Summary
The Rostov family's evening entertainment takes an emotional turn when Natasha discovers her friend Sonya sobbing in the hallway. Sonya is heartbroken because Nicholas is leaving for military service, and worse, his sister Vera has threatened to tell their mother about Sonya's romantic feelings for her cousin Nicholas. The situation seems impossible—cousin marriages require special permission, and Vera has made it clear that Nicholas should marry the wealthy Julie instead. Natasha immediately drops her own happiness to comfort her friend, using gentle reassurance and practical hope to lift Sonya's spirits. She reminds Sonya of previous conversations where they'd figured out solutions, mentions other cousin marriages that worked out, and insists that Nicholas doesn't care for Julie at all. The comfort works—Sonya transforms from a sobbing mess back into a hopeful young woman. They return to the party where the evening continues with music and dancing. Nicholas sings a romantic song, and the night culminates in an impromptu dance performance by the Count and the formidable Marya Dmitrievna. Their enthusiastic, slightly ridiculous dancing delights everyone, including the household servants who gather to watch their master make merry. The chapter shows how genuine care between friends can turn despair into hope, and how shared joy—even something as simple as watching an older couple dance with abandon—can unite an entire household in happiness.
Coming Up in Chapter 21
The party winds down, but the evening's emotional revelations have set new dynamics in motion. Meanwhile, Pierre finds himself drawn deeper into conversations that will challenge his understanding of the world around him.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
The card tables were drawn out, sets made up for boston, and the count’s visitors settled themselves, some in the two drawing rooms, some in the sitting room, some in the library. The count, holding his cards fanwise, kept himself with difficulty from dropping into his usual after-dinner nap, and laughed at everything. The young people, at the countess’ instigation, gathered round the clavichord and harp. Julie by general request played first. After she had played a little air with variations on the harp, she joined the other young ladies in begging Natásha and Nicholas, who were noted for their musical talent, to sing something. Natásha, who was treated as though she were grown up, was evidently very proud of this but at the same time felt shy. “What shall we sing?” she said. “‘The Brook,’” suggested Nicholas. “Well, then, let’s be quick. Borís, come here,” said Natásha. “But where is Sónya?” She looked round and seeing that her friend was not in the room ran to look for her. Running into Sónya’s room and not finding her there, Natásha ran to the nursery, but Sónya was not there either. Natásha concluded that she must be on the chest in the passage. The chest in the passage was the place of mourning for the younger female generation in the Rostóv household. And there in fact was Sónya lying face downward on Nurse’s dirty feather bed on the top of the chest, crumpling her gauzy pink dress under her, hiding her face with her slender fingers, and sobbing so convulsively that her bare little shoulders shook. Natásha’s face, which had been so radiantly happy all that saint’s day, suddenly changed: her eyes became fixed, and then a shiver passed down her broad neck and the corners of her mouth drooped. “Sónya! What is it? What is the matter?... Oo... Oo... Oo...!” And Natásha’s large mouth widened, making her look quite ugly, and she began to wail like a baby without knowing why, except that Sónya was crying. Sónya tried to lift her head to answer but could not, and hid her face still deeper in the bed. Natásha wept, sitting on the blue-striped feather bed and hugging her friend. With an effort Sónya sat up and began wiping her eyes and explaining. “Nicholas is going away in a week’s time, his... papers... have come... he told me himself... but still I should not cry,” and she showed a paper she held in her hand—with the verses Nicholas had written, “still, I should not cry, but you can’t... no one can understand... what a soul he has!” And she began to cry again because he had such a noble soul. “It’s all very well for you... I am not envious... I love you and Borís also,” she went on, gaining a little strength; “he is nice... there are no difficulties in your way.... But Nicholas is my cousin... one would have to... the Metropolitan himself... and even then it can’t be done....
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Crisis Friendship - When Someone Else's Pain Becomes Your Priority
True friendship means immediately dropping your own agenda to become a temporary crisis manager when someone you care about is genuinely struggling.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between someone having a bad day and someone in genuine crisis, then respond appropriately to each.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's distress feels different—more raw, more desperate—and practice the Stop-Sit-Solve framework instead of offering quick fixes.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Boston (card game)
A popular 19th-century card game played in social gatherings, similar to whist or bridge today. It was a way for the upper class to socialize after dinner while showing off their strategic thinking and social skills.
Modern Usage:
We still use card games, board games, or party games as social ice-breakers and ways to bond with friends and family.
Clavichord
An early keyboard instrument, softer than a piano, used for intimate musical performances in homes. Young ladies were expected to play instruments as part of their social accomplishments.
Modern Usage:
Today we might expect someone to 'play guitar at the party' or showcase talents on social media to gain social status.
Cousin marriage
Marriage between first cousins was common in aristocratic families to keep wealth and property within the family line. It required special church permission and was sometimes controversial even then.
Modern Usage:
We still see families trying to control who their children marry, though now it's more about social class, education, or career prospects than keeping money in the family.
Arranged courtship
Families would orchestrate romantic situations and push certain matches based on financial and social advantages rather than love. Parents had enormous influence over who their children could marry.
Modern Usage:
Modern parents still try to set up their kids with 'suitable' partners, and dating apps now do what families used to do in terms of matching people by compatibility.
Social accomplishments
Skills like singing, playing instruments, speaking French, and dancing that young people (especially women) needed to be considered marriageable and socially acceptable in high society.
Modern Usage:
Today's version might be having the right college degree, being good at networking, or having an impressive social media presence to attract partners or career opportunities.
