The meaning of it in "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"

The meaning of "it" is very complex in the story "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" by Leo Tolstoy. The character that gives this word meaning is called Ivan llyich. Ivan llyich was a Russian judge and he realizes "it" when he became ill. When Ivan Ilyich was becoming sick, many of the doctors came to check on him. Ivan had a problem with these doctors because they dodged the fact that Ivan was going to …

…illness brings him face to face with his own self. Because of it, Ivan was able to reflect on his life and try to analyze why he was dying. Ivan's illness reveals to him the nature of life. His death gave birth to new consciousness. He suddenly perceived that man's essential life belongs to the spirit through loving of people. Before Ivan died he asked his family to forgive for him and he welcomed death.