Epilogue 1, Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

CHAPTER 12

When Pierre comes back, everyone's mood changes and becomes merrier. Pierre has noticed changes in Natasha and sees how the once youthful girl he loved is more materialistic and washed-out. Little Nicholas tries remembering Andrew, his dad, but cannot remember him clearly or without contempt. Pierre becomes his new father figure. The Countess has been forgotten as she ages and becomes irritable. No one understands her and she wishes to die. Her kids only care for her out of pity and her grandchildren avoid her.

Important Quotes

"The servants—the most reliable judges of their masters because they judge not by their conversation or expressions of feeling but by their acts and way of life—were glad of Pierre's return because they knew that when he was there Count Nicholas would cease going every day to attend to the estate, and would be in better spirits and temper, and also because they would all receive handsome presents for the holidays."

"[Little Nicholas], who was only just beginning to guess what love is, derived the notion that his father had loved Natasha and when dying had left her to his friend. But the father whom the boy did not remember appeared to him a divinity who could not be pictured, and of whom he never thought without a swelling heart and tears of sadness and rapture."

Countess: "After the deaths of her son and husband in such rapid succession, she felt herself a being accidentally forgotten in this world and left without aim or object for her existence. She ate, drank, slept, or kept awake, but did not live. Life gave her no new impressions. She wanted nothing from life but tranquillity, and that tranquillity only death could give her."

CHAPTER 13

The adults sit with the Countess as Pierre tells her of his travels in Petersburg. He simplifies all his stories and sticks to talking about trivial matters for her to understand.

Important Quotes

" Though Pierre, Natasha, Nicholas, Countess Mary, and Denisov had much to talk about that they could not discuss before the old countess—not that anything was hidden from her, but because she had dropped so far behindhand in many things that had they begun to converse in her presence they would have had to answer inopportune questions and to repeat what they had already told her many times"

CHAPTER 14

The men go talk about government matters in another room and little Nicholas follows. Pierre thinks that there is no order in the government and that riots will begin soon and that Alexander is not even interested in saving his own country. Nicholas thinks otherwise and believes in serving the government to ones' best ability. Little Nicholas is confused as to which side to choose and asks Pierre what side his father, Andrew, would've been on.

Important Quotes

 "Natasha, who had come in during the conversation, looked joyfully at her husband. It was not what he was saying that pleased her—that did not even interest her, for it seemed to her that was all extremely simple and that she had known it a long time (it seemed so to her because she knew that it sprang from Pierre's whole soul), but it was his animated and enthusiastic appearance that made her glad."

Nicholas (to Pierre):  "'You are my best friend, as you know, but if you formed a secret society and began working against the government—be it what it may—I know it is my duty to obey the government. And if Arakcheev ordered me to lead a squadron against you and cut you down, I should not hesitate an instant, but should do it.' And you may argue about that as you like!"

Little Nicholas:  "Uncle Pierre, you... no... If Papa were alive... would he agree with you?" he asked.
And Pierre suddenly realized what a special, independent, complex, and powerful process of thought and feeling must have been going on in this boy during that conversation, and remembering all he had said he regretted that the lad should have heard him. He had, however, to give him an answer.
Pierre: "Yes, I think so"

CHAPTER 15

Nicholas talks to Mary about how absurd he thinks Pierre is for wanting to revolt against to government. Mary shows him her diary where she writes all the seemingly insignificant things about their children and he admires her for it. He values her spirituality and composure. They also speak of little Nicholas and Mary just cannot seem to love him like her own kids. Nicholas also isn't too fond of the boy, although he pretends he is.

*Little Nicholas is just as Pierre was at the beginning of the book--alone and not well liked. He has taken an interest in Pierre which is ironic since they are both almost the same person*

Important Quotes 

 "Nicholas put down the book and looked at his wife. The radiant eyes gazed at him questioningly: would he approve or disapprove of her diary? There could be no doubt not only of his approval but also of his admiration for his wife."

"[Nicholas] was proud of [Mary's] intelligence and goodness, recognized his own insignificance beside her in the spiritual world, and rejoiced all the more that she with such a soul not only belonged to him but was part of himself."

Nicholas:  "We began disputing—Pierre and I—and I lost my temper. But he is impossible: such a child! I don't know what would become of him if Natasha didn't keep him in hand"

Mary (about Nicholas): "She felt a submissive tender love for this man who would never understand all that she understood, and this seemed to make her love for him still stronger and added a touch of passionate tenderness."

 Mary: "while thinking of her nephew she thought also of her own children. She did not compare them with him, but compared her feeling for them with her feeling for him, and felt with regret that there was something lacking in her feeling for young Nicholas."

CHAPTER 16

Pierre talks to Natasha about how complacent Nicholas is. Meanwhile, little Nicholas dreams of Pierre who morphs into his father in the dream. Nicholas seems to be the villain in the dream and, when he wakes up, he vows to do something grand in life to impress his dead father and Pierre.

Important Quotes

 "In saying this Natasha was sincere in acknowledging Mary's superiority, but at the same time by saying it she made a demand on Pierre that he should, all the same, prefer her to Mary and to all other women"

Pierre:  "I only wished to say that ideas that have great results are always simple ones. My whole idea is that if vicious people are united and constitute a power, then honest folk must do the same. Now that's simple enough."

Little Nicholas: "But Uncle Pierre! Oh, what a wonderful man he is! And my father? Oh, Father, Father! Yes, I will do something with which even he would be satisfied...."