- Petya's death: young, blind bravery is killed off-- innocence is killed
- The fall of the French army: the once strong have fallen (whose fault is it, the people or the commanders or fate itself? How has history been re-written)?
- Pierre's change of attitude-- once cynical and shy, now an intelligent and speculative man
- Pierre and Natasha's love for each other-- a suppressed love now blossoms. Each had grown after facing death and the war.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Book 15 RECAP
Highlights:
Book 15, Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
CHAPTER 16
Pierre listens as Mary and Natasha tell him about Andrew's death. Natasha goes into great detail and expresses her undying love for Andrew. Pierre pities her. Natasha asks Pierre why it's worth trusting in a God.
Important Quotes
"And because," Pierre continued, "only one who believes that there is a God ruling us can bear a loss such as hers and... yours."
" Pierre listened to [Natahsa] with lips parted and eyes fixed upon her full of tears. As he listened he did not think of Prince Andrew, nor of death, nor of what she was telling. He listened to her and felt only pity for her, for what she was suffering now while she was speaking."
CHAPTER 17
Mary, Natasha, and Pierre talk over dinner. Pierre tells of all his adventures and how he claimed his status as a smart, brave man. Mary notices how Pierre and Natasha love each other and is elated by this idea. They all have a sort of therapy session, retelling all they've gone through and making themselves feel better for it.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "He told of his adventures as he had never yet recalled them. He now, as it were, saw a new meaning in all he had gone through. Now that he was telling it all to Natásha he experienced that pleasure which a man has when women listen to him—not clever women who when listening either try to remember what they hear to enrich their minds and when opportunity offers to retell it, or who wish to adopt it to some thought of their own and promptly contribute their own clever comments prepared in their little mental workshop—but the pleasure given by real women gifted with a capacity to select and absorb the very best a man shows of himself."
Pierre: "People speak of misfortunes and sufferings," remarked Pierre, "but if at this moment I were asked: 'Would you rather be what you were before you were taken prisoner, or go through all this again?' then for heaven's sake let me again have captivity and horseflesh! We imagine that when we are thrown out of our usual ruts all is lost, but it is only then that what is new and good begins. While there is life there is happiness. There is much, much before us. I say this to you," he added, turning to Natásha.
CHAPTER 18
Pierre goes to visit Mary and Natasha again and confesses his love for Natasha to Mary. Mary tells him that she has faith that all will work out. Pierre goes to Petersburg, leaving Natasha behind but hoping that, upon his return, they will be together forever.
Important Quotes
"Princess Mary stopped. She was going to say that to speak of love was impossible, but she stopped because she had seen by the sudden change in Natásha two days before that she would not only not be hurt if Pierre spoke of his love, but that it was the very thing she wished for. "
CHAPTER 19
Pierre cannot stop thinking about Natasha. As he deals with his dead wife's paperwork in Petersburg, he cannot help but pity her since she never felt the love he now feels in his heart. He thinks that he's unworthy of Natasha's love and because he's so in love, he finds little things to love in everyone around him.
Important Quotes
"[Natasha] will be sure to smile and say: 'How strange! He must be deluding himself. Doesn't he know that he is a man, just a man, while I...? I am something altogether different and higher.'" That was the only doubt often troubling Pierre"
"But at this time [Pierre] saw everybody—both those who, as he imagined, understood the real meaning of life (that is, what he was feeling) and those unfortunates who evidently did not understand it—in the bright light of the emotion that shone within himself, and at once without any effort saw in everyone he met everything that was good and worthy of being loved."
CHAPTER 20
Mary tells Natasha that Pierre loves her. Natasha is so happy that she seems to forget all about Andrew and his love which upsets Mary. But seeing Natasha so happy after such a long time of being depressed also gladdens Mary. Mary also tells her that Pierre must go to Petersburg first and Natasha says that "he must."
Important Quotes
"The change that took place in Natásha at first surprised Princess Mary; but when she understood its meaning it grieved her. "Can she have loved my brother so little as to be able to forget him so soon?"
