VALUE OF DESCRIPTION OF CLOTHES IN ANNA KARENINA’S CHARACTER DYNAMICS

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate Leo Tolstoy’s descriptions of Anna Karenina’s clothes in his novel «Anna Karenina» and how the descriptions of clothes reflect changes in the life of the main character. The object of this study is the tokens (lexemes) used by Leo Tolstoy for describing the outfits of Anna Karenina. The subject of the research is the transfer of character dynamics by changing the description of clothing of this character as a significant artistic detail. The material of study is the descriptions of the heroine’s clothes and the tokens used in them throughout the text of the novel. Elements of costumes of other characters are also involved for analysis. As a result of the study, the author comes to the following conclusions. Leo Tolstoy carefully describes the heroine’s clothes, presenting them as an important detail that complements the character. In the descriptions of outfits, the «lace» (Rus. «kruzhevo») token, acquiring a certain symbolism, plays an important role. Clothing is the frame that conveys Anna’s grace and naturalness in contrast to other characters. The description of clothes changes reflecting the dynamics of the character. But Anna always stands in the foreground. And only in the last scene before death, Anna, who has lost herself, is not visible, but only her clothes are conspicuous.