Part 4, Chapter 17 Summary

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Alexey Alexandrovitch returns to his room alone, reflecting on Darya Alexandrovna’s words about forgiveness, words that annoy him since he has already decided this Christian precept is not applicable to his situation. What he most remembers from this evening is Turovtsin’s comment that men must defend their honor by dueling. Everyone in the room tacitly agreed with that sentiment, though they did not speak the words. Alexey Alexandrovitch’s matter has been settled another way, so he tells himself it is useless to think about such things.

He receives two telegrams. The first is an announcement of Stremov’s appointment to a position Alexey Alexandrovitch coveted. He is annoyed that he was passed over for the promotion and incredulous that the “wordy phrase-monger” Stremov was deemed fit for the job. He bitterly opens the next telegram, a plea from his wife for him to come home. She claims she is dying and will “die easier” if she has his forgiveness.

Alexey Alexandrovitch is at first contemptuous and assumes it is a trick to prevent a divorce. Upon reflection, he wonders whether her confinement has really put her in danger, and if it is true that she is dying, it would be not only cruel but “stupid” not to respond to the request. He will go. If he arrives in St. Petersburg and it is a trick, he will simply do nothing and leave again; if Anna Karenina is in real danger, he will forgive her. If she has died, he will “pay her last duties.”

Alexey Alexandrovitch does not think about what will be waiting for him. As he enters his home, he summons his resolution and is determined either to display calm or content and then leave, or to do what is proper and necessary. The porter says Anna Karenina had her child yesterday, and Alexey Alexandrovitch turns white and realizes how much he had longed for her death.

Vronsky is weeping in Anna Karenina’s boudoir and begs Alexey Alexandrovitch to let him stay, and as always, Alexey Alexandrovitch is moved by the sight of tears. Silently, he enters his wife’s room and finds her speaking deliriously about forgiveness and hoping no one will forget her son and about removing her newborn daughter so Alexey Alexandrovitch would not be hurt at the sight of her. She is burning with fever but grasps his hand and begs his forgiveness with one hand while pushing him away with the other, claiming he can never forgive her.

Alexey Alexandrovitch’s nervous agitation suddenly turns to peace as he feels forgiveness wash over him and kneels in a gesture of forgiveness. Understanding, Anna Karenina calls for Vronsky, telling him to uncover his face so that he can see that Alexey Alexandrovitch is a saint. When he will not, she tells her husband to take Vronsky’s hands away from his shame-filled face. Alexey Alexandrovitch offers his hand in forgiveness, heedless of the tears streaming down his face.

For three days, Anna Karenina struggles between life and death. Alexey Alexandrovitch finally tells Vronsky how hard it has been for him but that he has forgiven his wife. This forgiveness has altered his life and plans. Vronsky may do anything he wishes to Alexey Alexandrovitch, but he will never abandon her or speak a word of reproach to Vronsky.

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Part 4, Chapter 16 Summary

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