Stepan Arkadyevitch

Also known as: Oblonsky / Prince Oblonsky / Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky / Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky / Stiva / Stiva Oblonsky / the prince · Family: Oblonsky · Role: husband · First appears: PART ONE · Chapter 1

At the beginning, Stepan Arkadyevitch’s marriage to Darya Alexandrovna was in crisis after she discovered his affair with the French governess: “The wife had discovered that the husband was carrying on an intrigue with a French girl.” She refused to see him and threatened to leave, but after Anna came to help, their estrangement eased, separation was no longer discussed, and they reconciled. Their family harmony later began breaking down again, while Stepan continued to rely on Matvey, Matrona Philimonovna, and others in his household, and showed different affection toward his children Grisha and Tanya.

Through Karenin, his sister’s husband, Stepan received the presidency of a Moscow government board. He remained connected with his early friend Levin, observing his feelings for Kitty, reporting Kitty’s illness and later helping arrange the formalities for Levin’s marriage; Darya Alexandrovna and Stepan also blessed Levin before the wedding. Stepan sold his forest to Ryabinin, revealed that he was involved with another woman, and later protected Masha Tchibisova, giving her a coral necklace and arranging to take her to supper.

When Karenin began divorce proceedings against Anna, Stepan proposed divorce as the solution and went to Petersburg to seek a definite answer, while also pursuing a lucrative appointment. Karenin repeatedly postponed his decision, so Stepan did not secure the divorce. He continued to act as an intermediary among his family and friends, including arranging Levin’s confession and asking him to help Darya Alexandrovna with her troubles, while she later sold part of her property to pay Stepan’s debts. By the end, Stepan held a committee post with a salary of eight thousand roubles, and he remained associated with Levin, Vronsky, Karenin, and the wider provincial and social circles.