Book 1, Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10

CHAPTER 7

As Pierre and Prince Andrew continue their conversation about the war, Lise (Andrew's wife) comes in. Pierre mentions how he and Andrew were talking about the war and he says how he doesn't know why Andrew wants to go. Lise, in an outburst, agrees and says that men are selfish for wanting war. She says that men and women are so different because men need war to feel content. She and Andrew begin to argue as she says that he is being selfish, leaving her alone to go to war. Andrew reprimands Lise, telling her to go to bed, which she defies for a while until he really begins to lose his temper.

Important Quotes

Lise: "I don't in the least understand why men can't live without wars. How is it that we women don't want anything of the kind, don't need it"

Lise:  "There, what egotists men all are: all, all egotists! Just for a whim of his own, goodness only knows why, he leaves me and locks me up alone in the country."

"Suddenly the angry, squirrel-like expression of the princess' pretty face changed into a winning and piteous look of fear. Her beautiful eyes glanced askance at her husband's face, and her own assumed the timid, deprecating expression of a dog when it rapidly but feebly wags its drooping tail"

CHAPTER 8

 Andrew and Pierre go to supper where Andrew breaks down and tells Pierre never to marry. He goes on to say that all women are stupid, vain wastes of time. Pierre is taken aback by his harsh words, never realizing that someone who he held to such high esteem could talk that way. Later on, Andrew tells Pierre not to mix with the Kuragins (since Pierre is supposed to stay with Prince Vasili Kuragin) and Pierre promises he won't lead the kind of fancy lives they live. The reader can tell that Andrew sort of despises the Kuragin family and thinks that they are crazy party people. He seems sad that his sister is destined to marry Anatole Kuragin.

Important Quotes

Andrew: "Never, never marry, my dear fellow! That's my advice: never marry till you can say to yourself that you have done all you are capable of, and until you have ceased to love the woman of your choice and have seen her plainly as she is, or else you will make a cruel and irrevocable mistake."

Andrew: "Bonaparte when he worked went step by step toward his goal. He was free, he had nothing but his aim to consider, and he reached it. But tie yourself up with a woman and, like a chained convict, you lose all freedom!"

Andrew: "give up visiting those Kuragins and leading that sort of life. It suits you so badly—all this debauchery, dissipation, and the rest of it!"

CHAPTER 9

 Despite promising Andrew that he wouldn't, Pierre goes to the Kuragin's house. There is a late night party going on with Anatole and the highly respected infantry officer, Dolokhov. Pierre joins the debauchery and begins to excessively drink with Anatole egging him on. Suddenly, Dolokhov proposes that he will chug a bottle of rum while hanging from the broken window (which Anatole broke). He bets with an Englishman there and does his end of the bet, everyone in awe of his strength and tolerance. At the end of the chapter, Pierre proposes that he will do the same, although everyone warns against it. Perhaps he likes this debauchery or he is trying to prove himself to the crowd.

Important Quotes

[Pierre's thoughts]:  "all such 'words of honor' are conventional things with no definite meaning, especially if one considers that by tomorrow one may be dead, or something so extraordinary may happen to one that honor and dishonor will be all the same!"

 "Go on, you must drink it all," said Anatole, giving Pierre the last glass, "or I won't let you go!"

CHAPTER 10

Anna Mikhaylovna has gone to Moscow to the Rostov's household (her rich relatives). There they discuss Pierre and his outburst at Anna Pavlovna's party the other night. They also discuss how he may be the illegitimate son to Count Cyril Vladimirovich and how sick the count is. They gossip about to whom the counts' inheritance will go to: Pierre (his favorite) or Vasili.

Important Quotes

Anna M: "Prince Vasili is the next heir through his wife, but the count is very fond of Pierre, looked after his education, and wrote to the Emperor about him; so that in the case of his death—and he is so ill that he may die at any moment, and Dr. Lorrain has come from Petersburg—no one knows who will inherit his immense fortune, Pierre or Prince Vasili. Forty thousand serfs and millions of rubles! I know it all very well for Prince Vasili told me himself. Besides, Cyril Vladimirovich is my mother's second cousin. He's also my Bory's godfather."