CHAPTER 23
A fight breaks out among the working class. They wait for news of the war.
Important Quotes
"There now, the gentry and merchants have gone away and left us to perish.
Do they think we're dogs?" voices in the crowd were heard saying more and
more frequently."
CHAPTER 24
Rostopchin is mortified when he gets Kutuzov's letter proclaiming another battle. He had tried to protect Moscow and preserve its peace, but now everyone has fled leaving him hopeless. In a rage, he orders the lunatics from the insane asylum to be freed as well as to hang Vereshchagin.
Important Quotes
"Why were
thousands of inhabitants deceived into believing that Moscow would not be
given up—and thereby ruined?" "To preserve the tranquillity of the
city," explains Count Rostopchin."
Rostopchin: "My commands? Let them go away, that's all.... And let the lunatics out
into the town. When lunatics command our armies God evidently means these
other madmen to be free."
CHAPTER 25
Rostopchin orders the people of Moscow to kill the merchant, Vereshchagin. Terrified, the merchant implores and mentions that there's only one God. Finally, he is murdered and Rostopchin feels guilty. He leaves in his carriage, trying to justify his actions, telling himself he did it for Moscow and to keep his image as a good commander. On the way to meet with Kutuzov, he runs into a freed lunatic who speaks of God and how he was killed three times and will return. When Rostopchin hears this, he's even more scared and guilty. Kutuzov, meanwhile, does not want to give up Moscow without battle and refuses to listen to Rostopchin.
Important Quotes
Rostopchin: "Beat him!... Let the traitor perish and not disgrace the Russian name!"
shouted Rostopchin. "Cut him down. I command it."
Hearing not so much the words as the angry tone of Rostopchin's voice, the
crowd moaned and heaved forward, but again paused.
"Count!" exclaimed the timid yet theatrical voice of Vereshchagin in the
midst of the momentary silence that ensued, "Count! One God is above us
both...."
"Only when the victim ceased to struggle and his cries changed to a
long-drawn, measured death rattle did the crowd around his prostrate,
bleeding corpse begin rapidly to change places. Each one came up, glanced
at what had been done, and with horror, reproach, and astonishment pushed
back again."
Rostopchin: "The people had to be appeased.
Many other victims have perished and are perishing for the public good"—and
he began thinking of his social duties to his family and to the city
entrusted to him, and of himself—not himself as Theodore Vasilyevich
Rostopchin (he fancied that Theodore Vasilyevich Rostopchin was
sacrificing himself for the public good) but himself as governor, the
representative of authority and of the Tsar. "Had I been simply Theodore
Vasilyevich my course of action would have been quite different, but it
was my duty to safeguard my life and dignity as commander-in-chief."
lunatic: "Thrice have they slain me, thrice have I risen from the dead. They stoned
me, crucified me... I shall rise... shall rise... shall rise. They have
torn my body. The kingdom of God will be overthrown... Thrice will I
overthrow it and thrice re-establish it!"
CHAPTER 26
The French troops enter Moscow and a battle begins. Commoners also join in, attacking the French. The French troops become scattered because the men go off on their own to loot and find food. The army is a mess. Moscow begins to burn down and everyone starts to blame one another for it. The French say it's due to Rostopchin's passion for Russia and the Russians say it's the French troops' fault.
Important Quotes
"Like
a monkey which puts its paw into the narrow neck of a jug, and having
seized a handful of nuts will not open its fist for fear of losing what it
holds, and therefore perishes, the French when they left Moscow had
inevitably to perish because they carried their loot with them"
"Moscow when occupied by
the enemy did not remain intact like Berlin, Vienna, and other towns,
simply because its inhabitants abandoned it and did not welcome the French
with bread and salt, nor bring them the keys of the city."
CHAPTER 27
Pierre is driving himself crazy as he thinks about how to stop the French and what his own life means. He chooses to fight, dressing as a peasant in order to appear to be fighting for the common good. Only thoughts of saving the common good and of breaking free from the insignificant higher life drives him on. He plots to kill Napoleon himself.
Important Quotes
"'It is not I but the hand of Providence that
punishes thee,' I shall say," thought he, imagining what he would say when
killing Napoleon. "
CHAPTER 28
The French enter Pierre's lodging and ask to spend the night. Makar Alexeevich is drunk and shoots at the Frenchmen. Pierre takes the gun from Makar, saving the Frenchmen. The French soldier asks Pierre if he's French and insists that he is even when Pierre tells him that he's Russian.
*The Frenchman believes Pierre is French because when people take sides, they think their side is the only good one, therefore attributing all good acts to their people*
Important Quotes
"You have saved my life! You are French. You ask his pardon? I grant it
you. Lead that man away!" said he quickly and energetically, and taking
the arm of Pierre whom he had promoted to be a Frenchman for saving his
life, he went with him into the room. "
CHAPTER 29
Pierre and the Frenchman, Captain Ramballe, speak for a long time about the war and especially about love. As Pierre speaks to this man, he realizes his own weakness--he sees the good in the Frenchman and resolves that he can't kill Napoleon. Speaking of love reminds him of Natasha and he tells Ramballe his story.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "He was tormented by the
consciousness of his own weakness."
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