Heroes of "War and Peace" - a brief description of the characters. Characteristics of the main characters of the work War and Peace, Tolstoy

Tolstoy's favorite characters in War and Peace are Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. They are united by the quality that the writer himself most valued in people. In his opinion, to be a real person, you need to “torn, fight, get confused, make mistakes, start and quit” all your life, and “peace is spiritual meanness.” That is, a person should not calm down and stop, he should search for meaning all his life and strive to find an application for his strengths, talents, mind.

In this article we will consider what are the characteristics of the main characters of Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace". Pay attention to why Tolstoy endowed these characters with such features and what he wanted to say to his readers.

Pierre Bezukhov in the novel "War and Peace"

As we have already noted, speaking about the main characters of the novel "War and Peace" by Tolstoy, it is definitely worth discussing the image of Pierre Bezukhov. For the first time the reader sees Pierre in the aristocratic Petersburg salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. The hostess treats him somewhat condescendingly, because he is just the illegitimate son of a rich nobleman of Catherine's times, who has just returned from abroad, where he received an education.

Pierre Bezukhov differs from other guests in his spontaneity and sincerity. Drawing a psychological portrait of his protagonist, Tolstoy points out that Pierre was a fat, absent-minded person, but all this was redeemed by "an expression of good nature, simplicity and modesty." The hostess of the salon was afraid that Pierre would say something wrong, and indeed, Bezukhov passionately expresses his opinion, argues with the viscount and does not know how to follow the rules of etiquette. At the same time, he is kind and smart. The qualities of Pierre, shown in the first chapters of the novel, will be inherent in him throughout the entire story, although the hero himself will go through a difficult path of spiritual evolution. Why can Pierre Bezukhov be safely attributed to the main characters of Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"? Consideration of the image of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand this.

Pierre Bezukhov is so loved by Tolstoy because this protagonist of the novel is tirelessly looking for the meaning of life, asking himself painful questions: “What is wrong? What well? What should you love, what should you hate? Why live, and what am I? What is life, what is death? What power governs everything?

Pierre Bezukhov goes through a difficult path of spiritual quest. He is not satisfied with the St. Petersburg revelry of golden youth. Having received an inheritance and becoming one of the richest people in Russia, the hero marries Helen, but he blames himself for the failures of family life and even his wife's infidelities, since he made an offer without feeling love.

For a time he finds meaning in Freemasonry. He is close to the idea of ​​spiritual brothers about the need to live for the sake of others, to give to others as much as possible. Pierre Bezukhov is trying to change and improve the situation of his peasants. But disappointment soon sets in: the protagonist of Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" understands that most of the Masons are trying to make acquaintances with influential people in this way. Further, the image and characteristics of Pierre Bezukhov are revealed in an interesting aspect.

The most important stage on the path of spiritual development of Pierre Bezukhov is the war of 1812 and captivity. On the Borodino field, he understands that the truth is in the universal unity of people. In captivity, the peasant philosopher Platon Karataev reveals to the main character the realization of how important it is to “live with people” and stoically accept everything that fate brings.

Pierre Bezukhov has an inquisitive mind, thoughtful and often ruthless introspection. He is a decent person, kind and a little naive. He asks himself and the world philosophical questions about the meaning of life, God, the purpose of existence, not finding an answer, he does not dismiss painful thoughts, but tries to find the right path.

In the epilogue, Pierre is happy with Natasha Rostova, but personal happiness is not enough for him. He becomes a member of a secret society preparing reforms in Russia. So, discussing who are the main characters of the novel "War and Peace" by Tolstoy, we focused on the image of Pierre Bezukhov and his characteristics. Let's move on to the next key character of the novel - Andrei Bolkonsky.

Andrei Bolkonsky in the novel "War and Peace"

The Bolkonsky family is united by common generic features: a sharp analytical mind, nobility, the highest sense of honor, an understanding of one's duty in serving the Fatherland. It is no coincidence that, seeing off his son to the war, the father, admonishing him, says: “Remember one thing, Prince Andrei: if they kill you, it will hurt me, an old man ... And if I find out that you behaved not like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I will be ... ashamed!" Undoubtedly, Andrei Bolkonsky is a bright character and one of the main characters in Tolstoy's novel War and Peace.

During military service, Bolkonsky is guided by considerations of the common good, and not his own career. He heroically rushes forward with a banner in his hands, because it hurts him to see the flight of the Russian army on the Austerlitz field.

Andrey, like Pierre, is waiting for a difficult path of searching for the meaning of life and disappointments. At first, he dreams of the glory of Napoleon. But after the Austerlitz sky, in which the prince saw something infinitely high, beautiful and calm, the former idol seems to him small, insignificant with his vain aspirations.

Comprehends the protagonist of the novel "War and Peace" Tolstoy and disappointment in love (Natasha betrays him, deciding to run away with the fool Anatoly Kuragin), in life for the sake of the family (he understands that this is not enough), in public service (Speransky's activities turn out to be meaningless fuss, without real benefit).

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy in his epic novel "War and Peace" provided a wide system of images. His world is not limited to a few noble families: real historical characters are mixed with fictional, major and minor ones. This symbiosis is sometimes so intricate and unusual that it is extremely difficult to determine which heroes perform a more or less significant function.

Representatives of eight noble families act in the novel, almost all of them occupy a central place in the narrative.

Rostov family

This family is represented by Count Ilya Andreevich, his wife Natalya, their four children together and their pupil Sonya.

The head of the family, Ilya Andreevich, is a sweet and good-natured person. He has always been provided for, therefore he does not know how to save, he is often deceived by acquaintances and relatives for selfish purposes. The count is not a selfish person, he is ready to help everyone. Over time, his attitude, reinforced by addiction to the card game, became disastrous for his entire family. Because of the father's squandering, the family has been on the verge of poverty for a long time. The count dies at the end of the novel, after the wedding of Natalia and Pierre, of natural causes.

Countess Natalya is very similar to her husband. She, like him, is alien to the concept of self-interest and the pursuit of money. She is ready to help people who find themselves in a difficult situation, she is overwhelmed with feelings of patriotism. The countess had to endure many sorrows and troubles. This state of affairs is associated not only with unexpected poverty, but also with the death of their children. Of the thirteen born, only four survived; subsequently, the war took one more - the youngest.

