into her after living with the coldness and emptiness of Ivan for so long? In any case, she emerges from the birth and subsequent births a nagging, self-centered, and spoiled bitch. This new negative force in Ivan's life disrupts his quietude, so he retreats further back into his work and his petty life of cards and false friends. It would destroy him to confront his problems at home because that would lea...