Evening in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer (July 1805) (vol. 1, part 1, ch. I-IV)
Why does the novel begin in July 1805? Having gone through 15 options for the beginning of his work, L. N. Tolstoy stopped precisely in July 1805 and at the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer (the famous maid of honor and approximate Empress Maria Feodorovna), where the upper strata of the capital's society gather in St. Petersburg: conversations in her salon convey the complex political atmosphere of the time.
Why does the first scene of the novel depict an evening in Scherer's salon? Tolstoy believed that for the beginning of the novel, such an environment should be found so that from it, “like from a fountain, the action is sprayed into different places where different people will play the role” . Such a “fountain” turned out to be an evening in the court salon, in which, according to the author’s later definition, like nowhere else, “the degree of the political thermometer, on which the mood of ... society stood, was so clearly and firmly expressed.”
Who's gathered in Scherer's living room? The novel "War and Peace" opens with an image of high society, gathered in the living room of the forty-year-old maid of honor of the imperial court, A.P. Scherer. This is the minister, Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children (the soulless beauty Helen, the “restless fool” Anatole and the “calm fool” Ippolit), Princess Lisa Bolkonskaya - “the highest nobility of St. everyone lived. . . "(Chapter II).
Who is Anna Pavlovna Sherer? Anna Pavlovna is a cunning and dexterous woman, tactful, influential at court, prone to intrigues. Her attitude to any person or event is always dictated by the latest political, court or secular considerations. She is constantly “full of animation and impulse”, “to be an enthusiast has become her social position” (ch. I), and in her salon, in addition to discussing the latest court and political news, she always “treats” guests with some novelty or celebrity.
What is the significance of the episode of the evening at Anna Pavlovna Sherer's? He opens the novel and introduces the reader to the main political and moral opponents in the system of images. The main historical content of the first five chapters is artistic information about the political events in Europe in the summer of 1805 and about the upcoming war of Russia in alliance with Austria against Napoleon.
What kind of conflict among the nobility is tied up during the discussion of the war between Russia and Napoleon? The reactionary-minded majority of the nobles in the Cheret salon saw Napoleon as a usurper of legitimate royal power, a political adventurer, a criminal, and even an Antichrist, while Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolklnsky assess Bonaparte as a brilliant commander and politician.
Question to control assimilation Give examples of quotations from chapters I-IV of the novel, showing the different attitudes of the nobles towards Napoleon.
What is the conclusion of the conversation about Napoleon? The guests of the lady-in-waiting Scherer are talking about political news, about Napoleon's military actions, due to which Russia, as an ally of Austria, will have to go to war with France. But no one is interested in talking about events of national importance and is empty chatter, now in Russian, now in French, behind which lies complete indifference to what awaits the Russian army during a campaign abroad.
Why do visitors to the A.P. Scherer salon speak mostly French? Article "The role of the French language in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"
“The role of the French language in L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” The historical originality of the speech of the characters is provided by the names of the realities of the time and the abundant use of the French language, moreover, the use is diverse: French phrases are often given as directly depicted, sometimes (with the proviso that the conversation is in French, or without it, if the French speak) they are immediately replaced by the Russian equivalent, and sometimes the phrase more or less conditionally combines the Russian and French parts, conveying the struggle of falsehood and naturalness in the souls of the characters. French phrases not only help to recreate the spirit of the era, to express the French mindset, but immediately, as it were, become an instrument of hypocrisy, describing lies or evil.
“The role of the French language in Leo Tolstoy's novel “War and Peace” The French language is the norm of secular society; Tolstoy emphasizes the ignorance of the heroes of their native language, the separation from the people, i.e., the French language is a means of characterizing the nobility with its anti-national orientation. The heroes of the novel, who speak French, are far from the universal truth. Most of what is said with posture, ulterior motive, narcissism, is said in French. French words, like fake banknotes floated by Napoleon, try to claim the value of real banknotes. Russian and French words are mixed up, clash in the speech of people, crippling and mutilating a friend, like Russian and French soldiers at Borodino.
“The role of the French language in L. N. Tolstoy's novel War and Peace By simply using either Russian or French, Tolstoy shows his attitude to what is happening. The words of Pierre Bezukhov, although he undoubtedly speaks excellent French and is more accustomed to it abroad, the author quotes only in Russian. Andrei Bolkonsky's remarks (and, as Tolstoy notes, out of habit he often switches to French and speaks it like a Frenchman, he even pronounces the word "Kutuzov" with an accent on the last syllable) are also given, mainly in Russian, with the exception of two cases: Prince Andrei, entering the salon, answers in French the question of Anna Pavlovna, posed in French, and quotes Napoleon in French. Bezukhov and Bolkonsky are gradually getting rid of the French language as a bad inclination.
