Summary
Pierre enters his dying father's ornate bedroom, where Count Bezúkhov lies surrounded by the elaborate rituals of Russian Orthodox last rites. The scene is a masterclass in human theater - priests in glittering vestments, family members positioned strategically around the room, each person playing their expected part in this final drama. Prince Vasíli crosses himself with calculated piety while keeping one eye on the inheritance politics. The princesses dab their eyes with handkerchiefs, but their eldest sister Catiche stares at the icons with barely contained fury, knowing what's at stake. Meanwhile, young Princess Sophie can't stop giggling at Pierre's clumsy attempts to hold his candle and cross himself properly. The absurdity of the moment - this mix of sacred ritual and human awkwardness - captures something universal about how we handle death. When the dying count is moved to his bed, Pierre finally comes face to face with his father. The old man's eyes meet his, but Pierre can't read their meaning. Is it recognition? Forgiveness? Or just the blank stare of approaching death? In a moment of startling vulnerability, the count's arm falls helplessly, and he gives Pierre a weak smile that seems to acknowledge his own powerlessness. This smile breaks through Pierre's emotional walls, bringing tears he didn't expect. The chapter reveals how death becomes a stage where everyone performs their version of grief, duty, or hope - yet beneath all the performance, genuine human connection still manages to break through.
Coming Up in Chapter 24
With the count's final breath approaching, the real drama begins. The vultures circle closer, and Pierre must navigate the treacherous waters of inheritance politics while still processing his complex feelings about his father.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Pierre well knew this large room divided by columns and an arch, its walls hung round with Persian carpets. The part of the room behind the columns, with a high silk-curtained mahogany bedstead on one side and on the other an immense case containing icons, was brightly illuminated with red light like a Russian church during evening service. Under the gleaming icons stood a long invalid chair, and in that chair on snowy-white smooth pillows, evidently freshly changed, Pierre saw—covered to the waist by a bright green quilt—the familiar, majestic figure of his father, Count Bezúkhov, with that gray mane of hair above his broad forehead which reminded one of a lion, and the deep characteristically noble wrinkles of his handsome, ruddy face. He lay just under the icons; his large thick hands outside the quilt. Into the right hand, which was lying palm downwards, a wax taper had been thrust between forefinger and thumb, and an old servant, bending over from behind the chair, held it in position. By the chair stood the priests, their long hair falling over their magnificent glittering vestments, with lighted tapers in their hands, slowly and solemnly conducting the service. A little behind them stood the two younger princesses holding handkerchiefs to their eyes, and just in front of them their eldest sister, Catiche, with a vicious and determined look steadily fixed on the icons, as though declaring to all that she could not answer for herself should she glance round. Anna Mikháylovna, with a meek, sorrowful, and all-forgiving expression on her face, stood by the door near the strange lady. Prince Vasíli in front of the door, near the invalid chair, a wax taper in his left hand, was leaning his left arm on the carved back of a velvet chair he had turned round for the purpose, and was crossing himself with his right hand, turning his eyes upward each time he touched his forehead. His face wore a calm look of piety and resignation to the will of God. “If you do not understand these sentiments,” he seemed to be saying, “so much the worse for you!” Behind him stood the aide-de-camp, the doctors, and the menservants; the men and women had separated as in church. All were silently crossing themselves, and the reading of the church service, the subdued chanting of deep bass voices, and in the intervals sighs and the shuffling of feet were the only sounds that could be heard. Anna Mikháylovna, with an air of importance that showed that she felt she quite knew what she was about, went across the room to where Pierre was standing and gave him a taper. He lit it and, distracted by observing those around him, began crossing himself with the hand that held the taper. Sophie, the rosy, laughter-loving, youngest princess with the mole, watched him. She smiled, hid her face in her handkerchief, and remained with it hidden for awhile; then looking up and seeing Pierre she again began...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Performance of Grief - When Sacred Moments Become Theater
The tendency to theatricalize profound moments instead of experiencing them authentically, using scripts and roles to avoid the vulnerability of genuine human connection.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when families perform their roles during crises instead of being present for each other.
Practice This Today
Next time your family faces a crisis, notice who's performing 'strong one' or 'responsible one' versus who's actually dealing with feelings honestly.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Last Rites
A religious ceremony performed when someone is dying, meant to prepare their soul for death. In Russian Orthodox tradition, this involves priests, candles, icons, and specific prayers that can go on for hours.
Modern Usage:
Today we see similar rituals in hospitals when families gather around a dying loved one, each playing their expected role in the final goodbye.
Inheritance Politics
The scheming and positioning that happens when a wealthy person is dying and family members jockey for their share. People suddenly become very religious or caring when money is involved.
Modern Usage:
Still happens today when relatives who haven't visited in years suddenly show up when grandma is in hospice, or when family members start asking about wills.
Performative Grief
Acting out the emotions you're supposed to feel rather than what you actually feel. People put on a show of mourning because it's expected, not because they're genuinely devastated.
Modern Usage:
Like posting sad emojis on social media when someone dies, even if you barely knew them, or crying loudly at funerals to show everyone how much you cared.
Icons
Sacred religious paintings used in Orthodox Christianity, believed to be windows to heaven. Wealthy Russians kept elaborate collections in special corners of their homes for prayer.
Modern Usage:
Similar to how people today create shrine-like spaces with family photos, candles, and meaningful objects when someone is dying or has passed.
Social Theater
When people act out roles they think they should play rather than being genuine. Everyone knows the script for how to behave in certain situations, especially around death.
