In "The Lady with the Toy Dog" by Anton Chekhov, Anna and Dimitri married young and are looking for something; they don't know what but they believe they found it together in Yalta. Dimitri is a veteran adulterer and, although not religious, considers “every such matter, at first a divine diversion” (137). It seems that the concept of “destiny” diverts their attention from the monotony and responsibility of everyday life. Anna admits that “something strange was happening to me,” but realistically they look for relief in another person who is also looking for something higher than them (140). Together, they find themselves in each other. For both of them the story becomes the symbol of the tangible existence of destiny. We might theorize that by denying their own “destiny,” they deny responsibility for creating their own circumstances. What influences their meeting, separation and reunion validates their attraction to each other and. Consciously, Anna may believe that she is a victim of circumstances, however, unconsciously she is aware that she is the creator of her own circumstance. When she cries out “God forgive me,” she symbolizes the need for forgiveness for herself and the forgiveness of her husband (139). Instead of being honest with her husband and herself, she doesn't take responsibility and never admits to the affair. Without taking responsibility for his actions, he returns to an unsatisfactory marriage and continues to use his faith to guide his destiny. When she leaves Dimitri after the affair, she states, "it's good that I'm leaving... It's fate" (141). Failure to acknowledge the revelation of her own flaws forces her to return to an unhappy marriage, while her belief in a predetermined destiny distorts her level of responsibility and deprives her of the opportunity to grow from the past.