War and peace Pierre's attitude to war. The moral quest of Pierre Bezukhov, the hero of the novel by L.N.

Introduction

Historical figures have always represented special interest in Russian literature. dedicated to some individual works, others are key images in the plots of novels. The image of Napoleon in Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" can also be considered as such. With name french emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Tolstoy wrote precisely to Bonaparte, and many heroes called him only Buonoparte) we meet already on the first pages of the novel, and part only in the epilogue.

Heroes of the novel about Napoleon

In the living room of Anna Scherer (the ladies-in-waiting and close empress) the political actions of Europe towards Russia are discussed with great interest. The mistress of the salon herself says: “Prussia has already announced that Bonaparte is invincible and that all of Europe can do nothing against him ...”. Representatives of secular society - Prince Vasily Kuragin, the emigrant Viscount Mortemar invited by Anna Scherer, Abbot Maurio, Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, Prince Ippolit Kuragin and other members of the evening were not united in their attitude towards Napoleon. Someone did not understand him, someone admired him. In "War and Peace" Tolstoy showed Napoleon with different parties. We see him as a commander-strategist, as an emperor, as a person.

Andrey Bolkonsky

In a conversation with his father, the old prince Bolkonsky, Andrei says: “... but Bonaparte still great commander! He considered him a "genius" and "could not allow disgrace for his hero." At the evening at Anna Pavlovna Scherer, Andrey supported Pierre Bezukhov in his judgments about Napoleon, but still retained own opinion about him: “Napoleon, as a man, is great on the Arkol bridge, in the hospital in Jaffa, where he gives a hand to the plague, but ... there are other actions that are difficult to justify.” But after a while, lying on the field of Austerlitz and looking into the blue sky, Andrei heard Napoleon's words about him: “Here beautiful death". Bolkonsky understood: “... it was Napoleon - his hero, but at that moment Napoleon seemed so small to him, insignificant person... "During the inspection of the prisoners, Andrei thought" about the insignificance of greatness. Disappointment in his hero came not only to Bolkonsky, but also to Pierre Bezukhov.

Pierre Bezukhov

The young and naive Pierre, who had just appeared in the world, zealously defended Napoleon from the attacks of the viscount: “Napoleon is great because he rose above the revolution, suppressed its abuses, retaining all that was good, both the equality of citizens, and freedom of speech and the press, and only therefore acquired power. Pierre recognized the "greatness of the soul" for the French emperor. He did not defend the murders of the French emperor, but the calculation of his actions for the good of the empire, his willingness to take on such a responsible task - to raise a revolution - it seemed to Bezukhov a real feat, the strength of a great man. But confronted face to face with his "idol", Pierre saw all the insignificance of the emperor, cruelty and lack of rights. He cherished the idea - to kill Napoleon, but realized that he was not worth it, because he did not even deserve a heroic death.

Nikolay Rostov

This young man called Napoleon a criminal. He believed that all his actions were illegal and, out of the naivety of his soul, hated Bonaparte "as best he could."

Boris Drubetskoy

A promising young officer, a protege of Vasily Kuragin, spoke about Napoleon with respect: “I would like to see a great man!”

Count Rostopchin

The representative of secular society, the protector of the Russian army, said about Bonaparte: "Napoleon treats Europe like a pirate on a conquered ship."

Characteristics of Napoleon

The ambiguous characterization of Napoleon in Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" is presented to the reader. On the one hand, he is a great commander, ruler, on the other hand, he is an “insignificant Frenchman”, a “servile emperor”. External features lower Napoleon to the ground, he is not so tall, not so handsome, he is fat and unpleasant, as we would like to see him. It was "a stout, short figure with broad, thick shoulders and an involuntarily protruding belly and chest." The description of Napoleon is present in different parts novel. Here he is before the battle of Austerlitz: “... his thin face did not move a single muscle; his shining eyes were motionlessly fixed on one place... He stood motionless... and on his cold face there was that special shade of self-confident, well-deserved happiness that happens on the face of a boy in love and happy. By the way, this day was especially solemn for him, as it was the day of the anniversary of his coronation. But we see him at a meeting with General Balashev, who arrived with a letter from Tsar Alexander: “... firm, decisive steps”, “round belly ... fat thighs of short legs ... White plump neck ... On a youthful full face... an expression of gracious and majestic imperial greetings. The scene of Napoleon awarding the bravest Russian soldier with an order is also interesting. What did Napoleon want to show? His greatness, the humiliation of the Russian army and the emperor himself, or admiration for the courage and stamina of the soldiers?

