An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1465 words)
hen Alexey Alexandrovitch reached the race-course, Anna was already
sitting in the pavilion beside Betsy, in that pavilion where all the
highest society had gathered. She caught sight of her husband in the
distance. Two men, her husband and her lover, were the two centers of
her existence, and unaided by her external senses she was aware of
their nearness. She was aware of her husband approaching a long way
off, and she could not help following him in the surging crowd in the
midst of which he was moving. She watched his progress towards the
pavilion, saw him now responding condescendingly to an ingratiating
bow, now exchanging friendly, nonchalant greetings with his equals, now
assiduously trying to catch the eye of some great one of this world,
and taking off his big round hat that squeezed the tips of his ears.
All these ways of his she knew, and all were hateful to her. “Nothing
but ambition, nothing but the desire to get on, that’s all there is in
his soul,” she thought; “as for these lofty ideals, love of culture,
religion, they are only so many tools for getting on.”
From his glances towards the ladies’ pavilion (he was staring straight
at her, but did not distinguish his wife in the sea of muslin, ribbons,
feathers, parasols and flowers) she saw that he was looking for her,
but she purposely avoided noticing him.
“Alexey Alexandrovitch!” Princess Betsy called to him; “I’m sure you
don’t see your wife: here she is.”
He smiled his chilly smile.
“There’s so much splendor here that one’s eyes are dazzled,” he said,
and he went into the pavilion. He smiled to his wife as a man should
smile on meeting his wife after only just parting from her, and greeted
the princess and other acquaintances, giving to each what was due—that
is to say, jesting with the ladies and dealing out friendly greetings
among the men. Below, near the pavilion, was standing an
adjutant-general of whom Alexey Alexandrovitch had a high opinion,
noted for his intelligence and culture. Alexey Alexandrovitch entered
into conversation with him.
There was an interval between the races, and so nothing hindered
conversation. The adjutant-general expressed his disapproval of races.
Alexey Alexandrovitch replied defending them. Anna heard his high,
measured tones, not losing one word, and every word struck her as
false, and stabbed her ears with pain.
When the three-mile steeplechase was beginning, she bent forward and
gazed with fixed eyes at Vronsky as he went up to his horse and
mounted, and at the same time she heard that loathsome, never-ceasing
voice of her husband. She was in an agony of terror for Vronsky, but a
still greater agony was the never-ceasing, as it seemed to her, stream
of her husband’s shrill voice with its familiar intonations.
“I’m a wicked woman, a lost woman,” she thought; “but I don’t like
lying, I can’t endure falsehood, while as for him (her husband) it’s
the breath of his life—falsehood. He knows all about it, he sees it
all; what does he care if he can talk so calmly? If he were to kill me,
if he were to kill Vronsky, I might respect him. No, all he wants is
falsehood and propriety,” Anna said to herself, not considering exactly
what it was she wanted of her husband, and how she would have liked to
see him behave. She did not understand either that Alexey
Alexandrovitch’s peculiar loquacity that day, so exasperating to her,
was merely the expression of his inward distress and uneasiness. As a
child that has been hurt skips about, putting all his muscles into
movement to drown the pain, in the same way Alexey Alexandrovitch
needed mental exercise to drown the thoughts of his wife that in her
presence and in Vronsky’s, and with the continual iteration of his
name, would force themselves on his attention. And it was as natural
for him to talk well and cleverly, as it is natural for a child to skip
about. He was saying:
“Danger in the races of officers, of cavalry men, is an essential
element in the race. If England can point to the most brilliant feats
of cavalry in military history, it is simply owing to the fact that she
has historically developed this force both in beasts and in men. Sport
has, in my opinion, a great value, and as is always the case, we see
nothing but what is most superficial.”
“It’s not superficial,” said Princess Tverskaya. “One of the officers,
they say, has broken two ribs.”
Alexey Alexandrovitch smiled his smile, which uncovered his teeth, but
revealed nothing more.
“We’ll admit, princess, that that’s not superficial,” he said, “but
internal. But that’s not the point,” and he turned again to the general
with whom he was talking seriously; “we mustn’t forget that those who
are taking part in the race are military men, who have chosen that
career, and one must allow that every calling has its disagreeable
side. It forms an integral part of the duties of an officer. Low
sports, such as prize-fighting or Spanish bull-fights, are a sign of
barbarity. But specialized trials of skill are a sign of development.”
“No, I shan’t come another time; it’s too upsetting,” said Princess
Betsy. “Isn’t it, Anna?”
“It is upsetting, but one can’t tear oneself away,” said another lady.
“If I’d been a Roman woman I should never have missed a single circus.”
Anna said nothing, and keeping her opera-glass up, gazed always at the
same spot.
At that moment a tall general walked through the pavilion. Breaking off
what he was saying, Alexey Alexandrovitch got up hurriedly, though with
dignity, and bowed low to the general.
“You’re not racing?” the officer asked, chaffing him.
“My race is a harder one,” Alexey Alexandrovitch responded
deferentially.
And though the answer meant nothing, the general looked as though he
had heard a witty remark from a witty man, and fully relished la
pointe de la sauce.
“There are two aspects,” Alexey Alexandrovitch resumed: “those who take
part and those who look on; and love for such spectacles is an
unmistakable proof of a low degree of development in the spectator, I
admit, but....”
“Princess, bets!” sounded Stepan Arkadyevitch’s voice from below,
addressing Betsy. “Who’s your favorite?”
“Anna and I are for Kuzovlev,” replied Betsy.
“I’m for Vronsky. A pair of gloves?”
“Done!”
“But it is a pretty sight, isn’t it?”
