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This thesis explores Leo Tolstoy’s literary critique of the superficiality that enveloped Russian high society during the 1800s, particularly in comparison to the French aristocracy that served as an ideal for Russian society to mimic, contrary to their traditional slavic roots. Evidence is primarily drawn from Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina and its cinematic adaptation in the 2012 Joe Wright film. Through a detailed analysis of Tolstoy's characters and examining themes such as societal pressure, responsibility, and the juxtaposition between fabricated city life and the unadorned authenticity of farm life, this thesis explores the nuanced parallels between the two economic classes and the surrounding society. Furthermore, by delving into the complexities of Tolstoy's critique, this paper aims to shed light on the deviation of Russian aristocracy from their Slavic roots and, subsequently, allude to the social impact of the fabricated high-society lifestyle in Tolstoy’s literature. The research presented aims to contribute to a deeper dialogue on Slavophilism and how Tolstoy utilized literature as a vessel to critique Russian life and emphasize the need to resist the forced Westernization facing Russia.