The executioner (symbol) He struggled as a man condemned to death struggles in the hands of the executioner, knowing that he cannot save himself. (Excerpt) The executioner symbolizes death. Ivan Ilyich realizes that he cannot escape death. (significance)
the black hole (symbol) He felt that his agony was due to his being thrust into that black hole and still more to his not being able to get right into it.(excerpt) The black hole symbolizes Ivan Ilyich’s refusal to accept death. It also symbolizes his denial that his life has lacked meaning or purpose. This denial prolongs and worsens his misery. (significance)
the light (symbol) Suddenly some force struck him in the chest and side, making it still harder to breathe, and he fell through the hole and there at the bottom was a light… At that very moment Ivan Ilyich fell through and caught sight of the light, and it was revealed to him that though his life had not been what it should have been, this could still be rectified… In place of death there was light.(excerpt) The light symbolizes Ivan Ilyich’s moving from the darkness and ignorance in his life into the final stage of understanding and acceptance of his condition. This acceptance helps him conquer his fear of death.
The Death of Ivan Ilyich, by Leo Tolstoy, a novel published in 1886, depicts with acute depth the theme of death and the meaning of life, personalized in Ivan Ilitch, a Russian judge who in the antechamber of death makes a profound reflection on all stages of his life unraveling himself. This work makes use of symbology to portray some important points. The symbols used are:
Symbol: The executioner; Excerpt: " He struggled as a man condemned to death struggles in the hands of the executioner, knowing that he cannot save himself," Significance: In this excerpt, the executioner is the inevitable death of Ivan. No matter how Ivan struggles, he will not escape from eminent death. It is supreme and inevitable
Symbol: The black hole; Excerpt: "He felt that his agony was due to his being thrust into that black hole and still more to his not being able to get right into it;" Significance: The black hole means that Ivan does not want to accept death, that he feels agony to know that he can do nothing but enter that unknown black hole and that he does not want to go.
Symbol: The light; Excerpt: "Suddenly some force struck him in the chest and side, making it still harder to breathe, and he fell through the hole and there at the bottom was a light… At that very moment Ivan Ilyich fell through and caught sight of the light, and it was revealed to him that though his life had not been what it should have been, this could still be rectified… In place of death there was light;" Significance: The light means the moment when Ivan accepts his death, understands that it is necessary, begins to lose the fear of the unknown and finds the light of understanding.
