The Death of Ivan Ilyich’s primary theme briefly discusses people’s fears and how they might deal with them. This story’s central motif—death, as the book title already suggests—is meant to illustrate a variety of circumstances. The narrative opens with the passing of Ivan Ilyich, a well-known and successful judge in Russia. Rereading his life reveals that, in contrast to his successful career, Ilyich struggled with many personal issues. Of course, Tolstoy does an excellent job illustrating how most of these issues stem from his intense emphasis on his career and how, occasionally, a seemingly successful person cannot strike a suitable balance between two critical areas and finds themselves in a bind.
This judge, adept at making decisions, is aware of how his life is deteriorating due to his battle with a severe and terminal illness. Ilyich tries to change his behavior based on this justification only after facing the disease and realizing the extent of the catastrophe of his previous life and current. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross claimed that there are five stages of dying, and this man enters them because he is so attached to life and believes he will never die. The cycles that Kubler-Ross uses in her theory are denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance.
The stages of dying are universal and a common experience for everyone, but how individual experiences each stage is unique. Ivan Ilych is not an exception; he also has a unique understanding of each Kubler-Ross death phase. Ivan Ilych denies that he is genuinely dying when in the early stages of passing away. He rejects the idea that his sickness is terminal and separates himself from his loved ones to keep his illness a secret from them. His denial is apparent when Ivan tries to persuade himself that his condition is not severe and that he will heal. He tells himself, “It cannot be that I shall die; it would be too cruel.” He also tries to rationalize his symptoms, telling himself that his pain is not that bad and his fever is not that high (Tolstoy, 7). Ivan’s isolation is evident when he refuses to let his wife or daughter see him when he is sick.
He also avoids speaking to his friends about his illness, preferring to act like everything is normal. Denial and isolation are natural reactions to a diagnosis of a terminal illness. They may, however, also make the dying process more challenging. Denial can make it more difficult to say goodbye to loved ones and keep a person from coming to terms with their death. Isolation can increase one’s loneliness and keep one from getting the necessary help.
Ivan Ilych learned that anger would not change his fate in the second stage of anger and bargaining. He also learned that bargaining with God is futile. “I am not a bit better, but on the contrary, am worse than ever. . . I am angry with God. . . I have asked Him to let me die and take me away from all this horror.” (Tolstoy, 31). Ivan’s frustration and haggling are ineffective because nothing changes for him. In actuality, things worsen. He becomes more bitter against God and his destiny. He still holds out hope that something will change to make things better. Ivan has not yet come to terms with dying. He is still holding out for a miracle and is still in denial. He still has not accepted his mortality.
In the third stage of depression, Ivan Ilych learned that he has not lived a good life and is now facing the consequences. He feels guilty and ashamed of his past actions and realizes that he will not be able to change the course of his life. He is filled with despair and hopelessness, and his only comfort is that death will soon release him from his suffering. Ivan experiences feelings of remorse, shame, and hopelessness during his depressive episodes. He feels that death is the only way out because he has lost all sense of purpose in life. Although it might be pretty challenging to get out of this melancholy stage, it is crucial to remember that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
In the fourth stage of acceptance, Ivan Ilych learned that death is inevitable and that he must come to terms with his mortality. He also saw that he had been leading a life that was not genuinely fulfilling since he had been living in denial of his mortality.
Ivan Ilych’s acceptance process reached its fourth stage when he began to value life more. He appreciated his time with family and friends as he started to find beauty in simple moments. Additionally, he began to sense a stronger connection to God and sought solace in prayer. The fourth stage of acceptance for Ivan Ilych was a turning point in his life that let him live a more contented life. Ivan Ilych’s fourth stage of acceptance is an essential lesson for everyone, as it highlights the importance of coming to terms with our mortality. Only when we accept the reality of death can we truly appreciate life’s beauty.
