The Death of Ivan Ilych

The Death of Ivan Ilych Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Peter Ivanovich, a lifelong acquaintance of Ivan Ilych, sits reading the paper in the judges' chambers while the other members of the Court of Justice argue over whether a case is within their jurisdiction. Peter interrupts them with the announcement that Ivan has died of the unnamed illness that has consumed him over the last several months.

Everyone in the room is surprised. They all liked Ivan, but each man starts thinking of who will fill his post and what promotion this might mean for himself. All are disturbed briefly by the nearness of death, but each is comforted by the thought that it is Ivan who is dead and not he. Several realize they will have to fulfill the tiresome duty of attending the funeral at one o'clock on Friday.

On Friday, Peter arrives at the home of Ivan Ilych to pay his respects. It is a fashionable house, richly decorated to look like every other house of its kind. The sight of the dead man seems to convey some sort of reproach or warning, but Peter feels that at least this is not meant for him. Peter would like to make it a quick visit and then join his colleague Schwartz for a game of bridge, but when Ivan's wife pulls Peter aside for a talk, it is evident he must stay for the funeral service. Schwartz goes on to enjoy the Friday night bridge game without Peter.

Ivan's wife talks about how much she has suffered, particularly in the last three days of Ivan's life when he lay screaming almost non-stop. For a moment, Peter is struck with horror to think of Ivan, who he had known as a merry boy, suffering so. He also feels afraid for himself. Almost immediately, however, the thought that this has happened to Ivan and couldn't happen to him returns.

Peter realizes that Ivan's wife really just wants to know if there is any additional government grant she can draw from Ivan's death. After thinking a minute, Peter tells her that unfortunately she has received all the government will give her. She begins to look for excuses to get rid of Peter and he feels free to leave her side.

On his way into the death-chamber for the service, Peter bows to Ivan's daughter and her fiancé, who both look inconvenienced. When Peter sees Ivan's schoolboy son with his tearstained face, however, Peter is struck by how much the boy looks like the boy that Ivan once was. During the service, Peter refuses to look at Ivan's body or yield to any depressing thoughts. On his way out, as the first to leave, Peter is assisted by Gerasim, who was a particular favorite of Ivan's in his last days. According to convention, Peter comments to Gerasim about how sad the whole thing is, but Gerasim says simply that death will come to everyone as God's will.

Peter makes it to Schwartz's house just as they are finishing the first rubber and he joins the bridge game.