Introduction
The theme of patriotism in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the central ones. It is no coincidence that almost two volumes of the famous epic are dedicated to her.
Patriotism of the people in the work
What is patriotism according to Tolstoy? This is a natural movement of the soul that makes a person not think about himself “with the awareness of general misfortune.” The War of 1812, which affected everyone, showed how much Russians love their Fatherland. Reading the text of the work, we find many examples of this.
So, Smolensk residents burn houses and bread so that the French do not get them. The merchant Ferapontov gives all the goods to the soldiers and sets fire to his property with his own hands. “Get everything, guys! Don't let the devils get you!" - he shouts.
Moscow residents are also deeply patriotic. An indicative episode is when Napoleon Poklonnaya Hill waiting for a deputation with the keys to the city. But most residents left Moscow. Craftsmen and merchants left. The nobles, for whom French was their native language before the enemy arrived on Russian soil, also left the city.
Patriotism in the novel sometimes awakens even in those from whom it would be difficult to expect. Thus, Princess Katish, who, together with Vasily, is participating in the hunt for the will of Count Bezukhov, declares to Pierre: “Whatever I am, I cannot live under Bonaparte’s rule.” Even the cutesy gossip Julie Karagina leaves with everyone with the words: “I am not Joan of Arc and not an Amazon.” Muscovites left their hometown “because for the Russian people there could be no question: whether it would be good or bad under the rule of the French in Moscow. It was impossible to be under the control of the French.”
Natasha and Pierre during the war
The writer’s favorite heroes cannot stay away from the general misfortune. Pierre decides to stay in the capital to shoot French Emperor“in order to either perish or end the misfortune of all of Europe.” He saves an unfamiliar girl from a burning garden and attacks a French soldier who is trying to remove a necklace from a woman. Pierre finds himself on the battlefield and in captivity, he was almost shot by the French and saved by Russian partisans. It is the war that makes Pierre look at himself and others with different eyes, and feel his closeness to the common people.
The feeling of “the need for sacrifice and suffering” during a general misfortune makes Natasha Rostova shout at her mother, who does not want to give her carts to the wounded. At that moment, Natasha does not think that she might end up homeless. She only thinks that the wounded cannot be left to the French.
True patriots on the battlefields
When talking about the theme of patriotism in War and Peace, it is impossible not to mention the direct participants in the battles, generals and ordinary soldiers.
First of all, the reader is attracted by the image of Kutuzov. Like many of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, Kutuzov has an unattractive appearance “in a long frock coat on a huge thick body”, “with a stooped back”, “with a leaky white eye on a swollen face” - this is how the writer paints the great commander before the Battle of Borodino. Tolstoy emphasizes that this man combined physical weakness and spiritual strength. It was she, this inner strength, that allowed him to make an unpopular decision - to leave Moscow in order to save the army. It was thanks to her that he had the strength to free the Fatherland from the French.
Images of other heroes also appear before us. These are real historical figures: generals Raevsky, Ermolov Dokhturov, Bagration. And fictional brave men, including Prince Andrei, Timokhin, Nikolai Rostov and many others, whose names are unknown.
The writer and participants in the guerrilla war show true patriots of the fatherland. They did not participate in great battles, but destroyed the enemy in the ways available to them. Tikhon Shcherbaty, elder Vasilisa, Denis Davydov. It is their exploits that delight young Petya Rostov, who joins the partisan detachment.
False patriots in the novel
Tolstoy contrasts true patriots with false patriots, who do not care about the common misfortune and who try to extract their own benefit from it.
So, visitors to the Scherer salon live an ordinary life. She even organizes a reception on the day of the Battle of Borodino. Patriotism of the hostess fashion salon manifests itself only in the fact that she gently chides those who visit the French theater.
