Question by : What disease or clinical condition was responsible for Tolstoy’s Ivan Ilych’s death?
To Cuthbert and Craig B: Thank you guys, you’re my first responders. I agree that the malady itself was never disclosed and Tolstoy meant to write a story showing Ivan’s psychological and existential suffering in the face of death. However, because of the very detailed physical complaints in the book I think there was an actual medical condition (other than “floating kidney” which, by the way, actually exists – see nephroptosis).
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Answer by Cuthbert Curry-Knave
Existentialism.
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lars haa. says
According to the source below, most often suggested is pancreatic cancer. It suggests the fall onto the window sill, that preceded the onset of the terminal illness by about a year, may be a representation of Ivan’s fall from grace. (It does not suggest, unless I missed it, why the fatal disease would originate in the same general part of the body later. The reader is sure to make the connection.If I recall my Adam and Eve, however, one or both of them lost physical immortality after the fall from grace. Thus it would make sense the fatal disease originated from the same area.)
CDB says
As I recall, it was not specified.