Synthesized answer
Pierre smiles childishly when attacked about Napoleon because, when he smiles, his "grave, even rather gloomy, look was instantaneously replaced by another—a childlike, kindly, even rather silly look, which seemed to ask forgiveness" [1]. This smile is noted when he is being questioned by Anna Pávlovna and others regarding Napoleon's actions [1]. The vicomte observing him for the first time "saw clearly that this young Jacobin was not so terrible as his words suggested" [1].
His smile also appears when he expresses his opinions about the war against Napoleon, stating that "to help England and Austria against the greatest man in the world is not right" [2]. Prince Andrew finds these words "childish" [2]. Later, when Anna Pávlovna hopes he will change his opinions, Pierre smiles in a way that conveys "Opinions are opinions, but you see what a capital, good-natured fellow I am" [3]. This suggests his smile is an expression of his good nature and perhaps a way of disarming criticism when his earnest, yet sometimes naive, beliefs are challenged [1, 3].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
that it was impossible to stop him, she rallied her forces and joined the vicomte in a vigorous attack on the orator. “But, my dear Monsieur Pierre,” said she, “how do you explain the fact of a great man executing a duc—or even an ordinary man who—is innocent and untried?” “I should like,” said the vicomte, “to ask how monsieur explains the 18th Brumaire; was not that an imposture? It was a swindle, and not at all like the conduct of a great man!” “And the prisoners he killed in Africa? That was horrible!” said the little princess, shrugging her shoulders. “He’s a low fellow, say…
g a career for three months, and had not decided on anything. It was about this choice that Prince Andrew was speaking. Pierre rubbed his forehead. “But he must be a Freemason,” said he, referring to the abbé whom he had met that evening. “That is all nonsense.” Prince Andrew again interrupted him, “let us talk business. Have you been to the Horse Guards?” “No, I have not; but this is what I have been thinking and wanted to tell you. There is a war now against Napoleon. If it were a war for freedom I could understand it and should be the first to enter the army; but to help England…
is own, the general’s three-cornered hat, and held it, pulling at the plume, till the general asked him to restore it. All his absent-mindedness and inability to enter a room and converse in it was, however, redeemed by his kindly, simple, and modest expression. Anna Pávlovna turned toward him and, with a Christian mildness that expressed forgiveness of his indiscretion, nodded and said: “I hope to see you again, but I also hope you will change your opinions, my dear Monsieur Pierre.” When she said this, he did not reply and only bowed, but again everybody saw his smile, which said…
ess of soul?” said the little princess, smiling and drawing her work nearer to her. “Oh! Oh!” exclaimed several voices. “Capital!” said Prince Hippolyte in English, and began slapping his knee with the palm of his hand. The vicomte merely shrugged his shoulders. Pierre looked solemnly at his audience over his spectacles and continued. “I say so,” he continued desperately, “because the Bourbons fled from the Revolution leaving the people to anarchy, and Napoleon alone understood the Revolution and quelled it, and so for the general good, he could not stop short for the sake of one man’s…
Hippolyte burst out laughing. “Do you know, you are a terrible chap for all your innocent airs,” continued the vicomte. “I pity the poor husband, that little officer who gives himself the airs of a monarch.” Hippolyte spluttered again, and amid his laughter said, “And you were saying that the Russian ladies are not equal to the French? One has to know how to deal with them.” Pierre reaching the house first went into Prince Andrew’s study like one quite at home, and from habit immediately lay down on the sofa, took from the shelf the first book that came to his hand (it was…