Countess Lydia Ivanovna Character Analysis in Anna Karenina

Lydia is a sanctimonious, pious, upright woman; she professes to be extremely religious but only uses Christianity for her own self-serving needs. Lydia preys on Karenin, attaching herself to his side when he is vulnerable and convincing him to follow her lead in terms of her spirituality and in terms of his separation from Anna. Lydia also tells Seryozha that his mother is dead, further attempting to cut Anna completely out of the boy’s life.

Countess Lydia Ivanovna Character Timeline in Anna Karenina

The timeline below shows where the character Countess Lydia Ivanovna appears in Anna Karenina. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...on the Karenins. Karenin agrees, somewhat chillily. Karenin suggests that Anna pay their friend Countess Lydia Ivanovna a visit. Karenin sends Anna home in a carriage and returns to work. (full context)

...imagined him as an ideal and must descend into reality to enjoy his charms. Countess Lydia arrives and tells Anna all the church gossip, but Anna is suddenly bored with what... (full context)

However, after the Countess Lydia leaves and another acquaintance comes and goes, Anna begins to feel less agitated. She tells... (full context)

...in three subdivisions: Karenin’s official career social group; the unattractive but virtuous group with Countess Lydia at its center; and society proper, the people who hold lavish balls, with Princess Betsy... (full context)

...affairs, he puts blinders on in terms of regarding his relationship with his wife. Countess Lydia, who spends the summer in the same country area as the Karenins, refuses to visit... (full context)

Countess Lydia calls on Karenin and offers herself as a confidant. Karenin is clearly in grief. She... (full context)

Countess Lydia was given in marriage when she was very young, and she genuinely loved her husband,... (full context)

...to be downhill from here; on the contrary, he thinks he’s more important than ever. Lydia has dressed carefully to look her best for Karenin. They discuss Seryozha’s education. Lydia tells... (full context)

Lydia shows Karenin Anna’s letter, and Karenin is willing to grant Anna’s request, but Lydia talks... (full context)

...as an outcast in society will make this extremely difficult to do. Anna, learning that Lydia and Karenin are close, writes Lydia the letter, but Lydia sends no reply, which hurts... (full context)

...Miagky arrives to break the tension. Oblonsky says he is to call at the Countess Lydia’s house to speak with Karenin that night, and Princess Miagky says that Jules Landau, a... (full context)

When Oblonsky arrives at Lydia’s, Karenin and the clairvoyant, Landau, are there. Countess Lydia speaks to Oblonsky about Karenin’s situation;... (full context)

As Lydia reads, Oblonsky is baffled by the whole situation, and he begins to fall asleep. He... (full context)