Alexey Alexandrovitch paused while there was talking about him, but he
began again directly.
“I admit that manly sports do not....” he was continuing.
But at that moment the racers started, and all conversation ceased.
Alexey Alexandrovitch too was silent, and everyone stood up and turned
towards the stream. Alexey Alexandrovitch took no interest in the race,
and so he did not watch the racers, but fell listlessly to scanning the
spectators with his weary eyes. His eyes rested upon Anna.
Her face was white and set. She was obviously seeing nothing and no one
but one man. Her hand had convulsively clutched her fan, and she held
her breath. He looked at her and hastily turned away, scrutinizing
other faces.
“But here’s this lady too, and others very much moved as well; it’s
very natural,” Alexey Alexandrovitch told himself. He tried not to look
at her, but unconsciously his eyes were drawn to her. He examined that
face again, trying not to read what was so plainly written on it, and
against his own will, with horror read on it what he did not want to
know.
The first fall—Kuzovlev’s, at the stream—agitated everyone, but Alexey
Alexandrovitch saw distinctly on Anna’s pale, triumphant face that the
man she was watching had not fallen. When, after Mahotin and Vronsky
had cleared the worst barrier, the next officer had been thrown
straight on his head at it and fatally injured, and a shudder of horror
passed over the whole public, Alexey Alexandrovitch saw that Anna did
not even notice it, and had some difficulty in realizing what they were
talking of about her. But more and more often, and with greater
persistence, he watched her. Anna, wholly engrossed as she was with the
race, became aware of her husband’s cold eyes fixed upon her from one
side.
She glanced round for an instant, looked inquiringly at him, and with a
slight frown turned away again.
“Ah, I don’t care!” she seemed to say to him, and she did not once
glance at him again.
The race was an unlucky one, and of the seventeen officers who rode in
it more than half were thrown and hurt. Towards the end of the race
everyone was in a state of agitation, which was intensified by the fact
that the Tsar was displeased.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
When mental overwhelm reaches its peak, engaging in purposeful physical work can restore clarity and emotional balance.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when thinking becomes counterproductive and anxiety spirals need physical intervention.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when your mind starts racing in circles—then try one physical task that requires attention but not complex decisions.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
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: As Levin gets into the rhythm of scything grain
This describes the meditative state where conscious effort disappears and you become one with the activity. It's the moment when overthinking stops and pure action takes over.
In Today's Words:
The more he worked, the more he got into that zone where his hands just moved on their own.
"He felt as though some external force were moving him, and he experienced a joy he had never known."
Context: When Levin finds his rhythm working alongside the peasants
Shows how physical labor connects Levin to something larger than his individual worries. The 'external force' suggests he's tapping into something fundamental about human nature and work.
In Today's Words:
It felt like something bigger than himself was guiding him, and he felt happier than he had in forever.
"The grass cut with a juicy sound, and was laid in high, fragrant rows."
Context: Describing the sensory experience of the work
Emphasizes the immediate, physical reality of the work - sounds, smells, tangible results. This grounds Levin in the present moment instead of abstract thoughts.
In Today's Words:
The grass made that satisfying cutting sound and piled up in sweet-smelling rows.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Levin works alongside peasants, temporarily bridging the class divide through shared labor
Development
Evolved from earlier chapters where class differences created barriers - here they dissolve in common work
In Your Life:
You might find unexpected connection with coworkers when you roll up your sleeves and work side by side during crunch time.
Identity
In This Chapter
Levin discovers a different version of himself through physical work - not the intellectual aristocrat but a laborer
Development
Building on his ongoing identity crisis - here he finds grounding through action rather than thought
In Your Life:
You might surprise yourself by finding peace in activities that seem completely different from your usual role or personality.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Growth comes not through books or philosophy but through embodied experience and physical challenge
Development
Contrasts with earlier chapters where Levin sought answers through reading and thinking
In Your Life:
Your biggest breakthroughs might come from doing something completely different, not from analyzing your problems more.
Connection
In This Chapter
Levin connects to the land, the rhythm of generations, and the peasants through shared work
Development
New theme - introduces the idea that connection can transcend social boundaries
In Your Life:
You might find your deepest sense of belonging comes from working toward common goals with people different from yourself.
Balance
In This Chapter
Mental chaos finds resolution through physical engagement - mind and body working together
Development
Introduced here as solution to the intellectual spinning from previous chapters
In Your Life:
When your thoughts won't stop racing, your body might hold the key to finding peace and perspective.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific changes does Levin notice in his mental state when he starts working with his hands alongside the peasants?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does physical labor succeed in calming Levin's mind when months of philosophical thinking couldn't?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you seen someone (or yourself) find peace through hands-on work after a period of stress or overthinking?
application • medium - 4
If you were feeling overwhelmed by big life questions right now, what specific physical activities could you use to ground yourself and why would you choose those?
application • deep - 5
What does Levin's experience suggest about the relationship between our bodies and our minds when it comes to finding clarity?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Design Your Personal Grounding Toolkit
Create a personalized list of 5-7 physical activities you could turn to when your mind is racing or overwhelmed. For each activity, note what makes it grounding for you specifically - the rhythm, the tangible results, the muscle memory involved. Think about activities you already do and new ones you could try.
Consider:
- •Consider activities that require attention but not complex decision-making
- •Think about what's realistically available to you given your schedule and living situation
- •Include both quick 10-minute options and longer activities for deeper reset
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were stuck in your head about a problem, and describe what happened when you finally did something physical instead of continuing to think about it.
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 63
Levin's newfound peace through physical labor will be tested when he returns to the house and must face the social world again. The contrast between his inner calm and the complications waiting for him creates tension about whether this breakthrough will last.
