# Agafea Mihalovna — Anna Karenina character guide

> Agafea Mihalovna in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old Agafea Mihalovna

**First appearance:** 0005-part-i-vi

## Who they are

The elderly, devoted housekeeper on Levin's country estate.

## In the story

### [Levin's Return Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-i-xxvi)

His old nurse and housekeeper, greets him upon his return.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-i-xxvii)

Serves Levin tea, gossips about the drunken peasant Prohor, and perceptively notes Levin's low spirits, offering him simple, comforting wisdom.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-ii-xii)

Serves as Levin's primary intellectual companion in the country, discussing agriculture and philosophy with him.

### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii)

Not directly present, but Levin's internal reference to 'old Agafea Mihalovna' when thinking of the calves connects his domestic management to his agricultural life.

### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv)

Anxiously oversees the household and dinner preparations for the important guest, eager to maintain the house's credit.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii)

Serves supper and interacts briefly, highlighting the difference between Stiva's appreciative praise and Levin's austere, indifferent nature towards food.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-ii)

Mentioned as having sprained her wrist, which brings the talkative young doctor to the house and sets off Koznishev's eager conversation.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-iii)

Mentioned by Sergey as an example of someone who needed the district doctor, serving as a point in his argument for the necessity of local medical services.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-vi)

Mentioned as Levin's old nurse; Sergey Ivanovitch consults her for the peasants' view, and she expresses the traditional opinion that Levin's work is 'not a gentleman’s work.'

### [Levin's Work and the Prospect of Travel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-xxx)

Urges Levin to stop worrying about the peasants and to get married, a comment that pains him.

### [The Arrival of Nikolay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxi)

Nikolay jokes with her and asks after old servants, showing a brief moment of his old affectionate humor before his illness is referenced.

### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-v-xiv)

Observed mournfully and tenderly shaking her head over Kitty's new domestic arrangements, indicating a transfer of household stewardship.

### [A Letter and a Quarrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-v-xvi)

Present at the tea, smiling affectionately at Kitty, showing the resolution of their domestic power struggle. She tactfully withdraws when Levin and Kitty begin to argue.

### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-v-xix)

Cited by Levin as sharing Kitty's certain, practical knowledge of how to treat the dying, rooted in religious faith.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-vi-ii)

Angrily makes jam using Kitty's new method (without water), feeling her traditional ways are being challenged, but is softened by Kitty's kindness.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-viii-vi)

Assists in the nursery, expressing tender, possessive affection for baby Mitya and insisting the child knows her.

### [Levin's Purpose in Country Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-viii-x)

Implied as part of the household 'old servants' to whom Levin feels obligated to provide monthly rations.

### [The Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-viii-xvii)

Meets the party in the hall with kerchiefs and rugs, providing practical aid and information about Kitty's whereabouts.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/chapters/part-viii-xviii)

Her earlier assertion that Mitya recognizes people is proven correct during the bath-time experiment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/characters/agafea_mihalovna
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_karenina_se/characters