NovelGuide: Anna Karenina: Novel Summary: Part 7 section 17-Part 7 section 28

Part 7 section 17-Part 7 section 28

Part 7 section 17: Oblonsky is quite in debt. Dolly has claimed her estate so that he cannot sell anymore of it, and he has no money at all. He learns about a good post that pays well, as a member of the Committee of the Joint Agency of the Mutual Credit Balance of Southern Railways and Banking Houses. He thinks that he could get the post, so he goes to Petersburg to ask people to use their influence to help him. He goes to see Karenin and talks to him about the post. Karenin wonders about how all of these posts could have such high salaries while others doing more important things are paid so little. He knows it is all personal interests and not supply and demand.

Part 7 section 18: Oblonsky asks Karenin about the divorce. Karenin says that he thought that Anna refused a divorce again when Karenin said that he would not let her have their son. Oblonsky tells him that she is willing to take the divorce without her son now, and reminds him that he had given his word. Karenin replies that he had given his word to do what was possible, and he no longer knows if it is possible to give Anna a divorce and act according to Christian law. He tells Oblonsky he will think it over and will get back to him.

Part 7 section 19: As Oblonsky is leaving, Serezha comes in. Oblonsky sees that he has grown a lot. Serezha does not know how to act around Oblonsky, so he leaves the room. Oblonsky follows him and finds him more talkative now that his father is not around. Karenin had asked Oblonsky not to talk about Anna since the boy was ill after his mother's surprise visit, but he asks Serezha if he remembers his mother anyway. Serezha hurriedly replies that he doesn't and starts to cry after Oblonsky leaves.

Part 7 section 20: Oblonsky always feels refreshed when in Petersburg, as he does not have to think about his wife's ill humor or the education of his children or any of the other things he has to think about when in Moscow. He likes how people think about money in Petersburg, as there are many who are much more in debt than he but keep living lavish lifestyles. Oblonsky goes to see Princess Betsy. He thinks that his flirting behavior has gone too far (as he does not find her attractive) and is glad when the Princess Myagkaya arrives. He tells them that instead of a decision about the divorce, Karenin has sent for him to come to the Countess Lydia Ivanovna's that night. The Princess Myagkaya says that he will meet Landau there. He is a clairvoyant that Lydia and Karenin consult now. She tells him that his sister's fate is in Landau's hands.

Part 7 section 21: On his way to the Countess Lydia's house, Oblonsky thinks that it would be good to make friends with her as she could put in a good word for him for the post. He arrives and is introduced to Landau. The Countess says that Landau has heard a voice and will be returning to Paris soon. The Countess tells Oblonsky that Karenin has changed very much and has been given a new heart, and that she has noticed that most men are indifferent to religion. While she is talking to him Oblonsky is wondering when he should bring up the post he wants. She then starts reading to him from a religious text, and he thinks that maybe it is best not to ask about the post that night but to just get out without making a mess of things.

Part 7 section 22: Oblonsky is confused by the text that the Countess is reading him and begins to fall asleep. When he hears the Countess say, He is asleep, Oblonsky jumps awake embarrassed, but the Countess had been taking about Landau. He is in his trance. They go over to him and he tells them to have the doubting one leave. Oblonsky leaves, forgetting his request about the post and his sister's affairs, as he wants to get away as fast as possible. The next day Oblonsky gets a note from Karenin with a definite refusal to divorce Anna, and Oblonsky understands that it is a result of whatever Landau told him.

Part 7 section 23: Vronsky and Anna are still in Moscow, but have been talking about leaving for the country, where life would be easier for Anna. She is angry at Vronsky because of what she sees as his diminishing love, and Vronsky is angry at having gotten himself in this position. Anna thinks that Vronsky does not understand how hard her situation is and that if he did they would already be in the country. They argue again and say mean things to each other, and Anna decides that they must move to the country and starts packing.

Part 7 section 24: Vronsky returns and Anna tries not to be irritable. He sees that she has been packing and agrees that they should go. Anna wants to go the day after the next, but Vronsky says that he has to go and see his mother so they should go the next day. Anna gets quite angry and jealous and says that they won't go at all then. They have another bad fight and Anna thinks that all is finished between them. She wonders where she can go now, and wonders why she did not die when she was ill. Vronsky comes in to see her, agreeing to her plan, and her jealousy turns to tenderness, and they embrace and kiss passionately.

Part 7 section 25: They are reconciled and each agree to the other's plan so that neither is sure when they are leaving for the country. Anna finds out that Vronsky had received a telegram from Oblonsky that he did not show her. Vronsky tells her that it only said that he had not gotten an answer from Karenin yet, so he did not want to upset her with it. Anna wonders if this is also how he hides his affairs with other women from her, and they argue again. Vronsky spends the day away from home, and when he returns he is told that Anna has a headache and does not want to be disturbed.

Part 7 section 26: That is the first time that Vronsky and Anna had been angry at each other all day, and Anna grows more and more exasperated. She decides that if he comes in even though she said she did not want to be disturbed, he still loves her, and that if he does not come, he no longer loves her. When he does not come, she thinks that all is over. She thinks again of death and how it would punish him if she died. Her thoughts about this scare her, and she thinks that she would do anything to live. That night she has terrible nightmares. The next morning she sees a carriage arrive and a young girl hand Vronsky something from it. It is the Princess Sorokina bringing things from Vronsky's mother. Anna knows that Vronsky's mother wants him to marry the Princess Sorokina, so she gets quite jealous, telling him that he will repent of this. He is alarmed by her, but thinks that the only thing he can do now is to pay no attention. He gets ready to go into town and go to his mother's. Anna hears him leave.

Part 7 section 27: Anna knows he is gone and gets frightened that it is all over. She sends a note to Vronsky saying that she was to blame and to please come home, as she is frightened. She waits for him to return, but Vronsky does not get the note on his way, and Anna tells the servant to take it to Vronsky's mother's house to give it to him there. She also sends a telegram to him asking him to come home. In the meantime she decides to go and visit Dolly.

Part 7 section 28: On her way to Dolly's Anna thinks that Death no longer seems inevitable and that she will tell Dolly everything. She finds out that Kitty is at Dolly's also. Dolly talks to Anna in the hall, and Anna asks if Kitty will not see her. But then Kitty comes out (Dolly had persuaded her to), and Anna can see by her face that she finds it humiliating to meet with Anna. Anna decides that she cannot talk to Dolly and leaves.