In the fifth stage of hope, Ivan Ilych learned that death is not the end and that there is something better waiting for him in the afterlife. This knowledge made him feel at peace and comfort in his final hours. Understanding that this fifth level of optimism does not require religious belief is crucial. Instead, it acknowledges that life is more complex than what we can perceive and experience in the physical realm. This comprehension may result from various things, such as religious teachings, individual experiences, or the simple conviction that there is more to life than meets the eye.
Through the context of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of dying, the psychoanalytic ideas of the superego and ego ideal are evident in Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych. The superego is the part of the psyche that internalizes the values and norms of society and acts as a moral guide (Feldman, 315). The ego ideal is the ideal self that a person strives to achieve.
Ivan Ilych discovers that he has not lived up to his ego ideal and that his life has been a lie as he travels through the phases of death. He has prioritized things that are superficial over things that matter, such as his work and social standing. Ivan Ilych confronts and accepts his impending death in the final stage of dying acceptance. He is at peace with himself and has lost his fear of death.
The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy follows the titular character as he copes with his terminal illness and impending death. Tolstoy expertly weaves in elements of ego as Ivan tries to come to terms with his mortality. In the end, Ivan finds peace in his death, but not before going through the five stages of dying, as described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
Ivan’s story is a powerful reminder that each of us will face death in our own time and that it is a natural part of life. It also shows that coping with adversity and mortality is possible, even in the face of great pain and suffering. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes the five stages of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Tolstoy expertly weaves these stages into Ivan’s story, showing how each affects the character as he tries to come to terms with his death. Ultimately, Ivan finds peace in his death, but not before going through the five stages of dying. This story is a powerful reminder that each of us will face death in our own time and that it is a natural part of life. It also shows that coping with adversity and mortality is possible, even in the face of great pain and suffering.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified the five stages of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages are a natural part of the grieving process and can help to provide a context for supporting patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare providers who are experiencing death.
There are, however, Interprofessional team strategies for improving care coordination and communication in a dying patient. Firstly, encouraging patients and families to openly express their feelings and thoughts about the dying process (Simpson-Tirone et al. 4). can help the team to understand the patient and family’s wishes and needs and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
It is, secondly, aiding patients and families in coping with the loss of a loved one by giving resources and assistance. Every team member must know the various resources available to assist with this. Thirdly, collaborating with patients and families to create a care plan that satisfies each person’s requirements. This coordination with other healthcare professionals is necessary to ensure everyone on the team is on the same page.
In addition, it updated patients’ and relatives’ knowledge of the condition of their loved ones regularly. This can assist in reducing any concern or stress by keeping everyone informed and current. Lastly, ensure that everyone on the team is aware of the tools and services that are accessible to patients and their families. As a result, everyone will be aware of the available support and can ensure that it is used when necessary.
Conclusively, Ivan goes through the five stages of dying described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in the novel The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Denial is the first stage, followed by anger, bargaining, despair, and acceptance. He responds differently to his imminent death at each step. Ivan can ultimately accept his death and come to terms with his mortality. The five stages of dying described by Kubler-Ross offer a framework for comprehending the complex process of accepting one’s mortality. Ivan’s journey through the stages is a powerful reminder that there is no single right way to deal with death. Each person must find a way to come to terms with their mortality.
Work Cited
Bromberg, Victor. “The Ambiguity of “Ivan Ilych.” Raritan, vol. 26, no. 1, 2006, pp. 152-162,186. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/ambiguity-ivan-ilych/docview/203865020/se-2.
Feldman, Steven P. “The Professional Conscience: A Psychoanalytic Study of Moral Character in Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych: JBE.” Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 49, no. 4, 2004, pp. 311–328. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/professional-conscience-psychoanalytic-study/docview/198155018/se-2,
Simpson-Tirone, Marta, Samantha Jansen, and Marilyn Swinton. “Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) care coordination: Navigating ethics and access in the emergence of a new health profession.” Hec Forum. Springer Netherlands, 2022.
Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilych. Good Press, 2021.
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