There are also “false patriots” among staff officers. Among them is Boris Drubetskoy, who, thanks to his ingenuity, “managed to stay in the main apartment.” Berg, who in a pathetic tone makes a fiery speech to Count Rostov, and then begins to bargain with him for a “dressing room” and a toilet “with an English secret.” And, of course, Count Rostopchin, who with his calls and empty activities doomed thousands of people to death, and then, having given the son of the merchant Vereshchagin to be torn to pieces by an angry crowd, flees from Moscow.
Conclusion
In conclusion of the essay on the topic of patriotism in the novel “War and Peace,” it must be said that Tolstoy was able to show the reader how a true patriot of his Motherland should behave in the hour of danger that threatens it.
Work test
The topic of patriotism deeply worried Tolstoy. In his work, he tried to reveal this topic to the maximum. False and true patriotism in the novel "War and Peace" are opposed to each other. False patriots pursuing selfish goals, acting for the sake of their own interests and real defenders of the Fatherland, for whom duty, honor and conscience are above all. The war tore off the masks from people's faces, revealing their essence and turning everyone's soul inside out.
True patriotism
True patriotism is real actions, when, first of all, you think about the people and their fate. When, without hesitation, you give your life for the sake of your Motherland. Tolstoy was convinced that the Russian people were deeply patriotic. He is able to stand up like an invincible wall, protecting his own. The war affected everyone who was at that time and in that place. She did not choose who was rich or poor in front of her. Different segments of the population fell under its millstones. Everyone, to the best of their ability, tried to contribute to the overall victory over the enemy.When the French occupied Smolensk, the peasants burned hay so that it would not go to the enemies. The merchant Ferapontov decided to show patriotism in his own way. He personally burned down his trading post so that it would not fall into the hands of the French. Residents of Moscow also did not stand aside. The people did not want to remain under the yoke of impostors. They left their homes, leaving hometown.
Tolstoy describes Russian soldiers with love and pride. The battles of Smolensk, Shengraben, Austerlitz, the Battle of Borodino are examples worthy of respect. It was in battle that their best qualities manifested themselves: fortitude, iron character, readiness for self-sacrifice, courage. Everyone realized that the next battle could take the life of any of them, but no one was going to retreat or give up. They did not strive to look like heroes and did not flaunt their victories. They acted sincerely. In every step one could feel the love for the Motherland and Fatherland.
An example of true patriotism was commander Kutuzov. The tsar himself was against his appointment as commander, but Kutuzov managed to justify the trust placed in him. Kutuzov felt and understood the soldiers. He lived by their interests, cared for each one as if he were his own son. For him, everyone was family and loved ones.
The most difficult decision In Kutuzov's life during the war, there was an order to retreat. Not everyone would risk taking on such responsibility. It was a difficult choice. On the one hand, Moscow, on the other, all of Russia. Retreating from Moscow, he managed to preserve the army, the number of soldiers of which was significantly inferior to Napoleonic's. Another manifestation of Kutuzov's patriotism is his refusal to fight outside Russia. He was convinced that the people had fulfilled their civic duty to the Motherland and there was no need to risk their lives again.
Tolstoy did not ignore the partisans, comparing the partisan detachments with a strong club “rising with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes and rules... nailing the French... until the entire invasion was destroyed.”
False patriotism
False patriotism is completely saturated with falsehood. The actions of these people are ostentatious, the patriotic words coming from their lips are empty. Everything they do is only for their own benefit, for the sake of their own interests. At a time when real patriots fought for their Motherland, false patriots attended social events, went to salons, and spoke the enemy’s language.Not only secular society angers Tolstoy. He criticizes the officers who prefer to sit back and forth at headquarters, dodging battles where blood is shed and people are dying. Careerists who want to rise up at someone else's expense and get another order for free.
The author sought to emphasize that true patriotism, sincere feelings The common people are best able to show their commitment to the Motherland. In moments of shared grief, people become closer. An unknown force awakens in them, capable of pulverizing any enemy. Tolstoy tried to convey his theory to the people through Pierre Bezukhov, who realized that real happiness lies in unity with his people. Only when we are united are we invincible.
An example of completing task 17.3 on the Unified State Exam in literature with examples and quotations from the text.