Mary: "You love him?"
Natasha: "Yes," whispered Natásha.
Mary: "Then why are you crying? I am happy for your sake," said Princess Mary, who because of those tears quite forgave Natásha's joy."
Pierre listens as Mary and Natasha tell him about Andrew's death. Natasha goes into great detail and expresses her undying love for Andrew. Pierre pities her. Natasha asks Pierre why it's worth trusting in a God.
Important Quotes
"And because," Pierre continued, "only one who believes that there is a God ruling us can bear a loss such as hers and... yours."
" Pierre listened to [Natahsa] with lips parted and eyes fixed upon her full of tears. As he listened he did not think of Prince Andrew, nor of death, nor of what she was telling. He listened to her and felt only pity for her, for what she was suffering now while she was speaking."
CHAPTER 17
Mary, Natasha, and Pierre talk over dinner. Pierre tells of all his adventures and how he claimed his status as a smart, brave man. Mary notices how Pierre and Natasha love each other and is elated by this idea. They all have a sort of therapy session, retelling all they've gone through and making themselves feel better for it.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "He told of his adventures as he had never yet recalled them. He now, as it were, saw a new meaning in all he had gone through. Now that he was telling it all to Natásha he experienced that pleasure which a man has when women listen to him—not clever women who when listening either try to remember what they hear to enrich their minds and when opportunity offers to retell it, or who wish to adopt it to some thought of their own and promptly contribute their own clever comments prepared in their little mental workshop—but the pleasure given by real women gifted with a capacity to select and absorb the very best a man shows of himself."
Pierre: "People speak of misfortunes and sufferings," remarked Pierre, "but if at this moment I were asked: 'Would you rather be what you were before you were taken prisoner, or go through all this again?' then for heaven's sake let me again have captivity and horseflesh! We imagine that when we are thrown out of our usual ruts all is lost, but it is only then that what is new and good begins. While there is life there is happiness. There is much, much before us. I say this to you," he added, turning to Natásha.
CHAPTER 18
Pierre goes to visit Mary and Natasha again and confesses his love for Natasha to Mary. Mary tells him that she has faith that all will work out. Pierre goes to Petersburg, leaving Natasha behind but hoping that, upon his return, they will be together forever.
Important Quotes
"Princess Mary stopped. She was going to say that to speak of love was impossible, but she stopped because she had seen by the sudden change in Natásha two days before that she would not only not be hurt if Pierre spoke of his love, but that it was the very thing she wished for. "
CHAPTER 19
Pierre cannot stop thinking about Natasha. As he deals with his dead wife's paperwork in Petersburg, he cannot help but pity her since she never felt the love he now feels in his heart. He thinks that he's unworthy of Natasha's love and because he's so in love, he finds little things to love in everyone around him.
Important Quotes
"[Natasha] will be sure to smile and say: 'How strange! He must be deluding himself. Doesn't he know that he is a man, just a man, while I...? I am something altogether different and higher.'" That was the only doubt often troubling Pierre"
"But at this time [Pierre] saw everybody—both those who, as he imagined, understood the real meaning of life (that is, what he was feeling) and those unfortunates who evidently did not understand it—in the bright light of the emotion that shone within himself, and at once without any effort saw in everyone he met everything that was good and worthy of being loved."
CHAPTER 20
Mary tells Natasha that Pierre loves her. Natasha is so happy that she seems to forget all about Andrew and his love which upsets Mary. But seeing Natasha so happy after such a long time of being depressed also gladdens Mary. Mary also tells her that Pierre must go to Petersburg first and Natasha says that "he must."
Important Quotes
"The change that took place in Natásha at first surprised Princess Mary; but when she understood its meaning it grieved her. "Can she have loved my brother so little as to be able to forget him so soon?"
Mary: "You love him?"
Natasha: "Yes," whispered Natásha.
Mary: "Then why are you crying? I am happy for your sake," said Princess Mary, who because of those tears quite forgave Natásha's joy."
