Summary
As war approaches Russia's borders, the Bolkonsky family has settled into new routines shaped by loss and duty. Old Prince Bolkonsky throws himself into military recruitment work with renewed energy, while Prince Andrew retreats to a separate estate, avoiding active military service despite the national crisis. The family dynamic has shifted—the old prince now embraces action while Andrew has grown cynical and withdrawn. When Andrew's infant son falls seriously ill with a high fever, the crisis brings out both the best and worst in the siblings. Princess Mary and Andrew take turns watching over the sick child through sleepless nights, but their exhaustion and fear make them snap at each other instead of finding comfort together. Andrew becomes irritable and controlling, insisting on giving medicine despite Mary's gentle suggestions to let the child sleep. Their shared love for the baby becomes a source of conflict rather than unity as they 'throw their burden of sorrow on one another.' Meanwhile, letters arrive with news of a Russian victory over Napoleon, but Andrew feels only disconnected from the triumph he's not part of. The chapter reveals how crisis strips away our social masks—Andrew's grief over his wife's death, his guilt about not serving in the war, and his terror of losing his son all converge in this moment of vulnerability. Tolstoy shows us that even loving families can wound each other most deeply when fear takes over, and that sometimes our attempts to help can become ways of asserting control when we feel powerless.
Coming Up in Chapter 93
As little Nicholas fights his fever, Andrew must decide whether to obey his father's urgent military summons or stay with his sick child. The choice will test everything he believes about duty, family, and what truly matters when everything hangs in the balance.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
The war was flaming up and nearing the Russian frontier. Everywhere one heard curses on Bonaparte, “the enemy of mankind.” Militiamen and recruits were being enrolled in the villages, and from the seat of war came contradictory news, false as usual and therefore variously interpreted. The life of old Prince Bolkónski, Prince Andrew, and Princess Mary had greatly changed since 1805. In 1806 the old prince was made one of the eight commanders in chief then appointed to supervise the enrollment decreed throughout Russia. Despite the weakness of age, which had become particularly noticeable since the time when he thought his son had been killed, he did not think it right to refuse a duty to which he had been appointed by the Emperor himself, and this fresh opportunity for action gave him new energy and strength. He was continually traveling through the three provinces entrusted to him, was pedantic in the fulfillment of his duties, severe to cruel with his subordinates, and went into everything down to the minutest details himself. Princess Mary had ceased taking lessons in mathematics from her father, and when the old prince was at home went to his study with the wet nurse and little Prince Nicholas (as his grandfather called him). The baby Prince Nicholas lived with his wet nurse and nurse Sávishna in the late princess’ rooms and Princess Mary spent most of the day in the nursery, taking a mother’s place to her little nephew as best she could. Mademoiselle Bourienne, too, seemed passionately fond of the boy, and Princess Mary often deprived herself to give her friend the pleasure of dandling the little angel—as she called her nephew—and playing with him. Near the altar of the church at Bald Hills there was a chapel over the tomb of the little princess, and in this chapel was a marble monument brought from Italy, representing an angel with outspread wings ready to fly upwards. The angel’s upper lip was slightly raised as though about to smile, and once on coming out of the chapel Prince Andrew and Princess Mary admitted to one another that the angel’s face reminded them strangely of the little princess. But what was still stranger, though of this Prince Andrew said nothing to his sister, was that in the expression the sculptor had happened to give the angel’s face, Prince Andrew read the same mild reproach he had read on the face of his dead wife: “Ah, why have you done this to me?” Soon after Prince Andrew’s return the old prince made over to him a large estate, Boguchárovo, about twenty-five miles from Bald Hills. Partly because of the depressing memories associated with Bald Hills, partly because Prince Andrew did not always feel equal to bearing with his father’s peculiarities, and partly because he needed solitude, Prince Andrew made use of Boguchárovo, began building and spent most of his time there. After the Austerlitz campaign Prince Andrew had firmly resolved not to continue his military service, and...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Crisis Control - When Fear Makes Us Fight Our Allies
A recurring theme explored in this chapter.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when anxiety is making you micromanage others who are trying to help with the same problem.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you find yourself criticizing how someone else is handling a shared concern - pause and ask if you're both just scared about the same thing.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Militiamen
Civilian volunteers called up to serve in the military during wartime, not professional soldiers. In 1812, Russia desperately needed bodies to fight Napoleon's invasion. These were farmers and townspeople suddenly thrust into military service.
Modern Usage:
Like when communities organize volunteer emergency response teams during natural disasters, or when regular citizens are called to jury duty.
Commander in chief
A high-ranking military leader given authority over multiple provinces or regions. Old Prince Bolkonsky was appointed to oversee military recruitment across three provinces. It's both an honor and a massive responsibility.
Modern Usage:
Similar to being appointed regional director during a company crisis - you get the title and the blame if things go wrong.
Wet nurse
A woman hired to breastfeed and care for another woman's baby, common among wealthy families in this era. Since Andrew's wife died in childbirth, his son needs this care. It shows both privilege and the harsh reality of maternal mortality.
Modern Usage:
Today we have nannies, daycare providers, and formula - but the need for childcare support when parents can't provide it remains the same.
Pedantic
Being obsessively concerned with minor details and rules, often to an annoying degree. The old prince insists on checking every tiny detail of military recruitment himself. It's both admirable thoroughness and exhausting micromanagement.
Modern Usage:
That boss who checks your email formatting or the parent who color-codes their kid's schedule - technically helpful but drives everyone crazy.
Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor invading Russia. Russians called him 'the enemy of mankind' because he was conquering Europe. Using just his last name shows both familiarity and contempt - like calling a hated celebrity by one name.
