Chapter Summaries: Dole: Liza's fretfulness. The old prince considers and makes up his mind. The princess consults with her father. Princess Mariya granted perfect freedom of choice. She discovers Anatol and Mlle. Bourienne in the conservatory. Princess Mariya's adverse decision. Forgives Mlle. Bourienne.
Briggs: The old prince's opposition. Marya catches Anatole kissing Mlle Bourienne.
Maude: Her father's opposition to Mary's marrying. She finds Mademoiselle Bourienne and Anatole in the conservatory. Declines marriage
Translation:
V. All dispersed, and, besides Anatole, who was asleep immediately, so lied down on the bed, not sleeping for long that night. "Is he really my husband, he was this foreign, nice, kind man; the main thing — he was kind," thought Princess Marya, and fear, which almost never came to her, was found in her. She was afraid to look back; she dreamed that something was standing here behind the screen, in the dark corner. And this someone was he — the devil, and he — this man with a white forehead, black eyebrows and rosy mouth. She rang the maid and asked her to lie down with her in the room. M-lle Bourienne on this night went long by the winter garden, in vain expecting someone and smiling at something, moving to tears at the imaginary words of pauvre mère (poor mother), reproaching her for her fall. The small princess grumbled at the maid for that her bed was bad. She could not lie down or on her side, or on her chest. All was heavy and awkward. Her stomach hindered her. It hindered her more now, and it was now, because of how the presence of Anatole carried over her to the livelier other time, when this was not and she was all easy and funny. She sat in a blouse and cap in the armchair. Katya, sleepy and obliquely confused, on the third time interrupted and turned over the heavy feather bed, saying something. — I told you that all is knolls and pits, — the hardened small princess, — I would myself be happy to fall asleep, and would be, I am not to blame. And her voice was trembling, as in a going to cry child. The old prince also did not sleep. Through Tihon was heard sleep, as he angrily walked and snorted his nose. The old prince, it seemed, was offended for his daughter. The insult was very sick, because of how it carried off not to him, but to another, to his daughter, which he loved more than himself. He said to himself that he had changed his mind at all this business and found that what was fair and what must be done, but instead this only annoyed him more. "The first counter appears — and father and everything forgotten, and running to the top, combed and tail wags, and she is not similar to herself! Happy to throw away her father! And knowing that I will notice. Fo...fo...fo... and don’t I see that this fool watches only Burenka (need to drive her away)! And how her pride is not so that she understands this! Though not for herself, if there is no pride, so for me, at least. I need to show her that this blockhead does not think about her, but only watches Bourienne. No pride in her, but I will show her that this is..." Saying to his daughter that she is mistaken, that Anatole found to look after Bourienne, the old prince knew that he would be annoying the pride of Princess Marya, and his business (not wishing to part with his daughter) will be won, and because of this calmed down. He called Tihon and had begun to undress. "And damn their bringing! — he thought at that time, as Tihon covered with a night shirt his dry, senile body, overgrown on the breast with gray hair. — I did not call them. They have arrived and upset my life. And so little of it is left". — Damn! — he said at that time as his head was still covered with a shirt Tihon knew the habit of the prince was to sometimes out loud express his thought, and with an unchanged face met the interrogatively and angry looking face, appearing from behind the shirt. — Lied down? — asked the prince. Tihon, as all good lackeys, knew the instinctive direction of the thoughts of the baron. He guessed that he asked about Prince Vasiliy and his son. — Deigned to lie down and the fire is put out, your excellency. — Not for this, not for this... — quickly spoke the prince and, sticking his legs in shoes and his hand in a bathrobe, went to the couch on which he slept. Despite that between Anatole and m-lle Bourienne nothing was said, they completely understood each other regarding the first parts of the novel, before the occurrences of pauvre mère (poor mother), they understood that they needed to say much to each other secretly, and from morning they searched to see each other alone. At that time as the princess passed at the usual hour to her father, m-lle Bourienne went with Anatole in the winter garden. Princess Marya went on that day with special awe to the door of the office. To her it seemed that not only was all known, that now will happen the decision of her fate, but knowing that, she thought about