Anna Karenina

::For the former M/S Anna Karenina, see M/S Regina Baltica

Synopsis

The novel is in eight parts. Part 1 introduces Prince Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky ("Stiva"), a civil servant who has been unfaithful to his wife Darya Alexandrovna ("Dolly"). Stiva affair shows his amorous personality that he cannot seem to suppress. Anna Karenina, Stiva's sister, is summoned from St. Petersburg by Stiva in order to persuade Dolly not to leave him. Upon arriving in St. Petersburg, a railway worker accidentally falls in front of a train and is killed - foreshadowing Anna's demise. Meanwhile, Stiva's childhood friend Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin, a serious young aristocratic landowner who actually lives on and manages his estate, arrives in Moscow to offer marriage to Dolly's sister Katerina Alexandrovna Shcherbatsky ("Kitty"). Kitty turns him down, as she is expecting an offer from army officer Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky. Despite his fondness for Kitty, Vronsky has no intention of ever marrying. However, he falls in love immediately with Anna after meeting her at a ball. Anna, shaken by her response and animation to Vronsky, returns at once to St. Petersburg. Vronsky follows her on the same train. Levin returns to his farm, abandoning any hope of marriage, and Anna returns to her husband Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin, a senior government official, and their son Seriozha in Petersburg.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In part 2, Karenin scolds Anna for talking too much with Vronsky, but she returns Vronsky's affections nonetheless, and becomes pregnant with his child. Anna's anguish when Vronsky falls from a racehorse makes her feelings obvious, prompting her to confess to her husband. When Kitty learns that Vronsky prefers Anna over her, she travels to a resort at a German spring to recover from the shock. This attraction appears repeatedly in the book through the form of an "What if" question.

Related Topics:
German - Spring

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Part 3 examines Levin's life on his rural farming estate, a setting closely tied to Levin's spiritual thoughts and struggles. Dolly also meets Levin, and attempts to revive his feelings for Kitty. Dolly seems to be unsuccessful, but a chance sighting of Kitty makes Levin realize he still loves her. Back in Petersburg, Karenin exasperates Anna by refusing to separate with her, and threatens not to let her see their son Seriozha ever again if she leaves or misbehaves.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By part 4, however, Karenin is also finding the situation intolerable and begins seeking divorce. Anna's brother Stiva argues against it, and persuades Karenin to speak with Dolly first. Again, Dolly seems to be unsuccessful, but Karenin changes his plans after hearing that Anna is dying in childbirth. At her bedside, Karenin forgives Vronsky, who, in remorse, attempts suicide. However, Anna recovers, having given birth to a daughter she names Anna ("Annie"). Stiva finds himself pleading on her behalf for Karenin to divorce. Vronsky at first plans to flee to Tashkent, but changes his mind after seeing Anna, and they leave for Europe without obtaining a divorce after all. Much more straightforward is Stiva's matchmaking with Levin: a meeting he arranges between Levin and Kitty results in their reconciliation and betrothal.

Related Topics:
Divorce - Tashkent - Europe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In part 5, Levin and Kitty marry. A few months later, Levin learns that his brother Nikolai is dying. The couple go to him, and Kitty nurses him until he dies, while also discovering she is pregnant. In Europe, Vronsky and Anna struggle to find friends who will accept them and pursue activities that will amuse them, but they eventually return to Russia. Karenin is comforted – and influenced – by the strong-willed Countess Lidia Ivanovna, an enthusiast of religious and mystic ideas fashionable with the upper classes, who counsels him to keep Seriozha away from Anna. However, Anna manages to visit Seriozha unannounced on his birthday, but is discovered by the furious Karenin, who had told their son that his mother was dead. Shortly afterward, she and Vronsky leave for the country.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In part 6, Dolly visits Anna, and at Vronsky's request, she asks Anna to resume seeking a divorce from Karenin. Yet again, Dolly seems unsuccessful; but when Vronsky leaves for several days of provincial elections, a combination of boredom and suspicion convinces Anna she must marry Vronsky. So she writes to Karenin, and leaves with Vronsky for Moscow.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In part 7, the Levins are in Moscow for Kitty's benefit as she gives birth to a son. Stiva, while seeking Karenin's commendation for a new job, again asks him to grant Anna a divorce; but Karenin's decisions are now governed by a "clairvoyant" – recommended by Lidia Ivanovna – who apparently counsels him to decline. Anna and Vronsky become increasingly bitter towards each other. They plan to return to the country, but in a jealous rage Anna leaves early, and in a parallel to part 1, commits suicide by throwing herself in the path of a train. (Tolstoy reportedly was inspired to write Anna Karenina by reading a newspaper report of such a death.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Part 8 continues the story after Anna's death. Stiva gets the job he wanted, and Karenin takes custody of Annie. Some Russian volunteers, including Vronsky, who does not plan to come back, leave to help in the Serbian revolt that has just broken out against the Turks (see also History of Serbia, 1877). And in the joys and fears of fatherhood, Levin at last develops faith in the Christian God.

Related Topics:
Serbia - Turks - History of Serbia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~