Leo Tolstoy’s Vision of Humanity

Evan Swensen
September 23, 2024

“All great literature is one of two stories: a man goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town.” These words from Leo Tolstoy capture the essence of storytelling, distilling the vast complexity of narratives into two fundamental patterns: the outward exploration of self and the inward disruption of the familiar. In a world filled with seemingly infinite stories, Tolstoy reminds us that at the heart of every great tale is a universal truth—change.

Leo Tolstoy, one of the most revered writers in history, was not just a literary giant but a man whose life was shaped by profound personal struggles, philosophical inquiry, and an unrelenting desire to understand the human condition. His works, particularly War and Peace and Anna Karenina, have left an indelible mark on literature and society, challenging norms and reshaping our understanding of morality, love, and the nature of life itself.

Tolstoy’s early life was one of privilege, born into Russian aristocracy in 1828. But this gilded start masked a deep internal conflict. As a young man, Tolstoy struggled with the superficiality of high society and the lack of purpose he felt in his life. This existential crisis, magnified by the deaths of his parents when he was young, haunted him for years.

One of the most profound turning points came during his time in the military. In 1851, Tolstoy joined the Russian army and was sent to the Caucasus, where he fought in the Crimean War. The horrors of war and the fragility of human life left a deep impression on him, fueling his later pacifism. It was during this time that he began to write in earnest. His early works, such as The Cossacks, reflected the harsh realities of war and the spiritual awakening it sparked within him. For Tolstoy, writing became a way to grapple with the dissonance between his privileged upbringing and the suffering he witnessed in the world.

Writing allowed him to transform his inner turmoil into something meaningful. It was as though Tolstoy’s life mirrored the journey he described in his famous quote—a man leaving the comfort of home, physically and emotionally, to confront the unknown. In this confrontation, Tolstoy found his voice, one that would not just tell stories but challenge his time’s moral and societal structures.

By the time Tolstoy wrote Anna Karenina in the 1870s, he was a man settled into family life, with a wife and children, living on a large estate. Yet, even as he delved into the intricacies of human relationships, love, and betrayal in his novels, his life was increasingly fraught with questions of purpose and meaning. His relationship with his wife, Sophia, became strained as he wrestled with his growing disillusionment with wealth, fame, and even religion.

Tolstoy’s crisis of faith reached its peak in the late 1870s. He became obsessed with questions about the meaning of life and death, and despite his immense success as a novelist, he felt spiritually adrift. This internal struggle gave birth to his later works, such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich, which explores the fear of mortality and the search for spiritual truth. Tolstoy began to see life—and literature—not as a reflection of society’s expectations but as a tool for moral and ethical examination.

In the last decades, Tolstoy became an outspoken critic of organized religion, the Russian state, and the aristocracy he was born into. He adopted a radical Christian anarchist philosophy, advocating for nonviolent resistance and communal living. He later influenced figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

The impact of Tolstoy’s work transcends the written word. His novels, particularly War and Peace, did not merely recount historical events but challenged contemporary societal norms. Through his depiction of the Napoleonic Wars, Tolstoy questioned the nature of war, power, and human agency, emphasizing the smallness of individuals in the grand sweep of history. In Anna Karenina, he dissected the suffocating grip of societal expectations on individual happiness, particularly for women.

Tolstoy’s ideas also rippled outward into the political and social spheres. His advocacy for pacifism and nonviolence inspired movements across the globe. Gandhi credited Tolstoy’s writings, mainly his book The Kingdom of God is Within You, as a significant influence on his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which ultimately shaped the Indian independence movement.

Tolstoy’s legacy lies not only in the grandeur of his novels but in the profound questions they ask of humanity. His belief in the moral purpose of literature and its ability to challenge and transform society remains a cornerstone of his enduring influence. For writers, Tolstoy’s life is a testament to the power of the written word to reflect the world while envisioning it as it could be.

His quote about the two fundamental stories—outward and inward transformation—reminds us that the universal human experience of change is at the core of every narrative, whether it’s the grandeur of war or the intimate struggles of love. Tolstoy’s work invites both writers and readers to explore this truth deeply.

Tolstoy’s body of work offers an enduring guide for anyone who writes, reads, or seeks to understand the world better. Delve into his novels and discover the transformative power of writing, a tool capable of reshaping individuals and the course of history itself.

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