The Mystery of Dolly's Innocence
Anna Karenina and Dolly Oblonskaya. Illustration by Mikhail Shcheglov for Leo Tolstoy’s novel “Anna Karenina”. 1914 Literaturus.ru
After a scandal over Stiva’s betrayal, Anna comes to the Oblonskys’ house to reconcile the spouses. Depressed by the situation, Dolly justifies her refusal to forgive her husband:
“If you please,” she suddenly said. - But I'll tell you first. You know how I got married. With maman's upbringing, I was not only innocent, but I was stupid. I didn't know anything. They say, I know, husbands tell their wives their former lives, but Stiva...” she corrected herself, “Stepan Arkadyevich didn’t tell me anything.” You won’t believe it, but until now I thought that I was the only woman he knew. I lived like this for eight years. You must understand that not only did I not suspect infidelity, but that I considered it impossible, and then, imagine, with such concepts suddenly recognizing all the horror, all the disgusting... You understand me. To be completely confident in your happiness, and suddenly..."
Why was Daria Oblonskaya so naive - not only before marriage, but also after? During that era, sex education for men and women was very different. In the traditional noble family of the first half of the 19th century, the question of the theory of sexual relations was not raised either by teachers, much less by parents, who, as a rule, distanced themselves from their children. It was customary to raise a “morally pure” person, so teenage interest in sex was suppressed in every possible way: discussion of bodily changes during puberty was not encouraged, communication with the opposite sex was limited, etc. These prohibitions mainly concerned girls. Before marriage, they recognized the only possible only platonic love, which they knew about thanks to fiction. Almost every young lady walked down the aisle, having no idea about sex and knowing only that “the only difference between her and her groom is that he has facial hair and she doesn’t; that he sews a dress from a tailor, and she from a dressmaker...” L. Avilova. In a select society // Bulletin of Europe. No. 1. P. 208. 1904..
The situation was completely different with the young men. Answers to many questions were obtained in a practical way. Before the abolition of serfdom, a serf girl was assigned to a young man (her marital status was not taken into account when choosing - only experience and health were important), later the responsibility for “sexual education” passed to the servants and servants. Often fathers took their sons to brothels, and at a fairly early age. According to the “Gender Census of Students” conducted in 1904, the first acquaintance with a woman for the majority of respondents (69%) took place at the age of 14–17 years. V. A. Veremenko. Sexual education of young men in noble-intellectual families of Russia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries // History of everyday life. P. 87. 2021..
Levin and the wind of change
As for Levin, for him this “wind of change” is even more important, because he is a man and a landowner who, after the abolition of serfdom, needs to rebuild his farm. After the liberation of the peasants, the decline of agriculture began, since people were accustomed to working under the leadership of the owner, and without the owner they did not know how to work. If earlier a landowner could bring a thresher from England and flog several people so that the thresher would remain intact, now they break it and that’s it.
And Levin comes to a very interesting thought: it’s not about the threshing machine, it’s about the person; you need to think about the psychology of the employee and how to comprehend it. Tolstoy, as a philosopher, does not answer this question; he simply lists what Levin did: this, that, and that.
And then several paragraphs begin that show that Levin’s reforms did not lead to anything: however, the cattleman Ivan did not want a warm room for the cows, he believed that in the cold the cow needed less hay, however, he did not want butter on the cream, he I wanted butter with sour cream, which is easier to churn, etc.
The fact remains a painful fact - it is not clear what to do with people who until recently were slaves. It seems to Levin that perhaps serfdom was abolished too early, but it can no longer be returned.
And it turns out that Anna and Levin are very close to each other. They are constantly tormented by the thought of the essence, the meaning of life. The union with Vronsky strangely pushes Anna onto the path of intellectual development: she subscribes to books in boxes, reads serious literature, and even begins to write herself. Levin, in his attempts to understand what the psychology of the peasant is, follows virtually the same path.
That is, we see that Anna and Levin are truly a correlative couple, they are truly the two main characters of their time.
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Mystery of Rome
Scene at the races. Illustration by Alexander Samokhvalov for Leo Tolstoy’s novel “Anna Karenina”. 1952–1953 © Alexander Samokhvalov / Nauka Publishing House
After Vronsky’s horse broke its back and fell along with its rider, the stunned spectators repeated the phrase several times:
“The only thing missing is a circus with lions.”
“Anna Karenina” is not only a love story, but also a poignant social novel. Tolstoy said: “Our civilization is also heading towards its decline, like the ancient civilization...” Quoted. according to E. Babaev, p. 11.. While in Russian villages people were dying of hunger, various types of entertainment establishments flourished in the cities. Tolstoy repeatedly compares Russia in the second half of the 19th century with Rome in the era of decline. Thus, Karenin calls the Krasnoselsk races mentioned above “a cruel spectacle,” and Vronsky appears before readers as one of the last “gladiators.” A horse that wins a race is called a gladiator, and one of the spectators says: “If I were a Roman, I would not miss a single circus.” Anna communicates with Sappho, a socialite, and Vronsky attends “Athenian evenings.”