The Count and Countess of Rostov, like most of the characters in the novel, have their prototypes. They were the grandfather and grandmother of the writer - Ilya Andreevich and Pelageya Nikolaevna.

The eldest child of the Rostovs is called Vera. This is an unusual girl, not like all the other members of the family. She is rude and callous at heart. This attitude applies not only to strangers, but also to close relatives. The rest of the Rostov children subsequently make fun of her and even come up with a nickname for her. The prototype of Vera was Elizaveta Bers, daughter-in-law of L. Tolstoy.

The next oldest child is Nikolai. His image is drawn in the novel with love. Nicholas is a noble person. He responsibly approaches any occupation. Tries to be guided by the principles of morality and honor. Nikolai is very similar to his parents - kind, sweet, purposeful. After the distress he had endured, he constantly took care not to find himself in a similar situation again. Nikolai takes part in military events, he is repeatedly awarded, but still he leaves military service after the war with Napoleon - his family needs him.

Nikolai marries Maria Bolkonskaya, they have three children - Andrei, Natasha, Mitya - and a fourth is expected.

The younger sister of Nikolai and Vera, Natalya, is the same in character and temperament as her parents. She is sincere and trusting, and this almost ruins her - Fedor Dolokhov fools the girl and persuades her to escape. These plans were not destined to come true, but Natalya's engagement with Andrei Bolkonsky was terminated, and Natalya fell into a deep depression. Subsequently, she became the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. The woman stopped watching her figure, others began to speak of her as an unpleasant woman. Tolstoy's wife, Sofya Andreevna, and her sister, Tatyana Andreevna, became the prototypes of Natalia.

The youngest child of the Rostovs was Petya. He was the same as all Rostovs: noble, honest and kind. All these qualities were enhanced by youthful maximalism. Petya was a sweet eccentric, to whom all pranks were forgiven. The fate of Petya was extremely unfavorable - he, like his brother, goes to the front and dies there very young and young.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace".

Another child, Sonya, was brought up in the Rostov family. The girl was related to the Rostovs, after the death of her parents, they took her in and treated her like their own child. Sonya was in love with Nikolai Rostov for a long time, this fact did not allow her to get married on time.

Presumably she remained alone until the end of her days. Its prototype was Leo Tolstoy's aunt, Tatyana Alexandrovna, in whose house the writer was brought up after the death of his parents.

We get to know all the Rostovs at the very beginning of the novel - they are all active throughout the story. In the "Epilogue" we learn about the further continuation of their kind.

Bezukhov family

The Bezukhov family is not represented in such a numerous form as the Rostov family. The head of the family is Kirill Vladimirovich. The name of his wife is not known. We know that she belonged to the Kuragin family, but it is not clear who exactly she was to them. Count Bezukhov has no children born in marriage - all his children are illegitimate. The eldest of them - Pierre - was officially named by his father the heir to the estate.

After such a statement by the count, the image of Pierre Bezukhov begins to appear actively in public terms. Pierre himself does not impose his society on others, but he is a prominent groom - the heir to unthinkable wealth, so they want to see him always and everywhere. Nothing is known about Pierre's mother, but this does not become a reason for indignation and ridicule. Pierre received a decent education abroad and returned to his homeland full of utopian ideas, his vision of the world is too idealistic and divorced from reality, so all the time he faces unthinkable disappointments - in social activities, personal life, family harmony. His first wife was Elena Kuragina - a whore and a flirtatious. This marriage brought a lot of suffering to Pierre. The death of his wife saved him from the unbearable - he did not have the power to leave Elena or change her, but he could not come to terms with such an attitude towards his person. The second marriage - with Natasha Rostova - became more successful. They had four children - three girls and a boy.

Princes Kuragins

The Kuragin family is stubbornly associated with greed, debauchery and deceit. The reason for this was the children of Vasily Sergeevich and Alina - Anatole and Elena.

Prince Vasily was not a bad person, he possessed a number of positive qualities, but his desire for enrichment and gentleness of character towards his son nullified all positive aspects.

Like any father, Prince Vasily wanted to ensure a prosperous future for his children, one of the options was a profitable marriage. This position not only had a bad effect on the reputation of the whole family, but also later played a tragic role in the lives of Elena and Anatole.

Little is known about Princess Alina. At the time of the story, she was a rather ugly woman. Her distinguishing feature was hostility to her daughter Elena on the basis of envy.

Vasily Sergeevich and Princess Alina had two sons and a daughter.

Anatole - became the cause of all the troubles of the family. He led a life of spenders and rake - debts, brawls were a natural occupation for him. Such behavior left an extremely negative imprint on the reputation of the family and its financial situation.

Anatole was seen in love with his sister Elena. The possibility of a serious relationship between brother and sister was suppressed by Prince Vasily, but, apparently, they still took place after Elena's marriage.

The daughter of the Kuragins, Elena, had incredible beauty, like her brother Anatole. She skillfully flirted and after marriage had a love affair with many men, ignoring her husband Pierre Bezukhov.

Their brother Ippolit was completely unlike them in appearance - he was extremely unpleasant in appearance. In terms of the composition of his mind, he was not much different from his brother and sister. He was too stupid - this was noted not only by those around him, but also by his father. Nevertheless, Ippolit was not hopeless - he knew foreign languages ​​​​well and worked at the embassy.

Princes Bolkonsky

The Bolkonsky family occupies far from the last place in society - they are rich and influential.
The family includes Prince Nikolai Andreevich - a man of the old school and peculiar customs. He is rather rude in dealing with his relatives, but still not devoid of sensuality and tenderness - he is kind to his grandson and daughter, in a peculiar way, but still, he loves his son, but he does not really succeed in showing the sincerity of his feelings.

Nothing is known about the prince's wife, even her name is not mentioned in the text. In the marriage of the Bolkonskys, two children were born - son Andrei and daughter Marya.

Andrei Bolkonsky is partially similar in character to his father - he is quick-tempered, proud and a little rude. He has an attractive appearance and natural charm. At the beginning of the novel, Andrei is successfully married to Lisa Meinen - the couple has a son, Nikolenka, but his mother dies on the night after giving birth.

After some time, Andrei becomes the fiancé of Natalia Rostova, but he didn’t have to get married - Anatol Kuragin translated all the plans, which earned him personal dislike and exceptional hatred on the part of Andrei.

Prince Andrei takes part in the military events of 1812, is seriously wounded on the battlefield and dies in the hospital.

