Chapter 166
The Cold Aftermath of Betrayal
Pierre drove to Márya Dmítrievna’s to tell her of the fulfillment of her wish that Kurágin should be banished from Moscow. The whole house was in a state of alarm and commotion. Natásha was very ill, having, as Márya Dmítrievna told him in secret, poisoned herself the night after she had been told that Anatole was married, with some arsenic she had stealthily procured. After swallowing a little she had been so frightened that she woke Sónya and told her what she had done. The necessary antidotes had been administered in time and she was now out of danger, though…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Righteous Cruelty Reality Check
Think of a time when you were genuinely wronged by someone. Write down three things you did or wanted to do in response. For each response, honestly assess: Was this about protecting yourself or punishing them? Was this moving toward healing or keeping the wound fresh? Now imagine giving advice to a friend in the exact same situation - would your advice be different from what you actually did?
Consider:
- •Notice how much easier it is to be compassionate toward others than ourselves
- •Pay attention to whether your actions moved you forward or kept you stuck
- •Consider whether holding onto anger served you or drained you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone hurt you and you chose either revenge or healing. What did you learn about yourself from that choice, and how would you handle a similar situation today?
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