Ana Karenina [Book Review] ESP/ENG
Cover designed by me in canva editor
Today I am very pleased to be able to share with you my impressions about a book I always wanted to read until I finally had the opportunity. It is about Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, a classic novel that caused a bit of controversy due to its content, which today is not at all impressive, but in 1877 when it was published, the subject of infidelity or divorce was a huge taboo.
Hoy estoy muy complacida de poder compartir con ustedes mis impresiones acerca de un libro que siempre quise leer hasta que finalmente tuve la oportunidad, se trata de Ana Karenina de Tolstói, una novela clásica que causó un poco de controversia debido a su contenido, el cuál hoy en día no tiene nada de impresionante pero en 1877 cuando fue publicada, el tema de la infidelidad o el divorcio era un enorme tabú.
Overview/Resumen
Anna Karenina is a young aristocrat, married to Count Karenin, and both lived a quiet life in St. Petersburg, suddenly Anna receives the news that her brother is about to divorce for having been unfaithful to his wife, so Anna travels to Moscow hoping to convince her sister-in-law to forgive his infidelity, and thus avoid the divorce that in those years was a catastrophe. But when Anna is traveling on the train, she meets Count Vronsky who is impressed by her beauty. Upon arriving in Moscow she manages to avoid her brother's divorce, but the constant encounters with Vronsky and his flirtations make her lose her way and get carried away by that sudden passion, and paradoxically although she avoided the divorce of her brother and her sister-in-law she cannot avoid the collapse of her own marriage which collapses before the interference of Vronsky, so she abandons Karenin and moves with her lover far from St. Petersburg, but time or perhaps the judgments of society, coupled with the new ambitions of Count Vronsky were killing the passion and the magic that seemed to exist between them, something that Anna simply could not bear and led her to a dark end.
Ana Karenina es una joven aristócrata, casada con el conde Karenin, y ambos vivían una vida tranquila en San Petersburgo, de pronto Ana recibe la noticia de que su hermano está a punto de divorciarse por haberle sido infiel a su esposa, así que Ana viaja a Moscú con la esperanza de convencer a su cuñada de perdonar la infidelidad, y con esto evitar el divorcio que en aquellos años era una catástrofe. Pero cuando Ana va viajando en el tren conoce al conde Vronsky quien queda impresionado por su belleza. Al llegar a Moscú ella logra evitar el divorcio de su hermano, pero los constantes encuentros con Vronsky y sus galanteos hacen que ella pierda su propio rumbo y se deje llevar por esa pasión repentina, y paradójicamente aunque evitó el divorcio de su hermano y su cuñada no puede evitar el derrumbe de su propio matrimonio que colapsa ante la intromisión de Vronsky, así que ella abandona a Karenin y se muda con su amante lejos de San Petersburgo, pero el tiempo o tal vez los juicios de la sociedad, aunado a las nuevas ambiciones del conde Vronsky fueron matando la pasión y la magia que parecía haber entre ambos, algo que Ana simplemente no soportó y la condujo a un oscuro final.
My Opinion/Mi Opinión
This novel is divided into eight parts, but each and every one of them has that typical charm of novels written in the 19th century, with a rich narrative full of rhetoric and exquisite language, the descriptions of the characters and landscapes reveal Tolstoy's skill as a writer, but the most important thing in all this is that the novel allows us to glimpse an inescapable reality, the unhappiness that often arose because of arranged marriages, couples ended up getting used to each other's company, but this did not guarantee love, nor trust, much less fidelity, although the constant implacable judgments of that society that pointed out and judged were what kept them anchored to an empty life, full of unhappiness but in apparent stability.
Esta novela está dividida en ocho partes, pero todas y cada una de ellas tiene ese encanto típico de las novelas escritas en el siglo XIX, con una narrativa riquísima llena de retóricas y un lenguaje exquisito, las descripciones de los personajes y paisajes dejan ver la habilidad de Tolstói como escritor, pero lo más importante en todo esto es que la novela permite entrever una realidad ineludible, la infelicidad que a menudo se suscitaba por causa de matrimonios arreglados, las parejas terminaban acostumbrándose a la compañía, pero esto no garantizaba el amor, ni la confianza y mucho menos la fidelidad, aunque los constantes juicios implacables de esa sociedad que señalaba y juzgaba eran los que los mantenían anclados a una vida vacía, llena de infelicidad pero en una aparente estabilidad.
