Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (affiliate link) (New York: Penguin Books, 2000; 1878 first published). 838 pages.
Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest novelists ever to have lived. Many have claimed Anna Karenina is his greatest work. It is often listed as the best novel of all time. Tolstoy called it his first true novel. Because it is often listed as the best novel ever written, I felt obliged to read it.
I will not regurgitate the plot here. Rather, I will merely provide some commentary. There are seven main characters. Throughout the book, Tolstoy tackles many of the social, political, and spiritual issues people faced in Russia at that time. Apparently, his political views were quite controversial and caused the publisher to exclude some of them in the original printing.
The dominant story follows Anna Karenina and her lover, Count Vronsky. When they are introduced, they both appear to be noble figures. Anna comes to the aid of her sister-in-law, Dolly, who has discovered her husband (Anna’s brother) has committed adultery. Anna appears to be a Mary Poppins-type character who speaks wisdom into a tense and complicated situation. Anna seems to be a loving person who acts with wisdom and grace.
Poignantly, she arrives on the scene by train (something that will also play a part in her eventual death). Soon, however, Anna shows her darker side. During her first encounter with Vronsky, it is clear that she has less noble impulses acting within her. We learn that she is in an unhappy marriage. It appears her maternal guardian pressured her into marrying a respectable man who was incapable of truly loving anyone. This issue is raised throughout the book. Are people justified in leaving a relationship or committing adultery if they feel trapped in an unloving marriage? If love is absent in marriage but available somewhere else, does love trump previous pledges? Is it always wise to “go with your heart?”
Anna’s brother, Stepan Oblonsky, is a likeable rogue. He begins the novel by facing the consequences of his adultery. He is presented as a pleasant but self-centered man. His wife has given herself to providing him with children for whom he has no time. He believes a wife and children should not hinder a man from being happy. He is content to send them off to live in the country while he pursues his own pleasures. However, his lifestyle brings heartache to his wife, detachment from his children, and financial ruin.
Anna is at first depicted as a loving and kind person who is caught in an unloving marriage. But as time goes on, she is tormented by her decision. Though she now has her lover, she grows increasingly jealous of him. She needs him to meet all her needs and to be with her constantly. She forsakes her husband, both of her children, and most of her friendships until all she has is her lover. Though Vronsky loves her, he desperately needs more from life than merely meeting his lover’s emotional needs. As the book progresses, Anna seems to become entirely self-absorbed. All she can think about is her unhappiness and Vronsky’s inability (or unwillingness) to make her happy. In the final chapter of Anna’s life, Tolstoy writes compellingly about her descent into madness.
There are interesting parallels between Anna and her brother. Both are fundamentally selfish. They are concerned with their own happiness and become increasingly disinterested in the happiness of others. Their lives both end in ruin. Tolstoy demonstrates the emptiness of a life lived for happiness and selfishness.
Konstantin Levin is the foil to Anna and Vronsky. It has been noted that he, perhaps of all Tolstoy’s characters, most resembles the author. Levin is searching for meaning in life. Why work hard or build a family if it will all come to an end anyway? He tries to use reason, but it always disappoints him. Kevin prides himself in his honesty (ironically, Anna, Vronsky, and others do too). But Levin, perhaps as much as anyone, strives to be true to his convictions. In many ways, he is naturally compelled to do what is good, even when it appears to him to be entirely unreasonable.
When the reader meets Levin, he is devastated to lose the love of his life, Kitty, to his rival Vronsky. He at first becomes quite bitter and retreats to his home in the country. One of the ongoing themes of this book is the contrast between city and country living. The country is a place of retreat and simplicity. The city is confusing and filled with hypocrisy and temptation. When Anna and Vronsky live in the country, they do well. But life in the city is their undoing.
At the beginning of the book, Levin is an unbeliever in God. His wife, Kitty, represents a good-hearted, simple person. She believes in her childhood faith unquestioningly. Levin was brought up to have faith as well. But as an adult, he discarded it for reason, with disappointing results. As Levin tries to make sense of life through reason, he concludes that suicide is the only logical alternative. But his love for Kitty prevents him from doing anything rash. He ultimately finds God and is saved. Levin is an idealist with high expectations. His wife lives simply and helps her husband untangle himself from the shackles of reason.
Throughout the book, there are various intellectual and political discussions. For a non-Russian, some of the dialogue is quite foreign. There is much discussion about economic systems and the best way to treat workers. The main characters in the book are from the Russian upper class. They wrestle with what their obligations should be to the lower classes. Various economic and political systems are suggested, but Levin learns to treat people with goodness, regardless of whether it fits an economic system.
Alexandrovich Karenin is a tormented character. He has a complicated past. Karenin seems incapable of love, yet he prides himself in doing the right thing. He is the betrayed spouse, yet his self-righteousness and hypocrisy become increasingly dark and unlikeable as the story unfolds.
Vronsky is portrayed as a noble, honest man, yet he steals another man’s wife. He truly loves Anna, but he finds that he is incapable of meeting her needs. His mother has a dominant, harmful effect on his life. It seems most of the characters have difficult relationships with their parents. Vronsky seems to be a man of generally noble impulses who lets his heart lead him into sin from which he cannot escape.
At times, Anna seems to be in the grips of evil. She becomes a friend of Kitty’s, but then she shamelessly flirts with Kitty’s prospective husband. Later, she flirts with Kitty’s husband, Levin. It seems as if she is driven toward destruction by a dark spirit. She is introduced as a level-headed, caring woman. By the end of the story, she is totally self-absorbed and hateful of everyone around her. There is a stark contrast between Levin, who eventually finds God, and Anna, who is ultimately consumed by evil.
Dolly, the wronged wife and Kitty’s sister, presents another story. She chooses to forgive her husband, though he does not change his ways. She throws herself into her children and family to fill the void left by her unfaithful husband. She battles with evil impulses as well, but she focuses on what she has rather than on what she lacks.
This book certainly follows in the train of Russian novels. It is long, and there are extended philosophical and religious discussions between characters. Some of the characters grow over time, while others give in to their sinful impulses. Though the story is set largely in luxurious Russian homes, it becomes clear that everyone carries their own hurts and baggage, even as they present themselves in the best light publicly. Anna is a beautiful woman on the outside, but she is tortured and guilt-ridden on the inside. She, unlike Levin, never finds an answer. They meet once in the novel. She, seemingly under the influence of an evil spirit, seeks to enchant him, enhancing her pride. He is enchanted and, recognizing danger, hurriedly escapes to his chaste wife. They are two ships heading in vastly different directions who cross paths once in the massive novel before continuing on their separate trajectories.
I enjoyed this book. It is dense in places. Some of the speeches and issues are difficult to follow, as we are far removed from the book’s setting and culture. But there are enough twists and turns and surprises to keep the story interesting. Though Levin seems to struggle through most of the novel, he perseveres and ultimately finds peace and joy. The reader rejoices for him and Kitty. Conversely, Anna and Vronsky and Oblonsky and Dolly demonstrate where sin and selfishness inevitably lead.
I am attempting to read many of the classics of literature over time. I am certainly glad I chose this one.
Rating: 4
