Plot+Summary

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Prince Stephen Oblonsky, also known as Stiva, wakes up from his pleasant dreams to remember the reality of his life which is that three days earlier his wife had discovered that he had an affair with their children's French governess and they have been in quarrel ever since. Since their fight, she has refused to see him and the house has been chaotic. He is only sorry for being caught and makes a comic attempt at begging for forgiveness. Dolly, who senses his insincerity, threatens to leave for her mother's house with the children. Though upset that his attempts to sooth things over with Dolly have failed, he goes on about his duties as head of a Government Board in Moscow. He is hoping that when his sister, Anna Karenina, comes to visit the next day, she will be able to sooth Dolly and help him beg for Dolly's forgiveness. During Oblonskys' lunch break, he runs into his friend Constantine Levin, who has just arrived from his country estate. Levin is a shy man and has urgent matter to discuss with Oblonsky however he does not wish to talk in front of Oblonsky's business friends. Oblonsky soon quickly realizes that Levin is here to see his sister-in-law, Kitty Shcherbatskaya, and suggests a meeting with Levin later that evening at the park where Kitty ice-skates. Levin has been in love with the entire Shcherbatskaya family for years and has considered marrying all three of the sisters, however he is in love with Kitty and wishes to marry her and that is the purpose of his trip this time. After meeting Oblonsky, Levin goes to his half brother's house, Sergius Ivanich Koznyshev, who is a well-known writer. The two brothers talk about their other brother, Nicholas, who is the ruined pariah of the family.=====

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Levin goes to the park and he skates and flirts with Kitty, however she sends him mixed signals. Kitty's mother also doesn't seem very happy with Levin's arrival. Oblonsky arrives and Levin leaves for dinner with relief. They dine at a fine restaurant and the ritual of the meal is described in great detail. Over dinner, Oblonsky teases Levin about Kitty, and they discuss the matter of his proposal. He encourages Levin to propose, however he also mentions Levin's rival: Count Alexis Kirilovich Vronsky. Oblonsky also admits that he feels little pain at the idea of adultery. At the Scherbatskys' house, the princess Shcherbatskaya is worried and concerned about Kitty's marriage opportunities. She prefers Vronsky over Levin, and finds Vronsky the perfect match for Kitty however she is worried that Vronsky is not interested in marrying Kitty. Levin arrives at the party and immediately proposes to Kitty. Though she shares some feelings for him, she rejects him as she hopes that Vronsky will make his proposal soon. Levin is devastated however he just hopes for the best for Kitty. Other guests soon arrive, one which is Countess Nordston who never liked Levin from the beginning and mocks him for his country manners. Vronsky arrives and Levin immediately realizes that he is his rival. Levin just by seeing Vronsky realizes why Kitty would prefer Vronsky over him. Vronsky is charming and Levin leaves feeling dejected. After all the guests have left, Kitty's parents argue over her future as her father prefers Levin whereas her mother prefers Vronsky.=====

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The next morning, Oblonsky goes to the railway station to meet his sister Anna. He runs into Vronsky who is waiting for his mother to get off the very same train. Vronsky's mother and Anna Karenina both get off at the same train and it so happens that they were seatmates in the same compartment. Both Vronsky and his mother seems to be charmed by Anna's spirit and vitality. As the four of them exchange banalities, a railroad guard is run over and is killed by a passing train. Anna feels devastated for the widow and Vronsky leaves 200 roubles for the widow. As Anna arrives at Oblonsky's place, she convinces Dolly not to leave. In addition, Anna also charms Kitty however the next night at the ball, Kitty notices that Vronsky is distracted and the source of this inattention becomes clear when she watched Vronsky waltz with Anna. Kitty is devastated as she realizes that Vronsky never wanted to marry her.=====

