An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1882 words)
n the day of the wedding, according to the Russian custom (the
princess and Darya Alexandrovna insisted on strictly keeping all the
customs), Levin did not see his betrothed, and dined at his hotel with
three bachelor friends, casually brought together at his rooms. These
were Sergey Ivanovitch, Katavasov, a university friend, now professor
of natural science, whom Levin had met in the street and insisted on
taking home with him, and Tchirikov, his best man, a Moscow
conciliation-board judge, Levin’s companion in his bear-hunts. The
dinner was a very merry one: Sergey Ivanovitch was in his happiest
mood, and was much amused by Katavasov’s originality. Katavasov,
feeling his originality was appreciated and understood, made the most
of it. Tchirikov always gave a lively and good-humored support to
conversation of any sort.
“See, now,” said Katavasov, drawling his words from a habit acquired in
the lecture-room, “what a capable fellow was our friend Konstantin
Dmitrievitch. I’m not speaking of present company, for he’s absent. At
the time he left the university he was fond of science, took an
interest in humanity; now one-half of his abilities is devoted to
deceiving himself, and the other to justifying the deceit.”
“A more determined enemy of matrimony than you I never saw,” said
Sergey Ivanovitch.
“Oh, no, I’m not an enemy of matrimony. I’m in favor of division of
labor. People who can do nothing else ought to rear people while the
rest work for their happiness and enlightenment. That’s how I look at
it. To muddle up two trades is the error of the amateur; I’m not one of
their number.”
“How happy I shall be when I hear that you’re in love!” said Levin.
“Please invite me to the wedding.”
“I’m in love now.”
“Yes, with a cuttlefish! You know,” Levin turned to his brother,
“Mihail Semyonovitch is writing a work on the digestive organs of
the....”
“Now, make a muddle of it! It doesn’t matter what about. And the fact
is, I certainly do love cuttlefish.”
“But that’s no hindrance to your loving your wife.”
“The cuttlefish is no hindrance. The wife is the hindrance.”
“Why so?”
“Oh, you’ll see! You care about farming, hunting,—well, you’d better
look out!”
“Arhip was here today; he said there were a lot of elks in Prudno, and
two bears,” said Tchirikov.
“Well, you must go and get them without me.”
“Ah, that’s the truth,” said Sergey Ivanovitch. “And you may say
good-bye to bear-hunting for the future—your wife won’t allow it!”
Levin smiled. The picture of his wife not letting him go was so
pleasant that he was ready to renounce the delights of looking upon
bears forever.
“Still, it’s a pity they should get those two bears without you. Do you
remember last time at Hapilovo? That was a delightful hunt!” said
Tchirikov.
Levin had not the heart to disillusion him of the notion that there
could be something delightful apart from her, and so said nothing.
“There’s some sense in this custom of saying good-bye to bachelor
life,” said Sergey Ivanovitch. “However happy you may be, you must
regret your freedom.”
“And confess there is a feeling that you want to jump out of the
window, like Gogol’s bridegroom?”
“Of course there is, but it isn’t confessed,” said Katavasov, and he
broke into loud laughter.
“Oh, well, the window’s open. Let’s start off this instant to Tver!
There’s a big she-bear; one can go right up to the lair. Seriously,
let’s go by the five o’clock! And here let them do what they like,”
said Tchirikov, smiling.
“Well, now, on my honor,” said Levin, smiling, “I can’t find in my
heart that feeling of regret for my freedom.”
“Yes, there’s such a chaos in your heart just now that you can’t find
anything there,” said Katavasov. “Wait a bit, when you set it to rights
a little, you’ll find it!”
“No; if so, I should have felt a little, apart from my feeling” (he
could not say love before them) “and happiness, a certain regret at
losing my freedom.... On the contrary, I am glad at the very loss of my
freedom.”
“Awful! It’s a hopeless case!” said Katavasov. “Well, let’s drink to
his recovery, or wish that a hundredth part of his dreams may be
realized—and that would be happiness such as never has been seen on
earth!”
Soon after dinner the guests went away to be in time to be dressed for
the wedding.
When he was left alone, and recalled the conversation of these bachelor
friends, Levin asked himself: had he in his heart that regret for his
freedom of which they had spoken? He smiled at the question. “Freedom!
What is freedom for? Happiness is only in loving and wishing her
wishes, thinking her thoughts, that is to say, not freedom at
all—that’s happiness!”
“But do I know her ideas, her wishes, her feelings?” some voice
suddenly whispered to him. The smile died away from his face, and he
grew thoughtful. And suddenly a strange feeling came upon him. There
came over him a dread and doubt—doubt of everything.
