Show Notes
We are brought to early 1806, where Tolstoy uses Nicholas and Denisov to transition the story to Peace. Rostov has went from witnessing Czar Alexander crying under a tree near Austerlitz to returning to his Moscow estate. This chapter addresses his warm embrace.
Nicholas was traveling with Denisov, who is partially based on the literary Hussar, Dennis Davydov. Rostov persuaded Denisov to accompany him and the wild hussar enjoyed a great deal of wine on the journey. During the home stretch, it meant a great deal for Rostov to notice recognizable streets, stores and most especially his mansion. Rostov runs into the Great Hall but his family already retired. When servants notice Nicholas, they become elated. Word spread like joyful lightening and from all angles Rostov was attacked with hugs, kisses and shouts of ecstasy. The initial welcome included his father, Natasha, Vera, Sonya and little Petya, who clutched his brother’s leg. Finally, the entire hold household was flocking the room, including maids, serfs and footman.
Tolstoy’s attention focuses on Sonya, now 16 and noted to be radiant. She looked eagerly at Nicholas and waited for an unspoken signal. At last, Rostov’s mother approached with uncharacteristic quick steps. He ran to her and when they met, she fell on his chest, sobbing. Denisov was overcome with emotion and wiped away tears. The family knew Denisov from letters and Natasha soon lunged at the Captain and delivered a hug and a kiss. It was a glorious moment that ended when the soldiers went off to bed.
The travelers slept until ten the next morning. It was as if they were sleeping off the ill affects of war. Petya woke them up, breaching decorum by entering the room and exposing Denisov in his sleeping attire. Petya was soon playing with his brother’s saber and Natasha put on his spurred boots. The men were waited on hand and foot, including servants fetching hot water for shaving and providing a clean supply of clothes. Rostov felt the love and his childlike and soulful smile returned.
A little later Natasha delivers a selfless message from Sonya, who Tolstoy uses to illustrate a most pure love. He is bestowed the type of affection a young man is fortunate to have but apt be careless with. Nicholas is ready to take on life and whatever else is bound to come his way.
Natasha explains, in a childlike way, how devoted Sonya remains. Sonya has made it clear that she will always love Nicholas, but frees him of any obligations from previous vows. Tolstoy imbues her with wisdom beyond her years. Nicholas realizes that there are so many other pleasures before him and it is right to remain free.
When Nicholas turns the tables and inquires of Natasha’s interest in Boris, Natasha brushes off any previous commitment. She does not think about Boris or anyone else in that way. She is now enamored with a celebrity dancer and wants to pursue dancing as her passion. She then demonstrates some amateurish steps and changes the topic to inquire of Denisov.
When Rostov again meets Sonya in the drawing room in the presence of the rest of the family, Rostov did not know how to behave. He felt a different type of nervousness than on the battlefield but it was still very real. He kissed her hand and addressed her with an uncharacteristic formalness. Her eyes begged forgiveness for having dared, through Natasha, to remind Nicholas of his promise. His eyes thanked Sonya for offering him his freedom and relayed that, in one way but likely not the another, he would never cease to love her.
It was his eldest sister Vera, the un-beloved member of the family, who announces …. “How strange it is that Sonya and Nicholas now use formal terms to address one another… and meet like strangers.”
Vera’s remark was correct, as her remarks always were, but, like most of her observations, it made everyone feel uncomfortable.
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 now get taken from March of 1806, through the warmer months and then to the end of the year. Quite the fast-forward!
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.