Summary
Nicholas returns home from military service to face the family's financial mess, and it goes about as well as you'd expect. His mother wants him to sort out their crooked steward Mítenka, but Nicholas has no idea what he's doing with business matters. What starts as an attempt to take charge quickly turns into a violent confrontation where Nicholas physically throws Mítenka out, screaming threats and insults. The whole household witnesses this explosion. Later, his father awkwardly tries to smooth things over, revealing that Nicholas completely misunderstood the accounting—those missing 700 rubles were just carried over to another page. Nicholas realizes he's completely out of his depth in this 'crazy world' of financial management. The family dynamics here are painfully familiar: an aging father who's mismanaged everything but doesn't know how to fix it, a son thrust into responsibilities he's not equipped for, and everyone dancing around their shame and incompetence. When his mother later asks him about a promissory note, Nicholas makes the only decision that feels right to him—he tears it up, choosing generosity over business sense. Finally admitting defeat, he retreats to hunting, something he actually understands. It's a perfect example of how good intentions and family pressure can create disasters when people are forced into roles they're not ready for.
Coming Up in Chapter 135
While Nicholas escapes into hunting, the larger world of Russian society continues its complex dance of relationships and expectations. New characters and situations await as Tolstoy shifts focus to other members of this interconnected web of families.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
After reaching home Nicholas was at first serious and even dull. He was worried by the impending necessity of interfering in the stupid business matters for which his mother had called him home. To throw off this burden as quickly as possible, on the third day after his arrival he went, angry and scowling and without answering questions as to where he was going, to Mítenka’s lodge and demanded an account of everything. But what an account of everything might be Nicholas knew even less than the frightened and bewildered Mítenka. The conversation and the examination of the accounts with Mítenka did not last long. The village elder, a peasant delegate, and the village clerk, who were waiting in the passage, heard with fear and delight first the young count’s voice roaring and snapping and rising louder and louder, and then words of abuse, dreadful words, ejaculated one after the other. “Robber!... Ungrateful wretch!... I’ll hack the dog to pieces! I’m not my father!... Robbing us!...” and so on. Then with no less fear and delight they saw how the young count, red in the face and with bloodshot eyes, dragged Mítenka out by the scruff of the neck and applied his foot and knee to his behind with great agility at convenient moments between the words, shouting, “Be off! Never let me see your face here again, you villain!” Mítenka flew headlong down the six steps and ran away into the shrubbery. (This shrubbery was a well-known haven of refuge for culprits at Otrádnoe. Mítenka himself, returning tipsy from the town, used to hide there, and many of the residents at Otrádnoe, hiding from Mítenka, knew of its protective qualities.) Mítenka’s wife and sisters-in-law thrust their heads and frightened faces out of the door of a room where a bright samovar was boiling and where the steward’s high bedstead stood with its patchwork quilt. The young count paid no heed to them, but, breathing hard, passed by with resolute strides and went into the house. The countess, who heard at once from the maids what had happened at the lodge, was calmed by the thought that now their affairs would certainly improve, but on the other hand felt anxious as to the effect this excitement might have on her son. She went several times to his door on tiptoe and listened, as he lighted one pipe after another. Next day the old count called his son aside and, with an embarrassed smile, said to him: “But you know, my dear boy, it’s a pity you got excited! Mítenka has told me all about it.” “I knew,” thought Nicholas, “that I should never understand anything in this crazy world.” “You were angry that he had not entered those 700 rubles. But they were carried forward—and you did not look at the other page.” “Papa, he is a blackguard and a thief! I know he is! And what I have done, I have done; but, if you like, I won’t speak...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Misplaced Authority
When thrust into roles we're unprepared for, we often compensate with aggression instead of admitting we need help.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot when someone's aggression is actually covering for their incompetence or fear.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone gets unusually angry or controlling—ask yourself what they might actually be struggling to understand or control.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Steward
A person hired to manage someone else's property, finances, or household affairs. In 19th century Russia, wealthy families relied on stewards to handle their estates while they lived in cities or served in the military. The relationship was built on trust but ripe for corruption.
Modern Usage:
Like a property manager, financial advisor, or anyone you trust to handle your money while you're away - and the same trust issues apply.
Village elder
An elected or appointed leader of a peasant community who acted as intermediary between the villagers and the landowner. They handled local disputes and communicated the landlord's orders to the peasants.
Modern Usage:
Similar to a union representative, HOA president, or team lead who speaks for the group to management.
Promissory note
A written promise to pay back money borrowed, essentially an IOU with legal weight. In this era, gentlemen often conducted business on handshakes and personal honor rather than formal contracts.
Modern Usage:
Like signing a loan agreement, except based more on personal trust than credit scores and legal enforcement.
Accounting ledger
A book where financial transactions were recorded by hand, showing money coming in and going out. Before computers, this was how businesses tracked their finances, and mistakes or fraud were easy to hide.
Modern Usage:
The ancestor of spreadsheets, bank statements, and accounting software - but much easier to fudge the numbers.
Family honor
The reputation and social standing of an entire family, which could be damaged by financial scandals or business failures. In aristocratic society, honor was often more valuable than actual money.
