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Part 4, Chapter 15
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
The Princess begins to discuss the logistics of the marriage, which feels strange and almost painful in the ecstatic moment. Levin thinks they should be wed immediately, but the Princess insists on proper preparation, and everyone begins discussing arrangements.
Levin has difficulty dealing with mundane details when he is swept up by his emotions. His overwhelming love for Kitty makes him unable to care about trivial, concrete details; later, when his brother is dying, he also cannot concentrate on pragmatic logistics.
Themes
Levin has decided that even though it’s painful for him, he must tell Kitty that he is not a virgin and that he is not a believer. He discusses both of these with the Prince, and with the father’s permission, he gives Kitty a diary that explains both of these matters. Kitty accepts him, though tearfully, and Levin feels even more unworthy of her.
Levin’s written confession to Kitty parallels Tolstoy’s own confession to his wife: he supposedly had his wife read his diary, which exposed all the sins of his youth. Yet it is also a sign of deep trust and openness. Levin and Kitty trust each other and bond at a level beyond words.
Themes
