An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1439 words)
n the seventeenth of August Rostóv and Ilyín, accompanied by Lavrúshka
who had just returned from captivity and by an hussar orderly, left
their quarters at Yankóvo, ten miles from Boguchárovo, and went for a
ride—to try a new horse Ilyín had bought and to find out whether there
was any hay to be had in the villages.
For the last three days Boguchárovo had lain between the two hostile
armies, so that it was as easy for the Russian rearguard to get to it as
for the French vanguard; Rostóv, as a careful squadron commander, wished
to take such provisions as remained at Boguchárovo before the French
could get them.
Rostóv and Ilyín were in the merriest of moods. On the way to
Boguchárovo, a princely estate with a dwelling house and farm where
they hoped to find many domestic serfs and pretty girls, they questioned
Lavrúshka about Napoleon and laughed at his stories, and raced one
another to try Ilyín’s horse.
Rostóv had no idea that the village he was entering was the property of
that very Bolkónski who had been engaged to his sister.
Rostóv and Ilyín gave rein to their horses for a last race along the
incline before reaching Boguchárovo, and Rostóv, outstripping Ilyín, was
the first to gallop into the village street.
“You’re first!” cried Ilyín, flushed.
“Yes, always first both on the grassland and here,” answered Rostóv,
stroking his heated Donéts horse.
“And I’d have won on my Frenchy, your excellency,” said Lavrúshka
from behind, alluding to his shabby cart horse, “only I didn’t wish to
mortify you.”
They rode at a footpace to the barn, where a large crowd of peasants was
standing.
Some of the men bared their heads, others stared at the new arrivals
without doffing their caps. Two tall old peasants with wrinkled faces
and scanty beards emerged from the tavern, smiling, staggering, and
singing some incoherent song, and approached the officers.
“Fine fellows!” said Rostóv laughing. “Is there any hay here?”
“And how like one another,” said Ilyín.
“A mo-o-st me-r-r-y co-o-m-pa...!” sang one of the peasants with a
blissful smile.
One of the men came out of the crowd and went up to Rostóv.
“Who do you belong to?” he asked.
“The French,” replied Ilyín jestingly, “and here is Napoleon
himself”—and he pointed to Lavrúshka.
“Then you are Russians?” the peasant asked again.
“And is there a large force of you here?” said another, a short man,
coming up.
“Very large,” answered Rostóv. “But why have you collected here?” he
added. “Is it a holiday?”
“The old men have met to talk over the business of the commune,” replied
the peasant, moving away.
At that moment, on the road leading from the big house, two women and a
man in a white hat were seen coming toward the officers.
“The one in pink is mine, so keep off!” said Ilyín on seeing Dunyásha
running resolutely toward him.
“She’ll be ours!” said Lavrúshka to Ilyín, winking.
“What do you want, my pretty?” said Ilyín with a smile.
“The princess ordered me to ask your regiment and your name.”
“This is Count Rostóv, squadron commander, and I am your humble
servant.”
“Co-o-om-pa-ny!” roared the tipsy peasant with a beatific smile as
he looked at Ilyín talking to the girl. Following Dunyásha, Alpátych
advanced to Rostóv, having bared his head while still at a distance.
“May I make bold to trouble your honor?” said he respectfully, but with
a shade of contempt for the youthfulness of this officer and with a hand
thrust into his bosom. “My mistress, daughter of General in Chief Prince
Nicholas Bolkónski who died on the fifteenth of this month, finding
herself in difficulties owing to the boorishness of these people”—he
pointed to the peasants—“asks you to come up to the house.... Won’t
you, please, ride on a little farther,” said Alpátych with a melancholy
smile, “as it is not convenient in the presence of...?” He pointed to
the two peasants who kept as close to him as horseflies to a horse.
“Ah!... Alpátych... Ah, Yákov Alpátych... Grand! Forgive us for Christ’s
sake, eh?” said the peasants, smiling joyfully at him.
Rostóv looked at the tipsy peasants and smiled.
“Or perhaps they amuse your honor?” remarked Alpátych with a staid air,
as he pointed at the old men with his free hand.
“No, there’s not much to be amused at here,” said Rostóv, and rode on a
little way. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I make bold to inform your honor that the rude peasants here don’t
wish to let the mistress leave the estate, and threaten to unharness her
horses, so that though everything has been packed up since morning, her
excellency cannot get away.”
“Impossible!” exclaimed Rostóv.
“I have the honor to report to you the actual truth,” said Alpátych.
Rostóv dismounted, gave his horse to the orderly, and followed Alpátych
to the house, questioning him as to the state of affairs. It appeared
that the princess’ offer of corn to the peasants the previous day, and
her talk with Dron and at the meeting, had actually had so bad an effect
that Dron had finally given up the keys and joined the peasants and had
not appeared when Alpátych sent for him; and that in the morning when
the princess gave orders to harness for her journey, the peasants had
come in a large crowd to the barn and sent word that they would not let
her leave the village: that there was an order not to move, and that
they would unharness the horses. Alpátych had gone out to admonish them,
but was told (it was chiefly Karp who did the talking, Dron not showing
himself in the crowd) that they could not let the princess go, that
there was an order to the contrary, but that if she stayed they would
serve her as before and obey her in everything.
At the moment when Rostóv and Ilyín were galloping along the road,
Princess Mary, despite the dissuasions of Alpátych, her nurse, and the
maids, had given orders to harness and intended to start, but when the
cavalrymen were espied they were taken for Frenchmen, the coachman ran
away, and the women in the house began to wail.
“Father! Benefactor! God has sent you!” exclaimed deeply moved voices as
Rostóv passed through the anteroom.
