By: LEO TOLSTOY Born: August 28, 1828 Tula Province, Russia Died: November 9, 1910

The story is all about Ivan who is the main character in the story. Ivan was a fair haired handsome, curly headed fellow, full of fun. He lived in the town of Vladimir and had two shops. One summer, Ivan was going to the fair and as he said goodbye to his family, his wife approached him and told him about his bad dream.

This bad dream as when he returned back and took off his cap. She saw that his hair was already gray but he just laughed and bad goodbye to his family to go to the fair.

On his way, met a merchant whom he knows and they put up at the same inn. They had some tea together and went to adjoining rooms. It was not Ivan’s habit to sleep late and wishing to travel while it is still cool he aroused his driver before dawn and told him to ready the horse.

He continue his travel and when he was already almost away a troika drove up with the officials and came to Ivan and began to question him. Ivan answered them fully. The official introduced himself saying I am the police officer of this district and I question you because the merchant with whom you spent last night has been found with throat cut. They suspected him and researched his things. They have began again asking him about the knife.

Ivan was really shocked and could not utter even single word. The police officer ordered the soldiers to blind Ivan and to put him in the cart. As they tied his feet together and flung him into the cart, he crossed himself and wept. His money and goods were taken and was taken to the nearest town and imprisoned him. He was also put into the trial charged with murdering a merchant and rubbing him of twenty thousand rubles.

His wife was undispair and did not know what to believe. Her children were all quite small. Taking them all with her she went to the jail and went to visit his husband. For twenty six years Ivan lived as a convict in Siberia. His hair turned white as snow, and his beard grow long thin, and gray. Ivan’s life changed when he was in prison. He met a friend in the prison which name Makar Semyonich and introduced each other until they become friend.

. One night as Ivan he was walking about the prison he noticed some earth that come rolling out from which the prison slept. He stopped to see what it was. It was Makar he sized his hand and told him that he had dug a hale under the wall getting rid of the earth for them to get out. He frightens Ivan that if he would talk he will be killed, but Ivan response told that he was killed long ago! Next day, when the convicts were let out to work the soldiers noticed that one of the prisoners emptied boots some earth out of him look.

The prison was searched and turned found. The warden came and questions all the prisoners to find who had dug the hale until they came to ask Ivan.

Ivan was asked and knew that he would tell the truth because he is the most loyal among them. Maker began to tremble with fear thinking that Ivan would tell the truth but he did not, that might when Ivan was lying on his bed and just beginning to doze someone came quietly and it was Makar.

Ivan threatened him that if he would not go away he would call the policeman. Makar bent close over him and whispered Ivan forgive me. He confess to Ivan that he is the one who killed the merchant and hid knife in your things. Ivan was silent and did not know what to say. Makar slid off the bed shelf and knell upon him asking forgiveness.

Makar beat his head in floor. Ivan forgive me He cried when Ivan heard him sobbing he too began weep, God will forgive you said he Maybe I am a hundred worse than you. Ivan no longer desire leaves the prison but only hoped for his last hour to come after the confession of Makar. Inspired of what Ivan had said Makar confess his guilt but when the order for his release came, Ivan was already dead.

1. How do you normally react when you are wrongly accused? 2. Do you think waiting is a wise action?

 Rancour-Laferriere, Daniel. Tolstoy on the Couch: Misogyny, Masochism, and the Absent Mother. New York: New York University Press,  Troyat, Henri. Tolstoy. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Reprint, New York: Grove Press,  Wilson, A. N. Tolstoy. London: H. Hamilton, 1988.