The Death of Ivan Ilyitch

Considered one of the greatest literary achievements of the 19th century, The Death of Ivan Ilyitch by Leo Tolstoy rocks the reader out of his smug self-assurance that he is 'living as he ought.' Having accomplished this, the next question is raised: "If I certainly know that I have not lived as I have ought, and I certainly know that I will die tomorrow, with no time to make amends, what possible hope for me is left?" Astute readers will understand that we are all Ivan. His dilemma is our ...