The Role of Family and Duty in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877)

The Role of Family and Duty in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877)

Expanding the Roles:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is a classic Russian novel that explores the lives of aristocratic families in 19th-century Russia, particularly focusing on the affair between Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky. The novel delves deeply into themes of love, family, duty, and social expectations. For literature students, this book offers profound insights into how individuals are shaped by their roles within the family and society, and the tragic consequences of defying these roles.

• Family and Social Duty:
  Anna’s struggle between her passion for Vronsky and her duty to her husband, Alexei Alexandrovich, and son, Sergey, is central to the novel. Students can explore how Tolstoy examines the tension between personal desire and societal expectations, particularly for women in the 19th century.

• The Consequences of Defying Social Expectations:
  The novel explores the consequences of Anna’s defiance of social conventions, both in terms of her personal relationships and her position within Russian society. Literature students can analyze how Tolstoy portrays the devastating effects of breaking societal and familial norms, especially for women.

What We Learn:
Anna Karenina offers literature students a rich exploration of the complex relationship between love, duty, and societal expectations. The novel examines the personal and social consequences of defying these roles, particularly in the context of the Russian aristocracy.