Original Text(~250 words)
The ball was only just beginning as Kitty and her mother walked up the great staircase, flooded with light, and lined with flowers and footmen in powder and red coats. From the rooms came a constant, steady hum, as from a hive, and the rustle of movement; and while on the landing between trees they gave last touches to their hair and dresses before the mirror, they heard from the ballroom the careful, distinct notes of the fiddles of the orchestra beginning the first waltz. A little old man in civilian dress, arranging his gray curls before another mirror, and diffusing an odor of scent, stumbled against them on the stairs, and stood aside, evidently admiring Kitty, whom he did not know. A beardless youth, one of those society youths whom the old Prince Shtcherbatsky called “young bucks,” in an exceedingly open waistcoat, straightening his white tie as he went, bowed to them, and after running by, came back to ask Kitty for a quadrille. As the first quadrille had already been given to Vronsky, she had to promise this youth the second. An officer, buttoning his glove, stood aside in the doorway, and stroking his mustache, admired rosy Kitty. Although her dress, her coiffure, and all the preparations for the ball had cost Kitty great trouble and consideration, at this moment she walked into the ballroom in her elaborate tulle dress over a pink slip as easily and simply as though all the rosettes and lace, all the minute...
Continue reading the full chapter
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Summary
Kitty Shcherbatsky attends her first major ball, and it becomes a night that will change everything. She arrives expecting Vronsky to propose, having convinced herself that his recent attention means he's serious about her. But as the evening unfolds, Kitty watches in growing horror as Vronsky becomes completely captivated by Anna Karenina, who has just arrived in Moscow. The way he looks at Anna, the way he abandons Kitty mid-conversation to seek Anna out - it's devastating and clear. Kitty realizes she's been living in a fantasy. Meanwhile, Levin, who genuinely loves Kitty, watches from the sidelines as his worst fears come true. This chapter captures that brutal moment when reality crashes into our hopes. Kitty experiences what many of us know too well - the humiliation of misreading someone's intentions, of building up expectations that crumble in public. Tolstoy shows how social events can become battlegrounds where hearts are won and lost, often without the main players even realizing the damage they're causing. The ball represents the cruel theater of high society, where people's deepest feelings become entertainment. For Kitty, this night marks the end of her innocence about love and the beginning of understanding that wanting someone doesn't mean they want you back. The chapter also establishes the magnetic pull between Anna and Vronsky that will drive the entire novel, while showing how their attraction leaves casualties in its wake.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Ball culture
Elaborate social gatherings in 19th-century Russian high society where young people met potential marriage partners under strict social rules. These events were crucial for making connections and displaying family status.
Modern Usage:
Like today's networking events, wedding receptions, or even dating apps - spaces where people perform their best selves while sizing each other up romantically and socially.
Cotillion
A formal dance at balls where couples were paired up in advance, often signaling romantic interest or social approval. Being chosen as someone's cotillion partner was a public declaration.
Modern Usage:
Similar to being someone's plus-one to a wedding or asking someone to be your date to prom - a public way of showing romantic interest.
Society debut
A young woman's first major appearance in high society, marking her availability for marriage. It was a make-or-break moment for her social and romantic future.
Modern Usage:
Like someone's first time at a new workplace, joining a new social group, or even posting on social media - that crucial first impression moment.
Social positioning
The careful maneuvering people did at social events to align themselves with the right people and avoid embarrassment. Every interaction was calculated for maximum social benefit.
Modern Usage:
What we do at office parties, school reunions, or community events - reading the room and trying to associate with the right people.
Magnetic attraction
The immediate, undeniable chemistry between two people that's visible to everyone around them. In Tolstoy's world, this kind of attraction was both thrilling and dangerous.
Modern Usage:
That instant chemistry you see between two people at a party - everyone notices it, and it usually spells trouble for existing relationships.
Public humiliation
Being embarrassed or rejected in front of one's social circle, which could damage reputation and future prospects. In tight-knit society, everyone witnessed everything.
Modern Usage:
Like being unfriended publicly on social media, getting turned down in front of friends, or having relationship drama play out where everyone can see.
Characters in This Chapter
Kitty Shcherbatsky
Naive protagonist
Experiences her first major heartbreak as she watches Vronsky ignore her for Anna. Her illusions about love and her own desirability are shattered in one painful evening.
Modern Equivalent:
The college girl who thinks the guy she's been texting is serious about her until she sees him with someone else at a party
Count Vronsky
Unintentional heartbreaker
Becomes completely captivated by Anna and abandons Kitty without realizing the pain he's causing. His attraction to Anna overrides all social obligations.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who ghosts you after meeting someone more exciting - not malicious, just thoughtless
Anna Karenina
Magnetic newcomer
Arrives at the ball and immediately becomes the center of attention, particularly Vronsky's. Her presence changes the entire dynamic of the evening.
Modern Equivalent:
The stunning new coworker who walks into the office and suddenly everyone's paying attention to her instead of you
Konstantin Levin
Genuine but overlooked suitor
Watches helplessly as the woman he truly loves gets her heart broken by someone who doesn't deserve her. His sincere feelings are overshadowed by more exciting drama.
