Anna Karenina · Chapter
The Storm explained
A sudden, violent storm interrupts the party's outing.
What happens
A sudden, violent storm interrupts the party's outing. Levin, in a panic, rushes to find Kitty and their baby Mitya, who are in the copse. He witnesses a great oak tree being struck by lightning and fears the worst. He finds them safe under a lime tree, though Kitty is drenched. Relief turns briefly to anger before gratitude prevails.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Domesticity
The entire chapter revolves around the primal fear for the safety of the nuclear family (Levin, Kitty, Mitya). Levin's terror and prayer, followed by relief and a squeeze of Kitty's hand, powerfully underscore the family as the central, fragile source of meaning.
Love and Marriage
Levin's intense emotional reaction—anger born of fear, followed by penitence—reveals the depth of his love and commitment within his marriage, contrasting with other relationships in the novel.
Characters to notice
- Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin
Panics during the storm, fearing for Kitty and Mitya's safety. His terror at the lightning strike and subsequent relief reveal his deep familial love and vulnerability.
- Kitty Shcherbatskaya
Is caught in the storm with Mitya and the nurse. She is drenched but calm, defending her actions to a worried Levin, showing her maternal dedication.
- Mitya
The baby, who is unharmed and sleeps through the entire storm, the central object of his parents' fear and relief.
- Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya
Struggles to run home with the children ahead of the storm, showing her practical maternal role in the group.
- Agafea Mihalovna
Meets the party in the hall with kerchiefs and rugs, providing practical aid and information about Kitty's whereabouts.
Key passages
“"My God! my God! not on them!" he said.”
Levin prays desperately for his family's safety.
A raw, instinctual plea highlighting his love and fear, transcending his usual rationalism.
“"Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? I can’t think how you can be so reckless!"”
Levin scolds Kitty angrily after finding them safe.
His anger is a mask for his profound fear, showing how deep emotion can momentarily override tenderness.
“Levin... penitent for having been angry, he squeezed her hand when the nurse was not looking.”
Feeling remorseful for his outburst, Levin secretly gives Kitty's hand an affectionate squeeze.
A small, intimate gesture that reconciles the moment of conflict and reaffirms their bond.