Ivan Yegorovich Shebek Character Analysis in The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Shebek is one of Ivan Ilyich’s colleagues at the courthouse. In a conversation with Fyodor Vasilyevich and Pyotr Ivanovich, Shebek learns that Ivan has died. Though Shebek expresses his sorrow, he—like the others—privately thinks about how he might be able to benefit professionally from his friend’s death, since there will inevitably some reorganization as the ministry seeks to fill his position.

Ivan Yegorovich Shebek Quotes in The Death of Ivan Ilyich

The The Death of Ivan Ilyich quotes below are all either spoken by Ivan Yegorovich Shebek or refer to Ivan Yegorovich Shebek. 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:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin edition of The Death of Ivan Ilyich published in 2008.

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: (speaker), , ,

Page Number and Citation: 158

Explanation and Analysis:

Ivan Yegorovich Shebek Character Timeline in The Death of Ivan Ilyich

The timeline below shows where the character Ivan Yegorovich Shebek appears in The Death of Ivan Ilyich. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In a courthouse, Ivan Yegorovich Shebek and Fyodor Vasilyevich argue about a case while Pyotr Ivanovich—another judge—reads the newspaper. Looking up... (full context)

...he goes to great lengths to hide this secret wish, as is the case when Shebek comes to visit him and he speaks seriously about a certain court case. It is... (full context)