Anna Karenina
Anna KareninaLeo Tolstoy's novel, Anna Karenina, upon its release received a mix critical reception, with Russian critics either condemning
or applauding the novel primarily on its views of Russian society.
Thematically, the novel parallels its heroine's, Anna Karenina,
moral and social conflicts with Constantin Levin's internal struggle
to find the meaning of life. There are many others underlying themes
which links the novel as a whole, yet many critics at the time only
looked upon its critical view of Russian life. Henry James called
Tolstoy's novels as "loose and baggy monsters' of stylessness, but
Tolstoy stated of Anna Karenina ".....I am very proud of its
architecture--its vaults are joined so that one cannot even notice
where the keystone is." That is absolutely correct, because within
Anna Karenina, there exists many themes that are all linked together
to create such a wonderful piece of work. Critics tend to miss the
role that the theme of life and death plays in Tolstoy's Anna
Karenina. Despite its apparent meanings, these two themes are
intertwined in the novel and provides a backbone for some of the other
existing themes. With a masterful touch, Tolstoy is able to use these
two themes to show the characters in their true forms at both stages.
The characters are shown to be living in a state of delusion, and as
the characters find themselves at times of near death situations or on
their deathbed, they are able to reveal themselves truthfully.
Many of the characters in the novel are able to show their "real
self" and at times of death, there is a point of reversal in the
characters. This is most evident in the scene of Anna's near death
experience during her illness. This event brings about a change in
Karenin and even Vronsky as they trade positions. Karenin suddenly
becomes human and not hidden from life by his administrative
regulations. His carapace cracks, and he becomes drunk with sympathy,
dazzled by his own generosity. Death for Karenin becomes the basic
truth which makes him___ a living human being capable of love. While
on the other hand, Vronsky takes on the role of Karenin, he is unable
to deal with Anna's deathbed crisis and even goes as far as attempting
to suicide. This awareness of life-in-death provides the climax of the
novel, with the main characters perceiving the truth from the
heights of their emotional intensity. Hate and deceit no longer exist
in the presence of death, and the three characters live in a
moment of pure innocence.
Yet as the crisis ends, and everything returns to normality, Anna,
Vronsky and Karenin return to their old ways to live in that world of
delusion. Anna and Vronsky continues with their ill-fated love, while
Karenin despite his ennoblement, finds Anna cannot love him and
reverts back to his old ways. This clearly shows that death brings
about the ultimate truth of life and the world of the living is just...
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