Analysis of the scene with the oak tree - war and peace. What meaning did L.N. Tolstoy put into the episode “Meeting of Prince Andrei with an old oak tree”

/ / / Analysis of the episode of Prince Andrei’s meeting with the old oak tree (based on Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”)

Not a single episode of Leo Tolstoy’s grandiose work “War and Peace” can be called superfluous. After all, every line, every sentence contains its own certain meaning. The analysis of the episode of the meeting with the old oak tree is no exception. It can be called a turning point in the life of this hero.

Having seen the oak tree, Andrei Bolkonsky completely changes his worldview, he becomes one with his people. The oak tree on the pages of the novel becomes a kind of symbolic image. He conveys the emotional and spiritual experience of Prince Andrei.

The first meeting presents us with an oak tree as a plant detached from the whole world, which does not want to rejoice in nature, which has clumsily and even ugly spread out its branches. It is in the same state main character in the company of A.P. Scherer. He is completely uninterested in the conversations that his interlocutors are having. Bolkonsky was so tired of those present that he was disgusted to be among them.

The second meeting of Prince Andrei with the oak tree can be called completely opposite. Now, the mighty tree seemed animated, filled with life, sap, freshness and incredible strength, which gave impetus active growth for new branches and green crown. Changes were taking place in the oak tree. Inside it, an unprecedented source allowed the tree to stretch upward and spread mighty branches. The same thing happened with Bolkonsky.

What was the impetus for such a charge of energy? This is the battle at Austerlitz, and meeting Pierre, who told interesting stories about god and eternal life. Also, the words of Natasha, who so inspiredly wanted to fly high into the sky, remain in the hero’s memory. Such spiritual changes also include life’s disappointments, which cannot pass without leaving a trace. The defeat of Napoleon, who was the idol of many people, completely devalued the military leader in the eyes of others. The death of Lisa, who unexpectedly left the earth, also left a negative imprint on her memory.

All these events pushed Bolkonsky to deep thought, as a result of which Andrei realized that all this time he had lived only for himself, for the sake of fame. And now, having seen the changed oak tree, the prince decides to change himself, his inner perception of the surrounding reality.

Analysis of this episode shows readers turning point in the life of Andrei Bolkonsky. He decides to forget about selfish life goals and begins to think about others.

Analysis of an episode from the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

In the novel L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace" has many bright episodes, individual paintings, each of which means a lot in itself. Moonlight night in Otradnoye, Natasha's first ball, hunting... All episodes serve general communication of the novel, represent a vast whole, but each individually is complete and interesting in its own way.
Almost at the beginning of the episode, which describes Prince Andrei’s meetings with an old oak tree, Tolstoy reflects on the fact that privacy does not depend on politics. This life, which the author calls real, is devoted to “the interests of health, illness, work, rest ... the interests of thought.” It is saturated at every moment of time.
Having become disillusioned with his previous aspirations and ideals, having experienced repentance and grief (wounded at Austerlitz, the death of his wife), Prince Andrei comes to the conclusion that life in its simple manifestations, life for himself and for his loved ones, is the only thing left for him.
Bolkonsky thinks that he life path defined. But can an active, ebullient nature remain outside of public interests for a long time? And now Prince Andrei, “despite the indifference he expressed to Pierre to all external events of the world,” begins to return to an active life.
Tolstoy did not recognize life as frozen, identical and therefore dead. In her, as in people, he saw and appreciated constant development, movement forward.
The author shows how slowly his hero returns to life, to people, to new aspirations.
The meeting with the old oak tree helped him comprehend his current state of mind.
The oak tree, which Prince Andrei meets twice on his way, reveals to him the “meaning of life” in completely different ways: in one case it seems to Bolkonsky to be the personification of hopelessness, in the other - a symbol of joyful faith in happiness.
At the first meeting, the oak tree appears to him as a living creature, “an old, angry, contemptuous freak,” who is endowed with the ability to think, persist, frown and despise the cheerful family of “smiling birches.” Prince Andrei attributes his thoughts and feelings to the oak and, thinking about it, uses the pronouns “we”, “our”: “... We know life - our life is over!”
The hero finds in the grove something that is in tune with him - an unblown oak tree, which “alone did not want to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun.”
Sad, hopeless thoughts crowded into Prince Andrei’s head at this time: “Yes, he is right, this oak tree is right a thousand times... let others, young people, succumb to this deception again, but we know life - our life is over!”
Tolstoy often connects the inner life of his favorite heroes with the life of nature. This parallelism characteristic feature artistic method writer.
So the “thoughts” of the oak tree correspond to the thoughts of Prince Andrey.. The first time he drives past him, disappointed in his previous ideals, when it seems to him that active creative and personal life already behind. The second time - after a trip to Otradnoye and a meeting with Natasha, when a turning point is planned in his fate and hopes for happiness and the desire for serious government activity return again.
Description moonlit night in Otradnoye, which Prince Andrei and Natasha admire at the same time, is emotionally and romantically elevated. Large quantity epithets in a relatively short passage conveys shades of contrasting colors: the night is still-light, the trees are black on one side and silvery illuminated on the other, vegetation with silvery leaves and stems here and there, the roof shiny with dew, a tree with a bright white trunk, full moon in a bright, almost starless sky. Night, moon, light and shadows - everything enchants with unforgettable charm.
The final part of the episode is very important. Prince Andrei after this have a lovely night, when an “unexpected confusion of young thoughts and hopes” arose in his soul, he sees on the way back the same oak tree, but already transformed, spreading out “a tent of lush, dark greenery.” Prince Andrei suddenly experienced a long-forgotten feeling of joy.
He recalls “all the best moments of his life,” moments of mental turmoil that gave him the experience of painful emotional experiences (“the dead, reproachful face of his wife”) and revealed the light of a new truth (Austerlitz with his high sky, Pierre on the ferry and the night in Otradnoe).
It is especially important to emphasize the word “update” here. Indeed, a trip to Otradnoye will be major milestone on the path of Prince Andrey’s spiritual quest. He will again feel the desire to be useful, to live among people dear to him: “Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary that everyone knows it too...”
The episode once again provides an opportunity to see how Tolstoy shows the ability of his heroes to mental development and changing their inner world. (Chernyshevsky called this method “dialectics of the soul”).
Thus, the episode “Prince Andrey’s Trip to Otradnoye” is important from several points of view: it depicts one of the main characters of the epic novel on the most important stage his fate, reveals his complex inner world and gives an idea of ​​some characteristic features art world Tolstoy.