Modern Usage:
How we refer to polarizing political figures by last name only - it signals everyone knows exactly who we mean and how we feel about them.
Burden of sorrow
The way grief and stress make us lash out at the people closest to us instead of supporting each other. Tolstoy shows how fear makes Andrew and Mary snap at each other when they should be comforting each other.
Modern Usage:
When families fight during medical crises or funerals - the people who love you most become the safest targets for your fear and frustration.
Characters in This Chapter
Old Prince Bolkonsky
Patriarch throwing himself into duty
Despite his age and grief over thinking Andrew was dead, he accepts appointment as military commander and works obsessively on recruitment. His energy comes from having purpose again, but he's becoming cruel to subordinates.
Modern Equivalent:
The retired executive who takes on volunteer leadership during a community crisis and becomes a demanding perfectionist
Prince Andrew
Grieving father avoiding his calling
Living separately from the family, refusing to rejoin the military despite the national crisis. When his baby son gets sick, his fear and guilt make him controlling and irritable with Mary. He's disconnected from the war he should be fighting.
Modern Equivalent:
The talented professional who's burned out and withdrawn, making everyone around him walk on eggshells
Princess Mary
Surrogate mother and family mediator
Has stopped her studies to care for Andrew's infant son, trying to fill the role of the dead mother. During the baby's illness, she tries to be gentle and reasonable but gets frustrated when Andrew won't listen to her suggestions.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who becomes the default caregiver and peacekeeper but gets no credit for the emotional labor
Little Prince Nicholas
Innocent catalyst for family tension
Andrew's infant son whose serious illness brings out both love and conflict in the family. His fever creates a crisis that strips away everyone's social masks and reveals their deepest fears and frustrations.
Modern Equivalent:
The sick child whose medical emergency shows which family members step up and which ones fall apart
Key Quotes & Analysis
"They seemed to be throwing their burden of sorrow on one another"
Context: Describing how Andrew and Mary snap at each other while caring for the sick baby
This perfectly captures how stress makes us hurt the people we love most. Instead of grief bringing them together, their fear makes them take frustration out on each other. It's human nature at its most raw and recognizable.
In Today's Words:
They were taking their stress out on each other instead of supporting each other
"Despite the weakness of age, which had become particularly noticeable since the time when he thought his son had been killed, he did not think it right to refuse a duty"
Context: Explaining why the old prince accepted his military appointment despite his frailty
Shows how duty and purpose can revive us even when we're broken. The old prince finds meaning in service to country, even though grief has aged him. It's about finding identity through contribution.
In Today's Words:
Even though he'd gotten noticeably older and weaker from grief, he couldn't say no when asked to serve his country
"The baby Prince Nicholas lived with his wet nurse and nurse Savishna in the late princess' rooms"
Context: Describing the household arrangements after Andrew's wife died
The detail about using the dead mother's rooms shows how death leaves physical spaces that become shrines. The baby lives surrounded by reminders of the mother he'll never know, cared for by substitutes.
In Today's Words:
The baby was being raised in his dead mother's bedroom by hired caregivers
Thematic Threads
Duty
In This Chapter
Andrew avoids military duty while his father embraces recruitment work, showing how duty can become either escape or obsession
Development
Evolved from earlier themes of social obligation into personal crisis of purpose
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you throw yourself into work to avoid dealing with family problems, or vice versa
Class
In This Chapter
The Bolkonskys' privilege allows Andrew to avoid military service while others must fight, highlighting how class creates different relationship to duty
Development
Continued exploration of how social position shapes personal choices
In Your Life:
You see this when some people can afford to 'take time to figure things out' while others must work regardless of circumstances
Identity
In This Chapter
Andrew's identity crisis deepens as he's disconnected from both military service and family harmony, unsure who he is without action or purpose
Development
Building from his earlier loss of wife and meaning, now compounded by isolation from national purpose
In Your Life:
You might feel this when major life changes leave you unclear about your role or value
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Love becomes a source of conflict as Andrew and Mary's shared concern for the baby creates tension rather than unity
Development
Deepened from earlier family dynamics to show how crisis can poison even the strongest bonds
In Your Life:
You see this when you and someone you love handle stress so differently that you start fighting each other instead of the problem
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Crisis strips away social masks, revealing Andrew's deep grief, guilt, and terror in raw form
Development
Continued theme of how extreme circumstances reveal true character and hidden emotions
In Your Life:
You might recognize this during your own crisis moments when your usual coping strategies fail and your real fears surface
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific behaviors show that Andrew and Mary are both trying to help their sick nephew, but in competing ways?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do Andrew and Mary end up fighting with each other instead of supporting each other during this crisis?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen families or coworkers turn against each other when facing the same scary situation?
application • medium - 4
When you're terrified about something you can't control, how could you avoid taking that fear out on people who are on your side?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how fear changes the way we treat the people we love most?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Crisis Response Pattern
Think of a recent time when you and someone close to you were both worried about the same problem but ended up arguing about how to handle it. Write down what you were both actually afraid of versus what you were fighting about. Then identify three early warning signs that you're turning an ally into an opponent during a crisis.
Consider:
- •Focus on the underlying fear, not who was 'right' about the solution
- •Look for moments when you criticized their method of helping rather than the actual problem
- •Notice if you were trying to control small details because the big picture felt overwhelming
Journaling Prompt
Write about a current situation where you might be competing with an ally instead of collaborating. How could you redirect that energy toward the real problem?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 93: Letters from the Front Lines
What lies ahead teaches us organizational chaos creates real human suffering, and shows us stepping away from toxic situations can save your sanity. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.