Passion In Anna Karenina

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Recommended: The treatment of marriage in Anna Karenina

Friederick Nietzche once described issues in marriage by, “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendships that makes unhappy marriages” which encompasses many of the difference in the relationship of the two main couples in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Through the psychology articles and Tolstoy’s specific diction in Anna Karenina, it is easy to see the power of passion in a relationship, even if it is revitalizing passion, will result in suffering and pain without the vital aspects of communication and understanding, which breeds a stable relationship for growing as a couple. The differences in the relationship between Anna and Vronsky and Levin and Kitty are more than just their locations, but the way each relationship grows.
Anna Karenina is the product of an arranged marriage to an older man (by twenty years), whom she never truly loved. Anna’s marriage to Karenin was monotonous, planned, and lacked romance. Karenin provided a predictable relationship by planning all aspects of their life as methodically as possible from day to day activities to even intimacy. This strict scheduling offered little room for variance, which includes passion. According to the Infidelity Article, Anna and Karenin were susceptible to infidelity since they lacked intimacy, companionship, security, and emotional involvement, “Because these five needs are commonly fulfilled as parts of a romantic relationship, it seems likely that a relative lack of fulfillment in any of these areas could lead to problems in the relationship such as a greater perceived susceptibility to infidelity. That is, if the primary relationship is unable to fulfill a certain need of an individual, he or she may be somewhat motivated to seek fulfillment of that need thr...

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...live their lives. Tolstoy sophisticatedly demonstrates how unbridled passion and a lack of communication, lack of spirituality, lies, deception and abundance of selfishness only lead to pain, suffering and failure. Through Levin and Kitty, Tolstoy displays a sensible, functioning marriage that has the potential to conquer all through maturity, communication, understanding and spirituality. Instead of the drama and seclusion Anna and Vronsky maintain, Levin and Kitty stop to enjoy the small things and focus on the important things as well as the immediate present. Tolstoy utilizes this novel to exemplify that a successful marriage requires facing more than just the sensational moments, it encompasses facing difficult times together through maturity and communication and true contentment is in the capability to enjoy the life you live and the person you live it with.

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