CHAPTER 6
Kutuzov sees the poor condition in which the French prisoners are in. He gives a short speech to the Russian soldiers before the Krasnoe battles, encouraging them to push on and see the French out.
Important Quotes
Kutuzov: "you are at home while they—you see what they have come to," said he,
pointing to the prisoners. "Worse off than our poorest beggars. While they
were strong we didn't spare ourselves, but now we may even pity them. They
are human beings too. Isn't it so, lads?"
CHAPTER 7
The Russian soldiers are very merry and loud before battle.
CHAPTER 8
The Russian soldiers talk among themselves and make the best of their situation.
Important Quotes
"the army had never under the best material conditions
presented a more cheerful and animated aspect. This was because all who
began to grow depressed or who lost strength were sifted out of the army
day by day. All the physically or morally weak had long since been left
behind and only the flower of the army—physically and mentally—remained."
CHAPTER 9
As the Russian soldiers sit around a campfire, two French soldiers, Ramballe and Morel, come staggering out of the bushes asking for food and rest. Morel gets quite drunk while Ramballe, the weaker of the two, is called in to see a colonel.
Important Quotes
Ramballe [to the Russians]: "Oh, you fine fellows, my kind, kind friends! These are men! Oh, my brave,
kind friends," and he leaned his head against the shoulder of one of the
men like a child."
CHAPTER 10
The French cross the Berezina River where the Russians devise a trap to attack them there. The Russians continue to distrust and dislike Kutuzov, thinking that he's too old and slow to carry out the plans for attack. Kutuzov and some other generals meet with the emperor. He receives the Order of St. George of the First Class (highest military honor in Russia).
Important Quotes
"The most compassionate Russian commanders, those
favorable to the French—and even the Frenchmen in the Russian
service—could do nothing for the prisoners. The French perished from
the conditions to which the Russian army was itself exposed."
" Certain destruction lay behind the French but in front there was hope.
Their ships had been burned, there was no salvation save in collective
flight, and on that the whole strength of the French was concentrated."
CHAPTER 11
Although Kutuzov receives this high honor, the Emperor and most others still dislike him. Since he's so old and cannot think of future wars and the significance of the war of 1812 and its impact on Russia's involvement in Europe, they don't respect him. Eventually, Kutuzov dies.
Important Quotes
"the Emperor said to the officers assembled
about him: "You have not only saved Russia, you have saved Europe!" they
all understood that the war was not ended.
Kutúzov alone would not see this and openly expressed his opinion that no
fresh war could improve the position or add to the glory of Russia, but
could only spoil and lower the glorious position that Russia had gained."
"Kutúzov did not understand what Europe, the balance of power, or Napoleon
meant. He could not understand it. For the representative of the Russian
people, after the enemy had been destroyed and Russia had been liberated
and raised to the summit of her glory, there was nothing left to do as a
Russian. Nothing remained for the representative of the national war but
to die, and Kutúzov died."
CHAPTER 12
Pierre returns from the war and is taken aback by the news of all the deaths: Andrew, Petya, and his Helene. He finds religion once more, inspired by his old friend, Platon, and finds a meaning in life.
Important Quotes
"[Pierre] had become accustomed to during the last few months and got
used to the idea that no one would oblige him to go anywhere tomorrow,
that no one would deprive him of his warm bed, and that he would be sure
to get his dinner, tea, and supper. But for a long time in his dreams he
still saw himself in the conditions of captivity."
Pierre: "his wife was no more. "Oh, how good, how splendid!"And by old habit he asked himself the question: "Well, and what then? What
am I going to do?" And he immediately gave himself the answer: "Well, I
shall live. Ah, how splendid!"
Pierre: " To that question, "What for?" a
simple answer was now always ready in his soul: "Because there is a God,
that God without whose will not one hair falls from a man's head."
CHAPTER 13
Pierre has changed immensely since the beginning of the book. Instead of having a dark, stupid aura, he now attracts everybody with his sensibility and ability to sympathize and listen. His new mission is to rebuild Moscow. Since its burning, he lost much of his wealth, but considers himself richer because of it. He wants to shed some good on Moscow and feels free and alive doing it. He brings along Willarski, an old masonic acquaintance.
Important Quotes
[an Italian soldier to Pierre]: "If all Russians are in the least like you, it is sacrilege to fight such
a nation," he said to Pierre. "You, who have suffered so from the French,
do not even feel animosity toward them."
Pierre: "This was his acknowledgment of the
impossibility of changing a man's convictions by words, and his
recognition of the possibility of everyone thinking, feeling, and seeing
things each from his own point of view."
Pierre: "Now to his surprise he found that he no longer felt either doubt or
perplexity about these questions. There was now within him a judge who by
some rule unknown to him decided what should or should not be done."
Pierre: " By being ruined I have become much richer."
" Where Willarski saw deadness Pierre saw
an extraordinary strength and vitality—the strength which in that
vast space amid the snows maintained the life of this original, peculiar,
and unique people. He did not contradict Willarski and even seemed to
agree with him—an apparent agreement being the simplest way to avoid
discussions that could lead to nothing—and he smiled joyfully as he
listened to him."
CHAPTER 14
Moscow, after being plundered, comes back to life slowly. People move back in and churches, businesses, and government starts working again.
Important Quotes
"The Russians who
entered Moscow, finding it plundered, plundered it in their turn. They
continued what the French had begun. "
CHAPTER 15
Pierre goes to visits Mary and give his condolences about Andrew. There, he sees a little woman dressed in black but does not recognize her until Mary tells him that's Natasha. He flushes and it's obvious that he's in love with her. Natasha radiates when she sees Pierre as well.
Important Quotes
[about Andrew's death]: "Is it possible that he died in the bitter frame of mind he was then in?
Is it possible that the meaning of life was not disclosed to him before he
died?" thought Pierre. He recalled Karataev and his death and
involuntarily began to compare these two men, so different, and yet so
similar in that they had both lived and both died and in the love he felt
for both of them."
"[Pierre]
flushed joyfully yet with painful distress. He tried to hide his
agitation. But the more he tried to hide it the more clearly—clearer
than any words could have done—did he betray to himself, to her, and
to Princess Mary that he loved her."
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