The Themes in the novel “Anna Karenina”

Question: ( 2 ) : Describe the themes in the novel “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy

             Answer: Theme that lies in a text is one of the most important issues in a literary composition that convey some universal ideas and truth. Here in the novel titled “Anna Karenina”, written by a Russian novelist, Leo Tolstoy, exposes several dominating themes as social change in 19th Russia, the blessing of family life, the role and position of women in society, marriage and philosophical value of farming. However, they have been described below one after another in brief.

            In the Russia of “Anna Karenina”, a battle rages between the old patriarchal values sustaining the landowning aristocracy and the new, liberal—often called “libre penseur” or the followers of the Westernises. The conservatives believe in traditions like serfdom and authoritarian government, while the liberals believe in technology, rationalism, and democracy. For example, we see Levin’s clash with his peasants when he ties to introduce Western agricultural innovations that his peasants refuse to accept. They are scared that new innovations will make them jobless as it will replace human beings. Moreover, the guests at Stiva’s dinner party raise the question of women’s rights—clearly a hot topic of the day, and one that shows the influence of Western social progress on Russia. The Russian tradition of arranged marriages is going out of fashion, though Kitty’s parents are not sure at the prospect of allowing Kitty to choose her partner.

            Tolstoy’s intention to write “Anna Karenina” is to recognise this novel in the genre family novels popular in Russia although this type of novels is out of fashion by the 1870s. The Russian family novel often portrays the benefits and comforts of family togetherness and domestic bliss in a much idealised way. Tolstoy has written “Anna Karenina” in the past as his personal statement of family debate. The first section of the novel concerning the happiness and unhappiness of families underscores the centrality of this idea. The novelist takes a pro-family position in the novel that is candid the difficulties of family life. A family limits the freedom of the individual yet despite the resections on personal liberty, Tolstoy portrays family life as a source of comfort and happiness and philosophical transcendence. Anna destroys her family and dies in misery whereas Levin and lives happily creating a family.

            In “Anna Karenina” Tolstoy brings out the position of women in the society where Anna’s marriage to Karenin is arranged by her relatives following the social custom although there is no passion with Karenin but she is bound to live with her husband. Love that Anna needed and desired is never a factor in this match. Anna’s emotional delicacy that has suffered and frustrated her in her marriage is bound to transform her love for her son although Anna finds this marriage hypocritical but there is no other solution for her as women do not possess any voice in society. According to Tolstoy, the role of women is to make a family by giving birth and raising children but not for personal pleasure but Anna refuses her social role and elopes and lives with Vronsky.

            Tolstoy presents portraits of marriage that are astonishing for their lack of romance. Although these women are princesses, baronesses and countesses, there are no fairy-tale endings in “Anna Karenina”. Instead, marriage is portrayed with all of its faults and problems, from jealousy to lack of passion to abandonment. Tolstoy does not advocate the ending of marriage as a social institution at all indeed, he believes it is the glue that holds societies together, but he is realistic about how it works. The only fully successful marriage in Anna Karenina is between Levin and Kitty, and it only becomes that way when they understand that a man and a woman occupy separate social roles, and that it is necessary for a couple to give each other space.

            Tolstoy brings the parallel plot of Levin and Kitty through which he presents his ideal society. Through his spokesman Levin shows that he is a devoted farmer who achieves a clear vision of faith and happiness. Levin in his farm establishes a social structure that is very close to socialist government. However, he distributes his lands among his peasants and worked equally hard along with them. He also establishes schools to educate the peasants’ children and takes other initiatives that establish other fundamental rights and privileges for the peasants.

Md. Saiful Alam

B. A. Honours and M. A. in English

Lecturer of English

Queen’s College, Dhaka

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