Summary
Pierre breaks his promise to Prince Andrew and joins Anatole Kuragin's wild party, rationalizing his decision by telling himself that promises don't matter since anyone could die tomorrow. At the party, he witnesses a terrifying bet between Dolokhov and an English officer. Dolokhov sits on a third-floor window ledge with his legs dangling outside, drinking an entire bottle of rum without stopping or holding on for support. The scene reveals the toxic masculinity and reckless bravado of these wealthy young men who have nothing meaningful to do with their lives. Dolokhov emerges as a fascinating character - he has no money or connections like Anatole, yet everyone respects him more because of his intelligence, skill at gambling, and nerves of steel. He successfully completes the death-defying stunt, winning fifty imperials. Pierre, drunk and caught up in the moment, immediately volunteers to attempt the same dangerous feat, but the others restrain him. The chapter shows how Pierre's weak character makes him susceptible to bad influences and poor decisions. It also introduces the theme of how respect is earned through character and capability, not just wealth and birth. The reckless behavior of these privileged young men reflects the broader moral decay Tolstoy sees in Russian aristocratic society.
Coming Up in Chapter 10
After the wild night of drinking and dangerous stunts, the consequences of Pierre's choices begin to unfold. His involvement with this reckless crowd will soon lead to complications that affect not just his own life, but the lives of those around him.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
T was past one o’clock when Pierre left his friend. It was a cloudless, northern, summer night. Pierre took an open cab intending to drive straight home. But the nearer he drew to the house the more he felt the impossibility of going to sleep on such a night. It was light enough to see a long way in the deserted street and it seemed more like morning or evening than night. On the way Pierre remembered that Anatole Kurágin was expecting the usual set for cards that evening, after which there was generally a drinking bout, finishing with visits of a kind Pierre was very fond of. “I should like to go to Kurágin’s,” thought he. But he immediately recalled his promise to Prince Andrew not to go there. Then, as happens to people of weak character, he desired so passionately once more to enjoy that dissipation he was so accustomed to that he decided to go. The thought immediately occurred to him that his promise to Prince Andrew was of no account, because before he gave it he had already promised Prince Anatole to come to his gathering; “besides,” thought he, “all such ‘words of honor’ are conventional things with no definite meaning, especially if one considers that by tomorrow one may be dead, or something so extraordinary may happen to one that honor and dishonor will be all the same!” Pierre often indulged in reflections of this sort, nullifying all his decisions and intentions. He went to Kurágin’s. Reaching the large house near the Horse Guards’ barracks, in which Anatole lived, Pierre entered the lighted porch, ascended the stairs, and went in at the open door. There was no one in the anteroom; empty bottles, cloaks, and overshoes were lying about; there was a smell of alcohol, and sounds of voices and shouting in the distance. Cards and supper were over, but the visitors had not yet dispersed. Pierre threw off his cloak and entered the first room, in which were the remains of supper. A footman, thinking no one saw him, was drinking on the sly what was left in the glasses. From the third room came sounds of laughter, the shouting of familiar voices, the growling of a bear, and general commotion. Some eight or nine young men were crowding anxiously round an open window. Three others were romping with a young bear, one pulling him by the chain and trying to set him at the others. “I bet a hundred on Stevens!” shouted one. “Mind, no holding on!” cried another. “I bet on Dólokhov!” cried a third. “Kurágin, you part our hands.” “There, leave Bruin alone; here’s a bet on.” “At one draught, or he loses!” shouted a fourth. “Jacob, bring a bottle!” shouted the host, a tall, handsome fellow who stood in the midst of the group, without a coat, and with his fine linen shirt unfastened in front. “Wait a bit, you fellows.... Here is Pétya! Good man!” cried he, addressing Pierre....
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Borrowed Courage
Abandoning personal values and promises in desperate attempts to gain acceptance from groups we admire.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between genuine respect earned through character and the false acceptance that comes from dangerous stunts or compromising values.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's 'respect' requires you to do something that violates your principles—that's not respect worth having.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Words of honor
Formal promises made between gentlemen in aristocratic society, considered binding by social code. Breaking them meant losing respect and social standing. These weren't legal contracts but moral commitments.
Modern Usage:
We see this in professional handshake deals, pinky promises between friends, or when someone says 'you have my word' - informal but serious commitments.
Dissipation
Living a life of excessive drinking, gambling, and other indulgences that waste time, money, and health. In Tolstoy's time, wealthy young men often fell into patterns of meaningless pleasure-seeking.
Modern Usage:
Today we might call it partying too hard, living recklessly, or being stuck in a cycle of destructive habits like excessive drinking or gambling.
Imperial
A Russian gold coin worth about 10 rubles, representing significant money. Fifty imperials would be like betting thousands of dollars today - serious money even for the wealthy.
Modern Usage:
Think of high-stakes poker games or expensive bar bets where people wager amounts that could pay rent for months.
Weak character
Someone who can't stick to their principles or decisions when tempted. They know what's right but lack the willpower to follow through, especially under peer pressure.
