Divine Retribution: The Themes of Vengeance and Hypocracy as the Relate to the Epigram in Anna Karenina

	“Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I shall repay”. It is with these words that Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy begins what is arguably one of his most famous literary works, Anna Karenina. Perhaps never before in literary history has an epigram so aptly captured the essence of an entire novel. Indeed, it is these dual themes of hipocracy and vengeance that pervade much of Tolstoy’s work. Much like an artist’s painting reflects the artist himself, Anna Karenina provides the reader with a brief glimpse into Tolstoy’s beliefs and views. Moreover, it is in this sense that Tolstoy is able to use his novels as a sort of literary canvas with which he is able to clearly expres his inner sentiments and religious ideas. Indeed, religion has had a profoudn impact on society throughout the ages, and thus, it comes as no suprise that Tolstoy’s Catholic upbringing had a similar impact on much of his literary work. It becomes evident that Tolstoy’s views on Hypocracy and vengeance in society are influenced largely by his faith. Essentially, Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is an expression of Tolstoy’s views on hipocricy and vengeance as well as his religious view that it is God’s place to punish sinners, not society’s. 
	The full text of the epigram can be found in the Bible in the book of Romans, chapter twelve, verse nineteen.  “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, sayeth the Lord”. This statement serves as a message to all Christians that God’s punishment of sinners is inescapable and inexorable, a major theme that runs throughout much of Tolstoy’s work; however, it becomes evident that in Anna Karenina few characters actually take this bliblical message to heart. This is overwhelmingly evident in Tolstoy’s portrayal of Russian society. After her affair is brought to light, Anna Karenina is essentially exclusded from Russian society. “But not only those old ladies, almost everyone in the room, even the Princess Myakaya and Betsy herself, looked several time sin the direction of the as though that were a disturbing fact” (Tolstoy 128).  Furthermore, the theme of hipocricy is evidnet in Russian society as well. In the intial part of the novel, members of Russian high scoiety have a conversation about adultery. Many of them, despite being married, continue to have extramarrital affairs. “ ‘They ought to find out how to vaccinate for love, like smallpox. I was in love in my young days with a deacon,’ said the princess Mykaya. ‘I dont’ know that it did me any good. No; I imagine, joking apart, that to know love, one must make mistakes and then correct them,’ said Princess Betsy. ‘Even after marriage?’ said the ambassador’s wife playfully. ‘It’s never too late to mend’” (Tolstoy 125). Despite the fact that several of the women in Russian society are having affairs themselves, they still exclude Anna from society for her extramarrital affair with Vronsky. 
	Tolstoy further addresses the theme of vengeance through the title character of the novel, Anna Karenina. Ultimately, anna takes the ultimate ‘vengeance” upon herself for her horrible sins by taking her own life. “And exactly at the moment when the space between the wheels come opposite her, she dropped the red bag, and drawing ehr ehad back into her shoulders, fell on her hands under the cariage, and lightly, as though she would rise again at once, dropped on to her knees. and a the same instant she was terror- striken at what she was doing. ‘Where am I? What am I doing? What for’ She tried to get up, to drop backwards; but something huge and merciless struck her on the head and rolled her on her back. ‘Lord forgive me all!’ she said, feeling it impossible to struggle” (Tolstoy 692). Anna essentially punishes herself for her sins by throwing herself under the wheels of a running train. As evidenced in the epigram, it is Tolstoy’s view that the punishment of sinners should not be placed in human hands, but rather in the hands of God.