Trading Salvation for Personal Gratification in Anna Karenina Essay

Trading Salvation for Personal Gratification in Anna K arenina The epigraph of Anna Karenina Vengeance is tap I will repay, saith the Lord, implies that judgment is a theological entitlement (Romans, 1219). Tolstoy uses twain affable and moral issues to illustrate his characters attitudes towards religion. For Oblonsky, Vronsky, and Karenin, religious values are secondary. Their lives are devoted to establishing a social position and monetary gain. Levin finds salvation and comfort because they learn to live for something beyond themselves and devote their lives to spreading the goodness of the Lord. corresponding Levin, Anna responds to her emotional instincts, but she is hindered by societys judgment. Anna distances herself from salvation by seeking notwithstanding personal gratification in her love affair. Oblonsky values his indulgent social life and his occupation above all else. He lies in straight off contrast to Levin, who focuses not on the relentless pursuit of plea sure, but takes delight in his work and devotes himself to his loved ones. Stiva finds meaning in life yet from his personal interactions, although he often ignores commitments to his wife and children. Religion is just some other social institution, and he has no relationship with theology Oblonsky could not raise standing through even a short church serve without his feet hurting, and could not understand the point of all those terrible, highfalutin words most the other world when it would be very gay to live in this one too (7). Likewise, Vronsky is totally dedicated to his military career and his side as a high society player. He pursues Kitty with no intention of marrying her he deserts her the moment he lays eyes on Anna. Vronsky seems ... ...piness with the man she loves. She refuses to get a divorce because she does not want to compromise her sons future. Her character deteriorates when her only goal in life is to keep Vronsky in love with her. Levin is saved when he learns to live for something beyond himself Anna moves away from God when she focuses only on keeping the interest of her lover. She tells Dolly that she has no plans for more children because she fears that her pregnancy will make Vronsky disenchanted with her. Annas self-assertion leads her to abandon credit in God, in goodness as the sole purpose of man and death is the only way for her to escape the world that she sees as full(a) of hate (849). Her last words are, Lord, forgive me for everything (816). Works CitedTolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina, trans. Constance Garnett (New York The Modern Library, 1993).