The character of Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin in Anna Karenina from LitCharts

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Anna deeply loves her son, Seryozha, who is her child with Karenin. Anna does not want to give up custody of Seryozha, which she would have to do if she and Karenin officially got divorced, since this is Karenin’s primary stipulation. But as her relationship with Vronsky intensifies, Anna abandons Seryozha. Seryozha still loves Anna, despite everything. However, as Seryozha grows up, he focuses instead on his relationship with his father. Anna visits him briefly, which reminds Seryozha how much he loves her. However, he ultimately tries to repress his emotions, pushing away his feelings of loss and rejection and committing himself to his own life, that is, one without his mother. Although she abandons him, Anna still feels a much deeper emotional bond with her son than with Annie, her daughter.

Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin Quotes in Anna Karenina

The Anna Karenina quotes below are all either spoken by Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin or refer to Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page and citation info for the quotes below refers to the Viking edition of Anna Karenina published in 2000.

And the son, just like the husband, produced in Anna a feeling akin to disappointment. She had imagined him better than he was in reality. She had to descend to reality to enjoy him as he was.

Related Characters: Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, Count Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin, Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin

Page Number and Citation: 107

Explanation and Analysis:

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Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin Character Timeline in Anna Karenina

The timeline below shows where the character Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin appears in Anna Karenina. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...enters through the garden. He is excited to see her, but then he thinks about Seryozha, her son, and feels uneasy: the relationship between himself and Seryozha is awkward and strained.... (full context)

...him. Anna does not want to run away, however, because she does not want her son to have a mother who abandons his father. Anna hears Seryozha returning, kisses Vronsky goodbye,... (full context)

Anna is distracted and distraught, but the maid says that her son is waiting for her for breakfast, which snaps her into a sense of purpose. Anna... (full context)

...says that Anna must divorce Karenin. Anna says that this is impossible because of her son. Anna and Vronsky both feel wretched and at fault for the whole affair. (full context)

...speak. He finally manages to tell Anna that he is leaving for Moscow and taking Seryozha with him. Anna begs Karenin to leave Seryozha, but Karenin blushes and leaves the room. (full context)

...in central Russia and resigns his commission. Anna and Vronsky go abroad to Italy, leaving Seryozha in the house alone with Karenin. (full context)

...her husband seems like a feverish dream. She has transferred her former love for her son onto her daughter, and she is infatuated with Vronsky. She fears losing him and thus... (full context)

...is clearly in grief. She offers many trite pieces of mystical Christian advice. Lydia tells Seryozha that his father is a saint and that his mother is dead. Lydia offers to... (full context)

...Karenin. Anna sends Lydia a letter asking Lydia to arrange a meeting between Anna and Seryozha. Lydia is irritated and tells the messenger that there is no reply. She arranges to... (full context)

...important than ever. Lydia has dressed carefully to look her best for Karenin. They discuss Seryozha’s education. Lydia tells Karenin that Anna is in Petersburg and he blanches, horrified, which makes... (full context)

Seryozha chats with the hall porter. He is merry: the next day is Seryozha’s birthday, and... (full context)

Seryozha doesn’t believe that Anna has actually died, and whenever he goes for a walk, he... (full context)

Anna’s main goal in Petersburg is to see Seryozha, but she realizes that her position as an outcast in society will make this extremely... (full context)

When Seryozha’s tutor figures out who Anna is, he doesn’t know what to do, but hearing their... (full context)

Anna hadn’t anticipated the strong effect that seeing Seryozha would have on her. Her love for her daughter is weak in comparison. She knows... (full context)

When Vronsky and the guest arrive, Vronsky looks at the pictures of Seryozha, but Anna quickly takes the pictures away. Anna invites the prince to dinner. Anna asks... (full context)

...her mad: even if she knows she should do it, she’ll lose custody of her son. She wants to have both Seryozha and Vronsky, but this is impossible. When Dolly goes... (full context)

...he thought the matter was closed, since he refused to grant Anna custody of their son in a divorce. Oblonsky says that Anna feels suspended between life and death and that... (full context)

Before Oblonsky leaves, Anna’s son, Seryozha (now called Sergei Alexeich), comes in; Karenin says that the boy was very ill... (full context)

...will make Vronsky love her and resolve the shame of her relations with Karenin and Seroyzha. Vronsky returns and mollifies Anna, agreeing to everything; Anna’s jealousy melts into a desperate tenderness. (full context)

...goes to the nursery and, in her confusion, is startled to see Annie instead of Seryozha. Anna waits for Vronsky to return, her frenzy mounting; she decides to fix her hair,... (full context)

...the present, and she cannot keep track of time and space. She is reminded of Seryozha when she sees children playing on the street. She decides to leave Vronsky, even though... (full context)

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Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin Character Analysis

Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin Quotes in Anna Karenina

Sergei Alexeich (Seryozha) Karenin Character Timeline in Anna Karenina

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