Summary
As Levin and Kitty’s wedding date is set, Levin remains
in his blissful daze. He performs all the duties expected of him
but is almost mad with joy. Stiva reminds Levin that he must go
to confession before his wedding. Levin meets with the priest and
confesses that he doubts everything, including the existence of
God. The priest sternly warns Levin that the Christianity of his
future offspring is at stake. Later, Levin enjoys a bachelor party
with his brother Sergei and Sergei’s university friend, Katavasov.
The bachelors ask Levin if he is prepared to give up his freedom
for the constraints of marriage. Levin, feeling insecure and wondering
why Kitty should ever love him at all, asks Kitty whether she wants
to go through with the wedding. They have a brief argument but are
reconciled.
That evening, the wedding guests await the groom in the
church. Levin is late because a mix-up involving his clothes has
left him without a proper shirt to wear. The ceremony is delayed
and the guests become impatient, but Levin finally arrives at the
church. Kitty cannot understand the priest’s words as she hears
them, for she is swept away by love. Levin cries during the ceremony.
The wedding concludes majestically, and Levin and Kitty leave for
his country estate.
Vronsky and Anna, meanwhile, travel in Italy for three
months together and settle down and rent a palazzo. Vronsky, seeking
distraction, is delighted to meet an old school friend, Golenishchev. Golenishchev
and Anna get along well. Vronsky listens as Golenishchev expounds
on the book he is writing, and Anna tells Golenishchev that Vronsky
has taken up painting.
Anna, for her part, has been very happy. Far from Russia,
she feels no more disgrace. Vronsky is less contented, however:
all his desires are satisfied, so he misses desire itself. He begins
to paint a portrait of Anna. Hearing of a Russian painter named
Mikhailov who lives in their town, Vronsky reflects on the new generation
of Russian intellectuals who have talent but lack education. Anna, intrigued,
proposes visiting Mikhailov.
When Vronsky and Anna arrive at Mikhailov’s studio, the
artist is flattered to receive attention from wealthy Russians.
He shows them a painting in progress, a scene from the life of Jesus
Christ. Anna and Vronsky praise Mikhailov’s rendering of Pontius
Pilate, and Anna delights in the expression of pity on Jesus’ face.
The visitors enjoy even more a landscape painting of Russian boys
relaxing by a river. Vronsky asks whether the latter painting is
for sale and hires Mikhailov to paint Anna’s portrait. Vronsky abandons
his own portrait of Anna and becomes dissatisfied with their Italian
life.
Levin slowly adjusts to married life. He imagines that
Kitty needs only to be loved, forgetting that she has desires and
aspirations of her own. Kitty throws herself into housekeeping with
gusto in a way that initially annoys Levin but then pleases him.
Quarrels occasionally erupt. One day, Levin gets lost on the way
home from the fields, and Kitty is jealous and suspicious of where
he has been. He is offended but then forgives her.
