Anna Arkadyevna Karenina

Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya

A close, sisterly bond where Dolly sympathizes with Anna's plight but ultimately judges her choices.

Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky

A loving, supportive sibling relationship where Stiva is Anna's most loyal familial ally.

Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya

A close, sisterly bond where Dolly sympathizes with Anna's plight but ultimately judges her choices.

Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya

A close, sisterly bond where Dolly sympathizes with Anna's plight but ultimately judges her choices.

Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky

A loving, supportive sibling relationship where Stiva is Anna's most loyal familial ally.

Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky

A loving, supportive sibling relationship where Stiva is Anna's most loyal familial ally.

XVII

Is arriving on the train from Petersburg to visit her brother Oblonsky. Her imminent arrival is the reason for Oblonsky's presence at the station.

Chapter XVIII

Traveling from Petersburg; shares a charged, flirtatious encounter with Vronsky. Deeply shaken by the guard's death, seeing it as a bad omen.

Anna and Dolly: A Conversation on Infidelity and Forgiveness

Arrives radiant with health, offering sincere, non-judgmental empathy. She acts as a mediator, explaining Stiva's capacity for remorse and his view of home as sacred, while honestly admitting she doesn't know if she could forgive in Dolly's place, though she believes she could.

Anna at the Oblonskys'

Acts as a peacemaker between the Oblonskys, charms Kitty with her grace and a hint of melancholy, and displays a playful, maternal side with the children.

XXI

Observes the Oblonskys' reconciliation, feels pride and longing for her son Seryozha, and experiences a mix of pleasure and dread upon unexpectedly seeing Vronsky on the staircase.

The Ball

Appears in a striking, simple black velvet gown that accentuates her natural elegance. She is the center of attention and displays a pointed coldness towards Vronsky, deliberately ignoring his bow to dance with Korsunsky, signaling private discord.

XXIII

Radiates a fascinated, intoxicating success at the ball, her happiness and excitement unconsciously visible, captivating Vronsky and horrifying Kitty.

XXVIII

In a worried, self-dissatisfied mood; confesses to Dolly that her actions at the ball inadvertently hurt Kitty and stirred her own feelings; insists she is leaving to avoid further complication.

XXIX

In a state of intense psychological agitation on the train journey home; her thoughts oscillate between relief, shame over her feelings for Vronsky, and a delirious, almost ecstatic sensory overload.

XXX

Returns to Petersburg and is immediately unsettled by the sight of her husband, feeling a conscious pain of hypocrisy in their marriage. Her encounter with Vronsky at the station fills her with panic and bliss, intensifying her inner conflict and emotional tension.

Vronsky's Return to Petersburg

Appears weary but exchanges a meaningful glance with Vronsky. She speaks to her husband with slight reserve, which Vronsky interprets as a lack of love. She is conscious of Vronsky's presence and manages the tense social situation.

Chapter XXXII

Returns home, experiences a mix of disappointment and physical joy in her son's presence, begins to see the hypocrisy in her social circle (like Lidia Ivanovna), and rationalizes away Vronsky's advances, deciding not to speak of them to Karenin.

Chapter XXXIII

Back in St. Petersburg, she navigates the stifling formalities of her home life. She feels annoyance over a dress, finds solace with her son Seryozha, and tries to engage with Karenin's world, but her inner fire seems 'quenched.' Her thoughts critically dissect her husband's appearance and recall Vronsky's meaningful glance.

Chapter XXXIV

The object of Vronsky's return to society. His explicit intention is to 'go into that society where he might meet Madame Karenina,' driving his actions for the evening.

The Circles of Society

Analyzes her place in Petersburg society, acknowledging her boredom with her husband's circles and her irresistible attraction to the fashionable world where she meets Vronsky. She realizes her 'displeasure' at his pursuit is a self-deception.

VI

The central subject of the salon's gossip; discussed as being changed and followed by the 'shadow' of Vronsky.

The Confession at the Soiree

Attempts to formally break with Vronsky but is undone by her own feelings; her non-verbal communication betrays her love, causing a social scandal.

