Anna Karenina - Week 02 / Part 1, Chapters XV -XXXIV

[Gem , Moderator]

Week 2 covers the second half of Part 1 (Chapters XV - XXXIV). In this part of the book, we meet Anna Karenina.

1) What initial impressions do you have about Anna? Did this impression change during the description of her behavior at the ball and the effect it had on Kitty?

2) Do you feel Anna's relationship with her brother and his wife Dolly is a good one? How do you think this dynamic may play out as the book progresses? Do you think that it was Anna who influenced Dolly to change her mind and forgive her husband or do you think Dolly simply realized that she could not manage (financially, emotionally, etc.) alone?

3) What about this Vronsky fella? I'm seeing him as a man with no character, a scoundrel if you will. When he learns Kitty refused Levin's proposal he feels like a conquering hero, knowing he has no intention of marrying Kitty himself. Why, do you think, he didn't tell Kitty that either upfront or upon hearing she refused Levin?

4) Anna's passion has been awakened by her interactions with Vronsky. This has colored her view of her life, in general, how she views her husband and even her son. The grass is always greener, so to speak. What effect will this have on her, her life, and her relationships?

5) What is the significance, if there is one, between the opulence of the ball and Levin's down-to-earth home and lifestyle which makes him so happy? This certainly is a contrast. Had Kitty accepted Levin's proposal, do you think she would have been able to adjust to his lifestyle and truly been happy?

[Charlotte]

I love this book so much. Enjoying all the romance, drinking it all in with all senses wide open. This might become one of my favorite books.

My first favorite chapter is chapter 23. I am literally heartbroken for Kitty! The language and the style of storytelling moves my heart in a powerful way.

That one sentence: “No one other than she herself understood her situation. No one knew that yesterday she had declined a man that she might love, and she had declined him, because she believed in another.”

It is so powerful. The events leading up to it are not crystal clear. The way she declined Levin, it was not described in a way that she had made up her mind, she just declined him. And now everything is clear to her and to us.

And all this is written in a very simple language. But there is no need for embellishment. This is more powerful. I am awestruck.

[Charlotte]

Anna and Vronsky are attracted to eachother. Anna keeps explaining to herself that she did nothing wrong. So was it her who initiated and kindled the flame of passion? Or was it Vronsky? We don’t know who pushed it forward, do we?

[Francis]

Anna seems oblivious that she has done anything wrong to Kitty.

Yes, I think the relationship she has with Stiva & especially Dolly is a good one.

I don't see Vronsky that way at all. I'll tell y'all about my impressions of him later.

5) That is one of the beautiful aspects of AK the contrasts.

[Francis]

Charlotte wrote: "I love this book so much. Enjoying all the romance, drinking it all in with all senses wide open. This might become one of my favorite books.

My first favorite chapter is chapter 23. I am literall..."

Very good observations. Enjoy the journey.

[Alice]

The ball is splendid—just splendid (and oh! Anna’s dress . . . ) In addition to the contrast with Levin’s country home, there’s also something going on with the night train ride through the blizzard. Maybe not a contrast exactly but more like an externalization of what Anna experiences as she starts to process the whirling, swirling, disruptive emotion that began at the ball. The colors are the same: Anna’s skin and the white lace (at her waist) against the black of her dress, the black of the train hurtling through the white snow . . . I’m not sure what it all means, but oh, is it ever gorgeous.

[Charlotte]

Chapter 29 is one of my favorite chapters. I can fully follow Anna’s experience of coming alive by the spark of passion:

“She felt as though her nerves were strings being strained tighter and tighter on some sort of screwing peg. She felt her eyes opening wider and wider, her fingers and toes twitching nervously, something within oppressing her breathing, while all shapes and sounds seemed in the uncertain half-light to strike her with unaccustomed vividness. Moments of doubt were continually coming upon her, when she was uncertain whether the train were going forwards or backwards, or were standing still altogether; whether it were Annushka at her side or a stranger. "What's that on the arm of the chair, a fur cloak or some beast? And what am I myself? Myself or some other woman?" She was afraid of giving way to this delirium. But something drew her towards it, and she could yield to it or resist it at will.”

