At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness,
During times of heavy loss And when you're sad
The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay.
To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong.
If you need me urgent, send me a PM
Interestingly enough… I’m not very into Andrey. I just never fell for him.
Now I do have an unhealthy attraction to Dolokhov but even putting aside my bad-boy attraction I like Pierre and Nicolai Rostov a lot more than Andrey.
yes the combination of his looks and all that intelligence and all his perfect ideas, was very attractive to me beside I thought he was mysterious ,real , decent, and a quite gentleman and about Natasha I didnt like her very much I think she represented tolstoy's opinion about the ideal woman , I dont think he was a big fan of intelligent talented women outside their families, but I'm not sure!Originally Posted by olichka
Why did you fall in love with him ? Was is partly because he was so handsome ? I also just totally fell in love with him when I read the book for the first time ( at 13) : I thought that the combination of his looks, high intelligence and mysteriousness made him very sexy !
Did you ever wonder how his marriage to Natasha would have turned out had he lived ? I think he would have kept her in check, and she would not have become the slob that she became while married to Pierre. I mean, can't you be a loving wife and mother and still maintain your dignity and talents ? I was completely turned off by her in the Epilogue.
By the way, does anybody know if the sequel to "War and Peace" called " Pierre and Natasha " and written by a certain Staroy ever come out in print ? I'd be fascinated to read it !!!
Last edited by samah; 04-15-2008 at 12:10 PM.
My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do—for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
Khalil Gibran
That's true, Tolstoy thought that a woman's place was in the home, raising children and adoring her husband. He actually referred to a woman's intelligence as " a tiny enterprise " --- it's near the end of " W.and P. " proper, where Natasha is listening adoringly to Pierre's account of his troubles during the war. Because she's admiring him, Tolstoy refers to her as a " real woman ".
Exactly! this is why I didnt like any of the female characters in War and Peace ,Helene could have been an interesting character but she wasnt smart enough! even in Tolostoys Anna Karenina ,I felt that he was punishing her for leaving her husband like it was the biggest mistake any woman could make.
My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do—for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
Khalil Gibran
I agree with you. I also didn't like Tolstoy's women- especially I didn't like Anna Karenina. At the beginning of book, I like her, but then she started irritating me so much... I also didn't like Natasha- I just can't forgive her what she has done to Andrei... But I just adore male characters- in War and Peace- Andrei and Pierre.They are one of my favourite heros in literature. And while I was reading book, I was wondering: why nowadays there are no guys like them...
Actually I think that these men are extinct now
My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do—for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
Khalil Gibran
Actually I think that these men are extinct now
I have a joke to illustrate your very good point ( a Russian friend of mine has told me it) :
Natasha is dancing with Pierre and notices that he has dirt on his boots. Airily she points it out to him : " Pierre, you have dirt on your boots ! ". Pierre leaves, goes into another room and, feeling dishonoured, shoots himself.
Next, Natasha is dancing with Prince Andrey. The same situation occurs. Prince Andrey leaves the room and shoots himself out of shame.
Lastly, Natasha dances with a young and simple army officer. She points out the dirt on his boots. He laughs it off and says : " It's not dirt -- it's cow " mud " that I stepped in when I walked thru cow shed this morning. Don't worry --- as soon as it dries, it will drop off all by itself ! ".
Oh that was funny Swanduckling!I have a joke to illustrate your very good point ( a Russian friend of mine has told me it) :
Natasha is dancing with Pierre and notices that he has dirt on his boots. Airily she points it out to him : " Pierre, you have dirt on your boots ! ". Pierre leaves, goes into another room and, feeling dishonoured, shoots himself.
Next, Natasha is dancing with Prince Andrey. The same situation occurs. Prince Andrey leaves the room and shoots himself out of shame.