It is a widely known fact that Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was favorably received at court and for some time moved in select circles. However, with age, the writer began to realize how many lies and falsehoods had accumulated in this high society, how falsely people behave towards each other, how dishonor covers itself with the veil of aristocratic origin. Gradually, he left the world and began to look for the truth among simple peasants and artisans, with whom he communicated and discovered a lot of simple, but at the same time, new and surprising things. That is why in his book “War and Peace” the author raises the topic of the truth and falsity of our values, concepts and principles.
Absolutely all components in the novel, from the title to the ideas, are built on contrasts: Kutuzov and Napoleon, military battles and peaceful scenes, sincere heroes and liars. By contrasting one with the other, Tolstoy makes it clear what is true and false in beauty, patriotism and love. Each person must determine this for themselves in order to better understand the world, people and, of course, themselves.
True and false patriotism in the novel War and Peace
In the novel "War and Peace" there are real and false, leavened patriots. For example, many nobles stopped speaking French and wore sundresses and caftans when the War of 1812 began. Prince Rostopchin, the Governor-General of Moscow, completely exuded tasteless, feigned, jingoistic appeals, and this was instead of really helping and supporting the frightened, desperate people who were leaving their native land.
Showed true patriotism simple people, who, being not rich, still burned their houses, belongings, arable land, just so as not to leave anything to the enemy, not to help him with their belongings and shelter to get to Moscow. Left destitute, these unknown heroes went into the forests and organized partisan detachments, and then dealt crushing blows to the French, risking their lives for the liberation of their homeland. At the same time, many nobles did not see the difference between the Russian Tsar and the foreign invader: they put their personal interests above national ones. They calmly accepted the invaders and fawned over them in order to preserve their privileges.
True and false heroism in the novel War and Peace
Prince Andrei thinks about true and false heroism when he goes to war for glory. At Shengraben, he takes part in the battle and sees the feat of the battery of the modest and awkward captain Tushin, the breakthrough of the detachment of captain Timokhin, who put the French to flight, and the daredevil Dolokhov, who heroically captured the French officer. The hero cannot figure out which of them is the real hero, although the answer lies on the surface. For example, Dolokhov demanded a reward for his action, boasted about it during the formation, and Tushin was almost deprived of command for his modesty, and would have been deprived if Bolkonsky had not stood up for him. Which one is the hero? Selfish Dolokhov or unknown hero Tushin? How to decide, since both of them risked their lives for a common goal?
At the Battle of Austerlitz, Andrei rouses the soldiers into a deadly bloody battle that could have been avoided. The hero, like Dolokhov, was flattered by the fame and did not count the heads along which he walked towards her. No wonder Kutuzov taught him to take care of life, but Bolkonsky did not heed this advice. This is false heroism, as the prince was convinced of from his own experience.
True and false beauty in the novel "War and Peace"
Tolstoy describes the multitude ugly women, because his task is to depict the truth of life. For example, about Natasha Rostova he writes: “Ugly, thin...”, and does not forget to mention the ugly stretched mouth of the crying girl, her angularity and imperfections on her face. He speaks directly about Princess Bolkonskaya: “Ugly Princess Marya...”.
But Helen, a regular at salons and balls, is a dazzling beauty. She is superbly built, her shoulders turned even the hottest heads.
However, true beauty for Tolstov does not lie in appearance: “The ugly princess Marya always looked prettier when she cried, and she always cried not from resentment, but from sadness or pity.” The soul of this girl was beautiful and shone from within when she was given free rein. Natasha Rostova is also beautiful in her mercy and simplicity. Her incomparable charm was also manifested in her creativity, because Natasha sang superbly and danced talentedly.
Thus, true beauty is always expressed in naturalness, kindness, creativity, but not in appetizing forms devoid of spiritual content. To those who don't understand true beauty, will not find happiness and harmony in life, like Pierre Bezukhov, who was deceived by Helen.
