CHAPTER 31
Pierre finds himself in the middle of the battle. At first, all the soldiers around him seem annoyed by his presence since he doesn't know what he'd doing. Later on, they seem to not mind his presence. He notices how they all act unaffected by the gunfire and get merrier as the danger approaches. He stumbles around and is shocked by the grapeshot that's fired. He passes out on the ground.
Important Quotes
"the projectiles that
flew over [Pierre], did not see the enemy on the other side of the river, and
for a long time did not notice the killed and wounded, though many fell
near him. He looked about him with a smile which did not leave his face."
CHAPTER 32
Pierre doesn't know in which direction to run to. He runs into a French soldier and they both fight each other for a bit, now knowing if the other will take them prisoner. The French approach and Pierre realizes that all the soldiers he'd been sitting with before are now dead.
Important Quotes
"[Pierre and the Frenchman] gazed with frightened eyes at one another's
unfamiliar faces and both were perplexed at what they had done and what
they were to do next. "Am I taken prisoner or have I taken him prisoner?"
each was thinking."
Pierre: "Now they will stop it, now they will be horrified at what they have
done!" he thought, aimlessly going toward a crowd of stretcher bearers
moving from the battlefield.
But behind the veil of smoke the sun was still high"
CHAPTER 33
Napoleon watches the battle of Borodino from his perch. However, he can't make out what is going on very well due to the distance and the smoke. The French and Russians keep on clashing, each making small advances and then falling behind. Eventually, the French rush into Russian forces, trying to save their lives, but ultimately setting the French troops as a whole back.
Important Quotes
"They did not fear getting into
trouble for not fulfilling orders or for acting on their own initiative,
for in battle what is at stake is what is dearest to man—his own
life—and it sometimes seems that safety lies in running back,
sometimes in running forward; and these men who were right in the heat of
the battle acted according to the mood of the moment."
CHAPTER 34
All the generals ask Napoleon for reinforcements, but at first he sees no need. He thinks his army is invincible. But, soon, he realizes that they are being overtaken and stands in disbelief. He feels a great sense of failure, destruction and mortality.
Important Quotes
"In former battles [Napoleon] had only
considered the possibilities of success, but now innumerable unlucky
chances presented themselves, and he expected them all."
CHAPTER 35
Kutuzov is pleased with the outcome of the battle. He knows that it takes the men's spirit to win a war, not a commander. Later on, Wolzogen comes to speak with him with Barclay de Tolly's words, saying that he thinks the Russians should retreat. Kutuzov becomes furious since he knows the Russians have a good shot at winning. He tells Wolzogen to tell Barclay that they will attack the following day.
Important Quotes
"By
long years of military experience [Kutuzov] knew, and with the wisdom of age
understood, that it is impossible for one man to direct hundreds of
thousands of others struggling with death, and he knew that the result of
a battle is decided not by the orders of a commander-in-chief, nor the
place where the troops are stationed, nor by the number of cannon or of
slaughtered men, but by that intangible force called the spirit of the
army"
CHAPTER 36
The Russian troops sit restless, ignoring the other men falling around them. They only focus on the seemingly unimportant things around them to distract them from thought of dying. Andrew focuses on a small patch of flowers in some wormwood and suddenly realizes that he loves his life and doesn't want to die. Just then, he is shot in the stomach and peasants bring a stretcher out for him. In the dressing station, many men are dying and someone talks of the victory the Russians have acquired, but Andrew thinks that this victory doesn't mean anything since he is going to die anyway.
Important Quotes
"When men were killed or wounded, when
rows of stretchers went past, when some troops retreated, and when great
masses of the enemy came into view through the smoke, no one paid any
attention to these things. But when our artillery or cavalry advanced or
some of our infantry were seen to move forward, words of approval were
heard on all sides."
Andrew: "But isn't it all the
same now?" thought he. "And what will be there, and what has there been
here? Why was I so reluctant to part with life? There was something in
this life I did not and do not understand."
CHAPTER 37
The doctors begin to work on Andrew's wounds. Next to him he sees another man who is getting his leg amputated. He recognizes him as Anatole. Suddenly, his heart fills with love for Anatole as he remembers why they are connected--through Natasha. He realizes that compassion for all is the best feeling, which is what Mary was always trying to tell him.
Important Quotes
"Hearing those moans Prince Andrew wanted to weep. Whether because he was
dying without glory, or because he was sorry to part with life, or because
of those memories of a childhood that could not return, or because he was
suffering and others were suffering and that man near him was groaning so
piteously—he felt like weeping childlike, kindly, and almost happy
tears."
Andrew: "Compassion, love of our brothers, for those who love us and for those who
hate us, love of our enemies; yes, that love which God preached on earth
and which Princess Mary taught me and I did not understand—that is
what made me sorry to part with life, that is what remained for me had I
lived. But now it is too late. I know it!"
CHAPTER 38
Napoleon is distraught as he looks upon the battlefield. He only finds comfort in the fact that, for every dead French soldier, there were five dead Russians. Napoleon blames the war on himself, seeing himself as such an influential figure who could start and end a war.
Important Quotes
"the news that some twenty
generals he knew personally had been killed or wounded, and the
consciousness of the impotence of his once mighty arm, produced an
unexpected impression on Napoleon who usually liked to look at the killed
and wounded, thereby, he considered, testing his strength of mind."
Napoleon: "Never to the end of his life
could he understand goodness, beauty, or truth, or the significance of his
actions which were too contrary to goodness and truth, too remote from
everything human, for him ever to be able to grasp their meaning."
CHAPTER 39
The soldiers continue to fight, against their will. The Russians lost half of their army and the French were too proud to use any other their guards against them. Both sides were in terrible condition, but the Russian spirit did not let the French overtake Moscow.
Important Quotes
"the question arose in
every soul: "For what, for whom, must I kill and be killed?... You may go
and kill whom you please, but I don't want to do so anymore!"
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