this. She read this on the expression of the face of Tihon and on the face of the valet of Prince Vasiliy, who with hot water met her in the corridor and bowed low to her. The old prince on this morning was extremely affectionate and diligent in his standing with the daughter. This was an expression of diligence known well by Princess Marya. This was that expression, which happened on his face in those minutes, when his dry hand shrank into a fist from annoyance for how Princess Marya did not understand an arithmetic problem, and he, getting up, walked away from her and in a quiet voice repeated a few times only those same words. He immediately again began the business and started the conversation, saying the formal "you." — To me there has been a proposition about you, — he said, unnaturally smiling. — You, I think, have guessed, — he continued, — that Prince Vasiliy has arrived here and brought with himself his pupil (for some reason Prince Nikolay Andreich called Anatole pupil) not for my beautiful eyes. To me yesterday there was a proposition about you. But as you know my rules, I carried it off to you. — How am I to understand you, mon père (my father)? — spoke the princess, turning pale and blushing. — So understand! — angrily shouted the father. — Prince Vasiliy finds you to his taste for a daughter-in-law and makes you a proposition for his pupil. Here so understand. So understand?!... But I in you ask. — I do not know as you, mon père (my father), — in a whisper spoke the princess. — I? I? What am I in this? Me, leave that to the side. It is not I who will go get married. What are you? Here this is advisable to know. The princess saw that her father unkindly watched this business, but she in that same moment had come with the idea that now or never will decide the fate of her life. She lowered her eyes, so that not to see the sight, under the influence of whom she felt, that she could not think, but could by habit only obey, and said: — I want only one thing — to perform your free will, — she said, — but should it be my wish that is needed to express... She did not manage to finish. The prince interrupted her. — And perfect! — he shouted. — he will take you with the dowry, and by the way seize m-lle Bourienne. That will be the wife, but you... The prince had stopped. He saw the impression produced by these words to his daughter. She lowered her head and was going to cry. — Well, well, kidding, kidding, — he said. — Remember one thing, princess: I hold on to these rules that a girl has the complete right to choose. And I give you freedom. Remember another thing: from your decision depends the happiness of your life. About me there is nothing to say. — And I do not know... mon père (my father). — There is nothing to say! To him tell, he is not the only one who wants to marry you; but you are free to choose... Go to yourself, think it over and in an hour come to me and to him say: yes or no. I know, you will pray. Well, likely, pray. Only you better think. Go on. — Yes or no, yes or no, yes or no! — he shouted still at that time, as the princess, as in a fog, staggering, now exited from the office. Her fate was decided and decided happily. Yet what her father said about m-lle Bourienne, — this hint was terrible. It was not true, but all the same this was terrible, she could not think about this. She went all by herself through the winter garden, seeing and hearing nothing, as suddenly the familiar whisper of m-lle Bourienne woke her up. She raised her eyes and in two steps from herself saw Anatole, who was embracing the Frenchwoman and whispering something to her. Anatole with a terrible expression on his beautiful face turned back to Princess Marya and did not release at the first second the waist of m-lle Bourienne, who did not see her. "Who is here? What for? Hold!" as if the face of Anatole said. Princess Marya silently saw them. She could not understand this. Finally, m-lle Bourienne cried out and ran away. Anatole with a fun smile bowed to Princess Marya, as if inviting her to laugh at this strange case, and, shaking his shoulders, passed to the door leading to his half. In an hour Tihon came to call Princess Marya. He called her to the prince and added that Prince Vasiliy Sergeich was there. The princess, at the time as came Tihon, sat on the couch in her room and holding onto her was the hugging and crying m-lle Bourienne. Princess Marya quietly stroked her head. The beautiful eyes of the princess, with all the same calmness and radiance, looked with tender love and regret at the pretty face of m-lle Bourienne. — No, princess, I have forever lost you,359 — said m-lle Bourienne. — Why? I love you more than before,— said Princess Marya, —and will try to do for your happiness everything that is in my authority.360 —But you despise me: you are so pure, you must despise me; you understand nothing of these hobbies of passion. Ah, my poor mother...361 —I understand everyone.362 — answered Princess Marya, sadly smiling. — Take it easy, my friend. I will go to father, — she said and exited. Prince Vasiliy, bending his high leg, with the snuffbox in his hands and as feeling utterly, as himself regretting and laughing above his sensitivity, sat with a smile of affection on his face when Princess Marya entered. He hastily brought a pinch of tobacco to his nose. — Ah, pretty, pretty,363 — he said, getting up and taking both of her hands. He sighed and added: The fate of my son is in your hands. Decide, my pretty, my dear, my tender Marie, which I have always loved as a daughter.