CHAPTER 1
(years 1808-10)
All the plans Pierre had of freeing the serfs and reducing labor were carried out by Andrew who continued to live, secluded, at Bogucharovo. One day, Andrew goes to visit the Ryazan estates which his son inherited, and along the way passes the bridge he and Pierre had discussed a higher power. He sees an old tree, still dead after the winter, with flowers growing beneath it. He realizes that he's like the tree--dying slowly.
Important Quotes
"Spring, love, happiness!" this oak seemed to say. "Are you not weary of
that stupid, meaningless, constantly repeated fraud? Always the same and
always a fraud? There is no spring, no sun, no happiness! Look at those
cramped dead firs, ever the same, and at me too, sticking out my broken
and barked fingers just where they have grown, whether from my back or my
sides: as they have grown so I stand, and I do not believe in your hopes
and your lies."
CHAPTER 2
Prince Andrew has to settle some affairs on the Ryazan estate with the Court Marshal which is Ilya Rostov. He stays at Rostov's house and is in awe of how Natasha is so bubbly and happy. He wonders why she doesn't notice him, which drives him to youthful delirium. At night, he gazes at the perfect moon and listens as Natasha does the same in the room over.
Important Quotes
"What is she so glad about? What is she thinking of? Not of the
military regulations or of the arrangement of the Ryazan serfs' quitrents.
Of what is she thinking? Why is she so happy?" Prince Andrew asked himself
with instinctive curiosity.
"For her I might as well not exist!" thought Prince Andrew.
CHAPTER 3
Upon returning home, Andrew has a change of mind. He sees the old oak tree that was once dead, full of life and realizes that he is still young and must meet people, fall in love, work, and rejoin the army. He spends his days thinking about the oak tree, Pierre, Natasha, and happier times.
Important Quotes
Andrew: "No, life is not over at thirty-one!" Prince Andrew suddenly decided
finally and decisively. "It is not enough for me to know what I have in me—everyone
must know it: Pierre, and that young girl who wanted to fly away into the
sky, everyone must know me, so that my life may not be lived for myself
alone while others live so apart from it, but so that it may be reflected
in them all, and they and I may live in harmony!"
CHAPTER 4
Russia's laws are changing and the Emperor has appointed two men to help the state of the army--Arakcheev on the military side and Speranski on the civil. Andrew goes to see if he can help reform army regulations. He is told to speak with Minister of War, Arakcheev, who many fear. Arakcheev tells Andrew that his project to change the laws in Russia is too similar to the French. He also tells him that he should join the Committee of Army Regulations (without salary) which Andrew agrees to do.
CHAPTER 5
Andrew goes to talk to Speranski about his plan about army regulations. He judges Speranski, noticing how he doesn't care about people who are beneath him. They talk of what honor is and Speranski tells Andrew that honor is a thing by which to attain useless rewards. Andrew still regards honor as a positive thing--a privilege. The two decide to meet again soon.
Important Quotes
[Andrew]: "As happens to some people, especially to men who judge those
near to them severely, he always on meeting anyone new—especially
anyone whom, like Speranski, he knew by reputation—expected to
discover in him the perfection of human qualities."
Speranski: "An institution upholding honor, the source of emulation, is one similar
to the Legion d'honneur of the great Emperor Napoleon, not harmful but
helpful to the success of the service, but not a class or court
privilege."
CHAPTER 6
Andrew is impressed by Speranski's point of views and thoughts. He is grateful to have met such an intelligent man who he values even more due to their differences (since Speranski came from humble beginnings as a priest's son). Speranski puts Andrew on the Committee of Army Regulations and makes him a chairman for the revision of laws.
*Andrew admires Speranski for his ability to reason so well. He also admired Pierre for his conviction in a God that can't be seen. Will reason or conviction win Andrew over? Or both?*
Important Quotes
"To Bolkonski so many people appeared contemptible and insignificant
creatures, and he so longed to find in someone the living ideal of that
perfection toward which he strove, that he readily believed that in
Speranski he had found this ideal of a perfectly rational and virtuous
man."
" Had Speranski sprung from the same class as himself and possessed the
same breeding and traditions, Bolkonski would soon have discovered his
weak, human, unheroic sides; but as it was, Speranski's strange and
logical turn of mind inspired him with respect all the more because he did
not quite understand him."
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