A Fully Glossed Russian Text of “The Death of Ivan Ilich” with Explanatory and Interpretive Annotations
Chapter 7
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- Thus, Chapter Seven begins by re-emphasizing the conclusion which, as noted above, emerges from Chapter Six: that Ivan Ilich is already as good as dead, that he is essentially dead and is only awaiting formal removal from the scene. ↵
- No sooner does the text make it clear that Ivan Ilich is virtually dead already, and so beyond help or comfort, than it presents the first of several consolations and remissions of his agony. The servant Gerasim, a young, healthy, and energetic figure, is assigned to assist Ivan Ilich by cleaning up after evacuation. Surprisingly enough, the health and vitality of this young man do not anger Ivan Ilich (unlike the health and vitality of his daughter and her fiancé), but brings him comfort instead. In particular, Ivan Ilich places a high value on Gerasim's truthfulness and ability to acknowledge that his master is not simply ill, but is actually dying. Gerasim's relationship to Ivan Ilich is simple and direct. He acknowledges the terminal nature of Ivan Ilich's illness without pretense and is willing to spend long periods of time patiently helping his master to feel better. Gerasim had first appeared in Chapter One. There he had made Peter Ivanovich feel uncomfortable by reminding him that we will all die one day. Finally, the fact that a genuine comfort emerges from "this most unpleasant matter" prepares the way for the idea that something good for Ivan Ilich may also come from the most unpleasant matter of all--his terminal illness. ↵
- The "-s" is short for "sudar'" ("sir") or "sudarinja" (ma'am). ↵
- Gerasim's value to Ivan Ilich is based upon two primary factors: Gerasim's truthfulness (and the salutary contrast between his truthfulness and candor, on one side, and the lying (Russ. 'lozh'') and convention of his wife, doctors, and acquaintances on the other) and his willingness to spend long periods in intimate contact with Ivan Ilich. This intimacy is emphatically physical; it involves helping Ivan Ilich with his processes of bodily elimination and also sitting with him in such a manner that Ivan Ilich can place his heels on Gerasim's shoulders. The relationship with Gerasim is the first example of physical touching which is explicitly represented (as opposed to being merely reported) in Ivan Ilich's life story. In the main Ivan Ilich has striven to cut himself off from other people. It has also been noted that the position in which Ivan Ilich feels better is not dissimilar to the position in which women are placed in the process of giving birth. Thus, chapter seven's antidote to the funereal gloom of chapter six goes so far as to suggest the motif of birth to counter the motif of death, thereby introducing the possibility of rebirth into Ivan Ilich's story. ↵
- The verb "lechit'sja" means "to be cured, healed; to follow a prescribed medical regimen"; etymologically, as a reflexive verb, it means "to cure oneself." Thus, it provides yet one more example of the novel's device of using the underlying, literal meaning of words or phrases to suggest the reverse significance attached to the surface level of the text. It is indeed the case, as Ivan Ilich eventually discovers, that recovery from that illness of the spirit which is his most basic problem is possible only through his own efforts. He can, in fact (the novel suggests), heal himself through recognition of the wrongness of the idea that the life he has led is his true and authentic life. If he does heal himself in this way, something very good will indeed emerge. ↵
- The rather unconventional use of the prepositional phrase "nad + instrumental case" (lit., "above, over" something or someone) as the complement to the verbs "lgat'" ("to (tell a) lie") and "peredelyvat'" ("to do, perform") conveys the idea that people maintain the fiction that Ivan Ilich is merely ill rather than dying when they are in his presence. To express this, however, as the text does here (lit., to lie, to do their tricks "above him") suggests that he is in a sense already dead, stretched out below them, as though he already were insensible of their presence. This, in turn, suggests that their lying and pretense is undertaken not so much to spare the feelings of Ivan Ilich, but to comfort themselves. ↵
- The conventional meaning of the phrase "ne imel dukha" ("lacked the energy, the strength") is supplemented by the basic meaning of "dukh," "spirit": Ivan Ilich's true and authentic life in the spirit had virtually disappeared after so many years of neglect and indifference as he pursued success in the false and artificial life of his home and office. ↵
- From this point on the text makes it increasingly explicit that the spiritual pain of enduring the falseness and deception--the lies--with which he is surrounded and in which he participates is greater than the physical pain of his illness. One gets the sense that it is this moral pain which abates when he is in the company of Gerasim. As the next chapter will make clear, however, the pain returns in full force (both physically and morally) in Gerasim's absence. Only Gerasim is able to tell Ivan Ilich directly that he is dying. Only Gerasim seems capable of coming close to Ivan Ilich, where "close" implies honesty, physical touch, and even the (highly inappropriate!) linguistic closeness of Gerasim's using the second-person singular, familiar, form of address in speaking to his master. The lie (Russ. "lozh'") from this point on begins more and more to replace the physical illness from which Ivan Ilich suffers; the lie, so to say, now becomes his illness. ↵
