Summary
Count Bezúkhov lies dying after his sixth stroke while his family and hangers-on gather like vultures around his deathbed. The scene shifts between the public reception room, where doctors, clergy, and officials maintain polite facades while gossiping about the inheritance, and a private conversation between Prince Vasíli and Princess Catherine. What starts as concern for the dying count quickly reveals itself as naked greed and family scheming. Prince Vasíli desperately tries to convince Catherine to help him find and destroy the count's will, which leaves everything to Pierre, the count's illegitimate son. Catherine initially resists, but when Vasíli mentions that a letter requesting Pierre's legitimation might exist, her composure cracks. She reveals the will is hidden under the count's pillow and launches into a bitter tirade against Anna Mikháylovna, whom she blames for poisoning the count's mind against his legitimate heirs. The chapter exposes how death brings out both the worst in people and the truth about relationships built on money rather than love. Tolstoy masterfully shows how the same event—a man's final hours—can be simultaneously sacred (the last rites) and profane (the inheritance grab). The contrast between the formal, respectful atmosphere in the reception room and the ugly scheming in private reveals the gap between social appearances and human nature.
Coming Up in Chapter 22
The race is on to find the hidden will before Count Bezúkhov dies. With the document's location now revealed, the real battle for the inheritance begins as family members position themselves for one final, desperate gambit.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
While in the Rostóvs’ ballroom the sixth anglaise was being danced, to a tune in which the weary musicians blundered, and while tired footmen and cooks were getting the supper, Count Bezúkhov had a sixth stroke. The doctors pronounced recovery impossible. After a mute confession, communion was administered to the dying man, preparations made for the sacrament of unction, and in his house there was the bustle and thrill of suspense usual at such moments. Outside the house, beyond the gates, a group of undertakers, who hid whenever a carriage drove up, waited in expectation of an important order for an expensive funeral. The Military Governor of Moscow, who had been assiduous in sending aides-de-camp to inquire after the count’s health, came himself that evening to bid a last farewell to the celebrated grandee of Catherine’s court, Count Bezúkhov. The magnificent reception room was crowded. Everyone stood up respectfully when the Military Governor, having stayed about half an hour alone with the dying man, passed out, slightly acknowledging their bows and trying to escape as quickly as possible from the glances fixed on him by the doctors, clergy, and relatives of the family. Prince Vasíli, who had grown thinner and paler during the last few days, escorted him to the door, repeating something to him several times in low tones. When the Military Governor had gone, Prince Vasíli sat down all alone on a chair in the ballroom, crossing one leg high over the other, leaning his elbow on his knee and covering his face with his hand. After sitting so for a while he rose, and, looking about him with frightened eyes, went with unusually hurried steps down the long corridor leading to the back of the house, to the room of the eldest princess. Those who were in the dimly lit reception room spoke in nervous whispers, and, whenever anyone went into or came from the dying man’s room, grew silent and gazed with eyes full of curiosity or expectancy at his door, which creaked slightly when opened. “The limits of human life ... are fixed and may not be o’erpassed,” said an old priest to a lady who had taken a seat beside him and was listening naïvely to his words. “I wonder, is it not too late to administer unction?” asked the lady, adding the priest’s clerical title, as if she had no opinion of her own on the subject. “Ah, madam, it is a great sacrament,” replied the priest, passing his hand over the thin grizzled strands of hair combed back across his bald head. “Who was that? The Military Governor himself?” was being asked at the other side of the room. “How young-looking he is!” “Yes, and he is over sixty. I hear the count no longer recognizes anyone. They wished to administer the sacrament of unction.” “I knew someone who received that sacrament seven times.” The second princess had just come from the sickroom with her eyes red from weeping and sat down...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Deathbed Reveal - When Crisis Strips Away Pretense
Crisis strips away social pretense and exposes people's true motivations and character.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between people who maintain integrity under pressure versus those who abandon principles when stakes get high.
Practice This Today
This week, notice how people behave when something they want is threatened—a promotion, a relationship, or even a parking spot—and watch for the gap between their public face and private actions.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Deathbed vigil
The tradition of family and important people gathering around someone who's dying, supposedly to show respect and offer comfort. In reality, it often becomes a social performance where people position themselves for what comes next.
Modern Usage:
We still see this when powerful CEOs are dying and board members suddenly become very attentive, or when wealthy relatives gather around a sick family member they've ignored for years.
Last rites
Religious ceremonies performed for someone who's dying, including confession and communion. These rituals are meant to prepare the soul for death and provide spiritual comfort.
Modern Usage:
Today we might call a chaplain to the hospital or have family members say final goodbyes, trying to give someone a 'good death' with dignity.
Legitimation
The legal process of making an illegitimate child officially recognized as a legitimate heir. In Tolstoy's time, this could completely change someone's social status and inheritance rights.
Modern Usage:
Similar to adoption or paternity acknowledgment today - it's about making family relationships legally official so someone can inherit or get benefits.
Social facade
The polite, respectable appearance people maintain in public while hiding their true motives. Everyone acts concerned and proper while secretly calculating their own advantage.
Modern Usage:
Like coworkers who act supportive during layoffs while secretly hoping to get promoted, or family members who post loving tributes on social media while fighting over inheritance.
Inheritance scheming
The plotting and manipulation that happens around wealthy people's wills, especially when they're dying. Family members try to influence who gets what, often destroying relationships in the process.
Modern Usage:
We see this constantly in wealthy families today - adult children suddenly becoming attentive to aging parents, or step-families fighting over estates in court.
Court grandee
A high-ranking nobleman who held important positions in the royal court. These were the wealthy, powerful elite who shaped politics and society through their connections to the monarchy.