—.364 He walked away. Real tears appeared in his eyes. — Fo... fo... — snorted Prince Nikolay Andreich. — The prince in the name of his pupil... his son, makes to you a proposition. Do you want to or not be the wife of Prince Anatole Kuragin? You say: yes or no! — he shouted, — but then I hold for myself the right to say your opinion. Yes, your opinion and only your opinion, — added Prince Nikolay Andreich, turning to Prince Vasiliy and answering to his pleading expression. — Yes or no? — My wish, mon père (my father), is to never leave you, never to not share my life with you. I do not want to exit to get married, — she said resolutely, looking with her own beautiful eyes at Prince Vasiliy and at her father. — Nonsense, stupid! Nonsense, nonsense, and nonsense! — frowning, shouted Prince Nikolay Andreich, taking his daughter behind the arm, bending down to her and not kissing, but only bending down his forehead to her forehead, touched to her and so reaped her arm, which he held that she grimaced and cried out. Prince Vasiliy got up. — My pretty, I say to you that these minutes I will not forget, but, my kindest, give us small hopes to touch this heart, so good and generous. Say: maybe...The future is so great. Say: maybe.365 — Prince, that what I have said is all that is in my heart. I thank you for the honor, but never will I be wife to your son. — Well, and it's over, my sweet. Very glad to see you, very glad to see you. Go to yourself, princess, go, — spoke the old prince. — Very, very glad to see you, — he repeated, embracing Prince Vasiliy. "My vocation is another, — thinking about herself Princess Marya, — my vocation — be happy and make others happy, the happiness of love and self-sacrifices. And what would this cost me, I will make happy poor Amélie. She so passionately loves him. She so passionately repents. I will do all, so to arrange her marriage with him. Should he not be rich, I will give her means, I will ask father, I will ask Andrey. I will be so happy, when she will be his wife. She is so unhappy, alien, lonely, without assistance! And my God, how passionately she loves him, if she could so forget herself. Maybe, I would have done the same!..." thought Princess Marya. 359. Non, princesse, je suis perdue pour toujours dans votre coeur, (No, princess, I am lost forever in your heart,) 360. Pourquoi? Je vous aime plus, que jamais, et je tâcherai de faire tout ce qui est en mon pouvoir pour votre bonheur (Why? I love you more, than ever, and I will try to do everything that is in my power for your happiness) 361. Mais vous me méprisez, vous si pure, vous ne comprendrez jamais cet égarement de la passion. Ah, ce n’est que ma pauvre mère (But you despise me, you are so pure, you will never understand this distraction of passion. Ah, this is only my poor mother) 362.Je comprends tout, (I understand everything,) 363. Ah, ma bonne, ma bonne, (Ah, my good one, my good one,) 364. Le sort de mon fils est en vos mains. Décidez, ma bonne, ma chère, ma douce Marie, qui j’ai toujours aimée, comme ma fille (The fate of my son is in your hands. Decide, my good one, my dear, my sweet Marie, who I have always loved, like my daughter) 365. Ma chère, je vous dirai, que c’est un moment que je n’oubliеrаі jamais, jamais; mais, ma bonne, est-ce que vous ne nous donnerez pas un peu d’espérance de toucher ce coeur si bon, si généreux. Dites, que peut-être... L’avenir est si grand. Dites: peut-être. (My dear, I will tell you, that this is a moment that I will never, ever forget; but, my good one, won't you give us a little hope of touching this heart so good, so generous. Say, maybe...The future is so great. Say: maybe.) Time: that night, the usual hour the princess went to her father, that morning
Locations: see previous chapter
Mentioned: French
Pevear and Volkhonsky Notes: Anatole is the only one not tormented (even the positive ways of being tormented) by the events going on surrounding his arrive at Bald Hills. Marya believes he is above all kind, believes in his actions, that he is sincere, and she is scared. Scared that things are going to change, just like her father. The little princess is like a little child according to the description, but really, she is filled with regret and nostalgia; she wants to be not pregnant so she can feel the excitement, the excitement that is producing fear in Marya.
