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Tolstoy introduces two important themes: the insufficiency
of a purely intellectual approach to life, and Russian politics.
As he often does, Tolstoy has two characters--in this case,
Levin and Sergius--argue the issues raised by his themes.
While in Moscow, Levin stays with his half-brother, Sergius
Ivanich Koznyshev (Sergey), a well-known intellectual and
writer. The two men rarely talk of personal matters; when they
meet they invariably argue over politics and philosophy. This
time it\'s no different. Levin tells Sergey that he\'s no longer
a member of the zemstvo (local council). Sergey criticizes
Levin for having quit.
NOTE: THE ZEMSTVOS In Tolstoy\'s time, Russia had a
centralized government headed by the Czar. The zemstvos were
local councils made up primarily of landowners. The zemstvos
tried to take care of problems such as grain storage and
relations between landowners and peasants, on a local level. On
matters that had to be decided at the national level, the
zemstvos would make recommendations in the hope that the higher
government agencies would accept their suggestions.
The zemstvos were relatively new in Tolstoy\'s time. Levin
(and Tolstoy) had reservations about the zemstvos because
peasants were not nearly as well represented as wealthy
landowners and because they feared that the landowners would try
to use the zemstvos to take advantage of the peasants, who had
virtually no education or prior political experience.
You learn that Levin\'s brother Nicholas has been seriously
ill with tuberculosis (often called consumption in the novel).
Levin gets so depressed when he thinks of Nicholas that he tries
to put him out of his thoughts for the time being. At this
point Levin can\'t deal with the idea of death. Coming to terms
with death in general and Nicholas\' death in particular will be
one of Levin\'s major struggles in the novel. The first order of
business, he feels, is to propose to Kitty.
Levin goes to the skating rink to meet Kitty, who is there
with her family. He shows off, trying to impress her with his
skating finesse. Kitty feels anew her fondness for Levin, but
believes she\'s in love with Vronsky, a society man. Kitty\'s
mother favors Vronsky as a match for Kitty, and though Princess
Shcherbatsky invites Levin to their home, she does so rather
coldly. Poor Levin\'s more nervous than ever.
Levin and Stiva dine at a restaurant of Stiva\'s choosing--the
Angleterre (French for \"England\")--to which Stiva is in debt.
This is the first mention of Stiva\'s increasingly serious
financial problems.
Again Tolstoy makes a point of contrasting the two men.
Stiva is a picture of elegance and polish and is relaxed in posh
surroundings. Levin feels like a bull in a china shop. But he
also feels somewhat scornful of finery for the sake of finery
and anything that seems to him to have a shallow emphasis on
appearance.
Take note that Stiva refuses to speak French with the waiter.
As you know, knowledge of French was a sign of being upper
class; Stiva refuses to grant the waiter this bit of social
status. Would you have expected Stiva to be such a snob?
Levin and Stiva talk about women. Levin admits that he feels
guilty over having \"sowed his wild oats\" as a youth and fears
that he is now unworthy of Kitty. He wants not only Kitty\'s
love, but her forgiveness, too.
NOTE: Levin is struggling with a matter that preoccupied
Tolstoy. Tolstoy, too, sought sanctity in marriage--after
having played around a lot as a young man--and had an
extramarital affair (just before writing Anna Karenina) of which
he was greatly ashamed. Levin represents one side of Tolstoy\'s
inner conflict, Anna the other.
Stiva describes Vronsky in glowing terms: he\'s a first-rate
fellow, a good horseman, clever, slated for success. (Take note
of the qualities Stiva admires. They do not square with
Tolstoy\'s criteria.) Nonetheless, Stiva is on Levin\'s side, and
advises him to propose to Kitty the next day, in the classic
manner.
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