Maria Bolkonskaya - Andrey's sister - is deprived of such pride and stubbornness as her brother, which allows her, not without difficulty, but still to get along with her father, who is not distinguished by an accommodating character. Kind and meek, she understands that she is not indifferent to her father, therefore she does not hold a grudge against him for nit-picking and rudeness. The girl is raising her nephew. Outwardly, Marya does not look like her brother - she is very ugly, but this does not prevent her from marrying Nikolai Rostov and living a happy life.

Liza Bolkonskaya (Meinen) was the wife of Prince Andrei. She was an attractive woman. Her inner world was not inferior to her appearance - she was sweet and pleasant, she loved needlework. Unfortunately, her fate did not turn out in the best way - childbirth turned out to be too difficult for her - she dies, giving life to her son Nikolenka.

Nikolenka lost his mother early, but the boy's troubles did not stop there - at the age of 7, he also loses his father. Despite everything, he is characterized by the cheerfulness inherent in all children - he grows up as an intelligent and inquisitive boy. The image of his father becomes key for him - Nikolenka wants to live in such a way that his father can be proud of him.

Mademoiselle Bourienne also belongs to the Bolkonsky family. Despite the fact that she is only a friendly companion, her significance in the context of the family is quite significant. First of all, it consists in a pseudo friendship with Princess Mary. Often Mademoiselle acts meanly towards Mary, enjoys the favor of the girl in relation to her person.

The Karagin family

Tolstoy does not spread much about the Karagin family - the reader gets acquainted with only two representatives of this family - Marya Lvovna and her daughter Julie.

Marya Lvovna first appears before readers in the first volume of the novel, her own daughter also begins to act in the first volume of the first part of War and Peace. Julie has an extremely unpleasant appearance, she is in love with Nikolai Rostov, but the young man does not pay any attention to her. Does not save the situation and its huge wealth. Boris Drubetskoy actively draws attention to her material component, the girl understands that the young man is kind to her only because of the money, but does not show it - for her this is actually the only way not to remain an old maid.

Princes Drubetskoy

The Drubetsky family is not particularly active in the public sphere, so Tolstoy avoids a detailed description of the family members and focuses readers only on active characters - Anna Mikhailovna and her son Boris.

Princess Drubetskaya belongs to an old family, but now her family is going through hard times - poverty has become a constant companion of the Drubetskys. This state of affairs gave rise to a sense of prudence and self-interest in the representatives of this family. Anna Mikhailovna tries to get as much benefit as possible from her friendship with the Rostovs - she has been living with them for a long time.

Her son, Boris, was a friend of Nikolai Rostov for some time. As they grew older, their views on life values ​​and principles began to differ greatly, which led to a removal in communication.

Boris more and more begins to show self-interest and the desire to get rich at any cost. He is ready to marry for money and does it successfully, taking advantage of the unenviable position of Julie Karagina

Dolokhov family

Representatives of the Dolokhov family are also not all active in society. Among all, Fedor stands out clearly. He is the son of Marya Ivanovna and the best friend of Anatole Kuragin. In his behavior, he also did not go far from his friend: revelry and an idle way of life are a common occurrence for him. In addition, he is famous for his love affair with Pierre Bezukhov's wife, Elena. A distinctive feature of Dolokhov from Kuragin is his attachment to his mother and sister.

Historical figures in the novel "War and Peace"

Since Tolstoy's novel takes place against the backdrop of historical events related to the war against Napoleon in 1812, it is impossible to do without at least a partial mention of real characters.

Alexander I

The novel most actively describes the activities of Emperor Alexander I. This is not surprising, because the main events take place on the territory of the Russian Empire. In the beginning, we learn about the positive and liberal aspirations of the emperor, he is "an angel in the flesh." The peak of his popularity falls on the period of Napoleon's defeat in the war. It was at this time that the authority of Alexander reaches incredible heights. An emperor can easily make changes and improve the lives of his subjects, but he doesn't. As a result, such an attitude and inactivity become the reason for the emergence of the Decembrist movement.

Napoleon I Bonaparte

On the other side of the barricade in the events of 1812 is Napoleon. Since many Russian aristocrats were educated abroad, and the French language was everyday for them, the attitude of the nobles towards this character at the beginning of the novel was positive and bordered on admiration. Then disappointment occurs - their idol from the category of ideals becomes the main villain. With the image of Napoleon, such connotations as egocentrism, lies, pretense are actively used.

Mikhail Speransky

This character is important not only in Tolstoy's novel, but also during the real era of Emperor Alexander.

His family could not boast of antiquity and significance - he is the son of a priest, but still he managed to become the secretary of Alexander I. He is not a particularly pleasant person, but everyone notes his importance in the context of events in the country.

In addition, historical characters of lesser significance, in comparison with the emperors, act in the novel. These are the great commanders Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Kutuzov and Pyotr Bagration. Their activity and the disclosure of the image takes place on the battlefields - Tolstoy tries to describe the military part of the narrative as realistic and captivating as possible, therefore these characters are described not only as great and unsurpassed, but also as ordinary people who are subject to doubts, mistakes and negative qualities of character.

Other characters

Among the other characters, the name of Anna Scherer should be highlighted. She is the "owner" of a secular salon - the elite of society meets here. Guests are rarely left to their own devices. Anna Mikhailovna always seeks to provide her visitors with interesting interlocutors, she often panders - this is of particular interest to her.

Characteristics of the heroes of the novel "War and Peace": images of characters

He not only wrote a wonderful work "War and Peace", but also showed Russian life for several decades. Researchers of Tolstoy's work have calculated that the writer depicted more than 600 characters on the pages of his novel. Moreover, each of these characters has a clear and accurate description of the writer. This allows the reader to draw a detailed portrait of each character.

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Character system in the novel "War and Peace"

Of course, the main character of Tolstoy's work is the people. According to the author, this is the best thing in the Russian nation. According to the novel, the people include not only ordinary people who have nothing, but also nobles who live not for themselves, but for others. But the people in the novel are opposed by aristocrats:

1. Kuragins.
2. Salon visitors Anna Scherer.

It can be immediately determined from the description that all these characters are the negative characters of the novel. Their life is unspiritual and mechanical, they perform artificial and lifeless actions, they are incapable of compassion, they are selfish. These heroes cannot change even under the influence of life.

