Summary
Levin throws himself into physical labor on his estate, working alongside his peasants in the fields to escape his mental anguish over Kitty's rejection. He finds temporary peace in the rhythmic, mindless work of mowing hay, but his philosophical questions about life's meaning keep breaking through. The harder he works, the more he realizes that physical exhaustion can't cure emotional pain or answer the big questions that torment him. His peasant workers seem content with simple faith and daily survival, while Levin envies their apparent certainty but can't access it himself. The chapter explores the gap between intellectual overthinking and simple living, showing how Levin's educated mind both blesses and curses him. He's caught between two worlds - the peasant world of unquestioned faith and hard work, and the aristocratic world of leisure and endless self-examination. This internal conflict drives much of his character development, as he searches for authentic meaning in a life that feels increasingly hollow. The physical labor represents his attempt to ground himself in something real and immediate, but his restless intellect won't let him find the peace he seeks. Tolstoy uses this chapter to examine class differences not just in wealth, but in how different social groups approach fundamental questions about existence and purpose.
Coming Up in Chapter 186
Levin's philosophical crisis deepens as he grapples with questions about death and the meaning of existence. A chance encounter will force him to confront his beliefs about faith and mortality in ways he never expected.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Levin was standing rather far off. A nobleman breathing heavily and hoarsely at his side, and another whose thick boots were creaking, prevented him from hearing distinctly. He could only hear the soft voice of the marshal faintly, then the shrill voice of the malignant gentleman, and then the voice of Sviazhsky. They were disputing, as far as he could make out, as to the interpretation to be put on the act and the exact meaning of the words: “liable to be called up for trial.” The crowd parted to make way for Sergey Ivanovitch approaching the table. Sergey Ivanovitch, waiting till the malignant gentleman had finished speaking, said that he thought the best solution would be to refer to the act itself, and asked the secretary to find the act. The act said that in case of difference of opinion, there must be a ballot. Sergey Ivanovitch read the act and began to explain its meaning, but at that point a tall, stout, round-shouldered landowner, with dyed whiskers, in a tight uniform that cut the back of his neck, interrupted him. He went up to the table, and striking it with his finger ring, he shouted loudly: “A ballot! Put it to the vote! No need for more talking!” Then several voices began to talk all at once, and the tall nobleman with the ring, getting more and more exasperated, shouted more and more loudly. But it was impossible to make out what he said. He was shouting for the very course Sergey Ivanovitch had proposed; but it was evident that he hated him and all his party, and this feeling of hatred spread through the whole party and roused in opposition to it the same vindictiveness, though in a more seemly form, on the other side. Shouts were raised, and for a moment all was confusion, so that the marshal of the province had to call for order. “A ballot! A ballot! Every nobleman sees it! We shed our blood for our country!... The confidence of the monarch.... No checking the accounts of the marshal; he’s not a cashier.... But that’s not the point.... Votes, please! Beastly!...” shouted furious and violent voices on all sides. Looks and faces were even more violent and furious than their words. They expressed the most implacable hatred. Levin did not in the least understand what was the matter, and he marveled at the passion with which it was disputed whether or not the decision about Flerov should be put to the vote. He forgot, as Sergey Ivanovitch explained to him afterwards, this syllogism: that it was necessary for the public good to get rid of the marshal of the province; that to get rid of the marshal it was necessary to have a majority of votes; that to get a majority of votes it was necessary to secure Flerov’s right to vote; that to secure the recognition of Flerov’s right to vote they must decide on the interpretation to be put on...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Escape That Isn't - When Work Becomes Avoidance
Using work or busyness to avoid confronting emotional pain or difficult life questions.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when we're using busyness to escape uncomfortable feelings rather than address them.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you suddenly feel the urge to clean, work extra hours, or start new projects—ask yourself what emotion you might be avoiding.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Peasant Labor
The backbreaking agricultural work done by Russia's lowest social class, who lived in poverty but had strong community bonds and simple faith. They worked the land for wealthy landowners like Levin, living in a completely different world despite sharing the same soil.
Modern Usage:
We see this in any job where the workers and management live completely different lives - like hospital CNAs versus administrators, or factory workers versus executives.
Estate Management
The responsibility wealthy landowners had for vast properties and the hundreds of peasants who worked them. It was both a privilege and a burden, requiring decisions that affected entire communities while providing immense wealth and social status.
Modern Usage:
Similar to being a CEO or franchise owner today - you have power and wealth, but also responsibility for people's livelihoods and the weight of major decisions.
Existential Crisis
The deep questioning of life's meaning and purpose that can paralyze educated, privileged people who have time to think. Unlike those focused on survival, people with leisure often spiral into wondering what the point of existence really is.
Modern Usage:
The quarter-life or mid-life crisis many people experience when they have their basic needs met but feel empty or purposeless despite apparent success.
Physical Labor as Escape
The idea that hard, manual work can quiet an overactive mind and provide temporary relief from emotional pain. The body's exhaustion can momentarily silence the brain's endless worrying and questioning.
Modern Usage:
People today hit the gym, do CrossFit, or take on home renovation projects when they're stressed - using physical exhaustion to escape mental anguish.
