Part 5 has been the most philosophical part so far. We get to see big changes in our 3 main characters, Nikolaj Rostov, Andrej Bolkonskij and Pierre Beuchov. Pierre breaks up with Helene, with the relationship making him melancholic and hurt. In his depressed state he stumbles upon a religious older man who convince Pierre to join the order of the freemasons. With his head filled with thoughts of new goals and new friendships Pierre leaves his old saddened ways and becomes a more ambitious and joyful prince.
In the mean time Bolkonskij and Rostov makes opposite changes. From being excited and having good career opportunities in the military they now realize the horrendous side of war. Bolkonskij mainly from having his near death experience in Austerlitz, with the revelation of how unimportant the war is. And also with his wife´s maternal death and his absence her last months alive. Rostov after visiting commander and friend Denisov in a hospital. The smell, the amputated body parts, the wounded soldiers in agony made an internal change in the valiant hussar. On top of that the new allegiance between France and Russia sticks in Rostov's eyes. Wasn´t Bonapartes nickname the human races enemy? Was their battle in Austerlitz all in vain? Was Denisov going to die for nothing?
This made for beautiful philosophical display across the whole part and this is what makes War and Peace so freaking good. All characters big as small have an incredibly immersive story line and Tolstoy intertwines the relation between them so damn well. It is never a boring person to follow and these sporadic moments when the characters meet and we know the backstory of one and we get to see the other person witnessing the emanation the other person is letting out creates so much depth. It is such an amazing book!
Part 5 spans from pages 453 - 541.
Part 5 has been the most philosophical part so far. We get to see big changes in our 3 main characters, Nikolaj Rostov, Andrej Bolkonskij and Pierre Beuchov. Pierre breaks up with Helene, with the relationship making him melancholic and hurt. In his depressed state he stumbles upon a religious older man who convince Pierre to join the order of the freemasons. With his head filled with thoughts of new goals and new friendships Pierre leaves his old saddened ways and becomes a more ambitious and joyful prince.
In the mean time Bolkonskij and Rostov makes opposite changes. From being excited and having good career opportunities in the military they now realize the horrendous side of war. Bolkonskij mainly from having his near death experience in Austerlitz, with the revelation of how unimportant the war is. And also with his wife´s maternal death and his absence her last months alive. Rostov after visiting commander and friend Denisov in a hospital. The smell, the amputated body parts, the wounded soldiers in agony made an internal change in the valiant hussar. On top of that the new allegiance between France and Russia sticks in Rostov's eyes. Wasn´t Bonapartes nickname the human races enemy? Was their battle in Austerlitz all in vain? Was Denisov going to die for nothing?
This made for beautiful philosophical display across the whole part and this is what makes War and Peace so freaking good. All characters big as small have an incredibly immersive story line and Tolstoy intertwines the relation between them so damn well. It is never a boring person to follow and these sporadic moments when the characters meet and we know the backstory of one and we get to see the other person witnessing the emanation the other person is letting out creates so much depth. It is such an amazing book!