[Charlotte]

Anna’s husband is not very well described to me. It might be because of my Danish translation. What kind of man is he? Is he repulsive? Or what characteristics would you use to describe him? (And why did she marry him?)

Very often, there is something in the description of him that is trying to show something, but I don’t really understand what it is Tolstoy wants to show. For instance in chapter 31, towards the ending, Aleksej says,

“I was lucky that I had half an hour, so I could meet you and show to you my devotion“, he continued, in the same playful tone.

“When you stress your devotion in that way, I cannot appreciate it.”

(freely translated from Danish)

(I don’t really understand what Tolstoy wants to show about the character, when he writes these things.)

[Alice]

My impression is that here and elsewhere he makes a point of pretending to act as a loving husband, in so pointed a way that the main thing Anna receives from him is this pretense, and a vacuum where the actual love should be. It’s like he’s making fun of her all the time, sneering at the motions they go through but (in his view) do not mean, in order to look like a happy and loving couple. When he does this he reinforces the emptiness of the marriage. What (if anything) Anna has done to deserve this I don’t know, since getting treated this way by her husband seems to predate her acquaintance with Vronsky.

[Charlotte]

Thanks, Alice,
It is nice to get some input from other readers. I see it clearer now.

[Francis]

Alice wrote: "My impression is that here and elsewhere he makes a point of pretending to act as a loving husband, in so pointed a way that the main thing Anna receives from him is this pretense, and a vacuum whe..."

My impression is that Anna detests her husband and her exposure to Vronsky only exacerbates his shortcomings. I think her husband is a loving person in his own way, But Anna is looking for passion. Her husband may not be passionate enough. But where does being a good provider and father factor in this equation.

[Ceane]

I am also loving this book. The way Tolstoy excels at both external and internal descriptions of the characters is amazing (how they appear to an observer and their internal experience).
I agree that Vronsky seems to be quite the scoundrel, very focused on his own immediate pleasure without regard for the consequences his actions may have for others. We saw this in his relationship with Kitty, and I’m guessing that the same will become apparent with Anna eventually. I think he probably didn’t tell Kitty of his intentions (or lack thereof) so that he could continue to enjoy his flirtation with all her flattering attention. However, perhaps due to his upbringing, I do think he was a bit clueless as to how Kitty must be feeling with her expectations of marriage and wasn’t intentionally trying to hurt her.
I do think Anna’s relationship with her brother and his wife seems like a good one, and it did seem like Anna actually did have a significant influence on Dolly’s attitude toward the situation with Stephan. We learn early in the book that Stephan got his job through Anna’s husband. I’m wondering if it could be threatened if (when) Anna and Alexey’s relationship takes a turn for the worse.

[Ceane]

Alice wrote: "The ball is splendid—just splendid (and oh! Anna’s dress . . . ) In addition to the contrast with Levin’s country home, there’s also something going on with the night train ride through the blizzar..."

Alice, hadn’t noticed the parallels here—thanks for this. I also loved the description of the ball and the dress— how the dress itself is described, but also how T. captures exactly what it is about the dress that makes it so beautiful on Anna.

[Ceane]

Charlotte wrote: "Anna’s husband is not very well described to me. It might be because of my Danish translation. What kind of man is he? Is he repulsive? Or what characteristics would you use to describe him? (And w..."

I hope we get to find out why Anna married him. Early on Kitty describes his appearance as “unromantic.” Alexey seems to me to be a “Type A” personality, removed from his emotions, who uses work as a way not only to achieve (he is very ambitious) but as a way of avoiding the relational, emotional side of life.

[Gem , Moderator]

Charlotte wrote: "Anna keeps explaining to herself that she did nothing wrong.

