The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Russian author Leo Tolstoy is a story that explores the life and death of Ivan , a middle-aged man who spent his years climbing the social ladder in a 19th century society. The story revolves around those closest to Ivan, such as his wife, children, caretaker, and friends. As he stands on the brink of death, Ivan questions his morals and the way he has lived his life. Along the same lines, Morality by Wallace Shawn explores how morality and morals have common ground and how they can impact a person's judgment. It is important for every person to critically interpret the world and the way we live. Ivan questions his inevitable death and wonders if he really deserved to suffer for all the good things he did in his life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The fear of death is a recurring theme in Ivan's mind. Once diagnosed with an illness, Ivan cannot stop thinking about the suffering and pain he will have to endure. “Deep in his soul, Ivan Ilyich knew that he was dying, but not only was he not used to it, but he did not do it, he could not understand it.” Ivan recognizes that his death is inevitable and that he does not understand why he deserves to die. Ivan has a bitter relationship with his wife and children, and this bitterness grows as his illness worsens. Gerasim, Ivan's caregiver, is the only one who truly brings him comfort. As Ivan shows compassion towards Gerasim, he questions whether he truly deserves death, regardless of whether it will happen. During the final moments of Ivan's story, his attitude shifts from resentment to sympathy towards his family, and he questions how his family will continue to exist without their support. Morality is described as the differentiation of intentions, decisions and actions among those who are distinguished. as appropriate and inappropriate. Morals are a person's standards of behavior or beliefs regarding what is or is not acceptable to them. Both of these ideas are discussed in Wallace Shawn's essay, Morality. Wallace Shawn's essay discusses his worldview and morals. “If we live day to day without questioning ourselves, we ignore the dangers we can present to ourselves and to the world. But if we look in the mirror, we might see a rapacious face.” Shawn explains that if individuals do not reflect on themselves, they are no longer aware of the crimes they could inflict on others. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy and Morality by Wallace Shawn both have a persistent problem with human morality. Ivan reflects on his outlook on his life and how he treated others and wonders if his death is justified..