In a completely different way, Lev Nikolayevich portrays his positive characters. Their actions are guided by the heart. These positive actors include:

1. Kutuzov.
2. Natasha Rostov.
3. Platon Karataev.
4. Alpatych.
5. Officer Timokhin.
6. Officer Tushin.
7. Pierre Bezukhov.
8. Andrei Bolkonsky.

All these heroes able to empathize, develop and change. But it is the war of 1812, the trials that it brought, that makes it possible to understand to which camp the characters of Tolstoy's novel can be attributed.

Pyotr Rostov is the central character of the novel

Count Peter Rostov is the youngest child in the family, Natasha's brother. At the beginning of the novel, the reader sees him as a very young child. So, in 1805 he was only 9 years old. And if at this age the writer only notices that he is fat, then the characterization of Peter at the age of 13 is added to the fact that the teenager turns out to be handsome and cheerful.

At the age of 16, Peter goes to war, although he had to go to university, and soon becomes a real man, an officer. He is a patriot and worries about the fate of his Motherland. Petya spoke excellent French and could feel sorry for the captured French boy. Going to war, Petya dreams of doing something heroic.

And despite the fact that at first his parents did not want to let him go to the service, and then they found a place where it was safer, he still joins the army with a friend. As soon as he was appointed assistant general, he was immediately taken prisoner. Deciding to take part in the battle with the French, helping Dolokhov, Petya dies, having been wounded in the head.

Natasha Rostova will name her only son after him, who will never be able to forget her brother, with whom she was so close.

Minor male characters

There are many minor characters in the novel "War and Peace". Among them, the following characters stand out:

1. Drubetskoy Boris.
2. Dolokhov.

Tall and blond Boris Drubetsky was brought up in the Rostov family and was in love with Natasha. His mother, Princess Drubetskaya, was a distant relative of the Rostov family. He is proud and dreams of a military career.

Having got into the guard thanks to the efforts of his mother, he also participates in the military campaign of 1805. The characterization of him by the writer is unflattering, since Boris tries to make only “useful” acquaintances. So, he is ready to spend all the money to pass for a rich man. He becomes the husband of Julie Kuragina, as she is rich.

Guards officer Dolokhov is a bright secondary character in the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Fyodor Ivanovich is 25 years old. He was born a respectable lady Marya Ivanovna, belonging to a poor noble family. Women liked the officer of the Semyonovsky regiment, because he was handsome: medium height, with curly hair and blue eyes. A firm voice and a cold look were harmoniously combined in Dolokhov with his education and intelligence. Despite the fact that Dolokhov is a player and loves a revelry life, he is still respected in society.

Fathers of the Rostov and Bolkonsky families

General Bolkonsky has long been retired. He is rich and respected in society. He performed his service during the reign of Catherine II, so Kutuzov is his good friend. But the character of the father of the Bolkonsky family is difficult. Nikolai Andreevich happens not only strict, but also severe. He takes care of his health and appreciates order in everything.

Count Ilya Andreevich Rostov is a positive and bright hero of the novel. His wife is Anna Mikhailovna Shinshina. Ilya Andreevich is raising five children. He is rich and cheerful, kind and self-confident in character. The old prince is very trusting and easily deceived.

Ilya Andreevich is a sympathetic person, a patriot. He receives wounded soldiers in his house. But he did not follow the state of the family at all, therefore he becomes the culprit of ruin. The prince dies in 1813, trying to survive the tragedies of his children.

Minor female characters

In the work of Leo Tolstoy there are many minor characters that make it possible to understand the events that the author describes. In the work "War and Peace" female characters are represented by the following heroines:

1. Sonya Rostova.
2. Julie Kuragin.
3. Vera Rostova.

Sonya Rostova is the second cousin of Natasha Rostova, the protagonist of the novel War and Peace. Sofya Alexandrovna is an orphan and a dowry. For the first time, readers see her at the beginning of the novel. Then, in 1805, she was barely 15 years old. Sonya looked beautiful: her waist was thin and miniature, a large and thick black braid wrapped around her head twice. Even the look, soft and withdrawn, bewitched.

The older the girl got, the more beautiful she looked. And at 22, according to Tolstoy's description, she was somewhat like a cat: smooth, flexible and soft. She was in love with Nikolenka Rostov. She even refuses her love to the "brilliant" groom Dolokhov. Sonya knew how to read skillfully in front of different audiences. She usually read in a thin voice and very diligently.

But Nicholas chose to marry Marya Bolkonskaya. And the economic and patient Sonya, who managed the household so skillfully, remained to live in the house of the young Rostov family, helping them. At the end of the novel, the writer shows her at the age of 30, but she is also not married, but is busy with the Rostov children and caring for the sick princess.

Julie Kuragina is a minor heroine in the novel. It is known that after the death of her brothers in the war, left with her mother, the girl becomes a rich heiress. At the beginning of the novel, Julie is already 20 years old and the reader learns that she is from a decent noble family. Her virtuous parents raised her, and in general, Julie was familiar to the Rostov family from childhood.

Julie did not have any special external data. The girl was chubby and ugly. But she dressed fashionably and always tried to smile. Because of her red face, poorly covered with powder, and wet eyes, no one wanted to marry her. Julie is a bit naive and very stupid. She tries not to miss a single ball or a theatrical performance.

By the way, Countess Rostova dreamed of marrying Nikolai to Julie. But for the sake of money, Boris Drubetskoy marries her, who hates Julie and hopes to see her very rarely after the wedding.

Another minor female character in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" is Vera Rostova. This is the eldest and unloved daughter of Princess Rostova. After her marriage, she became Vera Berg. At the beginning of the novel, she was 20 years old, and the girl was four years older than her sister Natasha. Vera is a beautiful, intelligent and well-mannered and educated girl with a pleasant voice. Both Natasha and Nikolai believed that she was too correct and somehow insensitive, as if she had no heart at all.

"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy is not just a classic novel, but a real heroic epic, the literary value of which is incomparable with any other work. The writer himself considered it a poem, where the private life of a person is inseparable from the history of the whole country.

It took Leo Tolstoy seven years to perfect his novel. Back in 1863, the writer more than once discussed plans to create a large-scale literary canvas with his father-in-law A.E. Bers. In September of the same year, the father of Tolstoy's wife sent a letter from Moscow, where he mentioned the writer's idea. Historians consider this date the official start of work on the epic. A month later, Tolstoy writes to his relative that all his time and attention is occupied by a new novel, over which he thinks like never before.