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What meaning did L.N. Tolstoy put into the episode “The Meeting of Prince Andrei with the Old Oak Tree”?

The episode of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's meeting with the old oak tree is one of the turning points in the novel: this is a transition to new stage life, a complete change in the hero’s worldview. The meeting with the oak tree is a turning point in his old life and the discovery of a new, joyful one, in unity with all the people.

Oak - symbolic image psychological state Prince Andrei, an image of large-scale and rapid changes that took place in his soul. At the first meeting of Andrei with an oak tree, he met him with a gloomy tree that did not obey the rest of the (forest) world: “With his huge clumsily, asymmetrically splayed clumsy arms and fingers, he stood like an old, angry, contemptuous freak between the smiling birches. Only he was not the only one I wanted to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun." We see the same contrast in the company of A.P. Scherer between the prince and the rest of the guests of this salon. He is not interested in talking about Bonaparte, who was the center of discussions with Anna Pavlovna, and, “apparently, everyone who was in the living room was not only familiar, but also tired of him so much that he found it very boring to look at them and listen to them.” We see the same apathy in appearance an oak tree standing wildly and alone among a green birch grove.

But at their second meeting, Andrei finds the oak renewed, full of vitality and love for the world around him: “The old oak, completely transformed, spread out like a tent of lush, dark greenery, was thrilled, slightly swaying in the rays of the evening sun. No gnarled fingers, no sores, no old grief and mistrust - nothing was visible. Juicy, young leaves broke through the hundred-year-old hard bark without knots, so it was impossible to believe that it was the old man who produced them.” How did this change in the oak happen so unexpectedly and quickly? It happened because inside, in the veins of this mighty tree, there was already a source of change that had not yet manifested itself during the first meeting with Andrei Bolkonsky. But we said that the oak is a symbolic image of Prince Andrei. So what was the potential hidden in Prince Andrei before their second meeting?

This “potential” has developed from the most best moments his life. The first was the battle at Austerlitz, and “there was nothing above it but the sky - a high sky, not clear, but still immeasurably high, with gray clouds quietly creeping across it.” The second moment is the meeting with Pierre on the ferry, where Pierre told Andrei about Freemasonry, about eternal life, about God: “The meeting with Pierre was for Prince Andrei an era from which, although in appearance it was the same, but in inner world his new life"The third is an overheard conversation of a girl, excited by the beauty of the night and wanting to fly into the sky (Natasha Rostova), which aroused in him long-extinguished feelings of joy and happiness.

