About the fourth volume
The last volume of Tolstoy's War and Peace describes the events of the second half of 1812. It covers the French flight from Moscow, the Battle of Tarutino and numerous scenes of partisan warfare. In the fourth volume, the first and fourth “peaceful” parts frame the second and third “military” parts, as if emphasizing the close relationship between “war” and “peace” not only on the battlefield, but also in the personal lives of the heroes and all of Russia of that period. You can read a summary of volume 4 of “War and Peace” in parts online on our website or download a copy to your computer.
Important quotes are highlighted in grey, this will help you better understand the meaning of the fourth volume.
Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace": Volume 4. Part 1. Chapter 11
From the house of Prince Shcherbatov, the prisoners were led straight down along the Devichye Pole, to the left of the Devichye Convent and led to a vegetable garden on which there was a pillar. Behind the pillar there was a large hole dug with freshly dug up earth, and a large crowd of people stood in a semicircle around the pit and the pillar. The crowd consisted of a small number of Russians and a large number of Napoleonic troops out of formation: Germans, Italians and French in different uniforms. To the right and left of the pillar stood fronts of French troops in blue uniforms with red epaulettes, boots and shakos.
The criminals were placed in a certain order, which was on the list (Pierre was sixth), and were led to a post. Several drums suddenly struck from both sides, and Pierre felt that with this sound it was as if part of his soul had been torn away. He lost the ability to think and think. He could only see and hear. And he had only one desire - the desire for something terrible to happen as soon as possible, which had to be done. Pierre looked back at his comrades and examined them.
The two men on the edge were shaven and guarded. One is tall and thin; the other is black, shaggy, muscular, with a flat nose. The third was a street servant, about forty-five years old, with graying hair and a plump, well-fed body. The fourth was a very handsome man, with a thick brown beard and black eyes. The fifth was a factory worker, yellow, thin, about eighteen, in a dressing gown.
Pierre heard that the French were discussing how to shoot - one at a time or two at a time? “Two at a time,” the senior officer answered coldly and calmly. There was movement in the ranks of the soldiers, and it was noticeable that everyone was in a hurry - and they were in a hurry not as they are in a hurry to do something understandable to everyone, but as they are in a hurry to finish a necessary, but unpleasant and incomprehensible task.
A French official in a scarf approached the right side of the line of criminals and read the verdict in Russian and French.
Then two pairs of Frenchmen approached the criminals and, at the officer’s direction, took two guards who were standing on the edge. The guards, approaching the post, stopped and, while the bags were brought, silently looked around them, as a wounded animal looks at a suitable hunter. One kept crossing himself, the other scratched his back and made a movement with his lips like a smile. The soldiers, hurrying with their hands, began to blindfold them, put on bags and tie them to a post.
Twelve riflemen with guns came out from behind the ranks with measured, firm steps and stopped eight steps from the post. Pierre turned away so as not to see what would happen. Suddenly a crash and roar was heard, which seemed to Pierre louder than the most terrible thunderclaps, and he looked around. There was smoke, and the French with pale faces and trembling hands were doing something near the pit. They brought the other two. In the same way, with the same eyes, these two looked at everyone, in vain, with only their eyes, silently, asking for protection and, apparently, not understanding or believing what would happen. They could not believe, because they alone knew what their life was for them, and therefore they did not understand and did not believe that it could be taken away.
Pierre wanted not to look and turned away again; but again, as if a terrible explosion struck his ears, and along with these sounds he saw smoke, someone’s blood and the pale, frightened faces of the French, who were again doing something at the post, pushing each other with trembling hands. Pierre, breathing heavily, looked around him, as if asking: what is this? The same question was in all the glances that met Pierre’s gaze.
On all the faces of the Russians, on the faces of the French soldiers, officers, everyone without exception, he read the same fear, horror and struggle that were in his heart. “Who does this anyway? They all suffer just like me. Who? Who?” — it flashed in Pierre’s soul for a second.