History of creation

The initial idea of ​​the writer was to create a work about the Decembrists, who spent 30 years in exile and returned home. The starting point described in the novel was to be 1856. But then Tolstoy changed his plans, deciding to display everything from the beginning of the Decembrist uprising of 1825. And this was not destined to come true: the third idea of ​​the writer was the desire to describe the young years of the hero, which coincided with large-scale historical events: the war of 1812. The final version was the period from 1805. The circle of heroes was also expanded: the events in the novel cover the history of many personalities who went through all the hardships of different historical periods in the life of the country.

The title of the novel also had several variants. The “working” name was “Three Pores”: the youth of the Decembrists during the Patriotic War of 1812; The Decembrist uprising of 1825 and the 50s of the 19th century, when several important events in the history of Russia took place at once - the Crimean War, the death of Nicholas I, the return of the amnestied Decembrists from Siberia. In the final version, the writer decided to focus on the first period, since writing a novel even on such a scale required a lot of effort and time. So instead of an ordinary work, a whole epic was born, which has no analogues in world literature.

Tolstoy devoted the entire autumn and early winter of 1856 to writing the beginning of War and Peace. Already at that time, he repeatedly tried to quit his job, because, in his opinion, it was not possible to convey the whole idea on paper. Historians say that in the writer's archive there were fifteen options for the beginning of the epic. In the process of work, Lev Nikolayevich tried for himself to find answers to questions about the role of man in history. He had to study many chronicles, documents, materials describing the events of 1812. The confusion in the writer’s head was caused by the fact that all information sources assessed both Napoleon and Alexander I in different ways. Then Tolstoy decided for himself to move away from the subjective statements of strangers and display in the novel his own assessment of events based on true facts. From diverse sources, he borrowed documentary materials, records of contemporaries, newspaper and magazine articles, letters from generals, archival documents of the Rumyantsev Museum.

(Prince Rostov and Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna)

Considering it necessary to go directly to the scene, Tolstoy spent two days in Borodino. It was important for him to personally go around the place where large-scale and tragic events unfolded. He even personally made sketches of the sun on the field during different periods of the day.

The trip gave the writer an opportunity to feel the spirit of history in a new way; became a kind of inspiration for further work. For seven years, the work was on a spiritual upsurge and "burning". The manuscripts consisted of more than 5200 sheets. Therefore, "War and Peace" is easy to read even after a century and a half.

Analysis of the novel

Description

(Napoleon before the battle in thought)

The novel "War and Peace" touches upon a sixteen-year period in the history of Russia. The starting date is 1805, the final date is 1821. More than 500 characters are “employed” in the work. These are both real-life people, and fictional writers to add color to the description.

(Kutuzov before the Battle of Borodino is considering a plan)

The novel intertwines two main storylines: historical events in Russia and the personal lives of the characters. Real historical figures are mentioned in the description of Austerlitz, Shengraben, Borodino battles; the capture of Smolensk and the surrender of Moscow. More than 20 chapters are devoted specifically to the battle of Borodino, as the main decisive event of 1812.

(In the illustration, an episode of the Ball by Natasha Rostova from the film "War and Peace" 1967.)

In opposition to "wartime", the writer describes the personal world of people and everything that surrounds them. Heroes fall in love, quarrel, reconcile, hate, suffer... In the confrontation between various characters, Tolstoy shows the difference in the moral principles of individuals. The writer is trying to tell that various events can change the worldview. One complete picture of the work consists of three hundred and thirty-three chapters of 4 volumes and another twenty-eight chapters placed in the epilogue.

First volume

The events of 1805 are described. In the "peaceful" part, life in Moscow and St. Petersburg is affected. The writer introduces the reader to the society of the main characters. The “military” part is the battles of Austerlitz and Shengraben. Tolstoy concludes the first volume with a description of how military defeats affected the peaceful life of the characters.

Second volume

(The first ball of Natasha Rostova)

This is a completely "peaceful" part of the novel, which touched upon the life of the characters in the period 1806-1811: the birth of Andrei Bolkonsky's love for Natasha Rostova; freemasonry of Pierre Bezukhov, the kidnapping of Natasha Rostova by Karagin, Bolkonsky's refusal to marry Natasha Rostova. The end of the volume is a description of a formidable omen: the appearance of a comet, which is a symbol of great upheavals.

Third volume

(In the illustration, an episode of the Borodino battle of their film "War and Peace" 1967.)

In this part of the epic, the writer refers to wartime: the invasion of Napoleon, the surrender of Moscow, the battle of Borodino. On the battlefield, the main male characters of the novel are forced to intersect: Bolkonsky, Kuragin, Bezukhov, Dolokhov ... The end of the volume is the capture of Pierre Bezukhov, who made an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Napoleon.

Fourth volume

(After the battle, the wounded arrive in Moscow)

The “military” part is a description of the victory over Napoleon and the shameful retreat of the French army. The writer also touches upon the period of the partisan war after 1812. All this is intertwined with the “peaceful” fates of the heroes: Andrei Bolkonsky and Helen pass away; love is born between Nikolai and Marya; think about living together Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov. And the main character of the volume is the Russian soldier Platon Karataev, in whose words Tolstoy tries to convey all the wisdom of the common people.

Epilogue

This part is devoted to describing the changes in the lives of the heroes seven years after 1812. Natasha Rostova is married to Pierre Bezukhov; Nicholas and Marya found their happiness; the son of Bolkonsky, Nikolenka, grew up. In the epilogue, the author reflects on the role of individuals in the history of the whole country, and tries to show the historical interconnections of events and human destinies.

The main characters of the novel

More than 500 characters are mentioned in the novel. The author tried to describe the most important of them as accurately as possible, endowing with special features not only of character, but also of appearance:

Andrei Bolkonsky - Prince, son of Nikolai Bolkonsky. Constantly looking for the meaning of life. Tolstoy describes him as handsome, reserved, and with "dry" features. He has a strong will. Dies as a result of a wound received at Borodino.

Marya Bolkonskaya - Princess, sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. Inconspicuous appearance and radiant eyes; piety and concern for relatives. In the novel, she marries Nikolai Rostov.

