Jacques Lagaule
01-02-2013, 02:12 PM
in chapter 2 and chapter3, I pay the attentions on four characters, a couple and a future couple, especially the later, Pierre and Hélène. in the Part 1, pierre was a "highschool boy". during the soirée, he was described as "a child in a toyshop", and "his was afraid of missing any intellectual talk..., as he gazed at the assembled company.... he stood there waiting for a chance to launch forth with his own ideas...". And Tolstoy judged his character by Anna Pavlovna's expression: "Anna Pavlovna's worst fears were confirmed... she watched anxiously...".
by contrary, pierre's future wife was more sophastics. "Beautiful Hélène", before I read "War and Peace", this woman has been a negative impression in my mind, but it's unfair. Tolstoy created an excellent example in his novel. Hélène is a "what a beautiful woman" and she did her duty and she did it correctly. in the chapter 3, "... she moved between the men as they stepped aside to make way for her. Without looking anyone in the face, but beaming at the company...". through the modern examinations, even babies like the beautiful woman.
in these two chapters, another tragdical couple: Bolkonskys. Each time I read some paragraphies on them, I ask myself the same question: why they married? they never like each other? why?
by contrary, pierre's future wife was more sophastics. "Beautiful Hélène", before I read "War and Peace", this woman has been a negative impression in my mind, but it's unfair. Tolstoy created an excellent example in his novel. Hélène is a "what a beautiful woman" and she did her duty and she did it correctly. in the chapter 3, "... she moved between the men as they stepped aside to make way for her. Without looking anyone in the face, but beaming at the company...". through the modern examinations, even babies like the beautiful woman.
in these two chapters, another tragdical couple: Bolkonskys. Each time I read some paragraphies on them, I ask myself the same question: why they married? they never like each other? why?