“What if she does not love me? What if she’s marrying me simply to be
married? What if she doesn’t see herself what she’s doing?” he asked
himself. “She may come to her senses, and only when she is being
married realize that she does not and cannot love me.” And strange,
most evil thoughts of her began to come to him. He was jealous of
Vronsky, as he had been a year ago, as though the evening he had seen
her with Vronsky had been yesterday. He suspected she had not told him
everything.
He jumped up quickly. “No, this can’t go on!” he said to himself in
despair. “I’ll go to her; I’ll ask her; I’ll say for the last time: we
are free, and hadn’t we better stay so? Anything’s better than endless
misery, disgrace, unfaithfulness!” With despair in his heart and bitter
anger against all men, against himself, against her, he went out of the
hotel and drove to her house.
He found her in one of the back rooms. She was sitting on a chest and
making some arrangements with her maid, sorting over heaps of dresses
of different colors, spread on the backs of chairs and on the floor.
“Ah!” she cried, seeing him, and beaming with delight. “Kostya!
Konstantin Dmitrievitch!” (These latter days she used these names
almost alternately.) “I didn’t expect you! I’m going through my
wardrobe to see what’s for whom....”
“Oh! that’s very nice!” he said gloomily, looking at the maid.
“You can go, Dunyasha, I’ll call you presently,” said Kitty. “Kostya,
what’s the matter?” she asked, definitely adopting this familiar name
as soon as the maid had gone out. She noticed his strange face,
agitated and gloomy, and a panic came over her.
“Kitty! I’m in torture. I can’t suffer alone,” he said with despair in
his voice, standing before her and looking imploringly into her eyes.
He saw already from her loving, truthful face, that nothing could come
of what he had meant to say, but yet he wanted her to reassure him
herself. “I’ve come to say that there’s still time. This can all be
stopped and set right.”
“What? I don’t understand. What is the matter?”
“What I have said a thousand times over, and can’t help thinking ...
that I’m not worthy of you. You couldn’t consent to marry me. Think a
little. You’ve made a mistake. Think it over thoroughly. You can’t love
me.... If ... better say so,” he said, not looking at her. “I shall be
wretched. Let people say what they like; anything’s better than
misery.... Far better now while there’s still time....”
“I don’t understand,” she answered, panic-stricken; “you mean you want
to give it up ... don’t want it?”
“Yes, if you don’t love me.”
“You’re out of your mind!” she cried, turning crimson with vexation.
But his face was so piteous, that she restrained her vexation, and
flinging some clothes off an armchair, she sat down beside him. “What
are you thinking? tell me all.”
“I am thinking you can’t love me. What can you love me for?”
“My God! what can I do?...” she said, and burst into tears.
“Oh! what have I done?” he cried, and kneeling before her, he fell to
kissing her hands.
When the princess came into the room five minutes later, she found them
completely reconciled. Kitty had not simply assured him that she loved
him, but had gone so far—in answer to his question, what she loved him
for—as to explain what for. She told him that she loved him because she
understood him completely, because she knew what he would like, and
because everything he liked was good. And this seemed to him perfectly
clear. When the princess came to them, they were sitting side by side
on the chest, sorting the dresses and disputing over Kitty’s wanting to
give Dunyasha the brown dress she had been wearing when Levin proposed
to her, while he insisted that that dress must never be given away, but
Dunyasha must have the blue one.
“How is it you don’t see? She’s a brunette, and it won’t suit her....
I’ve worked it all out.”
Hearing why he had come, the princess was half humorously, half
seriously angry with him, and sent him home to dress and not to hinder
Kitty’s hair-dressing, as Charles the hair-dresser was just coming.
“As it is, she’s been eating nothing lately and is losing her looks,
and then you must come and upset her with your nonsense,” she said to
him. “Get along with you, my dear!”
Levin, guilty and shamefaced, but pacified, went back to his hotel. His
brother, Darya Alexandrovna, and Stepan Arkadyevitch, all in full
dress, were waiting for him to bless him with the holy picture. There
was no time to lose. Darya Alexandrovna had to drive home again to
fetch her curled and pomaded son, who was to carry the holy pictures
after the bride. Then a carriage had to be sent for the best man, and
another that would take Sergey Ivanovitch away would have to be sent
back.... Altogether there were a great many most complicated matters to
be considered and arranged. One thing was unmistakable, that there must
be no delay, as it was already half-past six.
