An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1174 words)
oon after the Christmas holidays Nicholas told his mother of his love
for Sónya and of his firm resolve to marry her. The countess, who
had long noticed what was going on between them and was expecting this
declaration, listened to him in silence and then told her son that he
might marry whom he pleased, but that neither she nor his father would
give their blessing to such a marriage. Nicholas, for the first time,
felt that his mother was displeased with him and that, despite her love
for him, she would not give way. Coldly, without looking at her son,
she sent for her husband and, when he came, tried briefly and coldly to
inform him of the facts, in her son’s presence, but unable to restrain
herself she burst into tears of vexation and left the room. The old
count began irresolutely to admonish Nicholas and beg him to abandon his
purpose. Nicholas replied that he could not go back on his word, and his
father, sighing and evidently disconcerted, very soon became silent and
went in to the countess. In all his encounters with his son, the count
was always conscious of his own guilt toward him for having wasted the
family fortune, and so he could not be angry with him for refusing to
marry an heiress and choosing the dowerless Sónya. On this occasion, he
was only more vividly conscious of the fact that if his affairs had not
been in disorder, no better wife for Nicholas than Sónya could have
been wished for, and that no one but himself with his Mítenka and
his uncomfortable habits was to blame for the condition of the family
finances.
The father and mother did not speak of the matter to their son again,
but a few days later the countess sent for Sónya and, with a cruelty
neither of them expected, reproached her niece for trying to catch
Nicholas and for ingratitude. Sónya listened silently with downcast
eyes to the countess’ cruel words, without understanding what
was required of her. She was ready to sacrifice everything for her
benefactors. Self-sacrifice was her most cherished idea but in this case
she could not see what she ought to sacrifice, or for whom. She could
not help loving the countess and the whole Rostóv family, but neither
could she help loving Nicholas and knowing that his happiness depended
on that love. She was silent and sad and did not reply. Nicholas felt
the situation to be intolerable and went to have an explanation with his
mother. He first implored her to forgive him and Sónya and consent to
their marriage, then he threatened that if she molested Sónya he would
at once marry her secretly.
The countess, with a coldness her son had never seen in her before,
replied that he was of age, that Prince Andrew was marrying without his
father’s consent, and he could do the same, but that she would never
receive that intriguer as her daughter.
Exploding at the word intriguer, Nicholas, raising his voice, told
his mother he had never expected her to try to force him to sell his
feelings, but if that were so, he would say for the last time.... But he
had no time to utter the decisive word which the expression of his face
caused his mother to await with terror, and which would perhaps have
forever remained a cruel memory to them both. He had not time to say it,
for Natásha, with a pale and set face, entered the room from the door
at which she had been listening.
“Nicholas, you are talking nonsense! Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet, I
tell you!...” she almost screamed, so as to drown his voice.
“Mamma darling, it’s not at all so... my poor, sweet darling,” she
said to her mother, who conscious that they had been on the brink of
a rupture gazed at her son with terror, but in the obstinacy and
excitement of the conflict could not and would not give way.
“Nicholas, I’ll explain to you. Go away! Listen, Mamma darling,”
said Natásha.
Her words were incoherent, but they attained the purpose at which she
was aiming.
The countess, sobbing heavily, hid her face on her daughter’s breast,
while Nicholas rose, clutching his head, and left the room.
Natásha set to work to effect a reconciliation, and so far succeeded
that Nicholas received a promise from his mother that Sónya should not
be troubled, while he on his side promised not to undertake anything
without his parents’ knowledge.
Firmly resolved, after putting his affairs in order in the regiment,
to retire from the army and return and marry Sónya, Nicholas, serious,
sorrowful, and at variance with his parents, but, as it seemed to him,
passionately in love, left at the beginning of January to rejoin his
regiment.
After Nicholas had gone things in the Rostóv household were more
depressing than ever, and the countess fell ill from mental agitation.
Sónya was unhappy at the separation from Nicholas and still more so on
account of the hostile tone the countess could not help adopting toward
her. The count was more perturbed than ever by the condition of his
affairs, which called for some decisive action. Their town house and
estate near Moscow had inevitably to be sold, and for this they had to
go to Moscow. But the countess’ health obliged them to delay their
departure from day to day.
Natásha, who had borne the first period of separation from her
betrothed lightly and even cheerfully, now grew more agitated and
impatient every day. The thought that her best days, which she would
have employed in loving him, were being vainly wasted, with no advantage
to anyone, tormented her incessantly. His letters for the most part
irritated her. It hurt her to think that while she lived only in the
thought of him, he was living a real life, seeing new places and new
people that interested him. The more interesting his letters were
the more vexed she felt. Her letters to him, far from giving her any
comfort, seemed to her a wearisome and artificial obligation. She could
not write, because she could not conceive the possibility of expressing
sincerely in a letter even a thousandth part of what she expressed by
voice, smile, and glance. She wrote to him formal, monotonous, and dry
letters, to which she attached no importance herself, and in the rough
copies of which the countess corrected her mistakes in spelling.
