Chapter Summaries: Dole: The princess joins the gentlemen. Almost a family quarrel. Prince Andrei's advice to Pierre never to marry, and his reasons. Pierre promises not to join Anatol's dissipations any more.
Briggs: Chapter 6: Pierre visits Andrey and goes on to Anatole Kuragin's. Dolokhov's bet.
VI.
In the neighboring room came a noisy female dress. As if waking up, Prince Andrey shook himself, and his face had accepted that same expression that it had in the living room of Anna Pavlovna. Pierre lowered his legs from the couch. The princess entered. She was already in another, her one for home, yet with the same elegance and freshness, dress. Prince Andrey got up, courteously moving her chair.
— From what I often think, — she began talking, as always, in French, hastily and troublesomely sitting down in the chair, — How did Anet not get married? You’re all stupid, messieurs (men), that she is not married. I’m sorry, but you understand nothing of the woman’s sense. What a debater you are, Monsieur Pierre!
— I am with your husband arguing about everything; not understanding for what he wants to go to war, — said Pierre, without any constraint (so ordinary was the relations of the young man to the young woman) turning to the princess.
The princess was startled. Apparently, the words of Pierre affected her livelihood.
— Ah, here I have already spoken! — she said. — I do not understand, resolutely do not understand, why men may not live without war? From what we, women, want nothing to do with, and need nothing of? Well, here you be the judge. I have said everything to him: here he is an adjutant to uncle, a most brilliant position. All who know him, appreciate him so. The other day, at the Apraksins, I heard a single lady ask: “This is the known Prince Andrey?” Word of honor!103 — she laughed. — He is so everywhere adopted. He very easily may be a wing adjutant. You know, the sovereign very graciously spoke of him. We, with Anet, said this is very easy to arrange. What do you think?
Pierre looked at Prince Andrey and, noticing that the conversation was not liked by his friend, responded with nothing.
— When will you leave? — he asked.
— Ah, do not speak to me about this departure, don’t speak! I do not want to hear about this.104 — began the princess in a capricious and playful tone, how she spoke with Ippolit in the living room, and which obviously, not going with the family circle that Pierre was a member. — today, when I thought that it was needed to interrupt all of this dear relationship... and then, you know, André? — she repeatedly blinked at her husband. — I’m fearful! Fearful!105 — she whispered, her back trembling.
Her husband watched her with a look, as if he was surprised to notice that someone else, besides him and Pierre, was in the room: however with a cold courtesy, he interrogatively turned to his wife:
— What are you afraid of, Liza? I cannot understand, — he said.
— Here is how all men are egoists; all, all egoists! From his own whim, God knows what for, he throws me, locks me alone in a village.
— With my father and sister, don’t forget, — quietly said Prince Andrey.
— Without my friends and everyone I care about... as if I wanted to be afraid.
Her tone was now grouchy, her lip went up, giving a face that was not joyful, but a brutal, squirrel-like expression. She fell silent, as if finding it indecent to speak with Pierre about her pregnancy, and that this is what consisted the essence of her affairs.
— All the same I don’t get what you are afraid of,106 — slowly spoke Prince Andrey, not lowering his eyes from his wife.
The princess blushed and frantically waved her hands.
— No, Andrey, you’re changed, so changed...107...
— Your doctor orders you to lie down earlier, — said Prince Andrey. — you should go to sleep.
The princess said nothing, and suddenly her short mustached lip trembled; Prince Andrey, getting up and shaking his shoulders, left the room.
Pierre in surprise and naivety, watched through his glasses at the princess and stirred, as if he too wanted to get up, but thought more.
— What business is it to me that Monsieur Pierre is here, — suddenly said the small princess, and her pretty face suddenly bloomed into a tearful grimace. — I have for a long time wanted to say to you, André: for what have you changed to me so? What did I do to you? You go to the army, you don’t pity me. For what?
— Lise! — only said Prince Andrey; yet in this word was a request, a threat, and, the main thing, assurance that she should repent in her words; but she hastily continued:
— You turn to me, as from sickness or from having a kid. I see everything. You aren’t as you were six months ago.
— Lise, I beg you to stop, — said Prince Andrey more expressively.
Pierre, all the more and more coming into an excitement during this conversation, got up and came up to the princess. He, it seemed, could not come across these kind of tears and was himself was ready to cry.
— Take it easy, princess. This seems so, because of what I assure you, I myself experienced... that... because that... no, sorry, I’m an excess here... no, take it easy... farewell...
