Throughout Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" we meet different characters. Some only appear and immediately leave, while others pass a whole life before our eyes. And together with them we rejoice for their successes, worry about their failures, worry and think about how to proceed. It is no coincidence that L.N. Tolstoy shows us in his novel "War and Peace" the path of search for Andrei Bolkonsky. We see a certain rebirth of a person, a rethinking of the values ​​of life, a moral ascent to the human ideals of life.

Andrei Bolkonsky is one of the most beloved heroes of Leo Tolstoy. We can see his entire life path in the novel "War and Peace", the path of becoming a personality, the path of the quest of the soul.

Andrey's ideals

Andrei Bolkonsky, whom we meet at the beginning of the novel, differs from Andrei Bolkonsky, with whom we part at the beginning of the fourth volume of the work. We see him at a secular evening in the salon of Anna Scherer, proud, arrogant, unwilling to participate in the life of society, considering it unworthy for himself. His ideals include french emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. In the Bald Mountains, in a conversation with his father, Bolkonsky says: “... how can you judge Bonaparte like that. Laugh as you like, but Bonaparte is still a great commander!

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He treated his wife Lisa unkindly, with visible superiority. Leaving for the war, leaving his pregnant wife in the care of the old prince, he asked his father: “If they kill me and if I have a son, do not let him go away from you ... so that he grows up with you ... please.” Andrei considers his wife unable to raise a worthy son.

Bolkonsky feels sincere feelings of friendship and love for Pierre Bezukhov, his only devoted friend. “You are dear to me, especially because you are the only living person among our entire world,” he told him.

The military life of Bolkonsky is very eventful. He becomes adjutant to Kutuzov, helps decide the outcome of the Shengraben battle, defends Timokhin, goes to an appointment with Emperor Franz with the good news of the Russian victory (so it seems to him), participates in the battle of Austerlitz. Then he takes a significant break in the military campaign - at this time, the rethinking of his life takes place. Then return to military service, passion for Speransky, Borodino field, injury and death.

Bolkonsky's disappointments

The first disappointment came to Bolkonsky when he lay under the Austerlitz sky and thought about death. Seeing his idol, Napoleon, standing next to him, for some reason Bolkonsky did not experience from his presence the greatness that he had previously considered possible. “All the interests that occupied Napoleon seemed so insignificant to him at that moment, his hero himself seemed so petty, with this petty vanity and joy of victory, in comparison with that high, fair and kind sky that he saw and understood” - this is what now occupied Bolkonsky.

Returning home after being wounded, Bolkonsky finds his wife Lisa in childbirth. After her death, he realizes that he is partly to blame for what happened, in his attitude towards Lisa. He was too proud, too arrogant, too distant from her, and this brings him suffering.

After all, Bolkonsky promises himself not to fight again. Bezukhov tries to revive him to life, talks about Freemasonry, talks about saving the soul in serving people, but Bolkonsky answers all this: “I know only two real misfortunes in life: remorse and illness. And happiness is only the absence of these two evils.

Preparing for the Battle of Borodino, Prince Andrei painfully went over all the events of his life that had happened to him. Tolstoy describes the state of his hero: “The three main sorrows of his life in particular stopped his attention. His love for a woman, the death of his father and the French invasion that captured half of Russia. Bolkonsky calls “false” images the glory that once so excited him, the love that he once did not take seriously, the fatherland, which was now under threat. Previously, it seemed to him that all this was great, divine, inaccessible, filled with deep meaning. And now it turned out to be so "simple, pale and rude."

Love for Natasha Rostova

True insight into life came to Bolkonsky after meeting with Natasha Rostova. By the nature of his activity, Andrei needed to meet with the district leader, which was Count Ilya Andreevich Rostov. On the way to the Rostovs, Andrei saw a huge old oak tree with broken branches. Everything around was fragrant and enjoyed the breath of spring, only this oak, apparently, did not want to obey the laws of nature. The oak seemed to Bolkonsky gloomy and sad: “Yes, he is right, this oak is a thousand times right, let others, young ones, again succumb to this deception, and we know life, our life is over!” This is exactly what Prince Andrei thought.

