What is the famous novel war and peace. The history of the creation of the novel "War and Peace"
The four-volume epic novel by L. N. Tolstoy "War and Peace" is known to every person since school. Someone liked this work, and he read it from the first volume to the last; some were horrified by the volume of the novel to master; and someone simply ignored the request of the teacher to read the novel. Nevertheless, "War and Peace" is a really worthwhile and great work of Russian literature, which is still studied at school. This article is designed to help students understand the novel, understand its meaning and main ideas. So, we present you a concise analysis of the novel "War and Peace". Let's pay attention to the most important points.
When analyzing the novel “War and Peace”, three main thoughts can be distinguished that L. N. Tolstoy reveals. This is a family thought, a folk thought and a spiritual thought.
Family thought in the novel "War and Peace"
It is convenient to trace it in the way Tolstoy depicts three families in the novel - the Bolkonsky, Rostov and Kuragin families.
Bolkonsky family
Let's start the analysis of the work "War and Peace" with the Bolkonsky family. The Bolkonsky family is old prince Bolkonsky and his children - Andrei and Marya. The main features of this family are following reason, severity, pride, decency, strong feeling patriotism. They are very reserved in expressing their feelings, only Marya sometimes openly shows them.
The old prince is a representative of the ancient aristocracy, very strict, has power both among servants and in his family. He is very proud of his pedigree and intelligence, he wants his children to be the same. Therefore, the prince takes up teaching geometry and algebra to his daughter at a time when such knowledge was not required from ladies.
Prince Andrei is a representative of the advanced noble youth. This is a very strong-willed, persistent person of high moral principles he does not accept human weakness. In life, many trials await him, but he will always find the right way out thanks to his morality. Much will change in his life love for Natasha Rostova, which will be for him like a sip fresh air, symbol real life. But Natasha's betrayal will kill his hope for the best. However, the life of Andrei Bolkonsky will not end there, he will nevertheless find his own meaning of life.
For Princess Mary, the main thing in life is self-sacrifice, she is always ready to help another, even to the detriment of herself. This is a very meek, kind, sweet soul and submissive girl. She is religious, dreams of simple human happiness. However, she is not so soft, can be firm and stand her ground when her self-esteem is humiliated.
Rostov family
Masterfully, the Rostov family was portrayed in the novel by Leo Tolstoy. "War and Peace", analysis this work Let's talk about this family.
The Rostov family in meaning is opposed to the Bolkonsky family in that the main thing for the Bolkonskys is the mind, and for the Rostovs it is feelings. The main features of the Rostov family are kindness, generosity, nobility, moral purity, closeness to the people, generosity, openness, hospitality, friendliness. In addition to their children, Sonya, the count's niece, Boris Drubetskoy, the son of a distant relative, and Vera also live with them. IN hard time the Rostov family donates their property and helps their country survive the war. Old Count, for example, donates his wagons to carry the wounded. This family is a symbol of liberation from the luxury of the material world.
The old count, father Ilya Andreevich - a simple-hearted and kind gentleman, gullible and prodigal person, he loves his family and home holidays, he has close relationships with children, he supports them in everything.
Countess Rostova is the educator and mentor of her children, she also has a trusting relationship with them.
Warm relations based on kindred love exist in the relations of children. Natasha and Sonya are like best friends, in addition, Natasha loves her brother Nikolai very much, she rejoices when he returns home.
Nicholas R ostov, Natasha's older brother - simple, noble, honest, sympathetic, generous Human . He is kind, romantic, like Natasha. Forgives old friends Drubetskoy their debt. However, Nikolai's interests are limited to his family and household. At the end of the novel, he creates a family with Marya Bolkonskaya, and they have a harmonious union.
Natasha Rostova, the youngest of the children, is a cheerful, lively, spontaneous girl, soul of the Rostov family, in childhood, neglects the rules of decency accepted in society. She's not pretty on the outside, but she's beautiful a pure soul, she has many traits of a naive child. The work is constructed in such a way that closer man Natasha, the purer he is spiritually. Natasha is not characterized by deep introspection and reflection on the meaning of life. She is selfish, but her selfishness is natural, unlike, for example, the selfishness of Helen Kuragina. Natasha lives with feelings and at the end of the novel finds her happiness by creating a family with Pierre Bezukhov.
The Kuragin family
We continue our analysis of the novel "War and Peace" with a story about the Kuragin family. Kuragins - This old prince Basil and his three children: Helen, Hippolyte and Anatole. For this family, the most important thing is good financial situation and status in society They are only related to each other by blood.