“Tirailleurs du 86-me, en avant!1,” someone shouted. They brought in the fifth one, standing next to Pierre - alone. Pierre did not understand that he was saved, that he and everyone else were brought here only to be present at the execution. With ever-increasing horror, feeling neither joy nor peace, he looked at what was happening. The fifth was a factory worker in a dressing gown. They had just touched him when he jumped back in horror and grabbed Pierre (Pierre shuddered and broke away from him). The factory worker could not go. They dragged him under his arms, and he shouted something. When they brought him to the post, he suddenly fell silent. It was as if he suddenly understood something. Either he realized that it was in vain to shout, or that it was impossible for people to kill him, but he stood at the post, waiting for the bandage along with the others and, like a shot animal, looking around him with shining eyes.
Pierre could no longer take it upon himself to turn away and close his eyes. The curiosity and excitement of him and the entire crowd at this fifth murder reached the highest degree. Just like the others, this fifth one seemed calm: he pulled his robe around him and scratched one bare foot against the other.
When they began to blindfold him, he straightened the very knot on the back of his head that was cutting him; then, when they leaned him against the bloody post, he fell back, and since he felt awkward in this position, he straightened himself out and, placing his legs evenly, leaned calmly. Pierre did not take his eyes off him, not missing the slightest movement.
A command must have been heard, and after the command the shots of eight guns must have been heard. But Pierre, no matter how much he tried to remember later, did not hear the slightest sound from the shots. He only saw how, for some reason, the factory worker suddenly sank down on the ropes, how blood appeared in two places, and how the ropes themselves, from the weight of the hanging body, unraveled and the factory worker, unnaturally lowering his head and twisting his leg, sat down. Pierre ran up to the post. No one was holding him back. Frightened, pale people were doing something around the factory. One old, mustachioed Frenchman's lower jaw was shaking as he untied the ropes. The body came down. The soldiers awkwardly and hastily dragged him behind the post and began to push him into the pit.
Everyone, obviously, undoubtedly knew that they were criminals who needed to quickly hide the traces of their crime.
Pierre looked into the hole and saw that the factory worker was lying there with his knees up, close to his head, one shoulder higher than the other. And this shoulder convulsively, evenly fell and rose. But shovels of earth were already falling all over my body. One of the soldiers angrily, viciously and painfully shouted at Pierre to come back. But Pierre did not understand him and stood at the post, and no one drove him away.
When the pit was already completely filled up, a command was heard. Pierre was taken to his place, and the French troops, standing in front on both sides of the pillar, made a half turn and began to walk past the pillar at measured steps. Twenty-four riflemen with unloaded guns, standing in the middle of the circle, ran to their places while the companies passed by them.
Pierre now looked with meaningless eyes at these shooters, who ran out of the circle in pairs. All but one joined the companies. A young soldier with a deathly pale face, in a shako that had fallen back, having lowered his gun, was still standing opposite the pit in the place from which he had fired. He staggered like a drunk, taking several steps forward and backward to support his falling body. An old soldier, a non-commissioned officer, ran out of the ranks and, grabbing the young soldier by the shoulder, dragged him into the company. The crowd of Russians and French began to disperse. Everyone walked in silence, with their heads bowed.
“Ça leur apprendra à incendier,” said one of the French. Pierre looked back at the speaker and saw that it was a soldier who wanted to console himself with something about what had been done, but could not. Without finishing what he started, he waved his hand and walked away.
Summary of volume 4
Part 1
Chapter 1
The actions of the first part of the fourth volume of “War and Peace” begin on August 26, on the very day of the Battle of Borodino. In Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon, guests discuss Helen's sudden severe illness, suggesting that the woman is simply pretending because she cannot choose a husband from two candidates. Prince Vasily reads out a letter from the Right Reverend, written “when sending the image of the venerable saint Sergius to the sovereign.”
Chapter 2
The next day in St. Petersburg they receive a letter from Kutuzov, written from the field of the Borodino battle, and interpret it as news of the Russian victory. However, just three days later it becomes known that Moscow was abandoned by its residents and handed over to the French. In society, Kutuzov is beginning to be called a traitor. Alexander I was extremely dissatisfied with the actions of the commander-in-chief.