The meaning of the novel "War and Peace" lies in a permanent movement towards the truth, because only those heroes who were able to make this movement understood themselves and found happiness.
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Introduction
Heroically patriotic and anti-war themes are the defining, leading themes of Tolstoy's epic novel. This work has forever captured the feat of the Russian people, who defended their national independence with arms in their hands. “War and Peace” will continue to retain this meaning in the future, inspiring peoples to fight against foreign invaders.
The author of War and Peace was a committed and passionate advocate of peace. He knew well what war was, he saw it closely with his own eyes. For five years, young Tolstoy wore a military uniform, serving as an artillery officer in the field army, first in the Caucasus, then on the Danube and finally in the Crimea, where he participated in the heroic defense of Sevastopol.
The great work was preceded by a work on a novel about the Decembrist. In 1856, a manifesto was announced on amnesty for the people of December 14, and their return to their homeland caused an aggravation of Russian society. L.N. Tolstoy also showed attention to this event. He recalled: “In 1856, I began to write a story with a well-known direction, the hero of which was supposed to be a Decembrist returning with his family to Russia...” The writer did not intend to give the reader the apotheosis of the Decembrist movement: his plans included revising this page of Russian history in the light the defeat of Decembrism and offer their understanding of the fight against it, carried out by peaceful means and through non-violence. Therefore, the hero of the story was supposed to, upon returning from exile, condemn his revolutionary past and become a supporter of another solution to the problem - moral improvement as a recipe for the improvement of the entire society. However, Tolstoy's plan underwent significant changes. Let’s listen to the writer himself: “Involuntarily, from the present (that is, 1856), I moved to 1825, the era of my hero’s delusions and misfortunes, and left what I started. But in 1825 my hero was already a mature, family man. To understand him, I needed to travel back to his youth, and his youth coincided with the glory for Russia of the era of 1812. Another time I abandoned what I had started and began to write from the time of 1812, the smell and sound of which are still audible and dear to us.” So main theme The new novel was a heroic epic of the fight against the Napoleonic invasion. L. Tolstoy, however, continues: “The third time I returned back due to a feeling that may seem strange. I was ashamed to write about our triumph in the fight against Bonaparte’s France without describing our failures and our shame. If the reason for our triumph was not accidental, but lay in the essence of the character of the Russian people and troops, then this character should have been expressed even more clearly in the era of failures and defeats. So, having returned from 1825 to 1805, from now on I intend to take not just one, but many of my heroines and heroes through historical events 1805, 1807, 1812, 1825 and 1856.” This important author’s testimony conveys the grandiose scale of what is captured in the novel, and the development of the latter into an epic, and the multi-heroic nature of the work, and the significance of understanding the national character in it, and its deep historicism. An important previous work of Tolstoy was “Sevastopol Stories”, and the impetus in covering historical events was Crimean War with its failures that needed to be understood.
The work on “War and Peace” was accompanied by a huge creative surge of the writer. Never before had he felt his mental and moral powers so free and intended for creative work.
L. N. Tolstoy begins a thorough study historical sources, documentary literature, memoirs of participants in ancient events. He studies the works of A. I. Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky about the wars of 1805-1814, “Essays on the Battle of Borodino” by F. N. Glinka, “Diary of Partisan Actions of 1812” by D. V. Davydov, the book “Russia and the Russians” by N. I. Turgenev, “Notes about 1812” by S. N. Glinka, memoirs of A. P. Ermolov, memoirs of A. D. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, “Camping notes of an artilleryman” by I. T. Radozhitsky and many other works of this type. The Yasnaya Polyana library preserves 46 books and magazines that Tolstoy used throughout the time he was working on the novel War and Peace. In total, the writer used works, the list of which includes 74 titles.
The trip in September 1867 to the Borodino field, where a great battle once took place, became important. The writer walked around the famous field on foot, studying the location of Russian and French troops, the location of the Shevardinsky redoubt, Bagration's flushes, and Raevsky's battery. No less significant were the inquiries of the surviving contemporaries of the great battles and the study of the life of a distant era.
