Question by forevermore: Why does Tolstoy use so many names for one person?
I mean, I get nicknames and all, but Dolly, Daria Alexandrovna, Dolinka . . . I haven’t gotten confused yet but I think I will.
Answers and Views:
Answer by EmeraldIsle
What?
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Adoptive Father says
How many nicknames can you think of for William or Margaret? See what I mean?
I believe it is a Russian custom to address someone by their own name and their father's name. Men add an -ich and women add an -aya.
Mary says
honestly i think its a Russian thing. i know that sounds stereotypical but i think they do that because alot of their names are so long that nicknames or condensed versions of their names is very common. what do u think?
PinkFloyd1962 says
common thing in Russia, to address people by their maiden names, nicknames. you are right, it does get a little confusing, but that's about the only critic I would have for this great author.
One of my favorite books ever, War and Peace and Ana Karenina ( the one you are reading right?)
good luck and be patient….
JazzOne says
It's not just Tolstoy. Try reading Dostoevsky, and you will be equally confused. The reason is that the cutlure in Russia was very different. People had three names, one of which was the family surname. In addition to the three formal names, it was common for people to have another familiar name for friends and family.