Stremov

Family: government · Role: admirer · First appears: PART THREE · Chapter 15

In chapter 84, Stremov is among the adorers accompanying Baroness Shtoltz at croquet. By chapter 86, he is described as one of the most influential people in Petersburg and the elderly admirer of Liza Merkalova, while also being Karenin’s enemy in the political world. Chapter 87 establishes that Liza Merkalova is his wife’s niece and that he spends all his leisure hours with her; because he is Karenin’s enemy in the government, he is particularly cordial to Anna.

At the Commission’s stormy sitting in chapter 92, Stremov defends himself after being stung by Karenin’s argument, but Karenin’s motion passes. By chapter 107, Stremov carries several members to Karenin’s side, supports the proposed measure, and advances still more extreme measures; when public opinion turns against them, he withdraws and Karenin is defeated. In chapter 118, Stremov is appointed to the post Karenin had coveted. By chapter 157, he is talking with Anna at her box when Vronsky stops to greet him.

Relationship record

Life events

• Alexey Alexandrovitch triumphs in the Commission; his motion passes and three new commissions are appointed.(PART THREE · Chapter 23)
  • With: Karenin
  • “When he reached the point about the fundamental and radical law, his opponent jumped up and began to protest. Stremov, who was also a member of the Commission, and also stung to the quick, began defending himself, and altogether a stormy sitting followed; but Alexey Alexandrovitch triumphed, and his motion was carried, three new commissions were appointed”
• Stremov manipulated extreme measures until public opinion condemned them, defeating Alexey Alexandrovitch.(PART FOUR · Chapter 6)
  • With: Karenin
  • “These measures, still further exaggerated in opposition to what was Alexey Alexandrovitch’s fundamental idea, were passed by the commission, and then the aim of Stremov’s tactics became apparent. Carried to an extreme, the measures seemed at once to be so absurd that the highest authorities, and public opinion, and intellectual ladies, and the newspapers, all at the same time fell foul of them, expressing their indignation both with the measures and their nominal father, Alexey Alexandrovitch. Stremov drew back, affecting to have blindly followed Karenin, and to be astounded and distressed at what had been done. This meant the defeat of Alexey Alexandrovitch.”
• Stremov is appointed to the post Alexey Alexandrovitch had coveted.(PART FOUR · Chapter 17)
  • “The first telegram was the announcement of Stremov’s appointment to the very post Karenin had coveted.”

PART THREE · Chapter 15

• admired: Baroness Shtoltz “Betsy reminded her that Liza Merkalova and Baroness Shtoltz were coming to play croquet with her that morning with their adorers, Kaluzhsky and old Stremov.”

PART THREE · Chapter 17

• admired: Liza Merkalova “Moreover, Stremov, one of the most influential people in Petersburg, and the elderly admirer of Liza Merkalova, was Alexey Alexandrovitch’s enemy in the political world.”
• enemies with Karenin “Moreover, Stremov, one of the most influential people in Petersburg, and the elderly admirer of Liza Merkalova, was Alexey Alexandrovitch’s enemy in the political world.”

PART THREE · Chapter 18

• younger kin: Liza Merkalova “Liza Merkalova was his wife’s niece, and he spent all his leisure hours with her.”
• with Anna (Stremov treats Anna cordially because she is the wife of his enemy.) “On meeting Anna Karenina, as he was Alexey Alexandrovitch’s enemy in the government, he tried, like a shrewd man and a man of the world, to be particularly cordial with her, the wife of his enemy.”

PART THREE · Chapter 23

• with Karenin (They are fellow members of the Commission.) “Stremov, who was also a member of the Commission, and also stung to the quick, began defending himself”

PART FOUR · Chapter 6

• rivals with Karenin (They oppose one another through competing tactics in the commission.) “But Stremov, who had felt stung to the quick at the last sitting, had, on the reception of the commission’s report, resorted to tactics which Alexey Alexandrovitch had not anticipated. Stremov, carrying with him several members, went over to Alexey Alexandrovitch’s side, and not contenting himself with warmly defending the measure proposed by Karenin, proposed other more extreme measures in the same direction.”

PART FIVE · Chapter 24

• enemies with Karenin “Whether it was due to his feud with Stremov, or his misfortune with his wife, or simply that Alexey Alexandrovitch had reached his destined limits, it had become evident to everyone in the course of that year that his career was at an end.”

PART FIVE · Chapter 33

• with Anna (They are conversing at Anna's box.) “At her box stood Stremov, talking to her.”
• with Vronsky (Vronsky and Stremov are social acquaintances.) “Vronsky bowed to her and stopped to greet Stremov.”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of Anna Karenina. Made with Rho MD.