Class Consciousness
The awareness of the vast differences between social classes - not just in money, but in worldview, problems, and ways of thinking. Levin recognizes he can never truly understand or join the peasant world despite working alongside them.
Modern Usage:
The awkwardness when someone wealthy tries to relate to working-class struggles, or when you're the first in your family to go to college and feel caught between two worlds.
Simple Faith
The unquestioning religious belief that gave peasants peace and purpose without intellectual analysis. They accepted God's will and their place in life without the torment of constant doubt that plagued educated classes.
Modern Usage:
People who find comfort in traditional beliefs or routines without needing to analyze everything - they just trust the process and find peace in acceptance.
Characters in This Chapter
Levin
Tormented protagonist
Throws himself into physical farm work to escape his heartbreak over Kitty and his philosophical confusion about life's meaning. He envies the peasants' simple contentment but can't access it himself due to his educated, analytical mind.
Modern Equivalent:
The overthinking professional who tries manual labor or extreme workouts to quiet their anxiety
The Peasant Workers
Contrasting figures
Represent a different way of living - focused on survival, community, and simple faith rather than endless self-examination. They work naturally and seem at peace with their place in the world, highlighting Levin's internal struggle.
Modern Equivalent:
Coworkers who seem genuinely happy with simple pleasures while you're stressed about bigger meaning
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The longer Levin mowed, the oftener he felt those moments of unconsciousness in which it seemed not his hands that swung the scythe, but the scythe mowing of itself."
Context: Levin loses himself in the rhythm of mowing hay with the peasants
This describes the meditative state that comes from repetitive physical work - a temporary escape from self-awareness and mental torment. Levin finds brief peace when his mind stops analyzing and his body takes over.
In Today's Words:
When you're so focused on a physical task that you stop thinking and just flow with the work
"He felt he was looking at life from a new point of view, and this new view was extraordinarily pleasant and refreshing."
Context: Levin experiences temporary clarity while working in the fields
Physical labor gives Levin a different perspective on his problems, making them seem less overwhelming. The simplicity of the work provides relief from his complex emotional and philosophical struggles.
In Today's Words:
Sometimes getting your hands dirty and doing real work makes your problems seem smaller and more manageable
"But this feeling did not last long. Soon his old thoughts returned, and with them the old torture."
Context: Levin's mental peace from physical work proves temporary
Shows that you can't permanently escape emotional pain through distraction. The relief is real but brief - the underlying issues remain and resurface once the distraction ends.
In Today's Words:
You can't outrun your problems forever - they'll be waiting for you when you stop moving
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Levin envies the peasants' simple faith and unquestioned acceptance of life, while his aristocratic education leaves him tormented by endless questions
Development
Continues the book's exploration of how social class shapes not just wealth but entire worldviews
In Your Life:
You might notice how education or privilege sometimes makes simple contentment harder to achieve
Identity
In This Chapter
Levin struggles between his intellectual aristocratic identity and his desire for the peasants' grounded simplicity
Development
Deepens his ongoing identity crisis about where he belongs in society
In Your Life:
You might feel torn between who you're supposed to be and who you want to be
Work
In This Chapter
Physical labor becomes both escape and attempted connection to authentic living
Development
Introduced here as a new coping mechanism for Levin's emotional struggles
In Your Life:
You might use work to avoid dealing with personal problems or find meaning
Faith
In This Chapter
Levin observes the peasants' unquestioned religious certainty with both envy and inability to access it himself
Development
Continues his spiritual searching from earlier chapters
In Your Life:
You might struggle with wanting simple answers in a complicated world
Overthinking
In This Chapter
Levin's educated mind prevents him from finding the peace that comes with simple acceptance
Development
Builds on his pattern of intellectual self-torture throughout the novel
In Your Life:
You might find that thinking too much about problems sometimes makes them worse
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Levin turn to physical farm work after Kitty rejects him, and what does he hope to accomplish?
analysis • surface - 2
What's the difference between how Levin's peasant workers approach life versus how he does, and why can't he simply adopt their mindset?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you seen someone (maybe yourself) throw themselves into work or activities to avoid dealing with emotional pain or difficult decisions?
application • medium - 4
If you were Levin's friend, what advice would you give him about finding genuine peace instead of just temporary distraction?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about whether intelligence and education always make life better or happier?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Escape Patterns
For the next week, notice when you dive into work, cleaning, social media, or other activities when feeling stressed or upset. Keep a simple log: What triggered the feeling? What activity did you choose? Did it actually solve anything or just postpone dealing with the real issue? Look for your personal patterns of productive escape.
Consider:
- •Not all work is escape - sometimes we genuinely need to get things done
- •The key difference is whether you're moving toward something or running from something
- •Pay attention to the quality of your thoughts during the activity - are you present or just numbing out?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you used busyness to avoid a difficult conversation, decision, or emotion. What was the real issue you were avoiding, and what would have happened if you'd faced it directly instead?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 186
As the story unfolds, you'll explore key events and character development in this chapter, while uncovering thematic elements and literary techniques. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.