Levin's mystical wonderment at the birth of his child and women's destiny contrasts ironically with Karenin's mysticism. Levin is on the way to self-realization while Karenin is at a spiritual decline. His new found religious adherence is a way for him to avoid the pain of his humiliation and to save face. Allowing himself to be guided by the ridiculous mysticism of Landau and by the countess' excessive religiosity Karenin no longer assumes personal responsibility. This new belief offers him an even better way to avoid self-confrontation than that offered by his bureaucratic position.
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