Summary
After the duel, Rostóv becomes friends with the recovering Dólokhov, who's being nursed by his adoring mother. She constantly defends her son, painting him as noble and misunderstood while blaming Pierre for the duel. Dólokhov himself puts on a philosophical act, claiming he only cares about a few people he loves deeply and dismissing most others as harmful, especially women he considers corrupt. He talks about seeking a pure woman who could redeem him. When the Rostóvs return to Moscow for winter, their house becomes a hub of young social life with Véra, Sónya, and Natásha attracting many suitors. Dólokhov becomes a regular visitor, clearly pursuing Sónya despite her obvious discomfort. While everyone else is charmed by him, Natásha sees through his act, insisting he's calculating and unnatural. She correctly predicts his interest in Sónya, which makes everyone uncomfortable except Dólokhov himself. Meanwhile, war preparations against Napoleon intensify, and Nicholas plans to return to his regiment after Christmas. This chapter reveals how manipulative people use family loyalty and philosophical talk to mask their true nature, while showing how some people—like Natásha—have an instinct for spotting phonies that others miss.
Coming Up in Chapter 79
As Dólokhov's pursuit of Sónya intensifies, the uncomfortable dynamics in the Rostóv household are about to reach a breaking point. Nicholas will be forced to confront what his friendship with Dólokhov really means for his family.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Rostóv’s share in Dólokhov’s duel with Bezúkhov was hushed up by the efforts of the old count, and instead of being degraded to the ranks as he expected he was appointed an adjutant to the governor general of Moscow. As a result he could not go to the country with the rest of the family, but was kept all summer in Moscow by his new duties. Dólokhov recovered, and Rostóv became very friendly with him during his convalescence. Dólokhov lay ill at his mother’s who loved him passionately and tenderly, and old Mary Ivánovna, who had grown fond of Rostóv for his friendship to her Fédya, often talked to him about her son. “Yes, Count,” she would say, “he is too noble and pure-souled for our present, depraved world. No one now loves virtue; it seems like a reproach to everyone. Now tell me, Count, was it right, was it honorable, of Bezúkhov? And Fédya, with his noble spirit, loved him and even now never says a word against him. Those pranks in Petersburg when they played some tricks on a policeman, didn’t they do it together? And there! Bezúkhov got off scotfree, while Fédya had to bear the whole burden on his shoulders. Fancy what he had to go through! It’s true he has been reinstated, but how could they fail to do that? I think there were not many such gallant sons of the fatherland out there as he. And now—this duel! Have these people no feeling, or honor? Knowing him to be an only son, to challenge him and shoot so straight! It’s well God had mercy on us. And what was it for? Who doesn’t have intrigues nowadays? Why, if he was so jealous, as I see things he should have shown it sooner, but he lets it go on for months. And then to call him out, reckoning on Fédya not fighting because he owed him money! What baseness! What meanness! I know you understand Fédya, my dear count; that, believe me, is why I am so fond of you. Few people do understand him. He is such a lofty, heavenly soul!” Dólokhov himself during his convalescence spoke to Rostóv in a way no one would have expected of him. “I know people consider me a bad man!” he said. “Let them! I don’t care a straw about anyone but those I love; but those I love, I love so that I would give my life for them, and the others I’d throttle if they stood in my way. I have an adored, a priceless mother, and two or three friends—you among them—and as for the rest I only care about them in so far as they are harmful or useful. And most of them are harmful, especially the women. Yes, dear boy,” he continued, “I have met loving, noble, high-minded men, but I have not yet met any women—countesses or cooks—who were not venal. I have not yet met that divine purity and devotion...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Masked Manipulation - How Predators Use Philosophy and Family
Manipulative people use high-minded talk and family endorsements to mask predatory behavior and overcome others' natural defenses.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how manipulative people use high-minded talk and family endorsements to mask predatory behavior.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's noble words don't match their targeting behavior—if their philosophy serves their desires rather than guiding them away from harmful actions, trust your gut over their presentation.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Adjutant
A military officer who assists a higher-ranking officer with administrative duties and communications. In Rostóv's case, being appointed adjutant to the governor general was actually a promotion that kept him in Moscow instead of being demoted for his role in the duel.
Modern Usage:
Like being made an executive assistant to the CEO - it sounds important but keeps you under close supervision.
Convalescence
The period of recovery after an illness or injury. Dólokhov is recovering from his duel wounds at his mother's house, where she can nurse him back to health.
Modern Usage:
Recovery time after surgery or a major illness when you're getting stronger but still need care.
Philosophical posturing
Using high-minded ideas and noble-sounding talk to impress others or hide your real motives. Dólokhov talks about seeking pure love and dismissing corrupt society while actually manipulating people.
Modern Usage:
When someone quotes self-help books or uses therapy language to sound deep while still treating people badly.
Maternal blindness
A mother's inability to see her child's faults clearly because of intense love and protectiveness. Mary Ivánovna defends Dólokhov completely and blames everyone else for his problems.
Modern Usage:
The mom who insists her kid 'would never do that' even when caught red-handed.
Social manipulation
Using charm, sympathy, or philosophical talk to control how others see you and get what you want. Dólokhov presents himself as misunderstood and noble while pursuing his own agenda.
Modern Usage:
The person who always has a sob story ready when they want something from you.
