The Role of Love and Morality in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877)

Expanding the Roles:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is a sweeping novel that explores the complexities of love, marriage, and morality. The story focuses on Anna Karenina’s affair with Count Vronsky and the resulting turmoil in her life. The novel examines the impact of love on personal and social identity, as well as the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. For literature students, Anna Karenina offers a nuanced exploration of the moral complexities of human relationships.

• Love and Morality:
  Anna’s passionate love affair is at odds with the moral and social norms of her time. Students can explore how Tolstoy uses Anna’s story to examine the consequences of love and the moral dilemmas that arise when personal desires conflict with societal rules.

• Marriage and Social Expectations:
  The novel also critiques the institution of marriage and the rigid social expectations that govern relationships. Literature students can analyze how Tolstoy portrays the tension between personal happiness and the demands of social duty, particularly for women.

What We Learn:
Anna Karenina offers literature students valuable insights into the moral complexities of love, marriage, and social expectations. The novel explores the consequences of following one’s desires in a society that imposes strict moral codes, particularly for women.