There was still no improvement in the countess’ health, but it was
impossible to defer the journey to Moscow any longer. Natásha’s
trousseau had to be ordered and the house sold. Moreover, Prince Andrew
was expected in Moscow, where old Prince Bolkónski was spending the
winter, and Natásha felt sure he had already arrived.
So the countess remained in the country, and the count, taking Sónya
and Natásha with him, went to Moscow at the end of January.
BOOK EIGHT: 1811 - 12
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
Financial or social pressure causes good people to betray their values and attack those they once protected, justifying cruelty as necessity.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how financial pressure makes good people betray their values and attack those they once protected.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's behavior suddenly changes during stress—they may be speaking from desperation, not their true character.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Nicholas replied that he could not go back on his word"
Context: When his father begs him to abandon his plan to marry Sonya
This shows Nicholas values personal honor over family financial survival. He sees breaking his promise to Sonya as a betrayal of his integrity, even though it would save his family from ruin.
In Today's Words:
I gave her my word, and I'm not going back on it
"The count was always conscious of his own guilt toward him for having wasted the family fortune"
Context: Explaining why the father can't effectively oppose Nicholas's choice
This reveals how the father's past failures have destroyed his moral authority. He can't demand sacrifice from his son when his own poor decisions created the crisis.
In Today's Words:
He knew he had no right to lecture his son when he was the one who messed everything up
"She would not give way"
Context: Describing the countess's reaction to Nicholas's declaration
This shows how financial desperation can make even loving parents become inflexible and harsh. The countess's survival instincts override her maternal affection.
In Today's Words:
She wasn't budging on this, no matter what
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Financial desperation forces the Rostovs to view relationships through economic value rather than emotional bonds
Development
Evolved from earlier subtle class awareness to explicit financial calculation of human worth
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself evaluating relationships based on what people can do for you during tough times.
Family Loyalty
In This Chapter
The family fractures as competing loyalties clash—duty to family survival versus love for individual members
Development
Previously solid family bonds now strain under external pressure, revealing conditional nature of some relationships
In Your Life:
You might face moments when family members demand you choose between personal happiness and family obligations.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Nicholas is expected to sacrifice personal desire for family duty, while Sonya is blamed for loving 'above her station'
Development
Social rules become weapons used to justify cruelty and force compliance with economic necessity
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to make 'practical' choices that violate your authentic desires because others deem them unrealistic.
Moral Corruption
In This Chapter
The countess transforms from loving guardian to cruel attacker, justifying her behavior as protecting the family
Development
Introduced here as financial pressure reveals how quickly good people can rationalize harmful actions
In Your Life:
You might find yourself justifying increasingly questionable behavior when under severe stress or pressure.
Love vs Duty
In This Chapter
Nicholas and Sonya's genuine love becomes a threat to family survival, creating an impossible choice
Development
The eternal tension between personal fulfillment and social obligation reaches crisis point
In Your Life:
You might face decisions where following your heart seems to conflict with your responsibilities to others.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why do the Rostov parents suddenly turn against Sonya, whom they've loved and raised as their own daughter?
analysis • surface - 2
How does financial desperation change the way the countess sees and treats Sonya? What does this reveal about how crisis affects our judgment?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen good people make cruel decisions when facing financial pressure? How do they justify these actions to themselves?
application • medium - 4
If you were Nicholas, how would you balance your love for Sonya against your family's financial survival? What boundaries would you set?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter teach us about how desperation can corrupt character? How can we protect our values when crisis hits?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Crisis Values
Think of a time when you or someone close to you faced serious financial pressure. Write down three values or principles that were important before the crisis hit. Then identify how those values were tested or compromised during the difficult period. Finally, create a 'crisis boundary list' - three lines you would never cross, even under extreme pressure.
Consider:
- •Notice how 'practical' thinking can slowly erode moral boundaries
- •Consider how desperation makes us reframe cruel actions as necessary protection
- •Recognize that setting boundaries before crisis hits gives you strength during crisis
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when financial stress caused conflict in your family or workplace. How did good people end up hurting each other? What would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 146: Pierre's Comfortable Cage
The Rostovs arrive in Moscow, where the glittering social season awaits - but beneath the surface, both personal and national storms are gathering that will test every relationship and assumption they hold dear.