The mystery of the mill cap and raised collars
In the salon of Betsy Tverskaya. Illustration by Orest Vereisky for Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. 1979–1981 © Orest Vereisky / State Museum of Leo Tolstoy
Returning from Italy to Russia, Vronsky and Anna stopped in St. Petersburg. Soon Alexey meets with his cousin Betsy Tverskaya, who, in a conversation about Anna’s impending divorce from Karenin, utters a strange phrase:
“You didn’t tell me when the divorce was. Suppose I threw my cap through the mill, but other raised collars will hit you with cold until you get married.”
“Throw the cap over the mill” (or “throw the cap over the mill”) is a tracing of the French idiom jeter son bonnet (sa coiffe) par-dessus les moulins. Literally this translates as “to throw a cap (or headdress) over the mills,” and figuratively as “to go all out.” Betsy, who condemned Anna, was a “most depraved woman” who openly deceived her husband and did not hide her relationship with her lover. This phrase perfectly characterizes her attitude towards the purity of family relationships.
Another item of clothing that Betsy calls is the turned up collar. Apparently, the princess has in mind the men of St. Petersburg society: at the beginning of the century, shirts with unusually high starched collars came into fashion.
The Mystery of the Mazurka
Kitty at the ball. Illustration by Orest Vereisky for Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. 1979–1981 © Orest Vereisky / Book Graphics
At the very beginning of the novel, at the Moscow ball, Kitty eagerly awaits Vronsky’s invitation to the mazurka:
“It seemed to her that everything should be decided in the mazurka.”
By that time, Kitty had already danced with Vronsky twice: first they went through several rounds of the waltz, then a quadrille. Why did she want to dance the mazurka with him?
Despite the festive atmosphere, the ball had fairly strict regulations. It opened with a polonaise, followed by a waltz, after which four French quadrilles were usually danced, and the climax was a mazurka, after which the ball closed or was interrupted for a long dinner. This order was not random: each dance was responsible for a certain mood, and accordingly, there were certain topics that were permissible to talk about during different dances.
The waltz was considered one of the most erotic dances: the partners formed a couple facing each other, the gentleman supported the lady by the waist (outside the dance space such a gesture was considered impermissible). Quadrille was a prim, etiquette dance during which daily affairs and social events were discussed. This dance was a way to make useful acquaintances and gossip a little. Romantic conversations during a square dance were inappropriate.
The mazurka emphasized the masculinity of the gentlemen: loud heel strikes, sharp swings of the arms, simulating pulling on the reins, the so-called lame step (pas boiteux), reminiscent of wounds in battle. During one of the mazurka figures, the partner knelt in front of the lady. And at the same time the mazurka demonstrated the gracefulness of the ladies. The apotheosis of the female party was the fall into the arms of the gentleman: the lady seemed to give in under his pressure and agreed to give him her heart. So it is not surprising that Kitty Shcherbatskaya had high hopes for the mazurka.
The secret of the Karenin children
Alexey Karenin with newborn Anna. Illustration by Mikhail Shcheglov for Leo Tolstoy’s novel “Anna Karenina”. 1914 Antiquarian book store “Russian Bibliophile”
Anna is not ready for a divorce, and Vronsky asks Dolly for help. His main argument in favor of divorce is children:
“My daughter is legally not my daughter, but Karenina. I don't want this deception! - he said with an energetic gesture of denial and looked gloomily and questioningly at Daria Alexandrovna. She didn't answer and just looked at him. He continued: “And tomorrow a son will be born, my son, and by law he is Karenin, he is not the heir to either my name or my fortune, and no matter how happy we are in the family and no matter how many children we have, between me and there is no connection between them. They are Karenins."
In the legislation of the 19th century, as today, there was a so-called presumption of legality, according to which a baby born to parents who were legally married (like Anna Karenina and her husband) was indicated in the metric as legitimate. The child was considered legitimate until the contrary was proven through special church or judicial proceedings. That is why little Anya received the surname of her “father by law.”
If he wanted, Karenin could begin the process of recognizing the girl’s “aligned” wife as illegal, but there was little chance of winning the case. The only argument in favor of the plaintiff was the impossibility of his meetings with Anna Arkadyevna at the time when the child was conceived (according to the laws of that time - 306 days). This could be proven provided that the Karenins lived all this time in different cities or if one of the spouses was under special supervision (in a hospital or prison). But the Karenins lived together, which means that little Anya in this case had no chance of becoming Vronskaya. Vronsky's only opportunity to legitimize his daughter was the Karenins' divorce. But, unfortunately, the situation with him was no less difficult.
The only reason for the divorce of Anna and Alexey Alexandrovich could be adultery: Russian legislation of the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries called this “an insult to the sanctity of marriage” and the fact of “sexual relations of one of the spouses with a stranger, no matter whether married or free.” After Anna’s illness, which almost led to death, Karenin forgave her for her betrayal in a Christian manner and agreed to let her go, falsifying the divorce, that is, taking the blame for adultery upon himself. Thus, he allowed Anna to maintain her reputation, later marry Vronsky and give his surname to little Anna (after adoption). This is precisely the outcome that Vronsky hoped for. But Karenina herself, and then her husband, refused such a solution to the problem.