Friday, July 8, 2016
Book 15, Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
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."
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."
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Book 15, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
CHAPTER 1
year 1812-13
Natasha and Mary are still overcoming the sorrow of Andrew's death. Mary goes back to Moscow and is distracted by little Nicholas, but Natasha has more time to contemplate the happenings of the death. She selfishly wishes that Andrew would've fought the illness longer because, even if he were suffering, he would have been alive and with her.
Important Quotes
Natasha: "I agreed," Natásha now said to herself, "that it would be dreadful if he always continued to suffer. I said it then only because it would have been dreadful for him, but he understood it differently. He thought it would be dreadful for me. He then still wished to live and feared death.... Had I said what I thought, I should have said: even if he had to go on dying, to die continually before my eyes, I should have been happy compared with what I am now."
CHAPTER 2
News of Petya's death reaches the Rostovs. The Countess is distraught and Natasha looks after her. In the middle of the night, the countess cries for the first time.
CHAPTER 3
Natasha nurses her mother and this helps her overcome the pain of Andrew's death. With Petya's death came a sort of life for her. She and Mary continue to get very close and both their strengths come back slowly.
Important Quotes
"A spiritual wound produced by a rending of the spiritual body is like a physical wound and, strange as it may seem, just as a deep wound may heal and its edges join, physical and spiritual wounds alike can yet heal completely only as the result of a vital force from within.
Natásha's wound healed in that way."
"[Natasha] thought her life was ended, but her love for her mother unexpectedly showed her that the essence of life—love—was still active within her. Love awoke and so did life."
CHAPTER 4
Tolstoy describes how the Russian army pursued the French to show their strength and valor. They lost many men but kept pushing on. Also, in history, Napoleon is regarded as the hero and Kutuzov as the sneaky general.
CHAPTER 5
Kutuzov is continued to be described as a slow, inactive general in history. But Tolstoy rebukes this, claiming that he was a great general who thought of others and the welfare of Russia.
Important Quotes
"And only that feeling placed him on that highest human pedestal from which he, the commander-in-chief, devoted all his powers not to slaying and destroying men but to saving and showing pity on them. That simple, modest, and therefore truly great, figure could not be cast in the false mold of a European hero—the supposed ruler of men—that history has invented."
year 1812-13
Natasha and Mary are still overcoming the sorrow of Andrew's death. Mary goes back to Moscow and is distracted by little Nicholas, but Natasha has more time to contemplate the happenings of the death. She selfishly wishes that Andrew would've fought the illness longer because, even if he were suffering, he would have been alive and with her.
Important Quotes
Natasha: "I agreed," Natásha now said to herself, "that it would be dreadful if he always continued to suffer. I said it then only because it would have been dreadful for him, but he understood it differently. He thought it would be dreadful for me. He then still wished to live and feared death.... Had I said what I thought, I should have said: even if he had to go on dying, to die continually before my eyes, I should have been happy compared with what I am now."
CHAPTER 2
News of Petya's death reaches the Rostovs. The Countess is distraught and Natasha looks after her. In the middle of the night, the countess cries for the first time.
CHAPTER 3
Natasha nurses her mother and this helps her overcome the pain of Andrew's death. With Petya's death came a sort of life for her. She and Mary continue to get very close and both their strengths come back slowly.
Important Quotes
"A spiritual wound produced by a rending of the spiritual body is like a physical wound and, strange as it may seem, just as a deep wound may heal and its edges join, physical and spiritual wounds alike can yet heal completely only as the result of a vital force from within.
Natásha's wound healed in that way."
"[Natasha] thought her life was ended, but her love for her mother unexpectedly showed her that the essence of life—love—was still active within her. Love awoke and so did life."
CHAPTER 4
Tolstoy describes how the Russian army pursued the French to show their strength and valor. They lost many men but kept pushing on. Also, in history, Napoleon is regarded as the hero and Kutuzov as the sneaky general.
