Chapter Synopsis of The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Study Guide by Leo Tolstoy

the town, where he immerses himself in the preparation of his family’s new lodgings in the appropriate fashion. In the course of this he one day knocks his side while trying to show a draper how he wants some curtains hung, an incident that he later blames for bringing on his following illness. His family then arrive and he begins his new job at the law courts, continuing to keep his personal and business affairs totally separate, the latter remaining the more significant for him. The Golovins soon make a circle of new acquaintances "comme il faut" and their daughter Lisa is even courted by a wealthy young examining magistrate named Petrischev.

Chapter 4

In this chapter Ivan Ilyich begins to feel somewhat unwell, feeling occasional discomfort in his left side where he hurt it and tasting a strange and unpleasant taste in his mouth. This discomfort gradually increases, making family quarrels more frequent, and eventually Ivan Ilyich’s wife advises him to see a famous doctor, which he does, the doctor telling him nothing concrete, but that it might be a question of "a floating kidney, chronic catarrh, or appendicitis", leaving Ivan unsure as to whether his condition is dangerous or not. Ivan becomes yet more irritable, goes to see another specialist and then a homoeopathist and also the friend of a friend who is a doctor. But when his condition does not improve he even considers seeing an old woman who possesses a supposedly wonder-working icon. He starts to feel that he is becoming an irritation and a burden to others both in his home and work life and by this point the physical pain that he feels has become almost constant.

Chapter 5

Two months later and just before New Year Ivan’s brother-in-law, a healthy and vital man, comes to stay, and on first seeing Ivan makes a face that lets him know how much he must have changed. Ivan also overhears him talking to Praskovya Fedorovna and saying how he thinks that Ivan looks like a dead man. Ivan then goes with his friend Pyotr Ivanovich to see his friend the doctor, who tells Ivan that his problem may be to do with his vermiform appendix. He therefore returns home thinking that if he can only stimulate his body in the right way through concentration of his mind he can conquer his problem, but this is not so and the pain returns. He then realises that he is probably dying and feels only anger and fear at the prospect, cursing his family and friends for not realising that they too will be next.

Chapter 6

In this chapter we see how Ivan cannot grasp the idea that he is dying. He can see how man in general must inevitably die but cannot apply this logic to himself as an individual. He tries to stop himself from contemplation of death by immersing himself in his old habits, but whatever he does death is always there, lurking by him in everything he sees and does.

Chapter 7

Now in the third month of his illness, Ivan is consumed by the thought of whether he will soon vacate this world, and everyone that he knows is aware of this. He cannot sleep and has become weakened and unable to look after himself even in the most simple matters such as relieving himself and dressing. It is at this point that the reader is introduced more fully to Gerasim, the healthy young peasant lad who is the butler’s assistant and is to prove Ivan’s greatest support in his final weeks. Uncomplainingly and even cheerfully, and with the minimum of fuss he looks after his master, who appreciates immeasurably the uncritical fashion in which Gerasim performs his tasks. At this point Ivan is tormented by the falsity of his family and circle of friends who pretend that he is only ill and not dying, something which Gerasim never does. Ivan also feels a great need to be pitied, and feels that Gerasim’s genuine attitude towards him comes closer to this than anybody else’s.

Chapter 8