During this period, Pierre was almost insanely happy. The whole meaning of life now for him centered entirely on his love for Natasha and the hope of being loved by her.
During this period, Pierre was almost insanely happy. The whole meaning of life now for him centered entirely on his love for Natasha and the hope of being loved by her.
Book 15, Chapter 19
During this period, Pierre was almost insanely happy. The whole meaning of life now for him centered entirely on his love for Natasha and the hope of being loved by her.
Summary:
A joyful, unexpected happiness overtook Pierre and stayed with him. At times it seemed to him that his future happiness had become the center of the whole world. His sense of joy was that strong. He imagined over and over every conversation he had ever had with Natasha. He pictured in his mind her face and smile. This courtship was very different from his first courtship, when from the very beginning he had had serious doubts and reservations about Helene. With Natasha, there was not one shadow of a doubt in his mind. His only worry now was that it was all too good to be true. She was too good for him, he thought. He was afraid he would wake up one day and find it had only been a dream. He made no plans for the future and did not worry about small things. All that mattered to him now was the happiness before him if only he could attain it – that was all that mattered now. The bright new light in his soul caused him to see everyone he met as all good, and very, very worthy of being loved. He often surprised those he met by his significantly happy looks and smiles which seemed to express a secret understanding between him and them. And when he realized that people might not be aware of his happiness, he felt a desire somehow to explain to them that all that occupied them was a mere frivolous trifle unworthy of attention. Later in life, when Pierre looked back on this period, he realized the views he formed then, how he saw people and life, remained true for him always.
quote from the chapter:
A joyful, unexpected frenzy, of which he had thought himself incapable, possessed him. The whole meaning of life-not for him alone but for the whole world-seemed to him centered in his love and the possibility of being loved by her. At times everybody seemed to him to be occupied with one thing only-his future happiness. Sometimes it seemed to him that other people were all as pleased as he was himself and merely tried to hide that pleasure by pretending to be busy with other interests. In every word and gesture he saw allusions to his happiness. He often surprised those he met by his significantly happy looks and smiles which seemed to express a secret understanding between him and them. And when he realized that people might not be aware of his happiness, he pitied them with his whole heart and felt a desire somehow to explain to them that all that occupied them was a mere frivolous trifle unworthy of attention.
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