Anna Karenina

Quotes

Part Four

Part Four opens and closes by describing the way everyone involved in Anna's love triangle is experiencing a loss of will, and simultaneously giving way to irrational behavior for the sake of love (though there are as many loves involved as their are hearts).

Here's the opening, which shows how absurd everyone's inaction is:

The situation was distressing for all three of them; not one of them could have lived through a single day in this situation if it were not for the expectation that it would change, that it was only a painful temporary ordeal that would pass away. Karenin was waiting for this passion to pass away, as everything does, for everyone to forget about it, and for his name to cease being dishonored. Anna, on whom the situation depended and for whom it was more painful than for anyone else, endured it because not only did she expect, she felt absolutely certain thtat soon it would all be settled and cleared up. She had no idea at all of what was going to settle it, but she was absolutely sure that whatever it was it was going to happen very soon. Vronsky, obedient to her in spite of himself, was also expecting something independent of himself that was sure to clear away all the difficulties.

Part 4 Chapter 1, p. 425

and by the time the chapter closes, Tolstoy has returned to Vronsky and Anna, where he closes Part 4 with a bookend passage in which we see exhibited more irrational behavior, this time when Anna and Vronsky go abroad to live in Italy, without Anna getting a divorce from Karenin:

According to Vronsky's previous views it would have been shameful and impossible to refuse the flattering, dangerous post in Tashkent. But now, without a moment's hesitation, he refused it, and noticing that his superiors disapproved of his action he resigned at once.

A month later Karenin was left alone in the house with his son, while Anna and Vronsky went abroad; they had not received a divorce, having firmly refused it.

Part 4 Chapter 23, p. 522

Here's a brilliant passage describing Vronsky's (Anna's lover) accidental encounter with Karenin (Anna's husband) at Karenin's house, on his way to see Anna there:

The door opened and the hall porter with a rug on his arm called the carriage. Vronsky wasn't used to noticing details, but now he noticed the expression of surprise with which the hall porter looked at him. In the very doorway he almost collided with Karenin. The gaslight fell directly on Karenin's bloodless, worn face under his black hat, and the white necktie gleaming against the beaver collar of his coat. Karenin's motionless, dull eyes were fastened on Vronsky's face. Vronsky bowed, and Karenin, pressing his lips together, raised a hand to his hat and passed by.

Part 4 Chapter 1, p. 428