L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” is an epic novel that spans more than one decade and tells about more than one family and, of course, not about the life of one person. There are main characters and less significant ones. Each of the main characters is constantly looking for himself, follows the path of struggle with himself, doubts, makes mistakes, falls, rises and continues the search again. These are Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov, Nikolai Rostov and many others. They are in a state of constant search for the meaning of life, find it and lose it again. But what is especially surprising is that this does not seem to concern the heroines of the novel, they know who they are, they know how and what they are supposed to do, and there is no place for struggle in their souls, since harmony reigns there.
The lives of people in Tolstoy's novel are divided into true and false, and exactly the same clear distinction exists among female characters. Princess Marya Bolkonskaya and Natasha Rostova undoubtedly live true life, while Helen Bezukhova and Julie Karagina are representatives of false life.
The main principle of the novel’s composition, stated already in the title, is opposition; it is also maintained in the construction of female characters. In the novel, Helen Bezukhova and Natasha Rostova are antipodes. Helen is cold and calm, Natasha, on the contrary, is very noisy, cheerful, cheerful - “gunpowder”. Tolstoy emphasizes this difference in every possible way, choosing opposite epithets to describe them: Helen is “beautiful,” “brilliant,” Natasha is “an ugly but lively girl.” Despite external beauty, Helen is completely empty inside. She is popular in society and is considered smart woman- in the society that represents “a false life” in the novel. Natasha, for all her angularity and ugliness, is a beautiful soul. She is “a particularly poetic, full of life... girl” who has the ability to penetrate the feelings of other people, understand them and respond with all her heart to other people’s troubles.
Helen represents a mature person, while Natasha at the beginning of the novel is “at that sweet age when a girl is no longer a child, and a child is not yet a girl.” The novel shows Natasha's development, her maturation, and Helen plays a huge role in this process. Their clash in the work, which becomes the impetus for the novel between Natasha and Anatole, is a clash of morality and spiritual baseness, humanity and inhumanity, good and evil. Under Helen's influence, what was always strange for Natasha becomes natural and simple. This test had a serious impact on her: without changing fundamentally, she became completely different - more serious, more adult.
These two heroines live according to completely different, opposite principles. Natasha Rostova openly enjoys life; she is guided not by reason, but by emotions. One has only to remember another heroine, who is always guided in everything exclusively by the voice of reason, and a chill immediately blows through. Helen stands firmly on her feet and always knows exactly what is beneficial and necessary for her.
Thanks to her character, Natasha is the soul of the Rostov family. Only she knows how to see everyone’s grief and help, only she knows how to bring her mother back to life, while forgetting about her own grief. To highlight her image, Tolstoy draws images of two more girls, also raised in the Rostov family: eldest daughter Vera and Sonya's nieces.
Vera “was good, she was not stupid, she studied well, she was well brought up.” She represents a kind of “mistake” of Countess Rostova: she was kept in strictness and “educated”, unlike Natasha. Perhaps Natasha could have been like this if she had been raised differently. Vera, with her cold, reasonable mind, is contrasted with Natasha: they are completely different, although they have “the same last name,” as Berg says.
Another pupil of the Rostov family, niece Sonya, “resembled a beautiful, but not yet formed kitten, which would be a lovely cat.” Tolstoy repeats this comparison more than once, drawing attention to something “cat-like” in Sonya in order to better explain to the reader both her unsuccessful love and future fate, and her behavior. Her amiability is combined with the ability to “let out her claws and show her cat nature” at the right time. Like a cat, Sonya “has taken root not with people, but with the house in which she lives,” which explains her position in the epilogue. Having come to terms with her purpose as a “barren flower,” she lives calmly in the house of the Rostovs and Bezukhovs. It seems that without Sonya there simply could not be other heroes, just as there is definitely a barren flower on the strawberry.
Another contrast that is present in the novel, although not emphasized so clearly, is the comparison of Princess Marya Bolkonskaya and Julie Karagina. They are united by the position that they both occupy in society: rich, ugly girls, a profitable match for anyone. Besides, they are friends, as far as friends can be different girls. Julie, unlike Princess Marya, lives in the capital, is perfectly familiar with all the rules and habits secular society, it is an integral part of it - part of false life.
