An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1357 words)
aving thanked Anna Pávlovna for her charming soiree, the guests began
to take their leave.
Pierre was ungainly. Stout, about the average height, broad, with huge
red hands; he did not know, as the saying is, how to enter a drawing
room and still less how to leave one; that is, how to say something
particularly agreeable before going away. Besides this he was
absent-minded. When he rose to go, he took up instead of his own, the
general’s three-cornered hat, and held it, pulling at the plume,
till the general asked him to restore it. All his absent-mindedness and
inability to enter a room and converse in it was, however, redeemed by
his kindly, simple, and modest expression. Anna Pávlovna turned toward
him and, with a Christian mildness that expressed forgiveness of his
indiscretion, nodded and said: “I hope to see you again, but I also
hope you will change your opinions, my dear Monsieur Pierre.”
When she said this, he did not reply and only bowed, but again everybody
saw his smile, which said nothing, unless perhaps, “Opinions are
opinions, but you see what a capital, good-natured fellow I am.” And
everyone, including Anna Pávlovna, felt this.
Prince Andrew had gone out into the hall, and, turning his shoulders
to the footman who was helping him on with his cloak, listened
indifferently to his wife’s chatter with Prince Hippolyte who had also
come into the hall. Prince Hippolyte stood close to the pretty, pregnant
princess, and stared fixedly at her through his eyeglass.
“Go in, Annette, or you will catch cold,” said the little princess,
taking leave of Anna Pávlovna. “It is settled,” she added in a low
voice.
Anna Pávlovna had already managed to speak to Lise about the match she
contemplated between Anatole and the little princess’ sister-in-law.
“I rely on you, my dear,” said Anna Pávlovna, also in a low tone.
“Write to her and let me know how her father looks at the matter. Au
revoir! ”—and she left the hall.
Prince Hippolyte approached the little princess and, bending his face
close to her, began to whisper something.
Two footmen, the princess’ and his own, stood holding a shawl and
a cloak, waiting for the conversation to finish. They listened to
the French sentences which to them were meaningless, with an air of
understanding but not wishing to appear to do so. The princess as usual
spoke smilingly and listened with a laugh.
“I am very glad I did not go to the ambassador’s,” said Prince
Hippolyte “—so dull—. It has been a delightful evening, has it
not? Delightful!”
“They say the ball will be very good,” replied the princess, drawing
up her downy little lip. “All the pretty women in society will be
there.”
“Not all, for you will not be there; not all,” said Prince Hippolyte
smiling joyfully; and snatching the shawl from the footman, whom he
even pushed aside, he began wrapping it round the princess. Either from
awkwardness or intentionally (no one could have said which) after the
shawl had been adjusted he kept his arm around her for a long time, as
though embracing her.
Still smiling, she gracefully moved away, turning and glancing at her
husband. Prince Andrew’s eyes were closed, so weary and sleepy did he
seem.
“Are you ready?” he asked his wife, looking past her.
Prince Hippolyte hurriedly put on his cloak, which in the latest fashion
reached to his very heels, and, stumbling in it, ran out into the porch
following the princess, whom a footman was helping into the carriage.
“Princesse, au revoir,” cried he, stumbling with his tongue as well
as with his feet.
The princess, picking up her dress, was taking her seat in the dark
carriage, her husband was adjusting his saber; Prince Hippolyte, under
pretense of helping, was in everyone’s way.
“Allow me, sir,” said Prince Andrew in Russian in a cold,
disagreeable tone to Prince Hippolyte who was blocking his path.
“I am expecting you, Pierre,” said the same voice, but gently and
affectionately.
The postilion started, the carriage wheels rattled. Prince Hippolyte
laughed spasmodically as he stood in the porch waiting for the vicomte
whom he had promised to take home.
“Well, mon cher,” said the vicomte, having seated himself beside
Hippolyte in the carriage, “your little princess is very nice, very
nice indeed, quite French,” and he kissed the tips of his fingers.
Hippolyte burst out laughing.
“Do you know, you are a terrible chap for all your innocent airs,”
continued the vicomte. “I pity the poor husband, that little officer
who gives himself the airs of a monarch.”
Hippolyte spluttered again, and amid his laughter said, “And you were
saying that the Russian ladies are not equal to the French? One has to
know how to deal with them.”
Pierre reaching the house first went into Prince Andrew’s study like
one quite at home, and from habit immediately lay down on the sofa, took
from the shelf the first book that came to his hand (it was Caesar’s
Commentaries), and resting on his elbow, began reading it in the middle.
“What have you done to Mlle Schérer? She will be quite ill now,”
said Prince Andrew, as he entered the study, rubbing his small white
hands.
Pierre turned his whole body, making the sofa creak. He lifted his eager
face to Prince Andrew, smiled, and waved his hand.
“That abbé is very interesting but he does not see the thing in the
right light.... In my opinion perpetual peace is possible but—I do not
know how to express it ... not by a balance of political power....”
It was evident that Prince Andrew was not interested in such abstract
conversation.
“One can’t everywhere say all one thinks, mon cher. Well, have
you at last decided on anything? Are you going to be a guardsman or a
diplomatist?” asked Prince Andrew after a momentary silence.
Pierre sat up on the sofa, with his legs tucked under him.
“Really, I don’t yet know. I don’t like either the one or the
other.”
“But you must decide on something! Your father expects it.”