News of Helen's death. The official cause of death is a severe sore throat. However, according to rumors, Bezukhova drank a huge dose of medicine and died in agony before anyone could help her.
Chapter 3
Colonel Michaud arrives in St. Petersburg with official news that Moscow was abandoned and the city was burned by the enemy.
Chapters 4-5
Nikolay Rostov is on a business trip in Voronezh. At an evening with the governor, he meets Princess Marya Bolkonskaya’s aunt, Malvintseva, who offers to marry Marya to him, and the young man agrees.
Chapter 6
Marya and her nephew live with their aunt in Voronezh. Malvintseva arranges a meeting between Marya and Nikolai. Their date transformed Marya, she seemed to become prettier. Nikolai began to think that Marya was better than all the people he had met before and even better than himself.
Chapters 7-8
Marya and Nikolai learn about the results of the Battle of Borodino, the surrender of Moscow and the wounding of Prince Andrei. Marya wants to find her brother.
Rostov receives a letter from Sonya, written under the influence of Countess Rostova, in which she asks Nikolai to renege on his promise to marry her. Rostov also receives a letter from his mother, in which the Countess writes about their departure from Moscow, mentioning that Prince Andrei is going with them, and Natasha and Sonya are looking after him. Nikolai shows this letter to Marya (thanks to this letter, Nikolai “became close to the princess into an almost family relationship”).
Chapters 9-11
Pierre is captured by the French. When they were led for interrogation through burning Moscow, Bezukhov was horrified by what he saw: he “felt like an insignificant sliver caught in the wheels of an unknown but properly functioning machine.”
Pierre is brought for interrogation to Marshal Davout, known for his cruelty. However, after exchanging glances, Bezukhov and Davout vaguely felt “that they are both children of humanity, that they are brothers.” This is what saves Pierre: when, during the execution of prisoners, his turn reaches him, the execution is stopped and Bezukhov is taken away to the prisoners of war.
Chapter 12
Pierre understands that after the execution scenes he will not be able to return to normal life and faith. However, in the barracks he meets Platon Karataev. Karataev was convicted and sent to become a soldier, but he was glad of this, as it helped him save his younger brother. Plato tells Pierre that he needs to accept life as it is, feeling sorry for everyone. After a conversation with Karataev, Pierre “felt that the previously destroyed world was now being erected in his soul with new beauty, on some new and unshakable foundations.”
Chapter 13
Platon Karataev is a man who personifies everything “Russian, good and round.” “His face had an expression of innocence and youth,” and “the main feature of his speech was spontaneity and argument.” Karataev knew how to do everything: “baked, cooked, sewed, planed, made boots” and even sang. However, what attracted Pierre most about Karataev was his ability to talk about simple things that you usually don’t notice. Plato loved everything around him and lived in this love. “His every word and every action was a manifestation of an activity unknown to him, which was his life.” His life "had meaning only as a part of the whole, which he constantly felt."
Chapter 14
Marya goes to Yaroslavl to see the wounded Andrey. The girl feels that her love for Nikolai has become an inseparable part of herself and knows that her feelings are mutual. The Rostovs greet Marya as if they were their own. During a conversation with Natasha about Andrei, Bolkonskaya realizes that Natasha is now her sincere friend and comrade in grief.
Chapter 15
During Princess Marya’s meeting with her brother, it seems to the girl that in all Bolkonsky’s actions there is some kind of alienation from the world that is strange for a living person. She understands that Andrei's death is near.
Chapter 16
Andrei himself feels that he is dying. The man thinks about his love for Natasha, that love must fight death, because it is life. Bolkonsky has a dream in which death comes to him and he dies. Waking up, Andrei understands that death is liberation, awakening, relief. Soon he dies.
