The Death of Ivan Ilyich

by

Leo Tolstoy

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Ivan’s Brother-In-Law Character Analysis

Ivan’s brother-in-law is his wife, Praskovya’s, brother, a man who visits several months after Ivan has fallen ill. Upon setting his eyes on Ivan, the brother-in-law can’t hide how alarmed he is by the profound physical change Ivan has undergone. Noting his brother-in-law’s reaction, Ivan fully grasps just how serious his condition truly is.
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Ivan’s Brother-In-Law Character Timeline in The Death of Ivan Ilyich

The timeline below shows where the character Ivan’s Brother-In-Law appears in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Empathy vs. Resentment Theme Icon
Greed, Purity, and Corruption Theme Icon
...Feeling abandoned, he takes a leave of absence to rest in the countryside at his brother-in-law’s house. After just a short time of lounging with the family, though, he decides to... (full context)
Chapter 5
Meaning and Mortality Theme Icon
Illness and Control Theme Icon
Several months later, Ivan’s brother-in-law comes for a visit. Upon setting eyes on Ivan, he can’t disguise his horror, gaping... (full context)
Meaning and Mortality Theme Icon
Empathy vs. Resentment Theme Icon
Illness and Control Theme Icon
Listening in on a conversation between Praskovya and his brother-in-law, Ivan hears his brother-in-law call him a “dead man,” though Praskovya insists that her brother... (full context)