Summary
“Respect was invented to cover the empty
place where love should be. But if you don’t love me, it would be better
and more honest to say so.”
(See Important Quotations Explained)
The Oblonskys’ finances worsen, and Dolly demands control
over her portion of their fortune. The family does not have enough money
to pay the bills. Stiva resolves to get a cushy appointment on a
railroad commission. He goes to St. Petersburg to speaks to Karenin
about the job, as well as about his sister, Anna. Karenin claims that
Anna’s life no longer interests him but promises to give Stiva a definitive
answer about the divorce the next day. On his way out, Stiva meets
Seryozha, who is now an older schoolboy who claims not to remember
his mother. Stiva then visits Betsy Tverskaya and talks to the freethinking
Princess Miagky. The latter calls Karenin stupid, saying he has
become a follower of a famous French psychic named Landau.
Stiva visits Lydia Ivanovna and meets Karenin and Landau.
Stiva tries to talk about Anna, but Lydia will talk only of religion.
They discuss theology at length. Lydia believes that man is saved
by faith alone—not, as Stiva believes, through good deeds. When
Lydia reads aloud from a religious tract, Stiva and Landau fall
into a slumber. Stiva awakens to hear Landau—who is allegedly talking
in his sleep—tell an unidentified woman to leave the room. The next
day, Karenin informs Stiva that he has decided, based on Landau’s
dream speech, to refuse Anna’s request for a divorce.
Anna and Vronsky continue to reside in Moscow, though
their relationship is tense and unhappy. Anna is deeply jealous
and paranoid, feeling that Vronsky no longer loves her and making unfounded
assertions that he must be involved with another woman. Anna knows
she is being unfair but cannot control her emotions. She and Vronsky
argue about women’s rights and women’s education, which he dismisses.
Vronsky tries to hide Stiva’s telegram informing him that Karenin
will not grant a divorce, but Anna demands to know Karenin’s decision
and says she accepts it.
Anna decides that she and Vronsky must go to the country
immediately. Vronsky agrees to go but says he must finish some business with
his mother first. Anna demands that he go now or not at all, and
she even slights Vronsky’s mother. Vronsky asks Anna to respect
his mother, but Anna criticizes the whole idea of respect, calling
it a replacement for love. Anna becomes more miserable, and Vronsky’s
attempts to appease her fail. For the first time ever, they quarrel
for an entire day. Anna is convinced their relationship is over,
and she falls into despair. Vronsky departs to visit his mother.
After Vronsky leaves for the train station, Anna regrets
her unfair treatment of him and sends an apologetic note asking
to speak to him. She reflects that she wants only to live and that
she knows they love each other deeply. Later, Anna sends Vronsky
a telegram requesting he return immediately.
Restless, and not having received a response, Anna drives
to Dolly’s to say farewell. Kitty hesitates to greet Anna but finally emerges
and feels sympathy for her. Anna drives home, reflecting on the
fact that all humans hate one another. She receives a curt telegram
from Vronsky saying he cannot return before ten o’clock. Anna grows
furious, interpreting the reply as a cold dismissal. She resolves
to go meet Vronsky at the station.
