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Part 4, Chapter 3
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
After Karenin sees Vronsky, Karenin goes to the opera, is seen by the requisite members of society, and returns home, but he cannot sleep, as he is extremely angry that Anna has disobeyed his orders. The next morning, Karenin goes into Anna room and snatches Vronsky’s letters away from her. Karenin speaks cruelly to Anna, and she protests, but he is telling the truth.
Karenin makes his social appearance for the sake of his reputation, but at home, he is wracked by wrath and indignation. It is not Anna’s infidelity so much that has sparked the anger but rather the fact that she disobeyed him and brought Vronsky to the house, thus breaking the rule about maintaining a normal public façade.
Themes
Karenin is so furious that he can barely speak. He finally manages to tell Anna that he is leaving for Moscow and taking Seryozha with him. Anna begs Karenin to leave Seryozha, but Karenin blushes and leaves the room.
Karenin tells himself that his rage comes from Anna’s violation of his desire to maintain the public face of the marriage; however, his emotions are too heated to be exclusively in the realm of the public, and his anger demonstrates that he does care for Anna on some level.
Themes
