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Regaining Control in Anna Karenina Essay

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Regaining Control in Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina features significant clusters of scenes, all of which describe notable moments in the development of the novel's major figures. One of the most important clusters is when Anna travels to see Vronsky. On her way her perceptions change; she throws her "searchlight" upon herself. Arriving at the next station she sees the rails and knows what must be done.

Anna has had control over her own life taken away from her, due to the societal limitations on her choices as a woman. She becomes resentful of the society she lives in, and turns that frustration on the unsympathetic Vronsky, who retains his own freedom as well as control over her own happiness. She is too proud and passionate to …show more content…

Anna is not willing to accept a position of meekness, as Dolly does. She is, in her position, expected to stay at home while Vronsky has the freedom of an unmarried man. With the advantage of marriage, Vronsky would be forced to treat her as a wife, as a respectable woman, but as it is, he does not have to. He instead treats her as a mistress -- valuable when entertaining, but potentially a real drag on one's social life. Vronsky believes in the submissive role of women, and his opposition to their having the liberty that he enjoys makes Anna crazy. Vronsky disapproves of high schools for girls and Anna sees this as a slight toward her own occupations (773). Tolstoy plays dumb by saying that this issue "was not close to the heart of either," but in fact, breaking the woman's traditional place what Anna has spent the past few years doing. If Anna had her own education she would not be trapped with bound hands in her present position.

After Anna has swallowed her own opinion for the sake of preserving harmony, Vronsky looks at her "penitnent, meek expression" and perceives that she is "in one of her good moods." (774). A "good" mood is when she assumes the feminine role and takes the blame for everything that is wrong with the relationship. He actually perceives her as being "happier" this way. He cannot seem to understand why a woman would want more than to be

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