- The Court of Cassation is the highest appellate court in some legal systems. ↵
How this happened (lit., did itself) in the third month of the illness of Ivan Ilich
(it) was impossible to say
because this happened step by step, unnoticeably
but it did happen that (his) wife and daughter and son, and the servants and acquaintances and doctors and, most important, he himself knew
that the whole interest in him for others consists only in whether he will soon, at last, vacate (his) place
(whether he) will free the living from the discomfort produced by his presence
and will free himself from his sufferings
He slept less and less
(they) gave him opium and began to inject morphine
But this did not relieve him
The dull depression which he experienced in (his) half-somnolent condition
at first only relieved him as something new
but then it (i.e., the dull depression) became just as or even more tormenting
than the open pain
For him (they) prepared special foods according to the prescription of the doctors
but these foods were all for him more and more tasteless, more and more repulsive
For his bowel movements also were made special accommodations
and every time this was torment
Torment from the uncleanness, the indecorousness, and the smell
from consciousness of (the fact) that in this another person had to participate
But in this most unpleasant matter there was also a consolation for Ivan Ilich
The butler's assistant (lit., the pantry servant) Gerasim would come always to clean up (lit., to carry out) after him
Gerasim was a clean, fresh young peasant, grown plump on city food ("xarchi" is a colloquial term, something like "grub" or "eats" in English)
Always cheerful, bright
At first the sight of this always cleanly, traditionally (lit., in the Russian manner) dressed person (who was) doing this repulsive task embarrassed Ivan Ilich
One time he (i.e., Ivan Ilich) having arisen from the vessel (i.e., his specially designed chamber pot) and (being) not strong enough (lit., not in the strength) to pull up his trousers, fell (back) into a soft (i.e., cushioned) arm chair
and with horror looked at his naked, with sharply defined muscles, strengthless thighs
Gerasim came in in thick boots, dispersing around himself a pleasant odor of tar from his boots and of the freshness of the winter air, (and) with a light strong step
in a hempen clean apron and a clean printed cotton shirt
with sleeves rolled up on (his) bare, strong, young arms
and, not looking at Ivan Ilich
apparently restraining, so as not to offend the sick man, the joy of life shining on his face
came up to the vessel
Gerasim, said Ivan Ilich weakly
Gerasim gave a start, apparently having been frightened, (by) whether he had done something wrong (lit., fallen short, missed the mark in something)
and with a quick movement (he) turned to the sick man (etymologically, "the one in pain") his fresh, kind, simple, young face, (which) had only just begun to grow a beard
What do (you) wish
For you, I think, this is unpleasant
(Please) forgive me
I cannot (help it)
For pity's sake, sir
And Gerasim's eyes gleamed (lit., Gerasim gleamed with his eyes) and showed his young white teeth (in a grin)
Whyever (shouldn't I) trouble myself
With you it's (lit., yours is) a matter of illness
And he with nimble, strong hands did his accustomed task and went out, stepping lightly
And after five minutes, stepping just as lightly, (he) returned
Ivan Ilich sat the whole (time) in the armchair just as (before)
Gerasim, said he, when he (i.e., Gerasim) had put (down) the clean, washed vessel
please, help me, come here
Gerasim came up (to him)
Raise me up
For me it is (too) difficult (lit., heavy) alone, and I have dismissed Dmitry
with strong hands he took hold (of Ivan Ilich) just as lightly as he stepped
nimbly, softly (he) lifted and held (hm), with the other hand he drew up (his) trousers and was about (lit., intended, wanted) to set him down (again)
But Ivan Ilich asked him to lead him over to the couch
Gerasim, without effort and as though not squeezing him at all took him, almost carrying (him), to the couch and seated (him there)
Thank you. How nimbly, well (you) do everything
Gerasim again smiled and made as though (lit., wanted, intended) to leave
But for Ivan Ilich it felt (lit., it was) so good with him that (he) didn't want to let (him) go
Here's what (you do)
Move this chair (up) to me, please
No, this (one) here, under my feet
For me (it) is easier when my feet are higher
Gerasim brought the chair, put it down gently (lit., not having banged it)
(he) simultaneously lowered it evenly to the floor and raised the feet of Ivan Ilich onto the chair
To Ivan Ilich (it) seemed that (it) became easier for him
while Gerasim was raising his feet high
For me (it) is better when my legs are higher
said Ivan Ilich
Put under me that cushion over there
