Levin is arguably the most complete person in the story because he finds his satisfaction on his own, without relying on Kitty.A quick note that some of my posts contain affiliate links. The key is that their happiness is not due to any sort of social matching or commitment to religious principle, but rather to the thoughtful approach they both take, learning from their disappointments and mistakes and choosing to be with each other.

Kitty and Levin: The happiest and most secure couple in the novel, Kitty and Levin’s relationship begins poorly when Kitty rejects him but ends as the strongest marriage in the book.

Their union is no happier for having been born from impulsive passion and emotion, however - they pursue their desires but are prevented from enjoying them because of the restrictions of the relationship. Anna and Vronsky: Although not actually married, they have an ersatz marriage after Anna leaves her husband and becomes pregnant, traveling and living together.Anna and Karenin do not sacrifice their true selves but are unable to attain them because of their marriage.

Tolstoy, who in real life was very happily married at the time, portrays the Karenins as the result of viewing marriage as a step on the society ladder rather than a spiritual bond between people.

Anna and Karenin: They refuse compromise, choosing to pursue their own path, and are miserable as a result.

Stepan and Dolly: This couple can be seen as a successful marriage as compromise: Neither party is truly happy in the marriage, but they make arrangements with themselves to carry on (Dolly focuses on her children, Stepan pursues his fast lifestyle), sacrificing their true desires.

Her husband, Karenin, takes in her and Vronsky’s child. As her mental and emotional state deteriorates, she goes to the local train station and impulsively throws herself in front of an oncoming train, killing herself. Anna begins to suspect and fear that Vronsky has fallen out of love with her and has become unfaithful, and she grows increasingly angry and unhappy.

The scandal of her affair leaves her unwanted in the social circles she once traveled in, while Vronsky enjoys a double standard and is free to do as he likes. Anna is restless and lonely, however, so they eventually return to Russia, where Anna finds herself increasingly isolated. Anna is outraged by this, resenting his ability to suddenly take the high road, and she and Vronsky travel with the baby, going to Italy. Anna has a difficult childbirth while her husband visits her in the country upon seeing Vronsky there he has a moment of grace and agrees to divorce her if she wishes, but leaves the final decision with her after forgiving her for her infidelity.

Anna karenina tolstoy