Ivan living in lies

Ivan Ilyich’s most excruciating pain is to live in lies. It seems as if his life revolves around a pretend dress-up party. Ivan takes in what he considered the ideal way of life and pursues it at any cost. His goal is to be recognized, successful, and admired. To attain these three characteristic, Ivan set up a fictitious lifestyle. 
            Ivan puts extra efforts into decorating his dream home. He puts personal touches to every corner of the house. His main purpose is to create a house that would flaunt the richness and greatness of his possession. It is a way to indirectly announce to his friends that he is just as wealthy and better off as everyone else. He accessorizes the house with expensive china and bronze. Yet, Tolstoy makes an interesting comment. He says, “it was like the home of all people who are not really rich but who want to look rich” (57). Tolstoy’s statement definitely proves the point. Ivan is living in a living fantasy. His house is not the upper-class, sophisticated mansion he yearns for. The house is furnished with, “. . . inexpensive purchases of old furniture” (57). Therefore, Ivan is actually pretending he lives in the dream home. Because he thirst envy by others, he must sacrifices to live with pretension.
            The guests who come to his house are also selected by their ranks and importance. Ivan, who wants to be successful, must have good relations with high-ranking professionals. He has to carefully choose his companions. They should be able to give him the best advantages. After a couple round of elimination, Ivan got rid of the, “. . . shabby friends and relation” (61). They are the people who offer no benefits to his stride for success. They are only people who show affection towards Ivan. Obviously, it is not enough for Ivan. His desperation’s for this goal persuaded him to give up the true friends and take in the allies. This is another way of expressing how Ivan manages to abandon his old friends and pretend to make good relationships with his new ones.
            Ivan even includes his works as part of the pretension. The endless arguments he has with his wife began early in the marriage. At first, Ivan was humble, and let his wife have her ways. As the situation intense to the point he can not handle it, he escapes by burying himself in the office. He gives his unremitting attention to his job. He stays in the office for long hours, and arrives home as later as he could. In Ivan’s mind, this plan forces his brain to think that life is pleasant. He is the man of the family who puts bread on the table. Therefore, he must constantly work hard to do so. Domestic tasks are the duty of his wife. She has the obligation to take care of the house and their kids while he is busy at work. After work, he expects a hearty meal with his wife and children. It is how his family should act. Once again, Ivan is trying to cognate the reality. He forces himself to be separated from his home so that he will not have to face the presence.