War and Peace Group Read 2011 - Epilogue I

We finished the main story, two epilogues are left. This is the thread for the first one.

This way to the final thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/113836

Finished the 1st epilogue and had to say goodbye to the remaining characters. If other reviews are correct, epilogue 2 contains nothing but philosophical analysis about human nature.

I liked the last bit about Nikolenkha (another young man, too ready to do great things for his country). Nicolai's development reminded me of Levin in Anna Karenina, and I am glad he managed to pay his family's debts, although I don't understand why it was so impossible to tell his mother the truth about the financial situation.

Natasha and Pierre seem to be reasonably happy, but has he really changed?

It was interesting to see the different dynamics in the two couples, but I could have done without this epilogue. Should I ever reread the book I will probably stop after volume IV.

I agree completely. By now, Tolstoy is bored with his characters. He thinks the readers will want to know what happened to the main ones, so he fills it in. But you know, I really didn’t want to know that they all became domesticated, rebuilt their fortunes and their estates, settled down, had ordinary lives. I want to remember them as rising to deal with the extraordinary times they lived through. And he doesn’t even bother to tidy up some minor characters – Berg and Vera, Julie and Boris, and Anatole (we heard in passing he was dead, but is he?). But I didn’t really care about any of them anyway, I guess. I’m sorry I read this epilogue.

I really didn't want to see Natasha all matronly and jealous.

It was mentioned that Pierre had heard a rumour about Anatole's and Andrei's deaths (when in fact Andrei was still alive). So we don't know for sure if Anatole really died of his injuries. And you're right - Vera as the oldest Rostov child was completely forgotten.

I've just finished this epilogue and didn't enjoy it much. And I am NOT looking forward to the next 40 pages of Tolstoy going on about the meaning of History and Freedom. But I'm not stopping now. Pierre was back to annoying me again. The only bit I liked (and found qutie funny) was Tolstoy going on and on about how Natasha breastfed her own babies. That made me happy!

I also found Nikolai more likable in here, mostly, and less of a plonker - and giggled at him buying a library of books and only buying a new one when he'd read the others.

Yeah, this was SO disappointing and unnecessary. But you might like Epilogue 2 more than you think - I did - just don't think of it as part of the book at all, but a whole separate thing.

uh-oh--I'm going to disagree here--I liked the "where are they now" feel of this section. I was particularly interested in what happened to Nikolai--he was almost forgotten at the end of the main story. I think what I liked about it was that the characters now determine their own destinies more--in the main story, events (and bad decisions) seem to determine everyone's fate.

I am seeing Pierre as a symbol of Alexander I's change from leader to mystic; Pierre has also become more spiritual and is not concerned with daily events and material things. I see Andrei's death as the end of Alexander I as "leader". Even in the beginning of this section Tolstoy says that everyone loved Alexander I and forgave him his faults at the end. Seems to me it's how everyone treats Pierre, in a way. And Nikolenka is symbolic of the people who adore and are devoted to Alexander I (i.e., devoted and adoring his father Andrei and Pierre).

On the other hand Nikolai is practical Russia, moving on in the 19th century to deal with the real problems of the people and the world, sometimes getting into fights (i.e., wars), but trying to control himself. I don't know, maybe I'm extrapolating too much into the characters. Maybe I'll change my mind completely after reading the 2nd Epilogue.

#7 - That's a great analysis of the characters, thanks! I had been feeling all along that each of those three represented an element of Russia, but hadn't thought it through as you have done, and hadn't thought about Alexander I as the representative of Russia. (I still don't like Epilogue 2, though!)