Portrait of Napoleon

Bonaparte appreciated himself very much: “God gave me a crown. Woe to whoever touches her." These words were spoken by him during his coronation in Milan. Napoleon in "War and Peace" is an idol for some, an enemy for some. “There is a trembling of my left calf great sign" Napoleon said about himself. He was proud of himself, he loved himself, he glorified his greatness over the whole world. Russia stood in his way. Having defeated Russia, it was not worth the trouble for him to crush the whole of Europe under him. Napoleon behaved arrogantly. In the scene of a conversation with the Russian General Balashev, Bonaparte allowed himself to pull his ear, saying that it was a great honor to be pulled up by the ear by the emperor. The description of Napoleon contains many words containing a negative connotation, Tolstoy especially vividly characterizes the emperor’s speech: “condescendingly”, “mockingly”, “wickedly”, “angrily”, “dryly”, etc. Bonaparte also boldly speaks about the Russian Emperor Alexander: “War is my trade, and his business is to reign, and not to command troops. Why did he take on such responsibility?

The image of Napoleon in "War and Peace" revealed in this essay allows us to conclude that Bonaparte's mistake was in overestimating his capabilities and excessive self-confidence. Wanting to become the ruler of the world, Napoleon could not defeat Russia. This defeat broke his spirit and confidence in his strength.

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Favorite hero

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy describes in detail the path of Pierre Bezukhov's searches in the novel "War and Peace". Pierre Bezukhov is one of the main characters of the work. He belongs to the favorite characters of the author and is therefore described in more detail. The reader is given the opportunity to trace how a young naive young man is formed into a man wise by life experience. We are witnessing the mistakes and delusions of the hero, his painful search for the meaning of life, the gradual change in his worldview. Tolstoy does not idealize Pierre. He honestly displays it positive features and weaknesses of character. Thanks to this, the young man seems closer and more understandable. He seems to come alive on the pages of the work.

Pierre's spiritual quest in the novel is devoted to many pages. Pierre Bezukhov - illegitimate son wealthy St. Petersburg nobleman, one of the main contenders for a millionth inheritance. Having recently arrived from abroad, where he received his education, Pierre cannot decide on the choice of a further life path. Unexpected inheritance and high county title greatly complicates the position of the young man and gives him a lot of trouble.

strange appearance

The remarkable appearance of the hero causes a smile and bewilderment. Before us is “a massive, fat young man with a cropped head, glasses, light trousers in the fashion of the time ...”. He does not know how to communicate with ladies, behave correctly in secular society be polite and tactful. His awkward appearance and lack of good manners a kind smile and a naive guilty look compensate: "smart and at the same time timid, observant and natural." Behind the massive figure, a pure, honest and noble soul breaks down.

Pierre's delusions

Fun secular youth

Arriving in the capital main character falls into the company of frivolous golden youth, who thoughtlessly indulge in empty entertainment and amusements. Noisy revels, hooligan antics, drunkenness, debauchery occupy everything free time Pierre, but do not bring satisfaction. Only in communication with his only friend Andrei Bolkonsky does he become sincere and open his soul. An older friend is trying to save a gullible young man from fatal mistakes, but Pierre stubbornly goes his own way.

fatal love

One of the main misconceptions in the life of the hero is the passion for the empty and depraved beauty Helen. The gullible Pierre is easy prey for the members of the greedy family of Prince Kuragin. He is unarmed against the seductive tricks of a secular beauty and the pressure of an unceremonious prince. Tormented by doubts, Pierre is forced to make an offer and become the spouse of the first beauty of St. Petersburg. Pretty soon, he realizes that for his wife and her father, he is only money bag. Disappointed in love, Pierre breaks off relations with his wife.

Fascination with Freemasonry

The ideological search of Pierre Bezukhov continues in the spiritual sphere. He is fond of the ideas of the Masonic brotherhood. The desire to do good, to work for the good of society, to improve themselves makes the hero go the wrong way. He is trying to alleviate the fate of his serfs, begins to build free schools and hospitals. But disappointment awaits him again. Money is stolen, brothers Masons pursue their own selfish goals. Pierre finds himself at an impasse in life. No family, no love, no worthwhile occupation, no purpose in life.