Modern Usage:
Like your family's reputation in a small town, or how one person's mistakes can reflect on the whole family on social media.
Military leave
Time away from military service to handle personal or family business. Officers could often get extended leave to manage their estates or deal with family crises.
Modern Usage:
Similar to taking family leave from work, or having to leave your job temporarily to handle a family emergency.
Characters in This Chapter
Nicholas
Reluctant family problem-solver
A young military officer forced to handle complex family finances he doesn't understand. His violent outburst at Mítenka shows how overwhelmed and out of his depth he is, while his decision to tear up the promissory note reveals his generous but impractical nature.
Modern Equivalent:
The kid who gets called home from college to fix the family business mess
Mítenka
Scapegoated steward
The family's financial manager who becomes the target of Nicholas's frustration. Whether he's actually corrupt or just caught in an impossible situation, he bears the brunt of the family's financial problems and Nicholas's inexperience.
Modern Equivalent:
The accountant who gets blamed when the books don't balance
Nicholas's father
Ineffective patriarch
Tries to smooth over Nicholas's violent confrontation with Mítenka and awkwardly explains the accounting error. His bumbling attempts to maintain peace show how he's lost control of both his finances and his family.
Modern Equivalent:
The dad who's let things slide and now doesn't know how to fix the mess
Nicholas's mother
Anxious family matriarch
Called Nicholas home to deal with their financial problems but doesn't seem to understand them herself. Her questions about the promissory note show she's worried but powerless to actually solve anything.
Modern Equivalent:
The mom who knows something's wrong with the family finances but depends on others to fix it
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Robber!... Ungrateful wretch!... I'll hack the dog to pieces! I'm not my father!... Robbing us!..."
Context: Nicholas explodes at Mítenka during the financial confrontation
This outburst reveals Nicholas's complete lack of preparation for handling complex situations. His declaration that he's 'not my father' shows he knows his father has been too soft, but his solution is just violence and threats rather than understanding.
In Today's Words:
You're stealing from us! I'm not going to be a pushover like my dad was!
"But what an account of everything might be Nicholas knew even less than the frightened and bewildered Mítenka."
Context: When Nicholas demands a financial accounting from the steward
Tolstoy perfectly captures the absurdity of the situation - Nicholas is demanding answers to questions he doesn't even understand. It's a recipe for disaster when someone with no expertise tries to take charge through intimidation alone.
In Today's Words:
Nicholas had no clue what he was asking for, which made him even more dangerous.
"Be off! Never let me see your face here again, you villain!"
Context: Nicholas physically throws Mítenka out while shouting threats
This shows Nicholas choosing the nuclear option instead of trying to understand the situation. He's solving his confusion and frustration through violence, which might feel satisfying in the moment but solves nothing.
In Today's Words:
Get out and don't come back, you crook!
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Nicholas's military background means nothing in civilian business—different worlds require different skills
Development
Continues the theme of how class expectations don't match real-world competencies
In Your Life:
Your job title or family role doesn't automatically give you the skills to handle every situation
Identity
In This Chapter
Nicholas retreats to hunting—the one area where he knows who he is and what he's doing
Development
Shows how people flee to familiar identities when challenged in unfamiliar territory
In Your Life:
When overwhelmed, you might retreat to the roles where you feel competent and avoid growth areas
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Family pressure forces Nicholas into a role he's completely unprepared for
Development
Builds on how social roles trap people in impossible situations
In Your Life:
Family or workplace expectations might push you into responsibilities you're not ready for
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Nicholas's violent outburst reveals his inability to handle complex adult responsibilities
Development
Demonstrates how avoiding growth leads to destructive behavior when challenged
In Your Life:
Refusing to develop new skills eventually forces crisis situations where you must grow or fail
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The whole family awkwardly dances around Nicholas's incompetence and violence
Development
Shows how families enable destructive patterns by avoiding honest conversations
In Your Life:
Your family might avoid addressing your weaknesses, which actually prevents you from getting better
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What exactly happened when Nicholas tried to confront the steward about the missing money?
analysis • surface - 2
Why did Nicholas resort to physical violence instead of trying to understand the accounting books?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen someone explode with anger when they were actually just confused or overwhelmed?
application • medium - 4
How could Nicholas have handled this situation differently to actually solve the problem?
application • deep - 5
What does this scene reveal about how family pressure can push people into destructive behavior?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Rewrite the Confrontation
Imagine Nicholas had the emotional intelligence to handle this situation properly. Rewrite the scene where he meets with Mitenka about the accounting. What questions would he ask? How would he admit what he doesn't know? What would a productive conversation look like?
Consider:
- •Consider how asking for help is actually a sign of strength, not weakness
- •Think about how Nicholas could have prepared himself before the meeting
- •Notice how violence was his way of avoiding the shame of not understanding
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt pressure to know something you didn't understand. How did you handle it? What would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 135: The Hunter's Call
In the next chapter, you'll discover passion can override our best intentions and careful plans, and learn the way expertise creates its own form of authority, regardless of social rank. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.