In these chapters Tolstoy shows how Karenin runs his own "race," by plunging himself deeper into his official work he attempts to escape his thoughts about Anna. However he cannot avoid the obvious truth as he observes Anna at the steeplechase. Karenin finds himself not only at the sidelines of the race course but at the sidelines of a situation which engrosses Anna and Vronsky.
Anna's confession, besides relieving herself of an unstated lie, aims at destroying her husband since she only declares what Karenin already knows but fears. Having told Vronsky, "He (Karenin) doesn't exist," Anna's words seem to carry out her wish, for her husband's face assumed the "solid immobility of the dead." Symbolically ridding herself of him, Anna joyfully anticipates her meeting with Vronsky.