Household hierarchy
The strict social order within wealthy homes, from family members down to servants, where everyone knew their place and role. Even the servants had rankings among themselves.
Modern Usage:
We see similar hierarchies in modern workplaces, where there are clear chains of command and different levels of access to information and decision-making.
Characters in This Chapter
Natasha
Young protagonist
She immediately abandons her own moment in the spotlight to comfort her heartbroken friend Sonya. Shows emotional intelligence beyond her years and genuine loyalty, transforming from excited performer to compassionate friend in seconds.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who drops everything when you text 'can we talk'
Sonya
Heartbroken friend
She's devastated because she loves Nicholas but faces impossible obstacles - family disapproval, financial pressure for him to marry someone wealthy, and threats from Vera. Represents the powerlessness of women in love during this era.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend dating someone whose family thinks she's 'not good enough'
Nicholas
Oblivious love interest
He's preparing to leave for military service, unaware of the emotional drama swirling around him. His romantic choices are being debated by everyone except him, showing how little control young men had over family expectations.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who has no idea his girlfriend and his sister are fighting about their relationship
Vera
Antagonistic sister
She threatens to expose Sonya's feelings to their mother and pushes for Nicholas to marry wealthy Julie instead. Represents family members who prioritize money and status over happiness and love.
Modern Equivalent:
The judgmental family member who always has opinions about who you should date
Count Rostov
Jovial patriarch
He provides comic relief by nearly falling asleep over his cards, then later dancing enthusiastically with Marya Dmitrievna. Shows how the head of household sets the emotional tone for everyone.
Modern Equivalent:
The dad who embarrasses everyone by being the life of the party
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The chest in the passage was the place of mourning for the younger female generation in the Rostov household."
Context: When Natasha finds Sonya crying in their secret hiding spot
This reveals that even in wealthy households, young women had so little privacy and control that they needed secret places to express their real emotions. It shows how their feelings were considered unimportant by the adult world.
In Today's Words:
Every house has that one spot where the kids go to cry when life gets overwhelming.
"Uncle married his first cousin, and we are only second cousins, you know."
Context: When she's trying to give Sonya hope about marrying Nicholas
Natasha uses practical examples to show Sonya that their situation isn't hopeless. She's being a good friend by offering concrete reasons for optimism rather than just empty comfort.
In Today's Words:
Look, if they could make it work, so can you - your situation isn't even as complicated as theirs was.
"Nicholas does not care for Julie at all, I know he doesn't."
Context: Reassuring Sonya about the competition from wealthy Julie
This shows Natasha's loyalty and her ability to read people's true feelings. She's not just saying what Sonya wants to hear - she's sharing genuine observations to give her friend real hope.
In Today's Words:
Trust me, he's totally not into her - I can tell.
Thematic Threads
Class Barriers
In This Chapter
Sonya's romantic hopes are crushed by class expectations—cousin marriages need permission, and Vera pushes Nicholas toward wealthy Julie instead
Development
Deepening from earlier social distinctions to show how class directly destroys personal relationships
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when family pressures you to date someone 'appropriate' rather than who you actually love.
Female Solidarity
In This Chapter
Natasha immediately abandons her own fun to comfort Sonya, while Vera uses social pressure to crush her romantic rival
Development
Introduced here as contrast between supportive and competitive female relationships
In Your Life:
You see this choice daily—whether to support other women or compete with them for limited opportunities.
Hope vs Despair
In This Chapter
Sonya transforms from sobbing despair to renewed hope through Natasha's specific reassurances and problem-solving
Development
Introduced here as showing how genuine support can shift emotional states
In Your Life:
You experience this when someone takes time to really listen and help you see solutions instead of just problems.
Social Performance
In This Chapter
The evening continues with music and dancing, everyone performing happiness while real dramas play out behind the scenes
Development
Building on earlier themes of maintaining appearances while managing private struggles
In Your Life:
You do this when you smile through family gatherings while dealing with personal crises no one else knows about.
Generational Joy
In This Chapter
The Count and Marya Dmitrievna's enthusiastic dancing delights everyone, bridging age gaps through shared celebration
Development
Introduced here as showing how authentic joy transcends social boundaries
In Your Life:
You see this when older relatives let loose at weddings and everyone remembers they're still people, not just authority figures.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific actions did Natasha take when she found Sonya crying, and how did those actions change Sonya's emotional state?
analysis • surface - 2
Why was Natasha's approach to comforting Sonya more effective than just saying 'everything will be okay'?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about your workplace or family - when have you seen someone drop everything to help a friend in crisis? What made that response effective or ineffective?
application • medium - 4
If your best friend came to you sobbing about a seemingly impossible situation, how would you apply Natasha's three-step approach: Stop, Sit, and Solve?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the difference between surface-level friendship and the kind that sustains us through real hardship?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Crisis Response Audit
Think of the last three times someone came to you with a real problem or crisis. Write down what you actually did versus what Natasha did. Did you Stop (drop your agenda), Sit (be fully present), and Solve (offer specific help)? Rate your response honestly and identify which step you typically skip.
Consider:
- •Most people rush to the 'Solve' step without doing 'Stop' and 'Sit' first
- •Your natural tendency might be to minimize problems or compare them to your own
- •The quality of your crisis response determines whether people will come to you again
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone responded to your crisis the way Natasha responded to Sonya's. How did their response change your relationship with them?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 21: Vultures Circle the Dying Count
As the story unfolds, you'll explore family dynamics change when money and inheritance are at stake, while uncovering the way people reveal their true nature during crisis moments. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.