Chapter VIII

Absent for most of the chapter, but her presence is felt through Karenin's obsessive thoughts about her 'separate life.' Her delayed return home is the impending confrontation that Karenin dreads.

The First Confrontation

Returns home glowing from her encounter with Vronsky. She lies effortlessly to Karenin, feigning sleepiness and misunderstanding. Her inner thoughts reveal her contempt for his concept of 'love' and her joyful, guilty preoccupation with Vronsky. She feels protected by an 'impenetrable armor of falsehood.'

A New Life Begins

Openly frequents society, especially Princess Betsy's, to meet Vronsky. She maintains an outward facade of normalcy while confronting Karenin with a barrier of 'amused perplexity'.

Chapter XI

Overwhelmed with guilt and shame after the consummation of her affair. She feels spiritually naked, humiliated, and addresses Vronsky as her only remaining connection. Her horror is so deep she cannot articulate it, and she is haunted by a recurring nightmare where both Karenin and Vronsky are her husbands.

Chapter XVIII

Her affair with Vronsky is widely known in society. Many young women, previously envious of her virtue, are waiting for public opinion to turn so they can scorn her.

XIX

Though not physically present, she is the central focus of Vronsky's thoughts. He is anxious about arranging a meeting with her now that her husband has returned.

Chapter XXI

Not physically present, but dominates Vronsky's thoughts. He sees their love as something incomprehensible to society, 'dearer than life,' and feels the shared shame and torture of their need to lie and deceive.

XXII

Agitated and alone, waiting for Seryozha. Reveals her pregnancy to Vronsky, feeling the full gravity of their situation and the torment of her position as a wife.

XXIII

Vehemently resists confronting Karenin, mocking his probable reaction. She is tormented by thoughts of her son's future and the social ruin she faces. She oscillates between anger, fear, and ecstatic love for Vronsky, forbidding further discussion.

The Races

Present in the pavilion, pointed out to Vronsky by an acquaintance. Vronsky deliberately avoids looking for her to keep his composure before the race.

XXVI

Living separately at the summer villa. Her closeness to Betsy and Vronsky at Tsarskoe is the subject of society's gossip, which Karenin refuses to see.

An Unwelcome Visit

Horrified by Karenin's unexpected arrival, she consciously adopts a spirit of falsehood and deceit, speaking brightly and rapidly to hide her turmoil. She is acutely aware of her own dishonesty and feels a pang of shame and later, physical repulsion.

The Races

Sits with Betsy, consumed by terror for Vronsky during the race. She is painfully aware of her husband's presence and voice, which she finds false and hateful. Her intense focus on Vronsky and her visible emotions betray her inner turmoil to Karenin.

The Fall at the Races

Utterly loses composure after Vronsky's fall, revealing her feelings publicly. Later, in the carriage, she defiantly confesses her love for Vronsky and her hatred for Karenin.

Chapter XIII

Absent but central to Karenin's thoughts. He views her as a 'contemptible woman' whose crime has placed him in a difficult position. His primary goal is to control her actions and prevent her happiness with Vronsky.

Chapter XIV

The absent recipient of Karenin's decisive letter. Her portrait in his study, with its 'insolent and challenging' gaze, haunts him and provokes a physical shudder before he turns away to his official papers.

Chapter XV

Reels from the consequences of her confession to Karenin. She cycles through shame, terror, and a desperate resolve to secure her son as her only lifeline, deciding to flee to Moscow.

Chapter XVI

In deep turmoil after reading Karenin's letter. She feels trapped, humiliated, and foresees a future of continued deceit and misery. Her internal monologue reveals her perception of Karenin as a hypocrite who has crushed her spirit. She briefly resolves to act but ultimately feels powerless, seeking Vronsky for direction.

XVII

Agonizes over not seeing Vronsky; lies about her plans to secure freedom; secretly arranges a meeting with him, revealing her desperation and the thrill of deception.

XVIII

Struck by the boldness of the fashionable set; feels the stark contrast between their easy, bored existence and her own inner turmoil, leading her to leave the party.

