Anna Karenina, Part 8, Chapter 4 summary

Part 8, Chapter 4 of 239 · 4 min to read the chapter

In Chapter 4, Sergey Ivanovitch hears the countess describe Vronsky’s collapse after a woman’s death under a train, his separation from his daughter, and his decision to go to Serbia. The countess sees the war as his only relief and asks Sergey Ivanovitch to distract her grieving son.

What happens

During a station stop, the countess invites Sergey Ivanovitch into the compartment while Vronsky is elsewhere.
She describes six weeks of Vronsky’s withdrawal and the precautions taken to prevent him from harming himself.
She recounts the woman’s death under a train and Vronsky’s collapse after going to the scene.
She says Karenin takes the woman’s daughter, a decision Vronsky now deeply regrets.
She explains that Yashvin persuades Vronsky to join the Serbian war, giving him something to care about.
At her request, Sergey Ivanovitch crosses the station to speak with Vronsky.