Anna Karenina Ch. 209: Chapter 209

Summary

Stepan Arkadyevitch does not waste Petersburg time: business, sister's divorce, coveted appointment, and freshen himself up after Moscow mustiness. Prince Pyotr Oblonsky describes Petersburg as place where one loses discipline and lives in dressing gown after Baden youth.

Stiva hears of Landau, quack mesmerizer adopted as Count Bezzubov after curing Countess Bezzubova. Lidia Ivanovna has a screw loose and lost her heart to him; nothing is settled in her house or Karenin's without him.

Your sister's fate is now in the hands of Landau alias Count Bezzubov. Tolstoy introduces spiritual charlatan who will shape Karenin's final refusal through trance performance Stiva will witness.

Prince Pyotr calls Petersburg a dressing-gown life; Stiva hears of Landau, mesmerizer adopted as Count Bezzubov. Lidia Ivanovna's house runs through him; your sister's fate is now in Landau's hands, alias Count Bezzubov.

Tolstoy closes the chapter on that beat without easy moral, only the next consequence waiting.

Landau's childlike smile and Lydia's hiss prepare the trance that will dress refusal as faith in Anna's fate.

Nothing settled in Lydia's house without Landau; Stiva's Petersburg freshening trip converges on spiritual charlatan shaping Karenin's refusal.

The beat lands without easy moral.

Stiva learns sister's fate now rests with mesmerizer adopted as Count Bezzubov.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Mapping Hidden Decision Makers

Official meetings can matter less than a patron's spiritual favorite. Stiva learns nothing is settled without Landau and your sister's fate is in his hands.

Before you plead with the person on the letterhead, ask who whispers in the patron's ear.

Coming Up in Chapter 210

After Bartnyansky's cognac dinner Stiva will enter Countess Lidia Ivanovna's circle. After capital dinner and great deal of cognac at Bartnyansky's, Stepan Arkadyevitch enters Countess Lidia Ivanovna's salon slightly late. He asks hall porter who else is there and tries not putting my foot in it in unfamiliar religious talk..

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Chapter 209

Stepan Arkadyevitch does not waste Petersburg time: business, siste...

Stepan Arkadyevitch, as usual, did not waste his time in Petersburg. In Petersburg, besides business, his sister’s divorce, and his coveted appointment, he wanted, as he always did, to freshen himself up, as he said, after the mustiness of Moscow. In spite of its cafés chantants and its omnibuses, Moscow was yet a stagnant bog. Stepan Arkadyevitch always felt it. After living for some time in Moscow, especially in close relations with his family, he was conscious of a depression of spirits. After being a long time in Moscow without a change, he reached a point when he positively began…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Draw Petersburg Power Map

List Karenin, Lydia, Landau, and where Anna's divorce actually will be decided.

Consider:

•Include Count Bezzubov
•Include screw loose
•Include sister's fate

Journaling Prompt

Write about someone whose favorite advisor became a gatekeeper.

Master this chapter. Complete your experience

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Chapter 209

Summary