In the short story "The Death of Ivan Ilych" by Leo Tolstoy, the reader meets Ivan Ilych. Ivan leads a shallow life, never venturing outside his societal boundaries. Ivan is an unfeeling attorney who treats people of the lower station with kindly disdain. Ivan systematically seeks to join the higher echelons of society, at the expense of all real emotion. Finally, at death's door, Ivan sees the cold reality of his wasted life. The story of Ivan Ilych is a timeless tale with a moral to be heeded even in the 21st Century. One should live to pursue what brings real happiness not to meet the expectations of false acquaintances.
             In the story, Ivan and his crowd lead selfish lives with little or no regard for the feelings and suffering of others. Ivan surrounds himself with people who can never express true feelings and change their shallow lives. He embraces the philosophy that his duty is what society dictates, "...a capable, cheerful, good-natured, and sociable man, though strict in the fulfillment of what he considered to be his duty: and he considered his duty to be what was so considered by those in authority" (1292). Ivan lives only to fulfill his duties and to engage in selfish activities. Even in love, Ivan puts his social image before his happiness. Ivan marries Prakovya because it is considered the right thing to do by his highly placed associates. Ivan perceives Prakovya as "...well connected, and was a sweet, pretty, and thoroughly correct young woman" (1295). Through the years, Ivan adopts an attitude of complete indifference toward his marriage, "He only required of it those conveniences--dinner at home, housewife, and bed--which it could give him" (1296).
             Furthermore, Ivan relentlessly molds himself into the image his society deems appropriate. He finds the perfect house and begins decorating with much enthusiasm. Ivan's cherished work suffers greatly as he pursues this decorating obsession. He striv...