Natasha Rostova is the daughter of Count Rostov. In the first volume of the novel, she is only 12 years old. Tolstoy describes her as a girl of not very beautiful appearance (black eyes, big mouth), but at the same time "alive". Her inner beauty attracts men. Even Andrei Bolkonsky is ready to fight for his hand and heart. At the end of the novel, she marries Pierre Bezukhov.

Sonya

Sonya is the niece of Count Rostov. In contrast to her cousin Natasha, she is beautiful in appearance, but much poorer in spirit.

Pierre Bezukhov is the son of Count Kirill Bezukhov. A clumsy massive figure, kind and at the same time strong character. He can be harsh, or he can become a child. Interested in Freemasonry. He is trying to change the life of the peasants and influence large-scale events. Initially married to Helen Kuragina. At the end of the novel, he marries Natasha Rostova.

Helen Kuragin is the daughter of Prince Kuragin. Beauty, a prominent society lady. She married Pierre Bezukhov. Changeable, cold. Dies as a result of an abortion.

Nikolai Rostov is the son of Count Rostov and Natasha's brother. The successor of the family and the defender of the Fatherland. He took part in military campaigns. He married Marya Bolkonskaya.

Fedor Dolokhov is an officer, a member of the partisan movement, as well as a great swashbuckler and lover of ladies.

Counts of Rostov

The Rostov counts are the parents of Nikolai, Natasha, Vera, and Petya. A revered married couple, an example to follow.

Nikolai Bolkonsky - Prince, father of Marya and Andrei. In Catherine's time, a significant personality.

The author pays much attention to the description of Kutuzov and Napoleon. The commander appears before us as smart, unfeigned, kind and philosophical. Napoleon is described as a little fat man with an unpleasantly feigned smile. At the same time, it is somewhat mysterious and theatrical.

Analysis and conclusion

In the novel "War and Peace" the writer tries to convey to the reader the "people's thought". Its essence is that each positive hero has his own connection with the nation.

Tolstoy departed from the principle of telling a story in a novel in the first person. Evaluation of characters and events goes through monologues and author's digressions. At the same time, the writer leaves the reader the right to assess what is happening. A vivid example of this is the scene of the Battle of Borodino, shown both from the side of historical facts and the subjective opinion of the hero of the novel, Pierre Bezukhov. The writer does not forget about the bright historical figure - General Kutuzov.

The main idea of ​​the novel lies not only in the disclosure of historical events, but also in the ability to understand that one must love, believe and live under any circumstances.

A.E. Bersom wrote a letter to his friend, Count Tolstoy, in 1863, which reported on a fascinating conversation between young people about the events of 1812. Then Lev Nikolaevich decided to write a grandiose work about that heroic time. Already in October 1863, the writer wrote in one of his letters to a relative that he had never felt such creative forces in himself, the new work, according to him, would not be like any that he had done before.

Initially, the main character of the work should be a Decembrist, returning in 1856 from exile. Further, Tolstoy moved the beginning of the novel to the day of the uprising in 1825, but then the literary time moved to 1812. Apparently, the count was afraid that the novel would not be allowed through for political reasons, because even Nicholas the First tightened censorship, fearing a repetition of the rebellion. Since the Patriotic War directly depends on the events of 1805, it was this period that in the final version became the foundation for the beginning of the book.

"Three pores" - this is how Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy called his work. It was planned that in the first part or time will be told about the young Decembrists, participants in the war; in the second - a direct description of the Decembrist uprising; in the third - the second half of the 19th century, the sudden death of Nicholas 1, the defeat of the Russian army in the Crimean War, the amnesty of members of the opposition movement, who, returning from exile, expect changes.

It should be noted that the writer rejected all the works of historians, basing many episodes of "War and Peace" on the memoirs of participants and witnesses of the war. Materials from newspapers and magazines also served as excellent informants. In the Rumyantsev Museum, the author read unpublished documents, letters from ladies-in-waiting and generals. Tolstoy spent several days in Borodino, and in letters to his wife he enthusiastically wrote that if God grants health, he will describe the battle of Borodino in a way that no one has described before him.

The author put 7 years of his life on the creation of "War and Peace". There are 15 variations of the beginning of the novel, the writer repeatedly abandoned and restarted his book. Tolstoy foresaw the global scope of his descriptions, wanted to create something innovative and created an epic novel worthy of representing the literature of our country on the world stage.

Themes "War and Peace"

1. Family theme. It is the family that determines the upbringing, psychology, views and moral principles of a person, therefore it naturally occupies one of the central places in the novel. The forge of morals shapes the characters of the characters, influences the dialectic of their soul throughout the entire story. The description of the family of the Bolkonskys, Bezukhovs, Rostovs and Kuragins reveals the author's thoughts about house building and the importance he attaches to family values.
2. The theme of the people. Glory for a won war always belongs to the commander or emperor, and the people, without whom this glory would not have appeared, remains in the shadows. It is this problem that the author raises, showing the vanity of the vanity of military officials and elevating ordinary soldiers. became the subject of one of our essays.
3. The theme of war. Descriptions of hostilities exist relatively separately from the novel, on their own. It is here that the phenomenal Russian patriotism is revealed, which became the key to victory, the boundless courage and fortitude of a soldier who goes to any lengths to save his homeland. The author introduces us to the military scenes through the eyes of one or another hero, plunging the reader into the depths of the ongoing bloodshed. Large-scale battles echo the mental anguish of the heroes. Being at the crossroads of life and death reveals the truth to them.
4. The theme of life and death. Tolstoy's characters are divided into "living" and "dead". The former include Pierre, Andrei, Natasha, Marya, Nikolai, and the latter include old Bezukhov, Helen, Prince Vasily Kuragin and his son Anatole. The “living” are constantly in motion, and not so much physical as internal, dialectical (their souls come to harmony through a series of trials), and the “dead” hide behind masks and come to tragedy and internal split. Death in "War and Peace" is presented in 3 hypostases: bodily or physical death, moral and awakening through death. Life is comparable to the burning of a candle, someone's little flame, with flashes of bright light (Pierre), for someone it burns tirelessly (Natasha Rostova), Masha's wavering light. There are also 2 hypostases: physical life, like that of “dead” characters, whose immorality deprives the world inside of the necessary harmony, and the life of the “soul”, this is about the heroes of the first type, they will be remembered even after death.

