river taylor’s Reviews > War and Peace > Status Update

Pierre and Andrei argue: Andrei says to never marry because it would make one no longer a free man. Pierre expresses jealousy for the life that Andrei is living. Both men seem to be depressed for opposite reasons - Pierre has nothing, Andrei has everything. Pierre also seems to have weak judgement. He breaks Andrei’s promise to not spend time with Anatole because the promise won’t matter if they both die tomorrow

Prince Ippolit was very complimentary of Lise, and I’m wondering if his kindness is purely formality or some sort of flirtatiousness.
Andrei and Pierre debate about Napoleon. Andrei says that there’d be no war if men only enlisted in order to fight for their own convictions. Seems like it’ll be an important theme moving forward.

The characters are debating Napoleon’s conquest of Europe. Pierre seems to be of the belief that Napoleon’s coup and crowning himself king is justified seeing that he brought down the Bourbon family’s Empire over France. The vicomte claims that he would support Napoleon if he didn’t assassinate his political opponents.

“Everyone claims they support liberty and equality, but who is really providing it?”

The party guests are discussing Napoleon’s coronation as he has crowned himself king of Italy. They quote his claims that he has absolute power over the citizens. Anna Pavlovna discusses the Russian Emperor, and states that the French will find their way back to their original monarchy. Andrei claims they’re in too deep and that regime change would be too difficult. The vicomte remarks that the Duke was a hero

Anna Pavlovna wishes to prevent Pierre from speaking with the other guests about global politics. Andrei finally arrives, annoyed and displeased by everyone except for Pierre. Vassily notices Pierre’s attraction to Ellen (Helen) and remarks that “clever women” are what men truly want out of society.

The vicomte discusses Napoleons politically motivated execution of the Duc D’Enghien, claiming it was motivated entirely on preserving his own pride. The guests at the soirée are obsessed with Ellen’s “charming” beauty, but don’t find her brother Ippolit quite as attractive, due to his innate foolishness and anger, despite the two siblings having much similar facial features

Anna and Vassily plan to arrange a marriage between Mary Bolkonsky (Andrei’s sister) and Anatole Kuragin (Vassily’s son). Other guests arrive to the soirée, including the “seductive” Lise (Andrei’s wife), and Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of an elderly yet highly esteemed general

The conversation becomes more personal and intimate and Vassily complains that his two sons are fools, but he feels more embarrassed by his son Anatole, for he is a fool who is unable to keep quiet

Anna Pavlovna and Prince Vassily discuss their opinions on Prussia’s neutrality with France and who they think the Empress should send to the Vienna Legation on behalf of Russia

Vassily (a high ranking member of Russian nobility) is invited to a soirée by Anna Pavlovna to comfort her in her illness. She complains about Napoleon’s conquest of the European continent.