Anna Karenina · Chapter
IV explained
Levin visits his brother-in-law Lvov at home.
What happens
Levin visits his brother-in-law Lvov at home. They discuss politics, education, and the challenges of raising children, emphasizing the role of religion. Natalia Alexandrovna (Kitty's sister) interrupts and arranges for Levin to accompany her to a concert and a committee meeting. The chapter ends with a brief mention of Kitty's request for Levin to speak to Oblonsky.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Levin reaches an emotional and intellectual crisis where his abstract, fearful understanding of death is shatt…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Family and Domesticity
Central focus on parenting, the education of children, and the sacrifices parents make, illustrated through Lvov's dedication and the generational contrast in upbringing.
Characters to notice
- Konstantin Dmitrievitch Levin
Visits Lvov, discusses education and fatherhood, is enlisted by Natalia for social outings.
- Kitty Shcherbatskaya
Mentioned as the reason for the visit and the source of a commission for Levin regarding Oblonsky.
- Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky
Mentioned at the end as the subject of a commission from Kitty that Levin is to discuss.
Key passages
“"If one had not a support in religion... no father could bring children up relying on his own strength alone without that help."”
Lvov argues that raising children is impossible without the foundation of religious faith.
Highlights the perceived necessity of religion for moral education and parental strength.
“"Parents now are not expected to live at all, but to exist altogether for their children."”
Natalia observes that modern parenting demands total self-sacrifice from parents for their children's benefit.
Critiques the extreme shift in familial duty and personal identity.