Modern Usage:
We see this in people who break diets, can't resist toxic relationships, or cave to peer pressure despite knowing better.
Rationalization
Creating logical-sounding excuses for doing what you want to do anyway. Pierre convinces himself his promise doesn't matter by inventing philosophical reasons.
Modern Usage:
Like telling yourself 'one drink won't hurt' when you're trying to quit, or 'I deserve this' when overspending on credit cards.
Toxic masculinity
Dangerous behaviors men perform to prove their manhood, often involving unnecessary risks or aggression. The window stunt shows how men can pressure each other into deadly situations.
Modern Usage:
We see this in dangerous stunts for social media, road rage, refusing to ask for help, or risky behavior to impress others.
Characters in This Chapter
Pierre
Conflicted protagonist
Breaks his promise to Prince Andrew and gets swept up in dangerous party behavior. His weak willpower and tendency to rationalize bad decisions are on full display.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who always says they'll change but keeps making the same mistakes
Anatole Kuragin
Bad influence host
Hosts the wild party that Pierre attends despite his promise. Represents the idle, pleasure-seeking lifestyle of wealthy young men with no real purpose.
Modern Equivalent:
The party friend who always has something going on and never takes anything seriously
Dolokhov
Dangerous risk-taker
Performs the terrifying window stunt, drinking rum while sitting on a third-floor ledge. Despite having no money or connections, he commands respect through his fearlessness and skill.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy everyone's a little afraid of - smart, dangerous, and doesn't care what anyone thinks
Prince Andrew
Absent moral authority
Though not present, his broken promise haunts Pierre's conscience. Represents the voice of reason and honor that Pierre chooses to ignore.
Modern Equivalent:
The responsible friend whose advice you ignore when you want to do something stupid
Key Quotes & Analysis
"All such 'words of honor' are conventional things with no definite meaning, especially if one considers that by tomorrow one may be dead."
Context: Pierre justifying why he can break his promise to Prince Andrew
This shows how Pierre uses philosophical-sounding arguments to excuse his weakness. He's not really questioning the nature of promises - he's just making excuses to do what he wants.
In Today's Words:
Promises don't really matter because life is short and anything could happen.
"Pierre often indulged in reflections of this sort, nullifying all his decisions and intentions."
Context: Describing Pierre's pattern of making excuses for his behavior
Tolstoy reveals this as Pierre's character flaw - he overthinks things to avoid taking responsibility. This pattern will cause him problems throughout the novel.
In Today's Words:
Pierre was always finding reasons why his promises and plans didn't count.
"It seemed more like morning or evening than night."
Context: Describing the white nights of St. Petersburg summer
The unnatural light mirrors Pierre's disoriented moral state. Just as the night doesn't feel like night, Pierre's wrong choices don't feel wrong in the moment.
In Today's Words:
The night was so bright it felt like daytime.
Thematic Threads
Peer Pressure
In This Chapter
Pierre breaks his promise and nearly attempts a dangerous stunt to impress Anatole's crowd
Development
Introduced here as a major weakness in Pierre's character
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you find yourself doing things that don't align with your values just to fit in with coworkers or friends.
Respect
In This Chapter
Dolokhov commands more respect than wealthy Anatole through competence and courage
Development
Introduced here, showing respect comes from character, not status
In Your Life:
You see this when the most respected person at work isn't the manager, but the one who consistently shows up and gets things done.
Rationalization
In This Chapter
Pierre tells himself promises don't matter because anyone could die tomorrow
Development
Building on Pierre's tendency to justify his actions from earlier chapters
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself making excuses for breaking commitments when something more appealing comes along.
Toxic Masculinity
In This Chapter
Young men prove their worth through dangerous, meaningless stunts
Development
Introduced here as part of aristocratic decay
In Your Life:
You see this in workplaces where people take unnecessary risks or make reckless decisions to prove they're tough or fearless.
Class
In This Chapter
Wealthy young men with nothing meaningful to do engage in destructive behavior
Development
Continuing the theme of aristocratic purposelessness from earlier chapters
In Your Life:
You might notice how people with too much time and money sometimes create drama or engage in risky behavior out of boredom.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Pierre break his promise to Prince Andrew and join Anatole's party?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Dolokhov's window stunt reveal about how respect is earned in this group?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today compromising their values to fit in with a group?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between healthy belonging and desperate acceptance?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the relationship between insecurity and poor decision-making?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Belonging Pressure Points
Think about the different groups in your life - work, family, friends, community. For each group, identify one unwritten rule or expectation that makes you uncomfortable. Write down what you might be tempted to compromise to maintain acceptance in that group. Then note what your actual boundaries are in each situation.
Consider:
- •Some groups have healthy expectations that help you grow, while others pressure you to shrink
- •The groups that truly value you will respect your boundaries, even if they don't always agree
- •Notice which groups make you feel like you have to perform a different version of yourself
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt pressure to go along with something that didn't feel right to you. What was driving that pressure? How did you handle it, and what would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 10: Social Networks and Family Connections
In the next chapter, you'll discover social connections determine opportunities in life, and learn the art of maintaining relationships through consistent small gestures. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.