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Part 2, Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Anna Karenina, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Marriage and Family Life
Adultery and Jealousy
Physical Activity and Movement
Society and Class
Farming and Rural Life
Compassion and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
It’s spring, and Levin is full of new energy and plans, just like his plants and animals. But he becomes very frustrated by the carelessness of his workers, who have not made the necessary winter repairs throughout his estate.
The repairs that were neglected on the estate during the winter parallel Levin’s own state of mind: he was too heartbroken over Kitty to pay attention to other problems.
Themes
Levin tries to order his steward to fix the situation––hire more workers, plant earlier, fix the cart––but the steward shrugs and says, “As God grants.” Levin realizes that he can only fight the forces of nature so far, and he must stifle some of his irritation. Despite his anger, it is a beautiful spring, and he cannot help but have some hope.
Although Levin has great ambitions and dreams for his estate, he must also combat others’ laziness and come to terms with the reality of the situation. Even though Levin is angry at the workers, however, he is still cheered up by the arrival of spring and the promise of change.
Themes