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Levin goes to his elder brother Nicholas, who is sickly and lives in depraved conditions. Feeling upset from the entire trip, he leaves Moscow to his country estate. When he arrives at home he feels comforted by his servants, his house and his lands and he swears that he will be different from now on. Anna leaves the same day as Levin, on the train for St. Petersburg. She is distressed over her new acquaintance, Vronsky. When the train stops in a middle of a snowstorm, she sees Vronsky at the platform and he tells her that he loves her and will follow her. She arrives at St. Peterburg and sees that her husband, Karenin, is waiting for her at the platform. She sees him and she feels disappointed somewhat. Vronsky makes his presence known immediately to Karenin, and asks for the privilege of calling on them. Though he allows Vronsky to come visit, Karenin dislikes him immediately. Anna is anxious to go back to her old life, and throws herself into routine but finds that she is unhappy and displeased with her husband, the Society that she is in, and her beloved son Serezha for reasons that she cannot comprehend.=====

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Vronsky stays in his large apartment in St. Petersburg, who he had lent out to his friend, Lieutenant Petrisky. He dines with Petritsky and his lover, Baroness Shilton. He continues to make plans to enter into the circle of friends where he knows for certain he will meet Anna.=====

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Ever since the ball, Kitty has been falling ill due to the humiliation she experienced. The Schertbatskys are worried, and consulted doctors to treat her ‘illness’. Dolly shows compassion towards her, and tries to talk to Kitty about her emotional struggles. At first, Kitty turns Dolly down by attacking her by referring to Oblonsky’s affair, but the two sisters quickly make up. Kitty confesses to Dolly about her unhappiness, and tells her that rejecting Levin for Vronsky’s non-existent ‘love’ is a great humiliation for her. Kitty’s health did not improve, so the Scherbatsky’s decides to take her away from Russia, and give her some rest in Germany. =====

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Anna is involved in three social circles: The first is surrounding her husband Karenin’s business associates, the second concerning a group of men and women known as the ‘conscience of Petersburg society”, and the last belongs to the grand and elite class of individuals who attend social gatherings such as balls. After meeting Vronsky, Anna is more involved with the third social circle, where she often meets Vronsky. =====

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Anna goes to Princess Betsy’s place one evening. The guests are separated into two tables, in which they engage in meaningless and petty conversations. Anna and Vronsky sits in a separate table from the other guests, and talks privately. People noticed the unusually intimate relationship between Anna and Vronsky, thus rumors spread to the ears of Karenin. Upon hearing these rumors, Karenin feels uncomfortable and confronts Anna of her ‘improper’ actions. He pleads her to be careful of what the public thinks of her, and finally tells her he loves her. Anna is doubtful at this comment, and believes that Karenin knows nothing about love. =====

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After about a year, Anna and Vronsky did the deed. Afterwards, Anna feels ashamed and humiliated at herself, she cries and says that Vronsky is all she has left: "Everything is finished. I have nothing but you now. Remember that.". She had a nightmare soon after that both Vronsky and Karenin are her husbands. =====

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Devastated by Kitty’s rejection, Levin retreats to his estate to take his mind off the matter. He prepares the farm for spring, and is involved in both mental and physical work. Oblonsky comes to visit, with the intention of selling his forest. Levin and Oblonsky met the dealer Ryabinin, in which Levin thinks to be a rip-off. He is dissatisfied with their deal, and feels that the dealer is paying far less than the forest is worth. Before Oblonsky leaves, he tells Levin that Kitty is ill and that Vronsky is with Anna. =====

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Vronsky and Anna’s affair is not accepted by the society. Their affair spreads throughout Petersburg, and Vronsky’s mother starts to worry. She opposes the idea of Vronsky pursuing a married woman, especially as “he had refused a post of importance for his career, merely to remain with his regiment and be able to see Anna”. Vronsky is involved in a horse race for officers. Before the race, he visits his horse Frou Frou and feels a connection with her. Then, he visits Anna at her place. He is stuck by her beauty and feels strong emotion towards her. Anna reveals that she is pregnant with his child, and Vronsky proposes that they go away together. Anna is confused and feels helpless, they decide to meet after the race. =====

