Question

Why "Terrible"? Although the more dramatic moments in Tolstoy's story center on the details of Ivan's Ilyich's death, much of the story has to do with the particulars of his life: his marriage, his career, his relations with his family and friends. What significance do you see between the sort of life Ivan Ilyich led, and his death – and the manner of his dying? Why would the narrator think that "Ivan Ilyich's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible?"

Answer 1

Ivan belonged to a relatively good background and was quite passionate about his work and career. He did not live much happy life, his wife was way too demanding. Also, for a few time, he did not get promotions so work life was also not going well. According to Ivan, he never did anything bad to get such a painful death as he had and that is why the narrator think that though he lived quite ordinary and simple life, it became terrible because of the way he faced death. The significance between the life he led, his death and the manner of dying is that he had lived a simple life, never did bad to anyone, was quite focused on his career still he got a kind of death he did not want as it was very painful.