Chapter 8 Summary

The pain never leaves him and Ivan is angry with those around him who act like everything is normal. Ivan's physical pain is constant, but his mental pain is worse. One minute, he wishes all of this would be over. The next, he realizes only death will make it end and he wants anything but death. When the doctor visits, Ivan submits to his lies just as he used to submit to the lies of lawyers in the courts. He knows he's lying and why.

When Ivan's wife enters the room, Ivan feels surrounded by lies. She has ordered a visit from a celebrated specialist. She says she has done this for herself to put her own mind at ease. This is true, but she says it as if Ivan must understand she has really done it all for him. The specialist comes...