Thoughts on the Life and Death of Ivan Illych

Ivan Illych's life was a perfect model in the eyes of society. It was materialistic and proper. However, it was emotionless. He showed no real concern for others and thus received none in return. His friends were not truly friends and even his relationship with his wife was rather platonic. The only emotion and concern he really had was always always connected to himself. Having lived putting himself first, it is rather appropriate that he should die alone and rather dimminished. If he had put himself last during his life and loved, he would have died with love and a release from his suffering. Ivan Illych's death confronts the concept of change. I think the commentary here is that Ivan couldn't change until he faced death. People don't like to change because it is different and it scares them; it makes them uncomfortable -- and Ivan's life was extremely comfortable, there's no arguing that!It took a change that was as big, as strong, and as out of control of humanity as death to make Ivan change himself. This change was a true transformation even though he didn't have the chance to act on it, and that is the core problem. His heart changed, but he was unable to leave this change behind him in the world when he passed on. So the question in the end is: if this cycle continues, as it very well will, and the people in society don't change, how can we implement change in society as a whole?