Why does Anna Karinina feel repulsion, hatred, loathing toward Alexander Karinin?
She recognizes that she has wronged him and that he has in turn been tremendously kind. In fact, he has been extremely forgiving and large hearted about the whole affair. Why does she dislike him so such to the point that even looking at him brings feelings of loathing? She's felt this toward him since the start of the relationship with Vronsky.
A very interesting question.
Lets see. First, I would jump to the fact that the marriage between Anna and Karenin was not out of love. It might not have been exactly "arranged" but it was definitely done for social-political reasons. He was a statesman, wealthy and honorable, she was young and beautiful and also from a prestigious family. So, that's that. They didn't really know each other. And that is the catalyst for the real issue.
Anna, getting to know Karenin, realizes that he is the exact opposite of her. He is calculated, programmed, reserved - almost to a point of complete coldness. Anna, like her brother, Stiva, is full of life. She is young, she is beautiful, she likes to visit people and she likes to talk to people and listen to people. She likes being in and around life and movement. Someone like Karenin to her would seem inhuman, and I think, Life (as Anna) seeing Death (as Karenin) like that, not understanding it, would either loathe it or pity it.
Anna, as a woman, had no choice but to bear Karenin's disposition. If he loved her, he didn't show it in a way she could understand or appreciate. Had she been the man (literal) of the relationship (had she been her brother) and was free to leave the house and peruse other pleasures when she wished without the constant threat/idea of him, perhaps she would have grown to pity him rather than hate him. For we must assume that, when Anna would go calling on neighbors, etc., the idea that she must uphold her husband's name and status (a husband whom she did not like or understand, though she appreciated him) would always weight upon her, whereas Stiva could do as he wished and not give a damn about his wife's name, because it is HIS name. And so, she Anna grew to loathe Karenin.
This is just my very first thought on the matter. I am interested to hear other's opinions! :)
After her affair with Vronsky, Anna has had a taste of what love can be like. In comparison to virile Vronsky, the older Karenin is just not physically attractive to Anna. Physical attraction didn't play a part in her marriage prior to the affair.
Also, Karenin does not behave as a cuckolded husband was expected to. Anna wants him to challenge Vronsky to a duel- not because she wants Karenin to win but because of the principle. He also says that Anna must behave like his wife in public but has no obligation to behave that way to him.