Prince Andrey stopped him with his arm.
— No, wait, Pierre. The princess is so good that she will not want to deprive me the pleasure to be with you this evening.
— No, he only thinks about himself, — spoke the princess, not holding her angry tears.
— Lise, — drily said Prince Andrey, raising his tone measurably, which showed that his patience was exhausted.
Suddenly the angry squirrel-like expression on the beautiful face of the princess was replaced with the attractive and exciting compassionate expression of fear; She sneakily looked with her beautiful eyes at her husband, and in her face it seemed that the timid and recognizable expression, as in a dog, quickly, yet weakly waving its lowered tail.
— My God, my God!108 — spoke the princess and, picking up with one hand the crease of her dress, came up to her husband and kissed him on the forehead.
— Goodbye Liza,109 — said Prince Andrey, getting up and courteously, as to an outsider, kissing her hand.
————
The friends were silent. Or, they just hadn’t started to speak. Pierre glanced at Prince Andrey, and Prince Andrey rubbed his forehead with his little hand.
— Let’s have supper, — he said with a sigh, getting up and going directly to the door.
They entered in a graceful, new, richly decorated dining room. Everything, from the napkins to the silver, faiences and crystal glasses, carried on it that special imprint of novelty which is in the households of young spouses. In the middle of dinner Prince Andrey leaned and, as a person that has had for a long time something in their heart and suddenly decisively speaks, with an expression of nervous irritation, in which Pierre had never seen his friend, started speaking:
— Never, never marry, my friend; here is my advice to you, never marry until you can say to yourself that you’ve done everything that you could, and until you stop loving that woman which you’ve chosen, because while you do not see her clearly; you’re mistaken cruelly and irreparably. Marry as an old man, going nowhere and worthless... as all that is good and high disappears. Everything will be spent on little things. Yes, yes, yes! Do not look at me with such surprise. If you do not wait for nothing to be ahead, then in each step you will feel that everything for you is over, everything closed besides living rooms, where you will stand on one plank with courtiers, lackeys, and idiots...Yes that’s it!..
He energetically waved his hand.
Pierre took off his glasses, from which his face changed, still showing kindness and surprise to his friend.
— My wife, — continued Prince Andrey, — is a beautiful woman. This alone makes her a rare woman, with which one can be calm for honor; but, my God, what I would give to not be married! This I speak to you alone and first, because of how I love you.
When Prince Andrey said this, he was still looking less than before like the Bolkonsky that lounged in the armchairs of Anna Pavlovna and through teeth, squinting, spoke French phrases. All over his dry face trembled the nervous revival of each muscle; his eye, in which before the fire of life seemed to stew, shone radiant, with a bright shine. It was seen that the more lifeless he seemed in ordinary times, the more energetic he was in minutes of irritation.
— You don’t understand from what I say this, — he continued. — Because this is the whole story of life. You speak of Bonaparte and his career, — he said, although Pierre had not spoken about Bonaparte. — You speak of Bonaparte; but Bonaparte, when he worked, step for step was walking to his goals, he was free, in him was nothing besides his goals, — and he has reached them. Yet tie yourself with a woman — and constrained well, you lose all freedom. And everything that is in you, your hopes and forces, everything is only burden and remorse tormenting you. Living rooms, gossip, balls, vanity, insignificance — here is a bewitched circle, from which I cannot exit. I am now going off to war, to the greatest war that there has been, but I know nothing and fit nowhere. I am a good chatterbox,110 — continued Prince Andrey, — and Anna Pavlovna listened to me. And this is a stupid society, without my wife I wouldn’t, and this woman... if you could only know that these are decent woman111 and all women! My father is right. Egoism, vanity, stupidity, insignificance to all — here is woman, now they are shown as they are. Take a look at all of them in the world, it seems that something is, but nothing, nothing, nothing! Yes, do not marry, on my soul, don’t marry, — finished Prince Andrey.
— It is funny to me, — said Pierre, — that you yourself, consider yourself incapable, that your life is a spoiled life. In you everything, everything is ahead. And you...
He did not say, what was “you”, but now his tone showed how highly he appreciated his friend and how much awaited him in the future.