Karenina could only break off relations with her husband by taking the blame upon herself. But in this case, the birth of little Anya would be the result of a criminal relationship, and such children could not be legitimized or adopted. Having confirmed her betrayal in court, Karenina would have doomed herself to lifelong celibacy (this was only lifted in May 1904), would not be able to officially marry Vronsky, and their future children would be considered illegitimate and would not have the right to bear their father’s surname.
In the footsteps of the heroes of the book “Anna Karenina”
Anna Karenina is the main character of the novel of the same name by the great writer. The storyline of the work begins with Anna coming to her sister and intending to reconcile her with her husband, who cheated. At the station, Anna meets a charming young man named Vronsky, and this meeting radically changes her life.
At the beginning of the work, a terrible event is described: in front of Anna’s eyes, a caretaker dies under the wheels of a train. Often such fatal events deeply sink into a person’s soul, and they can often be regarded as signs of fate. Anna was no exception.
“It’s a bad omen,” she said” [4, p. 17].
Such “signs” can have a strong influence on people’s future behavior. Many people take these kinds of events to heart. They save them in memory, without wanting it, mentally return to them and remember them again and again.
This mental attitude can lead to trouble. It is wiser to focus on the positive aspects and try not to attach importance to the bad events that happen in life. But the main character was too sensitive and emotional to avoid dark thoughts after what she saw.
Fate once again pits Anna against Vronsky, this time at the ball. And the young man, having fallen madly in love with her, decides to follow the heroine wherever she goes. Anna likes Vronsky, his appearance is pleasant to her, she is attracted by his inner world. A gentleman several years younger than her, his attention flatters the main character. The woman does not push him away, despite the fact that she is married. Why is this happening? The fact is that Anna is completely unhappy in her marriage. And if a person does not feel satisfied with his life, then sometimes he is ready to grab any opportunity that can give hope for happiness.
Anna makes an attempt to return to her husband, tries to find something familiar in him, but his every action and every word only irritates the woman. They have a common son, Seryozha, but even for his sake, Anna is not ready to erase Vronsky from her life. She assures herself that this is the person who can give her happiness.
Is Anna doing the right thing? She has a family. Alexey Karenin is devotedly faithful to her. Although he looks somewhat callous on the outside, he actually loves his wife incredibly. He does everything he can for her and his son. But this is not enough for Anna, she wants something completely different. A woman lacks feelings, love passion, and adventure. Alexey lives according to a clear plan, without showing unnecessary emotions. Anna wants to experience life to the fullest, and therefore decides to have an affair with Vronsky. Thus, she hurts not only her husband, but also her beloved son. This act clearly shows the selfishness of the main character. She thinks exclusively about her desires and needs, forgetting about her loved ones who were always nearby.
A year later, Anna decides to confess to her husband that she is unfaithful to him. She hopes that her husband will file for divorce and let her go. But he does not agree, Karenin is ready to turn a blind eye to the betrayal and offers to hide her affair from the light, otherwise the woman will no longer be able to communicate with her son.
Anna is very surprised by her husband's proposal. After all, betrayal is a betrayal and upon learning about it, in most cases, a person will feel anger, resentment, disappointment, despair, and annoyance. Cheating can destroy the fragile trust that binds two people. And without it, marriage will be just a name: when you are happy in public, but in your soul you are alien to each other. However, Alexey loves Anna very much and believes that he made the right decision. In his heart, he hopes that his wife will come to her senses and return, that their marriage can still be saved. This kind of thinking is typical of people who love with all their hearts and are ready to fight for their love. Everyone wants to believe in the best and sometimes people turn a blind eye to the most obvious things.
Anna is angry. Probably, her ego is not able to accept the fact that everything around her is not happening at all as she wanted. But still, the main character agrees to her husband’s proposal. Under her heart she is already carrying a child from Vronsky, and her husband promises to accept him as his own.
What does Vronsky feel? He loves Anna, but marrying her will bring him too many difficulties. He will have to give up his old life, and he will be forced to retire. But he loves regimental life and does not want to say goodbye to it. Therefore, Vronsky, like Anna, silently accepts Alexei’s decision. However, he continues to visit her. The lives of young people are once again filled with lies and deceit.
Can a person be happy if he feels remorse? If he hides from the world and constantly deceives his surroundings? What did Anna experience during meetings with her lover? After all, her happiness was overshadowed by the bitterness of the upcoming separations and constant lies.
Anna's second birth is difficult, and she almost dies. The main character is sure that her torment will soon end. A woman asks her husband for forgiveness. Now it seems to her that he is a wonderful person. Karenin takes care of her and looks after the newborn baby. But Anna understands that she is not worthy of such treatment. After all, she has done a lot of bad things. She drives Vronsky away from her; it is unpleasant for her to see the face of her tempter. Anna is sure that it was he who was responsible for the dramatic changes in her life.
