Summary
Vronsky brings his financial accounts into balance. Despite
rumors of his huge fortune, he actually leads a hand-to-mouth existence. However,
he adheres to a rule he imposed on himself long before and refuses
to ask his mother for a loan. Vronsky obeys his rules of conduct
rigorously, and it is only with the recent appearance of Anna in
his life that he has felt conflicted about proper behavior.
Upon learning of Anna’s pregnancy, Vronsky feels that
he should resign from military service. He is reluctant to give
up his professional ambitions, however, especially because his old
school friend—and friendly rival—Serpukhovskoy has recently found fame.
Serpukhovskoy warns Vronsky to be wary of women, as they can hold
a man back from his full career potential.
Vronsky sets off for Anna’s country house, where she has arranged
a meeting with him. On the way, he feels he loves her more than
ever, and his pulse quickens upon his first glimpse of her. Anna reveals
to Vronsky that she has told her husband about their adulterous
affair. Vronsky fears a duel, but after reading Karenin’s letter to
Anna he does not know how to react. Vronsky thinks about Serpukhovskoy’s
advice to him but knows he cannot tell Anna about it. He advises
Anna to abandon Seryozha, her son with Karenin, and put an end to
the humiliating situation by obtaining a divorce. Anna bursts out
sobbing, saying that she is not humiliated but proud.
Karenin delivers a speech before the commission on the
relocation of the Russian native tribes, and it is a brilliant success.
Anna goes to her home in St. Petersburg to talk with her husband.
She reaffirms to him that she is the one at fault but says that
she cannot change anything. Karenin, exclusively concerned about
defending his honor, makes only one demand—that Vronsky never set
foot in his home. Anna and Karenin part.
Meanwhile, Levin has come to loathe the farm work he once enjoyed.
He feels worn down from his unending struggle with the peasants
over their reluctance to adopt new technological innovations for
farming. More tormenting is the nearby presence of Kitty at Yergushovo;
Levin yearns to see her but feels he cannot. Dolly tries to lure
Levin to visit—and encounter Kitty—by requesting to borrow a saddle
from him. Levin merely sends the saddle by courier, without visiting
Dolly’s house personally.
The torture of being near Kitty but not with her eventually becomes
unbearable, so Levin takes off to visit his friend Sviyazhsky, who
lives far away. On the way, Levin stops to eat at the home of a
prosperous peasant. The peasant and his healthy family impress Levin,
as does the farmer’s obvious financial success. The old farmer asserts
that landowners cannot rely on hired men, for peasants handle a
farm best on their own.
