Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina

by

Leo Tolstoy

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Anna Karenina makes teaching easy.

Anna Karenina: Part 3, Chapter 26 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Levin has not visited Sviyazhsky in some time because his friend has a sister-in-law whom he wants Levin to marry, which makes Levin uncomfortable. However, Levin wants to measure his feelings against her. Sviyazhsky is something of a contradiction: even though he looks down on peasants as a class, for example, he supports individual peasants at elections. The snipe-shooting that day is not very good. At tea afterwards, Levin blushes and feels awkward around the sister-in-law, who is wearing a dress with a plunging neckline.
Levin visits his friend to distract himself from his emotions about Kitty, but the visit backfires when his friend’s sister-in-law comes out with her plunging cleavage and clear desires to ensnare a husband. Levin is embarrassed around Kitty, but he’s not looking for a substitute bride. Unlike his friend, who freely practices hypocrisy, Levin is too emotionally honest to say one thing and do another.
Themes
Marriage and Family Life Theme Icon
Society and Class Theme Icon
Farming and Rural Life Theme Icon