The main character feels that she will die soon. For the first time, she begins to see events from the outside, and not through the prism of her own self. Alexei now appears before her in a different light. He seems to her almost like a holy man who took her back after a terrible deception. The woman calls him to the bed and says:
“I am still the same... But there is another one in me, I am afraid of her - she fell in love with him, and I wanted to hate you and could not forget about the one who was before. But not me. Now I'm real, all of me. I’m dying now... I need one thing: forgive me, forgive me completely! I’m terrible... I know this can’t be forgiven!.. You’re too good!” [4, p. 331].
Anna finds peace of mind for the first time. She is happy that the end of the torment is near.
Before death, many people begin to replay their lives in their heads, remembering life situations and committed actions. And finally, they realize the most important thing: where they acted badly, and where they acted decently. Repentance comes with incredible force, and they are grateful for the enlightenment that comes in their soul.
Anna felt this too. But fate had other plans, and the woman does not die. She recovers and begins to hate her husband again. Anna is no longer affected by his actions. She packs her things and leaves with Vronsky on a trip.
For the first time ever, the main character finally felt boundless happiness. “...The misfortune of her husband gave her too much happiness to repent” [4, p. 371]. However, her lover begins to yearn for his old life. He tries to do everything so that Anna does not worry, but he himself loses interest in the new and so alien life for him.
A woman notices that she is not accepted in society. She is very worried and takes out her anger on her lover. Anna begins to blame Vronsky for the fact that she is separated from her son. She does not try to hear and understand her beloved. Karenina, as is typical for her, lives only by her feelings and emotions.
“Live alone,” said the sage. This means that decide the issue of your life with yourself, with the God who lives in you, and not according to the advice or judgments of other people” [4, p. 209-210].
Anna is not used to solving problems. It seems to her that everything should be exactly the way she wants it. The main character does not see that she is making mistakes. And therefore I’m not ready to pay for them. Anna is used to blaming only others for all difficulties and troubles. She doesn't think at all that other people have feelings too.
Anna believes that no one loves her and can no longer make her happy. But herself, does she love someone? The woman left her home, hurt her husband, abandoned her beloved son and newborn daughter. All the time while they were suffering, the main character experienced great happiness next to Vronsky. She did not care about the feelings of loved ones, she thought only about herself.
As soon as the first problems appeared in her relationship with Vronsky, Anna again gave up and felt unhappy. She did not try to save their union, to figure out how they should live further. The main character despaired, blaming Vronsky alone for all her troubles.
The environment does not accept Anna. She feels lonely and unnecessary, it’s very difficult for her. The husband refuses to file for divorce, believing that it is a sin. And Vronsky cannot take Anna as his wife.
They often quarrel, the couple's situation becomes more and more complicated every day. Anna sees that she is a burden to her beloved and does not know what to do. Meanwhile, Vronsky decides to go to his mother. Anna follows him, hoping to make peace. But when she gets to the train station, she realizes what she is destined to do and throws herself under the train.
"There! “- she said to herself, looking into the shadow of the carriage, at the sand mixed with coal, with which the sleepers were covered, “there, in the very middle, and I will punish him and get rid of everyone and myself” [4, p. 612].
All problems disappear under the wheels of the rushing train. Anna wanted to be happy for a long time. She did not want to fight for her “callous” marriage and did not try to save her relationship with Vronsky. The problems weighed on her too much, and Anna did not want to solve them.
If a woman is happy with Vronsky, then why don’t those around her understand this? Why doesn't her husband agree to the divorce? Why doesn't society accept them? Isn't love the most important thing in life?
Vronsky takes the news of suicide very hard. He believes that he is to blame for everything, repents and decides to volunteer for the war.
Anna, throwing herself under the wheels of the train, deliberately punished Vronsky. She did not think about what would happen to him after her death and what his future fate would be. Probably, when a person commits suicide, he thereby “kills” his loved ones. This happened in the case of Anna. Life became so difficult for Vronsky that he went to seek death in the war.
The book Anna Karenina examines several stories in parallel. If the reader does not become close and understandable to the main character, then he will certainly sympathize with the modest and pure-hearted Levin, who is in love with the wonderful girl Kitty.
“...But what always struck me as a surprise in her was the expression of her eyes, meek, calm and truthful, and especially her smile, which always transported Levin to a magical world, where he felt touched and softened, as he could remember yourself in the rare days of your early childhood" [4, p. 24].
But due to her youth and stupidity, Kitty rejects his proposal to marry him. Levin feels pain from the refusal, so he leaves for the village.
Physical pain can be treated with medications, but there is no cure for mental pain. Levin works constantly and does not allow himself luxury at all. However, he cannot forget Kitty. She sank too deeply into his soul. Fate brings the heroes together again after a few years. They are both happy, it is easy for them to communicate, they understand each other perfectly. And now, finally, they decide to get married.
L.N. Tolstoy clearly shows an example of bright, mutual and sincere love, describing the relationship between Levin and Kitty. Their words are honest, and their actions inspire approval from their readers. Such heroes are always empathized with and rejoice when they find happiness.
Levin and Kitty are also going through difficult times: the death of a loved one, a difficult birth. Konstantin has thoughts of suicide, but he understands that this is not a solution. Only he himself, through his actions, can fill the life of his family with happiness. And for this you need to try, you need to work on it.
