Notes on WAR AND PEACE Tolstoy and the Deep State

 

The Deep State

“A recent survey of 26,000 people in twenty-five countries asked respondents whether they believe there is ‘a single group of people who secretly control events and rule the world together.’ Thirty-seven percent of Americans replied that this is definitely or probably true. So did 45 percent of Italians, 55 percent of Spaniards, and 78 percent of Nigerians.”

Yuval Noah Harari in New York Times, November 20, 2020

 

“Global cabal theories suffer from the same basic flaw: they assume that history is simple. The key premise is that it is relatively easy to manipulate the world. A small group of people can understand, predict and control everything, from wars to technological revolutions to pandemics.”

Ibid

 

One of our distinguishing traits as Americans (or as people?) is that we don’t like to think—we’re too lazy and ignorant—and we distrust thinkers. That’s why we go for simplistic ideas. What’s this new 5G technology everybody’s talking about? I don’t know; I’m too dumb. No doubt, though, it has something to do with the nefarious plot of the Global Cabal, those Jews and Masons and such who run the world and all its institutions.

 

What about the Covid pandemic? Easy. More plotting on the part of the Global Cabal. They cooked up the virus, with the help of China; then they spread it all over the world.

 

Why is Bozo the Clown such a great President? Because—even though he’s an idiot and an unhinged narcissist—he has fought tooth and nail to save us from the Global Cabal. And I like him because he never reads books; he’s a dumbass, just like me. But we both, me and him, despite our ignorance, know a whole lot more about how the Deep State works—the REAL facts about world politics—than the la-tee-dah profs do. Them guys with bald heads and ponytails caint even park their bicycles straight.

 

How did Bozo lose the election? He didn’t really; he won. But the nefarious, scheming fat cats in the Global Cabal—or the Deep State; call it what you will—stole it away from him.

 

Tolstoy and the Deep State: War and Peace

Throughout his long novel Tolstoy repeats the same message about world history over and over; it is the message of Yuval Noah Harari in his recent article: history is vastly complex. No one great man (Napoleon), or no secret cabal of Jews and Masons, can control the inchoate forces of history. Why did Napoleon invade Russia in 1812? Nobody knows, least of all Napoleon or some Global Cabal. How did he get himself bogged down in Russia and end up losing most of the French army? Because the Russian generals were such great strategists? Ha. Because Tsar Aleksandr I had a wonderful plan? Ha. Because Napoleon’s own strategic gifts finally failed him? No. Because just because. The concatenation of circumstances and events is too complicated for anyone ever to grasp.

 

INVITATION TO AN INCANTATION, from Bobby Goosey's Nonsense Verse

 

Notes on WAR AND PEACE Napoleon, Bathed in Self-Love, Pulling on Ears

 

Napoleon, Ever Bathed in Self-Love, Pulling on Ears

Napoleon Bonaparte, who makes several appearances in War and Peace, is always portrayed negatively and ironically. Emphasis is placed on his short stature, his plump hands and little jutting belly. Above all, he is shown as lost in delusionary admiration of self. Here he is, in 1812—about to launch the move that will destroy him, an invasion of Russia—putting on a performance for General Balashev, who has delivered a message to him from the Russian emperor Aleksandr I.

 “‘What I can’t understand,’ he said, ‘is that the emperor Alexander made all these personal enemies of mine his intimates. That I don’t . . . understand. Didn’t he reflect that I might do the same?’ He turned to Balashev with this question, and the recollection evidently pushed him back onto the track of his morning’s wrath, which was still fresh in him.

    ‘And let him know that I will do it,’ said Napoleon, getting up and shoving his cup away with his hand. ‘I’ll kick all his relatives out of Germany, all these Württembergs, Badens, Weimars . . . Yes, I’ll kick them out. Let him prepare a refuge for them in Russia!’    

    Balashev inclined his head, showing by his look that he would have liked to bow out, and was listening only because he could not help listening to what was said to him. Napoleon did not notice that expression; he addressed Balashev not as his enemy’s envoy, but as a man who was now entirely devoted to him, and was supposed to take joy in his former master’s humiliation.    

    ‘And why has the emperor Alexander taken charge of the army? What for? War is my trade, and his business is to rule, not to command troops. Why has he taken such responsibility upon himself?’

    Napoleon took out his snuffbox again, silently paced the room several times, and suddenly went up to Balashev unexpectedly, and with a slight smile, as confidently, quickly, and simply as if he were doing something not only important but pleasant to Balashev, raised his hand to the face of the forty-year-old Russian general and, taking him by the ear, tugged at it slightly, smiling with his lips only.

    Avoir l’oreille tirée par l’Empereur [to have your ear pulled by the Emperor] was considered the greatest honor and favor at the French court.    

    ‘Eh bien, vous ne dites rien, admirateur et courtisan de l’Empereur Alexandre?’ [So then, you have nothing to say, admirer and courtier of the Emperor Alexander?] he said, as if it was ridiculous in his presence to be anyone else’s courtisan and admirateur than his, Napoleon’s.”

Vol. Three, Part One, Ch. Seven

 

A POEM ABOUT A GNOME, from Bobby Goosey's Nonsense Verse