In these episodes we gain insight into Levin's way of life as a landed proprietor. His dislike of Ryabinin, a land speculator, and his anger at Stiva's cheap sale of the forest derives from a threat to his basic values. This devaluation of valuable property, by a destructive agent who deals in money rather than in values, is a devaluation of resources, tradition, rootedness. Stiva, by his desire for monetary gain, becomes an unwitting tool for undermining the source of Russia's strength and, indeed, the whole existence of "aristocracy," defined by Levin as those who have a vested interest in protecting the basic values of national life. If the peasants cheat landowners out of their property, then at least the land goes to those who deserve it because it is their mainspring of existence. Ryabinin, on the other hand, represents the irresponsible overthrow of the old order; appreciating no values but those of cash and material gain, he intrudes chaos and impoverishment where constructive change and enrichment is required. Vronsky who, like Ryabinin, is uncommitted to the land and basic traditions, whose career is socially and politically oriented, contributes no values to stabilize either himself or other human beings. Kitty's illness, her "devaluation" by Vronsky, proves Levin's point.
Through Levin's arguments, Tolstoy states a general system which generates his philosophy. Human beings must be committed to deeply-rooted values--a personal need corresponding to love--in order to maintain their humanity. Without a source of inner strength, an individual's life becomes empty of meaning and frivolous, capable of destroying other lives besides perverting his own.