But he was also pushed to these changes by the many disappointments he experienced. Firstly, this is the “fall” in his eyes of the idol of many members of the highest Russian society, including Prince Andrei - Napoleon - after meeting him: “It was Napoleon - his hero, but at that moment Napoleon seemed to him such a small, insignificant person,” “all the interests that occupied Napoleon seemed so insignificant to him, so his hero himself seemed petty to him, with this petty vanity and joy of victory." Secondly, this unexpected death Lisa: “You see a creature dear to you, who is connected with you, before whom you were guilty and hoped to justify yourself, and suddenly this creature suffers, suffers and ceases to be...”.

All these events that have happened, overlapping each other, are looking for a way out and a single optimal solution, and there is only one way out of the circle of repeating and depressing events that tormented Prince Andrei: another life with new ideals and aspirations. Analyzing all of your past life, Andrei understands that he lived only for himself (for example, dreaming of a personal feat, of his “toulon”, which would glorify him). This is what led to frequent disappointments in life. And seeing the transformed oak, Prince Andrei fully appreciated the incorrectness of his previous goals and principles, seeing the oak in front of him as a reflection of himself. The transformation of the oak is an internal transformation of Prince Andrei himself, it is a complete re-awareness and renewal of all the foundations of his life.

Therefore, Andrei Bolkonsky’s meeting with the oak tree plays great value. This is the hero’s transition from an egoistic, proud life to life “for others,” in unity with all the people: “... so that my life does not go for me alone, so that it is reflected on everyone and so that they all live with me!”

I

In 1808, Emperor Alexander traveled to Erfurt for a new meeting with Emperor Napoleon, and in high society in St. Petersburg there was a lot of talk about the greatness of this solemn meeting. In 1809, the closeness of the two rulers of the world, as Napoleon and Alexander were called, reached the point that when Napoleon declared war on Austria that year, the Russian corps went abroad to assist their former enemy, Bonaparte, against their former ally, the Austrian emperor, to the point that high society talked about the possibility of a marriage between Napoleon and one of the sisters of Emperor Alexander. But, in addition to external political considerations, at this time the attention of Russian society was especially keenly drawn to the internal transformations that were being carried out at that time in all parts of public administration. Life meanwhile real life people with their own essential interests of health, illness, work, leisure, with their interests of thought, science, poetry, music, love, friendship, hatred, passions, proceeded, as always, independently and beyond political affinity or enmity with Napoleon Bonaparte and beyond all possible transformations. Prince Andrei lived in the village for two years without a break. All those enterprises on estates that Pierre started and did not bring to any result, constantly moving from one thing to another, all these enterprises, without expressing them to anyone and without noticeable labor, were carried out by Prince Andrei. He had, to a high degree, that practical tenacity that Pierre lacked, which, without scope or effort on his part, set things in motion. One of his estates of three hundred peasant souls was transferred to free cultivators (this was one of the first examples in Russia); in others, corvee was replaced by quitrent. In Bogucharovo, a learned grandmother was written out to his account to help mothers in labor, and for a salary the priest taught the children of peasants and courtyard servants to read and write. Prince Andrei spent one half of his time in Bald Mountains with his father and son, who was still with the nannies; the other half of the time in the Bogucharov monastery, as his father called his village. Despite the indifference he showed Pierre to all external events of the world, he diligently followed them, received many books and, to his surprise, noticed when fresh people came to him or his father from St. Petersburg, from the very whirlpool of life, that these people in knowledge of everything that happens in the external and domestic policy They were far behind him, who sat forever in the village. In addition to classes on names, except general studies While reading a wide variety of books, Prince Andrei was at this time engaged in a critical analysis of our last two unfortunate campaigns and drawing up a project to change our military regulations and regulations. In the spring of 1809, Prince Andrei went to the Ryazan estates of his son, of whom he was the guardian. Warmed by the spring sun, he sat in the stroller, looking at the first grass, the first birch leaves and the first clouds of white spring clouds scattering across the bright blue sky. He didn’t think about anything, but looked around cheerfully and meaninglessly. We passed the carriage on which he had spoken with Pierre a year ago. We drove through a dirty village, threshing floors, greenery, a descent with remaining snow near the bridge, an ascent through washed-out clay, stripes of stubble and green bushes here and there, and entered a birch forest on both sides of the road. It was almost hot in the forest; there was no wind to be heard. The birch, all covered with green sticky leaves, did not move, and from under last year’s leaves, lifting them, the first grass crawled out, turning green and purple flowers. The small spruce trees scattered here and there throughout the birch forest, with their coarse, eternal greenness, were an unpleasant reminder of winter. The horses snorted as they entered the forest and began to fog up. Lackey Peter said something to the coachman, the coachman answered in the affirmative. But, apparently, the coachman’s sympathy was not enough for Peter: he turned on the box to the master. - Your Excellency, how easy it is! - he said, smiling respectfully.- What? - Easy, your Excellency. “What is he saying? - thought Prince Andrei. “Yes, that’s right about spring,” he thought, looking around. - And then, everything is already green... how soon! And the birch, and the bird cherry, and the alder are already starting... But the oak is unnoticeable. Yes, here it is, the oak tree.” There was an oak tree on the edge of the road. Probably ten times older than the birches that made up the forest, it was ten times thicker, and twice as tall as each birch. It was a huge oak tree, twice the girth, with branches that had apparently been broken off for a long time and with broken bark overgrown with old sores. With his huge, clumsily, asymmetrically splayed, gnarled arms and fingers, he stood like an old, angry and contemptuous freak between the smiling birch trees. Only he alone did not want to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun. “Spring, and love, and happiness! - it was as if this oak tree was speaking. - And how can you not get tired of the same stupid, senseless deception! Everything is the same, and everything is a lie! There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. Look, there are the crushed dead spruce trees sitting, always the same, and there I am, spreading out my broken, skinned fingers, wherever they grew - from the back, from the sides. As I grew up, I still stand, and I don’t believe your hopes and deceptions.” Prince Andrei looked back at this oak tree several times while driving through the forest, as if he was expecting something from it. There were flowers and grass under the oak tree, but he still stood in the midst of them, frowning, motionless, ugly and stubborn. “Yes, he is right, this oak tree is right a thousand times,” thought Prince Andrei, “let others, young people, again succumb to this deception, but we know life, our life is over!” Whole new row Hopeless, but sadly pleasant thoughts in connection with this oak tree arose in the soul of Prince Andrei. During this journey, he seemed to think about his whole life again and came to the same old, reassuring and hopeless conclusion that he did not need to start anything, that he should live out his life without doing evil, without worrying and without wanting anything. .

