First Epilogue
The narrator examines historians’ attitudes toward Tsar
Alexander and Napoleon, finding them once again oversimplified,
and asserts again the view that history is made not by great men,
but by countless tiny factors.
Natasha and Pierre are married in 1813.
Count Rostov dies that same year, after seeking his family’s forgiveness
for ruining their finances. Nicholas, who is in Paris when he receives
the news, accepts his inheritance, which amounts to debts totaling
twice the value of the deceased count’s property. Nicholas pays
what he can, borrowing money from Pierre, and enters government
service to pay the rest of the debts. Nicholas struggles to maintain
his mother and Sonya in their customary luxury, hiding his poverty
from them.
Mary arrives in Moscow, having heard reports that Nicholas
is sacrificing himself for his mother. Nicholas is unexpectedly
cold to Mary. Countess Rostova presses Nicholas to court Mary. After
a long silence, Nicholas visits Mary, treating her formally. Mary
tells him that she misses the man she used to know, but that she
accepts his new attitude. Secretly she still feels love, and starts
crying. Suddenly they both realize a relationship is possible between
them.
The year 1813 also sees the marriage
of Nicholas and Mary. Nicholas soon repays all his debts and becomes
a successful, traditional Russian farmer who takes special interest
in his peasants. He rebuilds Bald Hills. Despite occasional antagonism,
Nicholas and Mary are a happily married couple. Nicholas reads Mary’s
parenting journal, in which she records her child-rearing experiments, such
as grading her children on their behavior. Nicholas approves of Mary’s
enthusiasm as a mother, though he somewhat objects to her pedantic
style. Nicholas criticizes Natasha’s domination of Pierre without
realizing that he dominates Mary in the same way. Mary tries to
be patient, listening to her husband’s financial updates while striving
to maintain Christian forbearance and forgiveness.
By 1820, Natasha has become a sturdy
mother of four, thinking only of her family, never of fashions or
accomplishments. Pierre wholly submits to his role as family man,
never flirting with women or dining out. When Pierre overstays a
trip to St. Petersburg by three weeks, Natasha becomes worried and
irritable, but then is filled with joy when he returns with gifts
for the family. Pierre discusses St. Petersburg gossip with his
family and with his friend Denisov, who has accompanied him home.
Andrew’s fifteen-year-old son, Nicholas Bolkonski, adores
Pierre and wants to stay up late to be with him. Pierre speaks to
young Nicholas about the problems of running charitable institutions. Pierre
asserts that things are rotten in St. Petersburg, predicting an overthrow
soon. Privately, Natasha and Pierre reflect on their home life and
whether Platon Karataev would have approved of it. Pierre concludes
that the peasant would have, though he hesitates somewhat in his
response. Nicholas Bolkonski muses on his veneration for his uncle
Pierre, and dreams of military glory.
