Kutuzov and Napoleon comparative table with quotes. Kutuzov and Napoleon comparative characteristics of the main

Comparative characteristics of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace". A comparison table is at the end of the article.

What are these commanders-in-chief: Kutuzov and Napoleon appear in the image of Tolstoy?

Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" is, according to well-known writers and critics, "the greatest novel in the world." In his work, the writer glorified Commander-in-Chief Kutuzov as the inspirer and organizer of the victories of the Russian people. Tolstoy repeatedly emphasizes that Kutuzov is a real folk hero. Kutuzov appears before us in the novel as a simple Russian man and at the same time as a wise historical figure and commander. For Tolstoy, the main thing in Kutuzov is his blood connection with the people - "that people's feeling that he carries in himself in all its purity and strength." The author presents Kutuzov as a wise commander who deeply and correctly understands and assumes the course of events. It is no coincidence that Kutuzov's correct assessment of the course of events is always confirmed later. For example, he correctly assessed the significance of the Battle of Borodino, noting that this was a victory. In the image of Tolstoy, Kutuzov is a living person. The author shows his gait, gestures, facial expressions, his famous eye, which is either affectionate or mocking.

The opposite figure to Kutuzov is Napoleon. Tolstoy strongly opposes the "cult" of Napoleon. For the writer, Napoleon is the aggressor who attacked Russia. He burned cities and villages, killed Russian people, robbed, destroyed great cultural values, even gave the order to destroy the Kremlin. Napoleon is a narcissistic, domineering commander who strives for world domination. In the first parts of the novel, Tolstoy speaks ironically of the subservience to Napoleon that arose and spread in the highest secular circles of Russia. From the very beginning of the novel, Tolstoy clearly expresses his attitude towards this statesman. So, he shows that in the actions of Napoleon there is nothing but a whim. However, Napoleon "believed in himself and the whole world believed in him."

Each character in the novel thinks of Napoleon differently. The writer draws this famous commander as a "little man" with an unpleasantly feigned smile on his face, with a "round belly." Napoleon appears before us as a man in love with himself, who is far from thinking about the people. It is no coincidence that the word "I" is Napoleon's favorite word. In this you can see the opposition of Kutuzov to Napoleon. According to the author, the real hero is the people's commander, the one who really cares for the freedom of his Motherland.

Thus, the reader concludes that the two commanders are diametrically opposed. Napoleon is the epitome of self-confidence and ambition. The only positive thing about this character is his acting skills. Tolstoy helps the reader to conclude that Napoleon became famous in Europe only because of these abilities. The sharp opposition of Kutuzov and Napoleon is presented by the author of the novel from the point of view of the attitude of each of them to the people, as well as to his own personality. Tolstoy believes that Kutuzov embodies the best features of a public figure of that time - patriotism, simplicity, modesty, sensitivity, determination and sincerity in achieving a goal, subordinating one's own interests and goals to the will of the people. At the same time, according to Leo Tolstoy, Napoleon is a selfish person who neglects the interests of the people.

All thoughts, feelings and actions of Kutuzov are aimed at achieving a goal that meets the interests of the people - to preserve their independence, get rid of the evil and insidious enemy. All his activities are of a national character, determined by his love for the Motherland, the people, faith in his strength. Appointed commander-in-chief against the will of the tsar, but at the request of the people, Kutuzov sees the patriotism of the army and the population as a decisive prerequisite for victory.
The activity of Napoleon has a completely different, anti-people character. It is directed against the interests of the European peoples, which he robbed and killed.

He presented himself as a superhuman who is not fit to take care of the spiritual condition of the people who surround him.

In the behavior of the Russian commander, Tolstoy notes modesty, accessibility for the people. Moreover, for Kutuzov, the opinion of ordinary people about themselves is important. Napoleon is completely different. He cannot meet high moral standards, so there is no real majesty in him.

