War and Peace · Chapter
XX explained
A festive evening at the Rostovs' home, featuring music, singing, and dancing.
What happens
A festive evening at the Rostovs' home, featuring music, singing, and dancing. Natasha consoles Sonya, who is distraught over Nikolai's impending departure and Vera's cruel interference in her relationship with him. The chapter culminates in the Count's exuberant performance of the Daniel Cooper dance with Márya Dmítrievna, delighting the entire household.
Themes in this chapter
Youth and Innocence
Natasha's radiant happiness, spontaneous tears with Sonya, and unselfconscious joy at her father's dancing highlight the emotional intensity and naivete of youth.
Love and Courtship
The chapter explores different facets of young love: Sonya's secret, anguished love for Nikolai; the social and familial barriers to their match; and the lighthearted, budding social awareness of Natasha.
Family and Legacy
The Rostov household is shown as a close, affectionate unit, from the Count's playful leadership to the solidarity between Natasha and Sonya, contrasted with the disruptive spite of Vera.
Characters to notice
- Countess Natálya Ilyínichna Rostóva
Consoles Sonya, displays her youthful joy and social confidence while dancing with Pierre, and leads the admiration for her father's dancing.
- Sófya Alexándrovna
Heartbroken over Nikolai's departure and Vera's threats; reveals her secret love and the social obstacles to marrying her cousin.
- Count Nikoláy Ilyítch Rostóv
His imminent military departure is the source of Sonya's sorrow; he sings a romantic song for the gathering.
- Count Pyotr Kirílych Bezúkhov
Present as a guest; dances with Natasha, who finds him funny, and is drawn into a political conversation.
- Prince Borís Drubetskóy
Mentioned by Natasha as having advised that marriage between second cousins like Sonya and Nikolai is 'quite possible'.
Key passages
““Nikólenka is going away in a week’s time, his… papers… have come… he told me himself…””
Sonya reveals that Nikolai has received his military orders and will be leaving soon.
Highlights the impending impact of the war on personal lives and young romance.
““But Nikoláy is my cousin… one would have to… the Metropolitan himself… and even then it can’t be done.””
Sonya explains that marrying her cousin Nikolai would require special ecclesiastical permission, which is very difficult to obtain.
Illustrates the strict social and religious conventions governing marriage among the nobility.
““Just look at the master! A regular eagle he is!””
The Rostovs' nurse exclaims with admiration as Count Rostov dances.
Shows the affectionate, familiar relationship between the family and their domestic serfs in this moment of shared joy.