But upon returning home, Bolkonsky was surprised to note that “the old oak tree, all transformed ... No clumsy fingers, no sores, no old grief and distrust - nothing was visible ...” stood in the same place. “No, life is not over at thirty-one,” Bolkonsky decided. The impression that Natasha made on him was so strong that he himself did not yet understand what had really happened. Rostova awakened in him all the previous desires and joys of life, joy from spring, from loved ones, from tender feelings, from love, from life.

Death of Bolkonsky

Many readers wonder why L. Tolstoy prepared such a fate for his favorite hero? Some consider the death of Bolkonsky in the novel "War and Peace" to be a feature of the plot. Yes, Leo Tolstoy loved his hero very much. Bolkonsky's life was not easy. He went the hard way moral quest until you have found the eternal truth. Search for peace of mind, spiritual purity, true love- now the ideals of Bolkonsky. Andrei lived a worthy life and accepted a worthy death. Dying in the arms of his beloved woman, next to his sister and son, having comprehended all the charm of life, he knew that he would soon die, he felt the breath of death, but the desire to live was great in him. “Natasha, I love you too much. More than anything in the world, ”he said to Rostova, and at that time a smile shone on his face. He died a happy man.

Having written an essay on the topic “The Path of the Searches of Andrei Bolkonsky in the novel“ War and Peace ”, I saw how a person changes under the influence of life’s drinking, events, circumstances, and the fate of other people. Everyone can find the truth of life by going through a difficult path, as Tolstoy's hero did.

Artwork test

Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky are internally close to each other and alien to the world of the Kuragins and Scherer. They meet at different stages of life: and at the time happy love Prince Andrei to Natasha, and during the break with her, and on the eve of the Battle of Borodino. And each time they turn out to be the closest people to each other, although each of them goes to goodness and truth in his own way.

Prince Andrei first appears in the same place as Pierre - at a social evening at Anna Pavlovna Scherer. But if Bezukhov is shown young, energetic, having his own point of view on everything and ready to defend it with fervor, then Prince Andrei looks like a tired, bored, satiated person. He's fed up Savor with all its endless balls and receptions. He is also unhappy family life in which there is no understanding.

Andrei Bolkonsky dreams of fame like that of Napoleon, he wants to quickly escape from the familiar world to military service. He is waiting in the wings, when there will be a chance to realize all his dreams: “And he imagined a battle, losing him, concentrating the battle on one point and the confusion of all commanding persons. And here is that happy minute, that Toulon, which he had been waiting for so long, finally appears to him. He firmly and clearly speaks his opinion to both Kutuzov, and Weyrother, and the emperors. Everyone is amazed at the correctness of his ideas, but no one undertakes to fulfill it, and so he takes a regiment, a division, pronounces a condition that no one should interfere with his orders, and leads his division to a decisive point and alone wins. What about death and suffering? says another voice. But Prince Andrei does not answer this voice and continues his successes. The disposition of the next battle is made by him alone. He bears the rank of army duty officer under Kutuzov, but he does everything alone. The next battle is won by him alone. Kutuzov is replaced, he is appointed ... Well, and then? another voice says again, and then, if you are not wounded, killed or deceived ten times before; well, then what? …I will never tell anyone this, but, my God! what am I to do if I love nothing but glory, human love. Death, wounds, loss of family, nothing scares me. And no matter how dear and dear to me are many people - father, sister, wife - the people dearest to me - but, no matter how terrible and unnatural it seems, I will give them all now for a moment of glory, triumph over people, for love for to myself people whom I do not know, and will not know, for the love of these people.”

From my point of view and the point of view of Tolstoy, such thoughts are unacceptable. Human glory is a changeable phenomenon. Suffice it to recall the French Revolution - yesterday's idols are chopped off the next day to give way to new idols, who will soon also end their lives under the knife of the guillotine. But in the mind of Prince Andrei there is still room for an inner voice that warns him about the insidiousness of human glory and about the terrible path through death and suffering that he will have to go through.