“How can he speak like this!” thought Pierre. Pierre counted Prince Andrey as wholly perfect because of how Prince Andrey was in a higher extent connected with all those qualities which not was in Pierre and that those nearer can only express by the concept of the force of commitment. Pierre was always surprised by the abilities of Prince Andrey, his calm treatment with people from every family, his extraordinary memory, his reading (he had read everything, knew everything, about all concepts) and more with his abilities to work and learn. If often Pierre was astounded at Andrey’s absence in the ability to dreamily philosophize (to which Pierre was especially inclined), he didn’t see it as a loss, but a positive force.
As with the best, friendly and simple relations flattery or praise is necessary, as grease is necessary for wheels, so they went on.
— I am a finished person,112 — said Prince Andrey. — what about me is there to say? Come on, speak about yourself, — he said, keeping silent and smiling at his comforting thoughts.
This smile in that same moment was reflected in the face of Pierre.
— But about me what is there to say? — said Pierre, changing his mouth into a carefree, fun smile. — what am I? An unlawful son!113 — and he suddenly blushed red. It was seen that with great effort he said this. — Without a name, without state...114 and what’s the same, the right... — but he did not say what was right. — I am free, and I’m okay. I only have no way to know where to start. I wanted to seriously consult with you.
Prince Andrey’s kind eyes watched him. But the glance of his, friendly and affectionate, all the same expressed a consciousness of his superiority.
— You’re dear to me, especially because you are the one alive person among our world. You’re okay. Choose what you want; this is all I care about. You will be good everywhere, but one: stop going to this Kuragin, to lead that life. This is not you: all these binges, recklessness, and everything...
— What to do, — said Pierre, shrugging his shoulders, — women, my friend, women!115
— I don’t understand, — was the response of Andrey. — decent women,116 this is another business; but the woman of Kuragin, women and wine,117 I don’t understand!
Pierre lived with Prince Vasiliy Kuragin and participated in the rampant life of his son Anatole, whom through reformation, was going to be married to the sister of Prince Andrey.
— I know that! — said Pierre, as if in him had suddenly come a happy idea, — seriously, I for a long time have thought this. From this life I can solve or think out nothing. A headache with no money. Now if he calls me, I won’t go.
— Give me a word of honor that you will not go?
— Word of honor!
103. c’est ça le fameux prince André? Ma parole d’honneur! (is that the famous Prince Andre? My word of honor!)
104. Ah! ne me parlez pas de ce départ, ne m’en parlez pas. Je ne veux pas en entendre parler, (Ah! don't talk to me about this departure, don't talk to me about it. I don't want to hear talk about it)
105. J’ai peur, j’ai peur! (I'm afraid, I'm afraid!)
106. de quoi vous avez peur, (what are you afraid of,)
107. Non, André, je dis que vous avez tellement, tellement changé (No, André, I say that you have changed so much, so much)
108. Mon Dieu, mon Dieu! (My God, my God!)
109. Bonsoir, Lise, (Good night, Lise,)
110. Je suis très aimable et très caustique, (I am very friendly and very caustic,)
111. toutes les femmes distinguées (all the distinguished women)
112. Je suis un homme fini, (I am a finished man,)
113. Je suis un bâtard! (I'm a bastard!)
114. Sans nom, sans fortune…(Without name, without fortune)
115. Que voulez-vous, mon cher...les femmes, mon cher, les femmes! (What do you want, my dear ... the women, my dear, the women!)
116. Les femmes comme il faut, (Proper women)
117. les femmes of Kuragin, les femmes et le vin, (the women of Kuragin, the women and the wine,)
Time: Not said, but July 1805.
Locations: Andrei's house in St Petersburg. They move into the dining room later in the chapter.
Mentioned: The war is talked about as a place. Also see the Apraksin entry in the character list. Anna Pavlovna's drawing room. With Andrei's father and sister in the country. Prince Vasili Kuragin's house.
Pevear and Volkhonsky Notes: Andrei looks like he did (in facial expression that is) in Pavlovna’s drawing room when his wife comes in, more specifically, when he hears a woman’s dress.
Briggs: Chapter 6: Pierre visits Andrey and goes on to Anatole Kuragin's. Dolokhov's bet.
VI.
In the neighboring room came a noisy female dress. As if waking up, Prince Andrey shook himself, and his face had accepted that same expression that it had in the living room of Anna Pavlovna. Pierre lowered his legs from the couch. The princess entered. She was already in another, her one for home, yet with the same elegance and freshness, dress. Prince Andrey got up, courteously moving her chair.
— From what I often think, — she began talking, as always, in French, hastily and troublesomely sitting down in the chair, — How did Anet not get married? You’re all stupid, messieurs (men), that she is not married. I’m sorry, but you understand nothing of the woman’s sense. What a debater you are, Monsieur Pierre!