As we work on the novel, its folk origins become stronger and enriched. “I tried to write the history of the people,” Tolstoy left such a confession in the draft of the fourth volume. Gradually, “people's thought” became decisive in “War and Peace”; the favorite theme of the epic was the depiction of the feat of the people during the events of Russian history. The novel included 569 characters, among whom were 200 historical figures. But among them the main characters of the work are by no means lost, whose fates the writer traces carefully, with all the necessary psychological persuasiveness. At the same time, the author binds them with a variety of ties of kinship, love, friendship, marriage, business relations, general participation in grandiose historical events. There are quite a few people in the novel whose individual traits of life and character reflect the properties of L. N. Tolstoy’s ancestors and closest relatives. Thus, in Count Rostov one can discern the features of Count Ilya Andreevich Tolstoy, the writer’s grandfather, and in the old Prince Bolkonsky - the features of another grandfather; Countess Rostova resembles Tolstoy’s grandmother, Pelageya Nikolaevna Tolstoy, Princess Marya absorbed her mother’s features Writer - Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya, and Nikolai Rostov - the properties of his father, Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy. Prince Andrei absorbed the characteristics of Sergei Nikolaevich, the writer’s brother, and Natasha Rostova imprinted the image of Tatyana Andreevna Bers, the writer’s sister-in-law. All this testifies to the significant autobiographical nature of the novel and the deep vitality of its characters. But “War and Peace” is by no means reduced to autobiography: it is a broad canvas that reflects Russian history. Its heroes and the diverse folk world.
Working on the great book required titanic work. The total number of surviving manuscripts of the novel is over ten thousand draft texts. Some of the parts of the epic were rewritten many times, individual scenes were redone, according to Tolstoy, “ad infinitum.” But as a result of the author’s tireless and intense work, a novel emerged that constituted an entire era in the history of Russian culture.
True and false patriotism in the novel "War and Peace"
The novel “War and Peace” in terms of genre is an epic novel, since Tolstoy shows us historical events that cover a large period of time (the action of the novel begins in 1805 and ends in 1821, in the epilogue); there are over 200 characters in the novel characters, there are real historical figures(Kutuzov, Napoleon, Alexander I, Speransky, Rostopchin, Bagration and many others), all social strata of Russia at that time: elite, noble aristocracy, provincial nobility, army, peasantry, even merchants.
One of the main issues that worries Tolstoy is the question of patriotism and heroism of the Russian people; it is examined very deeply in the novel. At the same time, Tolstoy does not fall into the false patriotic tone of the narrative, but looks at events sternly and objectively, like a realist writer. The author talks about his novel and about the faithful sons of the Fatherland, ready to give their lives for the salvation of the Motherland, about false patriots who think only about their own selfish goals. With this solution to the patriotic theme, Lev Nikolaevich reflected the true historical reality. It consists of depicting the feat of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812. The author speaks in his novel both about the faithful sons of the Fatherland and about false patriots who think only about their own selfish goals.
In the novel “War and Peace,” Tolstoy created a voluminous and multifaceted picture of the war. But in this work the reader sees not galloping warriors with unfurled banners, not a parade and the splendor of victories, but ordinary military everyday life. On the pages of the novel we meet ordinary soldiers, we see their difficult, hard work.
