An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1519 words)
ónya’s letter written from Tróitsa, which had come as an answer to
Nicholas’ prayer, was prompted by this: the thought of getting Nicholas
married to an heiress occupied the old countess’ mind more and more. She
knew that Sónya was the chief obstacle to this happening, and Sónya’s
life in the countess’ house had grown harder and harder, especially
after they had received a letter from Nicholas telling of his meeting
with Princess Mary in Boguchárovo. The countess let no occasion slip of
making humiliating or cruel allusions to Sónya.
But a few days before they left Moscow, moved and excited by all that
was going on, she called Sónya to her and, instead of reproaching and
making demands on her, tearfully implored her to sacrifice herself
and repay all that the family had done for her by breaking off her
engagement with Nicholas.
“I shall not be at peace till you promise me this.”
Sónya burst into hysterical tears and replied through her sobs that
she would do anything and was prepared for anything, but gave no actual
promise and could not bring herself to decide to do what was demanded
of her. She must sacrifice herself for the family that had reared and
brought her up. To sacrifice herself for others was Sónya’s habit. Her
position in the house was such that only by sacrifice could she show her
worth, and she was accustomed to this and loved doing it. But in all her
former acts of self-sacrifice she had been happily conscious that they
raised her in her own esteem and in that of others, and so made her more
worthy of Nicholas whom she loved more than anything in the world. But
now they wanted her to sacrifice the very thing that constituted the
whole reward for her self-sacrifice and the whole meaning of her life.
And for the first time she felt bitterness against those who had been
her benefactors only to torture her the more painfully; she felt jealous
of Natásha who had never experienced anything of this sort, had never
needed to sacrifice herself, but made others sacrifice themselves for
her and yet was beloved by everybody. And for the first time Sónya felt
that out of her pure, quiet love for Nicholas a passionate feeling
was beginning to grow up which was stronger than principle, virtue,
or religion. Under the influence of this feeling Sónya, whose life of
dependence had taught her involuntarily to be secretive, having answered
the countess in vague general terms, avoided talking with her and
resolved to wait till she should see Nicholas, not in order to set him
free but on the contrary at that meeting to bind him to her forever.
The bustle and terror of the Rostóvs’ last days in Moscow stifled the
gloomy thoughts that oppressed Sónya. She was glad to find escape
from them in practical activity. But when she heard of Prince Andrew’s
presence in their house, despite her sincere pity for him and for
Natásha, she was seized by a joyful and superstitious feeling that God
did not intend her to be separated from Nicholas. She knew that Natásha
loved no one but Prince Andrew and had never ceased to love him. She
knew that being thrown together again under such terrible circumstances
they would again fall in love with one another, and that Nicholas would
then not be able to marry Princess Mary as they would be within the
prohibited degrees of affinity. Despite all the terror of what had
happened during those last days and during the first days of their
journey, this feeling that Providence was intervening in her personal
affairs cheered Sónya.
At the Tróitsa monastery the Rostóvs first broke their journey for a
whole day.
Three large rooms were assigned to them in the monastery hostelry, one
of which was occupied by Prince Andrew. The wounded man was much better
that day and Natásha was sitting with him. In the next room sat the
count and countess respectfully conversing with the prior, who was
calling on them as old acquaintances and benefactors of the monastery.
Sónya was there too, tormented by curiosity as to what Prince Andrew and
Natásha were talking about. She heard the sound of their voices through
the door. That door opened and Natásha came out, looking excited. Not
noticing the monk, who had risen to greet her and was drawing back the
wide sleeve on his right arm, she went up to Sónya and took her hand.
“Natásha, what are you about? Come here!” said the countess.
Natásha went up to the monk for his blessing, and he advised her to pray
for aid to God and His saint.
As soon as the prior withdrew, Natásha took her friend by the hand and
went with her into the unoccupied room.
“Sónya, will he live?” she asked. “Sónya, how happy I am, and how
unhappy!... Sónya, dovey, everything is as it used to be. If only he
lives! He cannot... because... because... of...” and Natásha burst into
tears.
“Yes! I knew it! Thank God!” murmured Sónya. “He will live.”