main characters

• Andrey Bolkonsky- a nobleman, disappointed in the world and seeking glory. The hero is handsome, has dry features, short stature, but athletic build. Andrei dreams of being famous like Napoleon, for which he goes to war. He is bored with high society, even a pregnant wife does not give consolation. Bolkonsky changes his outlook when, wounded at the battle of Austerlitz, he ran into Napoleon, who seemed to him like a fly, along with all his glory. Further, the love that flared up for Natasha Rostova also changes the views of Andrei, who finds the strength to live a full and happy life again after the death of his wife. He meets death on the Borodino field, because he does not find in his heart the strength to forgive people and not to fight with them. The author shows the struggle in his soul, hinting that the prince is a man of war, he cannot get along in an atmosphere of peace. So, he forgives Natasha for betrayal only on his deathbed, and dies in harmony with himself. But finding this harmony was possible only in this way - for the last time. We wrote more about his character in the essay "".
• Natasha Rostova- a cheerful, sincere, eccentric girl. Knows how to love. He has a wonderful voice that will captivate the most captious music critics. In the work, we first see her as a 12-year-old girl, on her name day. Throughout the work, we observe the growing up of a young girl: first love, first ball, Anatole's betrayal, guilt before Prince Andrei, the search for one's "I", including in religion, the death of a lover (Andrey Bolkonsky). We analyzed her character in the essay "". In the epilogue, Pierre Bezukhov's wife, his shadow, appears before us from a cocky lover of "Russian dances".
• Pierre Bezukhov- a full young man who was unexpectedly bequeathed a title and a large fortune. Pierre reveals himself through what is happening around, from each event he draws morality and a life lesson. A wedding with Helen gives him confidence, after being disappointed in her, he finds an interest in Freemasonry, and in the final he gains warm feelings for Natasha Rostova. The battle of Borodino and captivity by the French taught him not to philosophize onionly and find happiness in helping others. These conclusions were determined by the acquaintance with Platon Karataev, a poor man who, in anticipation of death in a cell without normal food and clothes, took care of the “barchonka” Bezukhov and found the strength to support him. we have also considered.
• Graph Ilya Andreevich Rostov- a loving family man, luxury was his weakness, which led to financial problems in the family. Softness and weakness of character, inability to live make him helpless and miserable.
• Countess Natalia Rostova- the wife of the Count, has an oriental flavor, knows how to properly present herself in society, loves her own children excessively. Calculating woman: strive to upset the wedding of Nikolai and Sonya, since she was not rich. It was cohabitation with a weak husband that made her so strong and firm.
• Nickolai Rostov- the eldest son - kind, open, with curly hair. Wasteful and weak in spirit, like a father. Scrolls the state of the family into cards. He longed for glory, but after participating in a number of battles, he realizes how useless and cruel war is. Family well-being and spiritual harmony finds in marriage with Marya Bolkonskaya.
• Sonya Rostova- the count's niece - small, thin, with a black braid. She was thoughtful and kind-hearted. She has been devoted to one man all her life, but releases her beloved Nikolai, having learned about his love for Marya. Tolstoy exalts and appreciates her humility.
• Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky- the prince, has an analytical mindset, but a heavy, categorical and unfriendly character. Too strict, so he does not know how to show love, although he has warm feelings for children. Dies from the second blow in Bogucharovo.
• Marya Bolkonskaya- modest, loving relatives, ready to sacrifice herself for the sake of loved ones. L.N. Tolstoy especially emphasizes the beauty of her eyes and the ugliness of her face. In her image, the author shows that the charm of forms cannot replace spiritual wealth. detailed in the essay.
• Helen Kuragina- Pierre's ex-wife is a beautiful woman, a socialite. She loves male society and knows how to get what she wants, although she is vicious and stupid.
• Anatole Kuragin- Helen's brother - handsome and well received in high society. Immoral, lacking moral principles, he wanted to secretly marry Natasha Rostova, although he already had a wife. Life punishes him with martyrdom on the battlefield.
• Fedor Dolokhov- an officer and leader of the partisans, not tall, has bright eyes. Successfully combines selfishness and concern for loved ones. Vicious, passionate, but attached to the family.

Favorite character of Tolstoy

The author clearly feels the author's sympathy and antipathy for the characters in the novel. As for female images, the writer gives his love to Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya. Tolstoy valued the real femininity in girls - devotion to her beloved, the ability to always remain blooming in the eyes of her husband, the knowledge of happy motherhood and caring. His heroines are ready for self-denial for the benefit of others.

The writer is fascinated by Natasha, the heroine finds the strength to live even after Andrei's death, she directs her love to her mother after the death of her brother Petya, seeing how hard it is for her. The heroine is reborn, realizing that life is not over, as long as she has a bright feeling for her neighbor. Rostova shows patriotism, no doubt helping the wounded.

Marya also finds happiness in helping others, in feeling needed by someone. Bolkonskaya becomes a mother for her nephew Nikolushka, taking him under her "wing". She worries about ordinary men who have nothing to eat, passing the problem through themselves, does not understand how the rich can not help the poor. In the final chapters of the book, Tolstoy is fascinated by his heroines, who have matured and found female happiness.

The favorite male images of the writer were Pierre and Andrei Bolkonsky. For the first time, Bezukhov appears before the reader as a clumsy, full, short young man who appears in the living room of Anna Scherer. Despite his ridiculously ridiculous appearance, Pierre is smart, but the only person who accepts him for who he is is Bolkonsky. The prince is bold and stern, his courage and honor come in handy on the battlefield. Both men risk their lives to save their homeland. Both rush about in search of themselves.

Of course, L.N. Tolstoy brings together his favorite heroes, only in the case of Andrei and Natasha, happiness is short-lived, Bolkonsky dies young, and Natasha and Pierre find family happiness. Marya and Nikolai also found harmony in each other's society.

Genre of the work

"War and Peace" opens the genre of the epic novel in Russia. It successfully combines the features of any novels: from family-household to memoirs. The prefix "epopee" means that the events described in the novel cover a significant historical phenomenon and reveal its essence in all its diversity. Usually in a work of this genre there are a lot of storylines and heroes, since the scale of the work is very large.

The epic nature of Tolstoy's work is that he not only invented a story about a well-known historical accomplishment, but also enriched it with details gleaned from the memories of eyewitnesses. The author did a lot to ensure that the book was based on documentary sources.

The relationship between the Bolkonskys and the Rostovs was also not invented by the author: he painted the history of his family, the merger of the Volkonsky and Tolstoy families.