Briggs: The old prince's opposition. Marya catches Anatole kissing Mlle Bourienne.
Maude: Her father's opposition to Mary's marrying. She finds Mademoiselle Bourienne and Anatole in the conservatory. Declines marriage
Translation:
V. All dispersed, and, besides Anatole, who was asleep immediately, so lied down on the bed, not sleeping for long that night. "Is he really my husband, he was this foreign, nice, kind man; the main thing — he was kind," thought Princess Marya, and fear, which almost never came to her, was found in her. She was afraid to look back; she dreamed that something was standing here behind the screen, in the dark corner. And this someone was he — the devil, and he — this man with a white forehead, black eyebrows and rosy mouth. She rang the maid and asked her to lie down with her in the room. M-lle Bourienne on this night went long by the winter garden, in vain expecting someone and smiling at something, moving to tears at the imaginary words of pauvre mère (poor mother), reproaching her for her fall. The small princess grumbled at the maid for that her bed was bad. She could not lie down or on her side, or on her chest. All was heavy and awkward. Her stomach hindered her. It hindered her more now, and it was now, because of how the presence of Anatole carried over her to the livelier other time, when this was not and she was all easy and funny. She sat in a blouse and cap in the armchair. Katya, sleepy and obliquely confused, on the third time interrupted and turned over the heavy feather bed, saying something. — I told you that all is knolls and pits, — the hardened small princess, — I would myself be happy to fall asleep, and would be, I am not to blame. And her voice was trembling, as in a going to cry child. The old prince also did not sleep. Through Tihon was heard sleep, as he angrily walked and snorted his nose. The old prince, it seemed, was offended for his daughter. The insult was very sick, because of how it carried off not to him, but to another, to his daughter, which he loved more than himself. He said to himself that he had changed his mind at all this business and found that what was fair and what must be done, but instead this only annoyed him more. "The first counter appears — and father and everything forgotten, and running to the top, combed and tail wags, and she is not similar to herself! Happy to throw away her father! And knowing that I will notice. Fo...fo...fo... and don’t I see that this fool watches only Burenka (need to drive her away)! And how her pride is not so that she understands this! Though not for herself, if there is no pride, so for me, at least. I need to show her that this blockhead does not think about her, but only watches Bourienne. No pride in her, but I will show her that this is..." Saying to his daughter that she is mistaken, that Anatole found to look after Bourienne, the old prince knew that he would be annoying the pride of Princess Marya, and his business (not wishing to part with his daughter) will be won, and because of this calmed down. He called Tihon and had begun to undress. "And damn their bringing! — he thought at that time, as Tihon covered with a night shirt his dry, senile body, overgrown on the breast with gray hair. — I did not call them. They have arrived and upset my life. And so little of it is left". — Damn! — he said at that time as his head was still covered with a shirt Tihon knew the habit of the prince was to sometimes out loud express his thought, and with an unchanged face met the interrogatively and angry looking face, appearing from behind the shirt. — Lied down? — asked the prince. Tihon, as all good lackeys, knew the instinctive direction of the thoughts of the baron. He guessed that he asked about Prince Vasiliy and his son. — Deigned to lie down and the fire is put out, your excellency. — Not for this, not for this... — quickly spoke the prince and, sticking his legs in shoes and his hand in a bathrobe, went to the couch on which he slept. Despite that between Anatole and m-lle Bourienne nothing was said, they completely understood each other regarding the first parts of the novel, before the occurrences of pauvre mère (poor mother), they understood that they needed to say much to each other secretly, and from morning they searched to see each other alone. At that time as the princess passed at the usual hour to her father, m-lle Bourienne went with Anatole in the winter garden. Princess Marya went on that day with special awe to the door of the office. To her it seemed that not only was all known, that now will happen the decision of her fate, but knowing that, she thought about this. She read this on the expression of the face of Tihon and on the face of the valet of Prince Vasiliy, who with hot water met her in the corridor and bowed low to her. The old prince on this morning was