Chapter 171
Next day Levin visits Veslovsky's room, walks the garden and stable...
Next day at ten o’clock Levin, who had already gone his rounds, knocked at the room where Vassenka had been put for the night. “Entrez!” Veslovsky called to him. “Excuse me, I’ve only just finished my ablutions,” he said, smiling, standing before him in his underclothes only. “Don’t mind me, please.” Levin sat down in the window. “Have you slept well?” “Like the dead. What sort of day is it for shooting?” “What will you take, tea or coffee?” “Neither. I’ll wait till lunch. I’m really ashamed. I suppose the ladies are down? A walk now would be capital. You…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Heavy is the cap of Monomach,”"
Context: Playfully noting Levin's agitation in the drawing room
Burden named in jest.
In Today's Words:
Oblonsky says Heavy is the cap of Monomach, hinting not only at the princess's Moscow talk but at Levin's jealousy cause he has noticed. Tolstoy uses the proverb of princely burden for domestic weight: confinement plans and Veslovsky's smile together press Levin. Stiva treats crisis lightly; Levin feels cast from pinnacle to abyss. The joke opens the chapter's social layer before garden repair.
"We can’t go on like this!"
Context: Pursuing Levin to speak away from servants
Misery named.
In Today's Words:
Kitty tells Levin we can't go on like this and that it is misery when she catches him after the mechanician excuse. Tolstoy forces private speech after public strain: samovar scene, guilty face, French coldness. The repetition in the garden seat deepens plea. Without this sentence jealousy would fester behind politeness.
"was there in his tone anything unseemly, not nice, humiliatingly horrible?"
Context: On the garden seat demanding clarity about Veslovsky
Boundary question.
In Today's Words:
Levin asks Kitty whether there was in his tone anything unseemly, not nice, humiliatingly horrible, standing with clenched fists as the night jealousy returned. He needs her yes to justify rage and her innocence together. Tolstoy makes tone not deed the crisis: admiration and Anna talk wounded without proven affair. Answer yes while not to blame splits blame toward guest.
"comforted and radiant faces."
Context: On Levin and Kitty passing the gardener after the garden talk
Repair visible.
In Today's Words:
The narrator says the gardener saw them pass homeward with comforted and radiant faces though nothing pursued them and the seat held nothing delightful. Tolstoy marks reconciliation without plot twist: speech cleared misery. Radiant faces follow we can't go on like this and yes about unseemly tone. Jealousy cycle pauses not ends because Veslovsky remains in house.
Thematic Threads
Jealousy cycle
In This Chapter
Levin falls from happiness to abyss at samovar.
Development
Garden talk restores peace temporarily.
In Your Life:
Old fears return in familiar rooms even after good trips.
Birth and Moscow
In This Chapter
Princess presses confinement plans.
Development
Adds pressure beside guest charm.
In Your Life:
Family logistics can stack atop relationship strain.
Anna's shadow
In This Chapter
Talk whether love beats worldly considerations.
Development
Disturbs Kitty and Levin alike.
In Your Life:
Stories of another couple's passion unsettle your table talk.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
What triggers Levin's plunge back into jealousy?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Veslovsky's manner toward Kitty at the samovar, her flushed disturbed look, and talk of Anna and love versus worldly considerations.
- 2
Why does Stiva say Heavy is the cap of Monomach?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
He playfully notes Levin looks burdened, hinting jealousy not only the princess's Moscow confinement talk causes the gloom.
- 3
What does Kitty mean by we can't go on like this?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Their jealous misery is unbearable for both and she needs a private clearing of misunderstanding before scenes harden.
- 4
Why does Levin ask about unseemly tone rather than a specific act?
application • deepOne way to read it
Admiring talk and manner humiliate him without proof of infidelity; he needs Kitty to confirm the boundary felt violated while she insists she is not to blame.
- 5
When have you needed one honest talk to end a jealousy spiral?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Relapse suspicion shows trip peace can vanish at home until partners name misery and tone clearly like comforted radiant faces.
Critical Thinking Exercise
From Samovar to Garden
Trace Levin's mood from drawing room through mechanician excuse to garden seat. What changes their faces?
Consider:
- •Include Heavy is the cap of Monomach
- •Include we can't go on like this
- •Include comforted radiant faces
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time naming misery cleared suspicion faster than surveillance.
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 172
Levin will seek Dolly while she too is in distress over children and the household strain guests bring. After escorting Kitty upstairs Levin visits Dolly while she scolds Masha in the corner over raspberry mischief. He wanted her advice and finds the moment unlucky until she asks what is going on and hears they quarreled again in the garden since Stiva came.