In describing the appearance of Marya Bolkonskaya, Tolstoy draws the reader’s attention to “the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant.” In the novel, Tolstoy offers two visions of Princess Marya - through the eyes of Anatole and through the eyes of Nikolai Rostov. The first one finds her ugly, bad: being a completely immoral person, he is simply unable to see the light emitted by beautiful eyes princesses. Rostov sees something completely different in her: he perceives the princess not as a desirable match, but as a “defenseless, grief-stricken” girl, notes “the meekness, nobility in her features and expression.” It is for Nikolai that Marya saves that radiant look, “which made her forget the ugliness of her face.”
If A. N. Tolstoy makes the choice between Natasha and Helen through Pierre, then in the second case the “spokesman” author's position is Nikolai Rostov. He sees nothing in Julie, although he is well aware that she would be a profitable match for him, nevertheless he prefers Sonya to her. Marya “bewitches” him with her inner beauty, and he, despite internal doubts, still makes a choice in her favor. Its depth spiritual world, revealing herself to Nikolai, makes her especially attractive to him. He involuntarily compares her with Sonya, and compares not their financial situation, but the “poverty” in one and the “wealth” in the other of those spiritual gifts that he himself does not have.
Princess Marya, like Natasha, lives by love, only this feeling for her is not all-consuming, like Natasha’s, but timid, afraid to come out. They are similar, both are pure, deeply moral natures, it is no coincidence that the author gives them a similar trait - ugliness, thereby contrasting them with Sonya, Vera and Helen. L.N. Tolstoy compares not only the characters of the heroines, but also their appearance, manner of behaving and speaking in order to most clearly reflect the main idea of the novel - the opposition between true and false life.
The female image in the novel “War and Peace” by L. N. Tolstoy is, one might say, a theme separate work. With its help, the author shows us his attitude to life, understanding of a woman’s happiness and her purpose. The pages of the book present many characters and destinies of representatives of the fair sex: Natasha Rostova, Maria Bolkonskaya, Lisa Bolkonskaya, Sonya, Helen Kuragina. Each of them is worthy of our attention and shows the attitude of the great writer towards this. So, let’s try to remember who embodies the female character in the novel “War and Peace”. We will pay attention to several heroines who appear on the pages of the work.
Natasha Rostova at the beginning of the novel
This female image in the novel "War and Peace" requires most attention author, he dedicates many pages of his creation to Natasha. The heroine, of course, arouses the keenest interest of readers. At the beginning of the work she is a child, but a little later a young enthusiastic girl appears before us. We can see her gracefully twirling in a dance, smiling, looking at life as if it were a just-opened book, full of mysteries, miracles, and adventures. This is an amazingly kind and open young lady who loves the whole world and trusts it. Every day of her life is a real holiday, she is her parents' favorite. It seems that such an easy character will definitely give her a happy, carefree life with a loving husband.
She is fascinated by beauty moonlit night, she sees something beautiful in every moment. Such enthusiasm wins the heart of Andrei Bolkonsky, who accidentally overheard a conversation between Natasha and Sonya. Natasha, of course, also falls in love with him easily, joyfully, selflessly. However, her feeling has not stood the test of time; with the same readiness she accepts the courtship of Anatoly Kuragin. Andrei cannot forgive her for this, which he confesses to his friend, Pierre Bezukhov. It is difficult to blame Natasha for infidelity, because she is so young and so wants to learn more about life. This is the young female image in the novel War and Peace.
Natasha Rostova. Trials in life
However, the girl faces many trials that greatly change her character. Who knows, perhaps if Natasha had not faced life’s difficulties, she would have grown into a narcissistic egoist, thinking only about her interests and joys, unable to make her husband and children happy.
She readily undertakes to care for the dying Andrei Bolkonsky, showing herself as a completely mature, adult person.
After Andrei’s death, Natasha is very grieving and has a hard time experiencing his passing. Now we are no longer looking at a cheerful coquette, but a serious young woman who has experienced a loss.
The next blow in her life is the death of her brother Petya. She cannot indulge in grief, since her mother needs help, almost because of the loss of her son. Natasha spends day and night at her bedside, talking to her. Her gentle voice calms the countess, who has turned from a youthful woman into an old woman.
We see before us a completely different captivating female image in the novel War and Peace. Natasha Rostova is now completely different, she easily sacrifices her interests for the sake of the happiness of others. It seems as if all the warmth that her parents gave her is now poured out onto those around her.
Natasha Rostova at the end of the novel
For many, the favorite female character in the novel “War and Peace” is the image of Natasha Rostova. This heroine is loved by the author himself; it is not without reason that he pays so much attention to her. At the end of the work we see Natasha as the mother of a large family who lives by caring for loved ones. Now she doesn't resemble that one at all young girl, which was before us on the first pages of the work. The happiness of this woman is the well-being and health of her children and husband Pierre. Empty pastime and idleness are alien to her. She gives back with even greater force the love she received at a tender age.
