# XXIII explained — Anna Karenina > Chapter companion for Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. ## What happens Vronsky recovers from his self-inflicted gunshot wound, which he claims was an accident. The act purges his sense of shame, but he resolves to renounce Anna for her sake. He plans to leave for Tashkend, but when Betsy informs him that Karenin has agreed to a divorce, he rushes to Anna. They reunite passionately, deciding to go abroad together. Vronsky resigns his commission, and they leave Russia without a formal divorce, while Karenin remains in Petersburg with Seryozha. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Marriage The chapter climaxes with the lovers choosing their passionate bond over all social and marital conventions, yet their union exists in a legally and socially ambiguous state, outside formal marriage. ### Social Conventions vs. Individual Desire Vronsky's resignation from the army and their flight abroad represent a definitive, irreversible break from societal expectations in pursuit of personal happiness. ### Isolation and Misunderstanding Even in their reunion, Anna's thoughts of her son and the 'something terrible' highlight a lingering isolation within their partnership, a private understanding of their fraught position. ## Character check-ins ### Count Alexey Kirillovitch Vronsky Recovers from his wound, feels freed from shame but despairing over losing Anna. Abandons all resolutions and his military career upon learning a divorce might be possible, reuniting passionately with her. ### Anna Arkadyevna Karenina Reunites with Vronsky; her passion overcomes her. She speaks of the terror in their situation and worries about Seryozha and Karenin's generosity, but agrees to go abroad with Vronsky. ### Alexey Alexandrovitch Karenin His reported agreement to a divorce is the catalyst for Vronsky and Anna's reunion. He is left alone with Seryozha in Petersburg at the chapter's end. ### Princess Betsy Tverskaya Acts as a messenger, first conveying Vronsky's wish to see Anna, then bringing him the news (via Oblonsky) of Karenin's agreement to a divorce. ### Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky Reportedly the source of the 'positive fact' about Karenin agreeing to a divorce, communicated through Betsy. ### Seryozha Karenin Anna expresses anxiety about what will be decided regarding him. He remains with his father in Petersburg. ## Key lines > "I shot myself by accident. And please never speak of it, and tell everyone so. Or else it’s too ridiculous." Vronsky insists his wound was an accidental, not a purposeful, act of despair, fearing ridicule. _Shows his concern for public perception and pride, even in a moment of profound personal crisis._ > "To see her once and then to bury myself, to die," he thought... Vronsky believes seeing Anna one last time before his departure for Tashkend will allow him to end that part of his life. _Highlights his initial resolve to sacrifice his love for what he sees as duty and her repentance._ > "Yes, you have conquered me, and I am yours," she said at last... Anna surrenders completely to Vronsky and their passion, abandoning her previous resistance. _Marks the decisive moment where individual desire triumphs over social and moral considerations for both characters._ > "Oh, why didn’t I die! it would have been better," she said... Anna expresses that death would have been preferable to the complex pain and terror of their current situation. _Reveals the profound despair and foreboding that undercuts their momentary happiness._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iv-xxiii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters