Anna Karenina

Marital infidelity is blameed by law, religion and purchase order in almost any country, more(prenominal) so in juvenile 19th century Russia. In our modern culture as well, the treasonous char gets gr occupyer censure than the hu adult malehoodkind who is guilty of it. This is also the eccentric person in Leo Tolstoys Anna Karenina. Oblonsky (Stiva) cheats on his conjoin wo musical composition, non once nonwithstanding twice, moreover he gets no more than a gentle reprimand. Anna Karenina, on the former(a) hand, earns severe contempt from cabaret for her adulterous liaison with the natty t every last(predicate)y Vronsky.On the surface, Tolstoy himself must score realized the temperance of her shame and to appease the moralists of his day he had to deliver her pay for it she blesss suicide, crushed below an oncoming train. But an in-depth comparison of Stivas and Annas infidelities, seen in the roost of Tolstoyan horizon, would suggest the author did not in tend to condemn Annas number alone, but the entire high society of his day for its hypocrisy, its double standard of morality.Discussing the distinction of rights in marriage between men and women, Pestsov acknowledged that the inequality in marriagelay in the fact that the infidelity of the married woman and the infidelity of the husband are punished unequ plainly ify, both by the law and by public opinion. (4. 12). Conservative Russia and nevertheless con fly-by-night society would tend to appearance at Stiva with greater guessing and even approval. This emerges aft(prenominal) a truncated comparison between him and Anna vis-a-vis their adulterous affairs. Oblonsky (Stiva) intended to keep his infidelities a secret dame found out some his affair with the french governess only by his carelessness.In contrast, Anna flirted openly with Vronsky contempt knowing great deal was in jazz with him and was wait for his proposal. While it was not her fault that Vronsky fol lowed her in the train, letting separate nation into the budding romance, she could reserve observed nearly degree of decorum or discreetness in his affair with the beautiful officer, but she did not. The mere fact that Anna and Vronsky remained talking to each new(prenominal) at the puny table even in the presence of her husband, at the firstborn gear of their romance, was considered by the circle of guests present indecorous. (2. 7). Seemingly unable to comprehend, like Vronsky, the gravity of their crime, she opted to ignore the appraisal of society, including the elite of St. Petersburg where everyone knows everyone else, everyone even visits everyone else as well as of Moscow who frowned on such d anyiances in contravention of the embeded morality of the day. (2. 4). Karenin became furious only when, against his insistence that she at least observe properness and decorum, she allowed her clear intercourser to visit her at their home (2. 22).Alexey, Annas husband, is depicted as the suffering party. He is pictured as one who is without vices and all virtue, although Anna hates him for it. He refuses to be jealous when his wife is besieged with other men. Giving her all the benefit of the doubt during their marriage, and before the affair, Alexey believed a gentleman was not conjectural to go down in fits of jealousy, in reference to a womans exposure to temptations from other men, since he could never lower her and himself by jealousy. (1. 6).Despite his initial hatred at Anna for leaving him and her son, he promptly forgave her when he thought she was around to die (4. 17). Then as now, people dismissed a mans extramarital affairs in consideration of his virile nature. Oblonsky thought he could not be faulted for gull around as he was still unsalted and good-looking, while his wife was already past her prime. He was prone to temptation, and therefore could not be easily faulted for succumbing to earthly temptations. He thought his try sts with other women were but innocent, immaculate pursuits.In contrast, Anna is severely pretendd for breaking her marital vows. It ignores as of no fleck that fact that she married a man she did not approve, who was twenty historic period older and do her life inexplicably miserable. She is condemned because of the perception that she had no excuse for exigencying the pushions of some other, no matter how infatuated she may be. She openly flirted with Vronsky, knowing heap was in love with him and awaiting his proposal. To the moral guardians of her day, Anna Karenina was irresponsible, being unable to realize the consequences of her actions.Oblonsky be his cheerful, confident self despite his marital troubles, even committing another infidelity with a pretty dancing girl despite his earlier statement of herb of grace, while Anna is physically and mentally devastated on account of her affair with Vronsky. Stiva considered his flings a mere pastime to escape the ennui of his everyday life, never gravely giving them much thought. To him, one john be fond of fresh rolls when one has had ones rations of bread. He tells Levin, who is unconvinced, it really does so little harm to anyone, and gives oneself so much pleasure. He said he did not count life as life without love. (2. 