In the text, what does the clock metaphor primarily illuminate about Karenin's perception of time?

• A. It shows time is irrelevant to the story.
• B. It illustrates Karenin's cyclical perception of time.
• C. It emphasizes future planning.
• D. It represents linear progress of time.

Answer: (B)

The clock metaphor shows Karenin experiences time in a cyclical way. Its steady, unchanging ticks mirror the repetitive rhythm of his life—formal duties, social appearances, and the routines that keep propriety intact. Time feels like a loop of the same obligations returning again and again, not a line that pushes him toward new possibilities. Because of that framing, events don’t seem to move forward into fresh, transformative moments; they recur within the same patterns of duty and expectation. It’s not that time is irrelevant, and it’s not focused on future planning or constant progress—it's about the recurring cycles that shape his sense of reality.