Question

Select all the correct answers. In this excerpt from Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich, how does Ivan Ilyich use the Caius allusion to deal with his impending death? In the depth of his heart he knew he was dying, but not only was he not accustomed to the thought, he simply did not and could not grasp it. The syllogism he had learnt from Kiesewetter's Logic: "Caius is a man, men are mortal, therefore Caius is mortal," had always seemed to him correct as applied to Caius, but certainly not as applied to himself. That Caius—man in the abstract—was mortal, was perfectly correct, but he was not Caius, not an abstract man, but a creature quite, quite separate from all others. He had been little Vanya, with a mamma and a papa, with Mitya and Volodya, with the toys, a coachman and a nurse, afterwards with Katenka and will all the joys, griefs, and delights of childhood, boyhood, and youth. What did Caius know of the smell of that striped leather ball Vanya had been so fond of? Had Caius kissed his mother's hand like that, and did the silk of her dress rustle so for Caius? Had he rioted like that at school when the pastry was bad? Had Caius been in love like that? Could Caius preside at a session as he did? "Caius really was mortal, and it was right for him to die; but for me, little Vanya, Ivan Ilyich, with all my thoughts and emotions, it's altogether a different matter. It cannot be that I ought to die. That would be too terrible." Such was his feeling. Ivan Ilyich discovers his own individuality through memories and realizes the unfairness of death. Ivan Ilyich regrets his wasted life and longs for the love of family and friends he has lost in the past. Ivan Ilyich is terrified of death, and considering it in an abstract way is the only way he can deal with it. Ivan Ilyich realizes how unfair death is and becomes even more determined to save himself in any way he can. Ivan Ilyich realizes that his time is running out and that his life has been no more meaningful than that of Caius's.

Answer 1

The answers are (1) Ivan Ilyich discovers his own individuality through memories and realizes the unfairness of death and (4) Ivan Ilyich realizes how unfair death is and becomes even more determined to save himself in any way he can.

(1) Ivan Llynch is in a state of a negation about he's high probability to die. He finds himself exploring concepts he'd learned before "Caius is a man, men are mortal, therefore Caius is mortal". Ivan is a man but he refuses to think he's like Caius, Ivan's personality and life is unique (he has experienced very special and vivid moments) that he finds very difficult to understand that he could die. But he might, and he realizes that death is unfair.

(4) At the end of the excerpt, the narrator realizes that he, indeed, is just like Caius, and therefore the death may be imminent to him as well. He realizes how unfair death is, but he refuses to accept it and becomes even more determined to save himself in any way he can.