Konstantin Levin is a positive hero, he is an example to follow. He teaches the reader to think about what is important. The endless question: “What am I living for?” can be disheartening. But there is no definite answer to it. Reflections on this topic evoke sadness and despair. A person may give up and mistakenly come to the conclusion that there is nothing worthwhile in his life.
But this is not the right path. Questions should not remain unanswered for long; people need certainty in all areas of life. Only a person himself can give significance to his destiny. It is necessary to try to live according to the laws of conscience and follow the path of good.
“Movement towards a virtuous goal is inseparable from self-improvement, and improvement is impossible without the strongest rein of will. The main thing is that you should not feel sorry for yourself, calm down, caress your pride, as is typical for many people” [2, p. 305-307].
The secret of Karenin's refusal to duel
Quarrel between Anna and Karenin. Illustration by Helen Mason Groz for Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. 1919 Brigham Young University / Harold B. Lee Library
When Anna's betrayal was revealed, the first thing Vronsky thought of was a duel:
“Again, as in the first minute, upon the news of her break with her husband, Vronsky, reading the letter, involuntarily surrendered to the natural impression that his attitude towards his insulted husband evoked in him. Now, when he held his letter in his hands, he involuntarily imagined the challenge that, probably, today or tomorrow he would find himself, and the duel itself, during which he, with that same cold and proud expression that he now had on his face, having shot into the air, he will stand under the shot of his insulted husband.”
Karenin also thought about the fight. For him, this was perhaps the only way to get out of an unpleasant situation with an untarnished reputation. According to the Duel Code, a duel could “provide a decisive and final restoration of honor. ...Even the most serious insult is recognized as not leaving the slightest stain on honor, once it has received satisfaction through a duel; in this case, it does not matter whether the duel took place or was not carried out due to the recognition of its impracticability on the basis of the laws on duels; and if the duel was carried out, then whether it resulted in the shedding of blood or not.”
However, the offended Karenin never decided to fight. And it's not just the fear of being killed. In Russia, a duel was considered a criminal offense, and participation in it would mean the end of Alexei Alexandrovich’s successful bureaucratic career, which was incredibly significant for him. The second reason was religious. The Church treated duelists as murderers and suicides - they could not be buried in a cemetery, given unction, or allowed to confess or receive communion. Karenin, as a religious and church-going person, could not afford a duel.
Literary club. L. N. Tolstoy “Anna Karenina”. Discussion.
Greetings to all gossip readers in our literary circle!
I hope you found the reading entertaining and captivating. Today we can discuss Tolstoy’s favorite and not so favorite characters from the novel “Anna Karenina”.
I guess I'll start.
All the diversity, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of shadow and light. (Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky “Anna Karenina”)
So I did it again. I reread Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. The first time I read a book was when I was Kitty's age. Accordingly, I empathized and understood her heroine more. Kitty felt like I did then. I was immensely surprised that Tolstoy, a man, suddenly knows and understands how an 18-year-old girl thinks and feels! What do I think! Can men really do this, I thought? After all, I don’t know what men think?
Now, re-reading the novel, I am once again convinced that Anna Karenina is the Bible of human relations. Tolstoy showed us the variety of human relationships that arise around us, and how we, people, are similar to each other, and how we are not similar, and what we ourselves are, and how we live, and how we constantly change our views throughout life, and how we ourselves change. This is the anthem of life.
There are many lines in the novel. One of the main ones - using the example of Anna Karenina and Stiva Oblonsky, Tolstoy compares the attitude in society to the same behavior. Stiva and Anna are brother and sister. They are both lively, active, bright people who are loved in society. They are very similar: both are married, both cheat. But if Steve is forgiven for everything: both his wife and society, then Anna will not be forgiven for this. Tolstoy contrasts female and male infidelity. Male infidelity does not pose a threat to the family or children; it is often a frivolous and fleeting hobby, not without problems, but quite easily resolved. Female infidelity, associated with love, strong feelings, cooling towards her husband, forgetting existing children, neglect of family responsibilities and possible pregnancy from her lover, while living with her husband. Those. female infidelity is destructive for the family, according to Tolstoy. Hence the loyalty of society to the same act of different sexes.
But I think that the novel has enough interesting lines even without this main theme. I will look at my favorite thing about this work: the characters and their thoughts.
Many people do not like Tolstoy for his moralizing and chauvinism. I sincerely don't think so. Why do I feel joy when reading his works? No writer of Russian literature evokes such life-affirming feelings. It's like you're reading something light and bright. I had just started waking up Stiva Oblonsky from sleep when I couldn’t help but smile. Yes, the situation is unpleasant, betrayal, need for money, guilt in front of the spouse, but how much life is in this description! When you read about Steve, you want to live. He is not deep, he is not honest, he simply does not particularly strive for anything, but he loves life and loves to live. He is so sweet in this simple joy of life.
