The Death of Ivan Ilych

A successful middle-aged judge who followed the elite social standards of his day suffered a freak accident and faces a slow, terrible death. His family and friends can’t bear him. His pain, depression, and uncertainty grow.

Remembering his past, his childhood happinesses, his ambitions, what he lived for, and his professional behavior, crowd into his mind. Did he live his life as he should have?

His agonies increase. A young servant boy shows him pity. So does his young son. He wonders if things can be made right.

This short story by Leo Tolstoy, often regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time, is a shocking read. It makes one think seriously about life. Am I living as I ought to live? Am I deceiving myself? Can things be fixed?

Although not widely thought of as such, Leland Ryken considers this book one of the best Christian classics of all time. Upper-class high school students could benefit from the read. It will help them think about what matters. 

Spoiler alert:

Amidst his suffering, Ivan undergoes a radical transformation, dying in hope. His incremental yet sudden change makes sense in light of biblical teachings on regeneration and justification.

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