The Death of Ivan Ilyich

“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is a novella by Leo Tolstoy that tells the story of a high-ranking judge who confronts his own mortality after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. The work explores themes of the meaning of life, the fear of death, and social hypocrisy. As his illness progresses, Ivan Ilyich reevaluates his life, coming to the realization that he lived superficially, following social conventions rather than true values.