“The liberal party said, or, better, implied, that religion is only a bridle for the barbaric part of the population, and indeed, Stepan Arkadyevich could not endure even a short prayer service without pain in his legs and could not understand why all these terrible and pompous words about in the next world, when it would be very fun to live in this too. At the same time, Stepan Arkadyevich, who loved a cheerful joke, was sometimes pleased to puzzle the humble man with the fact that if you are already proud of the breed, then you should not stop at Rurik and renounce the first ancestor - monkey."
I definitely like Stepan Arkadyevich. He's selfish, he's not very smart, he's not reliable, he's not perfect, but he's a sweet soul. Everyone loves him for his innate tact, good disposition and ability to get along. Life is in full swing in him. He is 34 years old, good-looking, cheerful and cheerful, like a child.
Daria Alexandrovna is the wife of Stepan Arkadyevich and the mother of his six children. She has a good dowry, in addition to his six thousand a year from his service. A girl of the same age who has lost all her beauty by her age. A woman who, although angry, still loves her husband, despite his infidelity.
“Now, in the solitude of the village, she began to realize these joys more and more often... Often, looking at them, she made all possible efforts to convince herself that she was mistaken, that she, as a mother, was partial to her children; still, she could not help but tell herself that she had lovely children, all six of them, all in different births, but such as are rarely seen - and she was happy with them and proud of them.”
It’s interesting how a woman’s consciousness changes, using the example of Daria Alexandrovna. I think to many mothers, like me, Oblonskaya’s thoughts will now seem secretly familiar.
“Before, she dressed for herself, to be beautiful and to be liked; then, the older she got, the more unpleasant it became for her to dress; she saw how bad she looked. But now she dressed again with pleasure and excitement. Now she dressed not for herself, not for her beauty, but so that she, as the mother of these charms, would not spoil the general impression. And, looking in the mirror for the last time, she was pleased with herself. She was good. Not as good as she used to want to be at the ball, but good for the purpose that she now had in mind.”
Levin. 32 years. Parents died early. Friend from early youth with Stiva. A landowner living in the village on his several acres. Raises cows and hunts. He is unsure of himself and therefore can be harsh, seem angry and unfriendly. In love with Dolly's blond younger sister, Kitty. Considers her to be a deity and perfection. At the same time, he considers other women, including those from his past, to be “reptiles.” His conversation at dinner with Stiva is interesting. Stiva, for all his recklessness, is a kind fellow. And Levin, having had relationships with women in the past, considers them fallen. Of course, although he blames himself for such relationships with women, he still justifies himself, because he is a man.
“Yes, but no jokes,” Oblonsky continued. “You must understand that the woman, a sweet, meek, loving creature, is poor, lonely and has sacrificed everything.” Now that the deed has already been done, you understand, should I really abandon her? Let’s say: – break up so as not to destroy family life; but is it really possible not to take pity on her, not to arrange her, not to soften her?
- Well, excuse me. You know, for me all women are divided into two types... that is, no... or rather: - there are women, and there are... I have never seen and will not see lovely fallen creatures, but people like that painted French woman at the desk, with curls, are For me, vipers, and all fallen ones are the same.”
Levin considers himself part of the people, but he has no idea what kind of people they are. He has an inquisitive but emotional mind. Seeking mind. He constantly thinks about the world order and about himself in this world. It's like he's looking at the world. Unlike his friends and brothers, he searches for meaning in everything, makes mistakes, finds and again loses and searches. His deep inner life and thoughts stem not from science and learning, but from his own emotions and feelings. He often changes his mind to the contrary. I like Levin for this mobility of mind. A person who does not think in stereotypes, he tries to explain life to himself.
Levin rushes about, searching until he finds the most important thing - family. The family obscures his entire former world. He is happy.
Peasants. People. Also heroes of the novel. Levin is annoyed with his hired workers. He understands them, but he feels sorry for his efforts to improve the economy, when often what is done is completely different from what he intended. What's the matter? But the point is probably that a person primarily proceeds from the interests of himself and his family. Neither for the owner, the boss, nor for the public good, communism, will a person try as hard as for himself.
I liked this piece, described by Tolstoy, of peasant Russia. How many such strong, enterprising peasants were there in villages throughout Russia? We know what happened to them and the village next.
“Over tea, Levin learned the whole history of the old man’s farm. The old man rented one hundred and twenty dessiatines from a landowner ten years ago, and last year he bought them and rented another three hundred from a neighboring landowner. He rented out a small part of the land, the worst part, and plowed about forty acres of the field with his family and two hired workers. The old man complained that things were going badly. But Levin understood that he was complaining only out of decency, and that his farm was flourishing. If it had been bad, he would not have bought land for one hundred and five rubles, would not have married three sons and a nephew, would not have built it twice after the fires, and everything got better and better. Despite the old man's complaints, it was clear that he was justly proud of his well-being, proud of his sons, nephew, daughters-in-law, horses, cows, and especially that this entire farm was holding together. From a conversation with the old man, Levin learned that he was not averse to innovation. He sowed a lot of potatoes, and his potatoes, which Levin saw as he approached, were already fading and setting, while Levin’s were just blooming. He plowed the potatoes with a plow, as he called a plow taken from the landowner. He sowed wheat. The small detail that, while weeding the rye, the old man fed the horses with the weeded rye, especially struck Levin. How many times did Levin, seeing this wonderful food disappear, want to collect it; but this always turned out to be impossible. The guy did it, and he couldn’t praise himself enough about this food.”
