Tolstoy arranges these chapters to illustrate the pyramidical structure of the military chain of command. First, reproducing some of the men's conversations, he shows us the broad base of the mass of common soldiers. Then he scales to the top as he depicts Kutuzov and the general staff of the Russo-Austrian alliance, including the now-alert Prince Andrey. We discover how the aging Russian general shows primary concern for the welfare of his men as he tries to avoid battle because the troops are exhausted and ill-equipped.
When the troops move toward the front we see how the closeness of death quickens their morale and how each man forgets himself during the critical moment. Tolstoy now individualizes Nikolay Rostov to show how one person becomes part of the whole and takes his place as a smooth-working cog in the military machine. The vehicle for this statement is the incident of the theft, where Nikolay asserts his personal honor and then must reconsider his action in terms of regimental honor. Under fire, the need to apologize to the colonel disappears. Having faced death in the line of duty, Nikolay has signified his commitment to the regiment. The pervasiveness of death is symbolized by the indifferent heavens whose sunny peace Rostov envies in that helpless moment on the bridge.