Prince Vasily is an ambitious intriguer, striving for wealth. He needs the inheritance of Kirill Bezukhov, so he is trying with might and main to bring his daughter Helen to Pierre.
Ellen's daughter socialite, a "cold" beauty with impeccable manners in society, but devoid of the beauty of the soul and feelings. She is only interested in secular receptions and salons.
Prince Vasily considers both his sons to be fools. He was able to attach Hippolyte to the service, which is enough for him. More AND ppolit aspires to nothing. Anatole is a secular handsome man, a rake, with him a lot of trouble. To calm him down, the old prince wants to marry him to the meek and rich Marya Bolkonskaya, but this marriage did not take place due to the fact that Marya did not want to part with her father and start a family with Anatole.
Family thought is one of the most important in the novel "War and Peace". Tolstoy carefully studies the Bolkonsky, Rostov and Kuragin families, puts them in a situation of a turning point for the country and observes how they will behave. It is easy to conclude that the author sees the future of the country behind the Rostov and Bolkonsky families, highly spiritual, d obryh and associated with the people.
The thought of the people in the novel "War and Peace"
Can't be imagined full analysis works "War and Peace" without consideration of folk thought. This thought is the second important topic in War and Peace. It reflects the depth and greatness of the Russian people. Tolstoy showed the people in his novel in such a way that it does not seem like a faceless mass, his people are reasonable, it is they who change and move forward history.
There are many people like Platon Karataev among the people. This is a humble person who loves everyone equally, he accepts all the hardships that occur in his life, but is not soft and weak-willed. Platon Karataev in the novel is a symbol folk wisdom, brought up in Russian people since ancient times. This character significantly influenced Pierre Bezukhov, his worldview. Based on the thoughts of Karataev Pierre will then decide for himself h what is good in life and what is bad.
The power and spiritual beauty of the Russian people are shown T as well as many episodic characters. For example, the gunners of Raevsky are afraid of death in battle, however they don't see it . They are not used to talking a lot, they are used to proving their devotion to the Motherland by their deeds, so they silently defend her .
Tikhon Shcherbaty - another bright representative Russian people , it expresses his anger, unnecessary, but still justified cruelty .
Kutuzov natural close to the soldiers, to the people, and therefore we love our subordinates and ordinary people. This is a wise commander who understands that he cannot change anything, so he is only a little old. A to change the course of events.
Almost every character in the novel is tested by folk thought. H The more distant a person is from the people, the less chances he has for true happiness. Napoleon himself O in love, which cannot be approved by the soldiers, Kutuzov is like a father for his soldiers, in addition, he does not need loud glory, like Napoleon, therefore he is appreciated and loved.
The Russian people are imperfect, and Tolstoy does not seek to present them as such. However, all the shortcomings of the Russian people are covered by their behavior in war time, because everyone is ready to sacrifice what they can for the good of their country in order to save it. Consideration of folk thought is one of the key issues in the analysis of the novel "War and Peace".
Spiritual thought in the novel "War and Peace"
Now let's move on to the third important issue in the analysis of the work "War and Peace". It's m thought is spiritual. Is she in the spiritual development of the main characters. Harmonies reach those g e swarms that develop do not stand still. They make mistakes, at waiting, changing their ideas about life, but as a result they come to harmony.
So, for example, this is Andrei Bolkonsky. At the beginning of the novel, this is an educated smart young man, To who sees all the vulgarity of the noble environment. He wants to break out of this atmosphere, he strives to accomplish a feat and gain glory, That's why goes to the army. On the battlefield, he sees how terrible the war is, the soldiers are fiercely trying to kill each other in order to X didn't kill themselves patriotism here is false. Andrei is wounded, he falls on his back and sees a clear sky above his head. Creates a contrast between I kill soldiers and clear soft sky. At this moment the prince A Andrey understands that there are more important things in life than fame and war, Napoleon ceases to be his idol. This crucial moment in the soul of Andrei Bolkonsky. Later he r e shaet, h then he will live for his loved ones and himself in family world, however, he is too active to be limited only to this. Andrey is reborn to life, oh wants to help people and live for them, he finally understands the meaning of Christian love, however, the bright impulses of his soul are interrupted by the death of the hero on the battlefield .
