NAME:KYALO FITALIS

REGISTRATION NUMBER:E35/2015/2020

UNIT NAME:LITERARY AESTHETICS

UNIT CODE:ALT 440

SCHOOL: EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT: LITERATURE LINGUISTICS AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

FACILITATOR:DR. JUSTUS KIBABA MAKOKHA

Leo Tolstoy, the renowned Russian author, wrote a book titled "What Is Art?" in 1897. In this work,
Tolstoy explores his philosophy of art and attempts to define what he considers true and meaningful art.
He argues that art should serve a moral and spiritual purpose, connecting people and promoting a sense
of community. Tolstoy's ideas on art are deeply influenced by his beliefs in the importance of simplicity,
sincerity, and the moral message of art. "Anna Karenina" is one of Tolstoy's famous novels, but it's a
separate work from his philosophical tre

"Anna Karenina" is a classic novel written by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Published in serialized form
between 1873 and 1877, it's considered one of the greatest works of world literature. The novel tells the
story of Anna Karenina, a married woman who becomes embroiled in a passionate and scandalous love
affair with Count Alexei Vronsky. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian society, the novel
explores themes of love, family, morality, and the consequences of societal expectations. It's not only a
gripping narrative but also a profound exploration of the human condition and the consequences of
one's choices.

An instance of theme of morality is shown in Dolly's and stuvas marriage.If Dolly represents what
goodness is, then her husband Stiva represents what evil—most, if not the worst, evil—truly is. Stiva is
immensely charming, and so everyone likes being with him. What’s more, he does not have a shred of
malice. Tolstoy wants us to appreciate that most evil results not from active hostility but from mere
neglect. It is largely negative, an absence, a forgetting. It is caused primarily by what we don’t do. And so
we can easily be responsible for it while thinking well of ourselves. When Stiva forgets to fix up the
country house for Dolly, Tolstoy remarks: “No matter how hard Stepan Arkadyevich tried to be a
concerned father and husband, he never could remember that he had a wife and children.”Stiva is
totally immersed in the pleasures of the moment. When he is with Levin, he encourages Levin’s pursuit
of Kitty with some German verses. Only a few pages later, Stiva encourages Vronsky’s pursuit of Kitty
with the very same verses. In doing so, Stiva is not exactly lying, if by lying we mean telling a conscious
falsehood. It is simply that when he is with Levin, he sincerely sympathizes with Levin, and when he is
with Vronsky, sincerely sympathizes with Vronsky. The dishonesty lies in what he does not do: He does
not check his memory to find the discrepancy. Stiva can sincerely think of himself as truthful because for
him each present moment is entirely discrete. It binds him to nothing. When he sees Dolly’s misery over
his affair, his heart goes out to her, but that will not preclude him from endless future affairs.
Theme of morality is also brought through Anna an her affair with vronsky.She feels terrible guilt for her
affair and the pain it causes her husband. To escape from conscience, Anna practices an elaborate
process of self-deception. . How it is possible both to know something is true and yet to convince
oneself that it is false? Wouldn’t the falsehood be palpable and therefore unbelievable? We are so
familiar with self-deception, and we all practice it so often, that we often forget how perplexing a
phenomenon it is.Because Anna feels guilty for hurting her husband, she persuades herself that he
cannot feel. She knows better and is well aware that although he cannot express his feelings, he
nevertheless experiences them. He suffers horribly from jealousy. But she makes sure not to see his
suffering. Tolstoy tells us that Anna “schooled herself to despise and reproach him.” She maintains of
him that “this is not a human being, this is a machine.”Anna’s pretense breaks down when she thinks
she is dying in childbirth with her illegitimate daughter. Apparently at the point of death, she renounces
all her falsifications and admits to having deliberately altered her impressions of her husband. Before
she realizes Karenin has arrived, she says of him: “He is good, he himself does not know how good he
is….You’re just saying he won’t forgive me because you don’t know him. No one knew him. Only I do,
and it was hard even for me.”

Leo Tolstoy's views on morality are closely aligned with the character Konstantin Levin. Levin serves as a
mouthpiece for Tolstoy's own philosophical and moral beliefs. Tolstoy uses Levin to express his ideas
about a simpler, more agrarian way of life, rooted in the land and the moral values associated with it.

Levin's pursuit of a meaningful and moral life is a central theme in the novel. He seeks to find his place in
the world and grapples with questions about the purpose of life, work, and the nature of morality.
Levin's moral alignment revolves around his commitment to the land, to honest labor, and to living in
harmony with nature. His journey leads him to embrace a more traditional and virtuous way of life,
which aligns with Tolstoy's own moral philosophy.

Tolstoy uses Levin's character to advocate for a moral framework that emphasizes the importance of
family, work, and living in accordance with one's inner principles. This alignment between Tolstoy and
Levin's morality serves as a contrast to characters like Anna Karenina, who defy traditional moral codes,
ultimately highlighting Tolstoy's own moral and philosophical values in the novel.

Anna Karenina's Adultery: Anna's extramarital affair with Count Vronsky challenges the conventional
morality of her society. Her pursuit of love and passion over her marriage and social standing diverges
from the traditional moral codes of 19th-century Russia, leading to her social isolation and eventual
downfall.
In summary, , the relationship between morality and art is a central theme. Tolstoy explores how art can
reflect and influence morality. The character of Anna Karenina herself grapples with societal norms and
moral choices, which are reflected in her relationships and actions. Tolstoy, as an author, also expresses
his views on art and morality, arguing that true art should have a moral purpose and convey ethical
truths. This complex interplay between morality and art in the novel highlights the moral dilemmas and
consequences of the characters' actions and serves as a commentary on the role of art in society.