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Part 6, Chapter 17
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
Anna looks at Dolly’s thin face, with dust caught in its wrinkles, and remembers that she herself has become prettier—she shouldn’t be happy in her indecorous situation, yet she is. Dolly says that she loves Anna: when you love people, you love them as they are, not who you want them to be. Vronsky’s country estate is very luxuriously and lavishly appointed. Anna speaks in French to Vronsky and Veslovsky when they arrive, and though she apologizes for the quality of Dolly’s room, it’s extremely beautiful. Dolly says that she’s been quite happy staying with Levin and Kitty.
Anna is vain to the point of obsession because she feels as though her beauty is the only thing of value she has left, and she is secretly glad that she has become prettier, not pinched-looking like Dolly. Though Anna attempts simplicity for Dolly’s sake, Dolly can see through the attempt and knows that Anna has fallen into an affected, extravagant lifestyle. Dolly emphasizes the Levins’ hospitality to remind herself and Anna of the pleasures that money cannot buy.
Themes
