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“He regarded his whole life as a continual round of amusement which someone for some reason had to provide for him” (Book 3, Chapter III)
“Anatole was not quick-witted, nor ready or eloquent in conversation, but he had the faculty, so invaluable in society, of composure and imperturbable self-possession. If a man lacking in self-confidence remains dumb on a first introduction and betrays a consciousness of the impropriety of such silence and an anxiety to find something to say, the effect is bad. But Anatole was dumb, swung his foot, and smilingly examined the princess’ hair. It was evident that he could be silent in this way for a very long time.” (Book 3, Chapter III)
“Anatole was always content with his position, with himself, and with others. He was instinctively and thoroughly convinced that it was impossible for him to live otherwise than as he did and that he had never in his life done anything base. He was incapable of considering how his actions might affect others or what the consequences of this or that action of his might be.”
“He was not a gambler, at any rate he did not care about winning. He was not vain. He did not mind what people thought of him. Still less could he be accused of ambition…and he laughed at distinctions of all kinds. He was not mean [the Russian text uses the word “skup” meaning stingy], and did not refuse anyone who asked of him…he honestly considered himself irreproachable, sincerely despised rogues and bad people, and with a tranquil conscience carried his head high.”
And some of it is personal, of course, just how liking and not liking certain characters often is. Like, I really identify with his drive to just be free and happy and not have to worry about tedious things. Anatole doesn’t give a shit about growing up and, to be frank, it’s pretty overrated IMO too. I’m more responsible than he is, I’d say, but I understand where he’s coming from.
And, I mean, look, I get it. He’s flighty and irresponsible and unable to commit. Those are very real character flaws. He gets carried away and sometimes hurts people because of it, because of his short-sightedness. He doesn’t mean to, but that doesn’t completely mitigate his mistakes. I get protective because often people dislike him for things that he doesn’t actually do or traits he doesn’t actually have. But if you can’t stomach his character flaws, then you can’t. But I can. Maybe because it’s easier to forgive fictional people their flaws, IDK, but every character has them and it comes out to: what side does the scale tip to? And: who can you identify with most?Actually, I’d say Anatole almost actively avoids compromising situations when he understands that they’re compromising. He’s not the sort of guy – again, unlike Onegin or Pechorin – who seduces “proper” girls for fun. He primarily hangs around actresses and “gypsies,” which at that time were, for the most part, considered easy women.
I think the notion comes from two places: a) his offhand comments to Dolokhov about “loving young girls” (or something like that) because they give in easily and b) the whole Natasha fiasco.
I don’t take the “young girls” comment too seriously. He’s obviously posturing and he’s saying this to Dolokhov, whom he admires and probably wants to show off in front of. There’s also a far simpler way to read this comment: “Damn it, I hate it when girls play hard to get. At least when I fall for a younger girl they tend to be more open to getting it on.” It’s also far more in-line with the rest of his characterization. This is an observation and a stated preference, not some strategic plan. Anatole doesn’t do strategic plans; he doesn’t even know how to, honestly. And, anyway, if we’re talking stereotypes here – scheming seducers tend to like a challenge.
The Natasha thing. Anatole falls for her genuinely. He just really, really likes her and he wants to be with her consequences be damned. That’s all. He’s putting himself into danger with the elopement as well, as Dolokhov points out. Anatole ignores him. Do we, as readers, know his feelings are probably pretty short lived? Yea. Most insta-made infatuations are. Dolokhov realizes this all too well, too. Because he knows Anatole and because he is a calculating and practical person who thinks ahead. Anatole just…goes for the prize. The fact that he might never be able to return home, that he could be tried for bigamy or kidnapping or whatever, that he might have to face a duel, that he doesn’t exactly have a way to support himself abroad…none of this stops him. And these are all things that are stacked up against him personally. He’s crazy about Natasha from the get-go. IIRC, the very next scene with him that we have after the opera, is him going on and on to Dolokhov about how gorgeous and enchanting Natasha is. She pushes him away and he just wants her more.
Yes, it’s bad. Yes, it’s destructive. But it’s a different bad and destructive than people make it out to be. It’s the product of carelessness and a lack of self-awareness. The most scheming things that Anatole does (in this case anyway) are all actually the responsibility of other people, primarily Helene and Dolokhov. Helene figures out how to get Natasha and Anatole to see each other more and be alone. Dolokhov organizes the elopement arrangements and writes Anatole’s love letters for him. (I’m assuming Anatole isn’t exactly a poetic type. Not that Dolokhov is, but Dolokhov is smarter and much better at emotional manipulation.) He doesn’t want any harm to befall Natasha. He genuinely thinks that none will. They’ll just run away and get married, live abroad, and no one will suspect a thing is off. It’s an insane fantasy but Natasha falls for it too, even though she has warning signs that something is off. They’re both crazy like that, they both get carried away. No one has to like that. But it’s not at all the same thing as “scheming womanizer who seduces innocent girls for fun.”
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