Of course, Natasha is now not so graceful and beautiful, she doesn’t take very good care of herself, and wears simple clothes. This woman lives in the interests of people close to her, devoting herself entirely to her husband and children.
Surprisingly, she is absolutely happy. It is known that a person is capable only when he lives in the interests of loved ones, because loved ones are an extension of ourselves. Love for children is also love for oneself, only in a broader sense.
This is how L.N. Tolstoy described this amazing female image in the novel “War and Peace.” Natasha Rostova, it’s difficult to talk about her briefly, is the ideal woman of the writer himself. He admires her graceful youth, admires the matured heroine and makes her a happy mother and wife. Tolstoy believed that the greatest happiness for a woman is marriage and motherhood. Only then will her life be filled with meaning.
L.N. Tolstoy also shows us how different female attractiveness can be. At a young age, admiration for the world and openness to everything new certainly delight others. However, such behavior in an adult lady may seem ridiculous. Just imagine if it was not a young girl who admired the beauty of the night, but a lady of a more mature age. Most likely, she would look ridiculous. Every age has its own beauty. Caring for loved ones makes an adult woman happy, and her spiritual beauty makes others admire her.
When high school students are asked to write an essay on the topic “My favorite female character in the novel “War and Peace”,” everyone, without exception, writes about Natasha Rostova, although, if desired, of course, they could write about someone else. This once again confirms that generally accepted human values have been defined in the world for a long time, and the heroine of a novel written more than a hundred years ago still evokes sympathy.
Marya Bolkonskaya
Another favorite female character of the author in the novel “War and Peace” is Marya Bolkonskaya, Andrei Bolkonsky’s sister. Unlike Natasha, she did not have the liveliness of character and attractiveness. As Tolstoy writes about Marya Nikolaevna, she was ugly: weak body, thin face. The girl meekly obeyed her father, who wanted to develop her activity and intelligence, being confident in her daughter’s absolute unpretentiousness. Her life consisted of classes in algebra and geometry.
However, the extraordinary decoration of this woman’s face were her eyes, which the author himself calls the mirror of the soul. It was they who made her face “more attractive than beauty.” Marya Nikolaevna's eyes, large and always sad, radiated kindness. This author gives them an amazing description.
The female image in the novel “War and Peace”, embodied by Marya Nikolaevna, is an absolute virtue. From the way the author writes about her, it becomes clear how much he admires such women, whose existence is sometimes unnoticed.
Andrei Bolkonsky’s sister, like Natasha, loves her family, although she was never pampered, she was brought up in strictness. Marya tolerated her father and respected him. She couldn’t even think about discussing Nikolai Andreevich’s decisions; she was in awe of everything he did.
Marya Nikolaevna is very impressionable and kind. She is saddened by her father's bad mood, she sincerely rejoices at the arrival of her fiancé, Anatoly Kuragin, in whom she sees kindness, masculinity, and generosity.
Like any kind woman Marya, of course, dreams of children. She endlessly believes in fate, in the will of the Almighty. Bolkonsky’s sister does not dare to desire anything for herself; her noble, deep nature is incapable of envy.
Marya Nikolaevna's naivety does not allow her to see human vices. She sees in everyone a reflection of her own pure soul: love, kindness, decency.
Marya is one of those who are truly happy with the happiness of others. This smart and bright woman is simply not capable of anger, envy, revenge and other base feelings.
So, the second delightful female character in the novel “War and Peace” is Marya Bolkonskaya. Perhaps Tolstoy loves her no less than Natasha Rostova, although he does not pay so much attention to her. She is like the ideal author that Natasha will come to after many years. Having neither children nor family, she finds her happiness in giving warmth to other people.
Women's happiness of Marya Bolkonskaya
Bolkonsky’s sister was not mistaken: without wanting anything for herself, she nevertheless met a man who sincerely loved her. Marya became the wife of Nikolai Rostov.
Two, it would seem, completely different people fit each other perfectly. Each of them experienced disappointment: Marya - in Anatol Kuragin, Nikolai - in Alexander the First. Nikolai turned out to be the person who was able to increase the wealth of the Bolkonsky family, making his wife’s life happy.
Marya surrounds her husband with care and understanding: she approves of his desire to improve himself through hard work, through housekeeping and caring for the peasants.
