BOOK 10, Chptr. 37, P&V pg. 812

Book 10, Chapter 37

Andrew sees a man’s leg being amputated nearby, and realizes it’s actually Anatole Kurágin. Andrew is overcome by a wave of love and forgiveness.

Summary:

Due to his rank, Andrew is taken directly into the medical tent. Prince Andrew could not make out distinctly what was in that tent. The pitiful groans from all sides and the torturing pain in his thigh, stomach, and back distracted him. He passes out as they are undressing him for surgery. When he comes to, the splintered portions of his thighbone had been extracted, the torn flesh cut away, and the wound bandaged. Slowly, Andrew realizes the sobbing, enfeebled amputee next to him is Anatole Kurágin. Andrew is still groggy, but gradually remembers the connection that existed between himself and Anatole, who was dimly gazing at him through tears. He remembered everything, and a wave of ecstatic pity and love overflowed Andrew’s heart. Prince Andrew could no longer restrain himself and wept tender loving tears for his fellow men, for himself, and for his own and their errors.

quote from the chapter:

Anatole was sobbing painfully. Yes, it is he! Yes, that man is somehow closely and painfully connected with me, thought Prince Andrew, not yet clearly grasping what he saw before him. What is the connection of that man with my childhood and life? he asked himself without finding an answer. And suddenly a new unexpected memory from that realm of pure and loving childhood presented itself to him. He remembered Natásha as he had seen her for the first time at the ball in 1810, with her slender neck and arms and with a frightened happy face ready for rapture, and love and tenderness for her, stronger and more vivid than ever, awoke in his soul.

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