Pierre Bezukhov is also looking for the meaning of his life. At the beginning of the novel, not finding what to do, Pierre leads a l new life. At the same time, he understands that such a life is not for him, but he still does not have the strength to leave it. He is weak-willed and too trusting, so he easily falls into the net of Helen Kuragina. However, X the marriage did not last long, Pierre realized that he had been deceived, And annulled the marriage. Having survived his grief, Pierre joined the Masonic lodge, where he found his use. However, seeing self-interest and dishonor in the Masonic lodge, Pierre leaves her. The battle on the Borodino field greatly changes Pierre's worldview, he sees the hitherto unfamiliar world of ordinary soldiers and wants to become a soldier himself. Later, Pierre is captured, where he sees a military court and the execution of Russian soldiers. In captivity, he meets Platon Karataev, who greatly influences Pierre's ideas about good and evil. At the end of the novel, Pierre marries Natasha, and together they find family happiness. Pierre is dissatisfied with the situation in the country, he does not like political oppression, and he believes that everything can be changed by uniting with honest people and starting to act with them at the same time. This is how it happens spiritual development Pierre Bezukhov throughout the novel, he finally understands that the best thing for him is to fight for the happiness and well-being of the Russian people.
"War and Peace": episode analysis
At school, in literature lessons, when studying the novel War and Peace, individual episodes are very often analyzed. There are many of them, for example, we will analyze the episode of Andrei Bolkonsky's meeting with an old oak.
Encounter with the oak symbolizes the transition Andrei Bolkonsky from the old boring and dull life to a new and joyful one.
D ub their appearance With relates to internal them state m hero. At the first meeting, the oak looks it an old gloomy tree that does not harmonize with the rest of the forest. The same contrast is easy to see in the behavior of Andrei Bolkonsky in the company of A.P. Sherer. He's not interested in small talk bored, long-familiar people.
When Andrei meets the oak for the second time, it already looks different: the oak seems to be full of vitality and love for the world around it, there are no sores left on it, dried and gnarled branches, it is all covered with juicy young greenery. The tree was more strong enough and strong, it had a high potential, as in Andrei Bolkonsky.
Andrey's potential was shown in the battle of Austerlitz, when he saw the sky; in his meeting with Pierre, when he told him about Freemasonry, about God and eternal life; at the moment when Andrei accidentally overheard the words of Natasha, who admired the beauty of the night. All these moments revived Andrey to life, he again felt the taste of life, R hell O happiness and happiness, like an oak, "bloomed" sincerely. The hero's disappointments also led to these changes - in the personality of Napoleon, in the death of Lisa, etc.
All this greatly influenced Andrei Bolkonsky, led him to a new life with different ideals and principles. He realized what he was wrong about before and what he needs to strive for now. Thus, the external transformation of the oak in the novel symbolizes spiritual rebirth Andrei Bolkonsky.
"War and Peace": analysis of the epilogue
To present a full-fledged analysis of the novel "War and Peace", you need to pay attention to its epilogue. The epilogue is an important part of the novel. It carries a great semantic load, it sums up the results that raise questions about the family, the role of the individual in history .
The first thought expressed in the epilogue is the thought of the spirituality of the family. The author shows that the main thing in a family is kindness and love, spirituality, the desire for mutual understanding and harmony, which is achieved through the complementarity of spouses. This is the new family of Nikolai Rostov and Marya Bolkonskaya, bringing together and I Opposite in spirit are the Rostov and Bolkonsky families.
Another new family is the union of Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov. Each of them remains a special person, but makes concessions to each other, as a result they form a harmonious family. In the epilogue, using the example of this family, the connection between the course of history and the relationship between individuals is traced. . After Patriotic War In 1812, a different level of communication between people arose in Russia, many class boundaries were erased, which led to the creation of new, more complex families.
The epilogue also shows how the main characters of the novel have changed, what they eventually came to. For example, in Natasha it is difficult to recognize the former emotional lively girl.
The question of the genre of "War and Peace" is one of the most difficult topics in school lessons. Usually, students find it difficult to answer due to the large volume of this work, which does not allow the first time to understand all the features of the book. Therefore, in the course of reading, it is necessary to draw the attention of schoolchildren to the main points in building a composition that will help determine genre features novel.
Plot Features
The problem of the War and Peace genre directly rests on the plot of the work. The novel spans several decades in the lives of the main characters. The author pays the main attention to the period of the struggle of the Russian people with the French army of Napoleon. The epic scope of events determined the structure of the work, which consists of several storylines dedicated to different families whose fates intertwine in the course of the story.