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Vronsky was almost late to the race. He worked well with Frou Frou, and came in the lead. However, Vronsky made a mistake at one of the obstacles, and fell down with Frou Frou. He kicks his horse in despair, without knowing that her back is broken. The horse had to be shot, and Vronsky felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. =====

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Karenin watches Anna’s reaction during the race. He is confused and feels irritated that Anna’s gaze is fixed on Vronsky. He is unhappy that Anna shows her affection for Vronsky so openly. Anna doesn’t seem to care. Anna is devastated after hearing the accident with Vronsky, and sobs. In the carriage on the way home, Anna confesses to Karenin about her feelings for Vronsky and the situation in which she stands. Karenin could not stand a woman cry, and thus remained motionless, in which Anna interpreted as a ‘machine’. =====

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In germany, Kitty makes friends with Varenka, a young woman adopted by Madame Stahl in which she praises. Varenka devotes her time helping out the unfortunate people, and Kitty tries to imitate this ‘virtuousness’. Kitty confesses to Varenka about the humiliation she experienced from Vronsky, and Varenka assures that marriage is not the only important matter. Kitty’s father came, and changed her view on Madame Stahl. She now believes that a truly virtuous person will do good but not show it. When parting, she asks Varenka to visit her, and she replied that she will when she marry. Kitty explains that she will never marry, but only do so for Varenka’s sake. Kitty returns to Russia, and is fully cured. =====

Part 3

 * =====Koznyshev (Levin's half brother) takes a break from his work to visit Levin in the country=====
 * =====Levin is happy to see his brother however their indifferences extremely annoys him=====
 * =====Koznyshev wants Levin to take on a role of responsibility in the area so that the peasants can have a better life=====
 * =====Levin becomes extremely annoyed and thus goes and spends the day mowing the field with the peasants=====
 * =====The result of a days mowing seems to produce good results as Levin becomes much happier and also improves the tension with his brother=====
 * =====Meanwhile Oblonsky has gone to Petersburg and sends his family to live in their country estate to save money.=====
 * =====Dolly has a hard time adjusting to the hardships of a country life=====
 * =====Levin visits Dolly, and she suggests that he propose to Kitty again=====
 * =====The suggestion embarrasses Levin, and they argue.=====
 * =====Their arguing seems to have an affect on the children, and Dolly scolds the children=====
 * =====Levin inwardly scoffs at Dolly's mother skills and leaves quickly though what he tells her is contradicting to what he thinks=====
 * =====He goes to deal with the sale of his sister's hay-harvest in a village=====
 * =====After the business is all settled, he watches a cheerful peasant family working hard at their labor=====
 * =====Their happiness seems to have a profounding impact on Levin and he questions himself about economics and spiritual happiness=====
 * =====As he leaves the fields, he glimpses Kitty passing in a carriage and realises that he still loves her deeply.=====
 * =====Karenin struggles with Anna's confession about her relationship with Vronsky.=====
 * =====He weighs out his options, thinking about a duel (then realises it is dishonest and foolish), a divorce (however realises that he needs to 'safeguard my reputation, which I need in order to continue my career unhindered'=====
 * =====He finally decides just to tell Anna to break relations off with Vronsky=====
 * =====Outwardly, he will preserve his status quo, however inwardly he realises this will be a punishment for her.=====
 * =====He sends her a letter regarding his decision and throws himself into work.=====
 * =====Anna wakes up in the morning after he outburst from the carriage.=====
 * =====She becomes extremely frightened at the idea that Karenin will throw her out of the house=====
 * =====She starts making a plan about fleeing the place with her son, without Vronsky and thus writes Karenin a letter=====
 * =====Then she receives Karenin's letter and is frightened by his generosity and coldness towards the whole situation=====
 * =====She leaves for a croquet match at Princess Betsy's who has arranged a number of high-society women with their lovers to attend, in order for Anna to 'learn' from their example=====
 * =====Anna is temporarily distracted by the party and the women in it however soon remembers what awaits for her at home and leaves=====
 * =====The same morning, Vronsky spends the morning putting all his financial affairs in order=====
 * =====His friend, Serpukhovskoy visits and offers him a chance to start-jump his career by leaving the regiment.=====
 * =====Vronsky refuses because this job will take him away from Anna =====
 * =====He then goes and meets with Anna, who tells him everything that has happened, but everything most likely will remain the sameV=====
 * =====Vronsky believes that a duel is inevitable however Anna knows her husband better=====
 * =====Karenin does not challenge Vronsky in a duel, rather he is absorbed in his work and is distracted by everything at home=====
 * =====Levin spends the rest of the summer contemplating economic and agricultural strategies=====
 * =====He tries to not think about Kitty, who is staying with Dolly, less than 20 miles away=====
 * =====He visits Sviyazhsky, and they become engaged in a discussion about peasant labor.=====
 * =====He disagrees with Sviyazhksy who thinks that serfdom should be reintroduced=====
 * =====Levin starts to develop a theory of economic labor that involves cooperative labor and ownership. however when he tries his own theory on his farm, the peasants respond differently than he does.=====
 * =====Towards the end of September, Levin receives a surprise visit from Nicholas=====
 * =====Nicholas is very sick and his death is imminent=====
 * =====Though Levin is extremely worried about his brother's health, they do not discuss it, and Nicholas even claims that his health is improving=====
 * =====They fight about Levin's economic theory and Nicholas mocks his brother's beliefs saying that Levin is simply making a distorted form of communism=====
 * =====His brother leaves after their argument and Levin becomes depressed, thinking about death=====