What events of personal life excite the visitors of the salon? At the same time, the beginning of the novel reveals mainly that, according to Tolstoy, “real life” (vol. 2, part 3, ch. I), which is associated with everyday, personal, family interests, worries, hopes, aspirations, plans of people : this is the realization by Prince Andrei of an irreparable mistake related to marrying Lisa, the ambiguous position in Pierre's society as the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, the plans of Prince Vasily Kuragin, who wants to better arrange his sons: the “calm fool” Ippolit and the “restless fool” Anatole; the troubles of Anna Mikhailovna about the transfer of Borenka to the guards.
How does Tolstoy treat visitors to the salon? All these scenes are colored by a certain author's intonation, in which the moral assessment of each of the participants in the action is visible: subtle irony in relation to Prince Vasily with his secular ability to disguise true goals under the guise of indifference, fatigue or fleeting interest; an almost open mockery of Anna Pavlovna's public "enthusiasm" and her panicky fear of everything that goes beyond the prim "speaking workshop", a kind smile in relation to the "unable to live" Pierre Bezukhov; clear sympathy for Prince Andrei. At the heart of this moral distinction is sympathy for sincere, disinterested heroes who live by spiritual interests, and an explicit or implicit condemnation of narcissism, selfishness, prudence, hypocrisy, spiritual emptiness of people who have lost their natural human qualities in a secular environment.
Reception of “tearing off all and all masks” To expose the falsity and unnaturalness of people of high society, Tolstoy uses the method of “tearing off all and all masks” (“Avant tout dites moi, commtnt vous allez, chere amie? (First of all, tell me how is your health, dear friend?) Calm me down, - he (Prince Vasily Kuragin) said, without changing his voice and tone, in which, due to decency and participation, indifference and even mockery shone through ”- ch. I).
To what does Tolstoy compare an evening in Scherer's salon? Tolstoy very aptly compares this salon with a spinning workshop, where guests do not usually talk, but buzz monotonously, like spindles: “Anna Pavlovna's evening was started. The spindles from different sides evenly and incessantly rustled ”(Chapter III). For the writer, the world of light is mechanical, machine-like.
What role does the hostess play? A.P. Scherer, as the owner of a spinning workshop, follows the sounds of the spindles, "holds back or starts it in its proper course." And if one of the guests breaks this monotony of conversations (especially when the offender refers to “people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon,” like Pierre), then the hostess “approached the mug that was silent or talked too much and with one word or movement again started a uniform , a decent talking machine” (Ch. II).
What metaphors that convey the author's irony are included in this comparison? “Anna Pavlovna’s evening was started” (and not opened and not started); the hostess did not introduce her fashionable guests to her acquaintances, as others do, but, “just as a good head waiter serves something supernaturally beautiful that piece of beef that you don’t want to eat if you see it in a dirty kitchen, so this evening Anna Pavlovna served her guests first a viscount, then an abbot, as something supernaturally refined” (ch. III), that is, she tried to serve the guests like a good meal, on a chic plate and with exquisite sauce.
What evaluative epithets and comparisons does Tolstoy use in describing the characters? Vasily Kuragin’s “bright expression of a flat face”, “... said the prince, out of habit, like a wound clock, saying things that he didn’t want to be believed”, “Prince Vasily always spoke lazily, like an actor says the role of an old play” (Ch. I) - the comparison with a wound clock extremely successfully conveys the automatism of secular life. Here they take a role for themselves in advance and follow it against their own desire.
What author's attitude is imbued with the details of the portrait characteristics of the characters? Clumsiness and good nature, shyness, and most importantly, Pierre's truthfulness, unusual in the salon and frightening the hostess; Anna Pavlovna's enthusiastic, glued-on smile; Helen's "unchanging smile" (ch. III); “a grimace that spoiled the beautiful face” (ch. III) of Prince Andrei, which in a different situation took on a childish and sweet expression; antennae on the short upper lip of the little princess Liza Bolkonskaya.
What author's assessments accompany the characterization of Ippolit Kuragin? Tolstoy writes that his “face was hazy with idiocy and invariably expressed self-confident obscenity, and his body was thin and weak. Eyes, nose, mouth - everything seemed to shrink into one indefinite grimace, and arms and legs always assumed an unnatural position ”(Chapter III). He "spoke in Russian with such a pronunciation as the French speak, having spent a year in Russia" (ch. IV).
