It should read:
**All men are mortal.
Caius is a man.
Therefore, Caius is mortal.**
This syllogism demonstrates a classic example of deductive reasoning.
Here's how it relates to Ivan Ilyich's internal struggle:
* The Syllogism as a Symbol of Life's Meaninglessness: Ivan, confronted with his impending death, is disillusioned by the meaninglessness of his life. He finds himself deeply uncomfortable with the seemingly arbitrary nature of his existence. The syllogism, with its cold, logical deduction, reflects this feeling of existential dread. It suggests that life is ultimately reduced to a series of inevitable and meaningless conclusions.
* The Unimportance of Logic: The syllogism emphasizes the limitations of logic in addressing the complexities of life and death. While it may be logically sound, the syllogism fails to capture the emotional and spiritual dimensions of Ivan's experience. It offers no comfort or solace in the face of his mortality.
* The Quest for Meaning: Ivan's rejection of this syllogism is not a rejection of logic itself. Rather, it signals his yearning for something more than the cold, calculated logic of his former life. He desperately seeks a deeper meaning and purpose, something that transcends the limitations of the syllogism.
* The Transformation: As Ivan's perspective shifts, he begins to find meaning in the simple acts of love and compassion, recognizing the significance of human connection. This shift highlights the limitations of purely logical thought in understanding the essence of life.
The syllogism scene in *The Death of Ivan Ilyich* serves as a powerful literary device, illuminating Ivan's internal struggle with mortality, meaning, and the limitations of logic.