Which theme is portrayed in this excerpt from leo tolstoy’s the death of ivan ilyich? besides considerations as to the possible transfers and promotions likely to result from ivan ilyich's death, the mere fact of the death of a near acquaintance aroused, as usual, in all who heard of it the complacent feeling that, "it is he who is dead and not i."each one thought or felt, "well, he's dead but i'm alive! " but the more intimate of ivan ilyich's acquaintances, his so-called friends, could not thinking also that they would now have to fulfil the very tiresome demands of propriety by attending the funeral service and paying a visit of condolence to the widow.fedor vasilievich and peter ivanovich had been his nearest acquaintances.  peter ivanovich had studied law with ivan ilyich and had considered himself to be under obligations to him.having told his wife at dinner-time of ivan ilyich's death, and of his conjecture that it might be possible to get her brother transferred to their circuit, peter ivanovich sacrificed his usual nap, put on his evening clothes and drove to ivan ilyich's house.