Leo Tolstoy, the author of The Kreutzer Sonata, as well as many other short novellas and short stories, is said to be one of the greatest authors to ever live. However, his controversial views on many different subjects have decreased his popularity in recent years, especially amongst younger generations (britannica.com). Tolstoy wrote during the late eighteen hundreds, and he opposed things like private property in land ownership and the institution of marriage. He valued ideals such as chastity and abstinence, which were also supported by Gandhi. Tolstoy’s story causes a huge amount of controversy because some readers could have interpreted Pozdnyshev’s story as advocating of free love. Leo Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata is an example of how Tolstoy presents his moral ideals through an artistic narrative. In this case, the principal theme is the …show more content…
is a great example of his opposition to private land ownership. In this story, Pahom is a man who is not contempt with his life. He thinks that he can escape the grasps of the Devil if he owns enough land. He is a victim of his own greed. Pahom becomes so obsessed with owning more and more land that he is unable to recognize that the Devil is slowly taking over his life. Tolstoy is a very passionate Christian. He believes that by sacrificing the responsibility that comes with the acquisition of physical possessions, a man can earn eternal damnation. He also believes that without a basic trust in God and an understanding of human kindness, one will be brought to eternal ruin. In How Much Land Does a Man need?, Tolstoy says: “Pahom’s servant came running up and tried to raise him, but he saw that blood was flowing from his mouth. Pahom was dead!” (Page 14). After living a life of greed and constant acquisition of new possessions, Pahom was met by a violent death. The title of the story itself also gives thought to Leo Tolstoy’s conflict with the idea of private land