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Part 2, Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Anna Karenina, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Marriage and Family Life
Adultery and Jealousy
Physical Activity and Movement
Society and Class
Farming and Rural Life
Compassion and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
At the French Theater, Vronsky tells Princess Betsy a titillating story about two officers, Petritsky and a friend, who are in Vronsky’s regiment. While drunk, the officers chase a pretty young woman up to her apartment; however, her husband, a Titular Councilor, emerges and yells at the officers, and Vronsky must attempt to broker peace between the Councilor and the officers. The regimental commander is angry with the officers at first, but Vronsky’s story amuses him.
The bawdy story that Vronsky tells as well as everybody’s amused reactions stand in stark contrast to Kitty’s humiliation. Kitty is ashamed when the doctor examines her naked, but Princess Betsy only laughs, unconcerned, at Vronsky’s tale. Raunchy behavior by young men is standard practice in Vronsky’s society.
Themes
