Summary
Pierre arrives to find chaos at the Rostov house—Natasha has attempted suicide with arsenic after learning Anatole was already married. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew has returned to Moscow and learned of the broken engagement. Pierre expects to find Andrew devastated, but instead discovers him energetically arguing about political matters, using heated debates to avoid dealing with his emotional pain. When they finally speak privately, Andrew coldly returns Natasha's letters and portrait, asking Pierre to deliver them. His bitterness is palpable as he refuses to forgive her, despite once philosophizing about forgiveness. The contrast is stark: Andrew speaks of justice for a disgraced politician while showing none for the woman who loved him. Pierre realizes that Andrew and his family now view the Rostovs with complete contempt. The chapter reveals how betrayal can transform people—Natasha nearly destroyed herself with guilt and shame, while Andrew has hardened into someone unrecognizable. His family, particularly Princess Mary, barely conceals their satisfaction that the engagement is over. This isn't just about a broken romance; it's about how pain can make us cruel, how we often reserve our harshest judgment for those closest to us, and how pride can become a prison that keeps us from healing.
Coming Up in Chapter 167
As Moscow buzzes with rumors and preparations for war intensify, the personal dramas of our characters become entangled with the larger forces of history that will soon engulf them all.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Pierre drove to Márya Dmítrievna’s to tell her of the fulfillment of her wish that Kurágin should be banished from Moscow. The whole house was in a state of alarm and commotion. Natásha was very ill, having, as Márya Dmítrievna told him in secret, poisoned herself the night after she had been told that Anatole was married, with some arsenic she had stealthily procured. After swallowing a little she had been so frightened that she woke Sónya and told her what she had done. The necessary antidotes had been administered in time and she was now out of danger, though still so weak that it was out of the question to move her to the country, and so the countess had been sent for. Pierre saw the distracted count, and Sónya, who had a tear-stained face, but he could not see Natásha. Pierre dined at the club that day and heard on all sides gossip about the attempted abduction of Rostóva. He resolutely denied these rumors, assuring everyone that nothing had happened except that his brother-in-law had proposed to her and been refused. It seemed to Pierre that it was his duty to conceal the whole affair and re-establish Natásha’s reputation. He was awaiting Prince Andrew’s return with dread and went every day to the old prince’s for news of him. Old Prince Bolkónski heard all the rumors current in the town from Mademoiselle Bourienne and had read the note to Princess Mary in which Natásha had broken off her engagement. He seemed in better spirits than usual and awaited his son with great impatience. Some days after Anatole’s departure Pierre received a note from Prince Andrew, informing him of his arrival and asking him to come to see him. As soon as he reached Moscow, Prince Andrew had received from his father Natásha’s note to Princess Mary breaking off her engagement (Mademoiselle Bourienne had purloined it from Princess Mary and given it to the old prince), and he heard from him the story of Natásha’s elopement, with additions. Prince Andrew had arrived in the evening and Pierre came to see him next morning. Pierre expected to find Prince Andrew in almost the same state as Natásha and was therefore surprised on entering the drawing room to hear him in the study talking in a loud animated voice about some intrigue going on in Petersburg. The old prince’s voice and another now and then interrupted him. Princess Mary came out to meet Pierre. She sighed, looking toward the door of the room where Prince Andrew was, evidently intending to express her sympathy with his sorrow, but Pierre saw by her face that she was glad both at what had happened and at the way her brother had taken the news of Natásha’s faithlessness. “He says he expected it,” she remarked. “I know his pride will not let him express his feelings, but still he has taken it better, far better, than I expected. Evidently it had to be....” “But is...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Righteous Cruelty
Using past wounds as justification for present cruelty while positioning oneself as morally superior.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when someone uses moral superiority to avoid dealing with their own pain and hurt others in the process.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone gets unusually harsh about others' mistakes right after experiencing their own disappointment—they might be deflecting their wound into judgment.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Arsenic poisoning
A common method of suicide in 19th-century Russia, where arsenic was readily available as rat poison. Small amounts could be obtained from apothecaries without much scrutiny. It was seen as a 'genteel' way to die, especially among women of the upper classes.
Modern Usage:
Today we see this pattern in how people choose self-harm methods that feel 'clean' or socially acceptable to them.
Social reputation
In aristocratic Russian society, a woman's reputation was everything - more valuable than her life. A scandal could destroy not just her marriage prospects but her entire family's social standing. Natasha's attempted elopement would have ruined her forever.
Modern Usage:
We see this in how social media scandals can destroy careers and relationships overnight, or how gossip still ruins reputations in small communities.
Honor code
The aristocratic belief that personal honor was more important than forgiveness or mercy. Prince Andrew feels that forgiving Natasha would somehow diminish his dignity and social standing among his peers.
Modern Usage:
This shows up today when people refuse to forgive because they think it makes them look weak or like a 'doormat.'
Emotional displacement
The psychological defense mechanism where someone channels intense personal pain into other activities or arguments. Andrew throws himself into political debates to avoid dealing with his heartbreak.
Modern Usage:
We see this when people become workaholics after a breakup or pick fights about small things when they're really upset about something bigger.
Class solidarity
The way aristocratic families close ranks against those they consider beneath them. The Bolkonskys now view the Rostovs with complete contempt, seeing them as social climbers who got what they deserved.
Modern Usage:
This happens today when wealthy families ostracize someone who 'married up' after a divorce, or when professional circles exclude someone after a scandal.
