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Prince Andrei has died, and Princess Marya and Natasha are grieving. We are at the beginning of Volume IV, Part Four, Chapter I. I often use religious imagery, but it seems particularly relevant here.

"When a man sees a dying animal, horror comes over him; that which he himself is, his essence, is obviously being annihilated before his eyes -- is ceasing to be. But when the dying one is a person, and a beloved person, then, besides a sense of horror at the annihilation of life, there is a feeling of severance and a spiritual wound which, like a physical wound, sometimes kills and sometimes heals, but always hurts and fears of any external, irritating touch." -- Lola

Lola Baltzell
from page 579-580, volume 2 of original text
collage
made 10/21/11
Pevear/Volokhonsky translation page 1073-1075