CHAPTER 5
Kutuzov is continued to be described as a slow, inactive general in history. But Tolstoy rebukes this, claiming that he was a great general who thought of others and the welfare of Russia.
Important Quotes
"And only that feeling placed him on that highest human pedestal from which he, the commander-in-chief, devoted all his powers not to slaying and destroying men but to saving and showing pity on them. That simple, modest, and therefore truly great, figure could not be cast in the false mold of a European hero—the supposed ruler of men—that history has invented."
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
RECAP of book 14
The French continue to retreat and the Russian army follows them menacingly, making it known that they want them off their turf.
Highlights:
Highlights:
- Petya-- he wants to prove that he's a man and dies without even being able to show his true strengths. He dies a little boy, still.
- Pierre-- he ignores his friend, Platon, when Platon gets sick. He is afraid that his mentor and source of happiness is not immortal.
Book 14, Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
CHAPTER 11
Petya begs Denisov to let him ride out to the heaviest part of the battle. Denisov agrees and Petya follows Dolokhov. He gets too excited, though, falls off his horse and is shot in the head. Meanwhile, Pierre is among the captives that are rescued that day.
CHAPTER 12
Pierre sees how the French army keeps deteriorating. He realizes that nothing is perfect and one hundred percent good in life, so why be unhappy? His prisoner friend, Karataev, becomes ill and Pierre refuses to interact anymore.
*Perhaps Pierre does not want to see Karataev anymore since he used to be a source of happiness and strength for him and, now that he's sick, his mortal side shows and scare Pierre.*
Important Quotes
"Pierre did not know why, but since Karataev had begun to grow weaker it had cost him an effort to go near him."
Pierre: " He had learned that as there is no condition in which man can be happy and entirely free, so there is no condition in which he need be unhappy and lack freedom."
CHAPTER 13
Pierre goes up to Karataev as he's telling one of his stories. It is about an old man who is wrongfully convicted of murder. He takes the punishment though, because he claims that it's God's will, and dies happily.
Important Quotes
[Pierre]: "His feeling of pity for this man frightened him and he wished to go away, but there was no other fire, and Pierre sat down, trying not to look at Platon."
Platon: "How am I? If we grumble at sickness, God won't grant us death," replied Platon, and at once resumed the story he had begun."
[Old merchant in the story]: '"am being punished for my own and other men's sins. But I have not killed anyone or taken anything that was not mine, but have only helped my poorer brothers. I was a merchant, my dear brothers, and had much property. 'And he went on to tell them all about it in due order. 'I don't grieve for myself,' he says, 'God, it seems, has chastened me."
CHAPTER 14
Pierre notices that Platon is staring at him, trying to get him to come over and talk. However, he ignores his look. Later on, he hears a shot from where Platon was sitting and sees two French soldiers running away with a gun. Platon's dog begins to howl miserably.
CHAPTER 15
Pierre thinks of the meaning of God and existence. Life is God, God is life. He thinks of Platon and that last look he gave him. Finally, the Russian soldiers come to free the prisoners. Denisov carries Petya's dead body to bury him.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "Life is everything. Life is God. Everything changes and moves and that movement is God. And while there is life there is joy in consciousness of the divine. To love life is to love God. Harder and more blessed than all else is to love this life in one's sufferings, in innocent sufferings."
CHAPTER 16
The French army is in bad condition and Napoleon can't do anything to help.
Important Quotes
Napoleon: "And though they pretended to be concerned about the army, each was thinking only of himself and of how to get away quickly and save himself. "
CHAPTER 17
It's every man for himself now as the Russians are in hot pursuit of the French.
CHAPTER 18
Napoleon, some historians wish to believe, was a grand leader. However, he was the first to abandon his army and flee to save his own life.
Important Quotes
"regarding this period of the campaign the historians, who attributed the actions of the mass to the will of one man, would have found it impossible to make the story of the retreat fit their theory. But no! Mountains of books have been written by the historians about this campaign, and everywhere are described Napoleon's arrangements, the maneuvers, and his profound plans which guided the army, as well as the military genius shown by his marshals."
