Summary
Anatole prepares for his reckless plan to elope with Natasha, despite serious warnings from his partner-in-crime Dolokhov. The scene reveals the dangerous dynamics between the two men: Dolokhov has arranged everything—fake priest, passport, money, escape route—but now tries to talk Anatole out of it, warning him about criminal charges and the mess he's creating. Anatole, completely infatuated and thinking only with his emotions, dismisses every concern with childish logic about his existing marriage being invalid. Dolokhov's warnings come not from moral concern but from practical experience—he knows how these schemes usually end. The chapter introduces Balaga, their reckless troyka driver who embodies the same dangerous thrill-seeking that drives both men. Like many enablers, Balaga profits from their destructive behavior while calling them 'real gentlemen.' The preparations feel both exciting and ominous—everyone involved knows this is dangerous, but the momentum has built too far to stop. Tolstoy shows us how bad decisions gain their own gravity, pulling in accomplices and resources until what started as impulse becomes an elaborate, expensive disaster waiting to happen. The chapter captures that moment when you know you're about to make a terrible mistake but feel powerless to stop yourself.
Coming Up in Chapter 162
As the final preparations conclude and the troyka waits outside, the moment of truth arrives. Will Anatole's elaborate plan actually succeed, or are Dolokhov's warnings about to prove prophetic?
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Anatole had lately moved to Dólokhov’s. The plan for Natalie Rostóva’s abduction had been arranged and the preparations made by Dólokhov a few days before, and on the day that Sónya, after listening at Natásha’s door, resolved to safeguard her, it was to have been put into execution. Natásha had promised to come out to Kurágin at the back porch at ten that evening. Kurágin was to put her into a troyka he would have ready and to drive her forty miles to the village of Kámenka, where an unfrocked priest was in readiness to perform a marriage ceremony over them. At Kámenka a relay of horses was to wait which would take them to the Warsaw highroad, and from there they would hasten abroad with post horses. Anatole had a passport, an order for post horses, ten thousand rubles he had taken from his sister and another ten thousand borrowed with Dólokhov’s help. Two witnesses for the mock marriage—Khvóstikov, a retired petty official whom Dólokhov made use of in his gambling transactions, and Makárin, a retired hussar, a kindly, weak fellow who had an unbounded affection for Kurágin—were sitting at tea in Dólokhov’s front room. In his large study, the walls of which were hung to the ceiling with Persian rugs, bearskins, and weapons, sat Dólokhov in a traveling cloak and high boots, at an open desk on which lay an abacus and some bundles of paper money. Anatole, with uniform unbuttoned, walked to and fro from the room where the witnesses were sitting, through the study to the room behind, where his French valet and others were packing the last of his things. Dólokhov was counting the money and noting something down. “Well,” he said, “Khvóstikov must have two thousand.” “Give it to him, then,” said Anatole. “Makárka” (their name for Makárin) “will go through fire and water for you for nothing. So here are our accounts all settled,” said Dólokhov, showing him the memorandum. “Is that right?” “Yes, of course,” returned Anatole, evidently not listening to Dólokhov and looking straight before him with a smile that did not leave his face. Dólokhov banged down the lid of his desk and turned to Anatole with an ironic smile: “Do you know? You’d really better drop it all. There’s still time!” “Fool,” retorted Anatole. “Don’t talk nonsense! If you only knew... it’s the devil knows what!” “No, really, give it up!” said Dólokhov. “I am speaking seriously. It’s no joke, this plot you’ve hatched.” “What, teasing again? Go to the devil! Eh?” said Anatole, making a grimace. “Really it’s no time for your stupid jokes,” and he left the room. Dólokhov smiled contemptuously and condescendingly when Anatole had gone out. “You wait a bit,” he called after him. “I’m not joking, I’m talking sense. Come here, come here!” Anatole returned and looked at Dólokhov, trying to give him his attention and evidently submitting to him involuntarily. “Now listen to me. I’m telling you this for the last time. Why...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Momentum Blindness
Bad decisions create their own gravitational pull, making continuation feel inevitable even when stopping would prevent disaster.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when bad decisions gain their own gravitational pull, making stopping feel impossible even when continuing guarantees disaster.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you keep doing something mainly because you've already invested time or money—then ask yourself if you'd start this path today knowing what you know now.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Troyka
A Russian sleigh or carriage pulled by three horses running side-by-side. Fast, expensive transportation for the wealthy. Used here for a dramatic nighttime elopement escape.
Modern Usage:
Like hiring a luxury car service or private jet for a dramatic gesture - shows you have money and want to make an impression.
Unfrocked priest
A priest who has been stripped of his religious authority, often for breaking church rules. Such men would perform illegal or fake marriages for money since they couldn't work legitimately.
Modern Usage:
Like a disbarred lawyer or suspended doctor who still does work under the table - technically qualified but operating outside the law.
Post horses
A system of relay stations with fresh horses for long-distance travel. You'd ride hard to the next station, switch horses, and continue. The fastest way to travel long distances before trains.
Modern Usage:
Like having a series of getaway cars waiting, or booking connecting flights under fake names - planning an escape route with multiple stages.
Mock marriage
A fake wedding ceremony designed to look real but having no legal validity. Often used to trick someone or create the appearance of legitimacy for an elopement.