Vronsky's Day of Reckoning

Her letters are burned by Vronsky; her relationship with him is the cause of his mother's financial withdrawal and a source of his future uncertainty.

XX

Her pregnancy is the catalyst for Vronsky's crisis, forcing him to confront the undefined future of their relationship and the limitations of his principles.

The Meeting at Vrede's Garden

Desperate and distressed after confessing to Karenin. She meets Vronsky hoping he will demand she abandon everything for him, but her hope is crushed when she reads his hesitant expression. She asserts that his love is her only source of pride and meaning, but is choked by despair and the impossibility of leaving her son.

The Confrontation

Returns to Petersburg and initiates a tense confrontation with Karenin. She feels initial pity but then fear and aversion as he lays out his cold terms for maintaining appearances.

I

Endures the painful domestic limbo, firmly believing something will soon change and resolve her situation, though she doesn't know how.

II

Ill, unhappy, and desperate to see Vronsky; waits for him in emotional agony, then studies him with a passionate, searching look upon his arrival.

III

Tormented by jealousy and a premonition of death from a dream; expresses deep unhappiness with her social position and contempt for Karenin; has a moment of blissful connection with her pregnancy.

The Confrontation

Initially intimidated and defensive, she is shocked by Karenin's uncharacteristic cruelty. She feels the justice of his words but is filled with hatred and despair. Her only plea is to keep her son, Seryozha, revealing her maternal desperation.

V

Not physically present, but her actions and the 'malignant gleam' Karenin recalls in her eyes are the central reason for his visit. Her alleged adultery is the subject of the legal discussion.

XVII

In a feverish, post-partum state, drifting between lucidity and delirium. She passionately begs for Karenin's forgiveness, speaks of her 'real self,' expresses love for Vronsky and concern for her children, and orchestrates the reconciliation between the two men.

Vronsky's Despair

Present in Vronsky's tormented memories and hallucinations. He recalls her face during her illness, her love for Karenin in that moment, and her voice telling him to take his hands away, fueling his agony.

Chapter XIX

Is afraid and ill at ease with her husband. Under pressure from Betsy, she confesses Vronsky's request to visit and, with great effort, declares she will not receive him, showing her internal conflict and the strain of her position.

XX

Overwhelmed with irritation, physical repulsion, and despair. She feels Karenin's words are hypocritical and cruel, especially regarding Vronsky's departure and the care of their baby. Her outburst reveals her profound misery.

Chapter XXI

In a state of profound despair and emotional exhaustion. She confesses she hates Karenin for his virtues and feels physically repelled by him. She sees no escape except death, describing herself as an 'overstrained string' about to snap.

XXII

Though absent, she is the central subject of the negotiation. Stiva describes her as crushed and incapable of asking for anything, leaving her fate entirely to Karenin's generosity.

XXIII

Reunites with Vronsky; her passion overcomes her. She speaks of the terror in their situation and worries about Seryozha and Karenin's generosity, but agrees to go abroad with Vronsky.

Chapter VII

Exhibits frank, spirited gaiety and a direct attitude about her position. Charms Golenishtchev with her beauty and candor, and shows tender, understanding communication with Vronsky.

VIII

Feels unpardonably happy and full of life abroad with Vronsky. She rationalizes the harm to Karenin as a necessary escape and adores Vronsky completely, though his constant care sometimes weighs on her.

The Illusion of a New Life

Living in Italy with Vronsky, she suggests visiting the artist Mihailov. She feels a hidden grief and jealousy over the Italian nurse who is Vronsky's model, but masks it with graciousness.

The Artist's Studio

Arrives with the visitors; Mihailov notices the soft light on her figure as she listens to Golenishtchev, unconsciously storing the impression for potential artistic use.

XI

Praises the expression of pity in Christ's face, offering a comment that resonates deeply with Mihailov's own conception.

Chapter XII

Visits Mihailov's studio with Vronsky and Golenishtchev, exchanging glances with Vronsky and participating in the artistic critique.