In my mind, having to keep telling yourself you did nothing wrong, often means you did do something wrong.

[Gem , Moderator]

Charlotte wrote: "(And why did she marry him?)"

I don't remember anything being said about the marriage. I wonder if it was arranged?

[Renee]

I get her that Anna’s husband is quite a bit older than she. Also that he’s rather boring from one of the conversations in the first section. How old is Vronsky?

[Gem , Moderator]

Renee wrote: "I get her that Anna’s husband is quite a bit older than she."

I missed that. That can definitely explain some of what's going on with her.

[Bonnie]

Charlotte wrote: "Anna’s husband is not very well described to me. It might be because of my Danish translation. What kind of man is he? Is he repulsive? Or what characteristics would you use to describe him? (And why did she marry him?)"

I felt while reading about Karenin here that I didn't know him yet, that I didn't know if he was generally good or bad guy. Some of his arch comments, I thought, could be interpreted as humorous, gentle teasing and appreciative jokes IF they get along and enjoy one another's company. Or are they examples of him being emotionally cold, mocking the idea of affection and a happy home? Did Tolstoy mean for me to wonder this, or was it clear at the time? Her noting negative things about his looks (those ears!), haircut, expressions... doesn't bode well for their life and relationship.

Speaking of relationships (and ears...) Would Kitty and Levin be happy together? In real life, in this day and age probably not... would be like Prince Charles and Diana Princess of Wales. Almost twice her age, likes the isolated country rather than the busy city, rustic food instead of banquets and balls... On the other hand, if he is a good person and treats her well over time and they stay connected emotionally, rather than him going out to eat without her and going to salons and drinking and hanging out with his buddies at the club... She is probably more likely to be happy with Levin than Vronsky over the long term, because he would be a better partner.

[Bonnie]

Charlotte wrote: "My first favorite chapter is chapter 23. I am literally heartbroken for Kitty! The language and the style of storytelling moves my heart in a powerful way."

Yes! That paragraph where she looks like a beautiful butterfly ready to unfold rainbow wings, but actually despair is gripping her heart, she is so humiliated she is trying to keep from crying.

I can feel this from the end of Chapter 22:

Kitty looked admiringly at Anna waltzing as she listened to him. She was expecting him to invite her for the waltz, but he did not, and she glanced at him in surprise. He blushed and hurriedly invited her to waltz, but barely had he put his arm around her slender waist and taken the first step when the music abruptly stopped. Kitty looked at his face, which was such a short distance from hers, and years later that look full of love which she gave him, and which he did not reciprocate, would still tear at her heart with an agonizing sense of shame.

(Bartlett translation)

[Bonnie]

Alice wrote: "The ball is splendid—just splendid (and oh! Anna’s dress..) In addition to the contrast with Levin’s country home, there’s also something going on with the night train ride through the blizzard. Maybe not a contrast exactly but more like an externalization of what Anna experiences as she starts to process the whirling, swirling, disruptive emotion that began at the ball. The colors are the same: Anna’s skin and the white lace (at her waist) against the black of her dress, the black of the train hurtling through the white snow... I’m not sure what it all means, but oh, is it ever gorgeous."

What cool parallels! I never would have noticed that on my own. Anna also had a bright red bag on the train, was there anything red at the ball?!

I wondered what book she was reading, and look who has a YouTube video on that very thing, our literary guru who talked about the translations.
What Book is Anna Karenina Reading on the Train?
https://youtu.be/QR68ENng6T4

I would think you could figure it out from the "Lady Mary" reference.
Should I be able to figure this out, since i read Trollope's Palliser novels with this group just a few years ago?! Well seems like *someone* on the Internet would have figured it out by now.

[Gem , Moderator]

Bonnie wrote: "What cool parallels! I never would have noticed that on my own."

This is one of the reasons I love reading with this group. So many thought-provoking comments. So many things get pointed out that I would have caught on my own.