Heroic impulse

The state of gloomy apathy is replaced by a noble patriotic impulse. The Patriotic War of 1812 pushed into the background all the personal problems of the hero. His honest and noble nature is concerned about the fate of the Fatherland. Unable to join the ranks of the defenders of his country, he invests in the formation and uniforms of the regiment. During the battle of Borodino, he is in the thick of things, trying to provide all possible assistance to the military. Hatred for the invaders pushes Pierre to crime. He decides to kill the main culprit of what is happening, Emperor Napoleon. Heroic impulse young man ended with a sudden arrest and long months of captivity.

Life experience

One of the most milestones Pierre Bezukhov's life becomes the time spent in captivity. Deprived of the usual comfort, a well-fed life, freedom of movement, Pierre does not feel unhappy. He enjoys the satisfaction of natural human needs, "finds that calmness and self-satisfaction, which he vainly sought before." Once in the power of the enemy, he does not solve the complex philosophical issues of being, does not think about his wife's betrayal, does not understand the intrigues of others. Pierre lives a simple and understandable life, which Platon Karataev taught him. The worldview of this man turned out to be close and understandable to our hero. Communication with Platon Karataev made Pierre wiser and more experienced, suggested the right path to later life. He learned “not with his mind, but with his whole being, with his life, that man was created for happiness, that happiness is in himself.”

Real life

Freed from captivity, Pierre Bezukhov feels like a different person. He is not tormented by doubts, is well versed in people and now knows what he needs to happy life. An insecure confused person becomes strong and wise. Pierre is rebuilding the house and proposes to Natasha Rostova. He clearly understands that it was her that he truly loved all his life and it is with her that he will be happy and calm.

happy outcome

At the end of the novel, we see the beloved hero of Leo Tolstoy as an exemplary family man, a passionate person who has found himself. He is engaged social activities, meets with interesting people. His mind, decency, honesty and kindness are now in demand and useful to society. Beloved and devoted wife, healthy children, close friends, interesting job- the components of a happy and meaningful life of Pierre Bezukhov. In an essay on the topic "The path of quest of Pierre Bezukhov" given detailed analysis moral and spiritual search for an honest and noble person who, through trial and error, finds his meaning of existence. The hero finally achieved "calmness, agreement with himself."

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CONCLUSION: Passion revolutionary ideas and Napoleon; wasting one's strength in carousing with Dolokhov and Kuragin. Pierre - Count Bezukhov, the richest and noble man, a lot of duties that cannot be avoided - and empty ones.

CONCLUSION: Pierre crosses out his past, but he still does not know what his future will be. The period of denial of the past, melancholy and bewilderment before the contradictions of life.

"What's wrong? What well? What should you love, what should you hate? Why live and what am I ... ”, - these are the questions that the hero again faces.

The path of Tolstoy's favorite heroes is the path to the people. Only being on the Borodino field, they understand the essence of life - to be close to the people, because "there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth"

Bezukhov and Bolkonsky have a lot in common. This advanced people of his time. They do not live an empty secular life. They have a goal, moreover, a big goal. They want to be useful in their work.

TOPIC: IMAGE OF NATASHA ROSTOVA

Epigraph I haven't lived before. Only now I live.

Prince Andrey

This girl is such a treasure...It's rare

Pierre Bezukhov

We continue the conversation about the characters of Tolstoy's novel, whose destinies, according to the critic Bocharov, "are only a link in the endless experience of mankind, of all people, both past and future." The heroine of today's lesson is Natasha Rostova.

- Why did Tolstoy love Natasha more than all other heroines?

Let's dwell on the scenes that show Natasha at the most bright moments her life, when the “dialectic of the soul” is especially noticeable. So, the first meeting with Natasha. Read the description of her behavior, portrait characteristics.

- What, in your opinion, is the charm of the heroine, her charm?

Her charm is in simplicity, naturalness. Natasha is all overwhelmed with a thirst for life, in one day of her birthday she manages to experience and feel so much that sometimes you even wonder: is this possible? She strives to do everything herself, to feel for everyone, to see everything, to participate in everything. This is exactly what Natasha appears to us at the first meeting.

