Lives and Deaths: Essential Stories

The Death of Ivan Ilyich I In the large building that housed the halls of justice, during an adjournment in the Melvinsky trial, the members of the court and the public prosecutor gathered in the office of Ivan Yegorovich Shebek. Their talk soon turned to the famous Krasovsky case. Fyodor Vasilyevich grew heated, insisting on the manifest lack of jurisdiction, Ivan Yegorovich wasn’t swayed, while Pyotr Ivanovich, who had kept out of the fray from the start, leafed through the latest issue of the Gazette, which had just been delivered. “Gentlemen,” he interrupted, “Ivan Ilyich is dead.” “Can’t be…” “Here, have a look,” he replied, handing the fresh, still pungent pages to Fyodor Vasilyevich. The announcement was bordered in black: “It is with deepest sorrow that Praskovya Fyodorovna Golovina informs relatives and friends of the demise of her beloved spouse, Member of the Appellate Court Ivan Ilyich Golovin, which occurred on 4th February 1882. The funeral will be held on Friday, at one o’clock in the afternoon.” Ivan Ilyich had been a colleague of the assembled gentlemen, well liked by all of them. He had been ill for several weeks; they had heard the illness was incurable. His position had been kept open, but it was assumed that, in the event of his death, Alekseyev would be appointed to replace him, while Alekseyev’s position would be filled by either Vinnikov or Stabel. And so, upon learning of Ivan Ilyich’s death, the first thought that occurred to each of the gentlemen gathered in the office concerned the potential reassignments or promotions that this death might occasion for the members themselves or for their acquaintances. Now I’ll surely be named to replace Stabel or Vinnikov, thought Fyodor Vasilyevich. They’ve been promising me a promotion for a long time. And it means a raise of eight hundred roubles, along with an allowance. I’ll have to apply for my brother-in-law’s transfer from Kaluga, thought Pyotr Ivanovich. Yes, that ought to make my wife very happy indeed. No more complaints about my never doing anything for her family.