Levin is stirred by the idea that he is not alone in his dissatisfaction with the current system of managing the land. He determines that the problem can be solved and he must try to solve it. After promising his hostess to stay for another day, Levin goes to Sviazhsky’s study to gather some books on the labor question which his host offered him. As Levin is standing and reading one of the articles, Sviazhsky begins to talk to him about one of the points in the article. As Sviazhsky talks, however, Levin wonders why his friend is so interested in this particular issue and asks him a follow-up question. Sviazhsky has nothing more to offer; it is simply an interesting point to him and he has no interest at all in the why.

Levin wonders again why their national system of farming does not work. Sviazhsky is dismissive, saying peasants are at such a “low stage of rational and moral development” that they are bound to oppose anything new to them. Europe has been able to implement a more rational system of farming because its people are educated; what must happen, then, is simply that Russia’s peasants must be educated. Schools are the answer, he says; however, Levin points out that Sviazhsky believes the peasants are virtually incapable of learning and therefore education will be ineffectual. Sviazhsky says Levin is too much a pessimist and Europe now abounds with schools so education must be the difference.

Frustrated, Levin reminds his host that peasants are poor and ignorant, and education alone is unlikely to do anything but create a desire for things they cannot have because they are poor. It is obvious to him that what has to be cured is what makes the peasants poor. What is needed is an economic organization in which people will have more money and more leisure—then there will be schools. Sviazhsky repeats that schools are obligatory all over Europe before the look of alarm again shows in his eyes, and Levin can see he will not discover the connection between the man’s thoughts and his life. Sviazhsky likes the process of reasoning but does not enjoy it when the process leads him “into a blind alley.”

Everything he saw and heard today causes Levin to experience a kind of “violent excitement.” His thoughts about labor and class and work, in addition to his already considerable dissatisfaction, create an inner turmoil. He also has a vague hope of finding a solution to this problem and now anticipates some changes for his future.

Levin has only seen success when the laborer works in accordance with his own habits and practices, as he saw at the old peasant’s farm. Landowners must lower their standards of husbandry and ensure the laborers are invested in its success. How this can be done is still a mystery to him, but Levin is convinced it can be done. He determines to leave early in the morning so he can get home and begin to revolutionize his whole system of farming before the winter wheat is sown.