# XXIV explained — Anna Karenina

> Chapter companion for Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

Levin, disillusioned by his farming methods after his night on the haycock, sees his agricultural work as a futile struggle against the peasants' natural work rhythms. He feels his interests are fundamentally opposed to theirs, making the work revolting. Compounding his distress is Kitty's proximity and Dolly's invitation, which he feels he cannot accept due to pride and the humiliation of her past refusal. To escape both his farm and his emotional turmoil, he departs to visit Sviazhsky for grouse shooting.

## Themes in this chapter

### Search for Meaning

Levin's entire agricultural project, once a source of purpose, has lost all meaning. He questions the worthiness of his struggle for profit against the peasants' desire for agreeable work, leading to a profound crisis in his life's work.

### Isolation and Misunderstanding

Levin feels fundamentally isolated from both the peasants (whose motives he understands but cannot reconcile with his own) and from Kitty. He believes an 'insuperable barrier' of past rejection exists, preventing genuine connection.

## Character check-ins

### Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin

Undergoes a crisis regarding his farming philosophy, seeing it as a hostile struggle with the peasants. He is also tormented by his unresolved feelings for Kitty and his pride, leading him to flee his estate.

### Kitty Shcherbatskaya

Though physically absent, her presence looms large in Levin's thoughts. He longs to see her but feels a barrier due to his past proposal and her refusal, making a meeting impossible in his mind.

### Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya

Her well-intentioned invitation and request for a sidesaddle for Kitty inadvertently pressure Levin, making him feel Kitty's position is humiliating and forcing a confrontation with his feelings he wishes to avoid.

### Nikolay Ivanovitch Sviazhsky

Mentioned as the friend Levin escapes to visit, offering a distraction through grouse shooting on his remote marshes.

## Key lines

> the aim of his energy was a most unworthy one. In reality, what was the struggle about? He was struggling for every farthing of his share... while they were only struggling to be able to do their work easily and agreeably

Levin realizes his farming is a petty economic battle against the workers' natural desire for pleasant, familiar labor.

_Highlights the core conflict in his agricultural philosophy and his crisis of values._

> The fact that he had made her an offer, and she had refused him, had placed an insuperable barrier between her and him.

Levin believes Kitty's past refusal creates an impossible obstacle to any future relationship.

_Shows how pride and a fixed narrative of rejection fuel his isolation and inaction._

> he handed over all the now revolting business of the estate to the bailiff, and set off next day to a remote district

Levin abandons his farm management and escapes to Sviazhsky's for shooting.

_The physical manifestation of his dual retreat from professional failure and emotional pain._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-xxiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters