Anna Karenina, by
Leo Tolstoy, has many minor themes—for example, there seems to be enough about
the inefficiency of Russian agriculture to qualify. In my opinion, though, the
main theme is overwhelmingly the stifling effect of Russian society, and how it
isn’t really beneficial for anyone.
The structure
and arbitrary rules of high society cause most of the problems in the novel.
For example, it is because of those rules, because of the expectation of an
advantageous marriage, that Anna agreed to marry Karenin, a man she did not
love. It is clear from the various situations in the novel that society’s views
on marriage trap people. I know I can’t consider Tolstoy a feminist, but he
writes a few situations where, if the woman had more power in the relationship,
life would be better for everyone—for example, Dolly’s predicament when Stiva
cheats on her. Even if she didn’t choose to leave him outright, she could have
created a better situation for herself than the one she is put in.
It is the same
stupid societal rules that trap Anna after she chooses to leave her husband.
I’m not saying here that I approve of everything she did, but it still seems
unfair what happens to her. Because of her status as a “ruined woman,” no one
but her closest friends (like Dolly) in society will see her. She knows
entering into the arrangement that she might never again be welcome in society,
but it’s clearly painful for her. When she goes to the opera with friends a
couple months after she leaves her husband, a rude woman loudly refuses to sit
near Anna and insults her, causing a scene and a lot of distress for Anna.
Dolly’s
situation, which I explained in the second post, is one of the examples of this
theme that I felt the most, notwithstanding the huge drama from Anna’s side.
Dolly is not just anyone, she is Princess
Darya Alexandrovna Oblonsky, and as such she must comport herself like a noble
lady at all times or face the disdain of the society that suffocates them all.
When Stiva cheats on her, society says that he did nothing wrong (and so do all
the servants). God forbid she reacts negatively, because why would she ever do
that? As much as she loves her husband, Dolly wants to leave him. She wants it
even more when she sees that Anna is happy with Vronsky, and fantasizes about
living as her own woman. But she can’t. She has
to be an obedient wife, even with Stiva’s horrible treatment of her, or
everyone she knows will shun her. She is just as trapped by society as Anna,
and she clearly feels it.
The last major
evidence for this theme comes from Konstantin Levin. Levin, from countless
examples, is almost a recluse, clearly most content when he’s at home, working
on his book or dealing with the matters of the estate. But, because of his
position, he has societal obligations. Now, he’s not a noble like Kitty’s
family or Anna’s, but he’s a prominent landowner and that puts him with them in
the highest echelon of society. But he clearly doesn’t belong. He goes to
parties where he doesn’t enjoy himself, is forced to take part in events where
he obviously feels out of place—for example, the election for provincial
marshal of the nobility, where he has no idea what is going on and has no wish
to—and is put into countless awkward situations because of these same
“obligations.” This contributes more subtly to the theme than Anna’s situation,
but the reader still feels the weight of all the rules and barriers whenever
Levin is put into a “society” situation.
Anna Karenina is not very symbol-driven
(that being the focus of most of our discussions on close reading), but I still
think close reading gave me a lot while reading this. I paid special attention
to character development, as that is the driving force of the novel. I noticed
quirks and characteristics I might not have noticed otherwise; for example,
Levin’s habit of blushing only when he is with members of high society. It has
definitely helped me understand the characters better, and I think I can make a
fairer evaluation of them as people as a result.
I would
definitely recommend Anna Karenina.
It is a fantastic novel for character and plot, and is written in a style unlike
any other book I’ve read. The characters, despite their removal in place and
time from a modern American reader, are relatable, and it’s easy to love them,
to hate them, to pity and to empathize with any of them. I do have to say,
though, that it’s not a book to trifle with. If you want to read it, commit. It’s
difficult, especially with all of Tolstoy’s philosophical rants, but that makes
it all the more satisfying—if you’re
willing to put a lot of time into it. I was (and believe me, when I say a
lot of time, I mean a lot of time),
and I have definitely profited from reading one of the greatest literary
masterpieces of the 19th century.
First a few questions and comments:
ReplyDelete1. I know you mentioned that you though it would be hard to connect with this book today due to the era it took place in, but do you think it revealed any truths about societal norms or human nature in general? (Although the problems that arise might be unique, the ways of solving/dealing with those problems might be universal...? just a thought)
2. You spoke of the odd analogies Tolstoy made, as if they were unrealistic comments. Do you think he is trying to achieve a deeper meaning with these almost inhumane comments (perhaps ironic analogies) or he merely fails to fully understand the culture?
3. I am curious about the title and how it labels Anna by her marriage and I wonder about its importance and implications.
Comment: I admire the courage and determination it took to tackle an 800 page book and am astounded at how much detail Tolstoy employs and how easy it would be to gloss over and ignore many details. Credit to you.
Finally, I made a connection between the female figures in Anna Karenina and my book, The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway. There are only three female characters with significant roles in the book and one of them is a hooker; already showing the difference in cultures. The other two seem to live in a society much different than Anna Karenina's. One female character, Robert Cohn's ex-wife asks for a divorce and stands up to him in a public setting. Brett the other female character (who I think I failed to elaborate enough on in my own posts) is the leading and polarizing force in my book. She attracts the attention of all men who come in contact and she leads her life by making her own decisions, separate from that of any man's opinion. She too has had a divorce or two in her lifetime and once again the different culture are illuminated. The idea of love (which is of course rooted in women's rights) is the biggest difference between the two cultures presented in the two books. In Anna Karenina, women are expected to be faithful and often have no say in their love life. Anna is shunned after leaving her husband, but both Brett and Robert's wife are considered strong independent women for ditching an un-satisfying life. The difference in culture does indeed astound me at times as I recognize this issue is still present in some parts of the world today.