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Part 7, Chapter 29
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
On the way to the station, Anna analyzes everyone she sees as hopeless and doomed. She determines that the zest is gone from her relationship with Vronsky, and she think he’ll be glad that she’s going to leave. While her love is growing more passionate and self-centered, his is fading: his love only comes out of duty, which she finds to be horrible. She can’t envision any situation for herself that resolves happily.
At the station, the coachman asks if he should get her a ticket. She gives him her money-purse but holds onto her red handbag. Anna goes to the first-class lounge and watches all the people go by; she is revolted by the sight of them.
The station is just another backdrop for Anna’s self-loathing: no matter where she is, the landscape becomes a place on which she projects her own despair.
Themes