Part 4:

 * ===== Karenin and Anna live together like before =====
 * ===== Vronsky never comes to Anna’s place but they meet elsewhere =====
 * ===== Vronsky acts as a guide to a prince. He tours the prince around nightclubs in Russia =====
 * ===== Vronsky sees himself in the way the prince treats him, and thus feels guilty =====
 * ===== Anna asks Vronsky to go to her place while Karenin has a meeting =====
 * ===== Vronsky falls asleep, and is thus late. He runs into Karenin at the door, and feels humiliated =====
 * ===== Anna’s jealousy is building up, and Vronsky feels frustrated =====
 * ===== Vronsky feels that Anna has changed, and is not as desirable as when they first met =====
 * ===== Vronsky and Anna both had a dream. Anna sees it as foreshadowing her death during childbirth. =====
 * ===== Karenin is furious about Anna not respecting his wish that Vronsky is not to enter their house, and thus lectured Anna. =====
 * ===== Anna feels irritated, and asks for a divorce. Karenin says that their son will stay with his sister, and not Anna. =====
 * ===== Anna is devastated, and feels that Karenin doesn’t love Seryzya, and is only saying so to hurt her. =====
 * ===== Karenin seeks a lawyer for divorce. He does not agree to the ‘mutual consent’ due to his religion. The lawyer tells him that the letters between Vronsky and Anna are not enough, and that physical witness is necessary. =====
 * ===== After Karenin’s victory over Stremov in work, Stremov decided to carry out Karenin’s ideas in an exaggerated way. This turns people against Karenin’s ideas. =====
 * ===== Karenin decides to visit the province, and runs into Oblonsky and Dolly =====
 * ===== Karenin first declined their invitation to dinner, but after persuading him to talk to Dolly, he accepted the invitation =====
 * ===== At dinner, there were Kitty, Levin, Karenin, Oblonsky, Dolly, Pestrov, and Kozynshev. =====
 * ===== When they arrived, Kitty and Levin are happy to see each other. They have their own conversation. =====
 * ===== Dolly talks to Karenin about Anna. She believes that Anna is innocent, and that made Karenin upset. =====
 * ===== Dolly tells Oblonsky to forgive Anna like he forgave Oblonsky, Karenin refuses and leaves =====
 * ===== Kitty and Levin were in the drawing room. They conversed through writing alphabets in chalk. It is revealed that they both have feelings for each other, and they decide to announce this to their parents. =====
 * ===== Everyone is happy about Kitty and Levin. They are getting married. =====
 * ===== Before the marriage, Levin told kitty about his past, that he is not a virgin and is not a believer =====
 * ===== Kitty is upset that Levin has touched other women before, but forgives him. Levin feels like he does not deserve Kitty. =====
 * ===== Karenin receives notice that Anna is sick =====
 * ===== He goes back to Petersburg, and realizes that he desires Anna’s death and feels ashamed =====
 * ===== Anna gave birth to a baby girl, also named Anna. At the bed, she asks Karenin to forgive him and Vronsky, and he does. =====
 * ===== Karenin starts to proceed with the divorce. =====
 * ===== Anna hates Karenin for his virtuousness, and wish to put an end to all the drama =====
 * ===== Oblonsky tells Karenin of Anna’s feelings, and feels proud of being the mediator between the two. =====
 * ===== Vronsky got offered a job elsewhere, and decides to go. When he heard that Karenin and Anna are getting a divorce, he runs to her place. =====
 * ===== Anna and Vronsky goes abroad due to her illness. =====