Chapter XIII

Is grateful for her portrait and more friendly to Mihailov than the others. She, along with Vronsky and Golenishtchev, grows tired of Mihailov's manner. Wonders at Vronsky's loss of interest in painting and agrees to the move to Russia to see her son.

Chapter XXI

Her absence is the central cause of Karenin's crisis; her forgotten bill triggers his collapse. Her past with Karenin is recounted.

XXIII

Writes a desperate, carefully-worded letter to Lidia Ivanovna, appealing to her Christian feelings to request a final meeting with her son Seryozha before leaving Petersburg.

XXIV

Mentioned as being in Petersburg, seen publicly with Vronsky. Her presence is the 'painful' subject Lidia Ivanovna must broach with Karenin.

Chapter XXV

Her request to see her son, conveyed via a letter to Lidia Ivanovna, is the chapter's catalyst. She is described as 'baseness' by Lidia and is ultimately wounded 'to the quick' by the refusal letter.

Seryozha's Lesson

Though absent, she is the central figure of Seryozha's thoughts and longing. He searches for her in every graceful, dark-haired woman and feels her loving presence as he falls asleep.

The Closed Doors of Society

Is in Petersburg with Vronsky and her child. Her social position is the central conflict. She is visited by Betsy but is clearly not accepted. Vronsky perceives a new, irritable, and impenetrable mood in her, as she worries over something she keeps from him.

Anna's Desperate Reunion

Driven by a desperate, 'passionate, legitimate tenderness' for her son. She feels humiliated by society's judgment, hides her suffering from Vronsky, and takes a bold, risky action to see Seryozha, experiencing overwhelming emotion during their reunion.

Anna's Secret Visit to Seryozha

Visits Seryozha secretly on his birthday; overwhelmed with love, dread, and shame; flees upon Karenin's arrival.

Chapter XXXI

Consumed by misery after visiting Seryozha, feels spiritually severed from her son. Experiences paranoia that Vronsky's love is cooling, leading to desperate, anxious behavior to test and secure his affection.

The Defiant Performance

In a state of intense, nervous excitement and defiance. She deliberately ignores social conventions, arranges an opera box, and insists her love for Vronsky is the only thing that matters. Her behavior is reckless and desperate, challenging Vronsky's commitment.

The Theater Scandal

Defiantly attends the theater, provoking a social scandal; maintains external composure while internally suffering; later blames Vronsky for her humiliation.

Dolly's Journey to Vozdvizhenskoe

The subject of Dolly's journey and her reflections; Dolly defends Anna's choices while comparing them to her own constrained life.

Dolly's Arrival at Vozdvizhenskoe

Appears radiant, healthy, and full of life on horseback; her joyful reunion with Dolly is marked by a captivating, love-induced beauty.

Chapter XVIII

Shows Dolly her new life at Vronsky's estate with pride and nervous energy. Confesses to being 'inexcusably happy' and seeks Dolly's acceptance, revealing her vulnerability and need for social validation.

Chapter XIX

Shows off her luxurious life and baby Annie. Assumes a careless, superficial tone, but reveals pain when discussing her daughter's surname (Karenina) and her son Seryozha. Explains her social circle is designed to keep Vronsky content.

A Visit to Vozdvizhenskoe

Hosts Dolly, shows her the estate and the new hospital, displaying knowledge of its construction and sharing a sly, understanding smile about it being Vronsky's 'monument'.

Vronsky's Confession

Though absent for most of the conversation, she is the central subject. Vronsky describes her as happy in the present but unwilling to see the looming complications. Dolly recalls Anna's habit of 'half-shutting her eyes' to difficult truths.

Chapter XXII

Lightly criticizes the proliferation of public duties, revealing private irritation with Vronsky. Displays charming, coquettish knowledge of machinery and architecture.

XXIII

Reveals her decision to have no more children to preserve her relationship with Vronsky, argues passionately for her choices, and expresses deep pessimism about the possibility of legalizing their union.