The second meeting with the heroine. Natasha's indestructible thirst for life somehow influenced the people who were next to her. Bolkonsky, who is going through a severe spiritual crisis, comes to Otradnoye on economic matters. But suddenly something happens that seems to awaken him from a dream. Having met Natasha for the first time, he is surprised, alarmed: “Why is she so happy?” He envies the girl’s ability to be madly happy, like a birch that he meets on the way to Otradnoye, like everything that lives and loves life. (episode "Night in Otradnoye" volume 2, part 3, ch.2).

- How moral criterion evaluates the author of his characters?

The writer evaluates his heroes with one thing: how close they are to the people, to nature. We never see either Helen or Scherer among the meadows, in the field or in the forest. They seem to be frozen in immobility, they are almost not affected by the concept of "people are like rivers."

Remember the episode “At Uncle’s”, without which it is impossible to imagine the essence of the heroine: “... the song awakened something important, original in Natasha’s soul ...” Read the dance scene (volume 2, part 4, ch. 7) or watch a video fragment.

This episode reveals one of main ideas writer: in a person, his unity with other people, the need to love and be loved is valuable and beautiful. “The essence of her life is love,” writes Tolstoy. Love defines her life path and then, when she only lives, waiting for her, and then, when she becomes a wife and mother.

The first ball of Natasha Rostova is one of the brightest scenes in the novel. The excitement and anxiety of the heroine, the first appearance in society, the desire to be invited by Prince Andrei and dance with him. It's good to have someone around who understands you. In Natasha's life, Pierre became such a person.

- What made Prince Andrei postpone the wedding for a year?

His father set a strict condition: to postpone the wedding for a year, go abroad, get medical treatment.

Mature man, Prince Andrei still did not dare to disobey his father. Or didn't want to? Could he disagree with such conditions?

Could, if I was sure of Natasha's love, if I understood my beloved better. He again withdrew into himself, in his feelings, and what Natasha felt did not interest him very much. But in love you can not think only about yourself. Truly, the pride of the Bolkonskys and the simplicity of the Rostovs are not compatible. That is why Tolstoy will not be able to leave them together for life.

- Why did Natasha get carried away by Anatole Kuragin?

Having fallen in love, she wants happiness now, immediately. There is no Prince Andrei nearby, which means that time stops. The days are wasted. Something needs to be done to fill the void. She does not know people, does not imagine how they can be insidious, low. Kuragin's brother and sister, Anatole and Helen, for whom nothing was sacred, took advantage of Natasha's gullibility. Pierre, who still lived under the same roof with Helen, also played a negative role. But Natasha trusted Pierre, believing that Count Bezukhov could not join fate with a bad woman.

- How do you assess Natasha's act? Do we have the right to judge her?

Tolstoy himself said that Natasha played such a joke on him unexpectedly. Passion for Anatole was due to the indestructible need of the heroine to live full life. And this is another proof that we are not a scheme, but a living person. He tends to err, seek, make mistakes.

Natasha judges herself. She feels that she has crossed a moral line, that she has acted badly, wrongly. But circumstances cannot be changed. And she writes a note to Princess Marya, in which she says that she cannot become Bolkonsky's wife. Such is its essence: everything that it does, it does sincerely, honestly. She is her own ruthless judge.

- What revives Natasha to life?

It is hard to see her suffering after the death of Prince Andrei. Separated from her family, she feels very lonely. In the life of father, mother, Sonya, everything remained the same, safely. But then grief fell upon the whole family - Petya, a boy who played war in the war, died. At first, Natasha, immersed in herself, did not understand her mother's feelings. Supporting her mother, Natasha herself is reborn to life. “Love for her mother showed her that the essence of her life - love - is still alive in her. Love woke up, and life woke up, ”writes Tolstoy. So, the death of her brother, this "new wound" brought Natasha to life. Love for people wins, the desire to be with them.

Pierre Bezukhov in captivity

(based on the novel "War and Peace")

Before proceeding to the question of how Pierre spent his time in captivity, we must understand how he got there.

