The Complex Character of Constantine Dimitrich Lev Essays - Film

The Complex Character of Constantine Dimitrich Levin In the novel Anna Karenina , written by Leo Tolstoy, both major and minor characters have played important roles through out the story. One protagonist, Constantine Dimitrich Levin, caught my interest as being a compassionate, moral character. He is a complex character whose direct and indirect characterization highlights a search for balance. Constantine Dimitrich Levin, often called Levin or Constantine, and later Kostya by Kitty, is a farmer in Russia in the eighteenth century. He enjoys his work and avoids the city at all costs. He is madly in love with Princess Shcherbatskaya , normally called Kitty, but she rejects him in hoping that Count Vronsky , a man who has shown great interest in her, will propose marriage. Both are rejected but re unite their feelings and eventually marry. The novel directly depicts Levin as a strongly built, honest worker, which makes him a reasonable role model. Levin dislikes the immoral views of the aristocracy. He enjoys his choice of work in the fields and begins to trust the peasants who assist him in his farming duties. He believes that working outside the cities provide a more noble lifestyle. Levin considers peasants to be more independent that those in urban areas and considers the peasants more morally correct. Levin is indirectly described as a shy man torn apart by his philosophical and religious views. Levin often argues with others and himself on different views of life. Inside, he is torn apart about religion and the meaning of life. Outside, he argues about politics and philosophical views, but does not debate because of his uncertainty of his own views. He often debates with his older half brother Sergius Ivanich Koznyshev about numerous conflicting views. Whenever the two brothers got into disagreements about the peasants, Koznyshov would always convince Levin precisely because he had such definite c onceptions about the peasants. Levin did not have a definite and unchangeable conception, so in these arguments he was always caught contradicting himself . Levin, though having strong views about politics and the peasants, cannot debate with anyone because he possesses contradicting views, which are easily overthrown. Debating with his brother both embarrasses and angers Levin because his brother does not understand his views and always proves him wrong. Though his beliefs are sincere, they have a tendency to change with every person he debates with about certain views. Levin through out the novel is shown to be shy, compassionate and he cherishes moral values. Levin enjoys living life according to fair principles, and dislikes those who do not . That is an admirable quality because very few people live by fair principles and normally their choices are immoral. Also, he has a belief to live according to one's self- interests and believes that self-interest can be a positive force in one's life . This is what Levin is arguing about with his brother; he wishes the peasants to control their lives with self-interests, not by the interests of the government because the general welfare may not benefit the peasants or him. Directly depicted as an honest, moral man, Levin is well liked among people he meets . The novel goes in-depth by indirectly depicting him to be a philosophical thinker and an atheist, who is torn apart by his beliefs. The manner Tolst oy describes Levin is appealing . By using both direct and indi rect characterizations, Tolstoy aimed to depict Levin as the role model for Russians in the eighteenth century.