The female image in the novel "War and Peace", embodied by Marya Bolkonskaya, is a portrait real woman, accustomed to sacrificing herself for the well-being of others and being happy because of this.
Marya Bolkonskaya and Natasha Rostova
Natasha Rostova, whom we see at the beginning of the work, is absolutely not like Marya: she wants happiness for herself. Andrei Bolkonsky’s sister, like her brother, puts a sense of duty, faith, and religion first.
However, the older Natasha gets, the more she resembles Princess Marya in that she wishes happiness for others. However, they are different. Natasha's happiness can be called more down-to-earth; she lives by everyday chores and activities.
Marya is more concerned about the mental well-being of loved ones.
Sonya
The niece of Natasha Rostova's father is another female image. In the novel War and Peace, Sonya seemingly exists only to show best qualities Natasha.
This girl, on the one hand, is very positive: she is reasonable, decent, kind, and ready to sacrifice herself. If we talk about her appearance, then she is very good. This is a slender graceful brunette with long eyelashes and a luxurious braid.
Initially, Nikolai Rostov was in love with her, but they were unable to get married because Nikolai's parents insisted on postponing the wedding.
A girl's life to a greater extent subject to reason, not feelings. Tolstoy does not really like this heroine, despite all of her. He leaves her lonely.
Lisa Bolkonskaya
Liza Bolkonskaya is, one might say, a supporting heroine, the wife of Prince Andrei. In the world they call her “the little princess.” She is remembered by readers thanks to her pretty upper lip with a mustache. Lisa is an attractive person, even this small flaw gives the young woman a unique charm that is unique to her. She's good, full vitality and health. This woman easily endures her delicate position, and everyone around her has fun watching her.
It is important for Lisa to be in society; she is spoiled, even capricious. She is not inclined to think about the meaning of life, leads the usual lifestyle for a society lady, loves empty conversations in salons and at evenings, and enjoys new outfits. Bolkonsky's wife does not understand her husband, Prince Andrei, who considers it important to benefit society.
Lisa loves him superficially, as if they were just about to get married. For her, he is a background that fits into the ideas of society ladies about what a husband should be like. Lisa doesn’t understand his thoughts about the meaning of life; it seems to her that everything is simple.
It's hard for them to be together. Andrei is forced to accompany her to balls and other social events, which becomes completely unbearable for him.
This is perhaps the simplest female character in the novel War and Peace. Liza Bolkonskaya remained unchanged from the first edition of the novel. Its prototype was the wife of one of Tolstoy’s relatives, Princess Volkonskaya.
Despite the complete lack of mutual understanding between the spouses, Andrei Bolkonsky, in a conversation with Pierre, notes that she is a rare woman with whom you can be calm about your own honor.
When Andrei leaves for the war, Lisa moves into his father's house. Her superficiality is once again confirmed by the fact that she prefers to communicate with Mademoiselle Bourrienne rather than with Princess Marya.
Lisa had a presentiment that she would not be able to survive childbirth, and so it happened. She treated everyone with love and did not wish harm to anyone. Her face spoke of this even after death.
Lisa Bolkonskaya's character flaw is that she is superficial and selfish. However, this does not prevent her from being gentle, affectionate, and good-natured. She is a pleasant and cheerful conversationalist.
However, Tolstoy treats her coldly. He does not like this heroine because of her spiritual emptiness.
Helen Kuragina
The last female character in the novel “War and Peace” is Helen Kuragina. Or rather, this is the last heroine we will write about in this article.
Of all the women who appear on the pages of this grandiose novel, Helen is certainly the most beautiful and luxurious.
Behind her beautiful appearance are selfishness, vulgarity, intellectual and spiritual underdevelopment. Helen realizes the power of her beauty and uses it.
She achieves everything she wants through her own appearance. Having become accustomed to this state of affairs, this woman stopped striving for personal development.
Helene becomes the wife of Pierre Bezukhov solely because of his rich inheritance. She does not really strive to create a strong family, to give birth to children.
The War of 1812 finally puts everything in its place. For the sake of her own well-being, Helen converts to Catholicism, while her compatriots unite against the enemy. This woman, whose image can be called “dead,” really dies.
Of course, the most beautiful female character in the novel “War and Peace” is Helen. Tolstoy admires her shoulders at Natasha Rostova’s first ball, but he interrupts her life, considering such an existence meaningless.
