There are many philosophical questions that humans have tried to answer since the birth of our species. What is my purpose on earth? Are there divine beings? Who created me and this world? The short story The Death of Ivan Ilyich tactfully incorporates two of these unanswered questions into its main theme. These questions evaluate the “problem of evil” and how one should live one's life on earth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The “problem of evil” states that if God were good, omnipotent, and intelligent, there would be no natural disasters that harm the innocent. This problem calls into question the supremacy of the divine and the origin of evil. There are diseases, storms, illnesses, suffering and death in this world that affect children, religious people, the elderly and the innocent. In the tale, Ivan lies in bed and on the couch for weeks before his death and is continually grappling with this problem and trying to conjure a solution as mortality begins to slip through his fingers. Ivan believes he has led a proper life, filled with decorative objects and clothing, social gatherings, games, and general pleasantries. As he suffers severe pain in his side from an injury, he wonders what he did to deserve the lasting pain and deterioration he experiences. He led his life in a decorative, proper and pleasant life. He was a social man, had a family he cared for, respected the law and had not committed any crime or wronged anyone. Because of this, he did not believe he deserved to have this natural disorder at the age of forty-five which caused him months of pain, suffering and ultimately death. The first place Ivan refers to the problem of evil concerns about two weeks before his death. “He cried because of his impotence, his terrible loneliness, the cruelty of man, the cruelty of God and the absence of God” (p. 55). Ivan believed that God had abandoned him when he needed God most and that God had intentionally let him suffer and created natural diseases. He begins to question God's intentions in creating this disease, why he was brought to earth, and God's ultimate intentions for his fate. He initially begins to believe that the solution to the problem of evil is that God is cruel, inflicting disease on him because he was unhappy with how Ivan lived his life. Ivan quickly rejects the idea as he has lived his life properly, correctly and without crimes or sins. Use the logic that if you do good, good should come back to you. Ivan admits that there is no reason for death and agony, since he lived according to his faith. After two weeks, Ivan realizes that he has not lived his life correctly. He questioned the way he lived and realized that he was not leading an examined life. He spent his time only with social and civic duties and did not engage in social interactions to form bonds but only to maintain a reputation. Given the circumstances, the justification that suffering builds character is the solution to the problem of evil in Ivan's situation. “(Suffering) sharpens the emotional capabilities of the individual, orders his will, and encourages a more thoughtful mental attitude” (Problem of Wise Evil). Ivan had to endure suffering to reflect on his life and realize that the way he lived was wrong. However, he was unable to properly convey this message to others and was unable to recover and live an examined life, which makes this solution imperfect..