Chapter 117
The Business of Marriage
The Rostóvs’ monetary affairs had not improved during the two years they had spent in the country. Though Nicholas Rostóv had kept firmly to his resolution and was still serving modestly in an obscure regiment, spending comparatively little, the way of life at Otrádnoe—Mítenka’s management of affairs, in particular—was such that the debts inevitably increased every year. The only resource obviously presenting itself to the old count was to apply for an official post, so he had come to Petersburg to look for one and also, as he said, to let the lassies enjoy themselves for the last time. Soon…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"In Petersburg they were provincials, and the very people they had entertained in Moscow without inquiring to what set they belonged, here looked down on them."
Context: The Rostóvs discover their Moscow status does not travel
Social rank depends on place and audience, not past hospitality.
In Today's Words:
Tolstoy says that in Petersburg the Rostóvs were provincials, and guests they once entertained in Moscow without asking their set now looked down on them. Status shifts the moment you change rooms, not when your character changes. Before you assume old goodwill travels, map who holds the floor in the new capital.
"das soll mein Weib werden,"
Context: Berg pointed out Véra in a Moscow theater and decided to marry her
He selected a wife like a career target years before proposing.
In Today's Words:
Four years before Petersburg, Berg told a German comrade in a Moscow theater that Véra would be his wife and never wavered. Some people choose partners the way others choose postings: early, calmly, and for advantage. Ask whether you are being courted or slotted into a plan already filed.
"I am not marrying for money—I consider that dishonorable—but a wife should bring her share and a husband his."
Context: Explaining his marriage logic to a comrade after the engagement
Moral language wraps a ledger-minded bargain.
In Today's Words:
Berg insists he is not marrying for money because that would be dishonorable, yet a wife should bring her share and a husband his. People often dress transactions in virtue so the deal feels respectable on both sides. Listen for the spreadsheet hiding inside the speech about honor.
"Because, consider, Count—if I allowed myself to marry now without having definite means to maintain my wife, I should be acting badly...."
Context: Refusing to proceed without a firm dowry figure from Count Rostóv
He uses duty language to force cash from a confused father.
In Today's Words:
Berg tells the count he would act badly marrying without definite means to maintain a wife, so he needs the dowry settled now. Pressure dressed as principle can corner someone who already feels ashamed of their numbers. When virtue talk arrives with a deadline, check who set the terms.
Thematic Threads
Provincial Fall
In This Chapter
Moscow hosts become Petersburg snobs while Rostóv debts mount
Development
Financial and social pressure converge in the capital season
In Your Life:
You might discover that reputation from one city does not transfer when money runs thin elsewhere.
Dowry Panic
In This Chapter
The count promises cash and notes he cannot track while Berg demands numbers
Development
Véra's wedding exposes how little the family actually owns
In Your Life:
You might blur promises when shame keeps you from admitting what you can truly afford.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
Why do the Rostóvs accept Berg's proposal with awkward rather than joyful enthusiasm?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Véra is twenty-four without other offers, debts are serious, and Berg's confidence makes refusal feel foolish.
- 2
How does Berg describe his reasons for marrying Véra to his comrade?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
He lists income, connections, parental support, and honor language while admitting the other sister is unpleasant.
- 3
When have you seen someone use moral language to push a financial decision?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Name the virtue talk and the deadline. Andrew maps Berg's dowry interview with Count Rostóv.
- 4
Why does the count agree to twenty thousand cash and an eighty-thousand note?
application • deepOne way to read it
He is disconcerted, wants to appear generous, and does not know his real debts or assets.
- 5
What does Berg's four-year plan reveal about his view of marriage?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
He chose Véra as a suitable posting long before love entered the conversation.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Desperation Deal
Think of a situation in your life where you felt pressured to accept something because you had limited options. Write down what you were desperate for, what the other person offered, and what they gained from the arrangement. Then identify three warning signs that someone might be taking advantage of your vulnerability.
Consider:
- •Notice how timing affects your judgment - are you being rushed to decide?
- •Ask yourself what the other person really gets out of helping you
- •Consider whether this 'opportunity' would still seem good if you weren't in crisis
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to make a major decision while under pressure. What would you do differently now, and how can you create more options for yourself in future difficult situations?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 118: When Old Promises Collide with New Ambitions
As the Rostovs navigate their precarious social and financial position in Petersburg, other family members will face their own romantic entanglements and social pressures in the capital's complex society.
