Summary
Andrew and Pierre arrive at Bald Hills, where they encounter Princess Mary's 'God's folk' - religious pilgrims she secretly shelters despite her father's disapproval. The scene reveals the stark differences between the siblings: Andrew is cynical and mocking, while Mary is devoutly religious and compassionate. When they meet the pilgrims - an old woman named Pelagéya and a young person disguised as a man named Ivánushka - the contrast becomes even sharper. Pelagéya tells of miraculous icons and healing powers she's witnessed, speaking with absolute faith. Pierre, initially curious, becomes skeptical and suggests the miracles are fraudulent. Andrew adds cruel jokes about the Virgin Mary being 'promoted to general.' Their mockery devastates Pelagéya, who sees their words as blasphemy and prepares to leave in shame. The chapter exposes how the same event can be viewed through completely different lenses - faith versus skepticism, compassion versus cynicism. Mary stands caught between protecting her guests and managing her brother's cruelty. Pierre, seeing the pilgrim's genuine distress, quickly apologizes and tries to make amends. The scene illustrates how intellectual pride can wound simple faith, and how families must navigate fundamental differences in belief. It also shows the class divide - the educated nobles casually dismiss what the working-class pilgrims hold sacred. The chapter asks whether skepticism always equals wisdom, and whether faith deserves respect even when we don't share it.
Coming Up in Chapter 98
The old prince returns home, and his arrival promises to shift the household dynamics once again. His relationship with his children and his reaction to unexpected guests will reveal more about the complex family tensions brewing at Bald Hills.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
T was getting dusk when Prince Andrew and Pierre drove up to the front entrance of the house at Bald Hills. As they approached the house, Prince Andrew with a smile drew Pierre’s attention to a commotion going on at the back porch. A woman, bent with age, with a wallet on her back, and a short, long-haired, young man in a black garment had rushed back to the gate on seeing the carriage driving up. Two women ran out after them, and all four, looking round at the carriage, ran in dismay up the steps of the back porch. “Those are Mary’s ‘God’s folk,’” said Prince Andrew. “They have mistaken us for my father. This is the one matter in which she disobeys him. He orders these pilgrims to be driven away, but she receives them.” “But what are ‘God’s folk’?” asked Pierre. Prince Andrew had no time to answer. The servants came out to meet them, and he asked where the old prince was and whether he was expected back soon. The old prince had gone to the town and was expected back any minute. Prince Andrew led Pierre to his own apartments, which were always kept in perfect order and readiness for him in his father’s house; he himself went to the nursery. “Let us go and see my sister,” he said to Pierre when he returned. “I have not found her yet, she is hiding now, sitting with her ‘God’s folk.’ It will serve her right, she will be confused, but you will see her ‘God’s folk.’ It’s really very curious.” “What are ‘God’s folk’?” asked Pierre. “Come, and you’ll see for yourself.” Princess Mary really was disconcerted and red patches came on her face when they went in. In her snug room, with lamps burning before the icon stand, a young lad with a long nose and long hair, wearing a monk’s cassock, sat on the sofa beside her, behind a samovar. Near them, in an armchair, sat a thin, shriveled, old woman, with a meek expression on her childlike face. “Andrew, why didn’t you warn me?” said the princess, with mild reproach, as she stood before her pilgrims like a hen before her chickens. “Charmée de vous voir. Je suis très contente de vous voir,” * she said to Pierre as he kissed her hand. She had known him as a child, and now his friendship with Andrew, his misfortune with his wife, and above all his kindly, simple face disposed her favorably toward him. She looked at him with her beautiful radiant eyes and seemed to say, “I like you very much, but please don’t laugh at my people.” After exchanging the first greetings, they sat down. * “Delighted to see you. I am very glad to see you.” “Ah, and Ivánushka is here too!” said Prince Andrew, glancing with a smile at the young pilgrim. “Andrew!” said Princess Mary, imploringly. “Il faut que vous sachiez que c’est une femme,” * said Prince...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Intellectual Cruelty
Using education or knowledge as a weapon to mock and dominate rather than inform or discuss.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when someone uses education or knowledge as a weapon to establish dominance rather than genuinely help.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone explains something in a way that makes the other person feel stupid—that's intellectual cruelty disguised as education.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
God's folk
Religious pilgrims and wanderers in 19th-century Russia who traveled seeking spiritual experiences and relied on charity. They were often viewed with suspicion by the educated classes but revered by the faithful as holy people.
Modern Usage:
Like modern spiritual seekers, homeless individuals with religious missions, or people who dedicate their lives to faith-based service that others don't understand.
Religious tolerance vs. family loyalty
The conflict between respecting different beliefs and maintaining family harmony. Mary must choose between honoring her father's wishes and following her own conscience about helping pilgrims.
Modern Usage:
When family members have different political views, religious beliefs, or values - do you keep peace or stand your ground?
Class divide in belief systems
The gap between how educated, wealthy people view religion versus how working-class people experience faith. The nobles see superstition where the pilgrims see miracles.
Modern Usage:
How college-educated people might dismiss conspiracy theories or alternative medicine that working-class communities find meaningful.
Intellectual arrogance
When education and skepticism become tools to mock others' sincere beliefs. Andrew and Pierre use their knowledge to belittle what the pilgrims hold sacred.
Modern Usage:
When someone uses their education or expertise to make others feel stupid for their beliefs, like mocking someone's faith or cultural practices.
Miraculous icons
Religious paintings or objects believed to have healing or supernatural powers in Orthodox Christianity. Pilgrims would travel great distances to pray before famous icons.
