Marxist Analysis of Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Illiych”

Abstract

As a philosophical doctrine, Marxism criticizes Capitalism as a dehumanizing system that not only alienates individuals from the masses by creating class distinctions but also compels them to follow the false ideals of success in capitalist society. Although a lot of research works have been done on Leo Tolstoy's text at hand, “The death of Ivan Ilyich” with reference to different theoretical perspectives, there is still room to explore the selected text from the Marxist lens. The paper thus aims to offer a comprehensive, Marxist analysis of Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece, “The Death of Ivan Ilyich.” Employing qualitative research techniques.This research paper focuses to unveil the impacts of political, economic and materialist conditions on the social conditions of the characters in a capitalist society. Analyzing the main character's life, this research paper explores not only the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie but also illustrates how Ivan's struggles to ascend socially and fulfill materialistic desires. The findings of the research showcases the protagonist's downfall reflecting Marx's assertion that capitalist societies foster false personas, prioritizing superficial aspects of bourgeoisie's lifestyle such as materialism over genuine human connections.