I don't need an excerpt from War and Peace about Oak

  1. 2 descriptions of oak:
  2. 2 descriptions of oak:





  3. We passed the carriage on which he had spoken with Pierre a year ago. We drove through a dirty village, threshing floors, greenery, a descent with remaining snow near the bridge, an ascent through washed-out clay, stripes of stubble and green bushes here and there, and entered a birch forest on both sides of the road. It was almost hot in the forest; there was no wind to be heard. The birch tree, all dotted with green sticky leaves, did not move, and from under last year’s leaves, lifting them, the first green grass and purple flowers crawled out. Small spruce trees scattered here and there throughout the birch forest with their coarse, eternal greenery were an unpleasant reminder of winter. The horses snorted as they rode into the forest and began to fog up.

    Lackey Peter said something to the coachman, the coachman answered in the affirmative. But apparently Peter had little sympathy for the coachman: he turned on the box to the master.

    Your Excellency, how easy it is! he said, smiling respectfully.

    Easy, your Excellency.

    What is he saying? thought Prince Andrei. Yes, that’s right about spring, he thought, looking around. And everything is already green... how soon! And the birch, and the bird cherry, and the alder are already beginning... And the oak is not noticeable. Yes, here it is, the oak tree.

    Spring, and love, and happiness! as if this oak tree was speaking, and how can you not get tired of the same stupid and senseless deception. Everything is the same, and everything is a lie! There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. Look there, the crushed dead spruce trees are sitting, always the same, and there I am, spreading out my broken, skinned fingers, wherever they grew from the back, from the sides; I still stand as I grew up, and I don’t believe your hopes and deceptions.

    Prince Andrei looked back at this oak tree several times while driving through the forest, as if he was expecting something from it. There were flowers and grass under the oak tree, but he still stood in the midst of them, frowning, motionless, ugly and stubborn.

    Yes, he is right, this oak tree is right a thousand times, thought Prince Andrei, let others, young people, again succumb to this deception, but we know life, our life is over! A whole new series of hopeless, but sadly pleasant thoughts in connection with this oak tree arose in the soul of Prince Andrei. During this journey, he seemed to think over his whole life again, and came to the same old reassuring and hopeless conclusion that he did not need to start anything, that he should live out his life without doing evil, without worrying and without wanting anything.