Lisa Bolkonskaya, Helen Kuragina and Natasha Rostova
As mentioned above, the deaths of Lisa and Helen were not accidental. They both lived for themselves, were capricious, selfish.
Let's remember what Natasha Rostova was like at the beginning of the novel. Just like Liza Bolkonskaya, she admired balls and high society.
Like Helen Kuragina, she was attracted to something forbidden and inaccessible. It was for this reason that she was going to run away with Anatole.
However, Natasha’s high spirituality does not allow her to remain forever a superficial fool and plunge, like Helen, into a depraved life. The main character of the novel accepts the difficulties that befall her, helps her mother, and takes care of the terminally ill Andrei.
The deaths of Lisa and Helen symbolize that passion for social events and the desire to try the forbidden should remain in youth. Maturity requires us to be more balanced and willing to sacrifice our own interests.
Tolstoy created a whole gallery of female images. He loved some of them, others not, but for some reason he included them in his novel. It is difficult to determine what is the best female character in the novel War and Peace. Even negative and unloved heroines were invented by the author for a reason. They show us human vices, the inability to distinguish what is feigned and superficial from what is truly important. And let everyone decide for themselves what the most attractive female character in the novel “War and Peace” is.
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy's novel is filled with many heroes, and each of them is endowed with their own individual, special character traits. Tolstoy divides all the characters in the novel into positive and negative. By reading each line of the work, the reader can observe the dynamics of the development of the inner world of individuals, and can also follow the disintegration, the gradual decomposition of everything spiritual and moral in the participants in the events taking place.
Of course, female characters were not left out, who are also divided into two camps. The first include hypocritical, deceitful and cynical people, such as Helen Kuragina, Anna Scherer, Julie Karagina.
Completely opposite, real, light and noble people can be called main character Natasha Rostova, Sonya, Vera, Maria Bolkonskaya.
Refers to ideal women from secular society. She is chic, graceful, mannered. However, among all these qualities one cannot find sincerity or humanity. When marrying Pierre, Helen is guided by his decent fortune, and not by any feelings. With her free behavior, her betrayals and betrayals, Helen subjected her husband to a dangerous duel in which he competed with Dolokhov.
Of course, after what happened, such puppet, feigned relationships stopped. Tolstoy gives his heroine a sad fate. She dies of illness and goes to another world.
She becomes another heroine of the novel. The reader sees all the love and sympathy with which Lev Nikolaevich treats this bright and cheerful girl. We are tracking life path Natasha from her thirteenth birthday until her marriage.
Natasha was brought up in a good good family, V wonderful atmosphere, that’s why I grew up to be such a wonderful, soulful girl.
Next to Natasha was always her friend, an orphan. The author pays much less attention to describing the character and personality of this girl, however, from individual fragments it is clear that she is gentle and patient, that she is loyal and pure. That is why Natasha and Sonya developed a great friendship. The girls were very similar.
Rostova's external image is not very attractive, however, the heroine is adorned by her bright, immaculate soul. She commits noble deeds, she is always sincere and truthful. Natasha lives in her soul with love, which she carries in her heart throughout the entire text of the novel.
Natasha Rostova becomes Lev Nikolaevich's favorite heroine, she is like the ideal of a woman who has turned into a mother, into a devoted and loving wife.
Another positive heroine of the novel was Maria Bolkonskaya. The author does not endow her with special beauty. Rather, she is not even beautiful. Maria is constantly overwhelmed by a feeling of fear, because she is intimidated by her strict father. Maria devotes all of herself to her family, her father, the old Prince Bolkonsky, and her brother. It can be called support, support, which always came in handy in difficult and difficult times. Lovely and clean inner world Mary was given away by her deep, large eyes, which radiated warmth and light. The girl was endowed with high spirituality and nobility, strength of will and character. After her father's death, she takes control of her estate. And it does it perfectly. Ultimately, Maria finds a husband and becomes a wonderful mother.
Having completed reading the novel, it seems to me that each of the heroines of the work reflects some part of the worldview of the author himself - Lev Nikolaevich. He gives happiness to some girls and peaceful life, and “kills” others for low and hypocritical actions.
In Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" the reader experiences great amount images All of them are excellently depicted by the author, lively and interesting. Tolstoy himself divided his heroes into positive and negative, and not just into secondary and main ones. Thus, positivity was emphasized by the dynamic nature of the character, while staticity and hypocrisy indicated that the hero was far from perfect.
In the novel, several images of women appear before us. And they are also divided by Tolstoy into two groups.