— I am with your husband arguing about everything; not understanding for what he wants to go to war, — said Pierre, without any constraint (so ordinary was the relations of the young man to the young woman) turning to the princess.
The princess was startled. Apparently, the words of Pierre affected her livelihood.
— Ah, here I have already spoken! — she said. — I do not understand, resolutely do not understand, why men may not live without war? From what we, women, want nothing to do with, and need nothing of? Well, here you be the judge. I have said everything to him: here he is an adjutant to uncle, a most brilliant position. All who know him, appreciate him so. The other day, at the Apraksins, I heard a single lady ask: “This is the known Prince Andrey?” Word of honor!103 — she laughed. — He is so everywhere adopted. He very easily may be a wing adjutant. You know, the sovereign very graciously spoke of him. We, with Anet, said this is very easy to arrange. What do you think?
Pierre looked at Prince Andrey and, noticing that the conversation was not liked by his friend, responded with nothing.
— When will you leave? — he asked.
— Ah, do not speak to me about this departure, don’t speak! I do not want to hear about this.104 — began the princess in a capricious and playful tone, how she spoke with Ippolit in the living room, and which obviously, not going with the family circle that Pierre was a member. — today, when I thought that it was needed to interrupt all of this dear relationship... and then, you know, André? — she repeatedly blinked at her husband. — I’m fearful! Fearful!105 — she whispered, her back trembling.
Her husband watched her with a look, as if he was surprised to notice that someone else, besides him and Pierre, was in the room: however with a cold courtesy, he interrogatively turned to his wife:
— What are you afraid of, Liza? I cannot understand, — he said.
— Here is how all men are egoists; all, all egoists! From his own whim, God knows what for, he throws me, locks me alone in a village.
— With my father and sister, don’t forget, — quietly said Prince Andrey.
— Without my friends and everyone I care about... as if I wanted to be afraid.
Her tone was now grouchy, her lip went up, giving a face that was not joyful, but a brutal, squirrel-like expression. She fell silent, as if finding it indecent to speak with Pierre about her pregnancy, and that this is what consisted the essence of her affairs.
— All the same I don’t get what you are afraid of,106 — slowly spoke Prince Andrey, not lowering his eyes from his wife.
The princess blushed and frantically waved her hands.
— No, Andrey, you’re changed, so changed...107...
— Your doctor orders you to lie down earlier, — said Prince Andrey. — you should go to sleep.
The princess said nothing, and suddenly her short mustached lip trembled; Prince Andrey, getting up and shaking his shoulders, left the room.
Pierre in surprise and naivety, watched through his glasses at the princess and stirred, as if he too wanted to get up, but thought more.
— What business is it to me that Monsieur Pierre is here, — suddenly said the small princess, and her pretty face suddenly bloomed into a tearful grimace. — I have for a long time wanted to say to you, André: for what have you changed to me so? What did I do to you? You go to the army, you don’t pity me. For what?
— Lise! — only said Prince Andrey; yet in this word was a request, a threat, and, the main thing, assurance that she should repent in her words; but she hastily continued:
— You turn to me, as from sickness or from having a kid. I see everything. You aren’t as you were six months ago.
— Lise, I beg you to stop, — said Prince Andrey more expressively.
Pierre, all the more and more coming into an excitement during this conversation, got up and came up to the princess. He, it seemed, could not come across these kind of tears and was himself was ready to cry.
— Take it easy, princess. This seems so, because of what I assure you, I myself experienced... that... because that... no, sorry, I’m an excess here... no, take it easy... farewell...
Prince Andrey stopped him with his arm.
— No, wait, Pierre. The princess is so good that she will not want to deprive me the pleasure to be with you this evening.
— No, he only thinks about himself, — spoke the princess, not holding her angry tears.
— Lise, — drily said Prince Andrey, raising his tone measurably, which showed that his patience was exhausted.
Suddenly the angry squirrel-like expression on the beautiful face of the princess was replaced with the attractive and exciting compassionate expression of fear; She sneakily looked with her beautiful eyes at her husband, and in her face it seemed that the timid and recognizable expression, as in a dog, quickly, yet weakly waving its lowered tail.
— My God, my God!108 — spoke the princess and, picking up with one hand the crease of her dress, came up to her husband and kissed him on the forehead.
