motives in their everyday lives shift completely. It’s
perspective, not age, that matters most.
Tolstoyrecognizedthis.AsIvanIlyich’shealthfadesand
he realizes that his time is limited, his ambition and
vanity disappear. He simply wants comfort and
companionship.Butalmostnooneunderstands—nothis
family,hisfriends,orthestreamofeminentphysicians
whom his wife pays to examine him.
Tolstoysawthechasmofperspectivebetweenthosewho
havetocontendwithlife’sfragilityandthosewhodon’t.
Hegraspedtheparticularanguishofhavingtobearsuch
knowledgealone. But he sawsomethingelse, aswell:
evenwhenasenseofmortalityreordersourdesires,these
desires arenot impossibleto satisfy.Although noneof
IvanIlyich’sfamilyorfriendsordoctorsgrasphisneeds,
hisservantGerasimdoes.GerasimseesthatIvanIlyichis
asuffering,frightened,andlonelymanandtakespityon
him, aware that someday he himself would share his
master’sfate. While others avoidIvan Ilyich,Gerasim
talkstohim.WhenIvanIlyichfindsthattheonlyposition
thatrelieveshispainiswithhisemaciatedlegsrestingon
Gerasim’sshoulders,Gerasimsitstheretheentirenightto
providecomfort.Hedoesn’tmindhisrole,notevenwhen
hehastoliftIlyichtoandfromthecommodeandclean
up after him. He provides care withoutcalculation or
deception,andhedoesn’timposeanygoalsbeyondwhat
IvanIlyichdesires.ThismakesallthedifferenceinIvan
Ilyich’s waning life:
Gerasimdid itall easily,willingly, simply,andwith a
good naturethat touched Ivan Ilyich. Health,strength,
and vitalityinotherpeople wereoffensiveto him,but