Question

What theme is portrayed in this excerpt from Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich?

In reality it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore succeed only in resembling others like themselves: there are damasks, dark wood, plants, rugs, and dull and polished bronzes—all the things people of a certain class have in order to resemble other people of that class. His house was so like the others that it would never have been noticed, but to him it all seemed to be quite exceptional. He was very happy when he met his family at the station and brought them to the newly furnished house all lit up, where a footman in a white tie opened the door into the hall decorated with plants, and when they went on into the drawing-room and the study uttering exclamations of delight. He conducted them everywhere, drank in their praises eagerly, and beamed with pleasure.

Answer 1

The theme which is portrayed in this excerpt from Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich is, the theme of materialism and leading a shallow life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main theme of the novel ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ East most certainly death. The story revolves around the character Ivan llyich who confronts with his own death and how that changes everything. However, apart from the central theme of the death, the passage provided depicts the theme of shallow life and materialism.

From the excerpt we can see that how people are living their life, all they want is just to look rich and to impress people with their materialistic things. The excerpt depicts the things that are found in the house of a person who is wealthy.