Summary
Pierre arrives in Moscow to find the city's leadership in chaos. Count Rostopchín, the governor, knows Moscow will fall to Napoleon but can't admit it publicly. Instead, he's published a propaganda broadsheet promising to defend the city 'to the last drop of blood' while privately preparing to flee. The officials around him are all trying to avoid personal responsibility for the coming disaster. Pierre learns about the case of young Vereshchágin, a tradesman's son who translated and distributed a French proclamation. When caught, he refused to reveal his source, claiming he wrote it himself—even though everyone knew he got it from the Postmaster. Rather than expose the real source, Vereshchágin accepted condemnation to hard labor. Now his elderly father waits desperately to plead for his son's life. This chapter reveals how power works during crisis: those at the top create scapegoats to deflect blame, while those at the bottom often sacrifice themselves to protect the system. Pierre witnesses the machinery of propaganda and persecution, seeing how ordinary people become expendable when leaders need someone to blame. The story of the Vereshchágins—father and son caught in forces beyond their control—mirrors the larger tragedy of a nation where truth becomes treason and loyalty demands silence.
Coming Up in Chapter 240
Pierre will witness the brutal conclusion of the Vereshchágin affair, seeing firsthand how a desperate leader sacrifices an innocent man to maintain his own authority. The encounter will force Pierre to confront uncomfortable truths about power, justice, and his own complicity in the system.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
On the thirtieth of August Pierre reached Moscow. Close to the gates of the city he was met by Count Rostopchín’s adjutant. “We have been looking for you everywhere,” said the adjutant. “The count wants to see you particularly. He asks you to come to him at once on a very important matter.” Without going home, Pierre took a cab and drove to see the Moscow commander in chief. Count Rostopchín had only that morning returned to town from his summer villa at Sokólniki. The anteroom and reception room of his house were full of officials who had been summoned or had come for orders. Vasílchikov and Plátov had already seen the count and explained to him that it was impossible to defend Moscow and that it would have to be surrendered. Though this news was being concealed from the inhabitants, the officials—the heads of the various government departments—knew that Moscow would soon be in the enemy’s hands, just as Count Rostopchín himself knew it, and to escape personal responsibility they had all come to the governor to ask how they were to deal with their various departments. As Pierre was entering the reception room a courier from the army came out of Rostopchín’s private room. In answer to questions with which he was greeted, the courier made a despairing gesture with his hand and passed through the room. While waiting in the reception room Pierre with weary eyes watched the various officials, old and young, military and civilian, who were there. They all seemed dissatisfied and uneasy. Pierre went up to a group of men, one of whom he knew. After greeting Pierre they continued their conversation. “If they’re sent out and brought back again later on it will do no harm, but as things are now one can’t answer for anything.” “But you see what he writes...” said another, pointing to a printed sheet he held in his hand. “That’s another matter. That’s necessary for the people,” said the first. “What is it?” asked Pierre. “Oh, it’s a fresh broadsheet.” Pierre took it and began reading. His Serene Highness has passed through Mozháysk in order to join up with the troops moving toward him and has taken up a strong position where the enemy will not soon attack him. Forty-eight guns with ammunition have been sent him from here, and his Serene Highness says he will defend Moscow to the last drop of blood and is even ready to fight in the streets. Do not be upset, brothers, that the law courts are closed; things have to be put in order, and we will deal with villains in our own way! When the time comes I shall want both town and peasant lads and will raise the cry a day or two beforehand, but they are not wanted yet so I hold my peace. An ax will be useful, a hunting spear not bad, but a three-pronged fork will be best of all: a Frenchman is no heavier...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Scapegoat Creation
Power structures create impossible situations then position others to absorb the consequences when failure inevitably occurs.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot when authority figures create impossible situations then manufacture scapegoats to absorb the consequences.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone in authority promises something unrealistic—then watch who gets blamed when it inevitably fails.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Scapegoating
When leaders blame one person or group for larger problems to deflect responsibility from themselves. Rostopchín needs someone to blame for Moscow's fall, so he targets Vereshchágin, a young man who translated French propaganda.
Modern Usage:
Politicians blame immigrants for economic problems, or companies fire a few employees after scandals instead of changing leadership.
Propaganda
Information designed to influence public opinion rather than inform truthfully. Rostopchín publishes broadsheets promising to defend Moscow while secretly planning to abandon it.
Modern Usage:
Social media posts that twist facts to support a political candidate, or corporate PR that makes layoffs sound like 'restructuring for growth.'
Plausible Deniability
Arranging things so you can deny knowledge or responsibility when something goes wrong. Officials flock to Rostopchín asking for orders so they can later say 'I was just following instructions.'
Modern Usage:
Managers who give vague instructions so they can blame employees if things fail, or politicians who use intermediaries for dirty work.
Moral Courage
Standing up for what's right even when it costs you personally. Young Vereshchágin refuses to expose his source and accepts punishment, protecting someone else at his own expense.
Modern Usage:
Whistleblowers who report corporate corruption knowing they'll lose their jobs, or employees who refuse to lie for their boss.
Institutional Betrayal
When the systems meant to protect people instead sacrifice them for political convenience. The government that should protect Vereshchágin instead makes him a public enemy.
