Monday, June 1, 2015

Anna Karenina: Book Review


First of all, Anna Karenina is NOT a love story. I know, right? Kiera Knightly lied to me!

As I read this book, I became increasingly fascinated by Anna. Okay, so the book is called Anna Karenina. Karenina is her married name, which is significant because it shows how she never actually severs ties with her husband. She moves out and lives with her hot lover, but she remains married. After she leaves her husband, people start referring to her by her maiden name but her divorce never technically happens.

That being said, this whole story is about trying to find perfect happiness. This theme is common in Russian literature, as expressed in works by Pushkin, as well as other stories by Tolstoy. Anna just wants to be happy. Who doesn’t? Isn’t a desire for happiness the primary driving force behind all recklessness? Anna certainly seems to think so.

In the beginning of the book, Anna has every reason to be happy. She has power and influence in society, an endless supply of the latest fashions, a beautiful home, a son whom she loves, and adoring crowds of admirers. She is always the belle of the ball, the height of fashion, the queen bee. Her charisma alone could get her anywhere.

But her happiness is incomplete.

Anna’s marriage was purely political. She and her husband aren’t friends, much less loving. They hardly know each other, they just share a home and son. So the question is, if true love is the last thing to make Anna completely happy, then is giving up every other aspect of happiness in her life worth the risk?

Can we be content with true love being the ONLY form of love in our life? Is that enough?
Anna chooses to run away with Vronsky, taking a chance on true love. She leaves behind her son, husband, friends, home, and any right to show her face in society. She is a fallen woman now, deemed unsuitable and disgraceful. Anna creates her own cage, locked in a house with only Vronsky for company.

Wouldn’t that drive you crazy? I mean, they love each other but could anyone be truly content with only their spouse/lover for company?

Anna realizes how much she gave up, and she can’t be happy with her decision. She blames Vronsky for her unhappiness, further poisoning their love. She needs more than him. She needs adoring crowds, attention, parties and social events. Anna needs multiple forms of love, and Vronsky can’t give her that.


So what makes us happy? And is love the only thing we need in order to be completely, fully, perfectly happy? 

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