The Death of Ivan Ilyich

by

Leo Tolstoy

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Fyodor Vasilyevich is one of Ivan Ilyich’s colleagues at the courthouse. After learning that Ivan has died, Fyodor talks to Pyotr Ivanovich and Shebek about their friend, expressing his sorrow even as he privately thinks about how he might benefit from Ivan’s death, since there will inevitably be reorganization as the ministry seeks to fill his position.

Fyodor Vasilyevich Quotes in The Death of Ivan Ilyich

The The Death of Ivan Ilyich quotes below are all either spoken by Fyodor Vasilyevich or refer to Fyodor Vasilyevich. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Meaning and Mortality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

So, the first thought that occurred to each of the assembled gentlemen on hearing the news of his death was how this death might affect his own prospects, and those of their acquaintances, for transfer or promotion.

‘I’m sure to get Shtabel’s job now, or Vinnikov’s,’ thought Fyodor Vasilyevich. ‘They promised me ages ago, and a promotion like that would give me another eight hundred roubles a year, plus expenses.’

‘I must apply to have my brother-in-law transferred from Kaluga,’ thought Pyotr Ivanovich. ‘My wife will be delighted. She won’t be able to tell me I never do anything for her people.’

‘I had a feeling he wasn’t going to get better,’ said Pyotr Ivanovich. ‘It’s sad.’

Related Characters: Pyotr Ivanovich (speaker), Ivan Ilyich Golovin, Ivan Yegorovich Shebek, Fyodor Vasilyevich
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis:

Apart from the speculations aroused in each of them by this death, concerning the transfers and possible changes that this death might bring about, the very fact of the death of someone close to them aroused in all who heard about it, as always, a feeling of delight that he had died and they hadn’t.

‘There you have it. He’s dead, and I’m not’ was what everyone thought or felt.

Related Characters: Ivan Ilyich Golovin, Pyotr Ivanovich, Fyodor Vasilyevich
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis:
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Fyodor Vasilyevich Quotes in The Death of Ivan Ilyich

The The Death of Ivan Ilyich quotes below are all either spoken by Fyodor Vasilyevich or refer to Fyodor Vasilyevich. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Meaning and Mortality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

So, the first thought that occurred to each of the assembled gentlemen on hearing the news of his death was how this death might affect his own prospects, and those of their acquaintances, for transfer or promotion.

‘I’m sure to get Shtabel’s job now, or Vinnikov’s,’ thought Fyodor Vasilyevich. ‘They promised me ages ago, and a promotion like that would give me another eight hundred roubles a year, plus expenses.’

‘I must apply to have my brother-in-law transferred from Kaluga,’ thought Pyotr Ivanovich. ‘My wife will be delighted. She won’t be able to tell me I never do anything for her people.’

‘I had a feeling he wasn’t going to get better,’ said Pyotr Ivanovich. ‘It’s sad.’

Related Characters: Pyotr Ivanovich (speaker), Ivan Ilyich Golovin, Ivan Yegorovich Shebek, Fyodor Vasilyevich
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis:

Apart from the speculations aroused in each of them by this death, concerning the transfers and possible changes that this death might bring about, the very fact of the death of someone close to them aroused in all who heard about it, as always, a feeling of delight that he had died and they hadn’t.

‘There you have it. He’s dead, and I’m not’ was what everyone thought or felt.

Related Characters: Ivan Ilyich Golovin, Pyotr Ivanovich, Fyodor Vasilyevich
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis: