War and Peace: Volume II, Part IV
At the Rostov’s over christmas:
- Nikolay returns on leave due to family’s slow deterioration of funds
- After a hunting party he sees the happiness of the lower classes who choose Russian values over western ones, are self sufficient and find simple pleasures, compared to the aristocracy who are all about money and extravagance.
- Natasha is depressed waiting for Prince Andrey to come back from being abroad- they have no contact over the time they must wait before marrying.
- The Countess tries to set up a marriage between Nikolay and Julie Kuragin (wealthy heiress) to ensure a financial future for the family.
- Nikolay comes to realise his love for Sonya (again?!) and vows to be with her once he has finished in the army, despite the family’s lack of permission.
- The Rostov’s move to moscow because of money… generally everyone is unhappy in this section.
17/09/2010
War and Peace: Volume II, Part V
The Bolkonsky’s follow suit and move to Moscow. The old price is becoming senile and argues with Marya about her staying with him.
Julie Kuragin ends up marrying Boris; a loveless match made for prospects (him) and because of fear of age (her).
Natasha and Andrey: She meets his family which goes badly. Whilst attending an opera she meets Anatole Kuragin – total playboy, generally quite horrible. After meeting three times he convinces her to run away and elope despite the fact that he is secretly already married. Pierre has to sort it all out, as discreetly as possible, whilst the shame and scandal means Natasha loses both her fiance and the man she was going to elope with. Basically it was all set up in a way that nothing good could ever come of it, also Natasha is an idiot.