  4. 2 descriptions of oak:

    1) There was an oak tree on the edge of the road. Probably ten times older than the birches that made up the forest, it was ten times thicker, and twice as tall as each birch. It was a huge oak tree, twice the girth, with branches that had apparently been broken off for a long time and with broken bark overgrown with old sores. With his huge, clumsily, asymmetrically splayed, gnarled arms and fingers, he stood like an old, angry and contemptuous freak between the smiling birch trees. Only he alone did not want to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun.
    Spring, and love, and happiness! as if this oak tree was speaking. And how can you not get tired of the same stupid, senseless deception! Everything is the same, and everything is a lie! There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. Look, there are the crushed dead spruce trees sitting, always the same, and there I am, spreading out my broken, skinned fingers, wherever they grew from the back, from the sides. As I grew up, I still stand, and I don’t believe your hopes and deceptions.
    Prince Andrei looked back at this oak tree several times while driving through the forest, as if he was expecting something from it. There were flowers and grass under the oak tree, but he still stood in the midst of them, frowning, motionless, ugly and stubborn.
    Yes, he is right, this oak tree is right a thousand times, thought Prince Andrei, let others, young people, again succumb to this deception, but we know life, our life is over! A whole new series of hopeless, but sadly pleasant thoughts in connection with this oak tree arose in the soul of Prince Andrei. During this journey, he seemed to think about his whole life again and came to the same old, reassuring and hopeless conclusion that he did not need to start anything, that he should live out his life without doing evil, without worrying and without wanting anything. .

    2) It was already the beginning of June when Prince Andrei, returning home, again entered that birch grove, in which this old, gnarled oak struck him so strangely and memorably. The bells rang even more muffled in the forest than a month ago; everything was full, shady and dense; and young spruce trees scattered throughout the forest did not disturb the overall beauty and, imitating general character, gently green with fluffy young shoots.
    It was hot all day, a thunderstorm was gathering somewhere, but only a small cloud splashed on the dust of the road and on the succulent leaves. The left side of the forest was dark, in shadow; the right one, wet, glossy, glistened in the sun, slightly swaying in the wind. Everything was in bloom; the nightingales chattered and rolled, now close, now far away.
    Yes, here, in this forest, there was this oak tree with which we agreed, thought Prince Andrei. Where is he? thought Prince Andrei again, looking at left side road and, without knowing it, without recognizing him, admired the oak tree that he was looking for. The old oak tree, completely transformed, spread out like a tent of lush, dark greenery, was melting, slightly swaying in the rays of the evening sun. No gnarled fingers, no sores, no old grief and mistrust were visible. Juicy, young leaves broke through the hundred-year-old hard bark without knots, so it was impossible to believe that it was the old man who produced them. Yes, this is the same oak tree, thought Prince Andrei, and suddenly an unreasonable spring feeling of joy and renewal came over him. All best moments his lives suddenly came back to him at the same time. And Austerlitz with the high sky, and the dead, reproachful face of his wife, and Pierre on the ferry, and the girl excited by the beauty of the night, and this night, and the moon and all this suddenly came to his mind.
    No, life is not over for thirty-one years, Prince Andrei suddenly finally decided. Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary for everyone to know it: both Pierre and this girl who wanted to fly into the sky, it is necessary for everyone to know me, so that my life does not go on for me alone so that they don’t live like this girl, regardless of my life, so that it affects everyone and so that they all live with me!

"...On the edge of the road stood an oak tree. It was probably ten times older than the birches that made up the forest, ten times thicker and twice as tall as each birch. It was a huge oak tree, twice the girth, with broken branches and bark , overgrown with old sores. With huge, clumsily, asymmetrically splayed, gnarled hands and fingers, he stood like an old, angry and contemptuous freak between the smiling birches. Only he did not want to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun.

This oak tree seemed to say: “Spring, and love, and happiness! And how can you not get tired of the same stupid, senseless deception! Everything is the same, and everything is a lie! There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. Look, there are the crushed dead spruce trees sitting, always alone, and there I spread out my broken, skinned fingers, growing from the back, from the sides - anywhere. As I grew up, I still stand, and I don’t believe your hopes and deceptions.”

Prince Andrei looked back at this oak tree several times while driving through the forest. There were flowers and grass under the oak tree, but he still stood in the middle of them, gloomy, motionless, ugly and stubborn.

“Yes, he’s right, this oak tree is right a thousand times,” thought Prince Andrei. “Let others, young people, succumb to this deception again, but we know: our life is over!” A whole series thoughts, hopeless, but sadly pleasant, in connection with this oak tree arose in the soul of Prince Andrei. During this journey, he seemed to think over his whole life again and came to the same reassuring and hopeless conclusion that he did not need to start anything, that he should live out his life without doing evil, without worrying and without wanting anything...