What is Tolstoy's attitude towards Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya? About Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, who energetically takes care of her son and everything seems to come to life at the same time, L. N. Tolstoy remarks with a sneer that she is “... one of those women, especially mothers, who, once taking something into their heads, they will not leave until their desires are fulfilled, otherwise they are ready for daily, every minute pestering and even on stages. It was “this last consideration that shook him” (Prince Vasily), and he promised “to do the impossible” (vol. 1, part 1, ch. IV).
Consider Andrey Nikolaev's illustration "The Salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer". What a cold! Pearl-gray tones of dresses, walls, mirrors - the light is dead, frozen. The blue of the chairs, the green of the shadows - in all this there is a feeling of some kind of marsh coldness: before us is a ball of the dead, a meeting of ghosts. And in the depths of this balanced kingdom - in contrast - like a flash of vital energy, like a stroke of blood - the red collar of Prince Andrei, beaten off by the whiteness of his uniform, is a drop of fire in this swamp.
What is unnatural in the life of a secular society? Salon Petersburg life is an example of an unnatural formal existence. Everything here is unnatural and stiff. One of the abnormalities of secular life is the complete confusion in it of moral ideas and assessments. The world does not know what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, what is clever and what is stupid.
What are the interests and values of people from a secular society? Intrigues, court gossip, career, wealth, privileges, worldly self-affirmation - these are the interests of the people of this society, in which there is nothing truthful, simple and natural. Everything is saturated through with lies, falsehood, heartlessness, hypocrisy and acting. The speeches, gestures and actions of these people are determined by the conventional rules of secular behavior.
What is Tolstoy's attitude towards high society? Tolstoy's negative attitude towards these heroes was manifested in the fact that the author shows how false everything is in them, comes not from a pure heart, but from the need to observe decency. Tolstoy denies the norms of life of high society and, behind its outward decency, grace, secular tact, reveals the emptiness, selfishness, greed and careerism of the "cream" of society.
Why has the life of salon visitors become dead for a long time? In the image of the salon, L. N. Tolstoy notes the unnatural mechanical course of life of people who have long forgotten that it is possible to be outside of falsehood and vulgar play. It would be strange to expect sincerity of feelings here. Naturalness is what is most undesirable for this circle.
A smile is a means of psychological characterization Favorite techniques in the portrait of Tolstoy's hero appear already in the autobiographical trilogy: this is a look, a smile, hands. “It seems to me that what is called the beauty of the face consists in one smile: if a smile adds charm to the face, then the face is beautiful; if she does not change it, then it is usual; if she spoils it, then it is bad ", - it is said in the second chapter of the story "Childhood".
Questions to control assimilation Compare the metaphors of smiles with the characters, their carriers. How do characters characterize their manner of smiling?
Correlate the metaphors of smiles with the heroes, their carriers. A smile is a screen, a pretense. Count Pierre Bezukhov A smile is a weapon of coquette. A. P. Sherer and Prince Vasily Kuragin Smile - anti-smile, the smile of an idiot. Helen Kuragin Smile - unchanging Little Princess Liza mask Prince Ippolit Kuragin Smile - grimace, grin. Princess Drubetskaya Smile - soul, smile Prince Andrei Bolkonsky child. Smile - a smile of a squirrel, a smile with a mustache.
Perception Questions Compare your first impressions of the characters with the interpretation of the director and actors. Pay attention to the first phrase of A. P. Scherer in French and to the speech of the narrator behind the scenes. It contains such authorial techniques as metaphor, comparisons: “the degree of the political thermometer, on which the mood of St. Petersburg society stood” (this metaphor bears associations with mechanisms, measuring instruments); “the color of the intellectual essence of society” (the author's irony); “mental tops of society” (irony again). How did the guests of the maid of honor smile? Why are there almost no smiles of guests in the production of S. Bondarchuk in the salon? Which image (cinematic or verbal) seemed more complete to you? Why?
Ideological and thematic foundations of the composition The main compositional unit in the novel is a relatively completed episode in terms of plot, which includes two life streams: historical and universal. Conflicts among the heroes of the novel arise even before the start of military events, and the distinction between the characters is based both on an assessment of their attitude to historical changes in that era, and on Tolstoy's moral ideals.
Artistic features of the narration in the novel Tolstoy's favorite artistic means of moral assessment of the characters is the unusually diverse author's intonation, the richness of the nuances of the narration, humor, irony, wit, which make reading unusually fascinating.
