Bk. 1., Pt.1., Ch. 25: Death Before Dishonor
Prince Andrei is about to set out to become aide-de-camp to General Kutuzov. He has on his traveling coat while meticulously packing his effects. He pays special attention to his Turkish pistols and a saber -- spoils of victory his father gifted him from the Siege of Ochakov in 1778. The weapons illustrate the significance of the conflicts his (fictional) father participated in. They also highlight the legacy Andrei feels pressured to live up to.
Ochokov is presently named Ochakiv and is on the winding southern coast of Ukraine, about 40 miles east (and slightly north) of Odessa. In 2022 and 2023 Ochakiv has been attacked by Russia but valiantly holds as a Ukrainian port city of about 15,000. Before 1778 it was the capital of an Ottoman province.
Prince Andrei was in the frame of mind one can arrives at when embarking on one of life’s transcendent journeys. He contemplated the fear inherent in war as well as leaving his pregnant wife. His sister interrupted, initially visualizing her brother as a mischievous boy but realized he was now a stern man ready to face Napoleon.
Marya tells her brother what a treasure he has for a wife in that Lise has such a merry heart. She begs him to look empathetically upon Lise’s plight of being left in the countryside. While Marya appreciates her quiet life; Lise is a young woman of society. In Bald Hills there will only be her and Mademoiselle Amélie Bourienne to keep Lise company. Andrei describes not liking Amélie whereupon Marya defends her, lauding her good nature and providing Amélie’s backstory. Father adopted Amélie as a poor French orphan. She is said to be very pretty and often reads aloud (in French) to father.
Marya tells her brother that he is a good man but suffers from an intellectual pride. When Andrei indirectly responds that life with General Bolkonsky must be challenging, Marya feels their father should only inspire veneration. The only thing she finds lacking in father is his lack of religious devotion. She finds similar fault in Andrei.
Marya takes occasion to present Andrei with a family heirloom, which she begs him to wear at all times. It is a small oval icon of Jesus Christ in a silver setting. It was worn by their paternal grandfather in all his military efforts. Service during major battles is very much a Bolkonsky tradition. Andrei jokes he will wear it if sufficiently light but observes his sister’s demeanor and meets the moment with the proper level of sincerity. In presenting it, Marya makes sure to cross herself and kiss the icon.
Marya reminds Andrei not to judge Lise too harshly. Andrei picks up on the fact Lise has been complaining about their loveless marriage. Andrei reveals he is not happy and neither is his wife. Marya advices that he should have turned to God to pray for the love that is lacking.
Andrei leaves the room and meets, in a secluded hallway, Mademoiselle Bourienne, who had the habit of placing herself in his path in dark corridors. She presented a sweet smile but Andrei’s response was an expression of disgust so severe that Amélie quickly retreated. Amélie also lives a life of solitude that she yearns to break free from.
Andrei was then summoned to his father for a private send off. Nikolai commends his son on not being tied to his “wife’s apron strings” and recognizing their rule for living should be “the Service before everything.” As Nikolai speaks he is fervently writing various materials of import to give to his son. One letter is to General Kutuzov, directing him to make proper use of his son.
Andrei requests that his father arrange for the optimum care in relation to Lise’s pregnancy. He notes that his wife has bad premonitions about the birth. His father agrees but senses Andrei's marriage is not in a healthy state. Nikolai advises Andrei there is nothing to be done as one (in their social class) “cannot get unmarried.”
Nikolai also tells his son not to stay too long as an adjunct, implying he should quickly move on to take a command. He also gave his son his personal writings of military exploits to relay to the Emperor upon Nikolai's death. He also asks his son to administrate a financial prize for the person who writes a sufficient history of General Suvorov’s campaigns.
Nikolai then gives his son the most profound advise he can offer. “Remember one thing. If you get killed, it will be a grief to me in my old age. But if I were to hear that you had not behaved like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I should be – ashamed!”
Andrei understands the message and replies that if he is killed to raise his child (if a son) in Bald Hills, under his tutelage. The General, not one for overlong good-byes, tells Andrei to head off. As Andrei departs, he sees his wife and sister. He is dismissive of Lise, telling her to “go through her little performance.” The Little Princess was genuinely distraught the time had come for Andrei to leave. She became weak and fainted. Andrei helped her to an armchair, kissed his sister and bid her “Adieu.” He then left for the front in a coach pulled by six horses.
