CHAPTER 17
Although Moscow is in great danger, the people there seem to ignore it. Julie Drubetskaya holds a party where Pierre and others talk about the recent events of society. They talk of how the young Rostov saved Mary from the rioting peasants and how there is another romance cooking.
Important Quotes
"two voices that
speak with equal power in the human soul: one very reasonably tells a man
to consider the nature of the danger and the means of escaping it; the
other, still more reasonably, says that it is too depressing and painful
to think of the danger, since it is not in man's power to foresee
everything and avert the general course of events, and it is therefore
better to disregard what is painful till it comes, and to think about what
is pleasant. In solitude a man generally listens to the first voice, but
in society to the second."
CHAPTER 18
Pierre contemplates joining the war, but continuously talks himself out of it. Things in Moscow worsen and he witnesses a Frenchman being flogged by a group of Russians. After that, he decides to join the army and leaves Moscow in a rush. He feels fulfilled by sacrificing everything to become a war hero.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "he felt such particular delight in sacrificing everything. He was
not occupied with the question of what to sacrifice for; the fact of
sacrificing in itself afforded him a new and joyous sensation."
CHAPTER 19
The battles of Borodino and Shevardino Redoubt between the French and the Russians are described. Both sides are ill-equipped and the Russian general, Kutuzov, is too prideful to choose a better position for the war than the one he had already chosen before.
CHAPTER 20
Pierre rides out to inquire about joining the army. One his way, he sees many soldiers who are wounded and lying on carts. They all sing and seem happy, despite their wounds. When Pierre talks to the doctor he meets there, the doctor tells him how many men typically die in battle. Pierre is baffled by the number and doesn't understand how the soldiers could think of anything except death itself.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "They may die tomorrow; why are they thinking of anything but death?"
CHAPTER 21
Pierre goes to a lookout point to see the progress of the war and where the Russian army is. There, he sees some more soldiers carrying an icon of the Smolensk Mother of God. All of them are praying, chanting and singing to it. He sees Kutuzov bow to the icon and kiss it as well.
CHAPTER 22
Pierre runs into Boris who tells him to talk to Kutuzov if he wants to fight. Kutuzov seems unimpressed and not interested in Pierre's request to join the army, but tells him to tag along. Pierre also runs into Dolokhov who asks his forgiveness (after the duel they had years prior).
Dolokhov: "I beg you to forgive me." Pierre looked at Dólokhov with a smile, not knowing what to say to him.
With tears in his eyes Dólokhov embraced Pierre and kissed him."
CHAPTER 23
Pierre follows along next to the commander Bennigsen who is quite condescending towards him since Pierre knows little to nothing about battle. Bennigsen orders an ambush troop to move forward into defense, which was not supposed to happen. Pierre knowing nothing of war, goes along with the plan.
No comments:
Post a Comment