The Thomistic Institute

Anna Karenina and the Project of Literature I Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel, O.P.

Aug 22, 2025
Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel, a professor of theology and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Nashville, dives deep into the world of literature, focusing on Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina'. She discusses how literature shapes moral values and cultivates culture, emphasizing the importance of great narratives in exploring the human experience. The complex dynamics of love, fidelity, and emotional turmoil in 'Anna Karenina' are examined, alongside the tragic consequences of idolization. Sr. Jane also reflects on how stories influence personal identity and societal norms.
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INSIGHT

Literature Shapes Our Inner Architecture

  • Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel argues literature builds our interior architecture and shapes who we are.
  • Great literature cultivates virtues or vices by shaping our imaginations before actions.
INSIGHT

Logos, Ethos, Pathos Guide Literature

  • Great literature pursues three rhetorical aims: instruct (logos), delight (ethos), and move (pathos).
  • These aims shape the moral imagination by attracting us to the good and repelling the evil.
ANECDOTE

The Original Little Mermaid's Mercy

  • Sr. Jane recounts Hans Christian Andersen's original Little Mermaid, where the mermaid endures pain and refuses to kill the prince.
  • Mercy transforms her fate into service as a spirit who inspires children toward good.
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