The writer introduces us to inner world an ordinary person at first glance. But he shows us that even such inconspicuous people can be interesting and attractive with their spiritual beauty. The author reveals to us, the readers, the poetry of the hero’s spiritual life. It is often difficult to discern the true face of a person under the layers of vanity Everyday life. The writer shows that one must be able to see human dignity in everyone, that divine spark that will not allow a person to commit a truly vile act. In extreme situations, in moments of great upheaval and global change, a person will definitely prove himself, show his inner essence, certain qualities of his nature. In Tolstoy's novel, someone utters loud words, engages in noisy activities or useless vanity - someone experiences a simple and natural feeling of “the need for sacrifice and suffering in the consciousness of general misfortune.” The former only consider themselves patriots and loudly shout about love for the Fatherland, while the latter are them and give their lives in the name of common victory or leave their own property to be plundered so that it does not fall to the enemy. In the first case, we are dealing with false patriotism, repulsive with its falseness, selfishness and hypocrisy. This is how secular nobles behave at a dinner in honor of Bagration: when reading poems about the war, “everyone stood up, feeling that the dinner was more important than poetry" A false patriotic atmosphere reigns in the salons of Anna Pavlovna Scherer, Helen Bezukhova and other St. Petersburg salons: “... calm, luxurious, concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life, St. Petersburg life went on as before; and because of the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles were efforts made to recall the difficulty of the present situation.” Indeed, this circle of people was far from understanding all-Russian problems, from understanding the great misfortune and needs of the people during this war. The world continued to live by its own interests, and even in a moment of national disaster, greed and promotion reign here.
Count Rastopchin also displays false patriotism, posting stupid “posters” around Moscow, calling on city residents not to leave the capital, and then, fleeing the people’s anger, deliberately sending the innocent son of the merchant Vereshchagin to death. Meanness and betrayal are combined with conceit and pout: “It not only seemed to him that he controlled the external actions of the inhabitants of Moscow, but it seemed to him that he controlled their mood through his proclamations and posters, written in that ironic language that in its midst despises the people and which he does not understand when he hears it from above.”
Just like Rostopchin, the novel shows Berg, who, in a moment of general confusion, is looking for profit and is preoccupied with buying a wardrobe and a toilet “with an English secret.” It doesn’t even occur to him that now it’s embarrassing to think about purchases that are not necessary. Such, finally, is Drubetskoy, who, like other staff officers, thinks about awards and promotion, wants to “arrange for himself best position, especially the position of the adjutant at important person, which seemed especially tempting to him in the army.” It is probably no coincidence that on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, Pierre notices this greedy excitement on the faces of the officers; he mentally compares it with “another expression of excitement,” “which spoke of not personal, but general issues, issues of life and death.”
What “other” persons are we talking about? Of course, these are the faces of ordinary Russian men, dressed in soldiers' greatcoats, for whom the feeling of the Motherland is sacred and inalienable. True patriots in the Tushin battery fight without cover. And Tushin himself “did not experience the slightest unpleasant feeling of fear, and the thought that he could be killed or painfully wounded did not occur to him.” The blood feeling of the Motherland forces soldiers to resist the enemy with incredible fortitude. From the description of the janitor Ferapontov, we see that this man, who gives up his property for plunder when leaving Smolensk, beats his wife because she asks him to leave, he pettyly bargains with the cab driver, but, having understood the essence of what is happening, he burns down his own house and leaves . He is also, of course, a patriot. For him, there is no point in acquired wealth when the fate of his homeland is being decided. “Get everything, guys, don’t leave it to the French!” - he shouts to the Russian soldiers.
What is Pierre doing? He gives his money, sells his estate to equip the regiment. And what makes him, a rich aristocrat, go into the thick of the Battle of Borodino? The same feeling of concern for the fate of one’s country, the desire to help the Russian people.
Let us finally remember those who left Moscow, not wanting to submit to Napoleon. They were convinced: “It was impossible to be under the control of the French.” That is why they “simply and truly” did “that great deed that saved Russia.”
True patriots in Tolstoy's novel do not think about themselves, they feel the need for their own contribution and even sacrifice, but do not expect rewards for this, because they carry in their souls a genuine holy feeling of the Motherland.
There is a war going on in Austria. General Mack is defeated at Ulm. The Austrian army surrendered. The threat of defeat loomed over the Russian army. And then Kutuzov decided to send Bagration with four thousand soldiers through the rugged Bohemian mountains to meet the French. Bagration had to quickly make a difficult transition and delay the forty-thousand-strong French army until the commander-in-chief arrived. His squad needed to accomplish a great feat in order to save the Russian army. This is how the author leads the reader to the depiction of the first great battle.
