Summary
Hélène finds herself juggling two powerful lovers in Petersburg—her old protector and a new foreign prince—and both want exclusive rights to her. Instead of sneaking around or making excuses, she boldly declares that she's done nothing wrong and everyone else is being unreasonable. When the prince confronts her, she flips the script entirely: she's the victim, he's selfish, and her older lover is like a father to her. She manipulates the prince into proposing marriage by crying and claiming she's been sacrificed in her current marriage. When he mentions legal and religious obstacles, she dismisses them with stunning simplicity: 'What have they been invented for if they can't arrange that?' The prince, amazed by her logic, consults his Jesuit connections. Soon Hélène is surrounded by Catholic clergy working to convert her. She plays the part perfectly—wearing white, shedding tears, embracing the 'dove-like purity.' But she's nobody's fool. She realizes they want her money for their institutions and insists they handle her divorce first. During confession, she cuts through the priest's elaborate theological arguments with devastating clarity: if she's embraced the 'true' religion, surely she can't be bound by a 'false' one. The priest is stunned by her simple logic that demolishes his careful reasoning. Hélène demonstrates how someone with clear self-interest and no shame can outmaneuver even sophisticated opponents by refusing to accept their premises.
Coming Up in Chapter 236
The religious and legal machinery begins working in Hélène's favor, but her machinations will have consequences that ripple far beyond her immediate desires. Meanwhile, other characters face their own moral reckonings.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Hélène, having returned with the court from Vílna to Petersburg, found herself in a difficult position. In Petersburg she had enjoyed the special protection of a grandee who occupied one of the highest posts in the Empire. In Vílna she had formed an intimacy with a young foreign prince. When she returned to Petersburg both the magnate and the prince were there, and both claimed their rights. Hélène was faced by a new problem—how to preserve her intimacy with both without offending either. What would have seemed difficult or even impossible to another woman did not cause the least embarrassment to Countess Bezúkhova, who evidently deserved her reputation of being a very clever woman. Had she attempted concealment, or tried to extricate herself from her awkward position by cunning, she would have spoiled her case by acknowledging herself guilty. But Hélène, like a really great man who can do whatever he pleases, at once assumed her own position to be correct, as she sincerely believed it to be, and that everyone else was to blame. The first time the young foreigner allowed himself to reproach her, she lifted her beautiful head and, half turning to him, said firmly: “That’s just like a man—selfish and cruel! I expected nothing else. A woman sacrifices herself for you, she suffers, and this is her reward! What right have you, monseigneur, to demand an account of my attachments and friendships? He is a man who has been more than a father to me!” The prince was about to say something, but Hélène interrupted him. “Well, yes,” said she, “it may be that he has other sentiments for me than those of a father, but that is not a reason for me to shut my door on him. I am not a man, that I should repay kindness with ingratitude! Know, monseigneur, that in all that relates to my intimate feelings I render account only to God and to my conscience,” she concluded, laying her hand on her beautiful, fully expanded bosom and looking up to heaven. “But for heaven’s sake listen to me!” “Marry me, and I will be your slave!” “But that’s impossible.” “You won’t deign to demean yourself by marrying me, you...” said Hélène, beginning to cry. The prince tried to comfort her, but Hélène, as if quite distraught, said through her tears that there was nothing to prevent her marrying, that there were precedents (there were up to that time very few, but she mentioned Napoleon and some other exalted personages), that she had never been her husband’s wife, and that she had been sacrificed. “But the law, religion...” said the prince, already yielding. “The law, religion... What have they been invented for if they can’t arrange that?” said Hélène. The prince was surprised that so simple an idea had not occurred to him, and he applied for advice to the holy brethren of the Society of Jesus, with whom he was on intimate terms. A few days later at one...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Shameless Logic
People who reject social frameworks of shame and complexity can demolish sophisticated arguments with brutal simplicity.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when someone is using brazen confidence to bypass normal social constraints and get what they want.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone responds to your reasonable objection with 'Why not?' or dismisses complexity with oversimplified logic—they may be using shamelessness as a weapon.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Magnate
A person of great wealth and power, especially in business or politics. In Tolstoy's Russia, these were aristocrats who held the highest government positions and could make or break careers. They controlled access to money, status, and influence.
Modern Usage:
Today we see magnates as tech billionaires, media moguls, or political power brokers who can open doors with a phone call.
Intimacy (in aristocratic context)
In 19th-century high society, this meant a close personal relationship that often involved financial support, social protection, and romantic involvement. These arrangements were understood by everyone but rarely spoken about directly.
Modern Usage:
Similar to today's 'sugar daddy' relationships or high-powered mentorships where personal and professional boundaries blur.
Jesuit
Members of a Catholic religious order known for their education, political influence, and sophisticated reasoning. They were often involved in converting powerful people and had a reputation for finding creative solutions to religious obstacles.
Modern Usage:
Like today's high-end lawyers or consultants who specialize in finding loopholes and making impossible things possible for wealthy clients.
Confession (Catholic)
A religious practice where someone admits their sins to a priest who can grant forgiveness. In Hélène's case, it's part of her conversion process and a way to clear religious obstacles to remarriage.
Modern Usage:
Similar to therapy sessions or legal consultations where you reveal personal information to get professional help with your problems.
Religious conversion for convenience
Changing your religion not from genuine belief but to solve practical problems like marriage, divorce, or social acceptance. This was common among the wealthy who could afford the process and had connections to make it happen.
