Saturday, March 3, 2012

Running on Empty?

As we have discussed extensively in class thus far, Tolstoy employs symbolism throughout Anna Karenina. One instance of this symbolism that particularly resonates with me is Tolstoy's portrayal of Anna as a horse - an animal to be controlled by man and literally pushed to the brink. What I find so interesting about this particular symbolic representation is that Tolstoy uses it to position the reader squarely in Anna's camp, even though she is clearly guilty of adultery.

Tolstoy accomplishes this by using the language of horse racing and domination. He writes that Vronsky's horse Frou-Frou "was drawing on her last reserve," but that Vronsky believes she has "more than enough for the last five hundred yards" (199). Because Vronsky pushes Frou-Frou too hard, he ends up having "broken her back" (199). As the reader progresses further into the novel, it becomes clear that this language of horse racing and domination is equally applicable to Anna's situation. In describing Anna's observation of the race, Tolstoy draws attention to how Anna "watched [Vronsky] going up to his horse and mounting her," very forceful language.

Though less explicit, Karenin ultimately decides to treat Anna like Vronsky treats his horse - as an object. Tolstoy describes how Karenin "became convinced that there was only one solution [to Anna's infidelity]: to keep her with him, concealing what had happened from society, and taking all possible measures to stop their affair and above all ... to punish her" - to push Anna to the brink (282). This language of horse racing and domination ominously suggests that as the novel continues to unfold, Anna is going to be pushed to draw on her last reserve. All the while, this language increases the reader's sympathy for Anna's situation, even though she is the guilty party.

9 comments:

  1. Interesting thoughts!
    I've also been thinking something ominous is coming for Anna.

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  2. Very interesting. While I don't know if this was intentional on Tolstoy's part, it certainly does an excellent job of placing the reader on Anna's side, as you said.

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  3. Awesome point—the images of driving the horse to death also reminded me of Raskolnikov's dream!

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  4. I think this is an interesting point. I agree that it feels like Anna is being trapped by Karenin and this makes the reader feel sympathy for Anna. What do you think this says about Tolstoy's view on adultery?

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    1. That's an interesting question. I'm not entirely sure. It seems as though Tolstoy is tacitly approving of adultery, at least to the extent that he is able to satirize it. Perhaps this is a product of the changing mores of society? I'd be interested to know if Tolstoy's views changed with time, especially as his religious zeal increased.

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  5. This is really interesting idea, actually I just realized how Tolstoy brings animal images into the novel and personofies them. For example, in the hunting episode with Levin and his dog, Laska, Tolstoy highlights the hunter’s reliance on his dog’s keen sense of smell. But in describing the scene from the dog’s perspective, he also demonstrates Laska’s ability to rationalize.

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    1. I also really enjoyed that scene with the dog as the narrator, as well as when Tolstoy does it again in part six. It seems as though Tolstoy employs Laska as a bit of a reality check on the ridiculous nature of the hunt.

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  6. As I read the race passage, I felt some sort of connection between the horse and Anna, but I guess everything didn't really "click" in my head. As I read this post and the comments, I had an ominous feeling, that Vronsky will ultimately be the cause of Anna's physical collapse - perhaps death.

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    1. Now that we've read quite a bit further in the novel, I get the sense that our earlier predictions are coming true. Anna seems to be in a bad state - she can't stand to be with Vronsky and she can't stand it when he goes away. And the morphine addiction! That was a complete shock to me, as it seems taboo for the late nineteenth century.

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