— Goodbye Liza,109 — said Prince Andrey, getting up and courteously, as to an outsider, kissing her hand.
————
The friends were silent. Or, they just hadn’t started to speak. Pierre glanced at Prince Andrey, and Prince Andrey rubbed his forehead with his little hand.
— Let’s have supper, — he said with a sigh, getting up and going directly to the door.
They entered in a graceful, new, richly decorated dining room. Everything, from the napkins to the silver, faiences and crystal glasses, carried on it that special imprint of novelty which is in the households of young spouses. In the middle of dinner Prince Andrey leaned and, as a person that has had for a long time something in their heart and suddenly decisively speaks, with an expression of nervous irritation, in which Pierre had never seen his friend, started speaking:
— Never, never marry, my friend; here is my advice to you, never marry until you can say to yourself that you’ve done everything that you could, and until you stop loving that woman which you’ve chosen, because while you do not see her clearly; you’re mistaken cruelly and irreparably. Marry as an old man, going nowhere and worthless... as all that is good and high disappears. Everything will be spent on little things. Yes, yes, yes! Do not look at me with such surprise. If you do not wait for nothing to be ahead, then in each step you will feel that everything for you is over, everything closed besides living rooms, where you will stand on one plank with courtiers, lackeys, and idiots...Yes that’s it!..
He energetically waved his hand.
Pierre took off his glasses, from which his face changed, still showing kindness and surprise to his friend.
— My wife, — continued Prince Andrey, — is a beautiful woman. This alone makes her a rare woman, with which one can be calm for honor; but, my God, what I would give to not be married! This I speak to you alone and first, because of how I love you.
When Prince Andrey said this, he was still looking less than before like the Bolkonsky that lounged in the armchairs of Anna Pavlovna and through teeth, squinting, spoke French phrases. All over his dry face trembled the nervous revival of each muscle; his eye, in which before the fire of life seemed to stew, shone radiant, with a bright shine. It was seen that the more lifeless he seemed in ordinary times, the more energetic he was in minutes of irritation.
— You don’t understand from what I say this, — he continued. — Because this is the whole story of life. You speak of Bonaparte and his career, — he said, although Pierre had not spoken about Bonaparte. — You speak of Bonaparte; but Bonaparte, when he worked, step for step was walking to his goals, he was free, in him was nothing besides his goals, — and he has reached them. Yet tie yourself with a woman — and constrained well, you lose all freedom. And everything that is in you, your hopes and forces, everything is only burden and remorse tormenting you. Living rooms, gossip, balls, vanity, insignificance — here is a bewitched circle, from which I cannot exit. I am now going off to war, to the greatest war that there has been, but I know nothing and fit nowhere. I am a good chatterbox,110 — continued Prince Andrey, — and Anna Pavlovna listened to me. And this is a stupid society, without my wife I wouldn’t, and this woman... if you could only know that these are decent woman111 and all women! My father is right. Egoism, vanity, stupidity, insignificance to all — here is woman, now they are shown as they are. Take a look at all of them in the world, it seems that something is, but nothing, nothing, nothing! Yes, do not marry, on my soul, don’t marry, — finished Prince Andrey.
— It is funny to me, — said Pierre, — that you yourself, consider yourself incapable, that your life is a spoiled life. In you everything, everything is ahead. And you...
He did not say, what was “you”, but now his tone showed how highly he appreciated his friend and how much awaited him in the future.
“How can he speak like this!” thought Pierre. Pierre counted Prince Andrey as wholly perfect because of how Prince Andrey was in a higher extent connected with all those qualities which not was in Pierre and that those nearer can only express by the concept of the force of commitment. Pierre was always surprised by the abilities of Prince Andrey, his calm treatment with people from every family, his extraordinary memory, his reading (he had read everything, knew everything, about all concepts) and more with his abilities to work and learn. If often Pierre was astounded at Andrey’s absence in the ability to dreamily philosophize (to which Pierre was especially inclined), he didn’t see it as a loss, but a positive force.
As with the best, friendly and simple relations flattery or praise is necessary, as grease is necessary for wheels, so they went on.
— I am a finished person,112 — said Prince Andrey. — what about me is there to say? Come on, speak about yourself, — he said, keeping silent and smiling at his comforting thoughts.
This smile in that same moment was reflected in the face of Pierre.
— But about me what is there to say? — said Pierre, changing his mouth into a carefree, fun smile. — what am I? An unlawful son!113 — and he suddenly blushed red. It was seen that with great effort he said this. — Without a name, without state...114 and what’s the same, the right... — but he did not say what was right. — I am free, and I’m okay. I only have no way to know where to start. I wanted to seriously consult with you.