Modern Usage:
Like today's billionaire donors who have direct access to politicians, or corporate executives who move between government positions and private industry.
Characters in This Chapter
Count Bezúkhov
Dying patriarch
The wealthy count is having his sixth stroke and dying, but he's become more of a prize to be won than a person to be mourned. His death sets off a feeding frenzy among relatives who want his fortune.
Modern Equivalent:
The wealthy family patriarch whose kids circle like vultures when he's in the ICU
Prince Vasíli
Scheming relative
He's desperately trying to find and destroy the count's will because it leaves everything to Pierre, the illegitimate son. He's willing to manipulate and pressure others to protect his own family's financial interests.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who suddenly shows up when someone's dying, asking about wills and bank accounts
Princess Catherine
Reluctant accomplice
Initially tries to stay above the scheming but breaks down when she realizes Pierre might inherit everything. She reveals where the will is hidden and shows her own bitter resentment about being cut out.
Modern Equivalent:
The relative who acts like they're above family drama until their own inheritance is threatened
Pierre
Absent heir
Though not physically present in this chapter, he's the center of all the scheming. As the count's illegitimate son who stands to inherit everything, he represents a threat to the established family order.
Modern Equivalent:
The surprise beneficiary everyone discovers in the will reading
Anna Mikháylovna
Blamed influence
Though not in this scene, she's accused by Catherine of manipulating the dying count and turning him against his legitimate family. She represents the outsider who disrupts family expectations.
Modern Equivalent:
The new spouse or caregiver everyone blames for 'poisoning' an elderly person's mind about their will
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Outside the house, beyond the gates, a group of undertakers, who hid whenever a carriage drove up, waited in expectation of an important order for an expensive funeral."
Context: While the count is dying inside, business people are already positioning themselves to profit from his death.
This perfectly captures how death becomes a business opportunity. Even before the man has died, people are calculating how to make money from his funeral. It shows the cold reality behind all the public grief and ceremony.
In Today's Words:
The funeral directors were already lurking outside, ready to cash in on what would obviously be an expensive funeral.
"The will, my dear Princess... the will is hidden under his pillow."
Context: She finally breaks down and reveals where the count's will is hidden after Prince Vasíli pressures her about Pierre's potential legitimation.
This moment shows how quickly people abandon their principles when their own interests are threatened. Catherine goes from refusing to help to actively participating in the scheme to steal the will.
In Today's Words:
Fine, you want to know where he hid his will? It's right under his pillow.
"Everyone stood up respectfully when the Military Governor... passed out, slightly acknowledging their bows and trying to escape as quickly as possible from the glances fixed on him."
Context: The Military Governor visits the dying count but hurries to leave, uncomfortable with all the attention focused on him.
Even powerful officials feel awkward around death and family drama. The 'respectful' standing is just social theater - everyone's really watching to see what the important visitor knows about the inheritance situation.
In Today's Words:
Everyone jumped up and acted respectful when the big shot left, but he was clearly trying to get out of there as fast as possible while everyone stared at him.
Thematic Threads
Greed
In This Chapter
Family members scheming to steal inheritance while the patriarch lies dying, prioritizing money over dignity or grief
Development
Introduced here as the driving force behind family relationships
In Your Life:
You might see this when relatives suddenly become interested in an aging family member's finances or possessions.
Social Facades
In This Chapter
The contrast between respectful public behavior in the reception room and ugly private scheming between family members
Development
Introduced here as a key mechanism for hiding true motivations
In Your Life:
You encounter this when people act professionally in meetings but gossip maliciously in private conversations.
Class Legitimacy
In This Chapter
Pierre's illegitimate status becomes the central issue in inheritance disputes, with family members viewing him as undeserving
Development
Introduced here as a source of family conflict and social tension
In Your Life:
You might experience this as the 'outsider' in workplace politics or family dynamics where your background is questioned.
Power Desperation
In This Chapter
Prince Vasíli's frantic attempts to manipulate Catherine into helping him destroy the will reveal his desperation to maintain status
Development
Introduced here as a driving force behind unethical behavior
In Your Life:
You see this when someone facing job loss or financial pressure starts making increasingly desperate and unethical choices.
Family Loyalty
In This Chapter
Catherine's bitter resentment toward Anna Mikháylovna shows how family loyalty can turn into vicious competition for resources
Development
Introduced here as conditional and self-serving rather than genuine
In Your Life:
You experience this when family members support you only when it benefits them, but turn hostile when resources are limited.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What's really happening in the two different rooms while Count Bezúkhov is dying, and why is there such a difference?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Prince Vasíli's desperation override his usual smooth social skills, and what does this tell us about how crisis affects behavior?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of a time when high stakes or crisis revealed someone's true character to you. How did their behavior change from normal circumstances?
application • medium - 4
If you were in Pierre's position, inheriting wealth that your family believes should be theirs, how would you handle the family dynamics and resentment?
application • deep - 5
What does this scene teach us about the difference between public behavior and private motivations, and why does money bring out the worst in people?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Create Your Crisis Character Test
Think of three people in your life whose true character you're unsure about. For each person, design a small 'stress test' situation that would reveal their real priorities without causing harm. Consider scenarios like asking for help during your busy time, sharing good news to see their reaction, or observing how they treat service workers when things go wrong.
Consider:
- •Focus on situations that reveal values, not situations that create unnecessary drama
- •Look for patterns of behavior across multiple small situations rather than judging from one incident
- •Remember that you're also being tested by how you handle other people's crises
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when crisis or high stakes revealed something important about your own character. What did you learn about yourself, and how did it change how you approach relationships or decisions?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 22: The Power of Guided Authority
The coming pages reveal people defer to those who act with confidence and purpose, and teach us sometimes following guidance is wiser than acting on your own confusion. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.