Sónya was not less agitated than her friend by the latter’s fear and
grief and by her own personal feelings which she shared with no one.
Sobbing, she kissed and comforted Natásha. “If only he lives!” she
thought. Having wept, talked, and wiped away their tears, the two
friends went together to Prince Andrew’s door. Natásha opened it
cautiously and glanced into the room, Sónya standing beside her at the
half-open door.
Prince Andrew was lying raised high on three pillows. His pale face was
calm, his eyes closed, and they could see his regular breathing.
“O, Natásha!” Sónya suddenly almost screamed, catching her companion’s
arm and stepping back from the door.
“What? What is it?” asked Natásha.
“It’s that, that...” said Sónya, with a white face and trembling lips.
Natásha softly closed the door and went with Sónya to the window, not
yet understanding what the latter was telling her.
“You remember,” said Sónya with a solemn and frightened expression.
“You remember when I looked in the mirror for you... at Otrádnoe at
Christmas? Do you remember what I saw?”
“Yes, yes!” cried Natásha opening her eyes wide, and vaguely recalling
that Sónya had told her something about Prince Andrew whom she had seen
lying down.
“You remember?” Sónya went on. “I saw it then and told everybody, you
and Dunyásha. I saw him lying on a bed,” said she, making a gesture with
her hand and a lifted finger at each detail, “and that he had his eyes
closed and was covered just with a pink quilt, and that his hands were
folded,” she concluded, convincing herself that the details she had just
seen were exactly what she had seen in the mirror.
She had in fact seen nothing then but had mentioned the first thing that
came into her head, but what she had invented then seemed to her now
as real as any other recollection. She not only remembered what she had
then said—that he turned to look at her and smiled and was covered with
something red—but was firmly convinced that she had then seen and said
that he was covered with a pink quilt and that his eyes were closed.
“Yes, yes, it really was pink!” cried Natásha, who now thought she
too remembered the word pink being used, and saw in this the most
extraordinary and mysterious part of the prediction.
“But what does it mean?” she added meditatively.
“Oh, I don’t know, it is all so strange,” replied Sónya, clutching at
her head.
A few minutes later Prince Andrew rang and Natásha went to him, but
Sónya, feeling unusually excited and touched, remained at the window
thinking about the strangeness of what had occurred.
They had an opportunity that day to send letters to the army, and the
countess was writing to her son.
“Sónya!” said the countess, raising her eyes from her letter as her
niece passed, “Sónya, won’t you write to Nicholas?” She spoke in a soft,
tremulous voice, and in the weary eyes that looked over her spectacles
Sónya read all that the countess meant to convey with these words. Those
eyes expressed entreaty, shame at having to ask, fear of a refusal, and
readiness for relentless hatred in case of such refusal.
Sónya went up to the countess and, kneeling down, kissed her hand.
“Yes, Mamma, I will write,” said she.
Sónya was softened, excited, and touched by all that had occurred that
day, especially by the mysterious fulfillment she had just seen of her
vision. Now that she knew that the renewal of Natásha’s relations with
Prince Andrew would prevent Nicholas from marrying Princess Mary, she
was joyfully conscious of a return of that self-sacrificing spirit in
which she was accustomed to live and loved to live. So with a joyful
consciousness of performing a magnanimous deed—interrupted several times
by the tears that dimmed her velvety black eyes—she wrote that touching
letter the arrival of which had so amazed Nicholas.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
When people reframe selfish or harmful actions as noble sacrifices to preserve their moral self-image while getting what they need.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when we craft elaborate moral justifications for choices that conveniently serve our self-interest.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when your noble reasons for a decision perfectly align with what you want anyway—that's usually your real motivation talking.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I shall not be at peace till you promise me this."
Context: When demanding that Sonya break her engagement with Nicholas
This reveals the countess's selfishness disguised as family concern. She's making her own peace of mind Sonya's responsibility, using emotional manipulation to force compliance.
In Today's Words:
You need to do this thing that will destroy you so I can sleep at night.
"To sacrifice herself for others was Sonya's habit."