Part 2
Chapter 1
In the second part of the fourth volume of War and Peace, the Russian army, due to a lack of provisions, moves from the Ryazan to the Kaluga road to the Tarutino camp, carrying out the “so-called flank march behind Krasnaya Pakhra.”
Chapter 2
Tolstoy discusses the famous flank march of Russian troops and the role of Kutuzov in it. Kutuzov’s merit did not lie “in some brilliant strategic maneuver,” but in the fact that he alone believed that the Russians had won the battle of Borodino. He saw that the French were weakened, and kept the Russian army from "useless battles."
Kutuzov receives a letter from Napoleon, which Lauriston brings, asking for peace, which only confirms the commander-in-chief’s conclusions. Kutuzov refuses. At this point, the balance of power between the Russians and the French changes in favor of the Russians.
Chapters 3-4
Alexander is trying to control the Russian army from St. Petersburg, which only hinders Kutuzov. The Emperor sends Kutuzov a letter demanding that he begin an offensive against the French.
Chapters 5-7
Battle of Tarutino. The beginning of the offensive of the Russian troops (it dragged on for a day, since the orders given by Kutuzov were not immediately transmitted to the army). The Orlov-Denisov detachment successfully attacks the French (as a result, this battle was the only one in the Battle of Tarutino). Upon learning that Murat (Napoleon's marshal) was retreating, Kutuzov ordered a slow advance. The French army melts as it advances.
The Battle of Tarutino “exposed the weakness of the French and gave the impetus that Napoleon’s army was waiting for to begin their flight.”
Chapters 8-10
The result of Napoleon’s activities after the capture of Moscow: no matter what measures he tried to introduce, they were all unsuccessful (from administrative to religious and entertainment). Moscow continues to burn, and looting intensifies in the city. There is a decline in French military discipline. When the French left Moscow with looted goods, their position “was like that of a wounded animal feeling its death.” Napoleon “was like a child who imagines that he rules.”
Chapters 11-12
During his time in captivity, Pierre changes a lot, becoming collected, energetic, calm, ready for action. Bezukhov finally understood Andrei’s words that “happiness can only be negative.” “The absence of suffering, the satisfaction of needs and, as a result, the freedom to choose occupations, that is, a way of life, now seemed to Pierre to be the undoubted and highest happiness of a person.”
Chapters 13-14
The French are fleeing Moscow. Pierre is assigned to the captured officers. During his first overnight stay, Bezukhov admires the landscape. “Pierre looked into the sky, into the depths of the receding, playing stars. “And all this is mine, and all this is in me, and all this is me!” - thought Pierre.
Chapters 15-17
Napoleon again sends an envoy to Kutuzov with a peace proposal. Kutuzov refuses again. The French army turns onto the new Kaluga road and heads towards Borovsk.
Reflecting on the war, Kutuzov understands that the French army is in chaos, so it is easy to defeat.
Chapter 18
Kutuzov does everything to prevent the useless advances of Russian troops (to allow the French to leave and not lose their people in senseless firefights), but the French themselves run away from the enemy. Having almost been captured by the Cossacks, Napoleon orders a retreat along the Smolensk road.
Chapter 19
The French are running randomly towards Smolensk. Kutuzov tries not to interfere with the disastrous flight of the enemy, but few people listen to him, and Russian troops are trying to block the French road, losing hundreds of their own.
Part 3
Chapters 1-3
In the third part of the fourth volume, Tolstoy argues that the war of 1812 had a national character, since for the Russians it resolved the issue of life and death of the fatherland. Tolstoy calls guerrilla warfare one of the methods of waging a people's war.
Chapters 3-4
On August 24, Denis Davydov assembled the first partisan detachment. There were soon about a hundred such units. Denisov, together with Dolokhov, intended to attack and take a French transport with Russian prisoners and a cargo of cavalry items. Wanting to capture the “language”, they send a spy to the French - the peasant Tikhon Shcherbaty.
Arrival of Petya Rostov to the Denisov regiment.
Chapters 5-6
Tikhon Shcherbaty returns under fire from the French. Tikhon tells Denisov that he tried to choose the most suitable Frenchman, so he was exposed.
