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Part 5, Chapter 19
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
When Nikolai is given the last rites, he feels much better for a moment, but the illusion does not last long; indeed, Nikolai confesses that the apparent recovery was a ruse for Kitty’s sake. That evening, Marya tells them that Nikolai is dying, and Levin and Kitty rush over. Levin stays by his brother’s side all night; however, Nikolai does not die that night, nor the next, nor the next, but his suffering increases.
Nikolai cannot die a clean, pure, painless death; instead, he lingers even after the priest has given the last rites, hovering in the horrible state between life and death. Nikolai’s entire life has sunk into a miserable, wretched, disgraceful state, and his death is no different.
Themes
Ten days after Levin and Kitty have rushed over, Kitty become sick and vomits. That night, she visits Nikolai. Marya predicts that this is the night he will die, and so he does. After this mystery of death, the doctor confirms that Kitty is pregnant.
