tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1917722747536655397.post7249482020116875010..comments2023-08-02T01:48:35.439-07:00Comments on The Grinnell College Russian Literature Blog: Forms of LifeKelly Heroldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484703304084014289noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1917722747536655397.post-13877463865959683942014-04-24T15:16:57.100-07:002014-04-24T15:16:57.100-07:00I definitely agree that Tolstoy seems to be advoca...I definitely agree that Tolstoy seems to be advocating, or at least privileging, a life resembling Levin's. I think that your expression "Tolstoy's protection of Levin" captures this phenomenon especially well; Tolstoy protects Levin from the reader's dislike, for the most part, it seems like. Now, though, I kind of question the notion of a "real life." Is Tolstoy really setting up Levin as leading an objectively more meaningful life than, say, Anna? And what about Dolly--certainly, she is one of the most morally upright, long-suffering characters in the novel; I'm not sure that Tolstoy would believe that Dolly's life is objectively "less meaningful" than Levin's. Perhaps Levin's life is the most "real" in the sense that, for someone who, like Tolstoy or Levin, is tormented by existential worries, Levin's life would seem more "real". But I'm not sure, now, that we can really pick out one way of life as objectively "better" within the framework of the novel.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898380804834562186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1917722747536655397.post-36730282870524531332014-04-22T22:00:45.699-07:002014-04-22T22:00:45.699-07:00Well now we can also consider this in light of Ann...Well now we can also consider this in light of Anna's death. I think you're right in pointing to Levin as what we ought to consider the model for life. I think what makes this very true is Tolstoy's protection of Levin. I do not believe I can recall a single instance of anger or dislike towards Levin. With other characters, such as Anna, Karenin, Vronksy, Kitty, and Stiva, I'm constantly fluctuating between love and hate. But I consistently like Levin. Even his struggles are admirable and forgivable. If I was forced to live the life of one of the characters in this novel, I'm confident I would be the happiest as Levin. I think Tolstoy purposefully shaped these feelings in me. That's why I agree that Levin is what Tolstoy considers a "real life."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08143603285595156774noreply@blogger.com