Summary
Berg arrives in Moscow on leave, more concerned with acquiring furniture for his wife than the approaching enemy. While the city prepares to evacuate, he asks his father-in-law Count Rostov for a cart to transport a chiffonier he wants to buy from a fleeing neighbor. The request comes at the worst possible moment—the Rostovs are struggling to pack their own belongings while wounded soldiers desperately need transportation out of the city. When Berg makes his tone-deaf request, Count Rostov explodes in frustration and storms out. The real conflict emerges between the count, who wants to give their carts to the wounded, and the countess, who prioritizes saving their possessions. Young Natasha becomes the moral voice of the family, passionately arguing that abandoning wounded soldiers would make them 'despicable Germans'—the ultimate insult for Russians facing Napoleon's invasion. Her emotional outburst shames her parents into doing the right thing. Once the decision is made, the entire household transforms with remarkable speed and enthusiasm. Servants who moments before were packing luxury items now eagerly load wounded soldiers into carts. The family sacrifices their belongings without hesitation, and neighboring wounded men flock to their yard seeking help. The chapter reveals how quickly people can shift from self-preservation to selfless action when given moral leadership and permission to follow their better angels.
Coming Up in Chapter 246
As the Rostovs complete their transformation from self-interest to sacrifice, the evacuation of Moscow accelerates. The family's decision will soon intersect with larger forces reshaping the city and the war itself.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Berg, the Rostóvs’ son-in-law, was already a colonel wearing the orders of Vladímir and Anna, and he still filled the quiet and agreeable post of assistant to the head of the staff of the assistant commander of the first division of the Second Army. On the first of September he had come to Moscow from the army. He had nothing to do in Moscow, but he had noticed that everyone in the army was asking for leave to visit Moscow and had something to do there. So he considered it necessary to ask for leave of absence for family and domestic reasons. Berg drove up to his father-in-law’s house in his spruce little trap with a pair of sleek roans, exactly like those of a certain prince. He looked attentively at the carts in the yard and while going up to the porch took out a clean pocket handkerchief and tied a knot in it. From the anteroom Berg ran with smooth though impatient steps into the drawing room, where he embraced the count, kissed the hands of Natásha and Sónya, and hastened to inquire after “Mamma’s” health. “Health, at a time like this?” said the count. “Come, tell us the news! Is the army retreating or will there be another battle?” “God Almighty alone can decide the fate of our fatherland, Papa,” said Berg. “The army is burning with a spirit of heroism and the leaders, so to say, have now assembled in council. No one knows what is coming. But in general I can tell you, Papa, that such a heroic spirit, the truly antique valor of the Russian army, which they—which it” (he corrected himself) “has shown or displayed in the battle of the twenty-sixth—there are no words worthy to do it justice! I tell you, Papa” (he smote himself on the breast as a general he had heard speaking had done, but Berg did it a trifle late for he should have struck his breast at the words “Russian army”), “I tell you frankly that we, the commanders, far from having to urge the men on or anything of that kind, could hardly restrain those... those... yes, those exploits of antique valor,” he went on rapidly. “General Barclay de Tolly risked his life everywhere at the head of the troops, I can assure you. Our corps was stationed on a hillside. You can imagine!” And Berg related all that he remembered of the various tales he had heard those days. Natásha watched him with an intent gaze that confused him, as if she were trying to find in his face the answer to some question. “Altogether such heroism as was displayed by the Russian warriors cannot be imagined or adequately praised!” said Berg, glancing round at Natásha, and as if anxious to conciliate her, replying to her intent look with a smile. “‘Russia is not in Moscow, she lives in the hearts of her sons!’ Isn’t it so, Papa?” said he. Just then the countess came...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Moral Permission - How Leadership Unlocks Our Better Angels
People often know the right thing to do but need social permission or leadership to act on their conscience.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how emergencies strip away pretense and reveal people's true values and priorities.
Practice This Today
Next time there's a workplace crisis or family emergency, notice who steps up to help versus who protects their own interests—it tells you everything about their character.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Social privilege during crisis
The way wealthy people often remain disconnected from real danger while others suffer. Berg has a comfortable military position far from battle and worries about furniture while Moscow faces invasion.
Modern Usage:
Like celebrities complaining about minor inconveniences during a pandemic while healthcare workers risk their lives.
Moral leadership
When someone speaks up to do what's right, even when it's uncomfortable or costly. Young people often serve as the moral conscience when adults get caught up in practical concerns.
Modern Usage:
Like teenagers leading climate protests while adults worry about economic impacts.
Tone-deaf timing
Making inappropriate requests or comments during serious situations, usually because you're focused on your own needs. Berg asking for furniture help while the city evacuates shows complete social blindness.
Modern Usage:
Like asking your boss for a raise on the day layoffs are announced.
Collective transformation
How groups of people can rapidly shift from selfish to selfless behavior once someone gives them permission or leadership. The Rostov household completely changes direction in minutes.
