Ivan Ilyich

In The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, Ivan has been confronted with “the lie.” His doctor says to him that he is not dying. In the story, the narrator states: “Ivan Ilyich’s chief torment was the line-that lie, for some reason recognized by everyone, that he was only ill but not dying…he was tormented by this lie”(1541). The doctors states he is sick, and needs plenty of rest. Eventually, Ilyich’s sickness will go away, but he is in pain. Ilyich is dying, yet other people do not acknowledge it. Everyone, including Ilyich, is in denial that he is going to die soon. Because of “the lie,” he has suffered and endured pain from his sickness. Before Ilyich’s death, he has been confronted with “the lie” when he receives a medallion after graduating from college with in law. The medallion is inscribed in a Latin phrase “respice finem,” which meant “Look to the end.” Ilyich thinks the Latin phrase

She changes her name to an African name, breaking the “Dee” dynasty. In the story, Dee says: “She’s dead…I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me” (1589). There are two reasons she dislikes the name. First, she does not have a different name since she is named after her mother side. Her mother conceals Dee from knowing where her name origins. Second, Dee changes her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. She claims she could not carry the name “Dee” since the real “Dee” is not around. Wangero believes the name has bought up a negative connotation in the past. She cannot stand the oppression of her family and African people. Since her name is a slave name, she chooses an African name. Wangero notes that her ancestor’s name has been taken away when they are enslaved. She does not understand why she has to be named after one of her