Modern Usage:
Like a Vegas wedding that isn't legally binding, or any elaborate fake ceremony designed to manipulate someone's emotions.
Accomplices
People who help carry out a crime or questionable scheme, usually for money or loyalty. Here, retired officials and weak men who depend on the main conspirators.
Modern Usage:
The friends who help you lie to your spouse, or coworkers who cover for your sketchy behavior - people who enable bad decisions.
Criminal charges
Legal consequences for breaking the law. In this case, abducting a young woman from her family could result in exile to Siberia or worse.
Modern Usage:
Like facing kidnapping charges today - serious legal consequences that could destroy your life and freedom.
Characters in This Chapter
Anatole
Reckless protagonist
Completely obsessed with eloping with Natasha, dismissing all warnings about consequences. Shows how infatuation can make someone ignore obvious dangers and rational advice.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who maxes out credit cards and quits his job to chase after someone who barely knows him
Dólokhov
Dangerous enabler
Arranged the entire elaborate scheme but now tries to talk Anatole out of it, recognizing the serious legal and social consequences they're risking.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who helps plan the crazy scheme but then gets cold feet when they realize how badly it could go wrong
Natásha
Unwitting victim
Young woman being manipulated into an elopement she doesn't fully understand. Her innocence is being exploited by older, more experienced men.
Modern Equivalent:
The naive person being love-bombed by someone with a hidden agenda and serious red flags
Balaga
Reckless driver
The troyka driver who embodies the same dangerous thrill-seeking as his employers. Profits from their destructive behavior while encouraging it.
Modern Equivalent:
The getaway driver or the friend who always has the connections for whatever sketchy thing you need
Khvóstikov
Corrupt witness
Retired official who serves as accomplice for money. Represents how desperation can make people compromise their integrity.
Modern Equivalent:
The notary public or official who'll fake documents for the right price
Key Quotes & Analysis
"You'll answer for it if anything happens to her"
Context: Warning Anatole about the serious consequences of their plan
Shows that even Dólokhov, who arranged everything, recognizes this scheme could destroy lives. It reveals the tension between his criminal expertise and his understanding of real consequences.
In Today's Words:
If this goes wrong, you're taking the blame - and it's going to go very wrong.
"What a brute you are!"
Context: Responding to Dólokhov's warnings about criminal charges
Anatole's childish response to serious warnings shows how infatuation has made him incapable of rational thinking. He attacks the messenger rather than hearing the message.
In Today's Words:
Why are you being such a buzzkill? Stop trying to ruin my fantasy!
"Ah, he's a real gentleman, a real gentleman!"
Context: Praising Anatole while enabling his dangerous behavior
Shows how enablers profit from and encourage destructive behavior by flattering the person making bad choices. Balaga calls recklessness 'gentlemanly.'
In Today's Words:
He's the real deal! He knows how to live!
Thematic Threads
Self-Deception
In This Chapter
Anatole convinces himself his marriage 'doesn't count' and this elopement is somehow legitimate
Development
Deepening from earlier chapters where characters justified smaller deceptions
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself making elaborate justifications for choices you know are wrong
Enabling
In This Chapter
Dolokhov arranges everything while warning against it; Balaga profits from their recklessness while praising them
Development
Introduced here as a new dynamic in destructive relationships
In Your Life:
You might recognize people who help you make bad decisions while claiming to care about you
Class Privilege
In This Chapter
Anatole assumes his status will protect him from consequences of criminal behavior
Development
Continuing theme of aristocrats believing rules don't apply to them
In Your Life:
You might see how some people expect special treatment based on their position or connections
Practical Wisdom
In This Chapter
Dolokhov's warnings come from experience, not morality—he knows how these schemes end
Development
Evolved from earlier scenes showing Dolokhov's calculating nature
In Your Life:
You might learn to distinguish between advice from experience versus advice from judgment
Point of No Return
In This Chapter
The elaborate preparations create momentum that makes backing out feel impossible
Development
Building throughout the Natasha storyline as small steps lead to bigger commitments
In Your Life:
You might recognize when you're approaching a decision point where retreat becomes much harder
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Dolokhov try to talk Anatole out of the elopement plan after arranging everything for it?
analysis • surface - 2
How does Anatole dismiss each of Dolokhov's warnings, and what does this reveal about his decision-making process?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen this pattern of 'too deep to quit' in your workplace, family, or community?
application • medium - 4
What strategies could someone use to recognize when they're caught in momentum blindness before it's too late?
application • deep - 5
Why do people often find it easier to continue bad decisions than to admit they made a mistake in the first place?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Own Momentum Trap
Think of a situation in your life where you kept going with something even though warning signs suggested you should stop. Map out the progression: What was the initial decision? What small commitments followed? At what point did stopping feel more costly than continuing? Who or what encouraged you to keep going?
Consider:
- •Consider both the emotional and practical costs that kept you moving forward
- •Identify who benefited from your continued investment in the situation
- •Think about what information or perspective might have helped you stop sooner
Journaling Prompt
Write about a current situation where you might be experiencing momentum blindness. What would it cost you to stop versus continue? What would you tell a friend in your exact position?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 162: The Elopement Trap
The coming pages reveal elaborate schemes often unravel at the crucial moment, and teach us warning signs from friends deserve serious attention. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.