Chapter 7
Petya Rostov takes part in the Battle of Vyazemsky and is waiting for an opportunity to distinguish himself. Petya is sent to Denisov's detachment, but the general forbids him to participate in battles.
Chapter 8
Dolokhov is going to go on reconnaissance to the French, dressed in a French uniform. Petya goes with him.
Chapter 9-10
The French accepted Dolokhov and Petya as their own and told everything that interested the spies. Returning back to the Russians, Dolokhov and Petya agree that in the morning they will begin to attack at the signal. Worried, Petya does not sleep all night.
Chapter 11
Denisov's squad performs. Denisov orders Rostov to obey him and not interfere anywhere. During an attack on the French convoy and depot, Petya rushes forward and is shot in the head. The Russians seize transport and a batch of Russian prisoners, among whom was Bezukhov.
Chapter 12
The plot takes us back a little, to the period when Pierre was still in captivity. Pierre's state during the French movement from Moscow to Smolensk can be described as follows: he thinks that there are boundaries of freedom and suffering, and there is nothing terrible in the world.
Karataev becomes seriously ill with a fever, and Bezukhov stops communicating with him.
Chapter 13
Bezukhov recalls Karataev's story about a merchant who ended up in Siberia for the murder of his comrade and grew old there. The real killer found out about this injustice and came to the authorities to confess. But when the release papers were approved, the merchant had already died. During the story, Karataev’s face shone with ecstatic joy.
Chapter 14
One day Karataev was unable to go with the other prisoners and fell behind, so the French shot him.
Chapter 15
While spending the night among the prisoners, Pierre hears in a dream the words: “Life is everything. Life is God. Everything moves and moves, and this movement is God” and understands that Karataev said them. Pierre is released from captivity.
Chapters 16-18
The French army is in distress, they are killing each other for food, robbing their own stores. Flight of the French. The author's thoughts about Napoleon that there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, truth, kindness.
Chapter 19
The author argues that in the last period of the military campaign of 1812, the Russians’ goal was to rid their land of the enemy’s invasion. “The Russian army had to act like a whip on a running animal. And an experienced driver knew that the most profitable thing was to keep the whip raised, threatening it, and not to whip a running animal on the head.”
Part 4
Chapter 1
The fourth part begins with a description of the condition of Natasha and Marya. They take the death of Prince Andrei hard and become very close friends. Marya is distracted by worries about Nikolenka. Natasha avoided everyone and constantly thought about Andrei, about their unfulfilled marriage.
Chapters 2-3
The Rostovs receive news of Petya's death. For the Countess, the death of her son becomes a strong blow, and the woman falls ill. Natasha takes care of her, trying with all her might to console and help. Rostova is getting worse and worse, while Natasha’s brother’s death seems to sober her up, she understands that love for her loved ones lives within her.
During her illness and her mother’s illness, Natasha became very weak, so she and Marya went to Moscow to rest and consult with doctors.
Chapter 4
Kutuzov is trying to facilitate the movement of his troops when attacking the fleeing French (the Russians were exhausted by the long daily movement). Other Russian generals accuse him of hindering the defeat of Napoleon, since he does not start battles, but only pursues the retreating French.
Chapter 5
Assessing the historical significance of Kutuzov’s activities, the author writes that he was the only one who realized the popular meaning of the Battle of Borodino and the loss of Moscow and until the end confidently walked towards the main goal - the liberation of Russia.
Chapter 6-9
While with the army near Krasnoye, Kutuzov calls on the soldiers to take pity on the French, although he believes that they got what they deserved. The soldiers felt a feeling of great triumph, combined with a feeling of pity for the French.
The life of the soldiers, their conversations about home, awards, harvest, etc. The French Rambal and his orderly Morel approach the fire of the 5th company. Russians treat them well, not perceiving them as enemies.
