An imagined vision induces the superstitious Sónya to yield to pressure from Countess Rostóv and release Nicholas from his promise to marry her.
An imagined vision induces the superstitious Sónya to yield to pressure from Countess Rostóv and release Nicholas from his promise to marry her.
Book 12, Chapter 8
An imagined vision induces the superstitious Sónya to yield to pressure from Countess Rostóv and release Nicholas from his promise to marry her.
Summary:
This chapter describes the series of events leading to Sónya writing the letter releasing Nicholas from his promise to marry Sónya. It wasn’t solely a matter of pressure from the Countess. Countess Rostóv had been putting very intense pressure on Sónya for a long time to release Nicholas so that he would be free to marry Princess Mary. Sónya habitually assumed a “self-sacrificing” role within the Rostóv family. But not this time! Sónya really wanted Nicholas to marry her, no matter what the Countess wanted. However, Sónya was also aware that Nicholas would be unable to marry Princess Mary if Andrew and Natásha were married first. This was due to “prohibited degrees of affinity”. If Andrew and Natásha married, this would make Princess Mary and Nicholas in-laws. And, apparently, in that society such marriages between in-laws were prohibited. Sónya thinks that Andrew is recovering and will probably be able to marry Natásha. Next, Sónya foolishly thinks a vision confirms that Natásha and Andrew will definitely marry, preventing Nicholas and Princess Mary from wedding. In fact, it wasn’t an actual vision at all. Rather, Sónya simply let her imagination run away with her. She mostly just imagines seeing this vision. But, trusting that Nicholas will be unable to marry the Princess in any event due to “prohibited degrees of affinity”, Sónya adopts a dutiful demeanor and agrees to write a letter releasing Nicholas from his promise and freeing him to marry Princess Mary. All of this is what prompted Sónya to write the letter to Nicholas.
quote from the chapter:
Sónya, won’t you write to Nicholas? She spoke in a soft, tremulous voice, and in the weary eyes that looked over her spectacles Sónya read all that the countess meant to convey with these words. Those eyes expressed entreaty, shame at having to ask, fear of a refusal, and readiness for relentless hatred in case of such refusal.
Sónya went up to the countess and, kneeling down, kissed her hand. Yes, Mamma, I will write, said she.
Sónya was softened, excited, and touched by all that had occurred that day, especially by the mysterious fulfillment she had just seen of her vision. Now that she knew that the renewal of Natásha’s relations with Prince Andrew would prevent Nicholas from marrying Princess Mary, she was joyfully conscious of a return of that self-sacrificing spirit in which she was accustomed to live and loved to live.
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