extremely affectionate and diligent in his standing with the daughter. This was an expression of diligence known well by Princess Marya. This was that expression, which happened on his face in those minutes, when his dry hand shrank into a fist from annoyance for how Princess Marya did not understand an arithmetic problem, and he, getting up, walked away from her and in a quiet voice repeated a few times only those same words. He immediately again began the business and started the conversation, saying the formal "you." — To me there has been a proposition about you, — he said, unnaturally smiling. — You, I think, have guessed, — he continued, — that Prince Vasiliy has arrived here and brought with himself his pupil (for some reason Prince Nikolay Andreich called Anatole pupil) not for my beautiful eyes. To me yesterday there was a proposition about you. But as you know my rules, I carried it off to you. — How am I to understand you, mon père (my father)? — spoke the princess, turning pale and blushing. — So understand! — angrily shouted the father. — Prince Vasiliy finds you to his taste for a daughter-in-law and makes you a proposition for his pupil. Here so understand. So understand?!... But I in you ask. — I do not know as you, mon père (my father), — in a whisper spoke the princess. — I? I? What am I in this? Me, leave that to the side. It is not I who will go get married. What are you? Here this is advisable to know. The princess saw that her father unkindly watched this business, but she in that same moment had come with the idea that now or never will decide the fate of her life. She lowered her eyes, so that not to see the sight, under the influence of whom she felt, that she could not think, but could by habit only obey, and said: — I want only one thing — to perform your free will, — she said, — but should it be my wish that is needed to express... She did not manage to finish. The prince interrupted her. — And perfect! — he shouted. — he will take you with the dowry, and by the way seize m-lle Bourienne. That will be the wife, but you... The prince had stopped. He saw the impression produced by these words to his daughter. She lowered her head and was going to cry. — Well, well, kidding, kidding, — he said. — Remember one thing, princess: I hold on to these rules that a girl has the complete right to choose. And I give you freedom. Remember another thing: from your decision depends the happiness of your life. About me there is nothing to say. — And I do not know... mon père (my father). — There is nothing to say! To him tell, he is not the only one who wants to marry you; but you are free to choose... Go to yourself, think it over and in an hour come to me and to him say: yes or no. I know, you will pray. Well, likely, pray. Only you better think. Go on. — Yes or no, yes or no, yes or no! — he shouted still at that time, as the princess, as in a fog, staggering, now exited from the office. Her fate was decided and decided happily. Yet what her father said about m-lle Bourienne, — this hint was terrible. It was not true, but all the same this was terrible, she could not think about this. She went all by herself through the winter garden, seeing and hearing nothing, as suddenly the familiar whisper of m-lle Bourienne woke her up. She raised her eyes and in two steps from herself saw Anatole, who was embracing the Frenchwoman and whispering something to her. Anatole with a terrible expression on his beautiful face turned back to Princess Marya and did not release at the first second the waist of m-lle Bourienne, who did not see her. "Who is here? What for? Hold!" as if the face of Anatole said. Princess Marya silently saw them. She could not understand this. Finally, m-lle Bourienne cried out and ran away. Anatole with a fun smile bowed to Princess Marya, as if inviting her to laugh at this strange case, and, shaking his shoulders, passed to the door leading to his half. In an hour Tihon came to call Princess Marya. He called her to the prince and added that Prince Vasiliy Sergeich was there. The princess, at the time as came Tihon, sat on the couch in her room and holding onto her was the hugging and crying m-lle Bourienne. Princess Marya quietly stroked her head. The beautiful eyes of the princess, with all the same calmness and radiance, looked with tender love and regret at the pretty face of m-lle Bourienne. — No, princess, I have forever lost you,359 — said m-lle Bourienne. — Why? I love you more than before,— said Princess Marya, —and will try to do for your happiness everything that is in my authority.360 —But you despise me: you are so pure, you must despise me; you understand nothing of these hobbies of passion. Ah, my poor mother...361 —I understand everyone.362 — answered Princess Marya, sadly smiling. — Take it easy, my friend. I will go to father, — she said and exited. Prince Vasiliy, bending his high leg, with the snuffbox in his hands and as feeling utterly, as himself regretting and laughing above his sensitivity, sat with a smile of affection on his face when Princess Marya entered. He hastily brought a pinch of tobacco to his nose. — Ah, pretty, pretty,363 — he said, getting up and taking both of her hands. He sighed and added: The fate of my son is in your hands. Decide, my pretty, my dear, my tender Marie, which I have always loved as a daughter.