Chapter 10
Kutuzov was very unhappy at court and among the commanders of the army after the failure of the St. Petersburg plan at the Berezina crossing (contrary to the plan during the battle, Napoleon, in seemingly hopeless circumstances, managed to cross and preserve the combat-ready forces of his army). For the victory in the Battle of Tarutino, Kutuzov is awarded George 1st degree, but he understands that this is the end of his role in the war.
Chapter 11
After the liberation of Russia, Kutuzov was gradually removed from the leadership of the army, since he did not meet the new tasks of the European war. After the liberation of Russia, “the representative of the people’s war had no choice but death. And he died."
Chapter 12
After being released from captivity, Pierre is in Oryol, ill for a long time. Bezukhov learns about the death of Andrei and Helen. Pierre feels a sense of freedom from his wife. He begins to believe in a living and always felt God.
Chapter 13
Pierre feels strong internal changes in himself. He looks at life and people in a new way. “Now a smile of the joy of life constantly played around his mouth, and concern for people shone in his eyes.” Princess Mamontova, who came to Oryol to look after him, gradually realizes that she is in love with Pierre; she “gratefully showed him the hidden good sides of her character.” In Bezukhov, such a trait appeared in relation to people as “recognition of the possibility for each person to think, feel and look at things in his own way, recognition of the impossibility of dissuading a person with words.” “In practical matters, Pierre suddenly now felt that he had a center of gravity that was not there before.” Bezukhov decides to leave for Moscow to settle his affairs.
Chapter 14
Moscow is being rebuilt and restored after looting and fire.
Chapter 15
In Moscow, Pierre visits Marya, where he meets Natasha Rostova. Bezukhov feels the awakening of his love for Natasha. Confused in words, he involuntarily reveals his feelings.
Chapter 16
Marya, Pierre and Natasha are talking about Andrey. Bezukhov feels sorry for Natasha for the suffering she endured.
Chapter 17
At dinner, Marya jokes at Pierre that now he is “a bachelor and a groom again.” Bezukhov talks about how he was captured. Marya notices the closeness between Natasha and Pierre and is happy for them.
Chapter 18-19
After a date with Natasha, Pierre decides to marry her and visits Princess Marya’s house every day. Bezukhov tells Marya about his feelings and the girl, assuring that everything will be fine with him and Natasha, advises him to leave for St. Petersburg for now so that Rostova can recover from what she suffered. Before leaving, Natasha tells Pierre that she will be waiting for him very much.
Pierre is happy: “The whole meaning of life, not for him alone, but for the whole world, seemed to him to lie only in his love and in the possibility of her love for him.”
Chapter 20
After meeting Pierre, Natasha gained hope for happiness and the strength of life, she seemed to come to life, and began to make plans for the future. Marya tells Natasha about Pierre's intention to marry her. Natasha replies that it would be wonderful if she married Pierre, and Marya married Nikolai, but the princess asks not to mention Nikolai.
Essays
Oblomov's novel by Goncharov consists of four parts, and today we will look at the content of part 4 of Oblomov, so that we can also easily analyze part 4 of the novel, which is asked in a literature lesson.
Contents of part 4 of Oblomov briefly
In order to be able to retell Oblomov and his 4th part, we suggest that you get acquainted with his 4th part in a chapter-by-chapter summary.
Chapter 1
A year has passed since Oblomov broke up with Olga and was sick with fever. At first he was not in the mood, but then everything flowed, as before, along the usual course, when the days changed into weeks and seasons. With Oblomov is Agafya, who cooked for him, made coffee, and prepared this time for the next holiday of Ilyin’s Day. In the first chapter of part 4 of Oblomov’s novel, Ilya and Agafya become closer and realize that they feel good together. Here we see Zaterty, who deceives Oblomov and does not bring part of the money.
Chapter 2
Stolz comes to Oblomov, informing him that Olga is already in Switzerland. In addition, Andrei sees Mukhoyarov’s deception and dark deeds. In order to rid his friend of Pshenitsyna’s brother Agafya, who robbed him, and his accomplice, Stolz takes control of Oblomovshchina.
