War & Peace: Volume II, Part IV
Leo Tolstoy's Masterpiece on Russian Society in the Time of Napoleon
Jun 1, 2008
The Hunt at Otradnoe
Nicholai Rostov returns from his life on in the army, where the men are blissfully idle while still believing that they are doing important work, to his family’s estate. His mother has begged him to come home and remedy their financial problems.
At Otradnoe, Nicholai yells at the manager of their finances but cannot do anything useful to put things to rights. Instead, he participates in a lavish annual hunt. He believes that if he catches a big wolf, he will gain honor and be happy with himself. Nicholas comes close to catching one but is beaten to it by trespassing hunters from a neighbor’s land.
Natasha accompanies the hunt, to the dismay of some of the men and is an outstanding rider. She and Nicholai both spend the night in a town where they enjoy peasant music and a simpler lifestyle. Natasha believes that she is experiencing her happiest time in life.
Countess Rostova Seeks a Wealthy Wife for Nicholas
The Countess Rostova believes that their family’s impending financial crisis can be averted by marrying Nicholai off to a wealthy bachelorette in the city. Julie Karagina, who has quite a large dowry now that both of her brothers have died, seems to be the perfect choice. She has become quite old and plain, but convinces herself that so many men are pursuing her because she is charming and beautiful.
The Countess Rostova attempts to set up Nicholai and Julie, but Nicholai stubbornly refuses. He and his mother have a heated argument in which Nicholai accuses the Countess of wanting him to sell his emotions and love in order to salvage the family fortune. The Countess cannot allow herself to recognize the truth of this statement.
At a winter holiday party, in which everyone dresses as somebody of the opposite sex, Nicholai finally realizes how deeply he loves Sonya. In costume, Sonya forgets her normal reluctance and becomes spontaneous. She and Nicholai kiss, and Nicholai resolves to marry her.
The Count and Countess Rostov, however, do not approve of marriage to the penniless Sonya. They tell Nicholai that they will never recognize her and that she is only after their family’s money. The relationship between Nicholai and his parents is on the verge of destruction, but finally Natasha brings them together after the fight. Nicholai goes back to the army.
Natasha Pines for Andrei
By this time, Natasha has been waiting for many months to be with Andrei. She receives a letter that, due to his illness, he will be away even longer. When Sonya and Natasha play a game in which the future is told by looking in a mirror, Sonya pretends to see Andrei in Natasha’s future.
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Tolstoy, Leo, trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. War and Peace. New York: Knopf, 2007. ISBN 978-0-307-26693-4.
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