Diving deeper into government reform work, Andrew develops mixed feelings about Speránski.
Summary:
During the first weeks of his stay in Petersburg, Prince Andrew is so busy with his day-to-day activities, he has no time to think about his life. In time, Andrew gets to know Speránski better. Speránski strikes Andrew as his ideal of a perfectly rational and virtuous man. The fact that Speránski came from humble origins caused Prince Andrew to cherish his sentiment for him the more, and unconsciously to strengthen it. Speránski, either because he appreciated the other’s capacity or because he considered it necessary to win him to his side, cultivates his relationship with Prince Andrew. Andrew admires Speránski tremendously. Still, something about Speránski bothers Andrew. With Speránski’s help, Andrew is appointed chairman of a section of the Committee on Army Regulations for the revision of the laws. Andrew works on the section on the regulations dealing with personal rights.
quote from the chapter:
Everything seemed so simple and clear in Speránski’s exposition that Prince Andrew involuntarily agreed with him about everything. If he replied and argued, it was only because he wished to maintain his independence and not submit to Speránski’s opinions entirely. Everything was right and everything was as it should be: only one thing disconcerted Prince Andrew. This was Speránski’s cold, mirrorlike look, which did not allow one to penetrate to his soul, and his delicate white hands, which Prince Andrew involuntarily watched as one does watch the hands of those who possess power. This mirrorlike gaze and those delicate hands irritated Prince Andrew, he knew not why. He was unpleasantly struck, too, by the excessive contempt for others that he observed in Speránski, and by the diversity of lines of argument he used to support his opinions.
Book 6, Chapter 6
Diving deeper into government reform work, Andrew develops mixed feelings about Speránski.
Summary:
During the first weeks of his stay in Petersburg, Prince Andrew is so busy with his day-to-day activities, he has no time to think about his life. In time, Andrew gets to know Speránski better. Speránski strikes Andrew as his ideal of a perfectly rational and virtuous man. The fact that Speránski came from humble origins caused Prince Andrew to cherish his sentiment for him the more, and unconsciously to strengthen it. Speránski, either because he appreciated the other’s capacity or because he considered it necessary to win him to his side, cultivates his relationship with Prince Andrew. Andrew admires Speránski tremendously. Still, something about Speránski bothers Andrew. With Speránski’s help, Andrew is appointed chairman of a section of the Committee on Army Regulations for the revision of the laws. Andrew works on the section on the regulations dealing with personal rights.
quote from the chapter:
Everything seemed so simple and clear in Speránski’s exposition that Prince Andrew involuntarily agreed with him about everything. If he replied and argued, it was only because he wished to maintain his independence and not submit to Speránski’s opinions entirely. Everything was right and everything was as it should be: only one thing disconcerted Prince Andrew. This was Speránski’s cold, mirrorlike look, which did not allow one to penetrate to his soul, and his delicate white hands, which Prince Andrew involuntarily watched as one does watch the hands of those who possess power. This mirrorlike gaze and those delicate hands irritated Prince Andrew, he knew not why. He was unpleasantly struck, too, by the excessive contempt for others that he observed in Speránski, and by the diversity of lines of argument he used to support his opinions.
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