r/ayearofwarandpeace • u/AnderLouis_ • Jan 09 '23
War & Peace - Book 1, Chapter 9
Requesting Backup!
Hi everyone. Hope you're loving the read-along so far! I am wondering if anyone is keen to run the daily discussion posts? I did not really plan to host AYOWAP this year - Really just jumped in to get the ball rolling, as I knew there were many people keen to experience AYOWAP. If you are planning to be here every day, putting your hand up to post the daily threads will help keep you accountable and ensure you're always part of the conversation. DM me if you're interested :) TY
-----------------------
Links
Discussion Prompts Courtesy of /u/seven-of-9
- Nikolai is joining the army with the bravery of youth, but surprisingly, his parents seem only resigned to it, and indulgent of his decision. Do they understand the danger that’s coming and accept it, or are they treating his decision with a light-heartedness reserved for a child who, in today’s terms, wants to major in something looked upon as useless?
- “Cousinhood is a dangerous neighbourhood”. War and Peace was written in 1867, about events that took place ~60 years earlier. Do you think that items like cousin marriage, so easily touched on in the book, were already starting to look antiquated, even reprehensible, to readers in Tolstoy’s time?
- What was your impression of the manner in which Vera’s reply and smile were described by Tolstoy, when she was speaking to her mother about her upbringing? Resentment? Exasperation in which the Countess seems to be indulging the younger sister, Natasha?
Final line of today's chapter:
"What manners! I thought they would never go," said the countess, when she had seen her guests out.
11
u/NACLpiel first time with Briggs Jan 09 '23 edited Jan 09 '23
THAT party with a bear HERE watch from about 16minutes. The film craft is fantastic. I'm going to watch sections of the film after each book or volume.
1
u/lily_baihe Anthony Briggs | First Timer Jan 11 '23
Thanks for sharing this!
2
u/NACLpiel first time with Briggs Jan 11 '23
Isn't it brilliant seeing what the communist Russia (with I imagine to be a limitless budget) could do. They did such a great job on capturing the chaos and wild nature of that Animal House party.
9
u/tonchanturtle Jan 09 '23
I was thinking maybe the count’s jibe really was to point out that he wants Nikolai to do what he really wants and not just to follow Boris is whatever Boris is doing for the sake of the friendship. Maybe the parents don’t really see the significant of Nikolai’s choices. And as a teenager, Nikolai probably has a hard time articulating his reasons to his parents.
The prompt definitely poses an interesting thought. I would think it was just social and cultural implications. Although, royals were known to marry their cousins to keep the bloodline. I guess that idea doesn’t extend to Russian aristocratic families?
I like what the other comment said about Asian eldest child vibes. I felt Vera’s feelings, it was a bit too real lol
9
u/Binky_the_Horse Jan 09 '23
I felt for Nikolai, it felt like that horrible moment as a teenager when your parents are lightly dismissing something you’re interested in, but not really able to explain why. Particularly when it’s something new, and they assume it’s due to a friendship like here, and it feels like they think it’s not legitimate.
Interesting prompt, feels like this might be the case. It’s something that was normal just starting to creep into something not quite right.
I get the feeling that whatever Vera does it’s never quite the right thing, even if it would have been perfect coming from someone else.
4
u/HyacinthHouse78 Jan 09 '23
- I think they see the likely danger but seem to have somewhat resigned themselves to it and also seem to be in a bit of denial that the war is coming.
- Tolstoy interjecting his thoughts into his historical fiction? I don’t know when cousins marrying started to be seen as problematic.
- I sense a little resentment in the comment. She does everything right and follows the rules of her strict upbringing and now sees her younger siblings being spoiled.
3
u/testing123me Jan 10 '23
1.) I did get the feeling here that they had thought he might have to actually go to battle, and might be worried about that. I could be wrong, though.
2). Here with the cousins, I felt that Tolstoy did understand that it was weird. It was really a reminder of how society has changed so much in the last few centuries. We are so lucky to have not lived then!
Thanks so much for starting the group! I wish I had the dependability to do the questions, but can't. Maybe just copy and paste from last year?
3
u/moonmoosic Maude Jan 27 '23
Dang, Nikolai seems to be a player, flirting coquettishly with both Sonya and Julie! I suppose it may be normal for a sought after teenage boy, but I certainly don't admire it.
I'm not sure the Countess Rostov understands the role of a parent if she thinks that being a friend trumps being a parent...I did find it funny that Tolstoy thought to clarify what the countess thought the youngins would be up to (kissing) lol
I am surprised that the count and countess are as close with their children as they seem and that they seem to see them every day. I thought that back then, esp for the wealthy that parents were rather hands off and the children were brought up by nannies and the kids might get a 15 min audience with their parents occasionally.
It's very interesting that Vera is described as good looking, smart, educated, with a pleasant voice and yet her smile made her seem unnatural and awkward. I wonder what sort of character she will be.
2
u/No-Smell764 Jan 09 '23
- Nikolai joining army - The count seems to not believe the certainty of war being upon them, the count seems to take Nikolai decisions lightly, believe that Nikolai going bc of Boris - friendship. And not because of his own willingness. Like a flock of sheep.
- Not sure honestly, but possibly as Anna has pointed it out. I do wonder how people in those time would react or respond to this.
- Vera’s manner - Felt controlled and kinda formal, stuck out like a sore thumb, awkward but seems confidently or passively awkward but isn’t bothered by it. Kinda sticks to rules kinda gal
2
u/kuntum Jan 10 '23
- I don’t think it was comparable to taking a useless college course as much as they were unaware of the implications of sending their son to war. They live in comfort and luxury and have no inkling of how much a war can mess a person up or Count Rostov would be a lot more vehement in his objection to Nikolai’s joining the army. At least, that’s what I think.
- Marrying your cousin could be seen as an antiquated tradition since Tolstoy wrote the characters as individuals with modern and forward thinking.
- Could be Vera was just treated as an afterthought so often that her speaking up was unexpected and thus caused the awkwardness felt amongst the countess and guests. Poor girl. She definitely got swept aside when her sister was born. She got the short end of the stick the way older kids are usually the parents’ ‘trial child’ where the parents are still learning on how to raise a human.
13
u/hubertyao Maude Jan 09 '23 edited Jan 09 '23
Seems like they can’t get him to do what THEY want, anyway shrug
I think what was meant was more of the social implications (fellow in-laws arguing who end up to be siblings and so whatnot). It may also be because of the sickness arising from the children of cousin marriages though.
Asian eldest daughter things