Show Notes
We now get taken from March of 1806, through the warmer months and then to the end of the year. Quite the fast-forward!
This chapter provides insight into the surprise loser of the duel, Feydor Dolokhov, through the Book’s closest examination of his psychology. We also get rare insight into his poor mother, Mary Ivánovna.
There is a note that the Duel remained matter of scandal. If Dolokhov would have won, he likely would have faced the wrath of the Czar. Since the new Count won, there is a wisdom in the authorities ignoring the aftermath. Rostov’s participation was swept under the rug by efforts from his wealthy father. He avoided demotion and was appointed as adjutant to the governor general of Moscow, which kept him in the city for the duration of that Summer.
As Dolokhov convalescences at this mother’s home in Moscow, Rostov visited often and the two developed a close friendship. Mary Ivánovna grew fond of Rostov and reveals her feelings to him: “My Fedya is too noble and pure-souled for our depraved world.” She holds great animosity toward Pierre and is convinced he acted without Honor. She notes how Pierre, along with her son and group of friends, tied a policemen to a bear and threw them into the Moyka River. While Pierre was just told to leave town, her son stoically bore the burden and suffered demotion in the ranks.
There is legitimacy to Ivánovna’s perspective. She laments how is not honorable to make such a challenge and shoot to kill. The challenger of such an affair would be expected to do something like fire up into the air. She speaks in a timeless way over the possible marital affair, saying: “Who doesn’t have intrigues nowadays?” She feels Pierre is responsible for letting his jealousy go on for months. She believes Pierre challenged her son because he owed Pierre and his wife money, and therefore counted on Fedya not even fighting. She finds Pierre evil and mean-spirited.
Dolokhov also opens up to Nicholas. “I know people consider me an evil man! Let them! I don’t care about anyone -- but those I love. And those I love….. I love such that I would give my life for them. The others……. I would just kill them if they stood in my way.”
He notes having a priceless mother and a few friends—Nicholas among them. As for the rest, he only cares about them in so far as they are useful or harmful. He speaks of women, who he finds toxic. He complains of never being able to find a pure soul worth devoting himself to. He aims to possess a divine creature who will elevate him.
Then Tolsoty moves to late 1806. The start to the Winter becomes one of the happiest times for the Rostovs. Denisov also stayed with the family around this Christmas season. Tolstoy notes how there prevailed a romantic ambiance where every young man who came to the house was thrilled to be around the young Rostov women, who shared a readiness to fall in love and expectation of happiness. The household atmosphere included bursts music and friendly prattle of girls.
Nicholas invites many friends to his estate, including Dolokhov, who brings this newfound attitude and develops an affection for Sonya. All in the house took an immediate liking to Dolokhov except Natasha. She recognized the darkness that lurks within. She feels Dolokhov is “wicked and heartless.” She favors Denisov, who she finds more honest and good-natured. Nicholas defends his new friend as having an incomparable heart and soul, noting how he helps his poor mother and crippled sister. That is when Natasha reveals how Dolokhov has fallen for Sonya. Sonya was a bit embarrassed by the attention – but not altogether repulsed. Nicholas does not think much of it, at first feeling Sonya and his sister are always (and temporarily) in love with something. Yet the more his new friend pursued Sonya, the less at ease Nicholas became.
We move to the historically important part of this chapter. Tolstoy describes that in the autumn of 1806, the nobles once again started fervently
More from War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide
As War & Peace delves into to fiction to a much greater degree than the previous section, exploring the Rostov family dynamic throughout 1806, there is a great deal that historically transpired which Tolstoy does not bring you through. In this stretch, Bonaparte was a continental Behemoth, who sets his sights on Prussia, then an industrial power with a highly organized military. The centers that made up the Prussian Kingdom were: Berlin, Potsdam, Königsberg and Danzig. You should recall that based on the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon replaced the Habsburg Family as the principal authority in Central Europe. Austria never again reached such heights of power. Over the next 70 years Austria would lose influence over the dozens of German states while Prussia gained in this regard. It was Prussia, under Otto Von Bismarck, who in 1871 established the nation we know as Germany. In the start of 1806, France remained in a state of war against Russia, England and even Sweden. It was a busy and productive year for "the man of destiny." In February, Napoleon sent General André Messéna to Naples to overthrow the Bourbon King, Ferdinand IV, and install his brother, Joseph. Messéna was successful though fighting continued for months. In the Summer, Napoleon consolidated control of Holland and placed a crown on another brother, Louis. By mid-July, Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine of mostly southern German states, where he compelled alliances. The expanded territory gave the French 60,000 more troops. Napoleon was reshaping Central Europe to assure French influence and limit that of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Great Britain. Napoleon’s desire was to marginalize Britain economically after the Brtis won control of the seas at the Battle of Trafalgar, which preceded Austerlitz by a month. Just off the Southwest coast of France, the French Navy was decimated. The English controlled the water, but Napoleon was dominant on land and wanted to implement the Continental Commerce System. He had success in spreading French administrative, legal and social reforms—including the Napoleonic Code. When possible and practical, he moved to end the remnants of feudalism. The Code abolished a plethora feudal privileges, dismantled manorial courts and freed some peasants, granting basic civil rights and a semblance of equality before the law. To continue to foster his ambitions, Napoleon set his sights on Prussia, which included former Polish territory. Poland was a former Kingdom cut up (partitioned) by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, where many Polish nobles committed allegiance to the Czar or King of Prussia. While the Czar worked with much of the nobility of Poland, the peasants filled the ranks and endured. Czar Alexander was 27 in 1806. Despite the historic loss at Austerlitz, Alexander, would rule for nearly two more decades. He was fortunate that his population was forgiving. Alexander did not enter into serious peace negotiations nor publicly concede the loss. Many among the Russian nobility blamed the result on the Austrians. There are memoirs from Phillip Vigel, then a 20 year-old Russian diplomat, who detailed his observations of the mood in Moscow and Petersburg. The Muscovites were more vocal in castigating the Czar. Some would even laud Napoleon. There, Bonaparte earned nickname befitting a Russian Conqueror, Napoleoskha. In Petersburg, the population shared the humiliation. They would explain the result as a turn of luck. Vigel expressed that Petersburg society felt the desire to get themselves off the floor and prove themselves. He sensed a general optimism of youth. He also notes how the English desired Russia as allies against the French and Czar was their lifeline from French domination. Consequently, Russia spent the summer of 1806 preparing for a new war -- reorganizing and refilling their ranks. General Kutuzov fades into obscurity for a time. Just prior to Austerlitz, in the Fall of 1805, Alexander made a notable a
We have reached the pivotal chapter involving the death of the Little Princess and birth of the Andrei’s son.
We move further into March of 1806 and return to Bald Hills, the estate of Andrei’s father. Despite letters and official inquiries, Andrei’s body had not been found nor was he on the list of prisoners.
This episode examines some likely influences in Tolstoy’s writing of the Duel between Pierre & Dolokhov.
Pierre wins the Duel and thereafter cannot stand to be in the presence of his wife. The night after the conflict he avoids the marital bedroom in preference of his late father’s room. Pierre desires to fall asleep and forget all. Yet a storm of emotions prevents any rest.