However, the Russian people are considered the main actor works. Therefore, the genre of "War and Peace" should be defined as an epic. The wide range of events determined the features of the plot. The heroes of the work act against the background historical events early 19th century. They are drawn into the military events of the period under review, and their fates and lives are dependent on the ups and downs of the war.
historical background
When defining the genre of "War and Peace", one should also take into account historical basis plot. The author not only limited himself to describing the struggle of the Russian people for liberation from the French invasion, but also depicted a panorama of the Russian public life early 19th century. His focus is on the lives of several noble families(Rostovs, Bolkonskys and others). However, he did not ignore the life of the common people.
His book contains sketches of peasant and village life, a description of the life of ordinary people. All this allows us to say that the novel "War and Peace" is a broad epic of people's life. The book can be called a kind of encyclopedia of Russian history at the beginning of the reign of Alexander I. L. N. Tolstoy attracted a large number of archival material for image real events And historical persons. Therefore, his work is distinguished by truthfulness and reliability.
Characters
Traditionally, it is customary to single out the three main characters of the work - Natasha Rostova, Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. It was in their images that the writer embodied best qualities inherent in the nobility of the time in question. Besides, big role the characters of the second plan also played in the development of the plot: Natasha's brother - Nikolai Rostov, the family of Prince Andrei and other representatives of the nobility, who from time to time appear in the course of the story.
Such a large number of actors gave scale work of art, which once again proves that the novel "War and Peace" is a work of an epic nature.
Storylines
To determine the genre of the book, it is also necessary to pay attention to the large number of plot narratives in the work. In addition to the main stories - the lines of Pierre, Natasha and Prince Andrei - the novel contains a large number of additional auxiliary sketches from the life of the society of the time under consideration. Tolstoy describes a number of noble families that in one way or another influence the main plot.
The heroes of the novel "War and Peace" belong to the most diverse strata of society, and this complicates the composition of the narrative. In addition to secular paintings, the writer very truthfully shows the rise of the national spirit during the invasion of the French. Therefore, the military theme occupies a prominent, perhaps even the main place in the narrative.
Depiction of war
Tolstoy in his work focused on popular character war. It is the simple Russian people that are rightfully considered the main character of the entire book. Therefore, the work is called an epic. This idea of the author determined the features of the plot. In the text, the life of the nobles during common misfortune closely intertwined with the lives of ordinary people.
The heroes of the novel "War and Peace" are for some time torn out of the usual circle of their lives and find themselves in the most terrible epicenter of events. Prince Andrei is mortally wounded, Pierre is captured by the French and, together with his new friend, an ordinary peasant peasant Platon Karataev, endures all the hardships of captivity, Natasha leaves Moscow with her family and cares for the wounded. Thus, the writer showed how, at the moment of danger, the entire population of Russia united to fight. This once again proves that the work "War and Peace" is an epic novel.
Main events
The fact that the book is written in the spirit of the epic is evidenced by the fact that the most important key events the stories are massive. For example, the wounding of Prince Andrei on the field of Austerlitz, when a revolution took place in his worldview, is a scene that amazes the reader with the grandeur and breadth of the panorama. After all, this battle was one of the most important during the Napoleonic wars, a large number of participants were involved in it, and it had great value to strengthen the success of France. The same can be said about battle of Borodino. "War and Peace" - It's novel, in which the author sought, first of all, to show the general impulse of the entire Russian people in the fight against the enemy. And the scene of this battle best of all shows the patriotic upsurge of all participants. Pierre does his best to help ordinary soldiers during an artillery attack, and although he does not know how to handle weapons at all, he nevertheless acts to the best of his ability in order to help the fighters.
Thus, the author places his heroes at the very epicenter of events in order to show their unity with the people. This once again proves the epic nature of the work. Coverage of all aspects of society is an important feature of the work. The writer showed the history of Russia at the beginning of the 19th century using the image of social and cultural life all her classes. Therefore, his book is rightfully considered the most famous and significant epic in the literature of this century. And only in the 20th century M. Sholokhov managed to create an equally grandiose canvas of folk life in the novel Quiet Flows the Don.
"War and Peace" is an extremely complex, multifaceted work: a historical, philosophical, family, psychological epic novel of modern times. The peculiarity of this epic novel lies in the fact that Tolstoy not only describes the history of Russia as the first quarter XIX century, talking about the Napoleonic Wars and the Patriotic War of 1812, but also trying to convey the spiritual, intellectual content of this era. The writer offers his philosophical understanding of both global - world and national - historical events, as well as the life of an individual. For Tolstoy, events from the history of a nation and the "trifles" of private life are equalized, since they equally manifest the general and eternal laws of being.
Tolstoy's philosophical reasoning about the patterns of history is scattered throughout the novel, but in the epilogue they are summarized once again. The author considers critical issues about the driving forces of history and the role of the so-called "great people" in the historical process.