Main problems

1. The problem of finding real life. Let's take Andrei Bolkonsky as an example. He dreamed of recognition and glory, and the surest way to earn prestige and adoration is military exploits. Andrei made plans to save the army with his own hands. Pictures of battles and victories were constantly seen by Bolkonsky, but he gets injured and goes home. Here, before the eyes of Andrei, his wife dies, completely shaking the inner world of the prince, then he realizes that there is no joy in the killings and sufferings of the people. Not worth this career. The search for oneself continues, because the original meaning of life has been lost. The problem is that it's hard to get it.
2. The problem of happiness. Take Pierre, who is torn away from the empty society of Helen and the war. In a vicious woman, he is soon disappointed, illusory happiness deceived him. Bezukhov, like his friend Bolkonsky, is trying to find a calling in the struggle and, like Andrei, leaves this search. Pierre was not born for the battlefield. As you can see, any attempts to find bliss and harmony turn into a collapse of hopes. As a result, the hero returns to his former life and finds himself in a quiet family haven, but, only making his way through the thorns, he found his star.
3. The problem of the people and the great man. The epic novel clearly expresses the idea of ​​commanders-in-chief, inseparable from the people. A great man must share the opinion of his soldiers, live by the same principles and ideals. Not a single general or king would have received his glory if this glory had not been presented to him on a silver platter by soldiers, in whom lies the main strength. But many rulers do not cherish it, but despise it, and this should not be, because injustice hurts people painfully, even more painfully than bullets. The people's war in the events of 1812 is shown on the side of the Russians. Kutuzov protects the soldiers, sacrifices Moscow for them. They feel this, mobilize the peasants and launch a guerrilla struggle that ends the enemy and finally drives him out.
4. The problem of true and false patriotism. Of course, patriotism is revealed through the images of Russian soldiers, the description of the heroism of the people in the main battles. False patriotism in the novel is represented by Count Rostopchin. He distributes ridiculous papers around Moscow, and then saves himself from the wrath of people by sending his son Vereshchagin to certain death. We have written an article on this topic, called "".

What is the meaning of the book?

The writer himself speaks about the true meaning of the epic novel in lines about greatness. Tolstoy believes that there is no greatness where there is no simplicity of soul, good intentions and a sense of justice.

L.N. Tolstoy expressed greatness through the people. In the images of battle paintings, an ordinary soldier shows unprecedented courage, which causes pride. Even the most timid awakened in themselves a sense of patriotism, which, like an unknown and violent force, brought victory to the Russian army. The writer declares a protest against false greatness. When put on the scales (here you can find their comparative characteristics), the latter remains flying up: its fame is lightweight, as it has very flimsy foundations. The image of Kutuzov is “folk”, none of the commanders has been so close to the common people. Napoleon only reaps the fruits of fame, not without reason, when Bolkonsky wounded lies on the field of Austerlitz, the author shows Bonaparte through his eyes, like a fly in this vast world. Lev Nikolaevich sets a new trend of heroic character. They become "the people's choice."

An open soul, patriotism and a sense of justice won not only in the war of 1812, but also in life: the heroes who were guided by moral postulates and the voice of their hearts became happy.

Thought Family

L.N. Tolstoy was very sensitive to the topic of the family. So, in his novel “War and Peace”, the writer shows that the state, as a clan, passes on values ​​and traditions from generation to generation, and good human qualities are also sprouts from the roots that go back to the forefathers.

Brief description of families in the novel "War and Peace":

1. Of course, the beloved family of L.N. Tolstoy were the Rostovs. Their family was famous for cordiality and hospitality. It is in this family that the author's values ​​of real home comfort and happiness are reflected. The writer considered the mission of a woman - motherhood, maintaining comfort in the house, devotion and the ability to sacrifice. This is how all the women of the Rostov family are depicted. There are 6 people in the family: Natasha, Sonya, Vera, Nikolai and parents.
2. Another family is the Bolkonskys. Restraint of feelings, the severity of Father Nikolai Andreevich, canonicity reign here. Women here are more like "shadows" of husbands. Andrei Bolkonsky will inherit the best qualities, becoming a worthy son of his father, and Marya will learn patience and humility.
3. The Kuragin family is the best personification of the proverb “oranges will not be born from aspen”. Helene, Anatole, Hippolyte are cynical, looking for profit in people, stupid and not a bit sincere in what they do and say. "Mask show" is their lifestyle, and with this they completely went to their father - Prince Vasily. The family does not have friendly and warm relations, which is reflected in all its members. L.N. Tolstoy especially dislikes Helen, who was incredibly beautiful on the outside, but completely empty inside.

Folk thought

She is the central line of the novel. As we remember from the above, L.N. Tolstoy abandoned generally accepted historical sources, basing War and Peace on memoirs, notes, and letters from ladies-in-waiting and generals. The writer was not interested in the course of the war as a whole. Separate personalities, fragments - that's what the author needed. Each person had his own place and significance in this book, like the pieces of a puzzle, which, when assembled correctly, will reveal a beautiful picture - the power of national unity.

The Patriotic War changed something inside each of the characters in the novel, each made his own small contribution to the victory. Prince Andrei believes in the Russian army and fights with dignity, Pierre wants to destroy the French ranks from their very heart - by killing Napoleon, Natasha Rostova immediately gives carts to crippled soldiers, Petya bravely fights in partisan detachments.

The people's will to win is clearly felt in the scenes of the battle of Borodino, the battle for Smolensk, the partisan battle with the French. The latter is especially memorable for the novel, because volunteers fought in partisan movements, people from the ordinary peasant class - the detachments of Denisov and Dolokhov personify the movement of the whole nation, when "both old and young" stood up to defend their homeland. Later they will be called the "club of the people's war."

War of 1812 in Tolstoy's novel

About the war of 1812, as a turning point in the lives of all the heroes of the novel "War and Peace", has been said repeatedly above. It was also said that it was won by the people. Let's look at the issue from a historical point of view. L.N. Tolstoy draws 2 images: Kutuzov and Napoleon. Of course, both images are drawn through the eyes of a native of the people. It is known that the character of Bonaparte was thoroughly described in the novel only after the writer was convinced of the fair victory of the Russian army. The author did not understand the beauty of war, he was its opponent, and through the lips of his heroes Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, he speaks of the senselessness of its very idea.

The Patriotic War was a national liberation war. She occupied a special place on pages 3 and 4 of volumes.