In "The Death of Ivan Ilych," Tolstoy depicts a man who, though lives a successful life, dies regretting the past. Ivan Ilych, a good-natured, social man, lives with the mind set that he must always impress the masses, rather than do what would result in lasting happiness. From childhood to marriage, he did everything that he thought was "comme il faut" - proper and necessary. While Ivan was showing an upholsterer how he wanted some …showed first 75 words of 564 total…

…showed last 75 words of 564 total…amusement were all roles he played in the status quo of his society. He finally realized the errors he had made both professionally and personally. He could have been different - a better person. Although decorum dominated and ruined his life, he was blessed with the epiphany so that propriety was kept from ruining his death. Ivan Ilych finally let go of the superficialities in his life, drew his last breath, stretched out, and died.