Author Question: In what successive stages does Tolstoy depict Ivans growing isolation ashis progressive illness sets ... (Read 507 times)

torybrooks · **on:** Jul 20, 2018

In what successive stages does Tolstoy depict Ivans growing isolation ashis progressive illness sets him more and more apart? See especially paragraphs 308311.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Consider the account of Ivans routine in paragraph 105 (He got up atnine . . .). What elements of a full life, what higher satisfactions, does this routine omit?

What will be an ideal response?

bookworm410 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

(Tolstoys story has a theme in common with Thomas Manns The Magic Mountain: the sick and the healthy are races set apart.)

Answer to Question 2

Ivans routine (par. 105) omits love, worship, and any profound involvement with his friends and family. His social consciousness is confined to a little chat about politics; his interest in art and science to a little chat about general topics. Ivan devotes himself only to superficial courtesies and appearancesto maintaining the semblance of friendly human relations without any deeper fondness or compassion.