< 3 what does the black sack in this excerpt from leo tolstoy’s the death of ivan ilyich symbolize? till about three in the morning he was in a state of stupefied misery. it seemed to him that he and his pain were being thrust into a narrow, deep black sack, but though they were pushed further and further in they could not be pushed to the bottom. and this, terrible enough in itself, was accompanied by suffering. he was frightened yet wanted to fall through the sack, he struggled but yet co-operated. and suddenly he broke through, fell, and regained consciousness. gerasim was sitting at the foot of the bed dozing quietly and patiently, while he himself lay with his emaciated stockinged legs resting on gerasim's shoulders; the same shaded candle was there and the same unceasing pain. death missed opportunities corrupt relationships childhood mental conflict