While Karenina is an interesting study of human life and culture in 19thCentury Russia, this novel reinforces the truism: Less is More.

             Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy, is a saga of love, agony, and deceit. Yet, within the intricacy of these ideas lies an unmistakable, underlying theme of death. Death is influential and weighs upon the minds of many of the characters. The inextricable situations and conflicts that possess the characters of Anna Karenina are the components that highlight the central theme of death. Death is entirely imminent throughout the novel by several references; Anna, Vronsky, Nikolai, and Karenin refer to death as a respite, as a source of comfort, and as a solution.

             As other alternatives slip their grasps, Anna and Karenin turn toward death. Anna is initially frightened and saddened by her dream where she is foretold to die during childbirth, but finds comfort and solace with the idea of.

             dying. Her trouble would come to an end with the end of her life. She sees herself as the source of unhappiness to Karenin, Vronsky, and herself, thus, death would be the easy solution. Death would be her mercy. As Karenin discovers his wife"s grave condition after the childbirth, he looks toward Anna"s death with hope. This possible option would be beneficial for Karenin because there would be no need for a complicated divorce nor a tormenting life with his estranged wife. Karenin hopes for Anna"s death reflects his wish for an absolution and that all would be resolved, but his wish is not one based on vengeance. Although society has made it difficult for Karenin and Anna to cleanly divorce, the natural lulls of death appears as an inviting, simple remedy to erase their problems, but hoping for death is also the way of a coward for one is trying to shed oneself of all responsibility.

             Vronsky follows the path of Anna and Karenin to the alluring release that death provides, but simultaneously proves his cowardice.