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The latter end of part three discussing the optimisation of farming was laid out in a way that felt like you are reading a report by Tolstoy and the arguments, counter-arguments and views are personified through Levin and other characters. Even the prose read reminiscent of a report, using short lines of dialogue to put forward a perspective and discuss it himself.

I’m still unsure of what to make of Vronsky as a person, especially after reading about his personal moral code which if you had no other knowledge of his character you would question many of his beliefs straight away. Similarly, Alexei Alexandrovich, despite his outward impression of a man with order, seems to be constrained by his own ‘morals’ which is actually leading him to be more immoral in his actions.

Got to the long farming sections. Whilst being joyful reads it’s clearer to see that even though the relevance to other plot lines in the book is very little, this storyline in itself of Levin and his issues of image as a nobleman who just wants to find purpose and happiness in mowing his own farm with the muzhiks without judgement is an important theme linking to the wider context of upper class problems.

Varenka is such a great character for Kitty to have this character development with. Her being constantly depicted as this servant of others with a great willingness but also as a sad story, and still being the one that Kitty uses as her image of a perfect life of devotion is really a testament to either Kitty’s good character, or her desire to be something she isn’t.