Pierre, like Bolkonsky, had a dream to be like Napoleon, imitate him in every possible way and be like him. But each of them realized his mistake. So, Bolkonsky saw Napoleon when he was wounded at the battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon seemed to him "an insignificant person in comparison with what was happening between his soul and this high, endless sky with clouds running across it." Pierre, on the other hand, hated Napoleon when he left his home, disguised and armed with a pistol, in order to take part in the popular defense of Moscow. Pierre remembers Kabbalistic meaning his name (number 666, etc.) in connection with the name of Bonaparte and that he is destined to put an end to the power of the “beast”. Pierre is going to kill Napoleon, even if he has to sacrifice own life. Due to circumstances, he could not kill Napoleon, he was captured by the French and imprisoned for 1 month.

If we consider the psychological impulses that took place in the soul of Pierre, then we can say that the Events Patriotic War allow Bezukhov to get out of that closed, insignificant sphere of established habits, everyday relationships that fettered and suppressed him. A trip to the field of the Battle of Borodino opens up a new world for Bezukhov, hitherto unfamiliar to him, reveals the real face of ordinary people. On the day of Borodin, on the Raevsky battery, Bezukhov witnesses the high heroism of the soldiers, their amazing self-control, their ability to simply and naturally perform the feat of selflessness. On the Borodino field, Pierre could not avoid a feeling of acute fear. “Oh, how terrible fear, and how shamefully I gave myself to it! And they...they were firm and calm all the way to the end…” he thought. They were soldiers in Pierre's concept, those who were on the battery, and those who fed him, and those who prayed to the icon ... "They do not speak, but do." Bezukhov is seized by the desire to get close to them, to enter "in this common life with the whole being, to be imbued with what makes them so.

Remaining in Moscow during her captivity French troops, Bezukhov is faced with many unexpected phenomena for him, with conflicting facts and processes.

Arrested by the French, Pierre experiences the tragedy of a man sentenced to death penalty for a crime he did not commit, he experiences the deepest emotional shock, watching the execution of innocent residents of Moscow. And this triumph of cruelty, immorality, inhumanity suppresses Bezukhov: “... in his soul, as if suddenly, the spring on which everything rested was pulled out ...”. Just like Andrei, Bolkonsky, Pierre acutely perceived not only his own imperfection, but also the imperfection of the world.

In captivity, Pierre had to endure all the horrors of a military court, the execution of Russian soldiers. Acquaintance in captivity with Platon Karataev contributes to the formation of a new outlook on life. "... Platon Karataev remained forever in Pierre's soul the strongest and dearest memory and the personification of everything "Russian, kind and round."

Platon Karataev is meek, submissive to fate, gentle, passive and patient. Karataev is a vivid expression of the weak-willed acceptance of good and evil. This image is Tolstoy's first step towards an apology (protection, praise, justification) of the patriarchal naive peasantry, which professed the religion of "non-resistance to evil by violence." The image of Karataev - case in point of how false views can lead to creative breakdowns even brilliant artists. But it would be a mistake to think that Karataev personifies everything Russian peasantry. Plato cannot be imagined with weapons in his hands on the battlefield. If the army consisted of such soldiers, it would not have been able to defeat Napoleon. In captivity, Plato is constantly busy with something - “he knew how to do everything, not very well, but not bad either. He baked, cooked, sewed, planed, made boots. He was always busy, only at night he allowed himself to talk, which he loved, and songs.

In captivity addresses the question of the sky, which worries many in Tolstov's novel. He sees "a full moon" and "infinite distance". Just as it is impossible to lock this month and the distance in a barn with captives, so it is impossible to lock human soul. Thanks to the sky, Pierre felt free and full of strength for a new life.

In captivity, he will find the way to inner freedom, join people's truth and to folk morality. The meeting with Platon Karataev, the bearer of the people's truth, is an era in Pierre's life. Like Bazdeev, Karataev will enter his life as a spiritual teacher. But all internal energy Pierre's personalities, the whole structure of his soul are such that, happily accepting the offered experience of his teachers, he does not submit to them, but, enriched, goes further on his own path. And this path, according to Tolstoy, is the only one possible for a truly moral person.

Of great importance in the life of Pierre in captivity was the execution of prisoners.

