Select the correct answer.
Read this excerpt from Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Her attitude towards him and his diseases is still the same. Just as the doctor had adopted a certain relation to his patient which he could not
abandon, so had she formed one towards him-that he was not doing something he ought to do and was himself to blame, and that she
reproached him lovingly for this-and she could not now change that attitude.
"You see he doesn't listen to me and doesn't take his medicine at the proper time. And above all he lies in a position that is no doubt bad for him-
with his legs up."
She described how he made Gerasim hold his legs up.
The doctor smiled with a contemptuous affability that said: "What's to be done? These sick people do have foolish fancies of that kind, but we must
forgive them...."
They all rose, said good-night, and went away.
When they had gone it seemed to Ivan Ilyich that he felt better; the falsity had gone with them. But the pain remained-that same pain and that
same fear that made everything monotonously alike, nothing harder and nothing easier. Everything was worse.
Again minute followed minute and hour followed hour. Everything remained the same and there was no cessation. And the inevitable end of it all
became more and more terrible.
Based on the excerpt, how is Praskovya Fedorovna a character foil to Ivan Ilyich
O A.
B.
C.
She is kind and takes care of Ivan, which is why he feels guilty about how he treated her for most of their married life.
She is vindictive toward Ivan while pretending to be worried about him, thus reminding him of how his family has never forgiven him.
She plays the part of the worried wife without any real feeling, symbolizing the false propriety Ivan upheld but now hates.
D.
She is young, healthy, and beautiful-everything Ivan can never be again and wishes he could return to.



Answer :

In the excerpt from Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," Praskovya Fedorovna serves as a character foil to Ivan Ilyich by portraying a contrasting character trait that highlights Ivan's own characteristics or situation. A. She is kind and takes care of Ivan, which is why he feels guilty about how he treated her for most of their married life. This option suggests that Praskovya Fedorovna's kindness and care towards Ivan make him feel guilty about his past treatment of her during their marriage. This reflects a potential dynamic where her positive qualities emphasize his own shortcomings. B. She is vindictive toward Ivan while pretending to be worried about him, thus reminding him of how his family has never forgiven him. This option proposes that Praskovya Fedorovna's vindictiveness and pretense of concern serve to remind Ivan of his family's lack of forgiveness. This contrast could highlight Ivan's sense of alienation and regret. C. She plays the part of the worried wife without any real feeling, symbolizing the false propriety Ivan upheld but now hates. This option suggests that Praskovya Fedorovna's portrayal of a worried wife without genuine emotion symbolizes the false facade of propriety that Ivan once upheld but now despises. This contrast may underscore Ivan's internal conflict and disillusionment. D. She is young, healthy, and beautiful - everything Ivan can never be again and wishes he could return to. This option highlights a different aspect of contrast, focusing on Praskovya Fedorovna's youth, health, and beauty in comparison to Ivan's deteriorating health and aging. This contrast could emphasize Ivan's longing for a past vitality that is now beyond his reach. Each of these interpretations offers a different perspective on how Praskovya Fedorovna acts as a character foil to Ivan Ilyich in the excerpt, shedding light on his inner turmoil, regrets, and desires. The choice of the most fitting answer would depend on a deeper analysis of the characters' interactions and motivations throughout the story.