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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
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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.
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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
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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.