Tolstoy uses The Death of Ivan Ilyich to show his readers the negative consequences of a life like Ilyich. Ivan Ilyich made decisions based on what others thought and what would benefit him financially. As death approaches, Ilyich realizes that he has squandered everything pure and meaningful to work and make money. His materialism and desire to conform made Ilyich's life miserable and led to his death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay From the beginning of the story it is clear that Ilyich did not live a full and rich life. When his friends learn of his death, they are more concerned about "what effect it would have on their transfers and promotions or those of their acquaintances" (Tolstoy 32) than about the loss of their friend. Ilyich has failed to establish a close relationship with them, and upon learning of his death they seem almost indifferent: "There is actually no reason to believe that this incident will prevent us from spending a pleasant evening" (36), observes one . They attend the funeral only “to satisfy the tedious demands of decency” (33). Even before the reader learns how Ilyich has lived his life, he sees that the consequences are grim. Geraism, Ilyich's servant, serves as an obstacle. Even though Geraism is of a lower class than Ilyich, he is happy and knows what he wants; he is also not burdened by the pressures of materialism. Ilyich admires Geraism because he "[does] everything easily, willingly, simply and with goodness of heart" (86) and, ultimately, is the only person whose company he enjoys. Unlike Ilyich, who married Praskovya only because “high-ranking” people thought it was a good choice (56), Geraism is free from society's expectations and can do whatever it wants. While Ilyich dies at 45, Geraism lives well into old age, suggesting that an unhappy and burdensome life leads to an early death. One of Ivan's main flaws is his materialism and emphasis on work. As an example of his obsession with material things, he puts curtains in his new apartment to make the place look like "the homes of all the people who aren't really rich but who want to look rich" (57). Regarding work, Tolstoy states that Ilyich sought money and fame by “spending less and less time with his family and, when forced to stay at home, tried to safeguard his position through the presence of strangers” (52). Neglecting his family eventually resulted in severe alienation. He acknowledges his downfall on some level at the end of his life, admitting that “Maybe I didn't live as I should have,” but immediately reverts to self-protective denial as he “immediately remembers how correct his whole life had been.” state" (102). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Tolstoy used The Death of Ivan Ilyitch to demonstrate that social conformity, materialism, and attention single-mindedness at work leads to unhappiness and isolation. While not an uplifting novel, Tolstoy's work benefits his readers: they end the story with greater appreciation for the need to live an honest and balanced life...