—.364 He walked away. Real tears appeared in his eyes. — Fo... fo... — snorted Prince Nikolay Andreich. — The prince in the name of his pupil... his son, makes to you a proposition. Do you want to or not be the wife of Prince Anatole Kuragin? You say: yes or no! — he shouted, — but then I hold for myself the right to say your opinion. Yes, your opinion and only your opinion, — added Prince Nikolay Andreich, turning to Prince Vasiliy and answering to his pleading expression. — Yes or no? — My wish, mon père (my father), is to never leave you, never to not share my life with you. I do not want to exit to get married, — she said resolutely, looking with her own beautiful eyes at Prince Vasiliy and at her father. — Nonsense, stupid! Nonsense, nonsense, and nonsense! — frowning, shouted Prince Nikolay Andreich, taking his daughter behind the arm, bending down to her and not kissing, but only bending down his forehead to her forehead, touched to her and so reaped her arm, which he held that she grimaced and cried out. Prince Vasiliy got up. — My pretty, I say to you that these minutes I will not forget, but, my kindest, give us small hopes to touch this heart, so good and generous. Say: maybe...The future is so great. Say: maybe.365 — Prince, that what I have said is all that is in my heart. I thank you for the honor, but never will I be wife to your son. — Well, and it's over, my sweet. Very glad to see you, very glad to see you. Go to yourself, princess, go, — spoke the old prince. — Very, very glad to see you, — he repeated, embracing Prince Vasiliy. "My vocation is another, — thinking about herself Princess Marya, — my vocation — be happy and make others happy, the happiness of love and self-sacrifices. And what would this cost me, I will make happy poor Amélie. She so passionately loves him. She so passionately repents. I will do all, so to arrange her marriage with him. Should he not be rich, I will give her means, I will ask father, I will ask Andrey. I will be so happy, when she will be his wife. She is so unhappy, alien, lonely, without assistance! And my God, how passionately she loves him, if she could so forget herself. Maybe, I would have done the same!..." thought Princess Marya. 359. Non, princesse, je suis perdue pour toujours dans votre coeur, (No, princess, I am lost forever in your heart,) 360. Pourquoi? Je vous aime plus, que jamais, et je tâcherai de faire tout ce qui est en mon pouvoir pour votre bonheur (Why? I love you more, than ever, and I will try to do everything that is in my power for your happiness) 361. Mais vous me méprisez, vous si pure, vous ne comprendrez jamais cet égarement de la passion. Ah, ce n’est que ma pauvre mère (But you despise me, you are so pure, you will never understand this distraction of passion. Ah, this is only my poor mother) 362.Je comprends tout, (I understand everything,) 363. Ah, ma bonne, ma bonne, (Ah, my good one, my good one,) 364. Le sort de mon fils est en vos mains. Décidez, ma bonne, ma chère, ma douce Marie, qui j’ai toujours aimée, comme ma fille (The fate of my son is in your hands. Decide, my good one, my dear, my sweet Marie, who I have always loved, like my daughter) 365. Ma chère, je vous dirai, que c’est un moment que je n’oubliеrаі jamais, jamais; mais, ma bonne, est-ce que vous ne nous donnerez pas un peu d’espérance de toucher ce coeur si bon, si généreux. Dites, que peut-être... L’avenir est si grand. Dites: peut-être. (My dear, I will tell you, that this is a moment that I will never, ever forget; but, my good one, won't you give us a little hope of touching this heart so good, so generous. Say, maybe...The future is so great. Say: maybe.) Time: that night, the usual hour the princess went to her father, that morning
Locations: see previous chapter
Mentioned: French
Pevear and Volkhonsky Notes: Anatole is the only one not tormented (even the positive ways of being tormented) by the events going on surrounding his arrive at Bald Hills. Marya believes he is above all kind, believes in his actions, that he is sincere, and she is scared. Scared that things are going to change, just like her father. The little princess is like a little child according to the description, but really, she is filled with regret and nostalgia; she wants to be not pregnant so she can feel the excitement, the excitement that is producing fear in Marya.
