The Circle of Life:

 

Three Deaths, a work by Leo Tolstoy, explores a phenomenon that is experienced by all, yet the prospects of it do not have a universal understanding—the occurrence of death. Regardless of who you are, what background you may come from, or your views on the afterlife, every living being will at some point be faced with imminent death. In this short story, the reader is introduced to three protagonists who have encountered this inescapable aspect of Nature. The first subject is a noblewoman who prolongs her death, the second is a poor coach driver who has come to accept his time and the last being an “ancient, immovable” (588) tree whose death comes unexpectedly. Even though the author places focus on the way each subject handles dying, the underlying message and point of this story is depicted mostly through those who surround them in their process of dying. The contrasting scenarios of these three figures points out a common theme among them all; the theme of the cycle of life from degeneration to renewal. Tolstoy uses these three characters, as well as the beings surrounding them as an outlet to express the significance of the circle of life.

During her carriage ride in Chapter One, the old lady is constantly wincing from the pain of her ailment. Throughout this ride, the old lady’s “weariness, irascibility, and habitual suffering” (579) is sharply contrasted by the presence of her maid, who was a healthy young lady with a “fresh face” (579), fat hands, and strong legs. The juxtaposition of the old lady with her younger counterpart gives the reader an initial insight to the idea of comparing those who are facing death with those who are alive and well. The ‘invalid’ woman is startled by the prospect of her death and wishes to prolong her life by seeking medical attention in the warmth of Italy. Those who surround her strongly believe that it would be a waste for her to travel, predicting that she could by no means handle such a trip. Begrudgingly the old lady accepts their presumptions and they all return back to their mansion. In Chapter Three, the old lady is revisited a few months later, when the trees are “full of life and brilliancy” (584). At this point the elderly woman’s health has almost completely left her, and up ‘til her last breath, the woman is still unaccepting of her approaching fate. During her last moments, as well as the moments during her funeral, the story flashes to children playing and being joyful, with the distant rooms echoing of “the voice of children and their romping” (587). This imagery further expounds upon the theme of old life exiting to allow fresh, new life to enter.

No longer possessing the strength to move the old, sick driver, Khveodor is cooped up upon the top of an oven as he patiently waits for his death. The old man is aware that his “death is at hand” (584) and he has no issue ‘lending’ his new pair of boots to a young boy, Seryoha. This exchange was given under one condition; that the young fellow would purchase a headstone to adorn the site of his grave. The old man’s willingness to give away his pair of shoes in exchange for a headstone further illustrated that he was accepting his impending death. Since he knew that he no longer needed the new boots, he was at peace with the prospect of giving them to the younger generation.

Having illustrated the deaths of two characters who were knowledgeable of their demise, Tolstoy introduces one final death which is arguably the most prominent and powerful display of the purpose of his story. Seryoha, the young boy who promised the old man a headstone, made a trek into the heart of the forest one early morning to chop down a tree fit to construct a cross with. During the blows of the axe, the tree is personified as being full of life. With its “juicy leaves” whispering to the birds and the base “shuddering with fear” (588), the tree eventually falls to “rest like all the others with their foliage” (588). As sad as the prospect of the trees death may be, the other trees were more joyous than ever, “slowly and majestically” (588) waving their hands over the dead tree. The sunbeams broke through the clouds and gleamed toward the heavens.

The three deaths showcased in this story go to prove that even though death is a definite and sometimes unnerving prospect, happiness and joyfulness can and will continue after death. Living beings must die in order to create space for fresh, new life to emerge and thrive. No matter how long one may postpone their death, the cycle of life is an unchangeable and even beautiful phenomenon.