It was already the beginning of June when Prince Andrei, returning home, again drove into that birch grove in which this old, gnarled oak had struck him so strangely and memorably. “Here in this forest there was this oak tree that we agreed with. Where is he? - thought Prince Andrei, looking at the left side of the road. Without knowing it, he admired the oak tree he was looking for, but now he did not recognize it.

The old oak tree, completely transformed, spread out like a tent of lush, dark greenery, was melting, slightly swaying in the rays of the evening sun. No gnarled fingers, no sores, no old grief and mistrust - nothing was visible. Juicy, young leaves broke through the hundred-year-old hard bark without knots, so it was impossible to believe that it was the old man who produced them. “Yes, this is the same oak tree,” thought Prince Andrei, and suddenly an unreasonable spring feeling of joy and renewal came over him. All the best moments of his life suddenly came back to him at the same time. And Austerlitz with the high sky, and Pierre on the ferry, and the girl excited by the beauty of the night, and this night, and the moon - all this suddenly came to his mind.

“No, life is not over at thirty-one,” Prince Andrei suddenly finally and irrevocably decided. - Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary that everyone knows it: both Pierre and this girl who wanted to fly into the sky. It is necessary that my life does not go on for me alone, that it is reflected on everyone and that they all live with me.”

Mood: No

Music: STV radio

I

In 1808, Emperor Alexander traveled to Erfurt for a new meeting with Emperor Napoleon, and in high society in St. Petersburg there was a lot of talk about the greatness of this solemn meeting. In 1809, the closeness of the two rulers of the world, as Napoleon and Alexander were called, reached the point that when Napoleon declared war on Austria that year, the Russian corps went abroad to assist their former enemy, Bonaparte, against their former ally, the Austrian Emperor, to the point that in high society they talked about the possibility of a marriage between Napoleon and one of the sisters of Emperor Alexander. But, in addition to external political considerations, at this time the attention of Russian society was especially keenly drawn to the internal transformations that were being carried out at that time in all parts of public administration. Life, meanwhile, the real life of people with their essential interests of health, illness, work, rest, with their interests of thought, science, poetry, music, love, friendship, hatred, passions, went on, as always, independently and without political affinity or enmity with Napoleon Bonaparte and beyond all possible transformations. Prince Andrei lived in the village for two years without a break. All those enterprises on estates that Pierre started and did not bring to any result, constantly moving from one thing to another, all these enterprises, without expressing them to anyone and without noticeable labor, were carried out by Prince Andrei. He had, to a high degree, that practical tenacity that Pierre lacked, which, without scope or effort on his part, set things in motion. One of his estates of three hundred peasant souls was transferred to free cultivators (this was one of the first examples in Russia); in others, corvee was replaced by quitrent. In Bogucharovo, a learned grandmother was written out to his account to help mothers in labor, and for a salary the priest taught the children of peasants and courtyard servants to read and write. Prince Andrei spent one half of his time in Bald Mountains with his father and son, who was still with the nannies; the other half of the time in the Bogucharov monastery, as his father called his village. Despite the indifference he showed Pierre to all external events of the world, he diligently followed them, received many books and, to his surprise, noticed when fresh people came to him or his father from St. Petersburg, from the very whirlpool of life, that these people in knowledge of everything that is happening in foreign and domestic policy, they are far behind him, who sits in the village all the time. In addition to classes on names, in addition to general studies of reading a wide variety of books, Prince Andrei was at this time engaged in a critical analysis of our last two unfortunate campaigns and drawing up a project to change our military regulations and regulations. In the spring of 1809, Prince Andrei went to the Ryazan estates of his son, of whom he was the guardian. Warmed by the spring sun, he sat in the stroller, looking at the first grass, the first birch leaves and the first clouds of white spring clouds scattering across the bright blue sky. He didn’t think about anything, but looked around cheerfully and meaninglessly. We passed the carriage on which he had spoken with Pierre a year ago. We drove through a dirty village, threshing floors, greenery, a descent with remaining snow near the bridge, an ascent through washed-out clay, stripes of stubble and green bushes here and there, and entered a birch forest on both sides of the road. It was almost hot in the forest; there was no wind to be heard. The birch, all covered with green sticky leaves, did not move, and from under last year’s leaves, lifting them, the first grass and purple flowers crawled out, turning green. The small spruce trees scattered here and there throughout the birch forest, with their coarse, eternal greenness, were an unpleasant reminder of winter. The horses snorted as they entered the forest and began to fog up. Lackey Peter said something to the coachman, the coachman answered in the affirmative. But, apparently, the coachman’s sympathy was not enough for Peter: he turned on the box to the master. - Your Excellency, how easy it is! - he said, smiling respectfully.- What? - Easy, your Excellency. “What is he saying? - thought Prince Andrei. “Yes, that’s true about spring,” he thought, looking around. - And then everything is green already... how soon! And the birch, and the bird cherry, and the alder are already starting... But the oak is unnoticeable. Yes, here it is, the oak tree.” There was an oak tree on the edge of the road. Probably ten times older than the birches that made up the forest, it was ten times thicker, and twice as tall as each birch. It was a huge oak tree, twice the girth, with branches that had apparently been broken off for a long time and with broken bark overgrown with old sores. With his huge, clumsily, asymmetrically splayed, gnarled arms and fingers, he stood like an old, angry and contemptuous freak between the smiling birch trees. Only he alone did not want to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun. “Spring, and love, and happiness! - it was as if this oak tree was speaking. - And how can you not get tired of the same stupid, senseless deception! Everything is the same, and everything is a lie! There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. Look, there are the crushed dead spruce trees sitting, always the same, and there I am, spreading out my broken, skinned fingers, wherever they grew - from the back, from the sides. As I grew up, I still stand, and I don’t believe your hopes and deceptions.” Prince Andrei looked back at this oak tree several times while driving through the forest, as if he was expecting something from it. There were flowers and grass under the oak tree, but he still stood in the midst of them, frowning, motionless, ugly and stubborn. “Yes, he is right, this oak tree is right a thousand times,” thought Prince Andrei, “let others, young people, again succumb to this deception, but we know life, our life is over!” A whole new series of hopeless, but sadly pleasant thoughts in connection with this oak tree arose in the soul of Prince Andrei. During this journey, he seemed to think about his whole life again and came to the same old, reassuring and hopeless conclusion that he did not need to start anything, that he should live out his life without doing evil, without worrying and without wanting anything. .