The ideological meaning of the episode The formulation of the problem “man and history, transient and eternal in people's lives” gives Tolstoy's idea a scale of a view of the world that was previously unknown in world literature. The clear and direct ideological position of the writer evokes in the reader a special emotional mood of moral superiority over people entangled in a web of secular conventions, calculations, intrigues, over all the falsity of the environment, cut off from natural, normal life.
N. G. Dolinina said beautifully about the role of this episode: “In the first chapters, Tolstoy, it would seem, calmly and unhurriedly describes a secular evening that has no direct relation to everything that will happen next. But here - imperceptibly for us - all the threads are tied. Here Pierre for the first time "with almost frightened, enthusiastic eyes" looks at the beautiful Helene; here they decide to marry Anatole to Princess Marya; Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya comes here to place her son in a warm place in the guards; here Pierre does one impoliteness after another and, as he leaves, he is going to put on, instead of his hat, the general's cocked hat. . . Here it becomes clear that Prince Andrei does not love his wife and did not yet know true love - she can come to him at her own time; much later, when he finds and appreciates Natasha, “with her surprise, joy, and timidity, and even mistakes in French”, - Natasha, on whom there was no secular imprint, - when we remember the evening at Sherer and Andrey’s wife, little princess, with her unnatural charm"
"War and Peace" is recognized as a classic example of Russian literature. This work combines the depth of meaning, the elegance of narration, the beauty of the Russian language and a huge number of characters. The book describes the social themes and features of society in the 19th century. It raises issues, the relevance of which is not lost over time. The characters of the work help answer questions from different areas, highlighting the point of view of the representatives of that era.
The first heroine who accompanies the reader throughout the story is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the owner of the salon, in which guests from high society gather. The main themes in the salon are the situation in the country and actions.
History of creation
"War and Peace" is a sought-after novel that was a success immediately after publication. An excerpt from the work was published in 1865 in the Russky Vestnik magazine, and in 1866 readers got acquainted with the three subsequent parts of the novel. Two more episodes were later published.
Leo Tolstoy writes "War and Peace" The characterization of the work as an epic novel is not accidental. The intention of the author is truly ambitious. The book describes the biographies of the characters, among which there are real personalities and fictional images. Tolstoy described the characters with his characteristic psychological authenticity, and literary critics have always sought to find the prototypes he used in creating literary portraits.
The researchers of "War and Peace" argue that, while working through the images of heroes, Tolstoy started from descriptions of business abilities, behavior in romantic relationships, and tastes. In the future, the characters were distributed by families, becoming Rostovs, Kuragins or Bolkonskys. The character of each hero was prescribed separately, being adjusted in relation to the reliability of the era, the psychology of the society of that time and historical reality.
Literary critics observe the binding of some images to real people. An aristocrat, the owner of the St. Petersburg salon Anna Scherer is one of these heroes. In the book, her offspring is an anti-patriotic creation. Here, at receptions, the hypocrisy of her guests is manifested. Anna Scherer appears as a model of deceit and falsehood, demonstrating stiffness and character traits that correspond to the environment that she forms in the salon.
It is curious that at first Tolstoy assigned a different role to the heroine. Working through the image of the heroine, he wanted to call her Annette D. and make her a friendly, pretty lady from high society. Contemporaries found in the final version of the portrait of Scherer a resemblance to the maid of honor Alexandra Andreevna Tolstaya, a relative of the writer, whom he loved. The final version of the character has undergone major changes and has become the exact opposite of the prototype.
"War and Peace"
Anna Pavlovna Scherer, according to Tolstoy, was a lady-in-waiting to the Empress. She kept a salon for representatives of high society, where it was customary to discuss political and social issues. In the evening, in her institution, the story begins. Scherer's age is close to forty years, appearance has lost its former freshness, nature is distinguished by dexterity and tact. Anna Pavlovna has influence and is not averse to participating in court intrigues. She builds relationships with people based on current considerations. Tolstoy made the heroine close to the Kuragin family.
A woman is constantly driven by liveliness and impulse, which was explained by her position in society. In the Scherer salon, the most topical topics were discussed, and a curious person was “presented” for dessert. In keeping with the fashion of the early 19th century, her circle is filled with patriotism, with war and Napoleon being the most discussed topics. Anna Pavlovna supported the general sentiments and undertakings of the emperor.
The insincerity of the heroine showed through in her actions and words, although she skillfully managed the hypocrisy and falsehood inherent in a secular lioness. She created a comfortable image for herself, presenting herself to the guests who she was not in reality. The meaning of Scherer's life was the existence and relevance of her circle. She perceived the salon as a job and reveled in her success. The sharp mind, sense of humor and courtesy of the woman did their job, helping to charm any guest.
