1. How do Ivan’s ruminations in Part X recall the life without meaning discussed in Frankl’s book?
2. How does Ivan find the limitations of his “legality and correctitude”?
3. In Part XI, Ivan asks himself “What if my whole had been wrong?” What does it mean that Ivan’s entire life was “wrong” or a complete sham? He sees his whole life as a deception, a farce. What are the ten or so distinguishing characteristics of a life of deception? Of course, refer to Pascal and others.
4. What convention does he hate in his wife after he takes the communion in Part XI?
5. Explain Ivan’s final experience before death in Part XII. Does he feel loving compassion for his family based on his vision or does he feel pity based on nihilistic despair? Explain.
Part II What is Ivan's life of deception, of a "proper" and "correct" life?
One. Correct means don't rock the boat; conform to the given norms so as not to upset others and to affirm their tastes and practices.
Two. Correct means create an appearance of morality and spend time erecting the facade, which is the issue. Your real morality doesn't matter. Pretend to care for others and make a show of it but in private have contempt for underlings as Ivan did.
Three. Correct means deny death because death is rude and unpleasant and our life of deception loses its splendor and cachet in the presence of death.
Four. Correct means give implicit admiration for power, privilege, selfishness, and ambition while giving explicit admiration for charity and sacrifice.
Five.
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