Love, Marriage, and Family Dynamics
The novel portrays love in many forms, from passionate and destructive to calm and long-lasting. From their first meeting, Anna and Vronsky feel a strong attraction, but their powerful love can lead to either happiness or destruction. Vronsky expresses his all-consuming love for Anna, and they face the possibility of both bliss and despair.
"Don't you know that you're all my life to me? ...I can't think of you and myself apart. You and I are one to me. And I see no chance before us of peace for me or for you. I see a chance of despair, of wretchedness ...or I see a chance of bliss, what bliss!"
Anna's affair with Vronsky is marked by intense desire, but it also leads to her downfall as she becomes increasingly isolated from her husband and society. In this sense, Tolstoy showcases the high cost of pursuing a forbidden love.
Unlike Anna and Vronsky's unconventional love, Kitty and Levin's love is more traditional and enduring. Kitty, who used to be infatuated with Vronsky, eventually learns the value of genuine connection and true love. Levin is certain that "in marriage the great thing was love, and that with love one would always be happy, for happiness rests only on oneself." Tolstoy uses their functional relationship to depict the possibility of real love within marriage.
Dolly and Stiva's marriage is deeply troubled as Stiva continues to have affairs with other women. He rationalizes his behavior by convincing himself that his wife has accepted it, considering himself a "handsome, susceptible man of thirty-four." In contrast, he sees Dolly, who is just a year younger, as "a worn-out woman, no longer young or good-looking, and in no way remarkable or interesting."
Finally, Anna's marriage to Karenin seems like a charade compared to Kitty and Levin's. It is a marriage of convenience and appearances—a loveless union built on social expectations and obligations. Tolstoy sheds light on the difficulties people encounter when trapped in marriages that lack true love and connection, a common issue in many convenience marriages.
Anna's affair and separation from her husband profoundly affect their son, Seryozha, demonstrating the impact of personal choices on family bonds. In this context, Tolstoy emphasizes the significance of family dynamics, setting the tone for this theme right at the novel's start.
Tolstoy makes it clear that "all happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." He initially presents Anna and Seryozha's bond as warm and loving, but as Anna's affair with Vronsky intensifies, and societal judgment grows, their relationship worsens.
Seryozha tries to distance himself emotionally and find his identity by strengthening his bond with his father, but he still cares for his mother. Anna, who says she must "let herself drop down to reality to enjoy [her son] as he really was," shows a stronger attachment to him than to her daughter, Annie. This highlights her challenges in being a good mother and illustrates how the problems faced by unhappy families can lead to their unique forms of unhappiness.
Tolstoy's examination of love, marriage as a social institution, family dynamics, and moral and ethical dilemmas remains compelling for modern readers. These themes delve into universal aspects of human experience that transcend time. They reflect the lasting significance of the novel's observations about the complexities of human relationships and individual choices in a changing society.
Society, Gender Roles, and Double Standards
Anna Karenina critically examines the Russian aristocratic society of the late 19th century and how it enforces strict gender roles and societal expectations on its members. These expectations profoundly influence the lives and choices of the characters,...
(This entire section contains 694 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
often to their disadvantage.
A key element in the novel is the exposure of double standards in the treatment of men and women. In comparison to Anna's social isolation resulting from her infidelity, her brother, who also cheated on his wife, faces less judgment simply because he is a man. The Oblonskys' marital issues are not as prominent as the Karenins' because it is easier and less condemned for a husband to be unfaithful, as societal duty and responsibility are traditionally seen as a woman's role.
The story explores the conventional roles and responsibilities of men and women within the family. Men are usually involved in public affairs, while women are tasked with domestic duties, motherhood, and supporting their husbands. Women might even discover greater happiness in their roles as wives and mothers, similar to Kitty's experience, rather than relentlessly pursuing their individual aspirations or independence.
In a conversation involving Karenin and other men about the education of women, Karenin argues that providing education to women might be mistaken for granting them greater freedom and rights, and he considers this association to be "dangerous."
Alexey Alexandrovitch expressed the idea that the education of women is apt to be confounded with the emancipation of women, and that it is only so that it can be considered dangerous.
This discussion brings attention to the changing roles of women and their desire to play active roles, or rather duties, in society, particularly in positions of authority and responsibility. The central idea that emerges is women's aspiration for a societal role that includes power, financial independence, and recognition.
"But if women, as a rare exception, can occupy such positions, it seems to me you are wrong in using the expression' rights.' It would be more correct to say duties. ...They will most likely be perfectly fitted [for such roles] ...when education has become general among them. ...Duties are bound up with rights—power, money, honor; those are what women are seeking."
Tolstoy portrays many male characters as perceiving women as more "materialistic" and superficial. They often disregard women's emotions, especially when women express a desire for love or power comparable to that of men.
With the exception of Levin, men sometimes see women as potential career obstacles due to the emotional involvement and attention they require. In response, marriage is presented as a solution, offering a structured and socially acceptable way to manage romantic relationships.
"Women are the chief stumbling block in a man's career. It's hard to love a woman and do anything. There's only one way of having love conveniently without its being a hindrance—that's marriage. ...women are all more materialistic than men. We make something immense out of love, but they are always terre-à-terre."
Through the character of Dolly, Tolstoy highlights that women are aware of gender inequality and limited autonomy, particularly in matters of love and marriage.
"...for you men, who are free and make your own choice, it's always clear whom you love. ...you men have views about a girl, you come to the house, you make friends, you criticize, you wait to see if you have found what you love, and then, when you are sure you love her, you make an offer. ...But a girl is not asked. She is expected to make her choice, and yet she cannot choose, she can only answer 'yes' or 'no.'"
However, Tolstoy also indicates that defying social norms can be costly for women. Anna's tragedy exemplifies the severe consequences for those who defy social expectations, highlighting the emotional turmoil and social isolation women may endure if they dare to challenge society.
The novel's exploration of gender roles still aligns with today's gender equality and social justice efforts. Gender gaps in opportunities, pay, and societal expectations persist, reflecting the double standards Tolstoy discussed. The book's critique of traditional gender roles resonates with discussions challenging stereotypes in modern social and political discourse.
