Anna Karenina Ch. 195: Chapter 195

Summary

Levin asks perhaps they are not at home at Countess Bola's; the porter says at home, please walk in and removes his overcoat. How annoying, Levin thinks with a sigh: what did I come for, what have I to say. He performs visit ritual, writes address in handsome book, and feels everyone does it yet remains ashamed.

At the public meeting he meets Sviazhsky and Stiva, discusses fantasia and a trial, and from mental fatigue repeats a foreigner's exile line as punishing a carp by putting it into the water. Then he recalls the witticism is Krilov borrowed through newspaper acquaintance, vexing him several times.

Home with sister-in-law, Kitty is well and cheerful; Levin drove to the club. Tolstoy links social shame, plagiarized cleverness, and relief of male dining after dutiful day.

Levin performs the visit ritual, writes the address in a handsome book, and feels ashamed everyone does it. Public meeting talk of fantasia and trial follows; Moscow visiting is performance without content.

Tolstoy closes the chapter on that beat without easy moral, only the next consequence waiting.

Trial talk at the meeting and Sviazhsky's wink confirm Levin is performing citizenship without conviction.

Handsome address book and porter's at home trap him in ritual he despises yet performs like every other gentleman.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Spotting Hollow Visits

Required calls can feel absurd even when done correctly. Levin sighs how annoying and asks what did I come for, then blunders with carp in water wit before driving to the club.

When you perform etiquette without purpose, finish quickly and avoid clever talk while tired.

Coming Up in Chapter 196

At the club Levin will arrive at the right time and feel reconciled to Vronsky. Levin reaches the club just at the right time as members arrive; he has not been since university society days and remembers external details warmly. Stiva guides him through spirits and appetizers, orders something special, and fills glasses while Gagin tells improper Petersburg stories that make Levin roar loudly..

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Original text

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Chapter 195

Levin asks perhaps they are not at home at Countess Bola's; the por...

“Perhaps they’re not at home?” said Levin, as he went into the hall of Countess Bola’s house. “At home; please walk in,” said the porter, resolutely removing his overcoat. “How annoying!” thought Levin with a sigh, taking off one glove and stroking his hat. “What did I come for? What have I to say to them?” As he passed through the first drawing-room Levin met in the doorway Countess Bola, giving some order to a servant with a care-worn and severe face. On seeing Levin she smiled, and asked him to come into the little drawing-room, where he heard voices.…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Follow Levin's Afternoon Shame

Describe Bola visit feelings, meeting blunder, and why club follows.

Consider:

•Include how annoying
•Include carp in water
•Include drove to the club

Journaling Prompt

Write about a day of calls that ended in relief somewhere else.

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Chapter 195

Summary