And here’s how Levin’s neighbor, a landowner who misses serfdom, talks about the peasants.
“The workers don’t want to work well and use good tools. Our worker only knows one thing - to get drunk like a pig, drunk and ruin everything you give him. He will drug the horses, tear off a good harness, change a tire, drink it, and throw a pin into the thresher to break it. He is sick of seeing everything that is not according to him. From this, the entire level of the economy went down. The lands are abandoned, overgrown with wormwood or distributed to the peasants, and where they produced a million, they produce hundreds of thousands of quarters; overall wealth decreased. If they had done the same, but with calculation..."
But Levin does not agree with him. He believes that the people must first get rich, and then the economy will improve in Russia. But Levin did not decide how to arrange this (and no one after Levin has decided so far, neither monarchists, nor communists, nor democrats).
Sergey Ivanovich Koznyshev. Levin's older half-brother. Writer and philosopher-thinker. Standard man of science. Clearly explain any phenomenon.
I found the conversation between Koznyshev, Karenin and Stiva about women’s rights interesting.
– [Koznyshev]But if women, as a rare exception, can occupy these places, then, it seems to me, you incorrectly used the expression “right”. It would be more accurate to say: – duties. Everyone will agree that when performing any position of a jury, a public official, or a telegraph official, we feel that we are fulfilling a duty. And therefore, it is more correct to say that women are looking for responsibilities, and completely legitimately. And one can only sympathize with their desire to help the common male labor.
“Quite right,” confirmed Alexey Alexandrovich [Karenin]. “The question, I believe, is only whether they are capable of these duties.”
“They will probably be very capable,” Stepan Arkadyevich [Oblonsky of Steve] put in, “when education is spread among them.” We see this...
How do you like it, huh? And again Stiva is the most free-thinking person. This Stiva, a merry fellow and a prankster, already more than a hundred years ago believed that women were no worse than men. And she can get an education, have a job and be open in her feelings. No wonder I like Stiva.
Kitty. 18 years. A lovely blond creature from a good noble family. Speaks French and English, plays the piano and skates. The conversation, when we meet at the skating rink, reveals to us how Levin needs her support. Even more than Kitty herself.
“I would rather learn with you, for some reason I am confident in you,” she told him.
“And I am confident when you lean on me,” he said, but was immediately frightened by what he said and blushed.”
Kitty is the perfect creature for a family. All airy and sweet before marriage, she fully reveals herself in marriage. It was only in marriage that her personality found its destined place and she is fully confident in the life for which she was raised.
“He [Levin] did not know the feeling of change that she experienced after at home she sometimes wanted cabbage with kvass or sweets, and neither one nor the other could be had, but now she could order what she wanted, buy piles of sweets , spend as much money as you wanted and order whatever cake you wanted.
She now happily dreamed of Dolly's arrival with the children, especially because she would order everyone's favorite cake for the children, and Dolly would appreciate her new device. She herself did not know why or for what purpose, but housekeeping irresistibly attracted her to it. She, instinctively feeling the approach of spring and knowing that there would be rainy days, built her nest as best she could and hurried at the same time to build it and learn how to do it.”
Vronsky. A brilliant officer, rich, handsome. Careful in money matters. We are respected in our regiment.
“Vronsky never knew family life. In her youth, his mother was a brilliant society woman who, during her marriage, and especially after, had many affairs known throughout the world. He hardly remembered his father and was raised in the Corps of Pages.
Coming out of school as a very young, brilliant officer, he immediately fell into the rut of the wealthy St. Petersburg military. Although he occasionally traveled to the St. Petersburg society, all his love interests were outside the world.”
But the best description of Vronsky is given by Vronsky himself. When he was assigned to entertain the visiting prince, Vronsky saw himself.
“The main reason why the prince was especially hard on Vronsky was that he involuntarily saw himself in him. And what he saw in this mirror did not flatter his pride. He was a very stupid, and very confident, and very healthy, and very clean person, and nothing more. He was a gentleman - that was the truth, and Vronsky could not deny it. He was even and unquestioning with his superiors, was free and simple in his dealings with his equals, and was contemptuously good-natured with his inferiors. Vronsky himself was one and considered it a great advantage; but in relation to the prince he was inferior, and this contemptuous and good-natured attitude towards him outraged him.
“Stupid beef! Am I really like that!” - he thought.
“The conductor’s words woke him up and made him remember his mother and his upcoming meeting with her. In his soul he did not respect his mother and, without realizing it, did not love her, although according to the concepts of the circle in which he lived, according to his upbringing, he could not imagine others treating his mother as extremely submissive and respectful , and the more outwardly submissive and respectful, the less in his soul he respected and loved her.”