And at the battle of Austerlitz there is such a chance. At the decisive moment, Bolkonsky takes up the banner and shouts “Hurrah!” leads the soldiers - forward, to the feat and glory. But by the will of fate, one stray bullet does not allow Prince Andrei to complete his triumphal procession. He falls to the ground and sees the sky in a way that no one will probably ever see again. “How could I not have seen this lofty sky before? And how happy I am that I finally got to know him. Yes! everything is empty, everything is a lie, except for this endless sky. Nothing, nothing but him. But even that is not even there, there is nothing but silence, calmness. And thank God!.."

At this moment, Prince Andrei realizes how empty, soulless his dreams of glory were. He decides to find happiness in a quiet family life, devoting himself only to a narrow circle of people and concerns.

Returning to the Bald Mountains, the estate of his father, Prince Andrei finds the moment of the birth of his son and the death of his wife. Dreams of family happiness crumbled to dust, a deep spiritual crisis began.

Only a meeting with an old friend Bezukhov, albeit partially, brought Prince Andrei back to life. Pierre's words "one must live, one must love, one must believe" make Bolkonsky think again about the meaning of life, again direct his consciousness to the path of quest. As Tolstoy wrote, “A meeting with Pierre was for Prince Andrei an epoch from which, although in appearance it was the same, but in the inner world, his new life began.”

But while Prince Andrei continues to live in the village, still not seeing any goals and opportunities in front of him. This is confirmed by his thoughts at the sight of an old, dry oak, which with all its appearance said, in the mind of Bolkonsky, that there can be neither spring, nor love, nor happiness: “Yes, he is right, this oak is a thousand times right,” thought Prince Andrei, - let others, young people, again succumb to this deception, but we know life - our life is over!

Bolkonsky is carrying out on his estates those reforms that Pierre planned to carry out and which he, for lack of "practical tenacity", did not complete. Prince Andrei succeeds, he transfers his peasants to free cultivators, in fact freeing them.

Arriving on business to Count Ilya Andreevich Rostov, Prince Andrei first sees Natasha running past him in a crowd of peasant girls. And it hurts him because she is young, happy, and she does not care about his existence.

And, finally, the final stage of Bolkonsky's return to life was a second meeting with the oak. This tree, which previously symbolized hopelessness for him, the end of his life, now blossomed and harmoniously merged into that world of love, spring and happiness, which had previously been an antonym in the mind of Prince Andrei. “No, life is not over at the age of 31,” Prince Andrei suddenly decided definitively, without change. - Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary that everyone knows this ... it is necessary that everyone knows me, so that my life does not go on for me alone, so that they do not live so independently of my life, so that it was reflected on everyone and that they all lived with me together!

The active personality of Bolkonsky could not, of course, remain without any occupation. Prince Andrei enters the civil service and works together with Speransky on various bills. But all the innovative ideas proposed by him did not come to fruition, as they were too bold for that time. Not finding support in promoting his reforms, Bolkonsky ceases his state activities.

At the same time, an important period begins in the life of Prince Andrei - an affair with Natasha Rostova. Bolkonsky, having first met Rostova at a ball, was immediately fascinated by her charms. Prince Andrei's love was mutual, and he proposes to Natasha and receives consent. But Bolkonsky's father set a condition - the wedding could take place in at least a year. And Prince Andrei decides to spend this year abroad, in particular, to improve his health.

However, Natasha Rostova's feelings for this year have cooled so much that she fell in love with Anatol Kuragin and decided to flee Russia with him. But the escape did not take place.

And again, Prince Andrei's dreams of a happy family life do not come true. As if inexorable fate is pursuing him, forcing him to return to the path of search through the pain of loss.

Returning from abroad on the eve of World War II, Bolkonsky re-joins the army and is looking for Anatole there to demand satisfaction. Prince Andrei was wounded on the Borodino field. In the dressing station, the truth of eternal love is revealed to him: “Yes, love,” he thought again with perfect clarity, “but not the love that loves for something, for something or for some reason, but the love that I experienced for the first time when, dying, I saw my enemy and still fell in love with him. I experienced that feeling of love, which is the very essence of the soul and for which no object is needed. I still have that blissful feeling. Love your neighbors, love your enemies. To love everything is to love God in all manifestations. You can love a dear person with human love; but only the enemy can be loved with divine love.