Modern Equivalent:
The nice friend who's been there all along while you chase after someone who treats you badly
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between someone being professionally courteous and someone actually advocating for your advancement.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're interpreting a boss's praise or attention as promise of something more—ask yourself what evidence would convince a neutral observer.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Kitty looked at the door, calling up all her energy to keep from blushing at the entrance of Konstantin Levin."
Context: When Levin arrives at the ball and Kitty is nervous about seeing him
Shows how Kitty is still focused on managing appearances rather than recognizing genuine feeling. She's more worried about social awkwardness than appreciating someone who truly cares.
In Today's Words:
She tried not to look embarrassed when her friend showed up, even though he obviously had feelings for her.
"Vronsky and Anna were sitting almost opposite to her. She saw them with her far-sighted eyes, and she saw them close by too."
Context: Kitty watching Vronsky and Anna together during the ball
Captures the painful clarity that comes with heartbreak - Kitty can see exactly what's happening even though she wishes she couldn't. The repetition emphasizes her inability to look away.
In Today's Words:
She couldn't stop watching them together, no matter how much it hurt.
"It was not that the conversation between Anna and Vronsky struck her as strange, but that what had seemed natural before now seemed strange."
Context: Kitty realizing that Vronsky's attention to her was never as serious as she thought
Shows how heartbreak changes our perception of the past. What felt like romantic interest now looks like casual politeness when compared to real attraction.
In Today's Words:
She suddenly realized that what she thought was flirting was just him being nice.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Misread Signals
Building expectations and futures on social signals that were never intended to carry that meaning.
Thematic Threads
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The ball serves as theater where everyone performs their roles while real feelings get crushed beneath social protocol
Development
Introduced here as the stage where private desires meet public performance
In Your Life:
You might see this when workplace dynamics force you to smile through situations that are personally devastating
Unrequited Love
In This Chapter
Kitty's one-sided feelings for Vronsky become painfully obvious as he abandons her for Anna
Development
Introduced here as the foundation of future heartbreak
In Your Life:
You might recognize this in your own experience of loving someone who sees you only as a friend or colleague
Class Dynamics
In This Chapter
The ball represents high society's cruel entertainment where people's hearts become spectacle
Development
Building from earlier chapters showing how social position affects personal relationships
In Your Life:
You might see this in how workplace hierarchies make personal feelings dangerous to express
Identity Crisis
In This Chapter
Kitty's sense of self crumbles as her romantic fantasy dissolves in public
Development
Introduced here as the beginning of Kitty's journey toward authentic self-understanding
In Your Life:
You might experience this when a major assumption about your life proves completely wrong
Magnetic Attraction
In This Chapter
Anna and Vronsky's instant connection creates a force field that destroys everything around it
Development
Introduced here as the central destructive force of the novel
In Your Life:
You might recognize this dangerous chemistry that makes people abandon good judgment and hurt innocent people
Modern Adaptation
When the Promotion Goes Sideways
Following Anna's story...
Anna attends the firm's annual gala, expecting managing partner David to announce her promotion to senior associate. She's convinced herself his recent mentoring and praise mean she's the obvious choice. But as the evening unfolds, Anna watches in horror as David lavishes attention on the new lateral hire, Marcus—a charismatic lawyer who just joined from a rival firm. The way David introduces Marcus to key clients, the way he abandons mid-conversation with Anna to showcase Marcus's wins—it's devastating and clear. Anna realizes she's been living in a fantasy about her standing at the firm. When the promotion goes to Marcus instead, Anna's humiliation is complete. She's misread every signal, built her future on David's professional politeness, while he was simply managing talent until someone more impressive arrived. The gala becomes a brutal reminder that in corporate law, loyalty means nothing when star power walks in the door.
The Road
The road Kitty walked in 1877, Anna walks today. The pattern is identical: mistaking professional courtesy for genuine preference, building expectations on signals that were never meant to carry that weight.
The Map
This chapter provides a navigation tool for reading workplace dynamics accurately. Anna can learn to distinguish between professional politeness and actual advocacy.
Amplification
Before reading this, Anna might have continued misreading mentorship as favoritism, setting herself up for repeated disappointment. Now she can NAME the difference between being managed and being championed, PREDICT when she's projecting hopes onto neutral interactions, and NAVIGATE by seeking concrete commitments instead of interpreting enthusiasm.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific behaviors did Kitty interpret as signs that Vronsky was going to propose to her?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think Kitty was so confident about Vronsky's intentions when the actual evidence was so thin?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today building up expectations based on misread signals - at work, in dating, in friendships?
application • medium - 4
What strategies could Kitty have used to get clarity about Vronsky's intentions before the ball?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how we create our own heartbreak by reading too much into neutral behaviors?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Signal Check Reality Test
Think of a current situation where you're hoping someone feels a certain way about you - romantically, professionally, or personally. Write down the specific behaviors you're interpreting as positive signals. Then rewrite each behavior from a completely neutral perspective, as if describing it to someone who doesn't know your hopes.
Consider:
- •Would a stranger looking at the same evidence reach your conclusion?
- •Are you giving extra weight to positive signals while ignoring neutral or negative ones?
- •What would it look like to get actual clarity instead of relying on interpretation?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you built up expectations that crashed down. What signals did you misread, and what would you do differently now to protect yourself while still staying open to real opportunities?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 23
What lies ahead teaches us key events and character development in this chapter, and shows us thematic elements and literary techniques. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.