Context: Explaining why Sonya finds this demand so impossible to refuse
This shows how Sonya's entire identity is built on self-denial. Her 'virtue' has become a trap that others exploit, leaving her unable to advocate for herself when it truly matters.
In Today's Words:
She was so used to putting everyone else first that she didn't know how to say no.
"Her position in the house was such that only by sacrifice could she show her worth."
Context: Describing Sonya's impossible situation as a dependent
This reveals the cruel dynamic where Sonya must constantly prove she deserves to exist in the household. Her worth is conditional on her willingness to give up what she wants.
In Today's Words:
She had to keep proving she deserved to be there by giving up everything that mattered to her.
"She would do anything and was prepared for anything, but gave no actual promise."
Context: Sonya's response to the countess's demand
This shows Sonya's internal conflict between her habitual compliance and her desperate need to preserve the one thing that gives her life meaning. She's buying time while her heart rebels.
In Today's Words:
She said all the right words without actually agreeing to destroy her own life.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Sónya's entire sense of self crumbles when asked to sacrifice her engagement—the one thing that makes her feel valuable beyond servitude
Development
Evolved from earlier themes of characters finding identity through roles to showing what happens when core identity is threatened
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when your job title, relationship status, or caregiving role becomes so central to who you are that losing it feels like death.
Manipulation
In This Chapter
Sónya transforms an old lie about a vision into divine confirmation that justifies her actions against Nicholas and Natásha
Development
Builds on earlier patterns of self-deception to show how people manipulate even spiritual beliefs to serve their needs
In Your Life:
You might see this when you find yourself interpreting signs, coincidences, or advice in ways that support what you already want to do.
Class
In This Chapter
The family pressures Sónya precisely because her dependent status makes her vulnerable—they can demand sacrifices they'd never ask of equals
Development
Continues exploring how economic dependence creates emotional exploitation opportunities
In Your Life:
You might experience this when family, employers, or partners use your financial dependence to pressure you into choices that serve their interests.
Sacrifice
In This Chapter
Sónya's years of genuine self-sacrifice have created an identity trap—she can only feel worthy through giving up what she wants
Development
Shows the dark evolution of earlier noble sacrifice themes—how healthy giving can become compulsive self-erasure
In Your Life:
You might recognize this pattern when you realize you only feel valuable when you're helping others or giving something up.
Desperation
In This Chapter
Facing the loss of Nicholas transforms Sónya's pure love into something possessive and calculating, showing how desperation corrupts even genuine feelings
Development
Introduced here as a new theme showing how extreme pressure can fundamentally alter character
In Your Life:
You might see this when financial stress, relationship threats, or job insecurity make you act in ways that surprise and disappoint you.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What impossible choice does the family force on Sónya, and why is it so devastating to her specifically?
analysis • surface - 2
How does Sónya transform her old lie about a vision into proof that she's doing the right thing? What does this reveal about how desperate people justify their actions?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people convince themselves that hurting someone else is actually noble or necessary? What warning signs indicate when someone is rewriting their motives?
application • medium - 4
If you were in Sónya's position—facing the loss of everything that gives your life meaning—how could you make this choice without corrupting your moral compass?
application • deep - 5
What does Sónya's transformation teach us about the danger of building your identity entirely around serving others? How can self-sacrifice become toxic?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Moral Blind Spots
Think of a recent decision where you had to choose between your needs and someone else's wellbeing. Write down your official reason for the choice, then write down what you really wanted to happen. Notice any gap between your stated motives and your actual desires. This isn't about judging yourself—it's about recognizing when self-interest masquerades as virtue.
Consider:
- •Look for elaborate moral explanations that perfectly align with what you wanted anyway
- •Notice if you found 'signs' or 'confirmations' that supported your preferred choice
- •Consider whether you would accept the same reasoning from someone else in your situation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone claimed they were hurting you 'for your own good.' How did you recognize their real motives? What would honest communication have looked like instead?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 272: The Machinery of Justice
The consequences of Sónya's letter will soon reach Nicholas, setting off a chain of events that will test every relationship in the Rostov family. Meanwhile, the war continues to reshape everyone's destiny in ways they never imagined.