Prince Andrei completes his journey life quest the discovery in oneself of this amazing, all-encompassing and truly divine feeling. But he also completes his life path, "he was too good to live." Tolstoy gave his hero the opportunity to understand the basis of the universe - love, the opportunity to become, albeit not for long, but a perfect person, and in return he took away life.

The last truth revealed to him - "Death is an awakening!" - erased in the soul of Bolkonsky the fear of the unknown on the other side of life. "And Prince Andrei died."

Composition

IN the art world Tolstoy there are heroes who persistently and purposefully seek the meaning of life, striving for complete harmony with the world. They are not interested in secular intrigues, selfish interests, empty talk in high-society salons. They are easily recognizable among haughty, self-satisfied faces.

These, of course, include one of the most striking images of "War and Peace" - Andrei Bolkonsky. True, the first acquaintance with this hero does not cause much sympathy, because his handsome face "with definite and dry features" spoils the expression of boredom and discontent. But it, as Tolstoy writes, is due to the fact that "all those who were in the living room were not only familiar, but already tired of him so much that it was very boring for him to look at them and listen to them." A detailed author's commentary suggests that a brilliant and idle, empty life does not satisfy the hero, who seeks to break the vicious circle in which he finds himself.

Prince Andrei, who, in addition to intelligence and education, has a strong will, decisively changes his life, having entered the service of the headquarters of the commander in chief. Bolkonsky dreams of heroism and glory, but his desires are far from vanity, for they are caused by the desire for the victory of Russian weapons, for the common good. Possessing hereditary pride, Andrei unconsciously separates himself from the world ordinary people. In the soul of the hero, the gap between his lofty dreams and earthly everyday life is becoming deeper and deeper. The pretty wife Lisa, who once seemed perfect to him, turned out to be an ordinary, ordinary woman. And Andrei undeservedly offends her with his dismissive attitude. And the hectic life of the headquarters of the commander-in-chief, which Bolkonsky seems to be the brain of the army, also turns out to be very far from ideal. Andrei firmly believes that his thoughts about saving the army will attract attention and interest, and will serve the common good. But instead of saving the army, he has to save the doctor's wife from the claims of the convoy officer. This, in general, a noble deed seems to Andrei too small and insignificant compared to his heroic dream.

The feat accomplished by him during the battle of Austerlitz, when he runs ahead of everyone with a banner in his hands, is full of external effect: even Napoleon noticed and appreciated him. But why, having committed a heroic deed, Andrei does not experience any delight and spiritual uplift? Probably because at the moment when he fell, seriously wounded, a new high truth was revealed to him along with a high, endless sky that spread a blue vault over him. Against his background, all former dreams and aspirations seemed to Andrei petty and insignificant, the same as the former idol. There was a reassessment of values ​​in his soul. What seemed to him beautiful and sublime turned out to be empty and vain. And what he so diligently fenced himself off from - a simple and quiet family life - now seems to him desirable, full of happiness and harmony. It is not known how Bolkonsky's life would have turned out with his wife. But when, having risen from the dead, he returned home kinder and gentler, a new blow fell upon him - the death of his wife, before whom he could not make amends for his guilt. Andrei tries to live a simple, calm life, touchingly taking care of his son, improving the lives of his serfs: he made three hundred people free cultivators, and replaced the rest with dues. These humane measures, testifying to the advanced views of Bolkonsky, for some reason still do not convince him of his love for the people. Too often slips in him of contempt for the peasant or soldier, who can be pitied, but not respected. In addition, the state of depression, the feeling of the impossibility of happiness suggests that all transformations cannot fully occupy his mind and heart. Changes in Andrey's difficult state of mind begin with the arrival of Pierre, who, seeing the oppressed mood of his friend, tries to inspire him with faith in the existence of a kingdom of goodness and truth, which should exist on earth. Andrey's final resurrection to life is due to his meeting with Natasha Rostova. Poetry, charm breathes description moonlit night and Natasha's first ball. Communication with her opens up a new sphere of life for Andrei - love, beauty, poetry. But it is with Natasha that he is not destined to be happy, because there is no complete understanding between them. Natasha loves Andrei, but does not understand and does not know him. And she, too, remains a mystery to him with her own, special inner world. If Natasha lives every moment, unable to wait and postpone the moment of happiness until a certain time, then Andrei is able to love at a distance, finding a special charm in anticipation of the upcoming wedding with his girlfriend. The separation turned out to be too difficult a test for Natasha, because, unlike Andrei, she is not able to think about something else, to occupy herself with some kind of business. The story of Anatole Kuragin destroys the possible happiness of these heroes. Proud and proud Andrei is unable to forgive Natasha for her mistake. And she, experiencing painful remorse, considers herself unworthy of such a noble, perfect person. Fate separates loving people leaving bitterness and pain of disappointment in their souls. But she will unite them before Andrei's death, because Patriotic War 1812 will change a lot in their characters.

