Billy Budd, Melville's Sailor and Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illych are both well-known stories. Melville's Billy Budd comes from the era of Romanticism, while The Death of Ivan Illych dates later to the era of Realism. There are many similarities and differences between the two tales. We already know that one big difference is that both stories are from different time periods. One great thing about both stories is that both Billy Budd and Ivan Illych reference the Bible. Billy is seen as a Christ figure who lives a good life, while Ivan lives a sin-filled life and cares more about material objects rather than living for God. In Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor, Billy has a much better attitude than Ivan Illych. Billy is seen as having a sense of purity and innocence almost like a child but, still a handsome sailor. Billy takes life each day at a time and accepts whatever comes his way. The character of Billy is seen as living in this world confined from any opportunity to help others. Ivan on the other hand is self-centered and self-indulgent for attention. Ivan describes his life as “The simplest and most ordinary, so his life was terrible (p. 1336).” It can already be seen that Ivan has a negative outlook on life and a bad attitude. Ivan has everything he could need or want, but he is still not happy with what God has given him. Once Ivan discovers that he is ill, he is worried about making others feel sorry for him and ruining the lives of everyone else around him. We know this because the text says: "Ivan's life and that of other people around him were poisoned and became more interpenetrated (1350)." On the other hand, Billy Budd is anything but self-centered. B...... middle of paper...... by Ivan Illych, they are both two great stories to show the similarities and differences between them. In both stories we see how the two characters lived and looked at life differently. We see how Billy is seen and portrayed as a Christ figure while Ivan is a born everyday sinner. Over time we see how Ivan transforms and becomes more like a Christian who lives for God, just like Billy Budd. Billy's character represents what all people should strive to be. To live more as God would want. Works Cited Tolstoy, Leone. "The Death of Ivan Illych." The Norton Anthology Western Literature. 8th ed. vol. 2.New York: Norton &, 1984. 1330-368. Press. Western literature.Melville, Herman. "Billy Budd, sailor." The Norton Anthology Western Literature. 8th ed. vol. 2.New York: Norton &, 1984. 931-985. Press. Western literature.