"Greatness," it seems, excludes the standards of right and wrong. For the "great" man nothing is wrong, there is no atrocity for which a "great" man can be blamed."
CHAPTER 19
Tolstoy describes how the Russians pursue the French.
Important Quotes
"If the aim of the Russians consisted in cutting off and capturing Napoleon and his marshals—and that aim was not merely frustrated but all attempts to attain it were most shamefully baffled—then this last period of the campaign is quite rightly considered by the French to be a series of victories, and quite wrongly considered victorious by Russian historians."
"The Russian army had to act like a whip to a running animal. And the experienced driver knew it was better to hold the whip raised as a menace than to strike the running animal on the head."
Petya begs Denisov to let him ride out to the heaviest part of the battle. Denisov agrees and Petya follows Dolokhov. He gets too excited, though, falls off his horse and is shot in the head. Meanwhile, Pierre is among the captives that are rescued that day.
CHAPTER 12
Pierre sees how the French army keeps deteriorating. He realizes that nothing is perfect and one hundred percent good in life, so why be unhappy? His prisoner friend, Karataev, becomes ill and Pierre refuses to interact anymore.
*Perhaps Pierre does not want to see Karataev anymore since he used to be a source of happiness and strength for him and, now that he's sick, his mortal side shows and scare Pierre.*
Important Quotes
"Pierre did not know why, but since Karataev had begun to grow weaker it had cost him an effort to go near him."
Pierre: " He had learned that as there is no condition in which man can be happy and entirely free, so there is no condition in which he need be unhappy and lack freedom."
CHAPTER 13
Pierre goes up to Karataev as he's telling one of his stories. It is about an old man who is wrongfully convicted of murder. He takes the punishment though, because he claims that it's God's will, and dies happily.
Important Quotes
[Pierre]: "His feeling of pity for this man frightened him and he wished to go away, but there was no other fire, and Pierre sat down, trying not to look at Platon."
Platon: "How am I? If we grumble at sickness, God won't grant us death," replied Platon, and at once resumed the story he had begun."
[Old merchant in the story]: '"am being punished for my own and other men's sins. But I have not killed anyone or taken anything that was not mine, but have only helped my poorer brothers. I was a merchant, my dear brothers, and had much property. 'And he went on to tell them all about it in due order. 'I don't grieve for myself,' he says, 'God, it seems, has chastened me."
CHAPTER 14
Pierre notices that Platon is staring at him, trying to get him to come over and talk. However, he ignores his look. Later on, he hears a shot from where Platon was sitting and sees two French soldiers running away with a gun. Platon's dog begins to howl miserably.
CHAPTER 15
Pierre thinks of the meaning of God and existence. Life is God, God is life. He thinks of Platon and that last look he gave him. Finally, the Russian soldiers come to free the prisoners. Denisov carries Petya's dead body to bury him.
Important Quotes
Pierre: "Life is everything. Life is God. Everything changes and moves and that movement is God. And while there is life there is joy in consciousness of the divine. To love life is to love God. Harder and more blessed than all else is to love this life in one's sufferings, in innocent sufferings."
CHAPTER 16
The French army is in bad condition and Napoleon can't do anything to help.
Important Quotes
Napoleon: "And though they pretended to be concerned about the army, each was thinking only of himself and of how to get away quickly and save himself. "
CHAPTER 17
It's every man for himself now as the Russians are in hot pursuit of the French.
CHAPTER 18
Napoleon, some historians wish to believe, was a grand leader. However, he was the first to abandon his army and flee to save his own life.
Important Quotes
"regarding this period of the campaign the historians, who attributed the actions of the mass to the will of one man, would have found it impossible to make the story of the retreat fit their theory. But no! Mountains of books have been written by the historians about this campaign, and everywhere are described Napoleon's arrangements, the maneuvers, and his profound plans which guided the army, as well as the military genius shown by his marshals."
"Greatness," it seems, excludes the standards of right and wrong. For the "great" man nothing is wrong, there is no atrocity for which a "great" man can be blamed."