There were unspoken laws in the salon that everyone who wanted to participate in put up with. Many visited it to keep abreast of the latest city news and see with their own eyes how intrigues are being built among representatives of high society. There was no place for real feelings and objective opinion, and Anna Pavlovna made sure that no one spoke out for the limits of what was permitted in the salon.
The appearance in the circle caused dissatisfaction on the part of the hostess, since Pierre was not a secular person and was distinguished by his natural behavior. His behavior was perceived by the guests as a bad tone. The evening was saved by the visitor's departure.
The second appearance of Anna Pavlovna on the pages of the novel takes place during the Battle of Borodino. She still manages the salon and maintains false patriotic sentiments. The topic of the day was the reading of the Patriarch's letter, and the position of Russia and the battle were discussed. Tolstoy twice specifically describes the evenings in the Scherer salon, demonstrating that, despite the change in political situation, there are no changes in the circle. Secular speeches are not replaced by actions even during a real threat to Moscow. Thanks to such a presentation, it becomes clear that the victory over the French was won exclusively by the strength of the common people.
In view of Mrs. Scherer's close relationship with the Kuragin family, the obvious conclusion is why Anna Scherer is also childless. The choice of women is independent and voluntary. They were more attracted to activity in society than the fulfillment of family duty. Both were interested in the prospect of shining in the world, and not in the opportunity to pass for an exemplary wife and mother of the family. The antipode of Scherer in this sense was Countess Rostova.
Screen adaptations
The novel is often chosen for film adaptation by Soviet, Russian and foreign directors, seeing in it an example of an imperishable classic, a springboard for visualizing images and revealing multifaceted characters.
The first three films based on the plot of Tolstoy's work were silent: two of them belonged to director Pyotr Chardynin. After a long period of time, director King Vidor shot the first color tape with sound. In the film "War and Peace" she played. The image of Anna Scherer, as in previous tapes, was not fully disclosed.
In the 1959 film “People Too”, the director did not have such a character.
In the film "War and Peace", for the first time, the image of Anna Scherer received the deserved attention thanks to Anna Stepanova, who embodied the heroine on the screen. Barbara Young played the Empress's lady-in-waiting in a 1972 British TV series directed by John Davies.
Angelina Stepanova and Gillian Anderson as Anna Pavlovna Sherer In the 2007 series, directed by Robert Dornhelm and Brendan Donnison, the image of Anna Scherer was absent, and instead of the salon, the corresponding action took place in the Rostovs' house.
The Tom Harper series, released in 2016, presented the image of Anna Scherer in full glory.
Episode "Salon A.P. Scherer". VolumeI.Chapters 1-5.
A COMMENT.
Salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer. Artist V. Serov.
L.N. Tolstoy describes several meetings in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer in the course of the novel.
These are the following chapters of the novel "War and Peace":
volume 1 part 1 chapters I-V (June 1805)
volume 1 part 3 chapter I (early 1806)
volume 2 part 2 chapter VI (late 1806)
Volume 3 Part 2 Chapter VI (July 1812)
Volume 4 Part 1 Chapter I (August 1812)
VolumeI.Chapters 1-5.
The novel "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy begins with the scene "Salon A.P. Scherer". This is June 1805. There is an acquaintance of readers with many heroes of this work. This is the highest light of St. Petersburg. It was in this episode that the author outlined many problems of the novel: true and false beauty, the problem of war and peace, patriotism, the moral essence of man.
The hostess of the evening is Anna Pavlovna Sherer. This is a successful secular lady, because she is the maid of honor of Empress Maria Feodorovna, the mother of Emperor Alexander I. Everyone, including her, plays her role, she is the role of an “enthusiast”. So Scherer tries to make the evening interesting: he follows the conversations, introduces (“treats” the guests) the viscount and the abbot. A viscount is a title of nobility in Europe, between a count and a baron. The author compares the evening with a “spinning workshop”, in which “talks are woven”.
Vasily Kuragin arrived for the evening with his goal - to find out from Scherer whether there is an opportunity to teach the position of the first secretary in Vienna for his son Anatole. In all his movements, the manner of speaking is a demonstration of the significance of his position in society.
The reader sees Kuragin's children for the first time. Hippolyte- a narrow-minded person, does not think what he is talking about. He behaves very self-confidently, everyone considers him smart.
In appearance Helen beauty is emphasized, details are noted - "whiteness of the shoulders" and "a smile that never changes." She looks like a statue. Everyone is delighted with her beauty (it is here that Pierre will see Helen for the first time, admire her).