And, finally, the main difference between these two commanders is that Kutuzov in battles always tried to act in complete unity with the entire Russian people. Leo Tolstoy sees this as the main reason for Russia's victory in the difficult war of 1812. In contrast to Kutuzov, Napoleon not only did not understand, but did not even try to understand the mood of his people.
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that an outstanding figure becomes a real winner only if he unites with the people. The unity of the leader and the people is the key to victory. The absence of such unity leads to defeat.

- a brilliant work, where the writer described in detail the military events of such years as 1805, 1809 and 1812. At the same time, the author set himself the goal of depicting not the war, but the people in wartime. sought to reveal the characters of people, including such significant historical figures as Napoleon and Kutuzov. In the novel, through the prism of all events, the images of these military leaders, their strategies, behavior, and attitude towards their wards were revealed. So how does the reader see Napoleon and Kutuzov? Their comparative characteristics will help answer the question.

When you read a novel, you do not immediately see Kutuzov. The first chapters of the novel are silent about him, in contrast to Napoleon, who is discussed at the evening from the very first lines. Kutuzov high society is also discussing. They speak of him mockingly, sometimes even forget, but at the same time, the whole country and all the people hope for him.

Kutuzov, in comparison with Napoleon, is more like a tired old man who can fall asleep at military councils. But this did not stop the soldiers from calling Kutuzov a father. Yes, he does not impose any strategies on others, he simply acts. He does not praise his ranks, does not shout about it, and does not go to the field after the battle, as Bonaparte did. He took up arms and fought alongside other soldiers, because everyone was united in the fight for freedom. There were no ordinary peasants, ordinary men, there were no generals. The battlefield leveled everyone.

Kutuzov is not an insensitive person, so he often rubbed his eyes from tears, as he was worried about his people. For him, a soldier is not meat, but a person. He painfully perceives information about deaths and injuries. He treats each battle responsibly, calculates and does not risk the lives of soldiers in vain. His faith was very strong, and he managed to convey this faith to every person. This became decisive in the battle with the French.

With - the French emperor, we get acquainted with the first lines of the novel War and Peace. People from high society discussed the personality of Napoleon at the evenings. Despite the fact that many admired the emperor, plunging into the annals of the novel, we learn how cruel and cynical he was. For him, human life was nothing, only cold calculation and cunning were important, with the help of which he wanted to conquer the whole world. The army for him is only a tool that must always be ready to carry out any order. Napoleon was also a self-confident person who failed to see the great power of the Russian people, who united his forces and defeated such an invincible French army. The battle of Borodino became shameful for Napoleon, just as his defeat was shameful, which prevented his great plans from being realized.

In Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace, several parallels are drawn among the main characters, one of which is the line of constant comparison of two great commanders: Napoleon and Kutuzov. All characteristics are spelled out for both characters in such a way that the reader involuntarily begins to compare the characters. Why does Tolstoy draw this parallel?

To answer the question, I will try to visually compare the characters. Acquaintance begins with a description of the appearance. In Napoleon, the author focuses on a fat body, smoothly combed hair, well-groomed hands and a constantly indifferent facial expression. In war, Napoleon stands out sharply from the bulk of the people. In the description of Kutuzov, attention is drawn to the only eye, from which good spiritual light pours (Napoleon does not have a description of the eyes at all, but they reflect the soul of a person). It is also known that the Russian commander wears the most ordinary clothes, in war conditions he is on a par with soldiers. Of course, the main thing is to compare the internal qualities of the characters. Napoleon in the novel is presented as a narcissistic and selfish person who watches over his soldiers only out of boredom, while Kutuzov treats the soldiers as if they were his own children. He constantly supports the army, his eyes glow with hope, he himself is ready to go under the bullets for the sake of his country.

In general, we can conclude that the descriptions of the main commanders of the warring countries help to reveal the images of the armies. Perhaps such a cardinal difference in the relationship between ordinary soldiers and the commander-in-chief can partly explain Russia's victory over the stronger French army.