CHAPTER 19
Tolstoy describes how the Russians pursue the French.
Important Quotes
"If the aim of the Russians consisted in cutting off and capturing Napoleon and his marshals—and that aim was not merely frustrated but all attempts to attain it were most shamefully baffled—then this last period of the campaign is quite rightly considered by the French to be a series of victories, and quite wrongly considered victorious by Russian historians."
"The Russian army had to act like a whip to a running animal. And the experienced driver knew it was better to hold the whip raised as a menace than to strike the running animal on the head."
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Book 14, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
CHAPTER 1
year 1812
Tolstoy describes the way in which the French ultimately lost their war and had to retreat. After winning at Moscow, the French only declined and did not take over like proper rulers.
Important Quotes
"An army gains a victory, and at once the rights of the conquering nation have increased to the detriment of the defeated. An army has suffered defeat, and at once a people loses its rights in proportion to the severity of the reverse, and if its army suffers a complete defeat the nation is quite subjugated."
" The period of the campaign of 1812 from the battle of Borodino to the expulsion of the French proved that the winning of a battle does not produce a conquest and is not even an invariable indication of conquest; it proved that the force which decides the fate of peoples lies not in the conquerors, nor even in armies and battles, but in something else."
CHAPTER 2
Tolstoy writes about the spirit of the men in the army and how smaller groups have more spirit and will to fight the great masses. Therefore, guerilla warfare has more spirit than traditional warfare.
Important Quotes
"Military science, seeing in history innumerable instances of the fact that the size of any army does not coincide with its strength and that small detachments defeat larger ones, obscurely admits the existence of this unknown factor and tries to discover it—now in a geometric formation, now in the equipment employed, now, and most usually, in the genius of the commanders. "
" The spirit of an army is the factor which multiplied by the mass gives the resulting force. To define and express the significance of this unknown factor—the spirit of an army—is a problem for science."
" The Russians, on the contrary, ought according to tactics to have attacked in mass, but in fact they split up into small units, because their spirit had so risen that separate individuals, without orders, dealt blows at the French without needing any compulsion to induce them to expose themselves to hardships and dangers."
CHAPTER 3
The Russian partisans kill the French themselves. "Partisan warfare" breaks out. Denisov and Dolokhov are planned to surprise attack the French at their camps in Smolensk. Many French are killed and Denisov is apprehensive to attack again for fear of being too obvious.
CHAPTER 4
Denisov awaits orders to hear news on Dolokhov's position. While waiting, he sees a procession of captured French soldiers and horses. Petya comes to him with a message from his commander saying that the German troops are ready to attack the French. This makes Denisov want to make haste in attacking the French first.
CHAPTER 5
Denisov, Petya, and the esaul (horseman) watch the French troops from above, preparing to attack with or without Dolokhov. They also see the peasant, Tikhon, who was the bravest and strongest man in the army, running from French fire. Apparently, the French had exposed him and the plan of attack had been found out.
Important Quotes
[Tikhon]: "He was the bravest and most useful man in the party. No one found more opportunities for attacking, no one captured or killed more Frenchmen, and consequently he was made the buffoon of all the Cossacks and hussars and willingly accepted that role."
CHAPTER 6
Tikhon tells Denisov why he had been running from the French. He had captured one of them, but let him go because he thought he wasn't good enough for Denisov to question. Denisov, Petya, and other soldiers think Tikhon is a fool for letting his captive go.
CHAPTER 7
Petya wants to prove himself as a man. He forgets all about his German commander and sees Denisov and Tikhon as his new heroes. He begs to stay with them longer, hoping to fight alongside them. He also pities a French drummer boy they've captured who is his age. He asks to bring him food, afraid that the soldiers will think his pity is weak and child-like. Petya is eager to get on the soldiers' good side and offers them anything to make them happy and to make himself likeable.