When Napoleon entered the borders of Russia and began to rapidly move forward, Andrei Bolkonsky, who hated the war after being seriously wounded near Austerlitz, goes to the active army, refusing to secure and promising service at the headquarters of the commander in chief. Commanding a regiment, the proud aristocrat Bolkonsky draws closer to the soldier-peasant mass, learns to appreciate and respect the common people. If at first Prince Andrei tried to arouse the courage of the soldiers by walking under the bullets, then, when he saw them in battle, he realized that he had nothing to teach them. He begins to look at the peasants in soldier's overcoats as patriotic heroes who courageously and staunchly defended their Fatherland. Andrei Bolkonsky comes to the conclusion that the success of the army does not depend on the position, weapons or number of troops, but on the feeling that is in him and in every soldier. This means that he believes that the mood of the soldiers, the general morale of the troops are a decisive factor for the outcome of the battle.

But still, the complete unity of Prince Andrei with the common people did not happen. No wonder Tolstoy introduces a seemingly insignificant episode about how the prince wanted to swim on a hot day, but because of his squeamish attitude towards the soldiers floundering in the pond, he was never able to fulfill his intention. Andrei himself is ashamed of his feelings, but cannot overcome him.

It is symbolic that at the moment of a mortal wound Andrey feels a great craving for a simple earthly life, but immediately thinks about why he is so sorry to part with it. This struggle between earthly passions and an ideal coldish love for people is especially aggravated before his death. Having met Natasha and forgiving her, he feels a surge of vitality, but this quivering and warm feeling is replaced by some kind of unearthly detachment, which is incompatible with life and means death.

Thus, revealing in Andrei Bolkonsky many remarkable features of a patriotic nobleman. Tolstoy cuts off his path of searching with a heroic death for the sake of saving the fatherland. And to continue this search for higher spiritual values, which remained unattainable for Andrei, is destined in the novel to his friend and like-minded Pierre Bezukhov.

One of the main characters of the epic "Warrior and Peace" is Pierre Bezukhov. Characteristics of the character of the work is revealed through his actions. And also through the thoughts, spiritual searches of the main characters. The image of Pierre Bezukhov allowed Tolstoy to convey to the reader an understanding of the meaning of the era of that time, the whole life of a person.

Acquaintance of the reader with Pierre

The image of Pierre Bezukhov is very difficult to briefly describe and understand. The reader must go through with the hero all of his

Acquaintance with Pierre is referred in the novel to 1805. He appears at a secular reception with Anna Pavlovna Sherer, a Moscow high-ranking lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting for the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of one of the Moscow nobles. He received a good education abroad, but when he returned to Russia, he did not find a use for himself. An idle lifestyle, revelry, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this life baggage, he appears in Moscow. In turn, the upper world also does not attract young man. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, hypocrisy of his representatives. “Life is something deeper, more significant, but unknown to him,” Pierre Bezukhov reflects. "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy helps the reader to understand this.

Moscow life

The change of residence did not affect the image of Pierre Bezukhov. By nature, he is a very gentle person, easily falls under the influence of others, doubts about the correctness of his actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he finds himself in captivity of the idle with her temptations, feasts and revelry.

