Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”, depicts the story of an ambitious young man who sought for wealth and status, only to experience regrets during his last moments.
Time is so abundant, yet at times also so scarce; to some, time is priceless and others it’s nothing but suffering. A wealthy man is far more vulnerable to his upcoming death than a poor man for he is bound too tightly by the euphoria of the materialistic world. About “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”, Ivan’s pursuit of materialistic success brought nothing but chains at the very end. Greed only invites more greed, Ivan’s success did not satisfy him but only left him greedy for more. The more he acquires, the more unsatisfied he becomes, eventually numbing himself from all others.
The tragedy of Ivan Ilyich invokes much contemplation given this period of isolation brought forth by the coronavirus. In life, one tends to recklessly follow in the footsteps of others because of the rewards it sow. Yet, many beautiful things in life are not worth sacrificing for merely the pursuit of one. We had taken too much for granted in life, such as the scenery outside and companionship, it’s only when we lose it do we learn to treasure it. I missed the outside breeze and ever-changing weather, the chirping of birds and the sound of scattering leaves. There are many regrets in life, we can only do our best to live life to its fullest.
Ivan’s glamorous appearance is nothing but a hollow shell without foundations to support it. Money is useless if there is nothing to buy, Ivan’s success is meaningless if there isn’t someone to share his joy. As he reflects his lifetime on his deathbed, Ivan realized of the many joys in life he missed, the memory of family and natural beauty of the world. His sole pursuit restricted him to such a narrow scope of the world that he can numb himself with stress.
Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” taught me that you can find beauty in small things, that once in a while you should do a self-reflection before it’s too late. With all the time in the world now, I can finally slow down and invest my time in something that I constantly neglect but holds much importance. I rather not repent my lifetime at my deathbed, but live a life that I won’t hold any regrets. I missed the outside breeze and ever-changing weather, the chirping of birds and the sound of scattering leaves, I missed them very much dear. When this is all over, I will embrace them to my heart content.
Kevin, Thanks for sharing these reflections. I appreciate the paradoxical nature of time you point out here – that time is both abundant (particularly as it seems now) and limited (by mortality). I think that comes into very sharp focus here.