In "War and Peace" there are arguments about the goals of historical events and the role of human will in them: "Why there is a war or a revolution, we do not know; we only know that in order to perform this or that action, people form a certain combination and everyone participates, and we say that such is the nature of people, that this is a law ”(epilogue, 2, VII). Tolstoy continues: "In real life every historical event, every human action is understood very clearly, without feeling the slightest contradiction, despite the fact that each event appears partly free, partly necessary” (epilogue, 2, IX).
A historical event, according to the writer, is made up of the contradictory and diverse aspirations of millions of people living in the era of this historical event. Consequently, history does not depend on the will of one or several people, but on the will of all mankind, that is, it is an objective (non-conscious, “swarm”) process. You compare the historical process of Tolstoy with a clock mechanism: “As in a clock the result of the complex movement of countless different wheels and blocks is only the slow and even movement of the hand indicating the time, so is the result of all complex human movements... - of all passions, desires, remorse, humiliation, suffering, outbursts of pride, fear, delight of people - there was only the loss of the Battle of Austerlitz .., that is, the slow movement of the world-historical arrow on the dial of the history of mankind "(1,3, XI ). In the novel, in addition to theoretical considerations, artistic illustrations of historical laws are given, which, according to Tolstoy, govern people's lives. For example, the mass departure of Muscovites before the surrender of the city: “They left and did not think about the majestic significance of this huge, rich capital, abandoned by the inhabitants and given up as a sacrifice to fire (a large abandoned wooden city had to burn down); they left each for themselves, and at the same time, only because they left, that majestic event took place, which will forever remain the best glory of the Russian people ”(3, 3, V). In other words, reasonable and right action individual person, according to Tolstoy, is the embodiment of the will of the whole (history), each act of the individual is determined by the will of mankind.
Human society, according to Tolstoy, can be depicted as a cone (epilogue, 2, VI), at the base of which is the people, and at the top is the ruler. The paradox of history is presented to the author as follows: the higher a person stands on the social ladder, the less he can influence historical events: "The king is a slave of history." The proof of this idea is, for example, the election of Kutuzov to the post of commander in chief in the Patriotic War. Kutuzov was personally unpleasant to Alexander the First, but when a serious danger loomed over Russia, Kutuzov was called not by order of the authorities, but by the will of the people. The king, contrary to his personal desire, was forced to fulfill the will of the people. In other words, the people, according to Tolstoy, are the maker of history. That is why there are many heroes from the people in the novel - peasants, soldiers, courtyards. This is how the democratic convictions of the author are manifested.
The people are not only the main driving force history, but also the chief judge of the so-called "great people". A person who has earned the respect of the people will, according to Tolstoy, be great. Such a person does not make his own will in history, but perceives and fulfills the will of his people. Based on this position, the writer considers Kutuzov great (he understood the meaning and liberating nature of the Patriotic War) and denies greatness to Napoleon (this lover of power cared exclusively about personal glory, which he based on wars, on blood European nations). Thus, philosophical views Tolstoy are not only democratic, but also humanistic. The writer condemns the war, which coincides with the popular assessment of this event.
The "War and Peace" also outlines the philosophical understanding of a separate human life, that is, Tolstoy puts "eternal" moral issues and gives answers to them, offering its own criteria right life. The author describes the personal quests and interests of the characters, intertwines them with the quests, interests, clashes of peoples. If the hero correctly understands his place in history (Kutuzov, Prince Andrei, Pierre), then his personal spiritual development goes in the same direction as human history. If the hero wants to use his will to slow down or push historical process he looks naive and funny. This is how the author characterizes the behavior of Count Rostopchin on the eve of the surrender of Moscow, listing the contradictory orders and actions of this statesman: “... this man did not understand the significance of the ongoing event, but only wanted to do something himself, to surprise someone, to do something patriotically heroic and, like a boy, frolic over the majestic and inevitable event of the abandonment and burning of Moscow and he tried with his small hand either to encourage or to delay the course of the huge stream of people that carried him along with it ”(3, 3, V).
Inner freedom, according to the writer, is at least a partial rejection of the egoistic desire for personal good, because it obscures the common and undoubted good of life as such from a person. Tolstoy very simply formulates his understanding of morality: there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth. The author applies these moral criteria to all the heroes of the novel, starting with emperors and generals and ending with simple Russian peasants. As a result, the heroes are divided into loved ones and unloved ones, depending on how much their behavior in life corresponds to the principles of simplicity, goodness and truth.