In this battle, as always, Dolokhov is bold and fearless. His bravery is demonstrated in battle, where “he killed one Frenchman at point-blank range and was the first to take a surrendering officer by the collar.” But after that he goes to the regimental commander and reports on his “trophies”: “Please remember, Your Excellency!” Then he untied the handkerchief, pulled it and showed the dried blood: “Wound with a bayonet, I stayed at the front. Remember, Your Excellency.” Everywhere and always Dolokhov worries about himself, only about himself, everything he does, he does for himself.
We are not surprised by Zherkov’s behavior either. When, at the height of the battle, Bagration sent him with an important order to the general of the left flank, he did not go forward, where the shooting was heard, but began to “look” for the general away from the battle. Because the order was not transmitted, the French cut off the Russian hussars, many died and were wounded. There are many such officers. They are not cowardly, but they do not know how to forget themselves, their careers and personal interests for the sake of the common cause. However, the Russian army consisted not only of such officers.
Heroism in the novel looks everyday and natural. In the chapters depicting the Battle of Shengraben, we meet true heroes. In describing this battle, the author shows how confusion gripped the infantry regiments at the news of the encirclement. “The moral hesitation that decided the fate of the battles was apparently resolved in favor of fear.” Here he sits, the hero of this battle, the hero of this “deed,” small, thin and dirty, sitting barefoot, taking off his boots. This is artillery officer Tushin. “With big, smart and kind eyes, he looks at the commanders who entered and tries to joke: “The soldiers say that you are more agile when you take off your shoes,” and he is embarrassed, feeling that the joke was not a success. Tolstoy does everything to make Captain Tushin appear before us in the most unheroic form, even funny. But this one funny man was the hero of the day. Prince Andrei will rightly say about him: “We owe the success of the day most of all to the action of this battery and the heroic fortitude of Captain Tushin and his company.”
The second hero of the Battle of Shengraben is Timokhin. The battle seemed lost. But at that moment the advancing French suddenly ran back... and Russian riflemen appeared in the forest. This was Timokhin's company. He appears at the very moment when the soldiers panicked and ran. His actions occur at the behest of his heart. Not numerical superiority, not complex plans commanders, and the inspiration of the company commander, who led the soldiers, decides the outcome of the battle; it was his determination and belligerence that forced the enemy to retreat. “...With such insane and drunken determination, with one skewer...” Only thanks to Timokhin, the defenders had the opportunity to return and gather battalions. The Russians won “a moral victory, one that convinces the enemy of the moral superiority of his enemy and of his own powerlessness.”
Courage is diverse. There are many people who are uncontrollably brave in battle, but get lost in everyday life. Through the images of Tushin and Timokhin, Tolstoy teaches the reader to see truly brave people, their discreet heroism, their enormous will, which helps to overcome fear and win battles.
The author leads us to the idea that not only the outcome of a military battle, but the direction of the development of history is determined precisely by the activities of the human masses, bound by the unity of feelings and aspirations. Everything depends on the spirit of the soldiers, which can turn into panic fear - and then the battle is lost, or rise to heroism - and then the battle will be won. Generals become strong only if they control not only the actions of the soldiers, but also the spirit of their troops. And to accomplish this task, the commander must be not only the military commander-in-chief, but also its spiritual leader. This is how Kutuzov appears before us. During the Battle of Borodino, he concentrated in himself all the patriotism of the Russian army. The Battle of Borodino is a “people's battle”. The “hidden warmth of patriotism” that flared up in the soul of every soldier and the general “spirit of the army” predetermined victory. In this battle, the true beauty of the Russian man is revealed. The Russians won “a moral victory, one that convinces the enemy of the moral superiority of his enemy and of his own powerlessness. In this battle, the Napoleonic army “was laid down by the hand of the strongest enemy in spirit.”
