Anna Karenina2

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Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Published 1873-1877

Genre Romanace drama

Setting Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russian Province, Germany, Italy during the 1870s

Theme Dealing with hypocrisy, jealousy, social change, fidelity, marriage, desire, change of

value, religion, role of women, vengeance

Protagonist Anna Karenina, Konstantin Levin

Author Biography

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born in September 9, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana Russia, he is

famous for writing War and Peace (1865-69) and Anna Karenina (1877-78). Although he wasborn to a noble family, Tolstoy spent much of his life fighting for the peasant class of Russia,

notably in the field of education. He began his literary career in the 1850s, publishing a trilogy

about his own life: Childhood (1852), Boyhood (1854) and Youth (1857). Tolstoy served in the

Russian army during the Crimean War, and his book Sevastopol Sketches (1855-56) was a

chronicle of the war. After travelling throughout Europe, Tolstoy returned to the family estate

and devoted himself to raising a family and writing his great psychological novels War and

Peace and Anna Karenina. From the 1880s until his death, he devoted himself to more spiritual

and philosophical matters, writing several essays on ethics and morals and coming to terms

with his own Christian conversion His other works include the novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1884) and the novel Resurrection (1899-1900).

In 1910, at the age of 82, Tolstoy left his home with his youngest daughter, Alexandra,

and hopped a train for an unspecified destination. He fell ill along the way and ended up dying a

few days later at a railroad stationmaster's house in Astapovo.

Plot synopsis

Prince Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky ("Stiva") is a civil servant who has been unfaithfulto his wife Darya Alexandrovna ("Dolly"). Stivas affair shows his romanitc personality that he

cannot seem to control. Anna Karenina, Stiva's sister, is requested to come from St. Petersburg

by Stiva in order to persuade Dolly not to leave him. Upon arriving in St. Petersburg, a railway

worker accidentally falls in front of a train and is killed (foreshadowing Anna's death)

Meanwhile, Stiva's childhood friend Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, a very serious aristocratic

landowner who lives on the estate he manages, arrives in Moscow ask for Dolly's sister Katerina



Alexandrovna Shcherbatskys ("Kitty") hand in marriage. Kitty rejects him, as she is expecting

an offer from army officer Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky. Despite his affection for Kitty,

Vronsky has no intention of ever marrying her or anyone for that matter. However, he falls in

love instantly with Anna after meeting her at a ball. Anna is thrown off by Vronsky and returns

at once to St. Petersburg with Vronsky pursuing her on the same train. Levin returns to hisfarm, abandoning any hope of marriage, and Anna returns to her husband Alexei Alexandrovich

Karenin, a senior government official, and their son Seriozha in Petersburg.

Later, Karenin scolds Anna for talking too much with Vronsky, but she returns Vronsky's

affections nonetheless, and becomes pregnant with his child. Anna becomes worried when

Vronsky falls from a racehorse, encouraging her to confess to her husband. When Kitty learns

that Vronsky prefers Anna over her, makes her way to a German spring to let the news sink in

and hopefully ease her mind.

As the book progresses Tolstoy examines Levin's life on his rural farming estate, asetting associated with Levin's mental well being and his emotional struggles. Dolly also meets

Levin, and attempts to reignite his feelings for Kitty. It seems Dolly is unsuccessful, but when

Levin sees Kitty he realizes he still loves her. Back in St. Petersburg, Karenin argues with Anna

and refuses to get divorced, He also says he will not let her see their son Seriozha ever again if

she leaves or misbehaves. But the situation becomes too unbearable and he begins seeking a

divorce. Anna's brother Stiva argues against it, and persuades Karenin to speak with Dolly first.

Again, Dolly seems to be unsuccessful, but Karenin changes his plans after hearing that Anna is

dying in childbirth. At her bedside, Karenin forgives Vronsky, who, in sorrow, to kill himself.

However, Anna manages to bounce back; giving birth to a daughter she names Anna ("Annie").Stiva finds himself pleading on her behalf for Karenin to divorce. Vronsky at first plans to flee to

Tashkent, but changes his mind after seeing Anna, and they leave for Europe without obtaining

a divorce after all.