Modern Usage:
Like changing your political party, residence, or business structure for tax benefits or legal advantages.
Gaslighting
Making someone question their own perception of reality by confidently asserting that wrong is right. Hélène does this by insisting she's the victim when caught cheating, making others doubt their reasonable expectations.
Modern Usage:
We see this constantly in politics, relationships, and workplace conflicts where people flip the script and make accusers feel guilty.
Characters in This Chapter
Hélène
Manipulative protagonist
She's juggling two powerful lovers and uses shameless confidence to turn her cheating into their problem. Instead of apologizing or hiding, she declares herself the victim and manipulates everyone around her to get what she wants.
Modern Equivalent:
The influencer who gets caught in scandals but always makes herself the victim
The young foreign prince
Manipulated lover
He tries to confront Hélène about her other relationship but gets completely turned around by her victim act. He ends up proposing marriage and helping arrange her divorce instead of walking away.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who catches his girlfriend cheating but somehow ends up apologizing to her
The magnate
Established protector
Hélène's older, powerful lover who has been supporting her. She dismisses his importance to the prince by calling him 'like a father,' showing how she reframes relationships to suit her needs.
Modern Equivalent:
The wealthy older man who thinks he's in an exclusive relationship but is really just one option
The Catholic priest
Outmaneuvered authority figure
He tries to use complex theological arguments during confession but gets shut down by Hélène's simple logic. She cuts through his elaborate reasoning with devastating clarity about religious consistency.
Modern Equivalent:
The expert who gets owned by someone asking basic questions they can't answer
Key Quotes & Analysis
"That's just like a man—selfish and cruel! I expected nothing else. A woman sacrifices herself for you, she suffers, and this is her reward!"
Context: When the prince confronts her about her other relationship
This shows Hélène's masterful manipulation technique. She immediately flips from being caught cheating to being the victim of male selfishness. She reframes her affair as a sacrifice she made for him, making him feel guilty for being upset.
In Today's Words:
This is so typical of men—you're being selfish and mean! After everything I've given up for you, this is how you treat me?
"What have they been invented for if they can't arrange that?"
Context: When the prince mentions legal and religious obstacles to their marriage
Hélène cuts through all complexity with stunning simplicity. To her, laws and religious rules exist to serve powerful people's needs. If they can't solve her problem, what's the point of having them?
In Today's Words:
Why do we have lawyers and connections if they can't make this happen?
"Like a really great man who can do whatever he pleases, at once assumed her own position to be correct, as she sincerely believed it to be, and that everyone else was to blame."
Context: Describing Hélène's approach to her scandal
Tolstoy reveals the secret of shameless people: they genuinely believe they're right. Hélène doesn't feel guilty because she's convinced herself that her position is reasonable and everyone else is being unfair.
In Today's Words:
She acted like someone who's used to getting their way—she decided she was right and everyone else was wrong, and she actually believed it.
Thematic Threads
Manipulation
In This Chapter
Hélène manipulates through tears, victimhood claims, and rejecting others' logical frameworks entirely
Development
Evolved from earlier social maneuvering to sophisticated psychological warfare
In Your Life:
You might see this when someone plays victim while clearly being the aggressor in conflicts.
Power
In This Chapter
Hélène holds power by refusing to accept anyone else's rules or premises for the conversation
Development
Shows how power can come from shameless rejection of social constraints
In Your Life:
You encounter this when someone gains advantage by simply refusing to feel embarrassed about unreasonable demands.
Class
In This Chapter
Wealthy Hélène can buy religious conversion and legal solutions that others cannot access
Development
Continues theme of money solving problems that constrain ordinary people
In Your Life:
You see this when wealthy people treat rules as suggestions they can pay to ignore.
Deception
In This Chapter
Hélène performs religious conversion while calculating exactly what she'll gain from it
Development
Shows deception as calculated performance rather than desperate lies
In Your Life:
You might encounter this when someone adopts beliefs or identities purely for personal advantage.
Identity
In This Chapter
Hélène treats religious identity as a costume to put on for specific purposes
Development
Demonstrates how some people view identity as tool rather than truth
In Your Life:
You see this when people suddenly become 'different' when it serves their interests.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
How does Hélène handle being caught between two lovers who both want exclusive access to her?
analysis • surface - 2
Why is Hélène's simple question 'What have they been invented for if they can't arrange that?' so effective against the priest's complex theological arguments?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people use shameless directness to get what they want while others tie themselves in knots with complicated justifications?
application • medium - 4
If you were dealing with someone like Hélène who refuses to feel shame or accept complexity, how would you protect yourself?
application • deep - 5
What does Hélène's success reveal about the hidden power of refusing to play by other people's rules?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Identify the Framework Rejection
Think of a recent conflict or negotiation in your life. Write down the 'rules' or assumptions both sides were operating under. Now imagine someone like Hélène entering that situation—what rules would they simply refuse to accept? What simple, direct question might they ask that would cut through all the complexity?
Consider:
- •Most people accept frameworks of politeness, guilt, or complex justification without questioning them
- •Someone who rejects these frameworks entirely can seem to have supernatural power
- •The key is recognizing when someone is operating outside your assumed rules
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you got tangled up in complex justifications for something you wanted. How might simple, direct honesty have worked better? What were you afraid would happen if you just asked plainly?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 236: The Art of Social Manipulation
As the story unfolds, you'll explore confident presentation can override moral objections, while uncovering the power of framing controversial actions as normal. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.