I sometimes think about Andrei and Pierre, such opposites and yet best friends. The way their fortunes seem to move in counterpoint. I've often preferred Andrei

I sometimes think about Andrei and Pierre, such opposites and yet best friends. The way their fortunes seem to move in counterpoint. I've often preferred Andrei to the dreamy, idealistic Pierre, but on my most recent reading I think I finally saw why Pierre is the true hero, and not Andrei. I think it is this: Pierre was a seeker...always looking for the meaning in life. He was life-affirming, while Andrei was ironic and focused on what was artificial, life-denying. The scenes with Karataev are my favorite in the whole book. Such a joy to read. Tolstoy had such a good bead on psychology, what motivates individuals. It feels so honest.