“In front of Pierre, the first two prisoners are shot, then two more. Bezukhov notices that horror and suffering are written not only on the faces of the prisoners, but also on the faces of the French. He does not understand why "justice" is being administered if both the "right" and the "guilty" suffer. Pierre is not shot. The execution has been terminated. From the moment Pierre saw this terrible murder committed by people who did not want to do it, it was as if in his soul that spring was suddenly pulled out, on which everything was supported and seemed to be alive, and everything fell into a heap of senseless rubbish. In him, although he did not realize himself, faith and the improvement of the world, both in the human, and in his soul, and in God, were destroyed.

In conclusion, we can say that “in captivity, Pierre learned not with his mind, but with his whole being, with his life, that man was created for happiness, that happiness is in himself, in satisfying natural human needs, and that all misfortune comes not from lack, but from surplus; but now, in these last three weeks of the campaign, he learned another comforting truth - he learned that there is nothing terrible in the world.

Pierre Bezukhov is one of Tolstoy's favorite characters. Pierre's life is a path of discovery and disappointment, a path of crisis and in many ways dramatic. Pierre is an emotional person. He is distinguished by a mind prone to dreamy philosophizing, distraction, weakness of will, lack of initiative, and exceptional kindness. Main feature hero - the search for calm, harmony with oneself, the search for a life that would be in harmony with the needs of the heart and bring moral satisfaction.

We first meet Pierre in Scherer's living room. The writer draws our attention to the appearance of the newcomer: a massive, fat young man with an intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room. This is exactly how Pierre is depicted in Boklevsky's drawing: the illustrator emphasizes the same features in the portrait of the hero as Tolstoy. And if we recall the works of Shmarinov, then they convey more the state of mind of Pierre at one time or another: the illustrations of this artist help to understand the character more deeply, to catch him more clearly spiritual growth. A constant portrait feature is the massive, fat figure of Pierre Bezukhov, depending on the circumstances, either clumsy or strong. can express both confusion, and anger, and kindness, and fury. In other words, Tolstoy's constant artistic detail each time acquires new, additional shades. What smile does Pierre have? oh ... Not like the others ... With him, on the contrary, when a smile came, his serious face suddenly instantly disappeared ... and a different, childish, kind one appeared ...

In Pierre, there is a constant struggle between the spiritual and the sensual, the inner, moral essence of the hero contradicts the way of his life. On the one hand, it is full of noble, freedom-loving thoughts, the origins of which date back to the Age of Enlightenment and French Revolution. Pierre is an admirer of Rousseau, Montesquieu, who fascinated him with the ideas of universal equality and the re-education of man,

On the other hand, Pierre participates in revelry in the company of Anatole Kuragin, and here he manifests that reckless-lordly beginning, the embodiment of which was once his father, Catherine's nobleman, Count Bezukhov. The sensual first prevails over the spiritual: he marries Helen, a stranger to him. This is one of milestones in the life of a hero. But Pierre is becoming more and more aware that real family he does not have that his wife is an immoral woman. Dissatisfaction grows in him, but not with others, but with himself. This is exactly what happens with real moral people. For their disorder, they consider it possible to execute only themselves. The explosion occurs at a dinner in honor of Bagration. Pierre challenges Dolokhov, who insulted him, to a duel. But during the duel, seeing the enemy wounded by him lying on the snow, Pierre grabbed his head and, turning back, went into the forest, walking entirely through the snow and aloud saying incomprehensible words, Stupid ... stupid! Death... lie... - he repeated, grimacing. Stupid and false - this again applies only to himself.

After everything that happened to him, especially after the duel, Pierre seems meaningless to his whole life. He is going through a spiritual crisis: this is a strong dissatisfaction with himself and the desire associated with this to change his life and build it on new, good principles. Having broken with his wife, Pierre, on the way to Petersburg, in Torzhok, waiting for horses at the station, asks himself difficult (sheepish) questions: What is bad? What well? What should you love, what should you hate? Why live and what am I? What is life, what is death? What power controls everything? Here he meets the freemason Bazdeev. At the moment of spiritual discord that Pierre was experiencing, Bazdeev appears to him just the person he needs, Pierre is offered the path of moral improvement, and he accepts this path, because most of all he now needs to improve his life and himself.

