Summary
Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina remains one of the most acclaimed and influential novels ever written. First published in installments from 1873 to 1877, this sweeping tale of passion, marriage, betrayal, and sacrifice in late 19th-century Russian society is renowned for its complex characters, profound themes, and insightful exploration of human nature. Centered on the tragic affair between the married Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky, the novel weaves together multiple plotlines to create a rich tapestry of love, family, faith, and infidelity against a backdrop of social change. Tolstoy’s epic love story is also known for its frequently quoted opening line—”All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Plot
The novel opens with Anna Karenina traveling to Moscow to help mend her brother Stepan's marriage after his affair with the governess. At the train station, Anna meets Count Vronsky, sparking an immediate attraction. Meanwhile, Konstantin Levin proposes to Kitty Shcherbatsky but is rejected, as she hopes to marry Vronsky. At a ball, Vronsky only has eyes for Anna, devastating Kitty. Anna returns to St. Petersburg, but Vronsky follows her. Despite being married with a young son, Anna begins a passionate affair with Vronsky that scandalizes Russian high society.
As Anna and Vronsky's relationship intensifies, her husband Karenin becomes aware of the affair but is more concerned with appearances than Anna's happiness. Anna becomes pregnant with Vronsky's child and eventually leaves Karenin, but is shunned by society and separated from her beloved son, Seryozha. She moves to Italy with Vronsky but grows increasingly paranoid and jealous.
Anna's mental state deteriorates as she feels trapped in her relationship with Vronsky and ostracized from society. In a moment of despair, she throws herself under a train. Through these intertwining stories, Tolstoy explores themes of love, marriage, fidelity, and social values in 19th century Russian society.
Themes
• Love and passion versus social convention
• Marriage and family
• Fidelity and betrayal
• Faith and doubt
• City versus country life
• Progress and modernity
• Self-knowledge and personal growth.
Setting
Anna Karenina takes place in imperial Russia during the 1870s, a time of rapid social and economic change. The novel unfolds against the backdrop of Tsar Alexander II's liberal reforms, including the emancipation of the serfs, judicial reforms, and the modernization of industry and infrastructure. This era saw tensions between traditional aristocratic society and emerging progressive ideals, mirrored in the characters' struggles and relationships.The story primarily shifts between two major urban centers—Moscow and St. Petersburg— and the rural countryside. Moscow represents a more traditional, family-oriented Russian society, while St. Petersburg embodies a more European, cosmopolitan atmosphere. The contrast between city and country life is explored through Levin's experiences on his rural estate versus the glittering ballrooms and salons of urban high society.Specific locations play important symbolic roles in the novel. The railway station where Anna first meets Vronsky becomes a recurring motif, representing the modernizing forces reshaping Russian society. The racetrack where Vronsky's horse is injured serves as a microcosm of aristocratic society. Meanwhile, Levin's rural estate provides a counterpoint to urban decadence, representing more traditional Russian values rooted in the land and peasant culture.