Modern Usage:
Like believing in lucky charms, healing crystals, or visiting places with special spiritual significance - objects that hold power through faith.
Hidden compassion
Mary's secret kindness toward the pilgrims despite her father's disapproval shows how good people sometimes must work around authority to do what's right.
Modern Usage:
When you help someone your boss said not to help, or when you quietly support causes your family opposes.
Characters in This Chapter
Prince Andrew
Cynical observer
Returns home and immediately mocks his sister's religious guests. His cruel jokes about the Virgin Mary show how his war experiences have hardened him against faith and sentiment.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who comes home from college and mocks everyone's 'simple' beliefs
Pierre
Curious but tactless questioner
Initially interested in the pilgrims but quickly becomes skeptical and suggests their miracles are fake. However, he shows conscience by apologizing when he sees he's caused real hurt.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who asks too many probing questions and accidentally offends, but tries to make it right
Princess Mary
Conflicted peacekeeper
Caught between her compassionate nature and family expectations. She secretly helps pilgrims despite her father's orders, showing quiet rebellion for a good cause.
Modern Equivalent:
The family member who tries to help everyone while keeping the peace, hiding their good deeds to avoid conflict
Pelagéya
Faithful pilgrim
An elderly religious wanderer who speaks with absolute conviction about miracles she's witnessed. Her genuine faith is wounded by the nobles' mockery, showing the real human cost of intellectual arrogance.
Modern Equivalent:
The deeply religious person whose sincere beliefs get mocked by people who think they're smarter
Ivánushka
Mysterious companion
A young person disguised as a man traveling with Pelagéya. Represents the lengths people go to for spiritual journeys and the secrets pilgrims carry.
Modern Equivalent:
The quiet person with a hidden story who's on their own spiritual or life journey
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Those are Mary's 'God's folk.' They have mistaken us for my father. This is the one matter in which she disobeys him."
Context: Explaining to Pierre why pilgrims are running away from their carriage
Shows that even the most obedient people have their line in the sand. Mary's quiet rebellion reveals her true character - she'll risk her father's anger to help those in need.
In Today's Words:
Those are the religious people my sister helps. She only stands up to Dad about this one thing.
"I have been to Kiev and to Troitsa and to different holy places, and I have seen miracles with my own eyes."
Context: Describing her pilgrimages and the miraculous healings she's witnessed
Represents absolute faith based on personal experience. Her conviction is unshakeable because she's lived it, not just read about it. This direct experience versus intellectual knowledge becomes the chapter's central conflict.
In Today's Words:
I've been to all the holy places and seen miracles happen right in front of me.
"Forgive me, please forgive me! I did not mean to hurt your feelings."
Context: Apologizing to Pelagéya after his skeptical questions made her cry
Shows Pierre's essential goodness despite his tactlessness. He recognizes when his intellectual curiosity has caused real emotional harm and immediately tries to make amends.
In Today's Words:
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you with my questions.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Educated nobles casually dismiss what working-class pilgrims hold sacred, revealing how class shapes whose beliefs are considered valid
Development
Continues the book's exploration of how social position determines whose voice matters
In Your Life:
You might see this when people with degrees automatically assume they're smarter than those with life experience
Faith
In This Chapter
Simple religious faith meets intellectual skepticism, showing how the same reality can be interpreted through completely different frameworks
Development
Introduced here as a new dimension of the spiritual themes emerging in the novel
In Your Life:
You face this tension when your personal beliefs clash with what others consider 'rational' or 'scientific'
Compassion
In This Chapter
Princess Mary's secret sheltering of pilgrims contrasts sharply with her brother's cruelty toward them
Development
Builds on Mary's established character as someone who acts on her values despite social pressure
In Your Life:
You might find yourself torn between protecting vulnerable people and keeping peace with family or colleagues
Identity
In This Chapter
Andrew and Pierre perform their intellectual superiority partly to reinforce their own educated identities
Development
Continues showing how characters use others to define themselves
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself putting others down to feel better about your own knowledge or status
Power
In This Chapter
Knowledge becomes a tool for establishing dominance rather than fostering understanding
Development
Expands the book's examination of how different forms of power operate in relationships
In Your Life:
You see this when expertise gets weaponized in arguments rather than used to genuinely help or inform
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What happens when Andrew and Pierre encounter Princess Mary's religious pilgrims, and how do the brothers react differently?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do Andrew and Pierre mock the pilgrims' beliefs instead of simply disagreeing? What are they really trying to prove?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen educated people use their knowledge as a weapon against others with different beliefs or backgrounds?
application • medium - 4
When someone shares a belief you think is wrong, how can you respond without crushing their dignity or destroying the relationship?
application • deep - 5
What does this scene reveal about the difference between being smart and being wise?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Rewrite the Conversation
Imagine you're Pierre in this scene. Rewrite the conversation with the pilgrims, showing how you could express skepticism about miracles while still treating them with respect. Focus on the specific words and tone you'd use to disagree without destroying dignity.
Consider:
- •Consider how your tone and word choice affect the listener's feelings
- •Think about what you're really trying to accomplish in the conversation
- •Notice the difference between correcting information and attacking the person
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone used their education or expertise to make you feel small. How did it affect you? Now write about how you want to handle disagreements with people who have different beliefs or less formal education than you.
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 98: Finding Your People
What lies ahead teaches us genuine kindness creates instant connections across social barriers, and shows us accepting people as they are builds stronger relationships than trying to change them. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.