In 1808, Emperor Alexander traveled to Erfurt to new meeting with Napoleon, and in high society they talked a lot about the importance of this event. In 1809, the closeness of the two “lords of the world,” as Alexander and Napoleon were called, reached such a point that when Napoleon declared war on Austria, the Russian corps went abroad to fight on the side of the former enemy against the former ally, the Austrian emperor.

Life is ordinary people went on as usual, with her questions of health, love, work, hope, etc., regardless of Napoleon’s relationship with Alexander. Prince Andrei lived in the village for two years, without leaving anywhere. All those measures that Pierre started on his estate and which he could not bring to any result, all these measures, without special labor, were successfully brought to life by Prince Andrey. He, unlike Bezukhov, had that practical tenacity, thanks to which things moved forward without his special efforts. He listed some peasants as free cultivators, and for others he replaced corvee with quitrent. Peasants and servants were taught to read and write, and a learned midwife was assigned especially for them. Andrei spent one part of his time in Bald Mountains with his father and son, the other on the Bogucharovo estate. At the same time, he closely followed external events, read and thought a lot. In the spring of 1809, Prince Andrei went to the Ryazan estate of his son, who was under his care.

Warmed by the spring sun, he sat in the stroller, looking at the first grass, the first birch leaves and the first clouds of white spring clouds scattering across the bright blue sky. He didn’t think about anything, but looked around cheerfully and meaninglessly...

There was an oak tree on the edge of the road. Probably ten times older than the birches that made up the forest, it was ten times thicker and twice as tall as each birch. It was a huge oak tree, two girths wide, with branches that had been broken off for a long time and with broken bark overgrown with old sores. With his huge, clumsy, asymmetrically splayed, gnarled hands and fingers, he stood like an old, angry and contemptuous freak between the smiling birch trees. Only he alone did not want to submit to the charm of spring and did not want to see either spring or the sun.

“Spring, and love, and happiness!” - this oak tree seemed to say, “and how can you not get tired of the same stupid and senseless deception. Everything is the same, and everything is a lie! There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. Look there, the crushed dead spruce trees are sitting, always the same, and there I am, spreading out my broken, skinned fingers, wherever they grew - from the back, from the sides; As we grew up, I still stand, and I don’t believe your hopes and deceptions.”

Prince Andrei looked back at this oak tree several times while driving through the forest, as if he was expecting something from it. There were flowers and grass under the oak tree, but he still stood in the midst of them, frowning, motionless, ugly and stubborn.

