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Part 7, Chapter 12
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 five in the morning, Levin awakens to find Kitty walking around; she says she is fine, but two hours later, she asks for the midwife. She still claims to be calm and fine, but as he leaves to fetch the midwife and doctor, he hears her moan. Levin suddenly finds himself praying, even though he is an unbeliever. He sends the midwife to Kitty, and the midwife tells him to fetch some opium along with the doctor.
Levin proves that there are no atheists in foxholes: just as he involuntarily prayed to God when Nikolai died, he finds himself calling upon God again in Kitty’s hour of need. Despite the fact that he considers himself a nonbeliever, some deep belief lurking inside Levin gets awakened during times of emotional crisis.
Themes
