The Death of Reality and the Reality of Death
The Death of Reality and the Reality of Death
Death is never easy. Afterall it is the only sure thing anyone will ever do. Yet how one dies is determined by how they live. One who lives their life to the fullest will be content and open to death, while one whose life has been empty will fear it; but what if the difference between full and empty was not so easily differentiated? What if reality and falsehood were the same? This idea is contemplated in both Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy. In the world of the salesman, Willy Loman, who can not see who he is nor distinguish reality from fantasy, and the world of Ivan Ilych, who can not see his life for what it is nor find true happiness, reality is hard to distinguish. Both the Death of a Salesman and The Death of Ivan Ilych consider worlds of falsehood that are centered on protagonists whose self-deceptive nature causes their deaths, yet Ivan Ilyich is able to recognize his world of lies and find true peace where Willy Loman can not.
Falsehood is a constant in both stories. Ivan Ilych is surrounded by an aristocratic world which is singularly focused on appearances. This is apparent when observing the mourners at Ivan’s funeral, primarily Ivan’s friend Schwartz. Schwartz goes through the motions: crossing himself, visiting the body, consoling the widow, yet as he does this he “felt that the desired result had been achieved: that both he and [the widow] were touched” (Tolstoy 518). Everyone is simply doing what is appropriate because it is expected of them rather than because they actually care. Likewise, Willy Loman believes that appearances are critical to success when in reality they are not. Willy declares that “the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want” (Miller 33). It is obvious that success is a primary lie in both stories. Ivan believes that his
Death is never easy. Afterall it is the only sure thing anyone will ever do. Yet how one dies is determined by how they live. One who lives their life to the fullest will be content and open to death, while one whose life has been empty will fear it; but what if the difference between full and empty was not so easily differentiated? What if reality and falsehood were the same? This idea is contemplated in both Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy. In the world of the salesman, Willy Loman, who can not see who he is nor distinguish reality from fantasy, and the world of Ivan Ilych, who can not see his life for what it is nor find true happiness, reality is hard to distinguish. Both the Death of a Salesman and The Death of Ivan Ilych consider worlds of falsehood that are centered on protagonists whose self-deceptive nature causes their deaths, yet Ivan Ilyich is able to recognize his world of lies and find true peace where Willy Loman can not.
Falsehood is a constant in both stories. Ivan Ilych is surrounded by an aristocratic world which is singularly focused on appearances. This is apparent when observing the mourners at Ivan’s funeral, primarily Ivan’s friend Schwartz. Schwartz goes through the motions: crossing himself, visiting the body, consoling the widow, yet as he does this he “felt that the desired result had been achieved: that both he and [the widow] were touched” (Tolstoy 518). Everyone is simply doing what is appropriate because it is expected of them rather than because they actually care. Likewise, Willy Loman believes that appearances are critical to success when in reality they are not. Willy declares that “the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want” (Miller 33). It is obvious that success is a primary lie in both stories. Ivan believes that his
Bibliography: Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Group, 1976. Print. Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilych. Perrine 's Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. 7th ed. N.p.: Christopher P. Klein, n.d. 515-58. Print.