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The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

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Gerasim provides comfort to Ivan Ilyich in more than one way in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Write a short essay about two ways Gerasim cares for Ivan Ilyich.


 


Queens College (CUNY) Department of Comparative Literature Spring 2020 - Global Literatures II / CMLIT 102W Section 09 Third Essay updated 11/14/2019 Compose an essay of at least two, but no more than three pages (the Works Cited page is not counted towards your essay), on your choice of one of the topics below. Do not summarize the story at any point; I want you to do an analysis: 1) Write an essay about the significance of Kochan’s alteration of the Hungarian fairy tale about the prince and the dragon, as told in Confessions of a Mask. 2) Write a short essay about Kochan’s “love” for Omi, as described in Confessions of a Mask. Include in your analysis the scene where Omi touches Kochan’s cheek. 3) Gerasim provides comfort to Ivan Ilyich in more than one way in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Write a short essay about two ways Gerasim cares for Ivan Ilyich. 4) Chapter 1 of The Death of Ivan Ilyich illustrates a pessimistic response to death. In a short essay, describe two instances where Ivan Ilyich’s colleagues display this pessimism. You are welcome to also describe any other feelings Ivan Ilyich’s colleagues demonstrate. Remember: your responses should be focused, using quotes from the texts where appropriate to support your statements. Also remember to use MLA format in quoting and attributing your sources and also on your Works Cited page. For this essay, you may use any of the sources (texts, handouts) we have used, and you may use up to two outside sources if you so choose. Essays are due via email only, by 11:59 pm – on 1 May. Drafts of this essay are welcome, but not mandatory. However, sending a draft to me, then my sending it back to you with suggestions will certainly improve your chances for receiving a better grade on your final submission.

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Gerasim’s Compassion in The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
In Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Gerasim shows comfort to his master in more than one way as he deals with a terminal illness. Accordingly, Gerasim possesses qualities that make him stand out as a character with compassion and empathy for his fellow human beings. It follows that he considers the well-being of others as something of deep importance to him; thus, he breaks down barriers that impede his interaction with others and creates meaningful bonds with them. Therefore, Gerasim is the only character who can courageously confront death, knowing that its part of life. He considers his duties to Ivan Ilyich as an important aid to a dying man. This paper focusses on two instances where Gerasim shows comfort to his master and thus his noble character.
The first show of comfort that I will discuss is in chapter VII where Gerasim enters Ivan’s room to carry out an unenviable task of clearing his master’s excretions from his chamber pot. It bothers Ivan so much that someone has to do such a task. Indeed, the situation was a torment to him as he imagined someone dealing with the smell, uncleanliness, and unseemliness of his waste matter (Tolstoy 32). However, Gerasim displays a wonderful irony by appearing as a clean and fresh peasant lad who was willing to undertake the task cheerfully and dutifully. Significantly, the two develop a strong bond driven by Gerasim’s kindness and consideration in the face of Ivan’s fragility and vulnerability (Urban 46). It follows that Ivan is inspired to reach out to Gerasim because he shows consideration for his feelings of misery. Having noted that the young lad is attentive to his needs, Ivan feels comfort and gathers the courage to say that he is helpless and thus ...
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