And in the time of Tolstoy, and still there is an opinion that statesman may behave differently than a private person. What for a private person is considered a fraud, for a statesman - statesmanship; what in a public figure would be an unacceptable weakness, in a private person it is revered as humanity or gentleness of soul. Such a morality, therefore, allows for one and the same person two justices, two prudences. Tolstoy refuses double morality and proves that historical figure and the simple man must be measured by one yardstick, that simple justice is always the wisest and most advantageous policy. For the author, the life and feelings of a private person against the backdrop of historical upheavals acquire the same importance as the lives and actions of historical figures.
Tolstoy gives his own assessment of everything famous people described historical era. This applies primarily to Napoleon, who in Russian, and especially in European historiography, is presented as greatest general and statesman. But for Tolstoy, Napoleon is an aggressor who attacked Russia, gave orders to burn cities and villages, exterminate Russian people, rob and destroy cultural values. Alexander the First, the reformer Speransky, Count Rostopchin, German military strategists - all these historical figures are described by the author as empty and conceited people who only imagine that they are making history.
The author applies the same criteria of simplicity, goodness and truth to evaluate fictional characters. Drawing the court aristocracy (the Kuragin family, the maid of honor Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the careerists Drubetskoy, Berg, numerous adjutants), Tolstoy emphasizes their immorality, false patriotism. They live with empty interests, far from the true, according to the author, life. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, when soldiers from the regiment of Prince Andrei are preparing to win or die, secular careerists “are busy only with their small interests. ... for them, this is just such a minute in which you can undermine the enemy and get an extra cross or ribbon ”(3, 2, XXV). Patriotism secular society during World War II, it manifests itself in the fact that the noble nobility does not go to the French theater and tries to speak Russian.
Tolstoy's favorite heroes embody him life ideal. Prince Andrei and Pierre, after long moral searches, come to the same conclusion: one must live for people, in truth and conscience. This, however, does not mean the rejection of a different opinion, from the intense mental work characteristic of both.
So, "War and Peace" reflects the author's philosophical views on the world and man. In the time of Tolstoy, history was usually presented as a chain of deeds of kings and generals, while the people did not play any role in the historical arena, their mission was to fulfill the will of “great people”. Such a view of history was clearly reflected in Russian and European battle painting: “... in the foreground, a huge general is sitting on a horse and waving some kind of drecole; then clouds of dust or smoke - you can't make out; then, behind the clubs, tiny soldiers, put on the picture only to show how great the commander is and how small the lower ranks are in comparison with him ”(D.I. Pisarev).
Tolstoy, reflecting on the historical process, analyzing the critical moments of Russian history, comes to the conclusion that the people are not two or three peanuts in the background of a battle picture, the people are the creator of history. So the writer refused one extreme point vision (history is the deeds of “great people”), but began to defend the other extreme (history is impersonal): “The actions of Napoleon and Alexander, on whose words it seemed that the event took place or not took place, were as little arbitrary as the action of each soldier who went on a campaign by lot or by recruitment” (3, 1, I). It seems that the correct point of view is in the middle between the extremes - the whole nation creates history: the tsar, and generals, and senior and junior officers, and simple soldiers, and partisans, and civilians - in a word, all those who do at least something useful for the common cause, and even those who oppose common cause. In other words, the historical process takes place according to a known latin proverb: fate leads the smart, but drags the stupid.
The philosophical concept in Tolstoy's novel is expressed not only in special digressions, not only in the images of Napoleon and Kutuzov, but also in each hero of the work, since each image in one way or another illustrates the ideas of the author's moral philosophy. Tolstoy, like all Russian writers mid-nineteenth century, tried to solve the problem goodie and looked for him among the nobility. In contemporary Russian life, the writer did not see such heroes, but, turning to history, he found positive images- these are the nobles of 1812 and 1825. They were ahead of their time moral character turned out to be closer to the progressive Russian people of the 60s of the 19th century than to their contemporaries of the first quarter of the 19th century.
Evaluating all the heroes according to the same moral criteria (simplicity, kindness, truth), Tolstoy brings to historical novel about the Patriotic War of 1812, a universal (philosophical) meaning, which makes the work deeper in content and allows us to call it an epic. moral ideal The writer is, without a doubt, folk ideal moral life. The rejection of egoism, vanity, idleness, the desire to rise to universal human interests, to elevate one's feelings above the ordinary - this is what Tolstoy calls for in his moral teaching presented in War and Peace.
