SOURCE: Gutsche, George J. “Tolstoi's ‘The Death of Ivan Il'ich.’” In Moral Apostasy in Russian Literature, pp. 70-98. Dekalb, Ill.: Northern Illinois University Press, 1986.

In the following essay, Gutsche explores various Christian and moral interpretations of The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

“So that's it!” he suddenly pronounced aloud. “What joy!”

Tolstoi is a towering figure in Russian literature and culture. Much of his prominence derives from the moral passion and earnestness of his search for the right way to live and from his efforts to bring the news to others when he had found it. It is hard to discuss any of his writings without referring to moral issues, for his constant grappling with problems of right and wrong was reflected in everything he wrote. Not all readers find his obsessive concern with morality and his uncompromising directness in treating moral problems palatable.¹ Nor has the worldview he...