Pierre is a prime example of how status and money does not make one adverse to coercion or give on the power to manipulate. Although in Book 3 we see his elevated status to Count Bezükhov along with a new fortune he is still being pulled in different directions by nearly everyone. Pierre does everything from giving the princesses money to marrying Helene. Yet he always believe he is the one holding the cards and making each decision. It just makes sense to him that these people would love and be interested in him so he is swept along in it all. But I wonder if it is coercion by others or by himself? He is smart enough to realize Anna Pávlovna treats him differently but he doesn’t quite seem to connect why. Pierre has always been easily manipulated and rather withdrawn but is this his mental state or his way of coping and not having to deal with the reality of these people using him/disliking him? Does he have more depth or is he merely serving as a facilitator and furthering Tolstoy’s theme of coercion?
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