Abstract

Tolstoy is an author who greatly preoccupied himself with the discussion of how to understand existence. His literature “The Raid” (1853), “The Woodfelling” (1855), The Cossacks (1863), and Hadji Murat (1912) reflect upon the complexities of the Imperial Russian conquest of the Caucasus. Tolstoy, a profound moralist, employs a realist stance in his early works to establish a new understanding of the region and Russian society. However, he later adopts romantic stylistics in service of his moral philosophy in Hadji Murat. He meditates on themes such as war, nature, bravery, morality, and suffering. This project aims to highlight the recurring significance of the themes of individual agency and existential futility in Tolstoy’s thought. An analysis of these selected works concludes that an acceptance of existential futility is foundational to a moral utilization of individual agency. This emphasis adds to an understanding of the full circle of his writing and interacts with previous scholarship. This collection of essays is useful for the study of Tolstoy, his thought, and his humanity.

Advisor

Pozefsky, Peter

Department

Russian Studies

Disciplines

Russian Literature

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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