Chapter 3
Mukhoyarov and Tarantyev are worried about the uncovered plan and now want to trick Oblomov into signing a receipt for ten thousand rubles, which was issued in the name of Mukhoyarov’s sister.
Chapter 4
Further in Oblomov’s novel, in part 4, we briefly move to Paris, to the events that occurred before Ilya’s name day. In Paris, Stolz met Olga, who told about her love story with Ilya. Stolz is amazed at the changes that have happened to Olga, every meeting brings them closer and even Olga understands that there is more than friendship between them. Andrey proposes to marry him. Olga agreed.
Chapter 5
Six months have passed since the name day that Oblomov celebrated. Stolz comes to Ilya and is amazed at the desolation that he sees, the poverty, because he regularly sent income. However, Oblomov had to give everything to Agafya’s brother, according to the debt referred to in the loan letter, the same one that Oblomov signed in an intoxicated state.
Chapter 6
Stolz talks about the desolation of the house, and also says that things in the village are going up. He also told about his marriage to Olga. Further in the conversation, Oblomov talks about a letter that was written on behalf of Agafya and which is with her brother.
Chapter 7
Stolz asks Agafya to write another receipt, which states that Oblomov does not owe her anything. With this letter, Andrei goes to the general. who subsequently destroyed the receipt that Agafya’s brother had and deprives him of his job. Ilya ends his friendship and relationship with Tarantiev. Stolz offers to leave with him, but Ilya does not agree yet.
Chapter 8
The eighth chapter shows us the life of Olga and Stolz. They are happy parents, Olga loves Andrei, but something haunts her. She is often interested in Ilya’s life and Andrei promises her that they will soon go to St. Petersburg and visit Oblomov.
Chapter 9
Oblomov and Pshenitsyna Agafya are getting married. Ilya begins a measured life, which is very similar to life in Oblomovka. His wife serves him, he eats deliciously, works little and leisurely, drinks vodka, and his son is born. Everything is fine, but his happiness was overshadowed by an apoplexy. However, Agafya left her husband. And now Andrei is again in St. Petersburg, he is with Ilya and is again amazed. This time he is amazed by the Oblomovism that reigns in Ilya’s house, amazed that his friend is again mired in the swamp of laziness. Andrei says that Olga also arrived, but Ilya refused to meet with her.
Chapter 10
Five years pass, of which Agafya has been a widow for three whole years. Ilya died after the second blow. He died without suffering. The meaning of Agafya’s life, who lived for the sake of her family, has been lost. Her eldest son entered the service, her daughter is married, and the child she shares with Ilya is now being raised by the Stolts, whom Pshenitsyna visits only occasionally. She herself lives with her brother’s family, but refuses money from Oblomovshchina so that as much as possible can be left for her son Andrei.
Chapter 11
Once Stolz and the writer were walking around St. Petersburg and, passing by a church, they saw a man. In this man who was begging, Andrei recognized Ilya’s servant Zakhar. He could not live where he was not allowed to live and left. Since he was unable to get a new job, he is now begging. Zakhar remembered his owner, saying that this could not be found anywhere else. The writer inquired about this master of his from Stolz, and he told him a story about Ilya Oblomov, who died from his Oblomovism, saying that the writer should write down everything. He wrote down the story, which we read.
Save it to your wall so you don’t lose it!
Results of the fourth volume
The retelling of the fourth volume of the novel “War and Peace” conveys the dramatic events that occurred in the fate of the main characters at the end of 1812. The author intertwines tragic episodes (the death of Andrei Bolkonsky and the death of Petya Rostov) with important and joyful events in the lives of the characters: the fateful acquaintance of Pierre with Platon Karataev , the mutually flared feelings of Nikolai Rostov and Marya Bolkonskaya, the happy meeting of Pierre Bezukhov and Natasha Rostova.
Depicting life as it is in volume 4: full of sad and joyful moments, Tolstoy shows that it is important, no matter what, to always strive forward, finding new meanings and goals of existence.
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