# XVII explained — Anna Karenina

> Chapter companion for Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

Anna attends a croquet party at Princess Betsy Tverskaya's, hoping to see Vronsky. She learns he will not attend but sends a note. Under the guise of social conversation about the unconventional relationships within their circle (like Liza Merkalova and Prince Kaluzhsky), Anna and Betsy engage in subtle, coded communication. Anna secretly adds a desperate note to Vronsky on Betsy's letter, arranging a clandestine meeting at the Vrede garden.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Social Pretense

The entire conversation about Liza Merkalova's 'new manner' and 'flung caps' highlights the society's acceptance of infidelity as long as it is handled with a veneer of humor and discretion, not tragic seriousness.

### Infidelity and Betrayal

Anna's secret note to Vronsky, written under Betsy's nose, is a direct act of betrayal against Karenin. The chapter revolves around the mechanics and social camouflage of adultery.

## Character check-ins

### Anna Arkadyevna Karenina

Agonizes over not seeing Vronsky; lies about her plans to secure freedom; secretly arranges a meeting with him, revealing her desperation and the thrill of deception.

### Princess Betsy Tverskaya

Hosts the party; engages in witty, knowing conversation about societal affairs; appears to guess Anna's plight and facilitates her note to Vronsky.

### Count Alexey Kirillovitch Vronsky

Absent but central to the action; sends a note declining the invitation, prompting Anna's secret response.

### Liza Merkalova

Discussed as a representative of a new, permissive social set; her unconventional relationship with Prince Kaluzhsky is the topic of Anna and Betsy's conversation.

## Key lines

> "They’ve all adopted that manner. They’ve flung their caps over the windmills. But there are ways and ways of flinging them."

Betsy says everyone is being recklessly unconventional, but there is an art to doing it without causing scandal.

_Encapsulates the chapter's theme of managing social transgression._

> "This playing with words, this hiding of a secret, had a great fascination for Anna, as, indeed, it has for all women."

Anna found the act of concealment itself thrilling, not just its goal.

_Narrator insight into Anna's psychology and the allure of deception._

> "Without a moment’s thought, Anna sat down to the table with Betsy’s letter, and, without reading it, wrote below: 'It’s essential for me to see you. Come to the Vrede garden. I shall be there at six o’clock.'"

Acting on impulsive desperation, Anna secretly adds a summons to Vronsky on Betsy's note.

_The climactic action showing Anna's loss of control and commitment to the affair._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters