In his novella The Death of Ivan Ilych, Count Leo Tolstoy gives readers a glimpse into the life and death of a socially ambitious Russian gentleman, Ivan Ilych . Throughout the story, Ivan's character is revealed in many different ways: first, strangely, at his funeral, where his friends' actions serve to portray Russian society as a whole. Tolstoy then uses the flashback technique to tell Ivan's life and his attitude towards family, work and his friends. Ivan's lifestyle only solidifies Tolstoy's perception of Russian society in the 1880s. Observing Ivan's thoughts and actions, it becomes obvious that he wants nothing more in life than to be approved by others and to do everything correctly. Through the life and death of Ivan Ilych, Tolstoy criticizes the society around him, a society overly concerned with propriety, conformity, and social approval. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayTolstoy immediately begins his attack on Russian society at Ivan's funeral, through the actions of his "friends"; more specifically, it focuses on their concern with decent behavior and job promotions rather than genuine grieving. The various gentlemen actually show their selfish tendencies even before the funeral: as soon as they learn of Ivan's death, "the first thought of each of the gentlemen... was of the changes and promotions which this might bring about among them or among their acquaintances" ( 96). They then recognize how much of a burden Ivan's death has been when they realize that "they would now have to satisfy the very boring demands of decency by attending the funeral service and paying a condolence visit to the widow" (97). During the actual funeral, Peter Ivanovich - one of Ivan's so-called closest friends - is consumed by doubts about whether he should cross himself, when he should bow to the widow, and how he should offer his condolences (97-98). His attention to these petty social attentions—and to the similar attitudes of others at the funeral—underscores Tolstoy's critique of propriety and superficiality in Russian culture. After the funeral scene, Tolstoy returns to Ivan Ilych's life, revealing that Ivan was only as conformist as his friends are. Ivan didn't care whether his behavior was morally right or not; he simply wanted to ensure that whatever he did was done "with clean hands, in clean cloths...and above all among people of the best society and consequently with the approval of the people of rank" (106). This category included his courtship and marriage, which was "considered right by his higher-up associates" (109), as well as his behavior at work towards said associates, whom he treated in a cordial but condescending manner (107). . Ivan was also concerned with appearances; he decorated his home with "antiques which he regarded as particularly comme il faut" (115). Indeed, this obsession with the appearance of his home would later contribute significantly to his emotional and physical downfall. Unfortunately, Ivan was so concerned with gaining social approval that he ultimately sacrificed his life in an attempt to climb the social ladder. This reality is vividly illustrated during an episode in which Ivan is busy decorating his new home in St. Petersburg. He climbs a ladder to hang some curtains and suddenly slips from the ladder; however, he manages to break his fall and only hits his side against the window handle (116). The trauma to his side, however, does not heal.