Nothing special happened at the ceremony of benediction with the holy
picture. Stepan Arkadyevitch stood in a comically solemn pose beside
his wife, took the holy picture, and telling Levin to bow down to the
ground, he blessed him with his kindly, ironical smile, and kissed him
three times; Darya Alexandrovna did the same, and immediately was in a
hurry to get off, and again plunged into the intricate question of the
destinations of the various carriages.
“Come, I’ll tell you how we’ll manage: you drive in our carriage to
fetch him, and Sergey Ivanovitch, if he’ll be so good, will drive there
and then send his carriage.”
“Of course; I shall be delighted.”
“We’ll come on directly with him. Are your things sent off?” said
Stepan Arkadyevitch.
“Yes,” answered Levin, and he told Kouzma to put out his clothes for
him to dress.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
Physical engagement with meaningful work breaks mental rumination loops and restores clarity when overthinking creates paralysis.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when thinking has become counterproductive and how to use physical engagement to reset mental clarity.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're thinking the same thoughts on repeat—then find a physical task that requires attention but not complex decisions, like organizing, cleaning, or cooking.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The longer Levin went on mowing, the oftener he experienced those moments of oblivion when his arms no longer seemed to swing the scythe, but the scythe itself his whole body."
Context: As Levin gets into the rhythm of mowing hay with the peasants
This describes the flow state where conscious effort disappears and you become one with the task. Levin stops fighting against the work and lets it carry him.
In Today's Words:
The more he worked, the more he got into the zone where everything just flowed naturally.
"He felt a pleasant coolness and at the same time an inner warmth that penetrated his whole being."
Context: Levin experiencing the physical and emotional satisfaction of hard work
Physical work creates both literal cooling from sweat and metaphorical warmth from meaningful activity. The body and spirit are connected.
In Today's Words:
He felt good in his body and good in his heart at the same time.
"Work conquered all his doubts."
Context: Levin realizing that action provides answers that thinking cannot
Sometimes the cure for overthinking isn't more thinking - it's doing something real and immediate. Work provides clarity that analysis cannot.
In Today's Words:
Actually doing something solved the problems that worrying about them never could.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Levin temporarily bridges class barriers through shared physical labor, finding acceptance among peasants
Development
Evolution from earlier chapters where class differences created anxiety and isolation
In Your Life:
You might find unexpected connection with coworkers when you roll up your sleeves and work alongside them during busy periods
Identity
In This Chapter
Levin discovers a version of himself through work—not the anxious intellectual but someone grounded and capable
Development
Major breakthrough from his ongoing identity crisis and self-doubt
In Your Life:
You might discover new aspects of yourself when you engage in work that's completely different from your usual role
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Growth comes through action and presence rather than analysis and isolation
Development
Represents a turning point from his pattern of overthinking toward embodied wisdom
In Your Life:
Your biggest insights might come not from thinking harder about problems but from stepping away and engaging with something immediate
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Levin defies aristocratic expectations by working with his hands alongside peasants
Development
Continuation of his rejection of upper-class social norms throughout the novel
In Your Life:
You might find fulfillment by ignoring others' expectations about what work is 'appropriate' for your education or position
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Authentic connection emerges naturally through shared work rather than forced social interaction
Development
Contrasts with his struggles in salon conversations and romantic pursuits
In Your Life:
Your strongest relationships might develop through working together on concrete tasks rather than just talking
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What changes in Levin when he starts working in the fields with the peasants, and what does he discover about his mental state?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does physical labor succeed in calming Levin's mind when intellectual pursuits and thinking harder about his problems failed?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today using physical work or hands-on activities to deal with stress, anxiety, or overthinking?
application • medium - 4
When you notice your mind spinning in circles about problems, what type of physical activity could you turn to, and how would you make time for it?
application • deep - 5
What does Levin's experience teach us about the relationship between our minds and bodies when it comes to finding peace and clarity?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Design Your Own Grounding Reset
Think about the last time your mind was stuck in an overthinking loop - maybe about work stress, a relationship issue, or a big decision. Now design a specific physical activity you could turn to next time this happens. Choose something that requires attention but not complex thinking, something you can actually access when you need it.
Consider:
- •The activity should be simple enough that you can do it when stressed, not something that requires special equipment or perfect conditions
- •Think about what you already have access to - your kitchen, your yard, basic tools, or even just your own body for movement
- •Consider activities that produce something useful or satisfying, not just movement for movement's sake
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you found unexpected clarity or calm through physical work or activity. What was it about that experience that helped your mind settle? How could you recreate that when you need it most?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 127
Levin's newfound peace through physical work will be tested when he returns to the complexities of his personal relationships. The clarity he's found in the fields may help him finally understand what he truly wants from life.
