An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1169 words)
hat same evening there was an animated discussion among the
squadron’s officers in Denísov’s quarters.
“And I tell you, Rostóv, that you must apologize to the colonel!”
said a tall, grizzly-haired staff captain, with enormous mustaches and
many wrinkles on his large features, to Rostóv who was crimson with
excitement.
The staff captain, Kírsten, had twice been reduced to the ranks for
affairs of honor and had twice regained his commission.
“I will allow no one to call me a liar!” cried Rostóv. “He told
me I lied, and I told him he lied. And there it rests. He may keep me
on duty every day, or may place me under arrest, but no one can make
me apologize, because if he, as commander of this regiment, thinks it
beneath his dignity to give me satisfaction, then...”
“You just wait a moment, my dear fellow, and listen,” interrupted
the staff captain in his deep bass, calmly stroking his long mustache.
“You tell the colonel in the presence of other officers that an
officer has stolen...”
“I’m not to blame that the conversation began in the presence of
other officers. Perhaps I ought not to have spoken before them, but I am
not a diplomatist. That’s why I joined the hussars, thinking that here
one would not need finesse; and he tells me that I am lying—so let him
give me satisfaction...”
“That’s all right. No one thinks you a coward, but that’s not the
point. Ask Denísov whether it is not out of the question for a cadet to
demand satisfaction of his regimental commander?”
Denísov sat gloomily biting his mustache and listening to the
conversation, evidently with no wish to take part in it. He answered the
staff captain’s question by a disapproving shake of his head.
“You speak to the colonel about this nasty business before other
officers,” continued the staff captain, “and Bogdánich” (the
colonel was called Bogdánich) “shuts you up.”
“He did not shut me up, he said I was telling an untruth.”
“Well, have it so, and you talked a lot of nonsense to him and must
apologize.”
“Not on any account!” exclaimed Rostóv.
“I did not expect this of you,” said the staff captain seriously and
severely. “You don’t wish to apologize, but, man, it’s not only to
him but to the whole regiment—all of us—you’re to blame all round.
The case is this: you ought to have thought the matter over and
taken advice; but no, you go and blurt it all straight out before the
officers. Now what was the colonel to do? Have the officer tried and
disgrace the whole regiment? Disgrace the whole regiment because of one
scoundrel? Is that how you look at it? We don’t see it like that. And
Bogdánich was a brick: he told you you were saying what was not true.
It’s not pleasant, but what’s to be done, my dear fellow? You landed
yourself in it. And now, when one wants to smooth the thing over, some
conceit prevents your apologizing, and you wish to make the whole
affair public. You are offended at being put on duty a bit, but why not
apologize to an old and honorable officer? Whatever Bogdánich may
be, anyway he is an honorable and brave old colonel! You’re quick at
taking offense, but you don’t mind disgracing the whole regiment!”
The staff captain’s voice began to tremble. “You have been in the
regiment next to no time, my lad, you’re here today and tomorrow
you’ll be appointed adjutant somewhere and can snap your fingers when
it is said ‘There are thieves among the Pávlograd officers!’ But
it’s not all the same to us! Am I not right, Denísov? It’s not the
same!”
Denísov remained silent and did not move, but occasionally looked with
his glittering black eyes at Rostóv.
“You value your own pride and don’t wish to apologize,” continued
the staff captain, “but we old fellows, who have grown up in and, God
willing, are going to die in the regiment, we prize the honor of the
regiment, and Bogdánich knows it. Oh, we do prize it, old fellow! And
all this is not right, it’s not right! You may take offense or not but
I always stick to mother truth. It’s not right!”
And the staff captain rose and turned away from Rostóv.
“That’s twue, devil take it!” shouted Denísov, jumping up. “Now
then, Wostóv, now then!”
Rostóv, growing red and pale alternately, looked first at one officer
and then at the other.
“No, gentlemen, no... you mustn’t think... I quite understand.
You’re wrong to think that of me... I... for me... for the honor of
the regiment I’d... Ah well, I’ll show that in action, and for me
the honor of the flag... Well, never mind, it’s true I’m to blame,
to blame all round. Well, what else do you want?...”
“Come, that’s right, Count!” cried the staff captain, turning
round and clapping Rostóv on the shoulder with his big hand.
“I tell you,” shouted Denísov, “he’s a fine fellow.”
“That’s better, Count,” said the staff captain, beginning to
address Rostóv by his title, as if in recognition of his confession.
“Go and apologize, your excellency. Yes, go!”
“Gentlemen, I’ll do anything. No one shall hear a word from me,”
said Rostóv in an imploring voice, “but I can’t apologize, by God I
can’t, do what you will! How can I go and apologize like a little boy
asking forgiveness?”
Denísov began to laugh.
“It’ll be worse for you. Bogdánich is vindictive and you’ll pay
for your obstinacy,” said Kírsten.
“No, on my word it’s not obstinacy! I can’t describe the feeling.
I can’t...”
“Well, it’s as you like,” said the staff captain. “And what has
become of that scoundrel?” he asked Denísov.
