Underground Man, Ivan Ilyich, and Hedda Gabler - Essay Example

Underground Man, Ivan Ilyich, and Hedda Gabler In the Death of Ivan IIych, Ivan is caught up in this aristocratic web of living characterized by materialism, self interests and no care for authentic relationships with others. He readily trades in relying on his own good sense and reason to compass his moral life, for the values and beliefs of aristocracy. The etiquette of the upper class, decorum and standard of propriety engulf him, and before he realizes it, no shred of morality, decency or rightful sensibility is left in him.

As such, he gets married because a young lawyer with secure means such as himself should take a wife. He then purchases a house in the leafy parts of the city before stylishly furnishing it because an aristocrat should showcase material status symbol (Tolstoy,2012). Ivan becomes intolerant to anything that threatens his personal comfort and materialism. He even becomes distant and adopts a contractual and formal attitude to his wife and family. However, as Ivan is on his death bed, his whole life flashes before his eyes.

The isolation he experiences when bedridden makes him evaluate his life and question his very existence. In the end, Ivan realizes that aristocracy was just a fallacy and that love and compassion are the true values by which to live (Tolstoy, 2012). Aristocracy is also rife in the play, Hedda Gabler. Hedda, who is formerly aristocratic, is unable to conform to the bourgeois way of living into which she has married. This tragedy is not only evident in her suicide, but also in the desire to ensure Ejlert has a beautiful suicide.

She is of the opinion that life can be pleasing regardless of phenomenon such as professional failure or success, and does not understand Tesman’s concerns about making a living (Tolstoy, 2012). Aristocratism is evident when Hedda refrains from using the word ‘we’ to describe the couple. It also comes up when she experiences little guilt when going against her husband’s back. Reference Graf Leo Tolstoy, L. N. (2012). The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories. New York: New American Library Classics.