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I have almost finished the book and although Tolstoy strikes me as a mysogynist (there seems to be quite a consensus about that in the threads - i have read almost all the Anna Karenina threads in the site) that didin't diminish my pleasure of reading the novel ;)
I agree with everything Baz says here ;)
I liked that Anna character very much (most interesting character of the book, although i quite enjoyed Levin's "ranting" :lol: ).
Thanks!:)
I've read somewhere that Levin is actually Tolstoy so he had to be great.:D
[QUOTE=Gladys;536912] [B]But is johann cruyff right to condemn her for leaving cold Karenin? Should she, a young woman, have simply made the best of a loveless relationship…for Seryozha sake? Did she marry too young to understand ? And did she indeed place her ‘own, totally individual happiness before everything’?
I don't think that Anna was selfish to leave cold Karenin to pursue love and romantic / passionate fulfillment. She was a young, beautiful and passionate woman who was widely admired for her beauty and femininity. It was quite natural that she would eventually succumb to the adoration that was bestowed upon her, since only a cold stone with no heart or imagination would not be affected by this --- particularly when she was involved in a boring, cold and passionless marriage with a person like Karenin.
There was definitely no love in the marriage. Anna married him at 17, under pressure from her aunt with whom she was living ( parents were deceased ) and who obviously wanted to get rid of her. Karenin visited Anna at the instigation of the aunt, but he was not in love with her and he wasn't thrilled by the prospect of the marriage. He agreed to marry her against his better judgement ( i.e. his own rule that in doubt one should refrain from action ) and at the insinuation of the aunt that if he didn't, Anna, a young marriageable girl, would be " compromised ". So, he married her and gave her " all the feeling he was capable of " ( Tolstoy's words, although not sure of the exact quote ) --- which, we can surmise, was not a lot, since Tolstoy frequently described him as not capable of close, heartfelt relationships with people.
Anna at first was attached to the much older Karenin ( 24-year difference ), since he was a father figure / substitute father. There was probably affection ( of the friendship variety ) and certainly there was good communication ( as in Anna always confiding into Karenin about everything ), but that shouldn't be enough for a young, healthy woman. And material wealth is not a substitute for happiness, since it's more important for a soul to lead a rich life. And Anna's soul was stifled.
She was just an unfortunate woman, living at the wrong time in a society with double standards. She could have fulfilled herself much more, if she lived in modern times.
Tolstoy seduces us. Before she leaves Karenin, the reader is well-disposed towards Anna, despite her marital unfaithfulness and her plainly pejorative view of her husband, who has treated her as a friend and amply provided for her. Given Tolstoy’s insight into motives, we might be sympathetic to any evildoer…to any human. Perhaps, we should be so seduced more often.Quote:
Originally Posted by olichka
Nevertheless, 'Anna's soul was stifled' by her adventure with Vronsky! Had she stayed faithful to Karenin, Anna would have remained that endearing, confident and resilient woman, who had rescued the marriage of brother Stiva and Dolly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gladys
Well, everyone here certainly has very interesting insights into Anna's character. I begin to see different sides of the issue now. As well, it's time to re-read the book ! :brow:
While Vronky is increasingly likable and Anna narcissistic, I thought Karenin - though briefly heroic - a rather pathetic figure towards the end.
That Karenin ‘was living a very superficial life’ is well illustrated by his curious relationship with Lidia Ivanovna towards the end of the novel. I suppose he was searching for happiness though there is something tragic about him.
In the beginning, I also was 'impressed with Anna's individualism' but thought she had so much more: an exceptional measure of maturity, balance and integrity. Her angelic love seemed to ‘embrace duty, responsibility and commitment’ with consummate ease.
Consequently, I found her fall into ‘selfishness and self-centeredness’ nigh incomprehensible. Opium addiction hardly explains it. I remained so puzzled that dislike for Anna was indefinitely forestalled.
"He (Karenin) has taken her daughter. Alexey was ready to agree to anything at first. Now it worries him terribly that he should have given his own child away to another man. But he can't take back his word. Karenin came to the funeral. But we tried to prevent his meeting Alexey. For him, for her husband, it was easier, anyway. She had set him free. But my poor son was utterly given up to her. He had thrown up everything, his career, me, and even then she had no mercy on him, but of set purpose she made his ruin complete. No, say what you will, her very death was the death of a vile woman, of no religious feeling. God forgive me, but I can't help hating the memory of her, when I look at my son's misery!"
Guilty how? She certainly wasn't any worse than her brother, or numerous other characters, but she was regarded differently after her infidelity.Quote:
Originally Posted by johann cruyff
As for Anna not facing any consequences... you're kidding right?
He didn't like Serezha. Karenin said multiple times that Serezha was connected with his revulsion towards Anna, and that besides that, he was disappointing.Quote:
Originally Posted by bazarov
I don't dislike Anna. She is unfortunate in her personality, which is obsessive. There is an element of selfishness- she dreams that both Karenin and Vronsky are her husbands and that all three are happy.
Great novel. Tolstoy was a master at crafting characters right down to the bone..He was so good, at one point in the novel, I was like,"Yo, Why is Anna such a *****?!"
In regards to the thread, I liked the character because I genuinely hated her selfish-ego trippin' personality, and that's what made the book so good. ONce you thought Anna wasn't gonna sink any lower by taking off with Vronsky and ABANDONING her child, lo n behold she jumps in front of a train.