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Part 6, Chapter 32
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
Although Kitty’s baby is long overdue, Kitty is calm and happy, already in love with the child. Kitty’s only concern is that Levin is anxious and jumpy in the city. In the country, Levin is constantly occupied, but in the city, he has nothing to do: he doesn’t play cards, go to the club, or flirt. He also doesn’t have the inspiration to work on his book. However, he and Kitty don’t quarrel in the city.
Kitty is already in wordless sync with her child—her bond with the baby begins before it is born. In the country, Levin is busy with real labor; in the city, the artificial amusements have no pull for him, and he feels as though he has no purpose in life.
Themes
One evening, Kitty meets Vronsky again; though she blushes at first, she comports herself well. Although Levin is angry at first when she tells him, he quickly cheers up completely because he realizes that her rational behavior confirms that Kitty doesn’t have feelings for Vronsky anymore.
For Tolstoy, a blush is always indicative of a deep physical passion that bubbles up to the surface, a representation of true and authentic inner feelings. At the same time, although Kitty and Levin can’t control these instinctive emotions, they can control their reactions and what they do with these emotions.
Themes
