Rostóv goes to the military hospital to see Denísov.
Summary:
There was a brief armistice and Rostóv goes to the military hospital to visit Denísov, about whom he has been worried. Entering the hospital, Nicholas finds that conditions there are absolutely appalling. There is a horrible smell. Its infected with Typhus and lacks medical staff. Five doctors have already died of Typhus, with only one doctor remaining The men lie in horrid conditions, especially in the soldiers’ ward. A man begs repeatedly for water, but no one attends him. When a man dies in his bed, no one even removes the corpse. No one knows if Denísov is there, or if he has died. In one room Nicholas finds a dead man in one of the beds who has been laying there for some time.
quote from the chapter:
No, it’s impossible to do anything here, thought Rostóv, lowering his eyes, and he was going out, but became aware of an intense look fixed on him on his right, and he turned. Close to the corner, on an overcoat, sat an old, unshaven, gray-bearded soldier as thin as a skeleton, with a stern sallow face and eyes intently fixed on Rostóv. The man’s neighbor on one side whispered something to him, pointing at Rostóv, who noticed that the old man wanted to speak to him. He drew nearer and saw that the old man had only one leg bent under him, the other had been amputated above the knee. His neighbor on the other side, who lay motionless some distance from him with his head thrown back, was a young soldier with a snub nose. His pale waxen face was still freckled and his eyes were rolled back. Rostóv looked at the young soldier and a cold chill ran down his back.
Why, this one seems… he began, turning to the assistant.
And how we’ve been begging, your honor, said the old soldier, his jaw quivering. He’s been dead since morning. After all we’re men, not dogs.
Book 5, Chapter 17
Rostóv goes to the military hospital to see Denísov.
Summary:
There was a brief armistice and Rostóv goes to the military hospital to visit Denísov, about whom he has been worried. Entering the hospital, Nicholas finds that conditions there are absolutely appalling. There is a horrible smell. Its infected with Typhus and lacks medical staff. Five doctors have already died of Typhus, with only one doctor remaining The men lie in horrid conditions, especially in the soldiers’ ward. A man begs repeatedly for water, but no one attends him. When a man dies in his bed, no one even removes the corpse. No one knows if Denísov is there, or if he has died. In one room Nicholas finds a dead man in one of the beds who has been laying there for some time.
quote from the chapter:
No, it’s impossible to do anything here, thought Rostóv, lowering his eyes, and he was going out, but became aware of an intense look fixed on him on his right, and he turned. Close to the corner, on an overcoat, sat an old, unshaven, gray-bearded soldier as thin as a skeleton, with a stern sallow face and eyes intently fixed on Rostóv. The man’s neighbor on one side whispered something to him, pointing at Rostóv, who noticed that the old man wanted to speak to him. He drew nearer and saw that the old man had only one leg bent under him, the other had been amputated above the knee. His neighbor on the other side, who lay motionless some distance from him with his head thrown back, was a young soldier with a snub nose. His pale waxen face was still freckled and his eyes were rolled back. Rostóv looked at the young soldier and a cold chill ran down his back.
Why, this one seems… he began, turning to the assistant.
And how we’ve been begging, your honor, said the old soldier, his jaw quivering. He’s been dead since morning. After all we’re men, not dogs.
Click here to read full text of this chapter.
Please help improve this shared document by posting your suggested corrections, clarifications, and changes below. Thank you!