Major Themes

Adultery – The story is mainly that of an adulterous woman and the effects her actions have on her life
Forgiveness – Anna Karenina’s role at the beginning of the novel is that of a mediator between an adulterous man and her husband, and is eventually able to heal their relationship, but is unable to heal her own and her husband is unable to forgive her for cheating on him.
Death – Death is very present in this novel. First when the man throws himself under the train, then when Levin watches his suffering brother die and many other signs of death are present. The death of Anna’s relationship with her husband, the beginnings of the death of her relationship with Vronsky, and finally her own death when she takes her own life all play as an important theme in the story.