Important Quotes
"Pétya had been in a constant state of blissful excitement at being grown-up and in a perpetual ecstatic hurry not to miss any chance to do something really heroic. He was highly delighted with what he saw and experienced in the army, but at the same time it always seemed to him that the really heroic exploits were being performed just where he did not happen to be. And he was always in a hurry to get where he was not."
Petya: "I might ask," he thought, "but they'll say: 'He's a boy himself and so he pities the boy.' I'll show them tomorrow whether I'm a boy. Will it seem odd if I ask?" Pétya thought. "Well, never mind!" and immediately, blushing and looking anxiously at the officers to see if they appeared ironical"
CHAPTER 8
Dolokhov arrives and Petya is star-struck by him. He begs him to let him check out the French troops before attacking, disguised as a French soldier. Denisov advises against it, but Petya stands his ground.
Important Quotes
"Pétya had heard in the army many stories of Dólokhov's extraordinary bravery and of his cruelty to the French, so from the moment he entered the hut Pétya did not take his eyes from him, but braced himself up more and more and held his head high, that he might not be unworthy even of such company."
[Petya to Denisov]: "For you'll admit that if we don't know for sure how many of them there are... hundreds of lives may depend on it, while there are only two of us. Besides, I want to go very much and certainly will go, so don't hinder me," said he. "It will only make things worse..."
CHAPTER 9
Petya and Dolokhov sneak into the French campground dressed as the French hussars. Petya is quite frightened as Dolokhov makes conversation with the French soldiers, inquiring about their numbers and captives. Petya feels as if they suspect them both, but they make it out alive and well.
Important Quotes
"Pétya, his heart in his mouth with excitement, rode by his side. 'If we're caught, I won't be taken alive! I have a pistol," whispered he."
CHAPTER 10
It's the eve of battle and Petya cannot sleep. He talks to a soldier and asks him to sharpen his sword since he never learned how. He is so excited for battle that he seems to be living a fantasy. His excitement creates a music in his head. Everything seems good.
Important Quotes
"Nothing Pétya could have seen now would have surprised him. He was in a fairy kingdom where everything was possible. "
Petya: He closed his eyes, and, from all sides as if from a distance, sounds fluttered, grew into harmonies, separated, blended, and again all mingled into the same sweet and solemn hymn. "Oh, this is delightful! As much as I like and as I like!" said Pétya to himself. He tried to conduct that enormous orchestra.
year 1812
Tolstoy describes the way in which the French ultimately lost their war and had to retreat. After winning at Moscow, the French only declined and did not take over like proper rulers.
Important Quotes
"An army gains a victory, and at once the rights of the conquering nation have increased to the detriment of the defeated. An army has suffered defeat, and at once a people loses its rights in proportion to the severity of the reverse, and if its army suffers a complete defeat the nation is quite subjugated."
" The period of the campaign of 1812 from the battle of Borodino to the expulsion of the French proved that the winning of a battle does not produce a conquest and is not even an invariable indication of conquest; it proved that the force which decides the fate of peoples lies not in the conquerors, nor even in armies and battles, but in something else."
CHAPTER 2
Tolstoy writes about the spirit of the men in the army and how smaller groups have more spirit and will to fight the great masses. Therefore, guerilla warfare has more spirit than traditional warfare.
Important Quotes
"Military science, seeing in history innumerable instances of the fact that the size of any army does not coincide with its strength and that small detachments defeat larger ones, obscurely admits the existence of this unknown factor and tries to discover it—now in a geometric formation, now in the equipment employed, now, and most usually, in the genius of the commanders. "
" The spirit of an army is the factor which multiplied by the mass gives the resulting force. To define and express the significance of this unknown factor—the spirit of an army—is a problem for science."
" The Russians, on the contrary, ought according to tactics to have attacked in mass, but in fact they split up into small units, because their spirit had so risen that separate individuals, without orders, dealt blows at the French without needing any compulsion to induce them to expose themselves to hardships and dangers."
