The New Classics?

[MikeWaters]

No doubt, Levin reminds SU of his own father.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by creekster

I would much rather be Levin, if forced to choose. But Levin would be a little stiff to hang around, it hink.

In a sense Oblonsky was extremely self-aware. Just as DDD noted the same thing about Tucker Max.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

No doubt, Levin reminds SU of his own father.

I think if we matched characters with CG personalities, Waters would be Levin, DDD Oblsonsky, Levin the crazy lady with the Frenchman who told Anna's husband not to let Anna have custody of her son, and I would be a conflation of Vronsky and Anna. If there were a kindly wise abbot like in TBK I'd give that role to Creekster.

[Levin]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

In a sense Oblonsky was extremely self-aware. Just as DDD noted the same thing about Tucker Max.

Oblonsky had fits of self-awareness, but that's what made him even more unappealing -- he quickly closed the curtain so he could return to his women, his food, and his cards.

[Flystripper]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Levin was the least likeable character in the novel. Totally full of himself, pious, judgmental, blind to the plight of his serfs and his wife, impractical, a latent socialist living off the fat of the land, lacking in self-awareness. He's probably the reason I much prefer several other Tolstoy novels. Oblonsky would be a lot more fun to go have a vodka with or shoot some birds with, I know that much.

If you are talking Russian literature I would take The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov over any of Tolstoy's stuff but that is probably just me.

[Levin]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I think if we matched characters with CG personalities, Waters would be Levin, DDD Oblsonsky, Levin the crazy lady with the Frenchman who told Anna's husband not to let Anna have custody of her son, and I would be a conflation of Vronsky and Anna. If there were a kindly wise abbot like in TBK I'd give that role to Creekster.

This is truly one of the most hilarious posts I've ever read on CG.

SU fancies himself a cross of Anna and Vronsky --- Vronsky the strong, handsome lover who slowly begins to feel more and more trapped until he wants out, but he can't; they've gone too far; he becomes more and more miserable; runs away; becomes a superficial artisit to fill a void; still faithful to the point of misery; wants to die; his only escape is Anna's suicide.

Anna --- remarkably beautiful and delicate, but with an unmistakable inner strength and confidence; marries for security; flirts despite herself; wrecks her family, and abandons her son, in the pursuit of a burning passion; is the first of the lovers to suffer the insecurity that comes from requiring each other to give up so much (she her family, he his social life and career); the insecurity begins to eat at her; does Vronsky still love her? Does he wish they'd never met? She feels guilt about her son; is disgusted when her husband forgives her; she does not want to be forgiven; her relationship with Vronsky can no longer survive under the weight of what they've given up; she throws herself in front of a train.

SU, why do you think you're a cross between Vronsky and Anna?

Adieu.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Levin

Oblonsky had fits of self-awareness, but that's what made him even more unappealing -- he quickly closed the curtain so he could return to his women, his food, and his cards.

This is very judgmental.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Levin

This is truly one of the most hilarious posts I've ever read on CG.

SU fancies himself a cross of Anna and Vronsky --- Vronsky the strong, handsome lover who slowly begins to feel more and more trapped until he wants out, but he can't; they've gone too far; he becomes more and more miserable; runs away; becomes a superficial artisit to fill a void; still faithful to the point of misery; wants to die; his only escape is Anna's suicide.

Anna --- remarkably beautiful and delicate, but with an unmistakable inner strength and confidence; marries for security; flirts despite herself; wrecks her family, and abandons her son, in the pursuit of a burning passion; is the first of the lovers to suffer the insecurity that comes from requiring each other to give up so much (she her family, he his social life and career); the insecurity begins to eat at her; does Vronsky still love her? Does he wish they'd never met? She feels guilt about her son; is disgusted when her husband forgives her; she does not want to be forgiven; her relationship with Vronsky can no longer survive under the weight of what they've given up; she throws herself in front of a train.

SU, why do you think you're a cross between Vronsky and Anna?

Adieu.

They were cast out, isolated from the insular, self-satisfied, petty and hypocritical society into which they were born.

[Levin]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

This is very judgmental.

But Levin never thought it. Levin just wondered how he could be as happy as Stepan.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

They were cast out, isolated from the insular, self-satisfied, petty and hypocritical society into which they were born.

By their own selfish (and superficial) decisions, albeit driven by feelings they thought were right but which ultimately led to unhappiness.