Lastly, Natasha dances with a young and simple army officer. She points out the dirt on his boots. He laughs it off and says : " It's not dirt -- it's cow " mud " that I stepped in when I walked thru cow shed this morning. Don't worry --- as soon as it dries, it will drop off all by itself ! ".
My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do—for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
Khalil Gibran
Oh that was funny Swanduckling!
I'm glad you liked my joke, Samah ! You're right, most men we know are more like the simple army officer, rather than the complicated, sensitive Andrey and Pierre.
And here's another one : Beautiful lake. Graceful and gorgeous swans floating by. Beautiful Natasha and army officer Rzhevsky walking by. Natasha turns to him and asks him rapturously :
" Lieutenant Rzhevsky, could you love someone the way these swans do ? "
Scandalized, Lieutenant Rzhevsky shoots back : " What ?!! Right there ... , in the ice-cold water ?!! "
Last edited by Swanduckling; 06-18-2008 at 12:46 PM.
WOW that was strong oneI'm glad you liked my joke, Samah ! You're right, most men we know are more like the simple army officer, rather than the complicated, sensitive Andrey and Pierre.
And here's another one : Beautiful lake. Gracious and gorgeous swans floating by. Beautiful Natasha and army officer Rzhevsky walking by. Natasha asks him rapturously :
" Lieutenant Rzhevsky, could you love someone the way these swans do ? "
Scandalized, Lieutenant Rzhevsky shoots back : " What ? While swimming in this ice-cold water ? "
My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do—for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
Khalil Gibran
Hi, Samah !
I'm glad you're enjoying my jokes. If you want to read more about officer Rzhevsky, you can find the jokes about him on the Internet. Look under " Poruchik Rzhevsky ". They're a little " risque " to include here on the forum.
You're right, he seems to be a better match for Natasha than Andrey or Pierre --- I guess, he has the intelligence and the refinement of beastly Anatol Kuragin with whom Natasha was so eager to elope !
As well, regarding who is a better match for Natasha, there was a discussion about it on the "original version of War and peace" thread, I think. Don't know, if you have noticed it !
Also, I started a thread about posting jokes about Tolstoy ( and other Russian writers, if you wish ). Perhaps you can make some contributions ?
Last edited by Swanduckling; 06-18-2008 at 12:48 PM.
I'm glad you liked my joke, Samah ! You're right, most men we know are more like the simple army officer, rather than the complicated, sensitive Andrey and Pierre.
And here's another one : Beautiful lake. Graceful and gorgeous swans floating by. Beautiful Natasha and army officer Rzhevsky walking by. Natasha turns to him and asks him rapturously :
" Lieutenant Rzhevsky, could you love someone the way these swans do ? "
Scandalized, Lieutenant Rzhevsky shoots back : " What ?!! Right there ... , in the ice-cold water ?!! "
Swanduckling, your saucy jokes are certainly a great way to illustrate some of "W. and P." characters. They certainly hit the nail on the head !
I have a joke to illustrate your very good point ( a Russian friend of mine has told me it) :
Natasha is dancing with Pierre and notices that he has dirt on his boots. Airily she points it out to him : " Pierre, you have dirt on your boots ! ". Pierre leaves, goes into another room and, feeling dishonoured, shoots himself.
Next, Natasha is dancing with Prince Andrey. The same situation occurs. Prince Andrey leaves the room and shoots himself out of shame.
Lastly, Natasha dances with a young and simple army officer. She points out the dirt on his boots. He laughs it off and says : " It's not dirt -- it's cow " mud " that I stepped in when I walked thru cow shed this morning. Don't worry --- as soon as it dries, it will drop off all by itself ! ".
What and amusing thread ! That's exactly what we need --- some humour on the forum to liven things up !
OK Swanduckling! I'll try to find your thread because just like what Belka said we need more humor here espacially when it comes to Tolostoy because I dont think ha had any.
My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear—a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do—for my words are naught but thy own thoughts in sound and my deeds thy own hopes in action.
Khalil Gibran
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