Modern Usage:
Like how neighborhoods mobilize to help during natural disasters once someone takes the first step.
Patriotic shame
Using national identity to motivate moral behavior. Natasha calls abandoning wounded soldiers 'acting like despicable Germans' to shame her family into helping.
Modern Usage:
Like saying 'That's not what Americans do' to encourage people to help their neighbors.
Material vs. moral priorities
The conflict between saving your stuff and doing what's right. The countess wants to protect their belongings while the count wants to help wounded soldiers.
Modern Usage:
Like choosing between protecting your property value and supporting affordable housing in your neighborhood.
Characters in This Chapter
Berg
Self-absorbed opportunist
Arrives in Moscow focused entirely on acquiring furniture for his wife while the city faces invasion. His tone-deaf request for help moving a chiffonier reveals how privilege can blind people to real crisis.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who asks to borrow your truck on moving day when you're dealing with a family emergency
Count Rostov
Conflicted patriarch
Wants to do the right thing by helping wounded soldiers but struggles against family pressure to save their possessions. Explodes at Berg's inappropriate request but needs his daughter's moral courage to follow through.
Modern Equivalent:
The dad who knows what's right but gets overwhelmed by family logistics and financial pressure
Countess Rostova
Practical protector
Prioritizes saving the family's belongings and financial security over helping wounded soldiers. Represents the natural instinct to protect your own family first, even when others are suffering more.
Modern Equivalent:
The mom who hoards supplies during shortages instead of sharing with neighbors in need
Natasha
Moral catalyst
Becomes the emotional and moral voice of the family, passionately arguing that abandoning wounded soldiers would make them 'despicable Germans.' Her outburst shames the adults into doing what they know is right.
Modern Equivalent:
The teenager who calls out their parents for being hypocrites about their values
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Health, at a time like this?"
Context: When Berg politely asks about everyone's health while Moscow prepares for invasion
Shows how crisis makes normal social pleasantries seem absurd. The count is incredulous that Berg can focus on small talk when their world is falling apart.
In Today's Words:
Are you seriously asking how we're doing right now?
"We would be despicable Germans if we abandoned these wounded men"
Context: When she argues against prioritizing their belongings over helping soldiers
Uses the ultimate insult for Russians facing Napoleon's invasion to shame her family into moral action. Shows how young people often serve as the conscience when adults get caught up in practical concerns.
In Today's Words:
We'd be no better than the enemy if we don't help people who need us
"The devil take it all! We have plenty of time!"
Context: After deciding to give their carts to wounded soldiers instead of saving possessions
Shows the relief and energy that comes from finally doing what you know is right. Once the moral decision is made, practical concerns seem less important.
In Today's Words:
Forget our stuff! We'll figure it out later!
Thematic Threads
Class Privilege
In This Chapter
Berg's tone-deaf furniture request while soldiers die shows how privilege creates moral blindness
Development
Evolved from earlier social climbing scenes to show privilege's ultimate cost
In Your Life:
You might miss others' real needs when focused on your own status concerns
Moral Leadership
In This Chapter
Natasha becomes the family's moral voice, shaming adults into right action
Development
Introduced here as youth challenging established authority
In Your Life:
Sometimes you need to be the one who says what everyone knows but won't admit
Crisis Transformation
In This Chapter
War forces the family to choose between possessions and human lives
Development
Building on earlier war themes, now showing personal moral tests
In Your Life:
Emergencies reveal what you truly value versus what you claim to value
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Count and countess trapped between duty to family and duty to humanity
Development
Continued exploration of how roles can conflict with conscience
In Your Life:
Your assigned role might prevent you from doing what you know is right
Collective Action
In This Chapter
Once decision is made, entire household transforms with enthusiasm
Development
Introduced here as rapid group moral alignment
In Your Life:
People often want to do good but need someone to make it socially acceptable first
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Berg's request for a cart to move furniture reveal about his priorities during a crisis?
analysis • surface - 2
Why were the Rostov parents initially torn between helping wounded soldiers and protecting their possessions?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of a time when everyone at your workplace or in your family knew something needed to change, but nobody spoke up. What was holding people back?
application • medium - 4
When have you been the person who finally said what everyone was thinking? What gave you the courage to speak first?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the difference between knowing what's right and having permission to act on it?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Identify the Permission-Giver
Think of three situations in your life where people seem stuck or hesitant to act, even though the right choice seems obvious. For each situation, identify what's holding people back and who could serve as the permission-giver to unlock action. This could be at work, in your family, or in your community.
Consider:
- •What social pressures or expectations are keeping people from acting?
- •Who has the credibility or position to give others permission to act?
- •What would need to happen for you to become the permission-giver in one of these situations?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you wish someone had given you permission to do what you knew was right. What would have changed if you had acted anyway? What's stopping you from being that permission-giver for others now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 246: Secrets in the Carriage
As the story unfolds, you'll explore to handle information that could devastate someone you love, while uncovering the weight of unspoken truths in family dynamics. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.