Together with the article “Essay on the topic: Comparative characteristics of Napoleon and Kutuzov in the novel“ War and Peace ”they read:

Comparative characteristics of Kutuzov and Napoleon

Appearance

Kutuzov.Affectionate, mocking look; the corners of the lips and eyes are wrinkled with a gentle smile; expressive facial expressions; confident walk.

Napoleon. Short, puffy and overweight figure; thick thighs and belly; feigned, sugary and unpleasant smile; fussy gait.

Character

Kutuzov. He does not exalt his merits and does not put them on display; does not hide his feelings, sincere; patriot.

Napoleon. Boastful, selfish, full of narcissism; extols his merits; cruel and indifferent to others; conqueror.

Behavior

Kutuzov. Always clearly and simply explained; does not leave the troops and participates in all key battles.

Napoleon. Keeps away from hostilities; On the eve of the battle, he always makes long pathetic speeches to the soldiers.

Mission

Kutuzov. Salvation of Russia.

Napoleon. Conquer the whole world and make it the capital of Paris.

Role in history

Kutuzov. He believed that nothing depended on him; did not give specific orders, but always agreed with what was being done.

Napoleon. He considered himself a benefactor, but all his orders had either already been executed long ago, or were not executed, because they could not be executed.

Attitude towards soldiers

Kutuzov. He was affectionate with the soldiers and showed sincere concern for them.

Napoleon. Indifferent to the soldiers, does not show any sympathy for them; their fates were indifferent to him.

Conclusion

Kutuzov. Genius commander; exponent of patriotism and high morality of the Russian people; patriot; wise politician.

Napoleon. Executioner; invader; all his actions are directed against people.

A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon (the table is presented above) is built on the opposition of individualism and nationality. Only a person who imagines himself superior and better than others could start a bloody war in order to achieve his selfish goals. Such a character cannot become a hero, so Tolstoy, with his humanism and faith in folk wisdom, draws him negatively and repulsively. Appearance, gait, manners, even the character of Napoleon - all this is a consequence of his desire to show himself as a superman.

Kutuzov, wise, calm, seemingly inactive, carries all the power of the Russian people. He does not make decisions - he follows the course of events. He does not try to create history - he submits to it. This humility contains his spiritual and moral strength, which helped win the war.

Incredible national power was concluded by L. N. Tolstoy in his novel "War and Peace". A brief description of this force is given on the example of the image of Kutuzov, which is opposed to the spiritually poor, who does not understand his people, Napoleon. The great Russian commander and the French emperor embodied two principles: creative and destructive. And, of course, the humanist Tolstoy could not endow Napoleon with a single positive trait. As he could not denigrate the image of Kutuzov. The heroes of the novel have little in common with real historical figures. But Lev Nikolaevich created them in order to illustrate his historical concept.

One of the unique and brilliant writers known all over the world, "the great hope of Russian literature", a man who tried to rethink life, understand its laws and unravel the mysteries. Leo Tolstoy had a special view of the world order, including his theory of the role of man in history and its significance in the context of eternity. In the novel "War and Peace" this concept was embodied by the generals of the two great armies. A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon (a table with brief conclusions on the topic will be presented below) allows you to fully reveal the writer's attitude to the question: "Can one person create history?"

Life and work of L. N. Tolstoy

The life of Lev Nikolaevich is rich in events. His youth was spent in St. Petersburg, where he was one of the main ringleaders and a famous rake. Then fate threw him into the Crimean War, after which the writer returned to the capital again. Here, having already matured and seen a lot, he begins to cooperate with the Sovremennik magazine, closely communicating with the editorial staff (N. A. Nekrasov, A. N. Ostrovsky, I. S. Turgenev). Tolstoy publishes Sevastopol Tales, where he draws pictures of the war he went through. Then he travels around Europe and remains very dissatisfied with her.

In 1956 he retired and began the life of a landowner in Yasnaya Polyana. Marries, takes care of the household and writes his most famous novels and stories: "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", "Sunday", "Kreutzer Sonata".