"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy is not just classic novel, but the real heroic epic whose literary value is incomparable with any other work. The writer himself considered it a poem, where private life of a person is inseparable from the history of the whole country.
It took Leo Tolstoy seven years to perfect his novel. Back in 1863, the writer more than once discussed plans to create a large-scale literary canvas with his father-in-law A.E. Bers. In September of the same year, the father of Tolstoy's wife sent a letter from Moscow, where he mentioned the writer's idea. Historians consider this date official start epic work. A month later, Tolstoy wrote to his relative that all his time and attention was occupied by new novel over which he thinks like never before.
History of creation
The initial idea of the writer was to create a work about the Decembrists, who spent 30 years in exile and returned home. The starting point described in the novel was to be 1856. But then Tolstoy changed his plans, deciding to display everything from the beginning of the Decembrist uprising of 1825. And this was not destined to come true: the third idea of the writer was the desire to describe the young years of the hero, which coincided with large-scale historical events: the war of 1812. The final version was the period from 1805. The circle of heroes was also expanded: the events in the novel cover the history of many personalities who have gone through all the hardships of different historical periods in the life of the country.
The title of the novel also had several variants. The “working” name was “Three Pores”: the youth of the Decembrists during the Patriotic War of 1812; The Decembrist uprising of 1825 and the 50s of the 19th century, when several important events in the history of Russia Crimean War, the death of Nicholas I, the return of the amnestied Decembrists from Siberia. In the final version, the writer decided to focus on the first period, since writing a novel even on such a scale required a lot of effort and time. So instead of an ordinary work, a whole epic was born, which has no analogues in world literature.
Tolstoy devoted the entire autumn and early winter of 1856 to writing the beginning of War and Peace. Already at that time, he repeatedly tried to quit his job, because, in his opinion, it was not possible to convey the whole idea on paper. Historians say that in the writer's archive there were fifteen options for the beginning of the epic. In the process of work, Lev Nikolayevich tried for himself to find answers to questions about the role of man in history. He had to study many chronicles, documents, materials describing the events of 1812. The confusion in the writer’s head was caused by the fact that all information sources assessed both Napoleon and Alexander I in different ways. Then Tolstoy decided for himself to move away from the subjective statements of strangers and display in the novel his own assessment of events based on true facts. From diverse sources, he borrowed documentary materials, records of contemporaries, newspaper and magazine articles, letters from generals, archival documents of the Rumyantsev Museum.
(Prince Rostov and Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna)
Considering it necessary to go directly to the scene, Tolstoy spent two days in Borodino. It was important for him to personally go around the place where large-scale and tragic events. He even personally made sketches of the sun on the field during different period days.
The trip gave the writer an opportunity to feel the spirit of history in a new way; became an inspiration for further work. For seven years, the work was on a spiritual upsurge and "burning". The manuscripts consisted of more than 5200 sheets. Therefore, "War and Peace" is easy to read even after a century and a half.
Analysis of the novel
Description
(Napoleon before the battle in thought)
The novel "War and Peace" touches upon a sixteen-year period in the history of Russia. The starting date is 1805, the final date is 1821. More than 500 characters are “employed” in the work. These are both real-life people, and fictional writers to add color to the description.
(Kutuzov before the Battle of Borodino is considering a plan)
The novel intertwines two main storylines: historical events in Russia and personal life heroes. Real historical figures are mentioned in the description of Austerlitz, Shengraben, Borodino battles; the capture of Smolensk and the surrender of Moscow. More than 20 chapters are devoted specifically to the battle of Borodino, as the main decisive event of 1812.
(In the illustration, an episode of the Ball by Natasha Rostova from the film "War and Peace" 1967.)
In opposition to "wartime", the writer describes the personal world of people and everything that surrounds them. Heroes fall in love, quarrel, reconcile, hate, suffer... In the confrontation between various characters, Tolstoy shows the difference in the moral principles of individuals. The writer is trying to tell that various events can change the worldview. One the whole picture The work consists of three hundred and thirty-three chapters of 4 volumes and another twenty-eight chapters placed in the epilogue.
First volume
The events of 1805 are described. In the "peaceful" part, life in Moscow and St. Petersburg is affected. The writer introduces the reader to the society of the main characters. The “military” part is the battles of Austerlitz and Shengraben. Tolstoy concludes the first volume with a description of how military defeats affected peaceful life characters.
