# The Story of Iván the Fool explained — The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories > Chapter companion for The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy. ## What happens The chapter details the contrasting reigns of the three brothers. Simon the Soldier and Tarás the Stout use military might and money to control their kingdoms, but are ultimately ruined by the old Devil's machinations. Iván the Fool, now a king, rejects money, salaries, and formal justice, choosing to live and work simply with his people. The old Devil attempts to corrupt Iván's kingdom with gold, but fails because the fools see no use for money, value work and barter, and offer charity 'for Christ's sake,' which the Devil cannot accept. ## Themes in this chapter ### Moral Philosophy and Virtue Iván's kingdom operates on principles of non-resistance, charity ('for Christ's sake'), shared labor, and the rejection of money, power, and formal justice as corrupting forces. ### Hypocrisy and Social Pretense The old Devil embodies deception through his disguises (general, merchant, fine gentleman) to introduce vice. Iván's transparent, simple life is the antithesis of pretense. ### Social Class and Hierarchy Iván actively dismantles hierarchy by refusing to be a traditional king, working alongside his people, and eliminating salaries and servitude, creating an egalitarian society. ## Character check-ins ### Iván Stcherbakóf (Iván the Fool) As king, he rejects royal trappings, refuses to pay salaries or hold formal trials, and continues to work the land. His simple philosophy undermines the Devil's attempts to corrupt his kingdom. ### The Old Devil Disguises himself as a general to ruin Simon with endless war, then as a merchant to ruin Tarás with greed. Finally, as a fine gentleman, he tries to introduce money to Iván's kingdom but fails utterly. ### Simon Nefyórdof (Simon the Soldier) Prospered by creating a large army with advanced weapons, conquering a neighbor. His ambition leads him to attack the King of India, who defeats him with superior technology, causing Simon to lose his kingdom. ### Tarás the Stout His reign is mentioned as having been corrupted by money (taxes, greed) introduced by the Devil, leading to his ruin, as referenced in the Devil's plan to repeat the process with Iván. ### The King of India Adopts and improves upon Simon's military technology, recruiting women as well, and uses flying bombers to decisively defeat Simon's army. ### Iván's Wife (the Princess) Upon hearing people call Iván a fool, she chooses to join him, puts away her royal dress, and learns to work, embodying the kingdom's values. ## Key lines > "All right," says he, "then don't pay them." "Then no one will serve." "All right; let them not serve. They will have more time to work; let them cart manure." Iván dismantles the state bureaucracy, suggesting unpaid officials should do useful manual labor instead. _Shows his rejection of government and preference for productive work._ > "Either bring something else, or come and work, or receive what you want in charity for Christ's sake." The people tell the Devil they will only trade goods, labor, or give charity, but will not accept his money. _Highlights the failure of money in a community based on use-value and Christian charity._ > So she took off her royal dress, put it away in a chest, and went to the dumb girl to learn to work. The princess renounces her royal status to join the common people and learn manual labor. _Symbolizes the voluntary rejection of social hierarchy and embrace of the kingdom's values._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-story-of-iv-n-the-fool - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters