In this tremendous story we are presented with a man who
follows his life trying to do what he feels is expected of him by society. Ivan Ilyich
only establishes "light and playful relations" with his future wife and does not even
think of anything more serious than a dalliance until it becomes obvious that she has
fallen in love with him. It is only then that he asks himself, "Really, why shouldn't I
mary?" Note his reasoning for doing so:
To say that Ivan Ilyich married because he fell
in love with Praskovya Fedorovna and found that she sympathised with his views of life
would be as incorrect as to say that he married because his social circle approved of
the match. He was swayed by both these considerations: the marriage gave him personal
satisfaction, and at the same time it was considered the right thing by the most highly
placed of his
associated.
Marriage is
therefore seen as a social obligation and a means of gaining wealth, property and social
status. It is only when his wife becomes pregnant that Ivan Ilyich discovers the need to
distance himself as much as possible from his wife and family to continue indulging in
his lifestyle as he desires.
Thus marriage is viewed as an
institution that has very little to do with love, and where the concerns of social
status and expectations are far more important. Ivan Ilyich's wife shows little remorse
or grief over her husband's death and instead seizes every opportunity to try and
extract as much money out of his demise as possible.
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