The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy | Chapter 7

In Chapter 7 of The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Ivan is three months into his illness. The painkillers Ivan has been given barely alleviate his suffering. They just make him more depressed. A new diet leaves Ivan without any appetite. And Ivan needs help with his bodily functions. An undignified torment to him. Gerasim, his young assistant and servant, takes on the role of helper. Gerasim is a clean, fresh, pleasant lad who isn't even bothered by handling Ivan's bedpan. Ivan Ilyich asks Gerasim to help him move to the sofa, then to stay and place a chair nearby on which Ivan can rest his feet. Gerasim places the chair near Ivan and lifts his feet onto it. Ivan notices that he feels better when Gerasim is holding his legs higher in the air before he settled them into the chair. Soon enough, Ivan's legs are on Gerasim's shoulders, a position that definitely makes him feel better. Thereafter, Ivan often calls Gerasim in to hold his legs on his shoulders. Ivan is drawn to the willingness to help and the simplicity of his servant. Gerasim's brimming health and energy soothes Ivan. Ivan Ilyich is bothered by the lie everyone is determined to believe about him, that he's not dying. Only Gerasim did not participate in that lie. And that comforts Ivan. Gerasim says he was helping a dying man and hoped someone would do the same for him when his time came. Ivan wants to be pitied as a parent would pity a sick and suffering child. But is ashamed of feeling this way and knows he cannot ask for pity from anyone, especially his own family. To maintain their denial of Ivan Ilyich's dire situation, all the people around him have fabricated a lie about his condition. This lie so infuriates Ivan, he sometimes wants to shout at them, you know and I know that I am dying. Then at least stop lying about it. Gerasim is the only person who accepts death as a natural part of life. But Ivan never has the courage to confront those who are guided by this lie. What torments Ivan further is that this is the very decorum which he had served his whole life long. For the first time, Ivan Ilyich begins to recognize the artificiality of his former life of decorum.