The Thomistic Institute What Can an Adulteress Teach Us About Happiness? Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and the Project of Literature | Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel, O.P.
Oct 31, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel, a Dominican Sister and theology professor, explores the profound insights that literature, especially from classics like 'Anna Karenina,' offers on moral discernment and the human experience. She delves into themes of love, self-sacrifice, and the impact of cultural narratives on personal growth. With references to 'Little House on the Prairie,' she emphasizes how stories can shape virtue and moral imagination, revealing the intricate dance between love, loyalty, and the missteps that can arise in pursuit of happiness.
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Literature's Impact
- We shape our inner selves through memories, imagination, and choices.
- Literature is not just cultural artifact, but a driving force shaping our values.
Literature's Purpose
- Great literature explores the fundamental question of what it means to be human.
- It addresses perennial questions of nobility, justice, goodness, and honor, like Plato.
Literature's Aims
- Literature aims to instruct (logos), delight (ethos), and move/inspire (pathos).
- These aims shape our moral imagination, attracting us to good and repelling us from evil.