Question

What is the purpose of the scene in Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich in which Ivan Ilyich thinks about the following logical argument, known as a syllogism?
"Caius is a man, men are mortal, therefore Caius is mortal.”
A.to show that all men are mortal and therefore Ivan Ilyich, a man, must die
B.to show that Ivan Ilyich finally acknowledges that he is dying
C.to show that Ivan Ilyich’s attitude toward life has not prepared him to face death
D.to show that Ivan Ilyich has had a good education and therefore his thoughts are sophisticated

Answer 1

The syllogism "Caius is a man, men are mortal, therefore Caius is mortal." illustrates denial. The chapter is about the man's denial of death. The author describes people's exploration between new and old screens (work, propriety and decorous life) to avoid death. Iván Ilych understands that old screens can no longer help him. It is clear to him now that how trivial life was by means of time and energy consumption. Tolstoy compares Iván Ilych's previous concerns with now. The character cannot accept the irony of this past and his new condition. Analyzing this chapter, we can yield that the correct answer is B.