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Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is a novel about love and marriage among the Russian aristocracy in the 1870s. Anna is young, beautiful woman married to a powerful government minister, Karenin. She falls in love with the elegant Count Vronsky and after becoming pregnant by him, leaves her husband Karenin and her son Seryozha to live with her lover. Despite the intervention of friends such as her brother Oblonsky, an adulterer himself, she is unable to obtain a divorce, and lives isolated from the society that once glorified her. As a man, Vronsky enjoys relative social freedom, which causes Anna to have increasingly intense fits of jealousy. Because of her constant suspicion, she thinks that Vronsky’s love for her is dwindling. Their story is ended by an exciting finale that moves the reader.
Interwoven with the story of Anna, is the tale of Levin, a thoughtful, passionate young man who seeks to marry the Princess Catherine Shcherbatskaya, known as Kitty. Kitty rejects his first proposal because she believes that Vronsky, who flirted with her before he met Anna, intends to marry her. Levin is devastated and withdraws to his country estate and works on a book about agriculture. But the couple reunites through another appearance of Oblonsky, Kitty’s brother in law, and they discover that they are deeply in love. Kitty joyfully accepts Levin’s second proposal. Once married, they live happily in the country, host their families and guests during the summers, and have a son. Levin's philosophical doubt and religious skepticism trouble him despite his domestic happiness, but, after a spiritual enlightenment, he finally recognizes that the capacity for goodness is innate. He devotes himself to living for his loved ones, and to giving his life meaning by advancing the will of God.
Anna Karenina is a timeless classic and has been acclaimed by many literary critics as the best or one of the best novels of all time. One critic tells us that “the character development throughout is what makes this novel a classic,” and goes on to say, “This is one of the best books I have ever read.” The character development is a very intriguing part of the story and keeps the reader turning the page to see what each person goes through next. There are so many characters that a reader might lose track if they are not paying close enough attention, but each one has their own captivating story to tell.
Alexandra Bergman’s lack of self awareness allows others to forget that she is a woman and, at times, even human, which continuously builds the wall of isolation that surrounds her. As a result, when she reacts to situations as a woman would, rather than as “she” should, those around her don’t know what to make of it. Because she has been such a steady influence for so many years, those around her do not understand that perhaps she did have another dream besides working the land that she seems to care so deeply about. Her brothers in particular are unable to comprehend that Alexandra is a woman and was forced into the life she has lead by their father’s fantasy rather than by her own free will. Perhaps the only people who truly understand her dilemma are Ivar and Carl. Ivar is a “natural man” and a religious mystic and Carl a man who was unable to make a living from the land– neither is respected by their peers, and yet they have some sort of insight to Alexandra’s heart that even she has failed to acknowledge. Alexandra’s walls are brought down only by love: love of her youngest brother, love of the land, and the return of the childhood love she thought was lost to her– as these loves begin to change her, her outlook on her entire life begins to change and meld into something that only those who actually know who and what she is recognize: a woman.
In the novel, My Antonia, by Willa Cather, society seems to govern the lives of many people. But for the others, who see past society's stereotypical values, had enough strength to overcome this and allowed them to achieve their dreams. Throughout the book, everyone seems to be trying to pursue the American Dream. While they all have different ideas of just exactly what the American Dream is, they all know precisely what they want. For some, the American Dream sounds so enticing that they have traveled across the world to achieve their goal.
Furthermore, the story of Anna’s battle for her inheritance shows a great deal about popular opinion. Anna, known for the affairs that she had, initially lost her case. Instead of calmly accepting t...
The novel follows Anna Frith, a woman living during the great plague of London in 1666. Her village of Eyam decides to quarantine itself to prevent further spread of the disease, and as more and more of the villagers succumb to it, she has to take up numerous roles and gain skills she otherwise would never have developed. In doing this she learns more about herself, what she is capable of, and makes an emotional journey. For instance, when a young orphan girl is threatened with the loss of her claim, her only source of income, unless she can procure a full dish of lead, Anna takes it upon herself to assist her. This shows both Anna’s emotional change from ...
Every woman would want to be Lady Marguerite Blakeney, née St Just. Having recently made her debut at the Comedie Francois, Marguerite married Sir Percy Blakeney alias the Scarlet Pimpernel. Charming, clever, beautiful, with childlike eyes and a delicate face, Marguerite captures everyone’s attention. Yet Marguerite is portrayed as a stereotypical woman who is weak, impulsive, and whose identity revolves around her husband.
After Levin and Kitty get married, it marks a turn in Levin’s search for truth. He is forced to go to confession in order to be married and, while he is suspicious towards the religious dogma, the doubts that he expresses to the priest set in motion the chain of thoughts that lead him to his eventual conversion. Levin is an example that no man is an island and his marriage to Kitty is an affirmation of his participation in something bigger than himself—being a part of God’s larger will. While Levin does not necessarily fit into the mold of the Russian Church, just like Tolstoy, that does not discredit his faith or make it any less valuable.
The conflict between good and evil is one of the most common conventional themes in literature. Coping with evil is a fundamental struggle with which all human beings must contend. Sometimes evil comes from within a character, and sometimes other characters are the source of evil; but evil is always something that the characters struggle to overcome. In two Russian novels, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita, men and women cope with their problems differently. Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment and the Master in The Master and Margarita can not cope and fall apart, whereas Sonya in Crime and Punishment and Margarita in The Master and Margarita, not only cope but pull the men out of their suffering.