Prince Andrey’s kind eyes watched him. But the glance of his, friendly and affectionate, all the same expressed a consciousness of his superiority.
— You’re dear to me, especially because you are the one alive person among our world. You’re okay. Choose what you want; this is all I care about. You will be good everywhere, but one: stop going to this Kuragin, to lead that life. This is not you: all these binges, recklessness, and everything...
— What to do, — said Pierre, shrugging his shoulders, — women, my friend, women!115
— I don’t understand, — was the response of Andrey. — decent women,116 this is another business; but the woman of Kuragin, women and wine,117 I don’t understand!
Pierre lived with Prince Vasiliy Kuragin and participated in the rampant life of his son Anatole, whom through reformation, was going to be married to the sister of Prince Andrey.
— I know that! — said Pierre, as if in him had suddenly come a happy idea, — seriously, I for a long time have thought this. From this life I can solve or think out nothing. A headache with no money. Now if he calls me, I won’t go.
— Give me a word of honor that you will not go?
— Word of honor!
103. c’est ça le fameux prince André? Ma parole d’honneur! (is that the famous Prince Andre? My word of honor!)
104. Ah! ne me parlez pas de ce départ, ne m’en parlez pas. Je ne veux pas en entendre parler, (Ah! don't talk to me about this departure, don't talk to me about it. I don't want to hear talk about it)
105. J’ai peur, j’ai peur! (I'm afraid, I'm afraid!)
106. de quoi vous avez peur, (what are you afraid of,)
107. Non, André, je dis que vous avez tellement, tellement changé (No, André, I say that you have changed so much, so much)
108. Mon Dieu, mon Dieu! (My God, my God!)
109. Bonsoir, Lise, (Good night, Lise,)
110. Je suis très aimable et très caustique, (I am very friendly and very caustic,)
111. toutes les femmes distinguées (all the distinguished women)
112. Je suis un homme fini, (I am a finished man,)
113. Je suis un bâtard! (I'm a bastard!)
114. Sans nom, sans fortune…(Without name, without fortune)
115. Que voulez-vous, mon cher...les femmes, mon cher, les femmes! (What do you want, my dear ... the women, my dear, the women!)
116. Les femmes comme il faut, (Proper women)
117. les femmes of Kuragin, les femmes et le vin, (the women of Kuragin, the women and the wine,)
Locations: Andrei's house in St Petersburg. They move into the dining room later in the chapter.
Mentioned: The war is talked about as a place. Also see the Apraksin entry in the character list. Anna Pavlovna's drawing room. With Andrei's father and sister in the country. Prince Vasili Kuragin's house.
Pevear and Volkhonsky Notes: Andrei looks like he did (in facial expression that is) in Pavlovna’s drawing room when his wife comes in, more specifically, when he hears a woman’s dress.
Considering Andrei's anti-marriage tirade and outright misogyny in this chapter, I wonder what Tolstoy’s wife thought about this chapter while copying it down repeatedly.
She always speaks French, in this sense she fits right into the conservative aristocracy.
She speaks in a manner that is inappropriate for family settings, just as Pierre speaks
in a way that is inappropriate for party
She speaks in a manner that is inappropriate for family settings, just as Pierre speaks
in a way that is inappropriate for party
settings. Andrei is cold. Both he and his wife agree he has changed. The broken
conversations here remind me somewhat of what you might find in Dostoevsky. Tolstoy
gives an animal-like description of princess. Andrei consistently changes when he is
with Pierre, he has love for Pierre he doesn’t have for his wife.
conversations here remind me somewhat of what you might find in Dostoevsky. Tolstoy
gives an animal-like description of princess. Andrei consistently changes when he is
with Pierre, he has love for Pierre he doesn’t have for his wife.
Bonaparte was free to accomplish his goals, not “bind” to a woman. “I’m going to the
war, to the greatest war that has ever been, yet I know nothing and am good for nothing.”
war, to the greatest war that has ever been, yet I know nothing and am good for nothing.”
Of course, sexism and misogyny are driven by gender roles. Women, unlike men
(of nobility) who must pick a career of service and actively go and do something,
women are kept at home and thus, "bind" the men to them, which drive men to resent
the "bind" put on them. Andrei has everything, but believes he has nothing.