Part 5

 * =====For many reasons, Levin and Kitty make room in their country house for many people=====
 * =====Dolly and her children, Varenka, Princess Shcherbatskaya, as well as Koznyshev are all visiting=====
 * =====Koznyshev is attracted to Varenka and this excites everyone, especially Kitty=====
 * =====Kitty and Dolly scheme about the possibility for Kozyshev's proposal while the Princess worries about Kitty and the baby=====
 * =====Koznyshev decides that he has his opportunity to propose when Varenka and him go out to pick mushrooms=====
 * =====However when he approaches Varenka, his timidity takes over and they talk about mushrooms.=====
 * =====As the moment passes, both know that it will never happen again=====
 * =====Oblonsky arrives with Vasenka Veslovsky, and Levin is irritated because he was expected the old Prince=====
 * =====He immediately sees Veslovsky's attraction to Kitty, and becomes very jealous and insecure=====
 * =====He agrees to go on a hunting trip with Veslovsky and Oblonsky and Veslovsky's ineptitude comforts him=====
 * =====However as they return to the house, Veslovsky continues his flirting with Kitty, which makes Kitty extremely nervous and embarrassed=====
 * =====Dolly assures Levin that he has nothing to be worried about however Levin still decides to throw Veslovsky out=====
 * =====Everyone becomes shocked, however Levin feels better and does not regret what he did=====
 * =====Everyone eventually sees the humor in the situation and laughs about it except for the Princess=====
 * =====Dolly goes to visit Anna at Vronsky's contry estate=====
 * =====She worries about her children and their health however is determined to visit Anna=====
 * =====She sees Anna and is impressed by the luxurious surroundings of Vronsky's estate and Anna's virality however as the visit continues, she becomes disturbed=====
 * =====There are other visitors at Vronsky's estate including: Princess Barbara, Veslovsky, and Dolly realises that the vistors are of a lower class than they usually associate with=====
 * =====Vronsky seems to be happy and is busy as a large landowner, and is becoming involved in local politics; however Dolly soon realises that there is a great deal of turmoil beneath the surface of their lives=====
 * =====Despite Vronsky's constant urging, Anna refuses to acceptn Karenin's offer of a divorce=====
 * =====Vronskt wishes that his children will be legitament so that they may inherit his lands=====
 * =====Dolly tries to convince Anna as well, but Anna refuses to accept it. In addition, Dolly also notices that Anna does not seem to be interest with their little girl.=====
 * =====Anna tells Dolly that she has been practicing birth control as she cannot get pregnant again or else Vronsky will not find her attractive=====
 * =====Dolly leaves the next day feeling extremely relieved when she arrives at Levins, however she still continues to defend Anna even with her uncomfortable trip=====
 * =====Vronsky goes to Moscow for the provincial nobility elections, leaving Anna at home. He expected her to argue with him but she does not. Though this disturbs him, he still leaves=====
 * =====The Levin's also move to Moscow and Levin attends the election.=====
 * =====He becomes bored and impatient with the entire affair; the debate is endless=====
 * =====Levin makes a few social mistakes at the elections=====
 * =====Levin and Vronsky meet. Whereas Vronsky is charming, Levin is rude to him=====
 * =====Vronsky stays a day longer and throws a dinner party for the victors.=====
 * =====Reveling in the masculine company and discussion, Vronsky is extremely happy and satisfied until he receives a note from Anna telling him to return home at once as their baby girl is sick.=====
 * =====When arriving at home, he realises that the note was a ruse for Anna=====
 * =====Princess Barbara complains that Anna takes morphia when he is gone and Anna tells him that she is jealous and lonely=====
 * =====They reunite passionately however Vronsky feels agitated by her constant demands=====
 * =====Anna realises that he craves freedom and sees that their future relationship depends on it however she realises that she is unable to give him any more space and decides to marry him in order to secure their relationship=====
 * =====She tells Vronsky that she will write to Karenin for a divorce and the couple moves to Moscow.=====