14). In his mind, Stiva did not grief the fact that he was no longer in love with his wife his only regret, believing she was secretly apprised of his dalliances but shut her eyeball to them, was not being able to hide it from her. He was the type who relished his pleasures. He thought theres something common, vulgar, in flirting with ones governess. But what a governess (1. 2). For Stiva, as with many other men (or even society in general), a sin is not to be expiateant of as long as you maintain a sense of decorum or do it discreetly, careful about the sensibilities of other people who capability be offended.Men are even expected to engage in such pursuits, provi ded they do not compromise their honor or build up a fool of themselves before others. Such was the reaction of Vronskys fix, the countess, who thought that nothing gave such a finishing touch to a magnificent man as a liaison in the highest society. (2. 18). She was also de lowered it was Anna Karenina who was involved with her son. To her, the matter became vexing only when she realized that their lovingness exponent lead him into imprudence and displease certain connections in high society. Vronskys crony shared the sentiment of the countessHe did not distinguish what sort of love his (Vronskys) might be(he kept a ballet girl himself, though he was the father of a family, so he was lenient in these matters), but he knew that this love affair was viewed with displeasure by those whom it was incumbent to please, and therefore he did not approve of his brothers conduct. (2. 18). Of judgment by society, distinction should be made. in that location is a circle sedate of the fashionable world, to which Anna was attached, that rendered no harsh judgment of her. Vronsky was conscious of the fact that he ran no risk of being ridiculous in the eyes of Betsy or any other fashionable people. He was very well aware that in their eyes the position of an unsuccessful lovermight be ridiculous. But the position of a man pursuing a married woman, regardless of everything, staking his life on drawing her into adultery, has something fine and grand about it, and can never be ridiculous (4. 4. ). (? ) There was, however, another circle, self-possessed of elderly, ugly, benevolent, and godly women, known as the conscience of Petersburg Society at the magnetic core of which was the Countess Lidia Ivanovna.Unlike the first circle which delighted in scandals and sympathized with the lovers, this particular crowd saw nothing but the immorality of Annas affair with the count. The first circle tended to condone the lovers, seeing in them reflected their own man weaknesse s. The scrap circle condemned it, huskinging the scandal loathsome in the eyes of man and God. Unlike his brother Stiva, Anna totally turned her back on her family to make a new life for herself, not in pursuit of temporary pleasure or thrill as Stiva is wont to do, but in obedience to the dictates of her heart, utterly disregarding convention.Both Anna and her brother found it vexed to fathom the depth of their sins. Stiva believed himself quite powerless in the face of a woman who loves him but who seeks nothing in return. (1. 2). But whereas Stiva could not repent of his sins because they gave him so much pleasure, Anna and Vronsky cared not at all on how they shall be judged by society because of their total devotion for each other, finding that the passion that united them was so intense that they were both oblivious of everything else but their love. (2. 21). hoi polloi might be gentler to Oblonsky because he immediately sought forgiveness from his wife when she discovered the affair it did not once occur to him to forsake his family. As Anna points out to Dolly, men who commit such mistakes consider their families sacred. They may commit indiscretions but they would never seriously consider abandoning their home. Somehow or other these women are still looked on with contempt by them, and do not touch on their feeling for their family, observed Anna, unaware that she too would be judged severely in her future affair. They draw a sort of agate line that cant be crossed between them and their families. (1. 4). On the other hand, Anna left her husband to live with Vronsky without the formalities of divorce, earning the bitter ire of society and the church. By tradition, Annas infidelity to his husband Karenin is deemed more contemptuous in view of the attendant biases, tenets, prejudices and beliefs surrounding their milieu. Infidelity marked the woman as guilty of a capital crime. Vronskys mother judged her a big woman, concluding that her desperate passions were all to show herself something out of the way.The countess condemns her for completely wrecking the life of his son and her husband, that her very death was the death of a sickening woman, of no religious feeling. (8. 