In this video, I’ll summarize the plot of Anna Karenina in about 4 minutes and give you an analysis of the story. Okay, let’s get started with the introduction.
1. Anna’s Arrival
The novel begins in Moscow, where Prince Stepan Oblonsky’s household is in disarray due to his affair with the governess. His sister, Anna Karenina, arrives from St. Petersburg to help mend his marriage. Meanwhile, Konstantin Levin, a country landowner, proposes to Princess Kitty Shcherbatskaya, but she rejects him, hoping to marry the charming officer Count Alexei Vronsky instead. However, at a train station, Anna and Vronsky have an intense first meeting, and he becomes infatuated with her. At a grand ball, Kitty is devastated when Vronsky openly favors Anna over her. Realizing her mistake, Kitty falls into despair, while Anna returns to St. Petersburg, where Vronsky follows her, determined to pursue a romance despite her marriage to the respected statesman Alexei Karenin.
2. Collapse of Anna’s Marriage
Anna and Vronsky’s affair intensifies, and soon, society begins to gossip about their relationship. Though Karenin initially dismisses the rumors, he eventually confronts Anna, urging her to maintain appearances for the sake of their reputation. Anna, however, is deeply in love with Vronsky and soon becomes pregnant with his child. At the same time, Kitty, having recovered from her heartbreak, finds solace in the countryside and slowly grows closer to Levin, who still loves her. When Anna nearly dies during childbirth, Karenin forgives her and even offers reconciliation, but Anna chooses to leave him for Vronsky. The scandal forces them into exile in Italy, where they live together as lovers, but Anna’s happiness soon begins to fade as she becomes increasingly jealous and insecure.
3. Levin and Kitty’s New Life
While Anna and Vronsky struggle with their relationship abroad, Levin and Kitty’s story provides a stark contrast. Levin, a philosophical and hardworking man, finds fulfillment in rural life and his deepening relationship with Kitty. They eventually marry, and although they face struggles—including Kitty’s initial difficulties adapting to farm life and Levin’s existential doubts—their love is built on mutual respect and devotion. Kitty proves her strength and tenderness when she cares for Levin’s dying brother, cementing her role as a stabilizing force in his life. Their story reflects Tolstoy’s ideal of a pure, honest marriage, untouched by the corruption of high society.
4. Anna’s Downward Spiral
After returning to Russia, Anna and Vronsky’s love deteriorates under the strain of social exile and Anna’s paranoia. She becomes increasingly dependent on Vronsky for emotional validation, fearing he will abandon her. Meanwhile, Vronsky, though still devoted to her, grows weary of their isolation and longs to return to society. Anna’s insecurity leads her to believe that Vronsky no longer loves her, and she becomes addicted to morphine to dull her anxiety. Consumed by jealousy and despair, she convinces herself that she has no escape from her misery. In a moment of overwhelming hopelessness, she throws herself under a train, ending her life in one of literature’s most tragic moments.
5. Levin’s Spiritual Awakening
While Anna’s story ends in tragedy, Levin’s story reaches a point of resolution. After years of searching for meaning, he experiences an epiphany about the purpose of life—not through intellectual pursuits, but through faith and family. He realizes that true happiness comes from love, hard work, and living a moral life. Though he still struggles with doubts, he finds peace in his devotion to Kitty and their newborn child. His journey contrasts sharply with Anna’s, suggesting that a life grounded in faith and simplicity offers fulfillment, whereas one ruled by passion and societal pressures leads to destruction.
Theme 1: Passion and Duty
One of the novel’s central themes is the tension between passionate love and social duty. Anna’s affair with Vronsky represents an attempt to follow her heart, but it ultimately leads to her downfall because it clashes with societal expectations. While she chooses love over duty, she is never truly free—ostracized from society and unable to find peace within herself. In contrast, Levin’s journey emphasizes the value of responsibility, tradition, and a more grounded form of love. Through these parallel stories, Tolstoy critiques a society that punishes women for seeking personal happiness while rewarding men with greater freedom.
Theme 2: Search for Meaning
Throughout Anna Karenina, many characters struggle with existential questions about the meaning of life. Anna seeks happiness through passion but is ultimately consumed by self-doubt and despair. Levin, on the other hand, embarks on a philosophical and spiritual journey, questioning everything from religion to personal fulfillment. His eventual realization—that meaning is found in love, work, and faith—offers a resolution that Anna never achieves. The novel suggests that while personal desires can be compelling, a deeper sense of purpose comes from embracing life’s responsibilities rather than escaping them.