Part 6:

 * =====Dolly moves in with Levin and Kitty for Summer=====
 * ===== Varenka comes for summer =====
 * ===== Dolly and Kitty plans to set up Sergei with Varenka, but Sergei is spiritual whereas Varenka not so much =====
 * ===== Sergei and Varenka, however, likes each other. Sergei thinks of proposing to her, and nearly proposed when they went to pick mushrooms. At the last minute he did not, as he felt guilty towards his ex-lover. =====
 * ===== At that point they both realize that this marriage will never happen =====
 * ===== Oblonksy brought a friend Veslovsky, and he flirts with Kitty. Levin is extremely jealous and argued with Kitty. =====
 * ===== Levin feels bad about his anger, and feels that Veslovsky is over-all a good man. They go to hunt, and Veslovsky continuously bothers Levin. =====
 * ===== Veslovsky accidentally set his gun off, which resulted in the cart being stuck in marsh =====
 * ===== They discuss about a rich neighbor, and Levin shows contempt. Oblonsky says Levin does not work for money, yet is a nobleman, which upset and frustrate Levin. =====
 * ===== Levin goes off while Oblonsky and Veslovsky went to find farm girls. =====
 * ===== The next morning, Levin goes hunting alone with his hunting dog. =====
 * ===== They managed to catch several snipe, and Levin is delighted by their performance =====
 * ===== Levin brings back the snipe and is irritated that Oblonsky and Veslovsky finished all the beef left =====
 * ===== Veslovsky argues with Kitty whether love is ‘free’ and subjected to social conventions. =====
 * ===== Levin and Kitty argue and make up again =====
 * ===== Levin, frustrated and irritated by Veslovsky, kicked him out. =====
 * ===== Dolly plans to visit Anna. =====
 * ===== Dolly thinks deeply, and realize the way Anna lives her life is her choice =====
 * ===== Dolly also ponders upon whether she could ever be loved. =====
 * ===== Dolly meets Anna, Veslovsky and Princess Oblonskaya. She saw anna riding the horse in an ‘improper way’ =====
 * ===== Anna says that all she want is to live, and is grateful to survive past tortures =====
 * ===== Anna tells them that Vronsky is investing in building a hospital for the community =====
 * ===== Dolly feels self-conscious when she sits in a luxurious room Anna thinks ordinary =====
 * ===== When Anna present her daughter to Dolly, Dolly is irritated by the governess. =====
 * ===== Dolly is jealous of Anna’s life. =====
 * ===== Vronsky asks Dolly to persuade Anna for a divorce, as he wants to adopt their child. =====
 * ===== Over dinner, they talked about the zemstvo, and Vronsky says it is a nobleman’s duty to carry out the activities in zemstvo =====
 * ===== Dolly defends Levin and says that he is a responsible person =====
 * ===== Veslovsky flirts with Anna, and Dolly is irritated =====
 * ===== Dolly asks Anna about a possible divorce, and Anna says that her illness does not allow her to have children, and thus it is for the best. =====
 * ===== Dolly feels grateful for her own life, thinking that she does not need medicine to fall asleep =====
 * ===== Vronsky goes to a local election. Levin goes as well, and is frustrated by the proceedings. =====
 * ===== Levin has a conversation with the landowner he met on the way to Sviyazhsky’s house =====
 * ===== The landowner thinks the election is of little significance, and that farming is still bleak as ever. =====
 * ===== Levin is upset and wants to leave the election =====
 * ===== Vronsky hosts a party but then receives a note from Anna telling him to return home to her and her sick daughter. =====
 * ===== Anna is upset and says she does not want to be separated from Vronsky again =====
 * ===== Anna decides to ask Karenin for a divorce. =====