Second volume
(The first ball of Natasha Rostova)
This is a completely "peaceful" part of the novel, which touched upon the life of the characters in the period 1806-1811: the birth of Andrei Bolkonsky's love for Natasha Rostova; freemasonry of Pierre Bezukhov, the kidnapping of Natasha Rostova by Karagin, Bolkonsky's refusal to marry Natasha Rostova. The end of the volume is a description of a formidable omen: the appearance of a comet, which is a symbol of great upheavals.
Third volume
(In the illustration, an episode of the Borodino battle of their film "War and Peace" 1967.)
In this part of the epic, the writer refers to wartime: the invasion of Napoleon, the surrender of Moscow, the battle of Borodino. On the battlefield, the main male characters novel: Bolkonsky, Kuragin, Bezukhov, Dolokhov... The end of the volume is the capture of Pierre Bezukhov, who made an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Napoleon.
Fourth volume
(After the battle, the wounded arrive in Moscow)
The “military” part is a description of the victory over Napoleon and the shameful retreat of the French army. Affects writer and period guerrilla war after 1812. All this is intertwined with the “peaceful” fates of the heroes: Andrei Bolkonsky and Helen pass away; love is born between Nikolai and Marya; think about living together Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov. And the main character of the volume is the Russian soldier Platon Karataev, in whose words Tolstoy tries to convey all the wisdom of the common people.
Epilogue
This part is devoted to describing the changes in the lives of the heroes seven years after 1812. Natasha Rostova is married to Pierre Bezukhov; Nicholas and Marya found their happiness; the son of Bolkonsky, Nikolenka, grew up. In the epilogue, the author reflects on the role individuals in the history of the whole country, and tries to show the historical interconnections of events and human destinies.
The main characters of the novel
More than 500 characters are mentioned in the novel. The author tried to describe the most important of them as accurately as possible, endowing with special features not only of character, but also of appearance:
Andrei Bolkonsky - Prince, son of Nikolai Bolkonsky. Constantly looking for the meaning of life. Tolstoy describes him as handsome, reserved, and with "dry" features. He possesses strong will. Dies as a result of a wound received at Borodino.
Marya Bolkonskaya - Princess, sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. Inconspicuous appearance and radiant eyes; piety and concern for relatives. In the novel, she marries Nikolai Rostov.
Natasha Rostova is the daughter of Count Rostov. In the first volume of the novel, she is only 12 years old. Tolstoy describes her as a girl of not very beautiful appearance (black eyes, big mouth), but at the same time “alive”. Her inner beauty attracts men. Even Andrei Bolkonsky is ready to fight for his hand and heart. At the end of the novel, she marries Pierre Bezukhov.
Sonya
Sonya is the niece of Count Rostov. In contrast to her cousin Natasha, she is beautiful in appearance, but much poorer in spirit.
Pierre Bezukhov is the son of Count Kirill Bezukhov. A clumsy massive figure, kind and at the same time strong character. He can be harsh, or he can become a child. Interested in Freemasonry. He is trying to change the life of the peasants and influence large-scale events. Initially married to Helen Kuragina. At the end of the novel, he marries Natasha Rostova.
Helen Kuragin is the daughter of Prince Kuragin. beauty, visible society lady. She married Pierre Bezukhov. Changeable, cold. Dies as a result of an abortion.
Nikolai Rostov is the son of Count Rostov and Natasha's brother. The successor of the family and the defender of the Fatherland. He took part in military campaigns. He married Marya Bolkonskaya.
Fedor Dolokhov is an officer, a member of the partisan movement, as well as a great swashbuckler and lover of ladies.
Counts of Rostov
The Rostov counts are the parents of Nikolai, Natasha, Vera, and Petya. Revered married couple, an example to follow.
Nikolai Bolkonsky - Prince, father of Marya and Andrei. In Catherine's time, a significant personality.
The author pays much attention to the description of Kutuzov and Napoleon. The commander appears before us as smart, unfeigned, kind and philosophical. Napoleon is described as a little fat man with an unpleasantly feigned smile. At the same time, it is somewhat mysterious and theatrical.
Analysis and conclusion
In the novel "War and Peace" the writer tries to convey to the reader " folk thought". Its essence is that each positive hero has his own connection with the nation.
Tolstoy departed from the principle of telling a story in a novel in the first person. Evaluation of characters and events goes through monologues and author's digressions. At the same time, the writer leaves the reader the right to assess what is happening. A prime example the scene of the Battle of Borodino, shown as from the side historical facts, and the subjective opinion of the hero of the novel, Pierre Bezukhov. The writer does not forget about the bright historical figure- General Kutuzov.
The main idea of the novel lies not only in the disclosure of historical events, but also in the ability to understand that one must love, believe and live under any circumstances.