Chapter XXIV

In deep anguish, confesses to Dolly the impossibility of her position: she cannot obtain a divorce from Karenin (who is under Lidia Ivanovna's influence) without losing her son Seryozha. She feels torn between her two loves and uses morphine to cope. After the conversation, she puts on a cheerful facade for Vronsky.

Chapter XXV

Devotes herself entirely to Vronsky's interests and their domestic life, but her existence's sole aim is to please and serve him. Her unnaturally composed reaction to his departure hints at inner determination and a potential withdrawal.

The Election Celebration and the Summons Home

Her letter breaks into the festivities; she reports their daughter's illness, expresses desperation, and uses a reproachful, 'hostile tone' that disturbs Vronsky.

Part VII, Chapter 1

Consumed by fear of Vronsky's indifference, she oscillates between pride, humiliation, and desperate need. She uses morphine to sleep in his absence and finally demands a resolution to their ambiguous situation, writing to Karenin about divorce.

Levin's First Meeting with Anna

Described as living in seclusion awaiting her divorce, writing a children's book, and charitably supporting an English family. She makes a dramatic entrance, matching the beauty of her portrait.

Levin Visits Anna

Hosts Levin with charm and ease. She discusses art, her English pupil, and her inability to engage in public philanthropy, revealing the bitterness of her social position. Her expression shifts dramatically when certain topics arise.

Chapter XI

Though not physically present, she is the central subject of Levin's thoughts and the subsequent argument. Levin describes her as an extraordinary, sweet, and profoundly unhappy woman, whose 'artful influence' he confesses to succumbing to.

Chapter XII

Tormented by Vronsky's absence and perceived emotional withdrawal. Engages in a painful, strategic argument with him, feeling both victorious and despairing as she recognizes a new 'evil spirit of strife' in their relationship.

XVIII

Though absent, her plight is the central subject. Stiva describes her as suffering terribly in Moscow, waiting in an impossible position, having given up everything and now begging only for release through divorce.

XXIII

Alone in Moscow, tormented by jealousy and the conviction that Vronsky's love is waning. She analyzes a recent quarrel, blaming him for her isolation and suffering, but resolves to apologize for the sake of peace.

The Quarrel and the Despair

Volatile and despairing; her mood swings from meek penitence to jealous fury. She proposes fleeing to the country, accuses Vronsky of infidelity, and, in a moment of profound isolation, sees death as the only escape from shame and a means to punish him.

XXV

Initially in a good mood preparing to leave, she becomes deeply wounded and suspicious upon learning Vronsky hid Stiva's telegram. Her insecurity erupts into a quarrel where she interprets his desire for children and a divorce as proof he does not value her, and she feels the full weight of her precarious social position.

The First Quarrel

In deep despair after the coldness with Vronsky; cycles through thoughts of reconciliation, suicide, and love; her jealousy is ignited seeing him with another woman; makes a desperate, final declaration.

XXVII

In a state of panic and desperation after Vronsky leaves; sends notes and a telegram begging him to return; feels terrified of being alone and decides to visit Dolly.

Anna's Desperate Visit

In a state of intense inner turmoil, cycling through defiance, shame, and despair. She visits Dolly seeking support but feels judged by Kitty's presence, hardening her resolve and deepening her misery.

XXIX

Plunged into profound isolation and bitterness after meeting Kitty; perceives universal hatred and hypocrisy; decides to leave home forever to confront Vronsky.

Anna's Final Journey

In a state of profound despair and clarity, she mentally reviews her life, her relationships with Vronsky and Karenin, and concludes that happiness is impossible. Her thoughts spiral towards a nihilistic view of humanity.

Chapter XXXI

In a state of profound despair and psychological torment. She perceives the world as false and cruel, receives Vronsky's cold note, and ultimately commits suicide by throwing herself under a train.

IV

Her suicide and its devastating impact on Vronsky are recounted by his mother, who judges her death as 'low and vulgar'.

V

Present only in Vronsky's tortured memory and flashback of her bloody, lifeless body at the train station after her suicide, which poisons all his past memories of her.