About Anatole we learn from Scherer's conversation with the prince that even the empress knows about his eccentricities, but the reader does not yet know what kind of eccentricities.
Prince Kuragin understands that his sons are not so smart, giving them an unflattering description, calling Ippolit "a dead fool", and Anatole - restless. His main goal is to make his sons well. So, he wants to marry the unlucky Anatole to Marya Bolkonskaya, who "has a good surname and is rich."
Lisa Bolkonskaya Andrey's wife. This little princess is the niece of Kutuzov himself. She is pregnant. Everyone looks at her with affection. From her, the reader learns that Andrei is going to war.
Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya- a representative of a well-known, but impoverished family. She came to ask Prince Vasily to arrange her son Boris as an adjutant to Kutuzov, not being afraid to humiliate herself, begging for this place. She knows that the prince owes her husband the beginning of his carter. Nothing else in the evening interests her.
The first acquaintance with the main characters - Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov - also takes place here.
Pierre Bezukhov- the illegitimate son of a wealthy nobleman, who is dying. Pierre was brought up abroad, recently arrived in St. Petersburg, everything is very interesting to him. He listens to conversations, tries to express his opinion. But he is not taken seriously. A. Scherer is generally afraid for his behavior, considering Pierre to be a representative of the “lowest hierarchy” among those in her salon. Pierre behaves naturally, openly, which is different from everyone else.
Andrey Bolkonsky I also do not fit into the situation. He is disappointed in the world, he is tired of all this, even his wife. He does not accept the falsity and emptiness of secular life. Yes, and at the party he is only to accompany his pregnant wife. Only a meeting with Pierre revived him, he "smiled with an unexpectedly kind and pleasant smile."
All the guests are empty talk, gossip, trying to speak beautifully about the political situation, in which they do not understand anything at all. They admire the emperor, consider Russia the savior of the world. Such evenings, balls - this is what this upper light lives on. Everyone plays their part. In words, the behavior of the guests - everything is false, insincerity, indifference, stereotyped (for example, greeting an unknown aunt). Everyone pursues only their own interests. Naturally, mostly French speech sounds, which was the norm in high society.
Role of this episode:
- The main problems of the novel are outlined.
- There is a first acquaintance with the characters.
- The main positive characters are designated - Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov.
- The essence of secular society is revealed.
- This episode begins the main storylines.
The material was prepared by: Melnikova Vera Alexandrovna.
One of the secondary characters of the work is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, presented by the writer in the image of the owner of a fashionable St. Petersburg salon in high society circles.
Anna Pavlovna is described in the novel as a lady-in-waiting close to the imperial court, a woman aged forty, who has a good education and is fluent in French. Despite this, Anna Scherer does not have a brilliant mind and is prone, like all ladies of the court, to intrigues and all sorts of gossip, but to some extent she is dexterous, sweet, distinguished by superficial logic and a secular sense of humor.
Salon Scherer is one of the most visited establishments in the capital, where political news in the country is discussed, as well as various interesting events of secular society. Thanks to the natural tact and hospitality of Anna Pavlovna, the guests of the salon respect the lovely hostess and tend to visit her establishment more often.
Scherer is characterized by the writer as a cynical, hypocritical woman who does not have her own views and follows only a tribute to the momentary fashion. Anna Pavlovna considers visitors to her salon as another interesting "dish", demonstrating superficial, simulated feelings and the absence of a lively sincere natural conversation. Having created in the eyes of others the idea of himself as a true patriot of the motherland, Scherer deftly and with great enthusiasm manipulates the guests of his salon.
During the period of military battles on the Borodino field, pseudo-patriotic conversations are conducted in the Scherer salon, in which the main gossips of the capital take part. Anna Pavlovna, as the hostess of the salon, disguises dirty news under the guise of decent words, trying to look like an ideal of tact and good education, demonstrating ostentatious loyalty and devotion to the country and the emperor. Participating in salon conversations, Scherer is distinguished by secular chatter, hypocritical words about love for his native land, expressed using elegant French, which clearly indicates that in the event of the victory of the French army and the capture of Moscow, no changes are expected in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer , except for the topics of conversations, which are already tuned in a completely different way.
Using the image of Anna Pavlovna Scherer in the epic novel, among other numerous heroes of the work, the writer, using the example of a high society lioness, depicts the moral face of the true representatives of the aristocratic nobility of the early nineteenth century.
Option 2
In the work "War and Peace" Leo Tolstoy created a wonderful original world of characters, each of which is the personification of something from our life, and Anna Pavlovna Sherer was no exception.