After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and the entire fortune of his father. The attitude of society towards young people is changing dramatically. The eminent Moscow nobleman, in pursuit of the fortune of the young count, marries his beautiful daughter Helen to him. This marriage did not portend a happy family life. Very soon, Pierre understands the deceit, deceit of his wife, her debauchery becomes obvious to him. Thoughts of desecrated honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could be fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended with the injury of the offender, and Pierre's life was out of danger.

The path of searching for Pierre Bezukhov

After the tragic events, the young count thinks more and more about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confusing, disgusting and meaningless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant in comparison with something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have sufficient fortitude and knowledge to discover this great, to find the true purpose human life. Thoughts did not leave the young man, making his life unbearable. a brief description of Pierre Bezukhov gives the right to say that he was a deep, thinking person.

Fascination with Freemasonry

After parting with Helen and giving her a large share of the fortune, Pierre decides to return to the capital. On the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg, during a short stop, he meets a man who talks about the existence of a brotherhood of Masons. Only they know the true path, they are subject to the laws of life. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.

Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, takes the rite and becomes a member of the Masonic Lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, views on life captivate Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything he hears at the meetings, although much of his new life seems gloomy and incomprehensible to him. The path of searching for Pierre Bezukhov continues. The soul is still rushing about and does not find peace.

How to make people's lives easier

New experiences and searches for the meaning of being lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many destitute, deprived of any right people around.

He decides to take action to improve the lives of the peasants on his estates. Many do not understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was started, there is a misunderstanding, a rejection of the new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed, disappointed.

The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose characterization describes him as a gentle, trusting person) realized that he had been cruelly deceived by the manager, funds and efforts were wasted.

Napoleon

The disturbing events taking place in France at that time occupied the minds of the entire high society. stirred the minds of the young and the old. For many young people, the image of the great emperor has become an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes, victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I did not understand people who dared to resist the talented commander, the great revolution. There was a moment in Pierre's life when he was ready to swear allegiance to Napoleon and defend the gains of the revolution. But this was not destined to happen. Feats, achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.

And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. The adoration of Napoleon's personality will be replaced in Pierre's soul with contempt and hatred. There will be an irresistible desire to kill the tyrant, avenging all the troubles that he brought to native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of ​​​​reprisal against Napoleon, he believed that this was a destiny, the mission of his life.

battle of Borodino

The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the established foundation, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. The aimless life of wealth and convenience was left without hesitation by the count for the sake of serving the fatherland.

It is in the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization has not yet been flattering, begins to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Rapprochement with soldiers, representatives of the common people, helps to re-evaluate life.

The great Battle of Borodino played a special role in this. Pierre Bezukhov, being in the same ranks with the soldiers, saw their real patriotism without falsehood and pretense, their readiness to give their lives without hesitation for the sake of their homeland.

Destruction, blood, and related experiences give rise to the spiritual rebirth of the hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to questions that have tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with all his heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, an explanation for which at this moment he cannot yet give.

Captivity

Further events unfold in such a way that the trials that befell Pierre should temper and finally form his views.

Once in captivity, he goes through an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but before his eyes, several Russian soldiers are executed, who along with him fell to the French. The spectacle of the execution does not leave Pierre's imagination, bringing him to the brink of insanity.

And only a meeting and conversations with Platon Karataev again awaken a harmonious beginning in his soul. Being in a cramped barracks, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel truly life path Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand that being on earth is a great happiness.

However, the hero will have to reconsider his own and look for his place in it more than once.

Fate disposes so that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French, as he fell ill and could not move. The death of Karataev brings new suffering to the hero. Pierre himself was released from captivity by the partisans.

Native

Freed from captivity, Pierre, one after another, receives news from his relatives, about whom he knew nothing for a long time. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helen. Best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, is seriously wounded.

The death of Karataev, disturbing news from relatives again excite the soul of the hero. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that have occurred were his fault. He is the cause of the death of his loved ones.

And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments of spiritual experiences, the image of Natasha Rostova suddenly comes. She instills in him peace, gives strength and confidence.

Natasha Rostova

At subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he has a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha has a reciprocal feeling for Pierre. In 1813 they got married.

Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, to feel him - this is the main advantage of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to save a person. The family is a small model of the world. The state of the whole society depends on the health of this cell.