Princess Mary was sitting helpless and bewildered in the large sitting
room, when Rostóv was shown in. She could not grasp who he was and why
he had come, or what was happening to her. When she saw his Russian
face, and by his walk and the first words he uttered recognized him as a
man of her own class, she glanced at him with her deep radiant look and
began speaking in a voice that faltered and trembled with emotion. This
meeting immediately struck Rostóv as a romantic event. “A helpless girl
overwhelmed with grief, left to the mercy of coarse, rioting peasants!
And what a strange fate sent me here! What gentleness and nobility there
are in her features and expression!” thought he as he looked at her and
listened to her timid story.
When she began to tell him that all this had happened the day after her
father’s funeral, her voice trembled. She turned away, and then, as if
fearing he might take her words as meant to move him to pity, looked at
him with an apprehensive glance of inquiry. There were tears in Rostóv’s
eyes. Princess Mary noticed this and glanced gratefully at him with that
radiant look which caused the plainness of her face to be forgotten.
“I cannot express, Princess, how glad I am that I happened to ride here
and am able to show my readiness to serve you,” said Rostóv, rising. “Go
when you please, and I give you my word of honor that no one shall dare
to cause you annoyance if only you will allow me to act as your escort.”
And bowing respectfully, as if to a lady of royal blood, he moved toward
the door.
Rostóv’s deferential tone seemed to indicate that though he would
consider himself happy to be acquainted with her, he did not wish to
take advantage of her misfortunes to intrude upon her.
Princess Mary understood this and appreciated his delicacy.
“I am very, very grateful to you,” she said in French, “but I hope it
was all a misunderstanding and that no one is to blame for it.” She
suddenly began to cry.
“Excuse me!” she said.
Rostóv, knitting his brows, left the room with another low bow.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
People's authentic character and true priorities become visible during unexpected crises when social scripts fail and genuine response is required.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify authentic character traits when people face unexpected pressure and can't rely on rehearsed social roles.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when small crises hit at work or home—watch who helps versus who disappears, and use this data when choosing who to trust with bigger challenges.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"You're first!"
Context: After their horse race into the village
This playful competition shows how young soldiers find joy even during wartime. It captures the last moment of carefree fun before they encounter real human suffering.
In Today's Words:
You beat me again!
"For the last three days Boguchárovo had lain between the two hostile armies"
Context: Explaining the dangerous situation of the village
This describes the terrifying reality of being caught in no-man's land during war. Civilians become pawns between opposing forces with nowhere safe to go.
In Today's Words:
The village was stuck right in the middle of two armies that wanted to destroy each other
"Rostóv had no idea that the village he was entering was the property of that very Bolkónski who had been engaged to his sister"
Context: As Rostóv approaches the estate unknowingly
Tolstoy highlights how fate brings people together through coincidence. This irony sets up the dramatic tension of their meeting without either knowing their connection.
In Today's Words:
Rostóv had no clue he was about to meet someone connected to his family
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Traditional social hierarchy breaks down as peasants defy their noble mistress, while Rostóv must navigate helping Princess Mary without overstepping class boundaries
Development
Continues the theme of war disrupting established social order
In Your Life:
You might see this when workplace hierarchies shift during emergencies or when family crises reveal who really has influence versus who just has titles
Identity
In This Chapter
Rostóv discovers his protective instincts toward a woman he barely knows, while Princess Mary must maintain dignity despite losing control of her own estate
Development
Builds on characters discovering unexpected aspects of themselves through war experiences
In Your Life:
You might find yourself stepping into leadership during a crisis even though you never saw yourself as a leader
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Both characters must balance proper behavior with urgent necessity—Rostóv offering help while respecting boundaries, Mary accepting aid while maintaining authority
Development
Explores how social rules bend but don't break even in extreme circumstances
In Your Life:
You might struggle with asking for help when you're supposed to be the strong one, or offering help without seeming to overstep
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
A chance encounter creates instant mutual respect and connection based on character recognition rather than social introduction
Development
Shows how meaningful relationships can form outside traditional social channels
In Your Life:
You might find your strongest connections come from people who helped you during difficult times rather than those you met at parties
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Rostóv moves beyond his usual carefree attitude to take serious responsibility for another person's safety and wellbeing
Development
Continues his evolution from pleasure-seeking youth to mature man capable of sacrifice
In Your Life:
You might discover your own capacity for responsibility when someone truly needs your help
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What crisis does Princess Mary face at her estate, and how does Rostóv respond when he discovers it?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think the peasants refuse to let Princess Mary leave, even though she's their mistress?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of a crisis you've witnessed—at work, in your family, or in your community. How did people's true personalities emerge under pressure?
application • medium - 4
If you were choosing a partner, boss, or close friend, what kind of crisis situation would reveal their true character to you?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the difference between how people present themselves normally versus who they really are?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Crisis Character Audit
Think of three people in your life—could be family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors. Write down how each person typically presents themselves in normal situations. Then recall a time when each faced pressure, stress, or crisis. Compare their normal persona with their crisis behavior. What patterns do you notice about who people really are versus who they appear to be?
Consider:
- •Look for people who became more helpful or more selfish under pressure
- •Notice who stayed calm versus who created more drama during difficult times
- •Consider how this information might guide your future decisions about trust and relationships
Journaling Prompt
Write about a crisis that revealed something unexpected about your own character. What did you learn about yourself that you didn't know before? How has this knowledge changed how you approach challenges?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 204: Authority in Crisis
Rostóv must now navigate the delicate situation with the rebellious peasants while ensuring Princess Mary's safe passage. Will his authority as a military officer be enough to overcome their defiance, or will this standoff escalate into something more dangerous?