4). Then, a mans pride was considered to a higher place all considerations, and an offended spouse was expected to challenge to a duel the man who stained his honor. On the other hand, the unfaithful husband receives only a mild censure. After all, society is not disturbed by his dalliances, so long as these are kept discreet and he does not abandon or neglect his own family. The unwritten proverb of the day, as now, was Do what you have to do, but be discreet about it.We find that there is very little distinction between the adulteries of Stiva and Anna Karenina. Annas crime is deemed, at first blush, more reproachable, but we tend to understand her actuations, her emotions, upon deeper inquiry into her life. A young charming woman, married to an ol der man whom she detested for his virtues, is fair game to a dashing suitor. Never having been in love, she can not be faulted that easily considering her passionate nature, to fall dementedly in love while forgetting its possible repercussions. Such was the enormity of their love that they heeded not the probing and accusing eyes of society, religion, and the law.At least, the offenders commited everything in the boot of their love for each other, and this at least, to my view, mitigates their crime. Of Stivas dalliances he has no prudence grace. Oblonsky engages in it purely for the pleasure it brings, not because he is forced by the strength of his emotions. He has the temerity to seek forgiveness when his sole regret was not at offending his wife but in having been so careless that his letter to his mistress was found. He even used Dollys own money to pay off his debts. Tolstoy depicts the suffering of the man wronged, but he also pictures the offender in a beneficent light .Vronsky, for all his faults, undergoes suffering because of his forbidden love for Anna he shoots himself in an try suicide. He speaks to no one for six months after Annas death, and refuses to eat unless forced to. He volunteers to serve in war, expecting never to return. (8. 4). Stiva looks upon him as a hero and an old lifter. (8. 2). In War and Peace, Tolstoy tells of the suffering of Pierre Bezukhov on account of his wifes adulterous affair with Dolokhov, whom Pierre challenges and wounds in a duel. Tolstoy then depicts Dolokhov, despite his flaw, as the most presumeionate of sons and brothers. (4. 5). We condemn the woman, but isnt the man who seduces the wife of another, by the very translation of law and the Commandments, also an adulterer? The protagonists in Tolstoys novels are broad and dashing counts, princes, and nobles, the unfaithful wives charming and beautiful countesses and women of stature in society, not ungainly rogues and common women. He makes Anna Kareni na a most charming, pretty, intelligent, educated woman. That she could have fallen low in the eyes of society makes one wonder, for it is unremarkably believed only ordinary mortals are susceptible to moral corruption.Other than his pre-occupation with the focal ratio class, to which he himself belonged, perhaps Tolstoy was driving home a message infidelity is not confined to class or breeding all human beings are vulnerable to human frailty and error. By focusing on the infidelities of Stiva and Anna, contrasting them with each other, Tolstoy could have been presenting to us his view of the elite of Russian society and their morals, depicted in all their hypocrisy and nakedness despite the glamour and elegance of St.Petersburg and the other cosmopolitan cities where they lived. When we consider the infidelity of Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky against the unfolding of their mutual affection, we come to slowly understand that it would appear to have been foreordained, aided by th eir temperament and character, their passion and yearning for life, other than a predisposition to commit evil. Vronsky perceives that his affair with Anna had drawn so much reproach from society because they could not understand it.Vronsky believed that if it were some common affair, people would have cared less. But society became annoyed because it could not comprehend his immense love for her, that the woman is dearer to him than life. (2. 21). While the young men envied him, the greater number of the young women, who envied Anna and had long been weary of hearing her called virtuous, rejoiced at the fulfillment of their predictions, and were only waiting for a turn in public opinion to fall upon her with all the weight of their scorn. (2. 18).Despite her failings, Anna refuses to run away with Vronsky as she did not want to part from her son, terrified of his future attitude when he shall realize his mother had abandoned his father for another man (2. 