(of nobility) who must pick a career of service and actively go and do something,
women are kept at home and thus, "bind" the men to them, which drive men to resent
the "bind" put on them. Andrei has everything, but believes he has nothing.
Friendship is here imagined as a machine (like the party that opened the novel)
that needs grease (flattery) to keep it moving.
that needs grease (flattery) to keep it moving.
Pierre promises not to go to Anatole's, but immediately goes. “I don’t think I can
stop gambling” Tolstoy writes in his diary, which comes up more explicitly in the novel.
Pevear and Volkhonsky has continued the chapter here, but I’m going to break the
chapter up as Dole does (I do like how the continued chapter packs a punch though),
mainly because the setting and characters change dramatically and seem to encourage
a chapter break.
stop gambling” Tolstoy writes in his diary, which comes up more explicitly in the novel.
Pevear and Volkhonsky has continued the chapter here, but I’m going to break the
chapter up as Dole does (I do like how the continued chapter packs a punch though),
mainly because the setting and characters change dramatically and seem to encourage
a chapter break.
Characters (characters who do not appear, but are mentioned are placed in italics.
First appearances are in Bold. First mentions are underlined. Final appearance denoted
by *):
First appearances are in Bold. First mentions are underlined. Final appearance denoted
by *):
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (called “Andre” by his wife)
Anna Pavlovna (also referred to as “Annette” by Lisa)
Princess Lisa Bolkonsky (“the princess”, called “Lise” by her husband)
Pierre (“Monsieur” or “M.Pierre” by wife)
Apraksin (as in Dole, Mandelker, and Maude) really just a family name at which
there was some sort of party, “Apraxiness” in Bell, “Apraxin” in Garnett)
Czar Alexander (“his majesty” as in Dole, “the Emperor” in Briggs, Garnett,
Dunnigan, and Edmonds, who also uses “the Sovereign”)
Prince Ippolit (Dole, Maude, Mandelker, and Wiener do not use “Prince” prefix,
Bell does)
Prince Bolkonsky (just as “father”)
Princess Marya Bolkonsky (just as “sister”)
The Princess Lisa Bolkonsky’s doctor (unnamed)
Napoleon Bonaparte (just as “Bonaparte”)
Vasilly Kuragin
Anatole Kuragin
Princess Lisa Bolkonsky’s Uncle
Abridged Versions: Bell ends Chapter 3 here where Dole ends chapter 6. Edmonds does not
end the chapter but places a star at the end of this section. Mandelker does not end, only
putting a line break. Maude ends chapter 7 when the princess kisses Andrei goodnight.
Where Dole ends Chapter 6, Maude ends chapter 8. Briggs does not end the chapter,
but places a line break as well. Garnett makes no breaks at all. Dunnigan appears to place a
line break, though the ending comes at the end of a page, so it isn’t entirely clear. Wiener only
puts a line break. The Russian version does not make a chapter break, placing only a line break.
Gibian: Line break after "kissing her hand as he would have done to a stranger". End of chapter 2.
end the chapter but places a star at the end of this section. Mandelker does not end, only
putting a line break. Maude ends chapter 7 when the princess kisses Andrei goodnight.
Where Dole ends Chapter 6, Maude ends chapter 8. Briggs does not end the chapter,
but places a line break as well. Garnett makes no breaks at all. Dunnigan appears to place a
line break, though the ending comes at the end of a page, so it isn’t entirely clear. Wiener only
puts a line break. The Russian version does not make a chapter break, placing only a line break.
Gibian: Line break after "kissing her hand as he would have done to a stranger". End of chapter 2.
Fuller: Makes nearly identical decision in argument shortening as Komroff below, and preserves
the rest of the chapter, the only real difference being the keeping of the animal language when
describing Lisa Bolkonsky.
the rest of the chapter, the only real difference being the keeping of the animal language when
describing Lisa Bolkonsky.
Komroff: The paragraph about Andrei’s cool politeness and acting as if she had just entered the
room is removed. The argument is slightly shortened, and the animal language about her is
removed. The rest of the chapter is preserved.
room is removed. The argument is slightly shortened, and the animal language about her is
removed. The rest of the chapter is preserved.
Kropotkin: Start of chapter 5 to chapter 6. No cuts.
Bromfield: Start of chapter 10 to chapter 12, the chapter 11 break working like Maude’s or the
line breaks of most editions: “an expression only pregnant women have” some of the longer
monologues are broken up with description and reactions, the descriptions of the princess
are slightly different. Everything else is pretty much the same.