The old prince loves his daughter more than himself according to the narration (however, the narration also says that he has a cause, that he does not want to part with his daughter). He is particularly upset because Marya dressed up,
was not authentic or sincere. Marya doesn’t understand the situation, just as when she does not understand the math problems.
was not authentic or sincere. Marya doesn’t understand the situation, just as when she does not understand the math problems.
The narration can only guess as to why the old prince calls Anatole a pupil.
Prince Bolkonsky’s weird freedom for his daughter, the weird individuality he allows her to have, just as with the religious book he disapproves of. He is then too harsh with her, too forward about bringing up Bouirenne.
“I hold to the rule that a girl has the full right to choose. And I give you freedom. Remember one thing: the happiness of your life depends on your decision. There’s no point in talking about me.”
The tyranny of free will, or, is the decision a false one, one made for her by strange circumstances? Because this is immediately followed by Marya seeing Anatole and Bourienne embrace.
Mrya has both forgiveness and understanding for Bourienne, even though Bourienne is the one who acted on the passion. The passion and imagination Marya has had in the last few chapters should be understood as equal to that of
Bourienne’s.
Bourienne’s.
Marya’s decision is to be for “love and self-sacrifice.” And yes, the old prince gets exactly what he wants. Vassily’s plan does not work here. She is not Pierre. She is stronger willed, she sees a purpose for her life.
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 *):
Prince Anatol Kuragin
Princess Mariya (also called “Marie”)
Masha (not named, but as we see both Katya and Mariya’s maid, we can safely assume this is her)
Mlle. Amelie Bourienne (also “Burienka” as in Dole. Maude, Edmonds, and Briggs do not use this alternative name that the prince uses.)
Her Mother
The little princess
Katya
Prince Nikolai Andreyevitch
Tikhon
Prince Vasili
Prince Vasili’s Valet
Andrei
Abridged Versions: End of chapter 3 for Bell.
Gibian: Chapter 4
Gibian: Chapter 4
Fuller: Entire chapter is cut
Komroff: All the descriptions of what the characters do that night are shortened. The first Anatol and Mlle. Bourienne section where they try for the “private interview” is removed. There is a line break and this gets to the old prince’s
conversation with his daughter much more quickly. Rest of chapter is pretty preserved and followed by a line break.
conversation with his daughter much more quickly. Rest of chapter is pretty preserved and followed by a line break.
Kroptokin: Chapter appears preserved.
Bromfield: The Mademoiselle Bourienne section at the beginning of the chapter when no one else is sleeping is shorter. The little princess comes off a little different and isn’t directly referenced as being a child. Reference to the old
prince speaking French to his daughter, which he rarely does. This translation calls Anatole a “ward” instead of protege or pupil. Chapter ends by directly stating that Vasily and his son left, “and life at Bleak Hills carried on as before.”
End of chapter 2.
Simmons: Chapter 4: the Bourienne forgiveness section is removed.
prince speaking French to his daughter, which he rarely does. This translation calls Anatole a “ward” instead of protege or pupil. Chapter ends by directly stating that Vasily and his son left, “and life at Bleak Hills carried on as before.”
End of chapter 2.
Simmons: Chapter 4: the Bourienne forgiveness section is removed.
Additional Notes:
Massie: Page 403: In various ways, Peter made serious efforts to improve the customs and conditions of Russian life. He acted to raise the status of women, declaring that they must not remain secluded in the terem, but should be present with men at dinners and on other social occasions. He banned the old Muscovite system of arranged marriages in which (Page 404) bride and groom had no choice in the matter and did not even meet each other until the marriage service was being performed. In April 1702, to the immense joy of young people, Peter decreed that all marriage decisions should be voluntary, that the prospective partners should meet at least six weeks before their engagement, that each should be entirely free to reject the other, and that the bridgegroom's symbolic wielding of the whip at wedding ceremonies by replaced with a kiss."
Mandelker introduction to Anna Karenina: xxiv: "Tolstoy was certainly the first major author to describe pregnancy and childbirth in any detail."
Dmitry S. Mirsky: About Tolstoy
In A Confession and elsewhere his main argument in favour of his gospel of love and non-resistance was that it is the only way to permanent happiness, that is to say happiness till the hour of Death. The end of life, he taught, was not a preparation for happiness in the next world (which he rejected for reasons I have just dwelt on), but the attainment of happiness in this world by charity and love of our fellow men.
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