Novel "War and Peace"

The epic novel describes the events of the Napoleonic War (1805-1812). The work was a huge success both in Russia and in Europe. "War and Peace" is an artistic canvas that has no analogues in literature. Tolstoy managed to depict all social classes, from emperors to soldiers. An unprecedented evolution of characters and the integrity of images, each hero appears as a living full-blooded person. The writer managed to feel and convey all the facets of the psychology of the Russian people: from lofty impulses to the ruthless, almost bestial moods of the crowd.

The image of Kutuzov, closely connected with Russia and its people, turned out to be surprising. The opposite of him in everything is the narcissistic and selfish Napoleon. These characters will be discussed in detail.

The role of personality in history: Kutuzov and Napoleon

Tolstoy, who always praised the greatness and power of the Russian people, showed in his novel that it was he who won the war. Moreover, the feeling of nationality formed the basis of the main assessment of the actions of the characters in the novel. Therefore, Kutuzov - a commander and an outstanding military man - appears as one of the Russian people, he is not so much a person as a part of the country. It is in unity with the people that the guarantee of Kutuzov's victory.

The opposite of him is Napoleon, who separated himself from the world, imagined that he was practically a god. In more detail, the differences between these characters are illustrated by Kutuzov and Napoleon (table below). However, it can already be said that, according to Tolstoy, a person who decides to change the world alone is doomed to defeat.

The image of Kutuzov

Tolstoy portrayed Kutuzov in the novel as a kind of old man, who knows life perfectly and understands what lies ahead. He knows what will be lost and calmly talks about it. He falls asleep at the council, knowing full well what all the conversations will eventually lead to. Kutuzov feels the beating of life, understands its laws. His inaction turns into folk wisdom, his actions are guided by intuition.

Kutuzov is a commander, but all his actions are subject to the great will of history itself, he is her "slave". But only in this way, taking a wait-and-see attitude, it was possible to win. It was this idea of ​​Tolstoy that was embodied in the character of Kutuzov.

Image of Napoleon

Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is the exact opposite of Kutuzov. In contrast to the whole personality of the Russian general, Tolstoy portrays the French emperor in two forms: a man and a commander. As a commander, Napoleon is talented, has rich experience and knowledge of military affairs.

But for Lev Nikolayevich, the main thing is precisely the human component, spiritual qualities. It is in this respect that the writer debunks the romantic image of the enemy commander. Already in Napoleon one can see the attitude of the author: “small”, “fat”, unremarkable, poseur and egoist.

Napoleon is the emperor of France, but he has little power over his country, he sees himself as the ruler of the world, considers himself superior to others. The desire to possess consumed him, he is morally poor and incapable of feeling, loving, rejoicing. Napoleon goes over the corpses to his goal, because it justifies any means. "Winners are not judged" - that's his motto.

Comparative characteristics of Kutuzov and Napoleon: table

Generalization of the table

A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon (the table is presented above) is built on the opposition of individualism and nationality. Only a person who imagines himself superior and better than others could start a bloody war in order to achieve his selfish goals. Such a character cannot become a hero, so Tolstoy, with his humanism and faith in folk wisdom, draws him negatively and repulsively. Appearance, gait, manners, even the character of Napoleon - all this is a consequence of his desire to be a superman.

Kutuzov, wise, calm, seemingly inactive, carries all the power of the Russian people. He does not make decisions - he follows the course of events. He does not try to create history - he submits to it. This humility contains his spiritual and moral strength, which helped win the war.

Conclusion

Incredible national power was concluded by L. N. Tolstoy in his novel "War and Peace". A brief description of this force is given on the example of the image of Kutuzov, which is opposed to the spiritually poor, who does not understand his people, Napoleon. The great Russian commander and the French emperor embodied two principles: creative and destructive. And, of course, the humanist Tolstoy could not endow Napoleon with a single positive trait. As he could not denigrate the image of Kutuzov. The heroes of the novel have little in common with real historical figures. But Lev Nikolaevich created them in order to illustrate his historical concept.