Hope and Encouragement

“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” by Leo Tolstoy

From this short story, the attitude that Ivan holds toward living was very special, because he was suffered from his illness. He had negative thinking such as death, isolated from others and lack of unconcerned from others. His situation just reminded me of one of my relatives who has also suffered from illness for more ten years, and fortunately, she is still living happily now.

Although Ivan was suffer from his illness and could feel his pain very often, I just feel he did not have the encouragement and the hope to continue living which made his situation became worse. I often heard from my parents said to my relative who is sick, “You should not think your situation is as bad as you think. Medicines and family cannot help you as much.  The most important thing is that you have to take care yourself well. If you take care yourself well, then you help your family.” I agree with my parents that people who are sick should try and make themselves have a positive attitude toward life.  Although Ivan knows himself is going to die soon, I think he should spend more time on enjoying moments when his pain didn’t get him, rather than thinking the past and thinking of death.

His situation just like the image above.  In his world, light are always blocked. He doesn’t have hope for his recovery ,and he was pretty sure he will die soon.  But, sunlight will not always got blocked. If he spends more time on what he can do instead of keep thinking himself as a patient, I think he would be better and happier.

Ivan wanted people’s pity, but he did not get that from his friends and family except from his son, Vasya, and his servant, Gerasim. I feel this is a real situation in this world. Most human are tend to be selfish and care oneself more than others. Although Ivan is sick, people around him still have to work and make their living. It is not anyone’s obligation to feel pity for people who is sick. What I think after reading this short story is that, we can be happier when we don’t demand too much from others. If Ivan doesn’t demand too much, then maybe he would live longer.