The book returns to the focus of Levin and Kitty getting married. A few months later,

Levin learns that his brother Nikolai is dying so the couple goes give him their full support. Kitty

remains at his bedside until his death where she learns she is pregnant. In Europe, Vronsky and

Anna struggle to find friends who will take them for who they are and they try to keep

occupied, but they eventually return to Russia. Karenin is greatly influenced by the Countess

Lidia Ivanovna, an enthusiast of religious and mystical ideas that are the new fad with the upper

classes. The Dutchess counsels Karenin to keep Seriozha away from Anna. However, Anna

manages to visit Seriozha unannounced on his birthday, but is seen by an angry Karenin, who

had told their son that his mother was dead. Shortly afterward, she and Vronsky leave for the

country.



The Levins come back to Moscow to comfort Kitty as she gives birth to a son. Stiva,

while seeking Karenin's recommendation for a new job, again asks him to grant Anna a divorce;

but Karenin's decisions are now governed by an outside source (Lidia Ivanovna, who apparently

tells him not to). Anna and Vronsky become even bitterer towards each other. They plan to

return to the country, but in a jealous rage Anna leaves early, and in a parallel to part 1,commits suicide by throwing herself in front of a train.

The book closes after Anna's death. Stiva ends up with the job he wanted, and Karenin

takes custody of Annie. Some Russian volunteers, including Vronsky, who does not plan to

come back, leave to help in the Serbian revolt that has just broken out against the Turks.Faced

by the joys and fears of fatherhood, Levin at last develops faith in the Christian God.

Character Description

Anna Arkadyevna Karenina Stepan Oblonsky's sister, Karenin's wife and Vronsky's lover

Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky Anna Kareninas lover

Prince Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky ("Stiva") a civil servant and Anna's brother.

Princess Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya ("Dolly") Stepan's wife

Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin a senior statesman and Anna's husband, twenty years her

senior.

Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin ("Kostya") Kitty's suitor and then husband.

Nikolai Levin Konstantin's brother

Princess Ekaterina Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya ("Kitty") Dolly's younger sister and later

Levin's wife

Princess Elizaveta ("Betsy") Anna's wealthy, morally loose society friend and Vronsky's cousin

Countess Lidia Ivanovna Leader of a high society circle that includes Karenin, and shuns

Princess Betsy and her circle. She maintains an interest in the mystical and spiritual

Countess Vronskaya Vronsky's mother

Sergei Alexeyitch Karenin ("Seryozha") Anna and Karenin's son

Anna - Anna and Vronsky's daughter

Varenka a young orphaned girl, semi-adopted by an ailing Russian noblewoman, whom Kitty

befriends while abroad



Symbols

Anna on a horse represents her independence, which Dolly greatly admires.

Trains the Train symbolizes a change. Such as when Vronsky and Anna meet, or when Vronsky

declares his love for Anna. The train also foreshadows Annas death as she commits suicde bythrowing herself under a train after we find out Vronsky is going to war.

Vronskys race horse frou-frou - The mistakes Vronsky made with this horse symbolizes and its

death symbolizes Annas death as well.

Issues that the writer raised

Leo Tolstoy points out a lack of womens rights, how lazy government officials were, the

hypocrisy of the upper class, the very visible difference between the upper and lower class, a

search for contentment, love, family, and authority.

Distinguishing characteristics

This book gives the feel of life in Russia and shows off Tolstoys gift of writing novels.

Contrary to popular saying the message of this novel does not get lost in translation, as it

retains the amazing qualities that made it a good book.

Personal response

This novel was a tale of a very traumatic experience. It shows that not everyone can

obtain what they are looking for in life or in a relationship, and that life is full of so manytragedies. This book also give an insight into the life of Leo Tolstoy with the questions he raises

about the Russian Orthodox Church and the experiences the characters go through in the novel.

Anna Karenina2

Documents

Transcript of Anna Karenina2