Reading the Chunksters discussion

Part 2, Chapters 33 - 35 and Part 3, Chapters 1 - 3

I managed to read this section before I had to turn my book back in - and I'm on the list to pick up a copy from a different library (same translation). I'm hoping it comes in before the end of this week so I can stay on track! I may read ahead, though, and just take a lot of notes so I don't run into the same problem.

There was a lot going on in these few chapters:

Kitty quickly finds the thing that is more important - true religion, which doesn't reside in the rituals of worship services, but in helping those who need help. She throws herself into this, and makes a plan for her life to continually strive to help those who aren't as fortunate as herself.

Madame Stahl seems at first to Kitty as a wonderful woman, and an example of what it is to be selfless. She sees some chinks in the armor, however - and when her father goes with Kitty to meet her friends, his opinion sways Kitty. Madame Stahl falls from the pedestal Kitty had placed her on. And then Kitty realizes that she was trying to be something that she really wasn't - it wasn't in her to be selfless and continue to live among the sick.

Levin's half brother, Kosnyshev comes to visit. Interesting that Levin resents that Kosnyshev looks at this as a vacation and has no tendency to want to work. Kosnyshev tries to get to know the peasants, and tries to convince Levin to become more involved in local politics. But Levin is only concerned with how things are going on his own property. It's an interesting example of the conflict between capitalism and socialism. Kosnyshev seems to be interested in the improvement in the peasant's lot, while Levin doesn't. Yet, if Levin focuses his energy on his land and makes it as productive as it can be, the peasants will, in fact, gain from that. A most fascinating quandary.

Good comments, Kay! I noticed that a main concern in the book is the conflict between one's internal and external life. Many of the social conventions that come up keep the more sensitive upper-class people from acting on their feelings.