Anna. 28 years. I came at Steve’s request from St. Petersburg to reconcile him with his wife. From that truthful ease of behavior, I dare to suggest that Anna was very similar in character to her brother Stiva. She so skillfully conducted a conciliatory conversation with Dolly, so easily noticed her moods and emotions, and immediately gave the correct answers and emotions, that it is safe to say that Anna possessed the same qualities of being liked and felt by people as her brother. But in marriage, serving her status as a wife and mother, these initially living feelings of hers, like Stiva’s, became numb. She seemed frozen until Vronsky brought her back to life.
“Oh, how you said that like Stiva! – Dolly said laughing.
Anna was offended."
Anna is selfish, just like Steve. They both don't really care about other people's feelings. While outwardly pleasant in society, they care only about their own feelings and pleasures.
“The memory of the evil done to her husband aroused in her a feeling similar to disgust and similar to what a drowning person would experience, tearing away the person clinging to him. This man drowned. Of course, it was bad, but it was the only salvation, and it’s better not to remember these terrible details.”
Cruel, isn't it? I am not one of the readers who justifies Anna and condemns society. Yes, society is more loyal to men, to Stiva in the same situation. But the problem is not in society, the problem is in the egoists themselves. Both Anna and Stiva are essentially children playing with the feelings of others. Attractive but cruel children. And they themselves are the cause of their destruction. Stiva gets off with light scandals and debts, and Anna gets off with contempt and death.
Anna had a chance to resolve the situation immediately after giving birth. When the husband, on a high note of virtue, gave a divorce to Seryozha. All participants would benefit. Karenin would have received the role of a deceived, but nobly merciful husband, the role that he so liked in his outburst. Anna, although she could not officially marry Vronsky until the death of her ex-husband, would have received society's acceptance of her position and both children with her. Vronsky would not have lost his career and his beloved woman with his child.
But Anna, due to some carelessness or absurdity, simply goes to Italy, leaving the situation unresolved, and spends her time quite happily before returning to reality in St. Petersburg. Why? I can not explain.
Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin. 48 years old.
“Alexey Alexandrovich grew up an orphan. There were two brothers. They did not remember their father; their mother died when Alexei Alexandrovich was ten years old. The fortune was small. Uncle Karenin, an important official and once a favorite of the late emperor, raised them.
Having completed courses at the gymnasium and university with medals, Alexey Alexandrovich, with the help of his uncle, immediately set out on a prominent career path and from then on exclusively devoted himself to official ambition. Neither at the gymnasium, nor at the university, nor after in the service, Alexey Alexandrovich struck up friendly relations with anyone. His brother was the person closest to his soul, but he served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and always lived abroad, where he died soon after Alexei Alexandrovich’s marriage.”
Serves in a high position in the ministry. He is cowardly before life. He needs to schedule, distribute, calculate, approve his every step, breath. I understand that he is so calculating because of the lack of love from childhood, weakness and cowardice, I feel sorry for him at the same time, and he is unpleasant to me. It's like he's no longer alive. And he wants to leave everything around him without the joy of life.
“Every minute of Alexei Alexandrovich’s life was busy and distributed. And in order to have time to do what he had to do every day, he adhered to the strictest accuracy. “No haste and no rest” was his motto.”
Karenin reveals himself later, after Anna's childbed fever. He suddenly realizes himself as a feeling, and not just a thinking person. His main feeling, which brought him back to life from his daily mechanical routine, which Anna so despised, was compassion. Karenin suddenly felt like a living person, through compassion for people. Tolstoy breathed life into him. And I am imbued with Karenin in the same way, with sympathy for him. He no longer disgusts me. He really became high in my eyes because he felt something.
“The mistake made by Alexei Alexandrovich was that, while preparing for a date with his wife, he did not think about the chance that her repentance would be sincere and he would forgive, and she would not die - this mistake presented itself to him two months after his return from Moscow in all its strength. But the mistake he made occurred not only because he did not think about this accident, but also because until that day of meeting with his dying wife he did not know his heart. At the bedside of his sick wife, for the first time in his life, he surrendered to that feeling of tender compassion that the suffering of other people aroused in him and which he had previously been ashamed of as a harmful weakness; and pity for her, and remorse for wanting her death, and, most importantly, the very joy of forgiveness made him suddenly feel not only the satisfaction of his suffering, but also a peace of mind that he had never experienced before. He suddenly felt that the very thing that was the source of his suffering became the source of his spiritual joy, that which seemed insoluble when he condemned, reproached and hated became simple and clear when he forgave and loved.
He forgave his wife and pitied her for her suffering and repentance. He forgave Vronsky and pitied him, especially after he heard rumors about his desperate act. He pitied his son more than before, and now reproached himself for having taken too little care of him. But for the newborn little girl he felt a special feeling of not only pity, but also tenderness. "
I realized that the next time I re-read the novel, I would probably better understand the situation of the old Shcherbatskys, with their efforts for adult children. Every time it's like a new book.
Girls, how do you feel about the heroes? Who do you love? Who do you sympathize with? Whom do you not understand?
Let me remind you that the next book for discussion in the circle on May 15 is “Tender is the Night” by Fitzgerald.
What are we reading until May 21?
I propose to choose from three options, the favorites of the last vote. And one more option. Don't worry, all books mentioned in the last poll will be added in the next one, in descending order.
