Tolstoy as a metaphysician of love: writer Yevgeny Zharinov speaks at the III Wedding Festival

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Why does the scene at the snowy station from "Anna Karenina" still make readers feel that very "chemistry" between the characters, and why do Leo Tolstoy's reflections on marriage remain relevant for modern families? Professor at Moscow Pedagogical State University, Doctor of Philology, writer and translator Yevgeny Zharinov spoke at the National Centre RUSSIA about how the writer viewed love, passion and matrimony. His talk took place as part of the open dialogue "Forms of Love: Literature and Art" at the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts".

"Speaking of love, Tolstoy was extraordinarily amorous and, as a psychologist, understood all the nuances of this feeling. In "Anna Karenina", in the episode at Balagoe station, he shows the metaphysics of love and passion — when people are connected by what we today call chemistry. Sometimes it seems that the whole love affair was born from the way the frost glistened on Anna's collar. What did Vronsky fall in love with in reality — the frost, Anna, or the winter evening itself? Tolstoy is a great psychologist; he understands perfectly how a feeling can be born from a simple tactile, physical sensation. Yet at the same time, he understood that marriage is a heavy burden, for which a person must be prepared and which they must carry," noted Yevgeny Zharinov.

Continuing the discussion about Tolstoy, he emphasised that the writer viewed male-female relationships and family from different angles, demonstrating the complexity and contradictions of marriage. At the same time, according to the expert, Leo Tolstoy did not reject the family union; as a Christian, he believed that the family is a "little church". Yevgeny Zharinov reminded the audience that Tolstoy himself was a difficult man, who went through challenging periods in his relationship with his wife, but he lived a long life with Sofya Andreyevna, largely sustained by her patience and her involvement in his creative work.

Also taking part in the dialogue on literature, art and family values were philologist, cultural studies scholar and writer Nikolai Zharinov; theatre and film actress, producer and founder of the Istok Cultural Centre Sofya Ernst; and Yelena Davydova, Director of the M'ARS Centre for Contemporary Art. Participants discussed how books, theatre, cinema, contemporary art and folk traditions help us understand love, marriage, child-rearing and the continuity of generations.

The open dialogue "Forms of Love: Literature and Art" was part of the educational programme of the III All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts", held at the National Centre RUSSIA, bringing together newlyweds, families, cultural figures and community leaders around the themes of family values and strengthening the institution of the family.