Part 7


 * The Levin’s have been at Moscow for over two months and Kitty’s child is overdue
 * Everyone in the house seems to be worried except Kitty
 * The relationship between Kitty and Levin seems to be improving as they rarely argue now
 * Kitty meets Vronsky when she visits a family friend and she treats him civilly.
 * Levin finds it uncomfortable living in the city because he finds it difficult to work on his agricultural book and also finds it hard making social calls.
 * He renews his friendship with Katavasov and meets new intellectuals like Metrov
 * He goes to a very awkward visit to the Bols family and meets Oblonsky who sweeps him away with typical charm
 * Under Oblonsky’s charm, Levin makes peace with Vronsky and finally agrees to visit Anna, who he has never met before
 * Levin goes to the Vronskys’ home and sees Anna’s portrait and his completely struck by the beauty of the portrait.
 * He is charmed by Anna and when he returns home, Kitty is upset that he went and visited Anna and sees that he has evidently been ‘bewitched’.
 * Levin spends the rest of the night, reassuring Kitty his love for her until all is well again.
 * After Levin leaves, Anna starts to think about her situation. She knows that she purposely wanted to charm Levin to test her ‘charm’.
 * She starts and thinks about her relationship with Vronsky and realizes that her hold over him is crumbling.
 * When Vronsky returns home, she is upset and they greet each other with hostility
 * She realizes that she is self-destructing herself but cannot stop herself. The fact that Karenin has not yet her anything regarding their divorce also puts more tension in the air
 * Kitty wakes Levin up one night and tells him that she is not feeling well; she is in fact is going into labor.
 * Mary, the midwife, is sent for and Levin goes and fetches the doctor
 * The doctor keeps him waiting for hours and tells Levin that there is no rush
 * During labor, Levin is deeply worried and though he is not a believer of God, he prays to him. For the first time in years, he thinks of his brother Nicholas
 * The birth takes 22 hours and the child is a boy. Levin is filled with joy and happiness
 * Oblonsky, on the other hand, is plagued by debt and sets off towards Petersburg to find a more lucrative post as a committee member for a railroad company
 * In obtaining this post he faces with many humiliations
 * He also goes and visits Karenin to press him about divorcing Anna
 * Karenin reacts to the divorce with great emotion and claims that his Christianity will not allow him to do such a thing
 * Oblonsky also sees Seryozha, who has painfully tried to forget his mother because he is pained by her memory, however the appearance of Oblonsky has reminded him once again of those painful memories and he cries after Oblonsky leaves
 * Oblonsky soon hears that the fate of his sister depends on Jules Landau, a half-wit mystic who supposedly gives remarkable advice while he's asleep
 * Oblonsky goes and visits Princess Lydia in an effort to procure his job, however he finds Lydia and Karenin there as well as Landau.
 * A bizarre scene occurs there: Landau offers advice while sleeping
 * Oblonsky flees the scene and the next day he receives a definite 'no' to the divorce
 * Anna and Vronsky's relationship continue to become bitter as Anna becomes more and more jealous, and Vronsky becomes much more distant
 * Anna wishes to move back to the country because his mother encourages Vronsky to marry Princess Sorokin.
 * Vronsky agrees however he does not want to leave right away as he has to go and visit his mother the next day
 * Anna begins to suspect that his mother is trying to arrange a marriage between Vronsky and Princess Sorokin and she becomes extremely furious which causes another fight
 * Vronsky leaves in the morning with disgust and Anna writes Vronsky a desperate note begging for his forgiveness and pleading for him to return
 * Not wanting to be alone, she goes off to visit Dolly because she wants to talk to someone about her troubles
 * When she arrives at Dolly's, Kitty is there and the whole situation becomes awkward as there is little to talk about.
 * Anna does not get the opportunity to talk to Dolly so she leaves and returns home.
 * Once at home, she feels disgusted and repulsive to everything and everyone around her.
 * She desperately wants to see Vronsky and leaves for the Nizhni train station, hoping to catch a train out to his mother's estate.
 * On the way to the train station, Anna's mental state becomes unstable as she begins to see the world with hatred and ugliness and misery.
 * She reviles the people in the station and on the train and gets off the train after one stop
 * She runs into Vronsky's coachman who gives her a cold note from Vronsky
 * She becomes extremely depressed and insane with misery, and wanders around the platform
 * As she walks, she suddenly remembers the porter who died the first day that she met Vronsky and finally decided what she must do to be released from her misery
 * She goes onto the tracks and waits for the next train
 * She begs God for forgiveness and as she looks up, her last vision is of the dirty peasant from her dream, and then everything is blacked out.

