Comparing Heroines in Anna Karenina and War and Peace

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Women of the nineteenth century represented the image of the real woman. Their beauty, charm, and rich spiritual world were the inspiration of the poetical muse in all times. Many great writers and poets reflected the images of women in their works. The image of Anna Karenina, the main character of the novel, according to Tolstoy represents both a woman, who lost herself. She stepped away from her sacred duties of being a mother and a wife, but she does not have another choice. Tolstoy tries to justify the behavior of his heroine, but at the same time her tragical destiny appears to be unavoidable.

Some very poetic motives of “War and Peace” develop in the character of Anna Karenina. In particular reflects the image of Natasha Rostova. Comparing "War and peace" with "Anna Karenina," Tolstoy has noticed that in the first novel he loved thought of society and in the second the thought of a family. The world of good and beauty in "Anna Karenina" intertwines with the world of evil much more closely than in "War and peace." Anna appears in the novel as a woman both searching for and giving love. In her quest for happiness many evil forces stand in her way. There are times when it might seem that happiness is possible for Anna. However, evil forces take over in the end and eventually Anna is lead to her tragic end. Anna's destiny is full of deep dramatic nature, and its elements are present throughout the novel.

Tolstoy shows Anna as an equally loving mother and wife. Yet soon she meets Vronsky, and another element is added to her character. Anna’s romantic love and the love towards her child are the two great feelings that start out and remain forever separate for her. With Vronsky she presents herself as a lover, and with Karenin ...

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...the society and decides to move away, to be and meet different people.

Russian literature has always differed in its depth of the ideological maintenance, in many literary works writes mainly try to resolve questions of the meaning of life and how it humanely relate to people with its truth of the image. Russian writers try to show the best images of women that can be related to real women in life. None of the other world literature we can see such fine and pure women as we can see in Russian literature. Russian writers show true loving heart and unique beauty in the women. Only in Russian literature writers addresses so much attention to the image of private world and difficult experiences of women’s soul. Since the twelve’s century, Russian literature shows the image of the Russian heroic women who has generous heart, ardent soul and is ready for great feats.

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