Life goes on

The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of the inner development of the soul accompanied the hero all his life, and it gave its results.

But life does not stop, and Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization as a seeker is given here, is again ready to move forward. In 1820, he informs his wife that he intends to become a member of a secret society.

Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" was a turning point in Russian literature. Tolstoy first turned to the concept, later called by N.G. Chernyshevsky "the dialectic of the soul." He was one of the first to study such a subtle and complex instrument as the human soul.

Tolstoy went through his life path, suffering and repenting. The constant internal struggle, the search for the meaning of life, mistakes led him to the concept of Gospel love, as the highest point in the spiritual development of man. This love means the ability to love and forgive enemies, the ability to self-sacrifice for the sake of others, the ability to selflessly devote oneself to people.

In the novel "War and Peace" all the characters seem to be divided into two poles. The heroes beloved and close to Tolstoy are people with a rich inner world, natural, capable of spiritual change, people who are looking for their own path in life. These include Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov, Natasha Rostova.

The opposite pole belongs to static, selfish, unnatural characters. These are people like Helen Bezukhova, Anatole Kuragin, Prince Vasily Kuragin. There are two characters in the novel, as if personifying these opposite sides: Kutuzov and Napoleon. Kutuzov is a kind of tuning fork for Tolstoy, he is highest point reference spiritual development person in the novel. Napoleon, on the other hand, is a man regressing, poor in soul, pitiful. This hero in the novel is the personification of unnaturalness, narcissism, selfishness, hypocrisy.

Tolstoy throughout the novel follows the changes in the souls of his favorite characters. They are wrong, they are not perfect. But it is precisely the path of self-improvement through trials that interests Tolstoy, the path from selfish aspirations to gospel love.

Andrey Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov go this way. But, although their paths run parallel, they are different.

We first meet Andrei Bolkonsky at the evening at A.P. Sherer. Here he looks dry and irritable. He fenced himself off from everything that was happening with a mask of indifference. For the outwardly restrained, but deeply feeling hero, Petersburg society is uninteresting, in which hypocrisy, pretense, selfishness reign - everything that repels the hero. Prince Andrei does not see worthy feelings and aspirations of people behind the brilliant tinsel of outfits, smiles, and bows. Therefore, he decides to go to the army, where, as he believes, he will prove himself. During the war of 1805, Bolkonsky took a place at the headquarters of Kutuzov. He is full of hopes and thirst for glory - glory as the love of the people. Prince Andrei is ready to give everything, even (and he admits this to himself) relatives and friends for the sake of this love. The turning point was Austerlitz.

Wounded in the head, Bolkonsky lies on the battlefield and sees the sky. The high, endless sky, unattainably distant and at the same time close and understandable. He understands that there is something else in life, pure and more important than fame. The sky of Austerlitz changed everything.

Prince Andrei leaves the service and, after being wounded and captured, leaves for the village. He decides to live only for himself and his loved ones. Bolkonsky is devastated internally, does not see the future. He decides never to serve in the army again.

Nothing can bring him out of this state: neither Pierre, nor friendship, nor religion. More than friendship is needed.

Another turning point is planned during the trip of Prince Andrei to Otradnoye. There he meets Natasha for the first time. The symbol of change has become an old oak tree, past which the hero passes. For the first time it is a clumsy, sore, black, gloomy oak tree, not succumbing to the charm of spring - like the soul of Prince Andrei. In Otradnoye, the hero becomes an unwitting witness to how Natasha admires the beauty of the night. Not understanding what this girl will be blown away, he thinks about what is happening to him, and decides that life did not end at thirty-one. The night in Otradnoye seems to have connected, invisible to the heroes, their destinies. On the way back, Bolkonsky meets an oak familiar to him. And, like the soul of a hero, he woke up from sleep and became covered with lush greenery.

Prince Andrei goes to St. Petersburg and begins legislative work with a major political figure at that time - Speransky.

And again everything changes, Prince Andrei meets Natasha Rostova at the ball, the same Natasha who surprised him in Otradnoye. He is struck by the naturalness, openness of this girl, the lack of metropolitan gloss. He falls in love with little Rostov. Against the background of this feeling, deep and bright, the figure of Speransky fades - his artificiality, his mask is revealed to Prince Andrei.