“Yes, he is right, this oak tree is right a thousand times,” thought Prince Andrei, let others, young people, again succumb to this deception, but we know life, “our life is over!” A whole new series of hopeless, but sadly pleasant thoughts in connection with this oak tree arose in the soul of Prince Andrei. During this journey, he seemed to think over his whole life again, and came to the same old reassuring and hopeless conclusion that he did not need to start anything, that he should live out his life without doing evil, without worrying and without wanting anything.

For guardianship matters, Prince Andrei needed to see the district leader, Count Ilya Andreevich Rostov. Bolkonsky went to see him in Otradnoye, where the count lived as before, hosting the entire province, with hunts, theaters, dinners and musicians. Approaching the Rostovs' house, Andrei heard a woman's scream and saw a crowd of girls running across his stroller. Ahead of the others, closest to the stroller, ran a black-eyed girl in a yellow chintz dress, shouting something. But recognizing the stranger, she ran back without looking at him. The girl that Prince Andrei paid attention to was Natasha Rostova. When looking at her, Bolkonsky suddenly felt pain.

“Why is she so happy? What is she thinking about? And what makes her happy?” - Prince Andrei involuntarily asked himself with curiosity.

During the day, during which Andrei was occupied by the senior owners and guests who had arrived at Rostov’s estate on the occasion of his name day, he more than once fixed his gaze on Natasha, who was having fun, trying to understand what she was thinking and why she was so happy.

In the evening, left alone in a new place, he could not fall asleep for a long time. He read, then put out the candle and lit it again...

Prince Andrei's room was on the middle floor; They also lived in the rooms above it and did not sleep. He heard a woman talking from above.

Just one more time, said from above female voice, which Prince Andrey now recognized.

When will you sleep? - answered another voice.

I won’t, I can’t sleep, what should I do! Well, last time...

Oh, how lovely! Well, now go to sleep and that's the end.

“You sleep, but I can’t,” answered the first voice approaching the window. She apparently leaned out of the window completely, because the rustling of her dress and even her breathing could be heard. Everything became silent and petrified, like the moon and its light and shadows. Prince Andrei was also afraid to move, so as not to betray his involuntary presence.

Sonya reluctantly answered something.

No, look what a moon it is!.. Oh, how lovely! Come here. Darling, my dear, come here. Well, do you see? So I would squat down, like this, I would grab myself under the knees - tighter, as tight as possible - you have to strain - and fly... Just like that!

Come on, you'll fall.

It's two o'clock after all.

Oh, you're just ruining everything for me. Well, go, go.

Again everything fell silent, but Prince Andrei knew that she was still sitting here, he sometimes heard quiet movements, sometimes sighs.

Ah... My God! My God! what is this! - she suddenly screamed.

Sleep like that! - and slammed the window.

“They don’t care about my existence!” - thought Prince Andrei as he listened to her conversation, for some reason expecting and fearing that she would say something about him. - “And there she is again! And how on purpose!” - he thought. In his soul suddenly arose such an unexpected confusion of young thoughts and hopes, contradicting his whole life, that he, feeling unable to understand his condition, immediately fell asleep.

The next day, having said goodbye only to the count, without waiting for the ladies to leave, Andrei went home. On the way back, he drove into the same birch grove in which he was struck by a gnarled oak. But now Andrei looked at him completely differently.

The old oak tree, completely transformed, spread out like a tent of lush, dark greenery, was melting, slightly swaying in the rays of the evening sun. No gnarled fingers, no sores, no old mistrust and grief - nothing was visible. Juicy, young leaves emerged from the branches through the tough hundred-year-old bark, so it was impossible to believe that this old man had produced them. “Yes, this is that same oak tree,” thought Prince Andrei, and suddenly an unreasonable spring feeling of joy and renewal came over him. All the best moments of his life suddenly came back to him at the same time. And Austerlitz with the high sky, and the dead, reproachful face of his wife, and Pierre on the ferry, and the girl excited by the beauty of the night, and this night, and the moon - and all this suddenly came to his mind.

“No, life is not over at the age of 31,” Prince Andrei suddenly finally, unchangeably decided. Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary for everyone to know it: both Pierre and this girl who wanted to fly into the sky, it is necessary for everyone to know me, so that my life does not go on for me alone So that they don’t live so independently of my life, so that it affects everyone and so that they all live with me!”

Returning from a trip to the estates, Andrei unexpectedly decided to go to St. Petersburg in the fall. In August 1809, he realized his intention. “This time was the apogee of the glory of young Speransky and the energy of the revolutions he carried out.”