Modern Usage:
Hospitals firing nurses who speak up about unsafe conditions, or schools punishing teachers who report problems instead of fixing them.
Crisis Leadership
How leaders behave when facing disaster - either taking responsibility or passing blame downward. Rostopchín chooses self-preservation over honest leadership during Moscow's crisis.
Modern Usage:
CEOs who get bonuses while laying off workers during 'tough times,' or politicians who blame past administrations instead of solving current problems.
Characters in This Chapter
Pierre
Observer protagonist
Returns to Moscow and witnesses the chaos of a leadership in denial. His presence allows us to see the corruption and cowardice of those in power through fresh eyes.
Modern Equivalent:
The employee who comes back from vacation to find the office in crisis mode
Count Rostopchín
Corrupt authority figure
Moscow's governor who publicly promises to defend the city while privately planning to flee. He creates scapegoats like Vereshchágin to deflect blame from his own failures.
Modern Equivalent:
The politician who blames others for problems while secretly cutting deals to save himself
Young Vereshchágin
Tragic scapegoat
A tradesman's son condemned for translating French propaganda. He protects his source by claiming he wrote it himself, showing moral courage that contrasts sharply with the cowardice around him.
Modern Equivalent:
The low-level employee who takes the fall for management's bad decisions
Old Vereshchágin
Desperate father
Waits to plead for his son's life, representing all the ordinary people destroyed by political games they never chose to play. His suffering shows the human cost of scapegoating.
Modern Equivalent:
The parent trying to navigate bureaucracy to help their kid who got caught up in something bigger than themselves
The Officials
Self-serving bureaucrats
Flood Rostopchín's office seeking orders so they can later claim they were just following instructions. They know Moscow will fall but care only about covering themselves.
Modern Equivalent:
Middle management asking for everything in writing so they can't be blamed when things go wrong
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Though this news was being concealed from the inhabitants, the officials knew that Moscow would soon be in the enemy's hands."
Context: Describing how leadership knows the truth but lies to the public
This reveals the fundamental dishonesty of power - those in charge often know disasters are coming but hide the truth to avoid panic or blame. It shows how ordinary people are kept in the dark while elites prepare their escape plans.
In Today's Words:
The bosses knew the company was going under, but they kept telling everyone everything was fine.
"To escape personal responsibility they had all come to the governor to ask how they were to deal with their various departments."
Context: Explaining why officials are crowding Rostopchín's office
This exposes how bureaucracy works during crisis - everyone wants written orders so they can later say 'I was just doing what I was told.' It's about self-preservation, not public service.
In Today's Words:
They all wanted to get their orders in writing so they couldn't be blamed later.
"He refused to say from whom he had obtained the proclamation and declared that he had written it himself."
Context: Describing young Vereshchágin's refusal to expose his source
This shows real moral courage - accepting punishment to protect someone else. It contrasts sharply with all the officials trying to save themselves, highlighting how rare true integrity is.
In Today's Words:
He took the blame rather than throw someone else under the bus.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
Rostopchín wields authority through propaganda and scapegoating, avoiding personal accountability
Development
Evolved from earlier military power struggles to civilian political manipulation
In Your Life:
You might see this when bosses make impossible demands then blame staff for failures
Truth
In This Chapter
Truth becomes treason as Vereshchágin faces punishment for distributing facts
Development
Continues the theme of truth being subordinated to political necessity
In Your Life:
You might face this when speaking up about problems gets you labeled as disloyal
Sacrifice
In This Chapter
Vereshchágin protects the real source by accepting blame and punishment himself
Development
Builds on earlier themes of personal sacrifice for larger causes
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you cover for others' mistakes to maintain team harmony
Class
In This Chapter
The tradesman's son becomes expendable while the Postmaster remains protected
Development
Continues showing how social position determines who pays the price
In Your Life:
You might see this when lower-level employees get fired while executives keep their jobs
Family
In This Chapter
Vereshchágin's elderly father desperately seeks to save his condemned son
Development
Shows how political consequences devastate innocent family members
In Your Life:
You might experience this when your choices affect your family's reputation or security
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Count Rostopchín publish propaganda promising to defend Moscow when he knows the city will fall?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does young Vereshchágin choose to accept condemnation rather than reveal his source for the French proclamation?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people in authority create impossible situations while positioning themselves to escape the consequences?
application • medium - 4
How would you protect yourself if you recognized you were being set up as a scapegoat in your workplace or family?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the difference between loyalty and enabling someone's irresponsibility?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Scapegoat Pattern
Think of a current situation where someone in authority is making promises they can't keep or creating unrealistic expectations. Draw a simple diagram showing who makes the decisions, who gets blamed when things go wrong, and who actually pays the consequences. Then identify what warning signs you could watch for to avoid becoming the scapegoat.
Consider:
- •Look for gaps between public promises and private preparations
- •Notice who has the power to make decisions versus who gets held responsible
- •Pay attention to how blame flows downward while credit flows upward
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were blamed for something that wasn't entirely your fault. What systemic issues or impossible expectations contributed to the situation? How might you handle it differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 240: Pierre's Dangerous Associations
In the next chapter, you'll discover political associations can become liabilities during times of crisis, and learn the way authority figures use fear to control and manipulate others. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.