Transcription
Welcome to the channel of those who say "I haven't read it, but I know," Hap Kitap. Don't forget to subscribe and like. We're glad to be here. Today, I'm going to tell you about Anna Karenina. I mean, it's quite an eventful story, I'll tell you from the start. Oh, yes. Anna Karenina. I always hear the name, but I honestly don't know what it's about. I'm curious now. Let's start. Alright. The story begins like this. It takes place in Moscow at first. There's a man named Stipan Arkadiç Oblonski. He's cheerful, good company, and so on. But? But he cheated on his wife, Dolly. All hell breaks loose at home, of course. Dolly is in a terrible state. Oh dear, it started badly, you say. So it begins with infidelity? Exactly. It's a moment of crisis. Everyone is at a loss for what to do. It's at this very moment that Stipan asks for help. From whom? From his sister, Anna Karenina. Anna normally lives in Petersburg. She's married, a respectable woman. At her brother's request, she comes to Moscow. To mediate, you see. Hmm, I see. So the sister steps in to resolve the situation. Well, does she mediate? We'll get to that, but something else happens first. As Anna arrives by train, she meets someone at the station. Count Vronski. A handsome, young officer. Ooo, this must be the critical moment. Absolutely. Vronski is also there to meet his mother, by chance. They lock eyes, and instantly, a, you know, attraction forms between them. A spark literally flies. Wow. Is this love at first sight? Sort of, sort of. Let's say it's at least a very strong attraction. But the interesting part is this. What? This Vronski seems to be interested in someone else around that time. Dolly has a sister. Kitty. A young, sweet girl. Ah, yes. Kitty. She's very fond of Vronski. She's even expecting a marriage proposal from him. Vronski also seems to be courting Kitty at balls and such. But he's not serious. Not really, it seems. Or at least, when he sees Anna, he forgets about Kitty and everyone else all at once. This Kitty issue is important, because. Because? Because there's someone else who is in love with Kitty. Konstantin Levin. A man who is honest, principled, a landowner. He lives in the countryside. He's involved with his farm and so on. Hmm. What does he do? Levin proposes to Kitty. He truly loves the girl. But since Kitty's mind is on Vronski... She rejects him. Exactly. She rejects Levin. It's a great disappointment for Levin, of course. He's very sad. He returns to his village. Ah, poor Levin. The girl he loves has pinned her hopes on someone else. Yes, exactly. Meanwhile, Anna is in Moscow. She's trying to mend things between the Oblonskis on one hand. But on the other hand, she keeps running into Vronski. At balls, at parties. Would Vronski hold back? He's definitely pursuing Anna. Not at all. He's literally not leaving her alone. Even though Anna is a married woman, Vronski is constantly interested in her. He tries to talk to her. The initial attraction between them naturally grows. Things are getting complicated, you say. What does Anna feel? Is she affected too? Wouldn't she be? She is, of course. Then Anna completes her duty and returns to Petersburg, to her home, to her husband. But she can't get Vronski out of her mind. What was her husband like? What was his name? Aleksey Aleksandrovich Karenin. That is, we can say he's the opposite of Vronski. A respectable statesman in a high position. Quite serious, rule-bound, someone who doesn't show his emotions much. Their relationship is already a bit cold and distant. I see. So there's a void in Anna's marriage too. Exactly. As Anna thinks about Vronski, she starts questioning her own marriage and life more. She thinks, "Am I happy?" She realizes the emotional distance between her and Karenin. What is Vronski doing during this time? Does he go to Petersburg after Anna? He does, of course. He goes to Petersburg after Anna, and their relationship continues secretly there, deepening. They've entered a path from which there's no turning back. Oh dear, oh dear. And then what happens? What happens next is even more complicated. Anna gets pregnant by Vronski. What? Are you serious? I'm very serious. This situation turns everything upside down, of course. Her already shaky marriage, her social standing, everything is in danger. Does her husband find out, Karenin? He finds out at some point, of course. But the real event happens when Anna gives birth. She gives birth to a baby girl, but the birth is very difficult, and Anna becomes very seriously ill. She's literally on her deathbed. Oh my God, is she dying? Let's say she returns from the brink of death. But something very interesting happens while she's on her sickbed. Karenin, her husband, says he forgives both Anna and Vronski. What? How so? He forgives them even though he knows he's been cheated on? Yes, everyone is shocked, of course. It's like a, you know, a divine moment. Karenin seems to show great virtue at that moment. But, but there must be a catch. Once Anna recovers, this situation can't be sustained, of course. I mean, the three of them can't be in the same house. Karenin, perhaps thinking of his own respectability, his place in society, and a bit of his peace... ...allows Anna to go with Vronski, and they discuss the terms of divorce and so on. So he's literally