The first includes female images that lead a false, artificial life. All their aspirations are aimed at achieving one single goal - high position in society. These include Anna Scherer, Helen Kuragina, Julie Karagina and other representatives of high society.
The second group includes those who lead a true, real, natural lifestyle. Tolstoy emphasizes the evolution of these heroes. These include Natasha Rostova, Marya Bolkonskaya, Sonya, Vera.
An absolute genius social life You can call Helen Kuragina. She was as beautiful as a statue. And just as soulless. But in fashion salons no one cares about your soul. The most important thing is how you turn your head, how gracefully you smile when greeting and what an impeccable French pronunciation you have. But Helen is not just soulless, she is vicious. Princess Kuragina marries not Pierre Bezukhov, but his inheritance.
Helen was a master at luring men by appealing to their baser instincts. So, Pierre feels something bad, dirty in his feelings for Helen. She offers herself to anyone who can provide her with rich life, full of secular pleasures: “Yes, I am a woman who can belong to anyone and you too.”
Helen cheated on Pierre, she had everything famous novel with Dolokhov. And Count Bezukhov was forced to fight a duel in defense of his honor. The passion that clouded his eyes quickly passed, and Pierre realized what a monster he was living with. Of course, the divorce turned out to be good for him.
It is important to note that in the characteristics of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, their eyes occupy a special place. Eyes are the mirror of the soul. Helen doesn't have it. As a result, we learn that the life of this heroine ends sadly. She dies of illness. Thus, Tolstoy pronounces sentence on Helen Kuragina.
Tolstoy's favorite heroines in the novel are Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya.
Marya Bolkonskaya is not famous for her beauty. She looks like a frightened animal because she is very afraid of her father, the old Prince Bolkonsky. She is characterized by “a sad, frightened expression that rarely left her and made her ugly, painful face even more ugly...”. Only one feature shows us her inner beauty: “the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so beautiful that very often... these eyes became more attractive than beauty.”
Marya devoted her life to her father, being his irreplaceable support and support. She has a very deep connection with the whole family, with her father and brother. This connection manifests itself in moments of emotional turmoil.
Distinctive feature Marya, like her entire family, has high spirituality and great inner strength. After the death of her father, surrounded by French troops, the grief-stricken princess nevertheless proudly rejects the French general’s offer of patronage and leaves Bogucharovo. In the absence of men in an extreme situation, she manages the estate alone and does it wonderfully. At the end of the novel, this heroine gets married and becomes a happy wife and mother.
The most charming image of the novel is that of Natasha Rostova. The work shows her spiritual path from a thirteen year old girl to married woman, mother of many children.
From the very beginning, Natasha was characterized by cheerfulness, energy, sensitivity, and a subtle perception of goodness and beauty. She grew up in the morally pure atmosphere of the Rostov family. Her best friend there was the resigned Sonya, an orphan. The image of Sonya is not written out so carefully, but in some scenes (explanation of the heroine and Nikolai Rostov), the reader is struck by the pure and noble soul of this girl. Only Natasha notices that “something is missing” in Sonya... She, indeed, does not have the liveliness and fire characteristic of Rostova, but the tenderness and meekness, so beloved by the author, excuses everything.
The author emphasizes the deep connection between Natasha and Sonya and the Russian people. This is great praise for the heroines from their creator. For example, Sonya fits perfectly into the atmosphere Christmas fortune telling and caroling. Natasha “knew how to understand everything that was in Anisya, and in Anisya’s father, and in her aunt, and in her mother, and in every Russian person.” Emphasizing folk basis Tolstoy very often shows his heroines against the backdrop of Russian nature.
Natasha’s appearance, at first glance, is ugly, but it ennobles her inner beauty. Natasha always remains herself, never pretends, unlike her secular acquaintances. The expression of Natasha's eyes is very diverse, as are the manifestations of her soul. They are “shining”, “curious”, “provocative and somewhat mocking”, “desperately animated”, “stopped”, “pleading”, “frightened” and so on.
The essence of Natasha's life is love. She, despite all the hardships, carries it in her heart and finally becomes the embodied ideal of Tolstoy. Natasha turns into a mother who completely devotes herself to her children and husband. There are no interests in her life other than family ones. So she became truly happy.
All the heroines of the novel, to one degree or another, represent the worldview of the author himself. Natasha, for example, is a favorite heroine because she fully meets Tolstoy’s own needs for a woman. And Helen is “killed” by the author for not being able to appreciate the warmth of the hearth.