Anna Pavlovna is an aged woman who loves to hold aristocratic receptions and meet new people. She often spends time in a noble company in order to make good connections for herself, which in the future may help her in one way or another. In general, in her image, notes of an aristocratic personality of the old type are clearly visible, which is known for the fact that for people of this type there is nothing more important than what people think of them, in what light they appear.
Anna Pavlovna is from such a category of people. At her evenings, she often discusses topics with guests from the most primitive to the sublime, although she understands absolutely nothing about them, which makes one think about the hypocritical side of her personality. You can also see how at first she says one thing to one person, and then to the next she says something completely opposite in meaning to what was said earlier. She used to deceive people for her own selfish goals, achieving them in every possible way.
I believe that Leo Tolstoy made her, as it were, the personification of the manifestation of the aristocracy of the nineteenth century. In it, he revealed all those sinful things that destroy a person and his personality as a whole. This is clearly visible, both in the image of the character, and in the whole work as a whole. Tolstoy clearly emphasized precisely this.
Also in her image, the author revealed other topics that relate to our simple human everyday life. Such themes as patriotism, the meaning of life, the theme of love and devotion, all these themes found their place in the image of Anna Pavlovna Sherer. The same theme of patriotism is revealed in it from a completely different angle. Although she makes fiery speeches glorifying the sovereign at her receptions, all this is covered hypocrisy, since in fact she fundamentally disagrees with him and his principles and actions. The theme of love is revealed in her as not exciting at all, as she is used to being alone. And the theme of the meaning of life is revealed throughout the work. For her, the meaning is to build her own life, which she wants to make the most simple and easy for herself.
Composition about Anna Pavlovna Sherer
In the novel by L.N. Tolstoy, the threads and destinies of people of various characters, morals, and social status are intertwined. But all the characters require a closer look and detailed analysis for the most complete picture of the entire work.
In this essay, we will talk about one of the secondary heroines of the novel - Anna Pavlovna Sherer. Her name catches our eye from the very first pages of the novel. Anna Pavlovna is the mistress of a secular salon. Not all people could visit her salon. In addition, the woman was close to the Empress Maria Feodorovna. Initially, it seems to the reader that Anna Pavlovna sincerely and genuinely experiences emotions, it seems that she is the most devoted maid of honor of the Empress. Her speeches are filled with patriotism, faith in justice and admiration.
But later it turns out that this is just a well-created image. Existence was very important for her, his activity really brought her great pleasure. Yes, and she herself fit very well into the role of his mistress. She possessed a sense of tact, a sense of humor characteristic of the higher strata, a lively mind and other necessary qualities.
The inconsistency of her character is evidenced by her behavior at the moment when Pierre Bezukhov came to the salon and became interested in the events taking place with genuine interest, which alarmed the woman very much. Only at the moment when Pierre left the salon, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Also in Tolstoy's novel, Anna Pavlovna appears on the day the Battle of Borodino begins. Scherer enthusiastically told the guests about the latest gossip.
Anna Pavlovna Sherer is a rather hypocritical and insincere woman, she does not have her own points of view, authorities, all this is determined only by those who are talking to her at the moment, what they want to hear directly, the interlocutor. She discusses each of her guests with other guests, all her fiery speeches about love for the motherland, about patriotism are false. This is evidenced at least by the fact that at a time when there was almost no threat to Russia and at the end of the Battle of Borodino, she speaks all the same invariable patriotic speeches.
L. N. Tolstoy draws the Russian aristocracy in the person of Anna Pavlovna. The main role in the victory over the French belongs to the common people. Thanks to his genuine interest in the fate of the people, Russia was able to withstand and defeat the French.
Sample 4
In his work, Tolstoy writes about many topics that, one way or another, are reflected in our lives. Without a doubt, such a great work, one way or another, can be interpreted in different ways, passing from person to person, but one thing is clear for sure - the work carries more meaning and depth than it might seem at first glance. It contains a huge number of characters who in one way or another reveal some problem, most often the problem of the time about which the work is written. One of these characters and their images is the character Anna Scherer.
From the work we learn that Anna Scherer is one of the close associates of the Empress, who, in turn, treats her well. This is understandable, because Anna Scherer is a rather cunning intriguer whose purpose in life is only to achieve her own selfish goals, the methods of achieving which are not important. Scherer's character is two-faced, and, as a rule, she changes her character from case to case, thereby rubbing herself into the trust of any person whom she deems necessary for her purposes. Since she more often appreciates the position of a person in society, and its material component, she most often prefers to use her kind deceitful character, which allows her to easily ingratiate herself with trust. For people who do not meet her, no doubt, overestimated requirements, he treats coldly, even slightly contemptuously, which rejects people she does not need, doing this, by the way, in a very rude form.
