So maybe it's just a family thing. The Bolkonsky's are not happily married men! On page 110, old prince Nicolai Bolskonsky says to his son Prince Andrei, "A bad business, eh?"
"What is it, papa?"
"A wife! the old price said curtly and significantly.
"I don't understand," said Prince Andrei.
"Nothing to be done, my friend," said the prince, "they're all like that, no use unmarrying. Don't be afraid; I won't tell anybody; but you know it yourself."
Prince Andrei is leaving that very same night to join the army, leaving his pregnant with with his father. In an earlier passage he strongly urges Pierre to never marry.
I'll keep an eye out as I read along for other anti-marriage comments. But then again, in "Anna Karenina", Anna leaves her marriage, and look what happened to her! Maybe it's OK for men to state their feelings, but not for women to act on them. -- Lola
Lynn Waskelis
page 103-104 from original text
made 3/26/10
collage and acrylic paint on paper
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