Gerasim did that
Again (he) raised (his) feet and put (them down)
Again for Ivan Ilich (it) became better
as long as Gerasim held (up) his feet
When he lowered them, to him (i.e., Ivan Ilich) (it) seemed worse
Gerasim, said he to him, are you busy now
Not a bit, sir, said Gerasim
(who) had learned among the city people (how) to talk with ladies and gentlemen
Is there something else you need to do
Well what is there for me to do
(I've) done everything, (I just have) to split some wood for tomorrow
So hold my legs like that, a bit higher, can (you)
Why (not) after all, (I) can
Gerasim raised his feet higher
and to Ivan Ilich (it) seemed that in that position he doesn't feel pain at all
And how about the firewood
Don't trouble (yourself) to worry (about it)
We will manage
Ivan Ilich directed Gerasim to sit down and to hold (up) his feet and (he) talked with him
And--a strange thing--to him (it) seemed that for him (it) is better while Gerasim held his feet
From that time (on) Ivan Ilich began sometimes to call (for) Gerasim and (he) had him hold his feet on his shoulders
and (he) liked to talk with him
Gerasim would do this lightly, willingly, simply, and with a kindness that touched Ivan Ilich
Health, strength, robustness of life in all other people offended Ivan Ilich
only the strength and robustness of life of Gerasim did not embitter, but (rather) calmed Ivan Ilich
The main torment of Ivan Ilich was the lie
that lie, for some reason avowed by everyone
that he is only ill, and not dying
and that for him (it) is necessary only to be calm and to follow doctor's orders (lit., to heal himself)
and then something very good will emerge
He however knew that, whatever (they) might do
nothing will come out (of it) except still more tormenting sufferings and death
And this lie tormented him
(it) tormented (him) that (they) didn't want to admit what everyone knew and he knew
but (they) wanted to lie above him on the occasion of his terrible position
and (they) wanted and forced him himself to take part in this lie
The lie, this lie, perpetrated around him on the eve of his death
the lie, necessitating (people) to reduce this fearful solemn act of his death to the level of all their visits, curtains, sturgeon for dinner
(the lie) was terribly tormenting for Ivan Ilich
And--strangely--he many times, when they were doing their tricks over him
was a hair's breadth away from crying out to them
stop lying, both you know and I know, that I am dying
so stop lying at least
But never did he have the spirit to do this
The fearful, terrible act of his dying
he saw
was reduced by everyone surrounding him to the degree of an accidental unpleasantness
rather (like) a want of decorum (in the way that (they) deal with a person who, upon entering the parlor, disperses from himself a bad smell)
(they deal with such a person) with the very same "decorum" which he had served all his life
he saw that no one will feel sorry for him
because no one wants even to understand his position
Only Gerasim alone understood that position and felt sorry for him
And therefore for Ivan Ilich (it) was good only with Gerasim
For him (it) was good when Gerasim, sometimes for whole nights at a stretch
would hold his legs (up) and would not want to leave (to go) to sleep, saying
Don't you trouble yourself, Ivan Ilich, (I) will get enough sleep later on
or when he suddenly, falling into the familiar form of address, would add
As if you weren't sick, and why (should I) not be of service (to you)
Only Gerasim did not lie
in everything (he did) (it) was (to be) seen that he alone understood what is going on
and (he) did not consider (it) necessary to conceal this and simply felt sorry for (his) wasted, weak master
He even once directly said, when Ivan Ilich was dismissing him
(We) all will die
said he, expressing by this (the idea) that he is not weighed down by his labor
precisely because (he) is bearing it for a dying person
and (he) hopes that also for him (i.e., for Gerasim) someone in his time will bear the very same labor
Besides this lie, or as a result of it
most tormenting of all for Ivan Ilich was that no one was sorry for him in the way that he wanted that (they) would be sorry for him
Ivan Ilich at certain moments, after long sufferings, most of all wanted
however ashamed (it) would have made him to admit this
wanted that someone would feel sorry for him as for a sick child
He wanted that (they) would stroke him, would kiss him, would cry over him
as (they) stroke and comfort children
He knew that he is an important official (lit., member [of the court])
that he has a graying beard, and therefore this is impossible
but he even so wanted this
And in (his) relations with Gerasim (there) was something close to this
and therefore (his) relations with Gerasim comforted him
Ivan Ilich wants to cry
wants that (they) would stroke him and cry over him
and here comes (his) colleague, member (of the court) Shebek (to visit)
and, instead of weeping and being stroked, Ivan Ilich makes a serious, stern, deep-thinking face
and from inertia tells his opinion about the significance of a decision of the Court of Cassation
and stubbornly insists on it
This lie around him and in him himself most of all poisoned the last days of the life of Ivan Ilich