Like a host welcoming strangers to his town, Tolstoy throws a cocktail party to introduce us to most of the people in his novel. At Anna Pavlovna's we meet the main characters as we usually meet people in real life: We are given a minimum of biographical detail and our attention is drawn to a person's features, his smile, the look in his eyes, his way of looking or not looking at another person. We first learn of Pierre, for instance, when Anna Pavlovna greets him with the nod she reserves for her lowest-ranking guests. This harmless-appearing, massively built, bespectacled youth must possess a special power if he can threaten the equanimity of a large soirée. Our awareness of his latent power is our first indication of Pierre's importance in the novel.
Prince Andrey is introduced to us through his lively little wife, with Tolstoy emphasizing her charm and appeal to the male guests. This charm has no effect on Andrey, who turns away in disgust when he arrives and turns eagerly to Pierre. Clearly we observe how their naturalness and spontaneity distinguish Pierre and Andrey from the other guests and that Tolstoy favors this distinction.
Sketching in other details, like Ellen's unvarying smile and her décolleté, Liza's seductiveness despite her pregnancy, Anna Pavlovna's constant enthusiasm, and Ippolit's storytelling, Tolstoy provides us with a penetrating first impression of the"enchanted circle" of Petersburg life.