In the work, Anna Scherer rather plays a character who personifies all the venality, greed, and lack of conscience in the society of that time. It is, as it were, a collective image of the aristocracy of that time. Thus, the author conveys to his reader the idea that it is necessary to stop the harmful effects of this type of people in your life, by letting them get too close to your personal space, because they can betray you at any moment, and further use it for personal purposes. . Anna Scherer is the finest example of this, because, as we see from the work, this woman will not give up even the most sophisticated and disgusting ways in order to achieve her goal, no matter what needs to be done. Even to betray even the best and most pleasant person to her, because such people often do not have a feeling of attachment to anyone, which is seen in the work.
The salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer resembles masks pulled together by decency. We see beautiful ladies and brilliant gentlemen, bright candles are a kind of theater in which heroes, like actors, perform their roles. At the same time, each performs not the role that he likes, but the one in which others want to see him. Even their phrases are absolutely empty, meaningless, since they are all prepared and do not come from the heart, but are spoken according to an unwritten script. The main actors and directors of this performance are Anna Pavlovna and Vasily Kuragin.
However, with all this, the description of Scherer's salon is an important scene in the novel, not only because it helps us understand the whole essence of the secular society of that time, but also because it introduces us to some of the main characters of the work.
It is here that we meet Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky and understand how different they are from other heroes. The principle of antithesis used in this scene by the author makes us pay attention to these characters, take a closer look at them.
Secular society in the salon resembles a spinning machine, and people are spindles that, without stopping, make noise from different directions. The most obedient and beautiful puppet is Helen. Even the expression on her face completely repeats the emotions on the face of Anna Pavlovna. Helen does not utter a single phrase for the whole evening. She's just adjusting her necklace. There is absolutely nothing hidden behind the external beauty of this heroine, the mask on her is held on even more tightly than on other heroes: it is an “unchanging” smile and cold diamonds.
Among all the women who are represented in the salon of the maid of honor, only the wife of Prince Andrei, Lisa, who is expecting a child, is pretty.
We even imbue her with respect when she moves away from Hippolyte. However, Lisa also has a mask that has become so attached to her that even at home she speaks with her husband in the same playful and capricious tone as with the guests in the salon.
A stranger among those invited is Andrei Bolkonsky. When he narrowed his eyes, he looked around the society, he found that before him were not faces, but masks, whose hearts and thoughts were completely empty. This discovery makes Andrey close his eyes and turn away. Only one person in this society is worthy of Bolkonsky's smile. And this same person Anna Pavlovna hardly deserves attention, meeting with a greeting that applies to people of the lowest class. This is Pierre Bezukhov, the “Russian bear”, who, according to Anna Pavlovna, needs “education”, and in our understanding, deprivation of a sincere interest in life. Being the illegitimate son of Catherine's nobleman, he was deprived of a secular education, as a result of which he sharply stood out from the general mass of salon guests, but his naturalness immediately disposes him in relation to the reader and evokes sympathy. Pierre has his own opinion, but nobody in this society is interested in it. Here, in general, no one has their own opinion, and it cannot be, because all representatives of this society are unchanged and self-satisfied.
The author himself and his favorite characters have a negative attitude towards secular society. L. Tolstoy unmasks the actors of the Scherer Salon. Using the methods of contrast and comparison, the author reveals the true essence of the characters. He compares Prince Vasily Kuragin with an actor, and his manner of speaking with a wound clock. The new guests of the salon act at Tolstoy as dishes that are served at the table. First, Anna Pavlovna "serves the table" as a viscount, then as an abbot. The author consciously uses the technique of reducing images, emphasizing the predominance of physiological needs in members of secular society over more important - spiritual ones. The author makes us understand that he himself is on the side of naturalness and sincerity, which certainly had no place in the salon of the maid of honor.
This episode plays an important role in the novel. This is where the main storylines begin. Pierre sees his future wife Helen for the first time, Prince Vasily decides to marry Anatole to Princess Marya, and also to attach Boris Drubetskoy, and Andrei Bolkonsky decides to go to war.
The beginning of the novel has much in common with the epilogue. At the end of the epic, we meet the young son of Andrei Bolkonsky, who was invisibly present in the first scene of the work. And again, disputes about the war begin, as if in continuation of the theme of Abbot Morio about the eternity of the world. It is this theme that L. Tolstoy reveals throughout his novel.
