Ivan Ilych's death was like Gregor's Metamorphosis; in that, they were both powerful introductions to the stories. In both stories the character's Gregor and Ivan Ilych are introduced in a state in which it wouldn't be possible to know their character. Therefore the novellas both look back to the past in order to show us who the main characters really are. "Praskovya Fedorovna Golovina, with profound sorrow, informs relatives and friends of the demise of …showed first 75 words of 452 total…

…showed last 75 words of 452 total…the death of her husband, to talk about the money she was entitled to. Lastly, the way she got so serious after being told she would have to pay 200 rubles for Ivan's cemetery plot. This is in no way a metamorphosis or even an unbelievable event. But it is used to be shocking and to make the reader suddenly fee a certain way. In Ivan Ilych's case it would be sadness and pity for him.