Pierre at the age of ten had been sent abroad with an abbé as tutor,
and had remained away till he was twenty. When he returned to Moscow
his father dismissed the abbé and said to the young man, “Now go
to Petersburg, look round, and choose your profession. I will agree to
anything. Here is a letter to Prince Vasíli, and here is money. Write
to me all about it, and I will help you in everything.” Pierre had
already been choosing a career for three months, and had not decided
on anything. It was about this choice that Prince Andrew was speaking.
Pierre rubbed his forehead.
“But he must be a Freemason,” said he, referring to the abbé whom
he had met that evening.
“That is all nonsense.” Prince Andrew again interrupted him, “let
us talk business. Have you been to the Horse Guards?”
“No, I have not; but this is what I have been thinking and wanted
to tell you. There is a war now against Napoleon. If it were a war for
freedom I could understand it and should be the first to enter the army;
but to help England and Austria against the greatest man in the world is
not right.”
Prince Andrew only shrugged his shoulders at Pierre’s childish words.
He put on the air of one who finds it impossible to reply to such
nonsense, but it would in fact have been difficult to give any other
answer than the one Prince Andrew gave to this naïve question.
“If no one fought except on his own conviction, there would be no
wars,” he said.
“And that would be splendid,” said Pierre.
Prince Andrew smiled ironically.
“Very likely it would be splendid, but it will never come about....”
“Well, why are you going to the war?” asked Pierre.
“What for? I don’t know. I must. Besides that I am going....” He
paused. “I am going because the life I am leading here does not suit
me!”
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Let's Analyse the Pattern
We judge people by social polish and confidence when we should evaluate them by character and consistent actions.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to separate someone's social polish from their actual integrity and intentions.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's smooth delivery doesn't match their follow-through, or when someone awkward consistently shows up for others.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I hope to see you again, but I also hope you will change your opinions, my dear Monsieur Pierre."
Context: Said as Pierre is leaving the salon after his awkward goodbye
Shows how social hosts try to control not just behavior but thoughts. Anna Pávlovna can't just let Pierre be himself—she needs him to think the 'right' way too. It reveals the suffocating nature of high society.
In Today's Words:
Nice seeing you, but I really hope you'll start thinking like the rest of us.
"Opinions are opinions, but you see what a capital, good-natured fellow I am."
Context: Pierre's wordless response to Anna Pávlovna's attempt to change his mind
Pierre doesn't argue or defend his views—his smile just says he's a good person regardless of his opinions. It shows his wisdom in not getting drawn into pointless debates and letting his character speak for itself.
In Today's Words:
We can disagree and I can still be a decent human being.
"I am going because the life I am leading here does not suit me!"
Context: When Pierre asks why Andrew is really going to war
This brutally honest admission reveals that Andrew's military service isn't about patriotism or duty—it's about escaping an unbearable domestic life. It shows how we often make major life changes for deeply personal, even desperate reasons.
In Today's Words:
I'm leaving because I can't stand my life here anymore!
Thematic Threads
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Pierre fails at salon etiquette but succeeds at human connection, while Hippolyte excels at social graces but violates basic decency
Development
Building from earlier salon scenes—now we see the consequences of prioritizing form over substance
In Your Life:
You might find yourself impressed by smooth talkers while overlooking the reliable, less polished people who actually deliver.
Identity
In This Chapter
Pierre struggles with career choices and moral questions about the war, seeking authentic purpose rather than social advancement
Development
Pierre's identity crisis deepens—he wants meaning, not just position
In Your Life:
You face similar pressure to choose careers based on status rather than what aligns with your values.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Andrew reveals he's going to war not for noble reasons but to escape his unhappy life—a moment of brutal self-awareness
Development
First glimpse of Andrew's inner truth beneath his cynical exterior
In Your Life:
You might recognize making major life changes for escape rather than growth—running from problems instead of solving them.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The contrast between Pierre's genuine care for others and Hippolyte's predatory charm toward Andrew's wife
Development
Introduced here as a key measure of character
In Your Life:
You can assess people's character by watching how they treat those in vulnerable positions.
Class
In This Chapter
Social polish and breeding are shown to be poor indicators of worth—Pierre's awkwardness versus Hippolyte's refinement
Development
Continues the theme that aristocratic manners don't equal moral superiority
In Your Life:
You might defer too much to people with credentials or smooth presentation while undervaluing authentic, less polished individuals.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does everyone feel drawn to Pierre despite his social awkwardness, while Hippolyte's smooth charm makes people uncomfortable?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Andrew's real reason for going to war ('the life I am leading here does not suit me') reveal about how we make major life decisions?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about your workplace or school. Who gets more respect - the smooth talkers or the genuine workers? How does this play out?
application • medium - 4
When you're evaluating someone's character, what specific behaviors do you look for beyond how confidently they speak?
application • deep - 5
Why do we often run toward dramatic changes (like Andrew joining the war) when we're unhappy, instead of addressing the real problems?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Character vs. Performance Audit
Think of three people you interact with regularly - at work, in your family, or in your community. For each person, write down what makes them seem competent or trustworthy at first glance, then write what you've observed about their actual character over time. Look for gaps between the surface impression and the deeper reality.
Consider:
- •Notice whether smooth communication always matches reliable follow-through
- •Consider how each person treats people who can't help them advance
- •Observe whether their private actions align with their public statements
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you misjudged someone based on their social polish (either positively or negatively). What did you learn about reading character versus reading performance?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 7: The Strain of War Preparations
Andrew's confession about escaping his current life opens a window into his marriage and the deeper unhappiness driving his choices. We're about to see more of what makes a war hero want to flee his own home.
