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Part 2, Chapter 1
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
Dolly has recently given birth to a daughter, and another child has fallen ill. Dolly is stressed and anxious, constantly suspicious of Oblonsky, but the pain is familiar, rather than debilitating.
Dolly’s own married life is far from perfect, but she has committed herself to her relationship for the sake of her family, and she puts her own pain aside to tend to her sister.
Themes
Though Princess Shcherbatsky still believes that medicines might cure Kitty, the Prince blames his wife for trusting Vronsky in the first place. Dolly believes that Kitty is so unhappy because she refused Levin and trusted Vronsky.
Dolly sees that much of her parents’ and Kitty’s anguish stems from placing too much trust in Vronsky. Kitty sees that should never have fallen so wholeheartedly for him and ignored Levin.
Themes
