Extra credit 1- Tolstoy Cool

a. How does Ivan's quest for status, advancement, prestige, and generally the approval of others endanger his chance to live a more meaningful life?

Living up to society's standards is something most people strive to do. In 2009, people are living their lives just to be accepted by the people around them, but also to be accepted by society. Living up to what our culture believes is right and in turn 'cool' can make people satisfied with the way they live their life ( for the most part).In "The Death of Ivan Ilych" Ivan does whatever it takes to live by society's standards (in mid 1800's). He does all he can so he can be viewed as important, whether it's his prestige in the courts or how he decorates his house. He always has to feel that he is approved by others.

Ivan Ilych is portrayed as a man who has it all he comes from a good family, has a good paying job, marries a woman from a good family, and is also handsome. However, his life is centered around his job in the courts. He believes that the most important thing in his life is "his official duties. The whole interest in his life now centered in the official world and that interest absorbed him" (p.11). He is not only absorbed by his duties in office, but by what position he holds. He has to have the job that will pay the most money to fit his lifestyle. He has to have the job with the highest honor and respect.I find it interesting how he overlooks everything else in his life besides his job. He lets this idea of having authority and importance take over his life and consume all of his happiness.I feel like he is selling him short by having this attitude towards life. He isn't able to see what is truly meaningful to him and not what he thinks others think should be meaningful. He has this idea that being approved and accepted by everyone is the most meaningful thing in his life.

Besides being obsessed with his job, Ivan Ilych is also obsessed with material things. Very similar to now, he feels that living a lavish lifestyle means that he is living a meaningful and important life. In reality, all it is giving him is acceptance in society. Before he gets sick, you can see how excited and happy he gets when he talks about decorating or buying things for himself. He wants to have nice to stand out in society. However in reality "it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore only succeed in resembling others like them selves"(p.13). Very similar to today, everyone thinks that they are standing out by buying expensive things. How is that considered unique when everyone is doing the exact same thing. That shouldn't make you feel important, but like a follower. It seems like Ivan felt being accepted or 'popular' in society means that you were living a meaningful life.

"Ivan Ilych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible." Ivan Ilych has wasted most of his life worrying about the approval of others, rather than focusing on more important things. He is so blinded by other things that it is keeping him from living a more meaningful life. Once he realizes this, it's a little too late.