Intuitive judgment
The ability to sense someone's true character despite their public persona. Natásha immediately sees through Dólokhov's act when everyone else is fooled by his charm.
Modern Usage:
Having a gut feeling that someone is fake even when they seem nice to everyone else.
Characters in This Chapter
Rostóv
Young officer learning hard lessons
Gets a political appointment instead of punishment for his duel involvement. Becomes friends with Dólokhov during his recovery, showing how guilt can make you loyal to the wrong people.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who feels bad about a workplace incident and becomes friends with the troublemaker
Dólokhov
Manipulative antagonist
Recovers from the duel and immediately begins manipulating those around him. Uses philosophical talk about love and purity while clearly targeting Sónya for his own purposes.
Modern Equivalent:
The smooth-talking player who quotes poetry while sliding into DMs
Mary Ivánovna
Enabling mother
Dólokhov's mother who completely defends her son and blames Pierre for the duel. Her blind loyalty gives Dólokhov a safe base from which to operate his manipulations.
Modern Equivalent:
The helicopter mom who makes excuses for her adult child's bad behavior
Natásha
Perceptive truth-teller
The only person who sees through Dólokhov's act immediately. She recognizes his calculated nature and predicts his interest in Sónya, making everyone uncomfortable with her honesty.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who calls out the fake person everyone else thinks is charming
Sónya
Unwilling target
Clearly uncomfortable with Dólokhov's attention but unable to directly reject him due to social expectations. Her discomfort is obvious to Natásha but ignored by others.
Modern Equivalent:
The woman being pursued by someone she's not interested in but feels pressured to be polite to
Key Quotes & Analysis
"He is too noble and pure-souled for our present, depraved world. No one now loves virtue; it seems like a reproach to everyone."
Context: Defending her son Dólokhov to Rostóv while he recovers from the duel
Shows how enabling parents reframe their child's problems as the world being against them. She can't see that Dólokhov's issues come from his own choices, not society's corruption.
In Today's Words:
Everyone's just jealous of how good my son is - that's why they don't like him.
"I value only those few people whom I love; and as for the rest I only care for them in so far as they are harmful or useful."
Context: Explaining his philosophy of life to make himself sound deep and misunderstood
This sounds philosophical but reveals his purely transactional view of relationships. He divides people into useful, harmful, or beloved - showing his manipulative mindset.
In Today's Words:
I only care about people I can use or people I love - everyone else is just in my way.
"I don't like him at all. He's calculating and unnatural."
Context: Expressing her immediate distrust of Dólokhov when others find him charming
Natásha's intuition cuts through Dólokhov's performance instantly. Her use of 'calculating' and 'unnatural' perfectly captures what others miss - he's performing rather than being genuine.
In Today's Words:
Something's off about him - he's fake and he's working an angle.
Thematic Threads
Deception
In This Chapter
Dólokhov uses philosophical talk about seeking pure love to mask his calculated pursuit of uncomfortable Sónya
Development
Evolved from Pierre's self-deception to active manipulation of others
In Your Life:
You might encounter this in dating apps where someone's noble-sounding profile masks controlling behavior in person.
Family Loyalty
In This Chapter
Dólokhov's mother's passionate defense of him serves as social proof that he's misunderstood rather than dangerous
Development
Introduced here as a weapon rather than genuine bond
In Your Life:
You might see this when family members pressure you to give problematic relatives 'another chance' at gatherings.
Social Pressure
In This Chapter
Everyone except Natásha is charmed by Dólokhov, making her accurate assessment seem like the odd one out
Development
Building from earlier scenes of social conformity
In Your Life:
You might experience this when you're the only one who sees red flags in someone everyone else loves.
Intuition
In This Chapter
Natásha sees through Dólokhov's act and correctly predicts his intentions while others are fooled
Development
Introduced here as a protective skill
In Your Life:
You might have this gut feeling about someone that you dismiss because others think you're being unfair.
Power Dynamics
In This Chapter
Dólokhov uses his social position and the Rostóvs' hospitality to pursue Sónya despite her discomfort
Development
Evolved from earlier military and social hierarchies
In Your Life:
You might see this when someone uses their position or social connections to make unwanted advances difficult to refuse.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
How does Dolokhov's mother defend him, and what effect does this have on how others see him?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Dolokhov's philosophical talk about seeking 'pure' women make his pursuit of the uncomfortable Sonya even more concerning?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people use family loyalty, professional status, or noble-sounding words to deflect criticism while continuing harmful behavior?
application • medium - 4
When someone makes you uncomfortable but others defend them, how do you decide whether to trust your instincts or dismiss your feelings?
application • deep - 5
What does Natasha's ability to see through Dolokhov when others can't teach us about trusting people with good instincts for character?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Red Flag Pattern
Think of someone who made you uncomfortable but who others defended or praised. Map out their tactics: What noble-sounding reasons did they give for their behavior? Who vouched for them and why? What made you uncomfortable despite their good reputation? Write down the specific pattern you recognize.
Consider:
- •Notice how they used other people's voices to defend themselves rather than addressing concerns directly
- •Pay attention to the gap between their stated values and their actual behavior toward vulnerable people
- •Consider whether your discomfort was about their actions or just their words and reputation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you ignored your gut instincts about someone because others vouched for them. What happened, and what would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 79: Love, Duty, and Difficult Choices
Moving forward, we'll examine to handle romantic pressure from family and society, and understand honest communication is crucial in relationships. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.