The novel opens with a scene of domestic discord that introduces the Oblonsky family: Russian nobles who live in Moscow. Stephan Arkadyich Oblonsky, informally known as “Stiva,” is an unfaithful husband. He is having an affair with one of the family governesses. His scandalized wife Darya Alexandrovna, or “Dolly,” is in despair and thus neglecting her domestic labor. Tolstoy uses third-person narration, with close attention to the inner state of particular characters—especially their assumptions and views of themselves and others.

Stiva is sleeping in his office, pleasantly dreaming, and awakens to the reminder of his situation: When his wife confronted him, he responded with a “stupid smile” (3) which made the situation even worse. He had hoped Dolly understood he no longer loved her and knew he had affairs. She, however, believed him faithful. He dresses for the day and reminds his valet that his sister, Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, is coming from St. Petersburg: the imperial capital. Oblonsky is discouraged to learn that Anna still insists on leaving, unwilling to remain in the house or host a guest.

Stiva tends to his correspondence, and the third person narrator describes more of his temperament and character. He holds “liberal views” (7) for an aristocrat because liberalism does not venerate marriage or family, which he finds congenial to his own distaste for responsibility.