Modern Usage:
Like how everyone at a funeral knows to speak in hushed tones and say 'I'm sorry for your loss,' even when the relationships were complicated.
Legitimacy
In this context, whether Pierre is legally recognized as Count Bezukhov's son and heir. Illegitimate children had no inheritance rights unless formally acknowledged.
Modern Usage:
Today we see similar issues with paternity disputes, adoption rights, or blended families fighting over who gets what when a parent dies.
Characters in This Chapter
Pierre
Uncertain heir
The awkward young man who might inherit everything if his dying father acknowledges him. He's clumsy with the religious rituals and genuinely moved by his father's condition, unlike the others who are calculating their next moves.
Modern Equivalent:
The estranged adult child called to their parent's deathbed, unsure if they're wanted there or just being used
Count Bezukhov
Dying patriarch
Pierre's father, a powerful man now reduced to helplessness. His every gesture is watched for signs of who he favors as his heir. His weak smile to Pierre suggests some genuine connection beneath all the politics.
Modern Equivalent:
The wealthy family patriarch whose every word and glance is analyzed for hints about the will
Prince Vasíli
Scheming relative
Positioning himself as the pious family member while calculating how to control the inheritance. He crosses himself religiously but keeps his eyes on the prize.
Modern Equivalent:
The relative who suddenly becomes very helpful and religious when someone wealthy is dying
Catiche
Furious daughter
The eldest princess who stares at the icons with barely controlled rage, knowing Pierre's legitimization would cost her dearly. She's performing devotion while seething inside.
Modern Equivalent:
The adult child who's always expected their inheritance and is furious that an outsider might get it instead
Princess Sophie
Nervous observer
Can't stop giggling at Pierre's awkwardness with the candle and religious gestures, showing how absurd the whole performance really is.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who gets the giggles at inappropriate moments because the whole situation feels surreal
Key Quotes & Analysis
"as though declaring to all that she could not answer for herself should she glance round"
Context: Describing how Catiche stares at the icons with furious determination
This reveals how much self-control it takes for her to maintain the appearance of pious devotion when she's actually furious about the inheritance situation. She knows one wrong look could give away her true feelings.
In Today's Words:
She was so angry she didn't trust herself to look around the room without showing it
"with that gray mane of hair above his broad forehead which reminded one of a lion"
Context: Pierre's first glimpse of his dying father
Even dying, the Count is described in terms of power and majesty. The lion comparison suggests someone who was once king of his domain, now brought low by mortality.
In Today's Words:
He still looked powerful and intimidating, even lying there dying
"the familiar, majestic figure of his father"
Context: Pierre recognizing his father despite the formal deathbed setting
The word 'familiar' suggests Pierre knew his father well despite their complicated relationship, while 'majestic' shows the old man's enduring dignity even in death.
In Today's Words:
There was his dad, still looking important even though he was dying
Thematic Threads
Performance vs Authenticity
In This Chapter
Everyone plays their expected role during the death ritual - pious family members, dutiful son, proper grief - while real emotions struggle beneath the surface
Development
Introduced here as a major theme that will follow Pierre's journey toward authentic living
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself performing 'good employee' during a difficult meeting instead of addressing real concerns.
Class Expectations
In This Chapter
The elaborate Orthodox ritual and formal positioning around the deathbed reflect aristocratic performance of proper grief and duty
Development
Continues from earlier salon scenes, showing how class dictates behavior even in private, sacred moments
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to act 'appropriate' at family gatherings instead of being genuinely yourself.
Human Connection
In This Chapter
Despite all the theater, Pierre and his father share a moment of genuine recognition through the count's helpless smile
Development
Introduced as the antidote to social performance - authentic human moments that break through artificial barriers
In Your Life:
You might find your deepest connections happen when you drop your guard and show vulnerability.
Death as Teacher
In This Chapter
The dying count's powerlessness reveals the futility of social games and the importance of genuine human moments
Development
Introduced here as death's role in stripping away pretense and revealing what matters
In Your Life:
You might notice how crisis situations reveal people's true character beneath their usual social masks.
Inheritance Politics
In This Chapter
Prince Vasíli and the princesses balance religious duty with calculating their financial interests in the count's will
Development
Continues the theme of how money and power corrupt even sacred moments
In Your Life:
You might see family members behave differently when inheritance or money is involved, even during grief.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What different 'performances' do you see happening around Count Bezúkhov's deathbed, and what is each person really trying to accomplish?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think people automatically start 'performing' roles during intense moments like death, breakups, or crises instead of just being themselves?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen this same pattern of people performing 'appropriate' behavior during serious situations - at hospitals, funerals, job interviews, or family emergencies?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between when you're genuinely responding to a situation versus when you're just playing the role you think you should play?
application • deep - 5
What does Pierre's father's helpless smile teach us about finding real human connection even when everyone around us is performing?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Performance vs. Reality
Think of a recent serious situation you witnessed or experienced - a family crisis, workplace drama, medical emergency, or relationship conflict. Write down what people said and did, then identify what they were really feeling or wanting underneath their 'performance.' Look for moments when someone dropped the act and showed genuine emotion.
Consider:
- •Notice how people's words and actions might not match their actual feelings
- •Look for small gestures or expressions that revealed what someone really felt
- •Consider what each person was trying to protect or accomplish with their performance
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you caught yourself performing a role during a difficult moment. What were you afraid would happen if you just acted naturally? What did you miss by focusing on the performance instead of the real experience?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 24: The Deathbed Power Struggle
Moving forward, we'll examine people reveal their true nature during crisis moments, and understand inheritance disputes tear families apart. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.