Chapter 271
The Weight of Sacrifice
Sónya’s letter written from Tróitsa, which had come as an answer to Nicholas’ prayer, was prompted by this: the thought of getting Nicholas married to an heiress occupied the old countess’ mind more and more. She knew that Sónya was the chief obstacle to this happening, and Sónya’s life in the countess’ house had grown harder and harder, especially after they had received a letter from Nicholas telling of his meeting with Princess Mary in Boguchárovo. The countess let no occasion slip of making humiliating or cruel allusions to Sónya. But a few days before they left Moscow, moved and…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Moral Blind Spots
Think of a recent decision where you had to choose between your needs and someone else's wellbeing. Write down your official reason for the choice, then write down what you really wanted to happen. Notice any gap between your stated motives and your actual desires. This isn't about judging yourself—it's about recognizing when self-interest masquerades as virtue.
Consider:
- •Look for elaborate moral explanations that perfectly align with what you wanted anyway
- •Notice if you found 'signs' or 'confirmations' that supported your preferred choice
- •Consider whether you would accept the same reasoning from someone else in your situation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone claimed they were hurting you 'for your own good.' How did you recognize their real motives? What would honest communication have looked like instead?
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