5 MAJOR love triangles in Russian literature
Classic Russian writers barely used happy endings in their works. Their main plot driver is unhappy love (and, of course, spiritual and moral torment).
1. ‘Eugene Onegin’ by Alexander Pushkin
In his novel in verse, the poet suggested two love triangles. And both turn into misfortune.
The first one is Onegin – Larina – Lensky. Out of boredom, Onegin invites Olga Larina to dance and flirt with her, despite the fact that she is the sweetheart of his friend Vladimir Lensky. Offended, the latter challenges Onegin to a duel, but ends up being killed.
The second triangle again involves the main character, Onegin, as well as Tatiana Larina and her husband. Initially rejecting the love of young Tatiana, Onegin meets her a few years later as a married lady and… falls irrevocably in love. But, she replies: “…to another I belong: to him I shall be faithful all my life.”
2. ‘War and Peace’ by Leo Tolstoy
This complex epic novel with hundreds of characters offers the reader entire love polygons. But, the main drama unfolds around Natasha Rostova.
Engaged to Prince Volkonsky, young Natasha, temporarily being apart and far from her fiance, becomes a victim of a masterful seduction of Anatol Kurakin. He even prepares to run off with her, but it doesn’t work out. As a result, Natasha’s engagement is canceled and the new boyfriend has also disappeared.
3. ‘Anna Karenina’ by Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina hardly worries about cheating on her husband. She easily plunges into the abyss of passion with Vronsky and, although her husband is offended, he does not take revenge or “put a stick in the wheel” – he only warns the unfaithful wife against public disgrace.
Meanwhile, what the heroine is seriously worried about is the power of Vronsky's love and her own decision: did she do the right thing by leaving her family and son for this connection?
4. ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ by Fedor Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky does not spare the reader and suggests a triangle of truly ancient Greek proportions – Mitya Karamazov – Grushenka – father Fyodor Karamazov, where father and son fight for the love of one woman.
As a result, Mitya kills his father and is arrested. Though perhaps a little unfair.
5. ‘And Quiet Flows the Don’ by Mikhail Sholokhov
In this epic Cossack saga told during the times of the Russian Revolution and the Civil War, a most striking triangle revolves around the main character, a Cossack named Grigory.
He is torn between his wife Natalia and his mistress Aksinya, for whom he has developed an unprecedented passion. The difficulty of choosing in love is also consonant with his political position – the Cossack does not know which side to take in the Civil War.
