Pierre spent two days at Bazdéev’s house, and began to imagine killing Napoleon.
Summary:
As the French soldiers spread throughout Moscow, Pierre spent two days alone in Bazdéev’s house, where he drifted into an odd mental state bordering on insanity. Having been asked to organize Bazdéev’s papers, Pierre had gone to his deceased friend’s house seeking refuge from the chaos of his own life. He tried to review the papers, but soon drifted into many daydreams. He got a pistol and peasants clothes to take part in the battle to save Moscow alongside the peasants he so admired, but that battle never happened. Eventually he became completely obsessed by one persistent thought, his old contrived numerological prediction, and he started imagining assassinating Napoleon. While Pierre was thinking about this, Bazdéev’s half-crazy old brother came in and snatched Pierre’s pistol off his table. As the servants were attempting to take the pistol away from this delusional old alcoholic, they are startled to hear several men knocking at the door of the house.
quote from the chapter:
-all this kept him in a state of excitement bordering on insanity.
It was two o’clock in the afternoon. The French had already entered Moscow. Pierre knew this, but instead of acting he only thought about his undertaking, going over its minutest details in his mind. In his fancy he did not clearly picture to himself either the striking of the blow or the death of Napoleon, but with extraordinary vividness and melancholy enjoyment imagined his own destruction and heroic endurance.
Yes, alone, for the sake of all, I must do it or perish! he thought. Yes, I will approach… and then suddenly… with pistol or dagger? But that is all the same! ‘It is not I but the hand of Providence that punishes thee,’ I shall say, thought he, imagining what he would say when killing Napoleon. Well then, take me and execute me! he went on, speaking to himself and bowing his head with a sad but firm expression
Book 11, Chapter 27
Pierre spent two days at Bazdéev’s house, and began to imagine killing Napoleon.
Summary:
As the French soldiers spread throughout Moscow, Pierre spent two days alone in Bazdéev’s house, where he drifted into an odd mental state bordering on insanity. Having been asked to organize Bazdéev’s papers, Pierre had gone to his deceased friend’s house seeking refuge from the chaos of his own life. He tried to review the papers, but soon drifted into many daydreams. He got a pistol and peasants clothes to take part in the battle to save Moscow alongside the peasants he so admired, but that battle never happened. Eventually he became completely obsessed by one persistent thought, his old contrived numerological prediction, and he started imagining assassinating Napoleon. While Pierre was thinking about this, Bazdéev’s half-crazy old brother came in and snatched Pierre’s pistol off his table. As the servants were attempting to take the pistol away from this delusional old alcoholic, they are startled to hear several men knocking at the door of the house.
quote from the chapter:
-all this kept him in a state of excitement bordering on insanity.
It was two o’clock in the afternoon. The French had already entered Moscow. Pierre knew this, but instead of acting he only thought about his undertaking, going over its minutest details in his mind. In his fancy he did not clearly picture to himself either the striking of the blow or the death of Napoleon, but with extraordinary vividness and melancholy enjoyment imagined his own destruction and heroic endurance.
Yes, alone, for the sake of all, I must do it or perish! he thought. Yes, I will approach… and then suddenly… with pistol or dagger? But that is all the same! ‘It is not I but the hand of Providence that punishes thee,’ I shall say, thought he, imagining what he would say when killing Napoleon. Well then, take me and execute me! he went on, speaking to himself and bowing his head with a sad but firm expression
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