The Concept of Reality and Perception in Tartuffe, Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Reality and perception have a slim difference in context. While the reality is unknown, perception is the clear conception by an individual.  Primarily, perception originates from reality while reality is fixed as it remains unchangeable in the equation of life. Different individual has their perception of the reality. This is called variable of reality. On another hand, perception is gradually developed from life experiences. The three books; Tartuffe by Moliere, Composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth, and The death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy portrays in different ways the concept of reality in their encounter with life.

In the three books, the authors have instinctively opened up on the subject reality as well as perception. The reality remains the integral aspect of nature while perception is the placement of one’s ideologies on a particular thing. Case in point, the first book Tartuffe by Moliere narrates about a conservative character Orgon who fall prey with his misplaced adoration to who he perceives to be a religious person. The formed opinions about Tartuffe are purely from personal instincts and do not have any factual background. He is warned of the man’s treachery but dismisses. It is not until Tartuffe tried to seduce his wife that he wakes to the reality and ask him out. As if not enough the man plots to take his house through a court process.

The above narrative puts reality and perception in play. Orgon uses basic deceptive attributes of Tartuffe and develops confidence in him while in truth the self-proclaimed St. is a pervert and untrustworthy he is duped and later insulted ‘’ Find your silly friends and laugh some more!’’ (Moliere S15). From the scenario, one can infer that perceptions are derived from reality. A religious person is perceived to be holy and trustworthy; the narrator says Orgon wants to hear nothing against the sainted fraud. Perception is deceitful as they are based on insufficient knowledge ‘’In him and him alone will he confide’’ (Moliere 18). He uses a background idea to conclude on a situation or a thing that later becomes his demon.

Each views the world differently as such everyone has their perception of the world. The implication is that since everyone has their way of viewing the world people have different perceptions. The second poetic work Composed upon Westminster Bridge where perception and reality have explicitly be portrayed. In the poem, the persona emphatically proclaims that he has found absolute beauty in the world, ‘’A sight so touching in its majesty’’ (3). According to him, he is overwhelmed with the natural beauty and says one would be senseless and with no taste to fail to acknowledge the imminent beauty of the world, ‘’Dull would he be of the soul to pass by’’ (2).

The above comments in the poem are subjective since different individuals have their perceived reality of the world. Agreeably, some perceive the world to be ugly and cruel. These opinions cannot be dismissed as the contrary opinion are based on an individual’s conception and as such does not hold any real background. Personal likes and preferences equally play a significant role in personal choices. In the poem, the speaker aligns his interest toward the natural endowment of the world like when he keeps mentioning natural features. ‘The river glideth at his own sweet will’ (12). Therefore he cannot entirely assert that everyone is likely to be thrilled by his choices. The statements can be debatable since they do not originate from a factual point of views.

In the third book of the death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy presents another aspect of perception as a subset of reality Tolstoy, (Nicholas & Andrew, 8). In the book, the speaker gives an account of the life a senior government professional who has worked hard up his professional ladder. Ivan has friends who he shares the same interest. He vastly gives an account of the drama in his life and how he fights the disease that befalls him at the peak of his career with the success and power he has acquired he does not believe in dying Three days of frightful suffering and the death! Why, that might suddenly, at any time, happen to me,“The reaction to Ivan’s death by friends and close acquaintances triggers various viewpoints of reality and perception. Factually, everyone is destined to die (Tolstoy, Nicholas& Andrew, 8). It shocks them beyond the mere knowledge that he is dead, but that same tragedy will befall them too. Therefore, they decide to take a perverse sort of glee knowing that it was some else dead and life continues.

There is a conflict of reality, and perception as the friend deceitfully believes that death never existed and that Ivan’s death was just a symbolism of death not true. In the above discussion, the reality is fixed and evident while perception is subjective to one’s own experiences and knowledge. It is however not clear to underpin the causes of death, but it does occur; evidenced by Ivan’s death.  While dealing with his devastating time of death Ivan expresses his frustrations about life. In the text, readers are exposed to his different belief of self-satisfaction. Ivan is a loner and is obsessed with the professional work that he neglects his family. He feels hatred when his family members do not pay attention to him. At this instance, the writer how lack of knowledge contributes to misplaced perceptions; the family members like His friend delude themselves that Ivan is just normally ill and that the disease will pass away.

Another conflict of reality and perception is seen when the happiness of both families and Ivan’s acquaintances only depend on them stop thinking that he is ill. In this regard, perception is replaceable while reality remains unchanged; Ivan is dead.  In life sometimes, bad things happen to a man and to reconstruct their initial state of mind, they are forced to think of the situation differently.  While death is a reality, the feeling that comes with it is subjective. Therefore, just as perception, the reality is subjective to some extent. People are not impacted with death the same way; some mourn some do not. There is a subtle element of the dilemma on the manifestation of reality due to its element of subjectivity.

To sum up, the three texts have by the use of the episodes discussed the aspect of reality and perception elaborately. From the passages, the reality is the fixed factor of nature while perception is a variable of reality. Due to different life experiences, perceptions are formulated from the basic principles of life. Consequently, perceptions are affected with time and the general change of human belief. Personality, on the other hand, influences one’s opinion. Ivan is portrayed as having high affinity to power; he derives his satisfaction from ordering people around. On the other hand, Orgon obliviously trusts the sainted pervert Tartuffe; he is friendly and hospitable so perceive people to be the same as him. Lastly, Wordsmith William, a poet love for nature makes him think people to be same as him.

Work Cited;

Tolstoy, Leo, Nicolas P. Slater, and Andrew Kahn. The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories. ,

2015. Print.

Wordsworth, William. A character of the Happy Warrior: A Poem. New York: Hobby Press, 1913. Print.

Molière, , and Richard Wilbur. Tartuffe: Comedy in Five Acts, 1669. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1989. Print.Moliere & Richard