Volkonsky asks for Natasha's hand in marriage and receives an affirmative answer. But Andrei's father sets a condition: the wedding should take place no earlier than a year later. Andrei submits to the will of his father - he leaves. Separation from Natasha is a burden to the hero, but the word of honor is more precious. Bolkonsky lives in hope for future happiness.

The more terrible was the news of Natasha's betrayal. Prince Andrei does not understand and does not accept this. He is deeply offended and close to a spiritual crisis, goes to the army to take revenge on the offender, but cannot find him.

From the beginning of the war of 1812, the fate of the Russian people, the fate of Russia, became the fate of Prince Andrei. He decides to live for others, to act in the name of saving the Motherland. Bolkonsky could well take a place at the headquarters, but, realizing that his place is on the battlefield, next to the soldiers of his regiment, he refuses the offer to become a staff officer. No wonder the soldiers called him "our prince."

In the Battle of Borodino, he was seriously wounded by a grenade fragment. In a tent for the wounded, half-delirious, Prince Andrei sees the suffering Anatole Kuragin - his enemy, the one who caused him so much suffering. He sees him and... forgives. Prince Andrei comes to the love of the Gospel.

IN last days In his life, he meets Natasha, forgives her: “I love you better, stronger than before ...”, he tells her.

Pierre had a different path. This is probably due to differences in characters: Prince Andrei is a man of reason, while Pierre acted at the behest of his heart.

At first, Pierre is the useless illegitimate son of a rich nobleman. He is inexperienced, does not know what he wants from life. His idol is Napoleon (as a reformer and liberator).

Unexpectedly, Pierre receives an inheritance, becoming one of the richest suitors in Russia. Not realizing that the attitude towards him in society has changed after receiving the inheritance, he sincerely accepts signs of attention and ... makes an irreparable mistake - he marries Helen. His life has changed - Pierre "settle down", became the husband of his secular wife, the brilliant beauty Helen, that is, he began to spend time aimlessly.

After a duel with Dolokhov Pierre faced insoluble questions: "What is all this for? Why live for? What lies ahead?" They torture Pierre, drawing him into a spiritual crisis. Pierre looked for help from outside - and found it in the ranks of the Freemasons, not noticing that behind noble words they hid self-interest and money-grubbing. Pierre takes a great interest in Masonic activity, carries out, as it seems to him, reasonable reforms in his southern estates. But all the efforts of Pierre in this activity were in vain. This is followed by a new disappointment in oneself and others.

At the beginning of the war of 1812, Pierre gathers a militia with his own money and decides to take part in the Battle of Borodino. Here Pierre discovers a great truth. Seeing soldiers, militias, those who fight, pray, build fortifications, who feed him, he sees them. They are the saviors of Russia. They are the strength of Russia and its spirit. In a dream, Pierre comes to understand the need to "pair" his life with the life of the people. This idea is strengthened in Pierre after a meeting in captivity with Platon Karataev, who in the novel became the embodiment of everything "kind, round, Russian." It is under the influence of Karataev that Pierre comes to universal love, patience and forgiveness, as Prince Andrei once did.

The fate of Nikolai Rostov is opposed to the fate of Andrei and Pierre. This hero is a kind of "golden mean of mankind." He was able to follow the same path of search as Bolkonsky and Bezukhov. But Rostov deliberately refused to fight with himself. This was manifested in the story with Telyanin, when, showing cowardice, he yielded to the regiment commander, although he was right. While in the hospital, although he was horrified that the dead were lying next to the living, he said nothing. But Nicholas is an honest man. Rostov is close to Tolstoy in that he is natural.

Through suffering and spiritual trials, ups and downs, Pierre and Prince Andrew came to understand the highest meaning of human existence - the love of the Gospel. They have become close to the people, with the force that preserves traditions and moral values, unites people. In contrast to Pierre and Andrey, Nikolai Rostov, a worthy man who had every opportunity for self-improvement, refused to fight and stopped in his spiritual growth.