Pierre attempts to free his serfs and to take other steps to improve their lives, but his stewards thwart his attempts.
Summary:
Soon after joining the Masonic Brotherhood, Pierre went to Kiev where he had many estates. Once there, he instructed all of his stewards to go much easier on the serfs, who Pierre meant to free as soon as possible. The stewards feigned support for Pierre’s new ideas, although in reality they opposed Pierre’s ideas. The chief steward, for example, said Pierre’s plans to help the serfs must be delayed because it would cost too much money. With his huge inheritance, Pierre had also acquired a lot of financial obligations. Pierre really felt far poorer now than before he inherited the money. He met daily with the chief steward, but Pierre didn’t have a good head for business and the steward was able to subtly thwart his efforts to make life better for the serfs. Behind Pierre’s back, the stewards also placed added burdens on the serfs. And, despite being a Freemason, Pierre still sought out parties and female liaisons as in the past. The stewards also played off Pierre’s desire to see himself as a great social reformer. They made Pierre think he was accomplishing great things for the serfs, like building schools and churches, while in reality life for his serfs became more difficult than ever.
quote from the chapter:
The chief steward, who considered the young count’s attempts almost insane-unprofitable to himself, to the count, and to the serfs-made some concessions. Continuing to represent the liberation of the serfs as impracticable, he arranged for the erection of large buildings-schools, hospitals, and asylums-on all the estates before the master arrived. Everywhere preparations were made not for ceremonious welcomes (which he knew Pierre would not like), but for just such gratefully religious ones, with offerings of icons and the bread and salt of hospitality, as, according to his understanding of his master, would touch and delude him.
Book 5, Chapter 10
Pierre attempts to free his serfs and to take other steps to improve their lives, but his stewards thwart his attempts.
Summary:
Soon after joining the Masonic Brotherhood, Pierre went to Kiev where he had many estates. Once there, he instructed all of his stewards to go much easier on the serfs, who Pierre meant to free as soon as possible. The stewards feigned support for Pierre’s new ideas, although in reality they opposed Pierre’s ideas. The chief steward, for example, said Pierre’s plans to help the serfs must be delayed because it would cost too much money. With his huge inheritance, Pierre had also acquired a lot of financial obligations. Pierre really felt far poorer now than before he inherited the money. He met daily with the chief steward, but Pierre didn’t have a good head for business and the steward was able to subtly thwart his efforts to make life better for the serfs. Behind Pierre’s back, the stewards also placed added burdens on the serfs. And, despite being a Freemason, Pierre still sought out parties and female liaisons as in the past. The stewards also played off Pierre’s desire to see himself as a great social reformer. They made Pierre think he was accomplishing great things for the serfs, like building schools and churches, while in reality life for his serfs became more difficult than ever.
quote from the chapter:
The chief steward, who considered the young count’s attempts almost insane-unprofitable to himself, to the count, and to the serfs-made some concessions. Continuing to represent the liberation of the serfs as impracticable, he arranged for the erection of large buildings-schools, hospitals, and asylums-on all the estates before the master arrived. Everywhere preparations were made not for ceremonious welcomes (which he knew Pierre would not like), but for just such gratefully religious ones, with offerings of icons and the bread and salt of hospitality, as, according to his understanding of his master, would touch and delude him.
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