“He has weported himself sick, he’s to be stwuck off the list
tomowwow,” muttered Denísov.
“It is an illness, there’s no other way of explaining it,” said
the staff captain.
“Illness or not, he’d better not cwoss my path. I’d kill him!”
shouted Denísov in a bloodthirsty tone.
Just then Zherkóv entered the room.
“What brings you here?” cried the officers turning to the newcomer.
“We’re to go into action, gentlemen! Mack has surrendered with his
whole army.”
“It’s not true!”
“I’ve seen him myself!”
“What? Saw the real Mack? With hands and feet?”
“Into action! Into action! Bring him a bottle for such news! But how
did you come here?”
“I’ve been sent back to the regiment all on account of that devil,
Mack. An Austrian general complained of me. I congratulated him on
Mack’s arrival... What’s the matter, Rostóv? You look as if you’d
just come out of a hot bath.”
“Oh, my dear fellow, we’re in such a stew here these last two
days.”
The regimental adjutant came in and confirmed the news brought by
Zherkóv. They were under orders to advance next day.
“We’re going into action, gentlemen!”
“Well, thank God! We’ve been sitting here too long!”
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
When personal principles conflict with group loyalty, creating false choices that escalate until external events provide escape.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how institutions use group loyalty to silence individual conscience—and how to resist without destroying relationships.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone frames your legitimate concern as 'not being a team player'—that's often institutional pressure disguised as loyalty.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I will allow no one to call me a liar!"
Context: Rostóv explaining why he can't apologize to the colonel
This shows how pride can become a trap. Rostóv is so focused on his personal honor that he can't see the bigger picture. His refusal to bend is actually creating more problems than the original accusation.
In Today's Words:
Nobody gets to disrespect me like that!
"You tell the colonel in the presence of other officers that an officer has stolen..."
Context: Kírsten explaining why Rostóv's public accusation created such a serious problem
Kírsten understands that timing and audience matter. Making accusations publicly forces everyone to take sides and escalates what could have been handled privately.
In Today's Words:
You called someone a thief in front of the whole office...
"That's why I joined the hussars, thinking that here one would not need finesse"
Context: Rostóv defending his blunt approach to the conflict
Rostóv reveals his naivety about military life. He thought joining an elite unit meant he could be completely direct, but every workplace has politics and diplomacy.
In Today's Words:
I thought this job would be straightforward, not full of office politics
Thematic Threads
Pride
In This Chapter
Rostóv's inability to apologize because it would feel like becoming 'a little boy asking forgiveness'
Development
Evolved from earlier chapters showing pride as social currency to now revealing pride as potential liability
In Your Life:
When your ego makes it impossible to back down even when backing down would solve the problem
Institutional Loyalty
In This Chapter
Kírsten's harsh lesson that individual actions affect regimental honor and everyone's reputation
Development
Building on earlier themes of military hierarchy to show how institutions pressure individuals
In Your Life:
When your workplace or family demands you sacrifice personal principles for group harmony
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The unspoken rules about how officers should behave and resolve conflicts within the regiment
Development
Continues exploration of how social codes govern behavior even when they conflict with personal values
In Your Life:
When the 'right' way to handle something according to others feels wrong to you personally
Moral Complexity
In This Chapter
No clear right answer—both apologizing and refusing have legitimate moral arguments
Development
Deepening from earlier chapters to show how moral choices often involve competing valid principles
In Your Life:
When you face decisions where every option feels like betraying something important to you
External Forces
In This Chapter
War news arrives just as the conflict reaches breaking point, providing unexpected resolution
Development
Introduced here as theme of how outside events can reshape seemingly impossible situations
In Your Life:
When circumstances beyond your control suddenly change the whole dynamic of a personal conflict
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What exactly is Rostóv being asked to do, and why does he find it so difficult?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Captain Kírsten argue that Rostóv's refusal to apologize hurts more than just himself?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this same conflict today—between standing up for yourself and protecting your team or family?
application • medium - 4
If you were advising Rostóv, what third option might you suggest that doesn't require him to either humiliate himself or damage his regiment?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how our pride can trap us in situations where every choice feels like a betrayal?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Competing Loyalties
Think of a current situation where you feel caught between standing up for yourself and keeping peace with a group (family, work team, friend circle). Draw three columns: 'Loyalty to Self', 'Loyalty to Group', and 'Third Options'. Fill in what each loyalty demands of you, then brainstorm creative solutions that honor both.
Consider:
- •Consider whether the conflict is really about principle or about not wanting to look weak
- •Think about what outcome you actually want, not just what you want to avoid
- •Look for ways to address the real underlying issue rather than just the surface disagreement
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you chose group harmony over personal principles, or personal principles over group harmony. What did you learn about the costs of each choice?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 34: War Games and Nervous Energy
With news of General Mack's surrender and orders to advance into battle, the regiment's personal conflicts suddenly seem small against the backdrop of real war. Rostóv's honor dispute will soon be tested in actual combat.