Guilt and shame spiral
The psychological pattern where someone becomes so overwhelmed by their actions that they can't see any way forward except self-destruction. Natasha can't live with what she's done.
Modern Usage:
We see this in how people sometimes attempt suicide after making mistakes that feel unforgivable, especially when they're isolated and can't see past their shame.
Characters in This Chapter
Pierre
Mediator and witness
He tries to protect Natasha's reputation by denying the scandal and becomes the uncomfortable go-between for Andrew and Natasha. He sees how both have been transformed by this crisis.
Modern Equivalent:
The mutual friend stuck in the middle of a messy breakup, trying to help both sides
Natasha
Tragic figure
She attempts suicide with arsenic after learning Anatole was already married, showing how completely the scandal has destroyed her sense of self-worth and future possibilities.
Modern Equivalent:
The young woman who tries to hurt herself after a relationship scandal goes viral on social media
Prince Andrew
Bitter ex-lover
He returns to Moscow and coldly returns Natasha's letters and portrait, refusing to forgive her. He's become hardened and cruel, using political arguments to avoid his emotional pain.
Modern Equivalent:
The ex who becomes ice-cold and vindictive, making everything about 'principle' to avoid admitting they're hurt
Márya Dmítrievna
Crisis manager
She's dealing with the aftermath of Natasha's suicide attempt while trying to keep the scandal from spreading further. She's the practical voice trying to save what can be saved.
Modern Equivalent:
The family friend or relative who handles the crisis when someone has a breakdown
Princess Mary
Judgmental observer
She barely conceals her satisfaction that the engagement is over, showing how the Bolkonsky family now views the Rostovs with complete contempt.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who never liked your partner and feels vindicated when the relationship ends badly
Key Quotes & Analysis
"It seemed to Pierre that it was his duty to conceal the whole affair and re-establish Natasha's reputation."
Context: Pierre decides to deny the scandal and protect Natasha from further damage
This shows Pierre's fundamental decency and his understanding that Natasha's life depends on salvaging her reputation. He takes responsibility even though he wasn't involved in creating the mess.
In Today's Words:
Pierre felt like he had to do damage control and help Natasha save face.
"He resolutely denied these rumors, assuring everyone that nothing had happened except that his brother-in-law had proposed to her and been refused."
Context: Pierre actively works to counter the gossip about Natasha's attempted elopement
Pierre creates a face-saving narrative that protects Natasha while technically being true. He understands that in their society, the story matters more than the facts.
In Today's Words:
He firmly shut down the gossip, telling everyone it was just a proposal that got turned down.
"After swallowing a little she had been so frightened that she woke Sónya and told her what she had done."
Context: Describing Natasha's suicide attempt with arsenic
This reveals that Natasha's attempt was more a cry for help than a determined effort to die. Her immediate fear and confession show she wanted to be saved.
In Today's Words:
She took some poison but got scared right away and woke up her friend to tell her what she'd done.
Thematic Threads
Pride
In This Chapter
Andrew's pride prevents him from showing any vulnerability or compassion toward Natasha, instead using cold formality as a weapon
Development
Evolved from Andrew's earlier philosophical discussions about forgiveness to complete emotional hardness
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you refuse to accept an apology because admitting hurt feels like weakness.
Class
In This Chapter
The Bolkonsky family's barely concealed satisfaction suggests they always viewed the Rostovs as beneath them socially
Development
Building on earlier tensions about social matching in marriages and family status
In Your Life:
You see this when people use someone's mistake to confirm their existing prejudices about that person's worth.
Emotional Displacement
In This Chapter
Andrew channels his romantic pain into heated political debates, avoiding direct confrontation with his feelings
Development
Introduced here as a new coping mechanism for Andrew
In Your Life:
You might throw yourself into work arguments when your personal life is falling apart.
Social Judgment
In This Chapter
The Rostovs are now viewed with complete contempt by Andrew's circle, showing how quickly social standing can shift
Development
Continuation of earlier themes about reputation and social consequences
In Your Life:
You've seen how one family scandal can change how the whole neighborhood treats them.
Betrayal's Aftermath
In This Chapter
Both Natasha and Andrew are transformed by betrayal—she nearly destroys herself, he becomes cruel and cold
Development
Following the consequences of earlier deception and broken trust
In Your Life:
You know how being cheated on can make you either blame yourself or become suspicious of everyone.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What different ways do we see people handling betrayal in this chapter - Natasha versus Andrew?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Andrew throw himself into political debates instead of dealing with his feelings about Natasha?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen someone use their hurt as justification to be cruel to others?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between protecting yourself after being hurt versus seeking revenge?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how pain can either break us down or build us into something harder?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Righteous Cruelty Reality Check
Think of a time when you were genuinely wronged by someone. Write down three things you did or wanted to do in response. For each response, honestly assess: Was this about protecting yourself or punishing them? Was this moving toward healing or keeping the wound fresh? Now imagine giving advice to a friend in the exact same situation - would your advice be different from what you actually did?
Consider:
- •Notice how much easier it is to be compassionate toward others than ourselves
- •Pay attention to whether your actions moved you forward or kept you stuck
- •Consider whether holding onto anger served you or drained you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone hurt you and you chose either revenge or healing. What did you learn about yourself from that choice, and how would you handle a similar situation today?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 167: Pierre's Moment of Grace
The coming pages reveal genuine compassion can transform both giver and receiver, and teach us offering unconditional support creates healing connections. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.