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Chapter 172 — Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina - Chapter 172

Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina

Chapter 172

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Study guide
By Arvin Lioanag, Founder & Editor. Reviewed against source text (editorial standards). Last updated 30 November 2025.

Summary

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. Dolly probes honor bright whether Veslovsky's tone was horrible to a husband; she says the world would call it young men's courting and Stiva told her Veslovsky makes a petit brin de cour to Kitty.

Levin declares he is satisfied and will send Veslovsky away himself, eyes flashing that he shall enjoy it though Dolly cries he is crazy and offers to have Stiva say visitors are expected. Levin orders horses for the station, finds Veslovsky putting on gaiters, and nervously breaks a stick before saying he has ordered horses put to for him. Vassenka understands at last; Levin lets him see Oblonsky but cuts off ridicule when Stiva protests in the garden.

Veslovsky departs in the trap sitting in hay with his Scotch cap while a forgotten mechanician clambered in beside him. Levin feels ridicule and guilt yet would do just the same again; by evening everyone except the princess grows lively and Dolly's comic retelling of new shoes wasted on the departing guest makes Varenka helpless with laughter.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Skill: Drawing Lines Before Politeness Wins

Waiting until jealousy looks respectable can poison a home for weeks. Levin hears Je crois que Veslovsky fait un petit brin de cour à Kitty, says I shall so enjoy it, and would do just the same again though Stiva calls him ridicule.

When a guest's manner threatens your marriage, act plainly even if friends treat the move as comedy afterward.

Coming Up in Chapter 173

Darya Alexandrovna will carry out her intention and go to see Anna, hiring horses until Levin insists she take his instead. Darya Alexandrovna carries out her intention to see Anna though she is sorry to annoy Kitty and do what Levin dislikes. She understands the Levins are right to avoid Vronsky yet must show Anna her feelings unchanged..

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Original text
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Chapter 172

After escorting Kitty upstairs Levin visits Dolly while she scolds ...

After escorting his wife upstairs, Levin went to Dolly’s part of the house. Darya Alexandrovna, for her part, was in great distress too that day. She was walking about the room, talking angrily to a little girl, who stood in the corner roaring. “And you shall stand all day in the corner, and have your dinner all alone, and not see one of your dolls, and I won’t make you a new frock,” she said, not knowing how to punish her. “Oh, she is a disgusting child!” she turned to Levin. “Where does she get such wicked propensities?” “Why, what…

Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.

Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Track the Expulsion

List what Dolly confirms, what Levin orders, how Stiva responds, and how the household ends the day.

Consider:

  • •Include petit brin de cour
  • •Include I shall so enjoy it
  • •Include would do just the same again

Journaling Prompt

Write about a time you removed someone awkwardly and still felt it was necessary.

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Lessons from Anna Karenina

Theme-by-theme analyses that connect this book to modern life skills.

  • Balancing Passion and Responsibility

    Follow Seryozha's birthday visit, Karenin's public face, and the divorce that never arrives, and count what desire costs other people.

    6 chapters·Explore Analysis
  • Finding Authentic Meaning

    Walk the mowing with Levin, then sit through Kitty's imperfect household, and see a life that does not need an audience.

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Deep diving the literary elements.

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