CHAPTER 3
The Russian partisans kill the French themselves. "Partisan warfare" breaks out. Denisov and Dolokhov are planned to surprise attack the French at their camps in Smolensk. Many French are killed and Denisov is apprehensive to attack again for fear of being too obvious.
CHAPTER 4
Denisov awaits orders to hear news on Dolokhov's position. While waiting, he sees a procession of captured French soldiers and horses. Petya comes to him with a message from his commander saying that the German troops are ready to attack the French. This makes Denisov want to make haste in attacking the French first.
CHAPTER 5
Denisov, Petya, and the esaul (horseman) watch the French troops from above, preparing to attack with or without Dolokhov. They also see the peasant, Tikhon, who was the bravest and strongest man in the army, running from French fire. Apparently, the French had exposed him and the plan of attack had been found out.
Important Quotes
[Tikhon]: "He was the bravest and most useful man in the party. No one found more opportunities for attacking, no one captured or killed more Frenchmen, and consequently he was made the buffoon of all the Cossacks and hussars and willingly accepted that role."
CHAPTER 6
Tikhon tells Denisov why he had been running from the French. He had captured one of them, but let him go because he thought he wasn't good enough for Denisov to question. Denisov, Petya, and other soldiers think Tikhon is a fool for letting his captive go.
CHAPTER 7
Petya wants to prove himself as a man. He forgets all about his German commander and sees Denisov and Tikhon as his new heroes. He begs to stay with them longer, hoping to fight alongside them. He also pities a French drummer boy they've captured who is his age. He asks to bring him food, afraid that the soldiers will think his pity is weak and child-like. Petya is eager to get on the soldiers' good side and offers them anything to make them happy and to make himself likeable.
Important Quotes
"Pétya had been in a constant state of blissful excitement at being grown-up and in a perpetual ecstatic hurry not to miss any chance to do something really heroic. He was highly delighted with what he saw and experienced in the army, but at the same time it always seemed to him that the really heroic exploits were being performed just where he did not happen to be. And he was always in a hurry to get where he was not."
Petya: "I might ask," he thought, "but they'll say: 'He's a boy himself and so he pities the boy.' I'll show them tomorrow whether I'm a boy. Will it seem odd if I ask?" Pétya thought. "Well, never mind!" and immediately, blushing and looking anxiously at the officers to see if they appeared ironical"
CHAPTER 8
Dolokhov arrives and Petya is star-struck by him. He begs him to let him check out the French troops before attacking, disguised as a French soldier. Denisov advises against it, but Petya stands his ground.
Important Quotes
"Pétya had heard in the army many stories of Dólokhov's extraordinary bravery and of his cruelty to the French, so from the moment he entered the hut Pétya did not take his eyes from him, but braced himself up more and more and held his head high, that he might not be unworthy even of such company."
[Petya to Denisov]: "For you'll admit that if we don't know for sure how many of them there are... hundreds of lives may depend on it, while there are only two of us. Besides, I want to go very much and certainly will go, so don't hinder me," said he. "It will only make things worse..."
CHAPTER 9
Petya and Dolokhov sneak into the French campground dressed as the French hussars. Petya is quite frightened as Dolokhov makes conversation with the French soldiers, inquiring about their numbers and captives. Petya feels as if they suspect them both, but they make it out alive and well.
Important Quotes
"Pétya, his heart in his mouth with excitement, rode by his side. 'If we're caught, I won't be taken alive! I have a pistol," whispered he."
CHAPTER 10
It's the eve of battle and Petya cannot sleep. He talks to a soldier and asks him to sharpen his sword since he never learned how. He is so excited for battle that he seems to be living a fantasy. His excitement creates a music in his head. Everything seems good.
Important Quotes
"Nothing Pétya could have seen now would have surprised him. He was in a fairy kingdom where everything was possible. "
Petya: He closed his eyes, and, from all sides as if from a distance, sounds fluttered, grew into harmonies, separated, blended, and again all mingled into the same sweet and solemn hymn. "Oh, this is delightful! As much as I like and as I like!" said Pétya to himself. He tried to conduct that enormous orchestra.
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