Nicholas declines to marry a wealthy heiress, as his mother wishes.
Summary:
The Rostóv family’s financial situation continues to worsen. A few cost-cutting measures are attempted, but the Count seems constitutionally incapable of modest living. They are in the country now, but still maintaining a very large staff and entertaining a lot. Worried about how dire are their finances, the Countess suggests Nicholas marry a wealthy heiress. This seems the family’s only hope to escape ruin. She has found a suitable wealthy match, and encourages Nicholas to call on her. But Nicholas, who apparently doesn’t fully grasp their situation, says he does not wish to marry for money. He declines to visit the wealthy heiress, and instead appears still interested in marrying his poor cousin Sónya.
quote from the chapter:
Maybe I do love a poor girl, said Nicholas to himself. Am I to sacrifice my feelings and my honor for money? I wonder how Mamma could speak so to me. Because Sónya is poor I must not love her, he thought, must not respond to her faithful, devoted love? Yet I should certainly be happier with her than with some doll-like Julie. I can always sacrifice my feelings for my family’s welfare, he said to himself, but I can’t coerce my feelings. If I love Sónya, that feeling is for me stronger and higher than all else.
Nicholas did not go to Moscow, and the countess did not renew the conversation with him about marriage.
Book 7, Chapter 8
Nicholas declines to marry a wealthy heiress, as his mother wishes.
Summary:
The Rostóv family’s financial situation continues to worsen. A few cost-cutting measures are attempted, but the Count seems constitutionally incapable of modest living. They are in the country now, but still maintaining a very large staff and entertaining a lot. Worried about how dire are their finances, the Countess suggests Nicholas marry a wealthy heiress. This seems the family’s only hope to escape ruin. She has found a suitable wealthy match, and encourages Nicholas to call on her. But Nicholas, who apparently doesn’t fully grasp their situation, says he does not wish to marry for money. He declines to visit the wealthy heiress, and instead appears still interested in marrying his poor cousin Sónya.
quote from the chapter:
Maybe I do love a poor girl, said Nicholas to himself. Am I to sacrifice my feelings and my honor for money? I wonder how Mamma could speak so to me. Because Sónya is poor I must not love her, he thought, must not respond to her faithful, devoted love? Yet I should certainly be happier with her than with some doll-like Julie. I can always sacrifice my feelings for my family’s welfare, he said to himself, but I can’t coerce my feelings. If I love Sónya, that feeling is for me stronger and higher than all else.
Nicholas did not go to Moscow, and the countess did not renew the conversation with him about marriage.
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