saying, "Go and live with your lover"? Something like that. Of course, this was an incredible situation for that era. Divorce was already a scandal, and then this. Anyway, Anna and Vronski, leaving behind Anna's son with Karenin, Seryozha... ...go to Italy with their newborn daughter, Annie. To get away for a while, to breathe. Are they happy in Italy? For a while, yes. They engage with art and so on, they travel. But then they return to Russia, and that's when they face the bitter truth. Especially Anna. What happens when they return? Society completely ostracizes Anna. She's literally excommunicated. Her old friends don't greet her, she's not invited to parties. She even goes to the opera one day, and her presence literally causes a scandal. Everyone points at her, whispers. It's a very humiliating situation. What about Vronski? How do they treat him? Vronski loses his reputation too, of course, but since he's a man, the situation is a bit different. He can still enter social circles somehow, attend to his business, but he's not ostracized as much as Anna. This double standard destroys Anna. Hmmm, I see. The hypocrisy of the era, then. The woman sacrifices everything, but in the end, she's the one blamed. Exactly. Meanwhile, what do you think is happening on the other side of the story, with Levin and Kitty? Ah, yes, we forgot about them. Levin was rejected. Kitty also couldn't get Vronski's attention. What happened to them? Levin is in his village, struggling with his farm, the peasants, the meaning of life, and so on. Kitty also recovers after a while, gets over her disappointment. Then they meet again. Hmmm, what happens when they meet? Levin realizes that his love for Kitty has never actually ended. Kitty also seems to understand Levin's worth. And they have a very sweet scene. They secretly confess their love to each other by writing on the table with chalk. Oh, how romantic. Then? Then they get married, start living in the countryside, work on the farm, have children. So they find a calmer, more peaceful happiness, it seems. Although Levin still experiences philosophical crises from time to time, he finds balance in his family. How nice. At least someone's luck has turned in the story. What are Anna and Vronsky doing during this time? Are they in the countryside, or in the city? After a while, they also settle in Vronsky's country estate, but things are not going well at all. Anna can't overcome the pain of being ostracized by society. She constantly starts doubting Vronsky's love. Jealousy, you see. And what jealousy. She has terrible crises. Wherever Vronsky goes, whoever he talks to, she causes a scene. Vronski, on the other hand, is trying to return to social life. He participates in elections, attends to farm business, and so on, but... ...Anna's situation wears him down too. They fight constantly. Ugh, ugh. Things have gotten really messy, you say. Yes. To escape this state of mind, to calm herself, Anna starts using morphine on top of it all. Oh dear... Does she become addicted? She goes down that path, unfortunately. Their relationship starts to be completely poisoned. What remains between them is no longer love, but a mixture of addiction, anger, and guilt. Very bad. Where will this lead? We're already approaching the end. One day, they have another huge fight. Anna becomes thoroughly convinced that Vronsky no longer loves her, and even that he's involved with another woman. In complete despair and helplessness. Oh no. She leaves home and goes straight to the train station. While standing there, she remembers the day she first met Vronski. You know, that day at the station, a worker was run over by a train and died. Yes, I remember. You told me at the beginning. It seemed like a bad omen. She remembers that moment. And seeing the approaching train, she throws herself under it. I can't believe it. Really? Is that how it ends? For Anna, yes. She ends her life this way. A very tragic, very shocking end. Wow. I'm so sad now. What a bitter end she had. What happens to Vronski? Or Levin? Does the story end there? The story doesn't quite end there. There's one more chapter, and we see Levin again there. After Anna's death, Vronski is devastated. He goes to war voluntarily. Levin is still searching for the meaning of life. He reads philosophy books, thinks, questions, but can't find a definitive answer. Does he find what he's looking for in the end? It happens like this. One day, he talks to a very simple peasant. And he's impressed by his sincere, unquestioning faith. Then he looks at his own life. He focuses on the love he has for his wife, his child. And he understands that the meaning of life isn't in grand philosophical systems. It's hidden in these simple things, in the people he loves, in the good deeds he does, in sincere faith. So Levin finally finds a kind of peace. Yes, exactly. He finds meaning and peace in his own way. So the story ends by juxtaposing Anna's tragedy with Levin's inner journey and the peace he finds. Wow! It really is a layered and shocking story. Anna's end was very bad, but Levin's situation ended differently, at least. Yes. Two different lives, two different choices, two different ends. Anyway. Anna Karenina is a story like this, in summary. Bless your heart. Now I understand much better. It really is unforgettable.