23). Again, this soften s our attitude towards Anna in the selfsame(prenominal) way perhaps, that Dolly warms up to her upon sensing that she, too, has her own weaknesses. Stiva, on the other hand, appears outwardly kind and genial and considerate to all persons, but his unmerciful cheating ought to be condemned the greater, if we are to judge him by the severity with which we judge Anna Karenina.A person who repents does not necessarily have to wear sackc messh and ashes, but he should at least resolve to cease completely from doing that which hurt others. If he insists that he is incapable of repentance, why should he not be guilty of societys condemnation? Anna Karenina, in this regard, would appear to be an indictment of society as a whole, showing the hypocrisy of those who find mirth and satisfaction in every scandal, assured that they are not lacking in company.It reveals a community of educated, fashionable, religious, noble persons who cannot stand the unfaithfulness of a woman completely immers ed in his love while ignoring the acts of a man who makes adultery nothing but a pleasurable game. possibly Tolstoy was asking us not to judge, for by judging others, as savior warned, we shall likewise be judged.WORKS CITED Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. 22 February 2007. War and Peace. 26 February 2007. Anna KareninaThe novel opened up to an implication of the strife in the Oblonsky household. There was an automatic teller of confusion as everyone was concerned about the discovered internal affair of the Master of the house with the French governess. The wife of Prince Arkadyevitch Oblonsky (Stiva) did not run her room and it showed how the situation evident with how everything has been going wrong.Examples were given to prove establish the confusion and the mess of the situation like the children going wild all over the house, how the house helpers were quarrelling, the man-cook quitting his job and others who were threatening to do so.Stiva woke up on the leather-covered sof a in his study without having to realize that he was not quiescency with his wife until he reached for his dressing gown that was not where it should have been, within arms reach of their bed. After which, he remembered his current predicament. The linguistic context in this scene how a marital dispute can affect so many people and how more marital disputes can transfer the course of the following events in the novel. puddles big night, the ball, was narrated to be a dream-like event where she was to go down a great staircase, flooded with light and lined with flowers and footmen in powder and red coats (Tolstoy Part 1, Chapter 9). The sound of the orchestra can be heard. Women and men were wonderfully dressed, expensive fabrics and vibrant colors change the ballroom as people started to waltz on the dance floor.This shows how Kitty, at the start of the novel was nave in a way as she saw so much romance in the night and how she love social gatherings like that nights ball. The setting described the tintinnabulation and excitement Kitty felt before she found out that Vronsky, the man she loved, fell in love with Anna, the woman she adored.The rendering of the ballroom and the atmosphere was further elaborated with describing how perfect everything was with Kitty, from her hair, to her dress to her shoes, only to come to a huge turning point wherein she sees Vronskys affection for another woman. The description of how exquisite Anna looked that night, added much weight to the twist that was about to take place, it made Vronskys admiration for Anna like a harder slap on Kittys face.ThemeThe major stem turn in the novel was about society and family. The second part of the novel gave much emphasis to solidifying this theme through different instances wherein Anna was reprimanded or placed in a destructive light because of a foreseen case of infidelity. It was important for families to stay together, more so during their time as women who are divorced ligh t-headed a lot of ground in society, while the men do not loose as much.There was one instance wherein the text showed how Anna had three sets of friends in the Petersburg society. There are those who belonged to the circle of her husbands colleagues that seems to serve merely as acquaintances with the family.Another set was concerning the friends in Countess Lydia Ivanovnas circle that Anna soon disliked greatly and the last set was one with Princess Betsy Tverskaya who was the wife of her cousin. Each set of friend offered much of their opinions about how Anna changed and often gossiped about her and her husband Karenin.Alexey Alexandrovitch, Annas husband, only saw fit to talk to her wife about her behavior with another man upon realizing that others are already gossiping about them. The confrontation was sluggish for both of them and their relationship changed but they stayed together to avoid any social conflicts.When Anna and Vronsky made love, it was obvious that Anna was d istraught as to the consequences of her actions with society and how it will affect his family, even her son.When Vronsky fell of his horse during a race, Anna could not contain her emotions in public. This had shown her improper affection for Vronsky. She cried as she was so worried about him. sooner of being jealous about Annas obvious feelings for another man, Karenin patently warned her to be careful about how she reacts in public and showed how he value his social stature more than he did his actual relationship with his wife.Even after Anna admitted his relationship with Vronsky, Karenin was more preoccupied with protecting his honor. During that time, it has established how people were more concerned about the opinions of society and how they maintain a clean picture in public.