Tolstoy and Chekhov
Death is the only true inevitability in a person's life. Once born, the only thing that is guaranteed is that one day that life will be extinguished. People live their whole lives with a death sentence hanging over their heads. For some people, death is terrifying and they rail against it and do whatever they can to avoid it. Others see death as a kind release, excusing them from the world of men, where they toil. Each person reacts differently to their own impending death and to the deaths of their loved ones. There is no single right or wrong way to react to someone's death or to react around someone who is in the process of dying. In both Anton Chekhov's "Rothschild's Fiddle" and Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych," the authors explore the ways that a man may deal with the death of those around him and his own mortality. In both cases, there are men who think only of gain; of the continuation and strengthening of their financial and social statuses. When the men discover their immortality, they are both afraid and, in both cases, the closer they get to death, the more alive that they feel and the less afraid they become.
The Chekhov story is told from the perspective of a coffin maker named Yakov Matveyitch. This man earns his living because of the loss of life that others face. He does not become emotional over the deaths, even if they are his friends. Each corpse is merely more money in his pocket. The only loss that Yakov feels is when he does not get to build a coffin or he does not make money playing his violin. His only feelings of grief come from reminiscing about financial opportunities that he was unable to cash in on. Even the loss of his wife to influenza only gives him momentary emotional grief. More than anything, he equates her death with a loss in that he must pay for her coffin. The only emotion Yakov ever shows is anger. "Yakov was never in a good...
Both characters found ways to avoid living through isolation. They alienated themselves from practically everyone and this resulted in severe pain. The message here is to think about the things that consume us and then consider how important those things will be at the end of our lives or when our lives become difficult. The Death of Ivan Ilych" and "Ward No. 6" are compelling stories that force us to
life in prison and finally, the banker bets the lawyer that he cannot live for fifteen years in solitary confinement and if he can do so, the banker agrees to pay him two million dollars. In his self-imposed prison the lawyer reads extensively and reaches an epiphany. He writes his sentiments in a sort of suicide note; he abandoned his station just one day before he was to receive
He alone knew that with the consciousness of the injustices done him, with his wife's incessant nagging, and with the debts he had contracted by living beyond his means, his position was far from normal." (Tolstoy, Chapter III). Not everyone thinks Ivan Ilyich's salary is meager, and he chooses to live beyond his means, thus although he is ordinary, his world is not absent of examples of how it
Healing and Belief Russians base much of their healing system around beneficial herbs and folk remedies. This harkens to feudal eras when professional medical service was unavailable, but was reinforced in Soviet times when doctors were poorly equipped. Russians believe in preventative medicine, so the consumption of certain foods is thought to have preventative effects. Another traditional Russian healing practice is called bonki, and consists of glass cups that are pressed against
Fictional Elements in Selected Works from Kate Chopin and Anton Chekhov In both of Kate Chopin's works, "The Story of an Hour" and "Desiree's Baby," the most important element of fiction which the author invokes is plot and conflict, for the simple fact that this element is the most effective way of imparting the powerful irony which grips both of these tales. "The Story of an Hour" in particular is
In an attempt to curb his boredom, the imprisoned lawyer spends his time reading, writing, and playing music, while the banker slowly loses his money. Realizing that if the lawyer fulfills his part of the deal, the banker will lose the remainder of his fortune, he plots to murder him. Unbeknownst to the banker, the lawyer has developed a disdain for material things and has counter-plotted in favor of
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