“I am not proud, but I am happy; and happiness blinds, I think, more than pride.” The Count of Monte Cristo is a novel written by Alexander Dumas that tells the story of Edmond Dante a 19 year old sailor. The story begins with Edmond arriving into port with the news that he will become a captain of a ship, he is also engaged to a beautiful woman named Mercedes, Edmond is very well liked and has faced success early in life this causes jealousy between Edmond and three other men Danglars, Fernand Mondego, and Caderousse. Danglars the treasure of the ship Edmond was just appointed captain of becomes jealous purely for the reason that Edmond has become so successful at a young age. Fernand has become jealous of Edmond because of Fernand is in love with Edmonds fiancé Mercedes. Caderousse, Edmonds neighbor, is jealous of Edmond because of the fact that Edmond is so much luckier than Caderousse. Together these three men, Danglars Fernand and Caderousse, make a letter accusing Edmond of the act of treason. Edmond is in fact carrying a letter for the recently deceased captain of the ship to give to a group of Bonapartist in Paris so even though Edmond himself is not a Bonapartist, the task is still enough for him to be tried for treason. The prosecutor, Villefort sees through Danglars, Fernand and caderousse’s plan and decides not to send Edmond to Jail until Edmond reveals the name of the intended recipient who is Villerfort’s father. Not wanting to jeopardize his own career Villerfort sends Edmond to jail for treason. While in jail Edmond begins to think about suicide and falls into a depression. Edmond then begins planning his way to get revenge on the men who wronged him beginning with his plot to escape jail. Edmond Dante begins as a...
Natasha and her father are the main focus of Nabokov’s story. The story takes place in a mundane city in Europe. Natasha’s father and Baron Wolfe, dread their new lives in the foreign city they are forced into. Natasha’s father is also very sick and is dying. There is a stark contrast between Natasha and her father, Khrenov, because the father adamantly believes that he is near death, while Natasha seems to deny that fact that her father’s condition is getting worse. Specifically, on the night Khrenov has the vision of the gun barrel pointed at him, Khrenov has a rising fever and he is incoherent. Though the next day, Natasha tells Wolfe that “Father is much better today,” (Nabokov2 3). Khrenov feels the opposite way and is adamant that his
... destroy and reinstate the bonds of family and Russian nationalism. Turgenev explores hoe this generational divide interacts with the division among classes and how the powers of the aristocracy affects the younger generation and feminine identity. Throught these interactions the power of love as redemption is seen in the relationship between Arkady and Katya as well as Anna and Bazarov. The women in Fathers and Sons symbolize the diversity found within the same class and generational margins these women challenge the men they encounter and cease power over their relationships. The struggle for power, between the sexes is dependent upon the roles and social standings of the perspective character. The female characters whether aristocratic or dependent, “mothers” or “daughters” find power in their gender and utilize their womanly intellect to find eventual resolve.
In conclusion, the short story deals and addresses the conflicts one might face as they join into the joys of marriage. Marriage as it is know in today's society is professed to be filled with happiness, romance and perfection. Kate Chopin uses this short story to show that even though entering into the institution of marriage is great. After the newness of romance is gone and the harsh reality of losing your identity settles, your life will now revolve around the imposition and care of another.
Anna plays the role of the classic submissive female married to David's classic chauvinist male. "Wanting to remain attractive to her husband, Anna attempts to conform to the eroticized and commodified images of women promulgated in the mass culture" (Bouson 44). Although the novel is set during the 1970"s, the decade of one of the great feminist movements in our history, Anna remains a woman who maintains herself for her husbands benefit. In a critical scene in the novel, the narrator sees Anna applying makeup. When she (the narrator) tells her that it is unnecessary where they are Anna says "He doesn't like to see me without it," and then quickly adds, "He doesn't know I wear it" (41).
The story “The Darling” by Anton Chekhov, illustrates a woman that is lonely, insecure, and lacking wholeness of oneself without a man in her life. This woman, Olenka, nicknamed “Darling” is compassionate, gentle and sentimental. Olenka is portrayed for being conventional, a woman who is reliant, diligent, and idea less. Although, this story portrays that this woman, known as the Darling needs some sort of male to be emotionally dependant upon, it is as if she is a black widow, she is able to win affection, but without respect. Only able to find happiness through the refection of the beliefs of her lovers, she never evolves within the story.
Then novel War and Peace was written by a famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy in 1865. The novel describes the war with Napoleon in which many countries were involved such as Russia, Austrian, Prussia, Spain, Sweden, and Britain. The novel mainly focuses on Russia. It reflects the different views and participation in the war of Russian aristocracy and peasants and also shows Tolstoy’s negative viewpoint on the war.
Anna Karenina is a novel by the prominent Russian author Leo Tolstoy. It was published in serial installments between 1873 and 1877. Tolstoy himself claimed that Anna Karenina was his first novel. Despite criticism that the novel was indeed two separate novels, there was much acclaim. Fellow Russian author Dostoevsky hailed it as “a flawless work of art” (En8848.com.cn).