I think this play explores many important themes like family, society, and divorce, but especially the role of women in society, what was expected of them. Why were judgments always harsher against adulterous women than against unfaithful men? When Anna's brother committed infidelity and put her marriage at risk, of course there was gossip, but when Anna left her own husband, I think the judgments were worse. In addition to that, there's the change in Vronsky's behavior. Let's see, I'm not going to justify Anna, after all she acted hypocritically by defending her brother's marriage while ending her own, but once Vronsky managed to have her he began to act selfishly, I feel that there was a lack of support, he ignored the red flags that were beginning to eat away at and deteriorate Anna, he only saw her complaints, her delusions, her morbid jealousy, but he did not delve into what was really happening to her, the judgments of society, the isolation, the loneliness, his indifference, everything contributed to the mental deterioration of the protagonist and led her to commit the madness that she committed.
Pienso que esta obra explora muchos temas importantes como la familia, la sociedad y el divorcio, pero sobre todo el rol de la mujer ante la sociedad, que era lo que se esperaba de ellas, ¿Por qué los juicios siempre eran más duros contra las mujeres adulteras que con los hombres infieles? Cuando el hermano de Ana cometió la infidelidad y puso en riesgo su matrimonio, por supuesto que hubo habladurías, pero cuando Ana abandonó a su propio marido pienso que los juicios fueron peores, además de eso está el cambio de conducta de Vronsky 😒. A ver, no voy a justificar a Ana, después de todo actuó de forma hipócrita al defender el matrimonio de su hermano mientras terminaba con el suyo, pero una vez que Vronsky logró tenerla comenzó a actuar de manera egoísta, siento que faltó apoyo, él ignoró las banderas rojas que comenzaban a carcomer y a deteriorar a Ana, él solo vio sus quejas, sus delirios, sus celos enfermizos, pero no profundizó en lo que realmente ocurría con ella, los juicios de la sociedad, el aislamiento, la soledad, la indiferencia de él, todo fue contribuyendo al deterioro mental de la protagonista y la condujeron a cometer la locura que cometió.
The novel sometimes takes place in the opulent surroundings of the Russian aristocracy, but through the story of Konstantin Levin (the landowner) the contrast with the previous story is evident, he does not seek opulence or luxuries and much less does he intend to escape from his marriage, he is only in search of the happiness of his rural life and a genuine purpose and family life.
La novela transcurre en ocasiones en el entorno opulento de la aristocracia rusa, pero a través de la historia de Konstantín Levin (el terrateniente de) se evidencia el contraste con la historia anterior, él no busca la opulencia, ni los lujos y mucho menos pretende huir de su matrimonio, él solo está en busca de la felicidad de su vida rural y de un propósito genuino y la vida familiar.
In short, it's one of those intense novels that keeps you on the edge of your seat, attentive to every scene. It's a detailed and complex portrait that reflects 19th-century Russian society, its customs, interests, and ways of thinking and reacting to life's conflicts. Thank you very much for letting me share my thoughts with you; I hope you'll read it as soon as you have the opportunity.
En fin, es una novela de esas intensas que te mantienen en vilo, atentas a cada escena, es un retrato detallado y complejo que refleja la sociedad rusa del siglo XIX, sus costumbres, intereses y formas de pensar o reaccionar ante los conflictos de la vida. Muchas gracias por dejarme compartir con ustedes mi opinión, espero que puedan leerla en cuanto tengan la oportunidad.
Imagen diseñada por mi en el editor de Canva.
I've heard about this novel before as it is one of Tolstoy's famous novels. But, first time seeing a review for it around here..
Nice pick..
Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it. It's a very stylish novel that takes you back to that era in your mind, but at the same time invites you to reflect. .
Just reading your summary and your review has given me an idea of why it's such a fantastic classic. I can't wait to read it! I haven't read it, but it's always been on my to-read list because I know it's a literary must-read.
I thought your analysis was incredibly insightful, especially regarding how society judged Anna so unequally compared to her brother. I think it's brilliant that the novel explores this and contrasts it with Levin's simpler, more genuine life. You've definitely convinced me to take it off my list soon. Thanks for sharing your detailed review!
I'm so glad you liked it. It's one of Tolstoi's most famous novels. It invites you to reflect on family, society, and prejudice against women, which can have a profound impact on the psyche.