The Death Of Ivan Ilych By Leo Tolstoy And Franz Kafka s...

During the course of this class we have discussed various works of art, music and literature. A central theme among some of the literature we read was how a minor character is often central to both the stories progression and conclusion. Of all the works of literature that we read this semester two works stand out because their plot is both driven by the central character, but also the effect the minor character has on both the central character and the overall plot, those works being â€Å"The Death of Ivan Ilych† by Leo Tolstoy and Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis†. â€Å"The Death of Ivan Ilyich† by Leo Tolstoy is about a man (Ivan) in middle age who has lived a â€Å"most simple and most ordinary life and therefor the most terrible† (pg. 1446). He spent his life climbing the social ladder, he married a woman because he thought it was time he got married (he grew to find her demanding) and would often spend most of his time away from home playing cards with his friends. One day when he was decorating his new home he fell off a latter and hit his side, soon after as the pain increased and a visit to the physician he receives a terminal diagnosis. Ivan spends his time working and looking for a cure until he becomes bed ridden. After he is confined to his bed he spends a large portion of his time reflecting on his life and his mortality. During this time his one companion is his servant Gerasim, who is the only one to accept Ivan’s impending death. In the last few days of his life Ivan has