In moral purification for Pierre, as well as for Tolstoy in certain period, was the truth of Freemasonry, and, carried away by it, at first he did not notice what was a lie. Pierre shares his new ideas about life with Andrei Bolkonsky. Pierre is trying to transform the order of Freemasons, draws up a project in which he calls for activity, practical help to his neighbor, for the dissemination of moral ideas for the good of humanity throughout the world ... However, the Masons resolutely reject Pierre's project, and he is finally convinced of the validity of his suspicions about that many of them were looking for in Freemasonry a means of expanding their secular connections, that the Masons - these worthless people- they were not interested in the problems of goodness, love, truth, the good of mankind, but in uniforms and crosses, which they achieved in life.

Pierre experiences a new spiritual upsurge in connection with the popular patriotic upsurge during the Patriotic War of 1812. Not being a military man, he takes part in the Battle of Borodino. The landscape of the Borodino field before the start of the battle (bright sun, fog, distant forests, golden fields and copses, smoke from shots) correlates with Pierre's mood and thoughts, causing him some kind of elation, a sense of the beauty of the spectacle, the grandeur of what is happening. Through his eyes Tolstoy conveys his understanding of the decisive in folk, historical life events. Shocked by the behavior of the soldiers, Pierre himself shows courage and readiness for self-sacrifice. At the same time, one cannot fail to note the naivety of the hero: his decision to kill Napoleon.

In one of the illustrations, Shmarinov conveys this trait well: Pierre is depicted dressed in a folk dress, which makes him awkward, gloomy and concentrated. On the way, approaching the main apartment of the French, he does noble deeds: he saves a girl from a burning house, stands up for civilians who were robbed by French marauders. In Pierre's attitude to ordinary people and to nature, the author's moral and aesthetic criterion of the beautiful in man is once again manifested: Tolstoy finds it in a merger with the people and nature. Decisive for Pierre is his meeting with a soldier, former peasant Platon Karataev, who, according to Tolstoy, personifies the masses. This meeting meant for the hero familiarization with the people, folk wisdom, even closer rapprochement with ordinary people.

In captivity, Pierre finds that calmness and contentment with himself, to which he vainly sought before. Here he realized not with his mind, but with his whole being, with his life, that man was created for happiness, that happiness is in himself, in satisfying natural human needs ... folk skill living helps Pierre's inner liberation, always looking for a solution to the question of the meaning of life: ... he looked for this in philanthropy, in freemasonry, in dispersion secular life, in wine, in the heroic feat of self-sacrifice, in romantic love to Natasha; he was looking for this by thought, and all these searches and attempts all deceived him. And finally, with the help of Karataev, this issue is resolved. The most essential thing in Karataev is loyalty and immutability. Loyalty to yourself, your only and constant spiritual truth. Pierre follows this for a while.

In the characteristic state of mind the hero at this time, Tolstoy develops his ideas about the inner happiness of a person, which consists in complete spiritual freedom, tranquility and peace, independent of external circumstances. However, having experienced the influence of Karataev's philosophy, Pierre, having returned from captivity, did not become a Karataev, non-resistance. By the very nature of his character, he was incapable of accepting life without seeking.

Having learned the truth of Karataev, Pierre in the epilogue of the novel already underway in their own way. His dispute with Nikolai Rostov proves that Bezukhov faces the problem of the moral renewal of society. Active virtue, according to Pierre, can lead the country out of the crisis. Consolidation needed honest people. Happy family life(married to Natasha Rostova) does not take Pierre away from public interests. He becomes a member secret society. Pierre speaks with indignation about the reaction that has come in Russia, about Arakcheevism, theft. At the same time, he understands the strength of the people and believes in them. With all this, the hero strongly opposes violence.

In other words, for Pierre, the path of moral self-improvement remains decisive in the reorganization of society. Intense intellectual search, the ability to selfless deeds, high spiritual impulses, nobility and devotion in love (relationship with Natasha), true patriotism, the desire to make society more just and humane, truthfulness and naturalness, the desire for self-improvement make Pierre one of the best people his time.

I would like to finish the essay with the words of Tolstoy, which explain a lot in the fate of the writer and his favorite heroes: In order to live honestly, one must tear, get confused, fight, make mistakes, start and quit, and start again and quit again, and always fight and lose. And peace is a spiritual meanness.