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Part 8


 * ===== Two months after Anna’s death, Koznshev’s book is published =====
 * ===== He spent six years on this work, and expects public recognition =====
 * ===== His book seems to have little effects on the public =====
 * ===== He redirects his focus to the movement of slavic groups =====
 * ===== Vronsky is among the volunteers in the military support to the Slavs =====
 * ===== Koznyshev meets his mother, and she tells him about the effect of Anna’s death on Vronsky =====
 * ===== The countess looks down at Anna for ruining two men’s lives. =====
 * ===== Koznyshev meets with Vronsky, who thinks he has nothing left for him but death. =====
 * ===== Kitty feeds her son Mitya, and is glad that there are visitors to help Levin get his mind off the questions he has on religion =====
 * ===== Levin starts to focus on many philosophical questions which he is unable to answer. He feels that without knowing who he is and why he is alive, he can not live, and thus thought about suicide. =====
 * ===== However, Levin does not suicide and continues to live. When taking his mind off these questions, he finds life much simpler =====
 * ===== Levin is sympathetic towards peasant workers who will be forgotten =====
 * ===== Fyodor (a peasant) tells Levin that the local innkeeper only lives for himself, unlike other people who live to fulfill their duties to God (goodness). =====
 * ===== Fyodor’s words helps Levin reach an epiphany, in which he realizes that he has been living for God all along =====
 * ===== He realizes that without a ‘Creator’, men will not know what is evil and what is good, and the ‘laws’ of god guides men =====
 * ===== Levin witness Dolly scolding her children about breaking cups and spilling milk, and decides that people engage in intellectual thinking instead of living life as it is =====
 * ===== Levin thanks God for finding faith, and decides to never argue again =====
 * ===== Levin quarrels with Coachman immediately after =====
 * ===== Levin feels bad, however he believes that faith will not leave him despite his moral incapabilities =====
 * ===== Levin argues with Koznyshev and Katavasov and decides that he is helpless against their wits =====
 * ===== Suddenly, a thunderstorm came, while Kitty was still out in the woods with Mitya =====
 * ===== Levin rushes and finds them safe, at the moment he suddenly realizes his love for Mitya, his son. =====
 * ===== Levin thinks to himself whether or not he should tell Kitty about his ‘epiphany’, and decides not to. =====
 * ===== He believes that the meaning of life is the amount of goodness one invest into it. =====