Samantha Souza

Anna Karenina
Margaret Birns
3 May 2009
Paper #2
Love vs. Social Acceptance
Tolstoy increasingly examines the issue of both romantic love and
societal disapproval. Anna, in choosing to love Vronsky, loses her
good namewhich is of greater importance, the social
acceptance she once enjoyed or her passionate attachment to
her new lover? Is Tolstoy suggesting she made a spectacular
mistake in choosing romantic love? Or is her society at fault for
failing to recognize the value in her love for Vronsky? Examine
societys attitude to Anna, the way Annas love for Vronsky, while
isolating her from her society, is also part of her modern defiance
of her societys control over her; discuss how her refusal of social
control, and societys consequent rejection of her affects her
relationship with Vronsky and her own identity. You might also
discuss what kind of social foundation Anna and Vronsky would
prefer--that is, what kind of society would have to be brought
about for Anna and Vronsky to be truly happy.
It is clear in Anna Karenina that there is a choice each
character has to make between fulfilling their innate desires,
whether good or illicit, and maintaining a level of decorum in
society. The pressure to fulfill these expectations of society was
much greater in Russia at that time, and it played a key role in
the way one lived their life. The characters in Anna Karenina may
have varying individual stories, but what binds them all together
is that they are all, at one point or another, forced to make the
decision between their need to be a part of a social context and

the freedom to be able to live out their desires and passions.

Even those characters who Tolstoy deemed to be pious and
winning must wrestle with their own emotions. It is not only Anna
and Vronsky who much make the decision to defy social
conventions, but Dolly, Kitty, Karenin and Levin must as well, in
different contexts.
For example, Kitty, who, as a princesss daughter, thought
Vronsky would make the picture perfect husband, and would fit in
perfectly with her high society family. But it soon becomes clear
that Kitty does not belong in this world anyhow. Even though
Vronsky rejected Kitty, it seemed to be a blessing in disguise,
forcing Kitty to grow up, and consider what she really wants in a
partner. Even though her mother initially does not wish for her
daughter to marry someone like Levin (who is a misfit, and
doesnt have a clear, definite role in the social circle), it becomes
clear to both the reader as well as to Kitty herself, that she and
Levin are a perfect match. They are two social misfits who fit
perfectly together, who, united, become stronger, despite what
society originally projected.
Dolly goes through a different test. She completely forgoes
any thought of what society thinks, and visits Anna after she has

been banished from society. It is there that Dolly contemplates

what life would be like living for oneself. She momentarily
considers what it would be like to have the freedom to love
recklessly, abandoning all thoughts of conventional society. Dolly
soon takes off the goggles that were making her blind to the
hardships of such a lifestyle. She realizes what social challenges
it has brought upon Anna (the loss of her son, for one), and the
entire appeal of that type of lifestyle becomes null and void to
Dolly. It is clear up to this point that such a life does not suit
Dollys personality. She is the ultimate mother, living selflessly for
her family, including her adulterous husband. So, we learn, it is
not society forcing Dolly to be this mother-figure, but rather the
sense of joy and pride she feels from such a role.
Levin also deals with such hardships. After his rejection from
Kitty, he decides to withdraw from society all together and focus
on his life in the country. Levin could have seriously contemplated
the social downfalls that could result from such a dramatic exit
from society, but he instead chooses to better himself, regardless
of what society thinks. This only further proves that he and Kitty
are a perfect match. They both respectively could not care less
what society thinks of their respective choices, and instead move

forward with what they feel is the best for them. Kitty and Levin
are the purest of heart out of all Tolstoys characters in Anna
Karenina, and it is clear that the author values such ways of
thinking and behaving, by making them the most successful
couple in the end.
I feel in this day and age, Annas life would have lead down
a much more successful road. It is unfortunate that society in
Russia at the time accepts an affair or two or even many, but
finds falling in love to be the ultimate crime, not only against
ones spouse, but a crime against the ways of society and God
himself. What is considered honorable is in fact immoral, and vice
versa. It seems that whenever someone, including Anna or
Vronsky, try to do something to make an admittedly wrong deed
right (such as divorcing and making the relationship between
them legitimate), they are met with scorn and wagging fingers. In
the same vein, whenever one gives into their immoral desires but
does so under social context, they are praised and rewarded. It
seems that the society in which everyone is trying to please is, in
fact, completely and utterly immoral, base, corrupt, and
hypocritical. Those who value religion, such as the Countess, are
manipulative and act ungodly. Its a topsy-turvey world! And even

so, it kills Anna to not be involved in it. This is one of the reason
why she simultaneously loves Vronsky and is jealous of him. As
the man in this affair, he can move freely in society while she is
banished as the woman.
Tolstoy clearly feels that passion and carnal desire is to be
avoided, but not for societys sake. It should be avoided to
preserve the semblance of ones life. It is a destroyer of all that is
good and honest in Tolstoys eyes. However, Levins passion for
the Lord is championed by Tolstoy. It is clear then that those who
are pure of heart and selfless will have a flourishing life, and
those who arent shall perish in Tolstoys eyes.
Whilst reading, I felt sorry for Anna, continuously wishing
she lived in this current era, where she could live her life, divorce,
keep her son, and be happy with Vronsky, moving freely in
society. I think Anna suffers from being ahead of her time, wishing
and hoping that society could see that she wants to legitimize her
love for Vronsky, and that she does not desire any discourse with
Alexei Karenin or society itself. I dont think Anna really sat down
and contemplated whether or not her role in society was more
important than her relationship with Vronsky. I think she just
assumed that by making it right, it wouldnt matter. In her mind,

she should not have to make such a choice. Society should

understand that, in the simplest terms, Anna never loved Alexei
Karenin. Because of this, she was susceptible to falling in love
with someone eventually, and when she did, what was she to do?
Ignore love? Ignore her heart? Of course not! So instead, she
admits her affair to her husband, hoping for a divorce, hoping for
some semblance of her former life, while maintaining an
extremely strong relationship with her son. But because Karenin
refuses a divorce , and puts the opinion of society first, and
ignores what would be best for his entire family, that becomes an
impossibility. Unfortunately, Alexei Karenin and society made it
impossible for her to do such a thing. She demonstrates this by
going to the Opera against Vronskys advice. She doesnt see any
reason to be ashamed or guilty. In fact, if she acted ashamed, or
humiliated, she would only be proving society correct.
I believe that Annas frustrations with societys reaction to
her relationship with Vronsky only push her further into a state of
denial and confusion. She only sees what is pure in her
relationship, and she is well meaning in her own mind. Regardless
of whether or not she is correct, in her mind, she has done
everything by the book to legitimize herself and her love.

At some point in the novel, each of the key characters are

forced to question their feelings about society, and whether or
not its opinion is more important than their personal happiness.
Some deem it so, such as Karenin, and eventually Vronsky. Some
chose to make themselves happy, and damn what society thinks,
such as Anna, Levin, Kitty, and Dolly. For some it works out, such
as Dolly, Levin, and Kitty. For the others, their choices ruin their
lives. No matter how one looks at it, society rules our lives, and it
is proven though Tolstoys Anna Karenina.