Simmons: Line break after "as he would have done to a stranger". Chapter is preserved. End of chapter 2.
line breaks of most editions: “an expression only pregnant women have” some of the longer
monologues are broken up with description and reactions, the descriptions of the princess
are slightly different. Everything else is pretty much the same.
Simmons: Line break after "as he would have done to a stranger". Chapter is preserved. End of chapter 2.
Edmundson: Act One Scene Two: Pierre's pretending to be Napoleon is here before Andrei enters. Pierre and
Andrei's conversation about Napoleon centers around whether or not one man can have that much power
(making Andrei more skeptical of him than in the novel). Wedged between the Lisa episode and Andrei advising
Pierre to never marry is Andrei asking him about his father. The scene ends after Pierre promises to not drink with
the Kuragins.
Additional Notes: I would like to talk about her character more in depth later on when it is
more appropriate and obvious (especially for those that have read the book before), but I
think it is worth mentioning here that out of all the characters in the novel, no one gets a
rawer deal or is treated worse by the author than Lisa Bolkonsky.
Mikaberidze Page 25: “the theatres of N.P. Sheremetyev and S.S. Apraksin, famous for their lavish stage productions that occasionally even featured live animals...
Garnett/Mandelker version of Anna Karenina:
Page 784: "The description of the early days of Levin's marriage to Kitty is quite similar to Tolstoy's own experience; similar descriptions of the honeymoon and married life appear in War and Peace and in his short novel The Kreutzer Sonata."
Herold Page 434: “Women, he (Napoleon) told Gourgaud, are “mere machines to make children.”...As for Josephine: “I really did love her,” he admitted to Bertrand, “but I had no respect for her….She had the prettiest little ---- imaginable…Actually, I married Josephine only because I thought she had a large fortune.’”
Davis Page 841: “Starting with Count Leo Tolstoy, the novelist, who felt that marriage was no less coercive than tsarism, the gospel of non-violence has attracted many dedicated followers...
The Kreutzer Sonata:
Page 40: “Unhappy people live better in town. A man can live there a hundred years and never realize that he died a long time ago and that he’s rotting. In town there’s no time to size things up: you’re always busy.”
Epilogue to The Kreutzer Sonata:
Page 300: “a goal worthy of a human being, such as service to humanity, one’s country, science, or art (not to mention service to God), no matter what it is, if we consider it worthy of a human beings, it is not attained by union with an object of live, either in marriage or outside it, but that on the contrary, falling in love and union with one’s object of love (no matter how hard people try to demonstrate the opposite in verse and prose) never facilitates the attainment of a goal worthy of a human being, but always hinders it.”
more appropriate and obvious (especially for those that have read the book before), but I
think it is worth mentioning here that out of all the characters in the novel, no one gets a
rawer deal or is treated worse by the author than Lisa Bolkonsky.
Mikaberidze Page 25: “the theatres of N.P. Sheremetyev and S.S. Apraksin, famous for their lavish stage productions that occasionally even featured live animals...
Garnett/Mandelker version of Anna Karenina:
Page 784: "The description of the early days of Levin's marriage to Kitty is quite similar to Tolstoy's own experience; similar descriptions of the honeymoon and married life appear in War and Peace and in his short novel The Kreutzer Sonata."
Herold Page 434: “Women, he (Napoleon) told Gourgaud, are “mere machines to make children.”...As for Josephine: “I really did love her,” he admitted to Bertrand, “but I had no respect for her….She had the prettiest little ---- imaginable…Actually, I married Josephine only because I thought she had a large fortune.’”
Davis Page 841: “Starting with Count Leo Tolstoy, the novelist, who felt that marriage was no less coercive than tsarism, the gospel of non-violence has attracted many dedicated followers...
The Kreutzer Sonata:
Page 40: “Unhappy people live better in town. A man can live there a hundred years and never realize that he died a long time ago and that he’s rotting. In town there’s no time to size things up: you’re always busy.”
Epilogue to The Kreutzer Sonata:
Page 300: “a goal worthy of a human being, such as service to humanity, one’s country, science, or art (not to mention service to God), no matter what it is, if we consider it worthy of a human beings, it is not attained by union with an object of live, either in marriage or outside it, but that on the contrary, falling in love and union with one’s object of love (no matter how hard people try to demonstrate the opposite in verse and prose) never facilitates the attainment of a goal worthy of a human being, but always hinders it.”
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