In the war of 1812, when every soldier fought for his home, for his family and friends, for his homeland, the consciousness of danger increased tenfold. The deeper Napoleon advanced into Russia, the more the strength of the Russian army grew, the more the French army weakened, turning into a bunch of thieves and marauders. Only the will of the people, only people's patriotism makes the army invincible. This conclusion follows from L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace.”
Bibliography
1. L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”.
2. Yu. V. Lebedev “Russian literature XIX century."
3. K. N. Lomunova “The Great Book of Life.”
4. E. S. Rogover “Russian literature second half of the 19th century century."
“The club of the people’s war rose from all over
with its formidable and majestic strength and, not
asking anyone's tastes and rules, with a stupid
simplicity, but with expediency, more than once
taking nothing, she stood up and nailed the French
tsuzov until everything died
procession.”
The novel “War and Peace” is a historical epic of the valor and courage of the Russian people - the winner of the War of 1812. Main character Romana - Russian people. As in " Sevastopol stories”, so in this novel Tolstoy realistically depicts the war in “blood, in suffering, in death.” Tolstoy tells us about the severity of the war, about its horrors, grief (the departure of the population from Smolensk and Moscow, hunger), death (Andrei Bolkonsky dies after being wounded, Petya Rostov dies). War requires the utmost effort of moral and physical strength from everyone. Russia during Patriotic War, during the period of robbery, violence and atrocities committed by the invaders, suffers enormous material sacrifices. This is the burning and devastation of cities.
Great importance during military events there is a general mood of soldiers, partisans and other defenders of the Motherland. War of 1805-1807 was conducted outside Russia and was alien to the Russian people. When the French invaded the territory of Russia, the entire Russian people, young and old, rose to defend their Fatherland.
In the novel “War and Peace,” Tolstoy divides people according to moral principles, especially highlighting their attitude to patriotic duty. The writer depicts true patriotism and false patriotism, which cannot even be called patriotism. True patriotism is, first of all, the patriotism of duty, action in the name of the Fatherland, the ability to rise above the personal at a decisive moment for the Motherland, to be imbued with a sense of responsibility for the fate of the people. According to Tolstoy, the Russian people are deeply patriotic. When the French occupied Smolensk, peasants burned hay so as not to sell it to their enemies. Each in his own way tried to hurt the enemy so that they would feel the hatred of the true owners of the earth. The merchant Ferapontov burned down his own shop so that it would not fall to the French. The residents of Moscow are shown as true patriots, who, leaving their hometown, leave their homes, because they consider it impossible to remain under the rule of impostors.
Russian soldiers are true patriots. The novel is replete with numerous episodes depicting the varied manifestations of patriotism by Russian people. We see the true patriotism and heroism of the people in the depiction of classical scenes near Shengraben, Austerlitz, Smolensk, Borodin. Of course, love for the fatherland, the willingness to sacrifice one’s life for it, is most clearly manifested on the battlefield, in direct confrontation with the enemy. It was in the Battle of Borodino that the extraordinary fortitude and courage of Russian soldiers was particularly demonstrated. Describing the night before the Battle of Borodino, Tolstoy draws attention to the seriousness and concentration of the soldiers who clean their weapons in preparation for battle. They refuse vodka because they are ready to consciously enter into battle with a powerful enemy. Their feeling of love for the Motherland does not allow reckless drunken courage. Realizing that this battle could be the last for each of them, the soldiers put on clean shirts, preparing for death, but not for retreat. While courageously fighting the enemy, Russian soldiers do not try to look like heroes. They are alien to panache and pose; there is nothing ostentatious in their simple and sincere love for the Motherland. When, during the Battle of Borodino, “one cannonball blew up the ground two steps away from Pierre,” the broad, red-faced soldier innocently confesses to him his fear. “She won’t have mercy. She’ll smack her guts out. You can’t help but be afraid,” he said laughing. "But the soldier, who was not at all trying to be brave, died soon after this short dialogue, like tens of thousands of others, but did not give up and retreated.
The Battle of Borodino is a moral victory for Russian soldiers. The feeling of patriotism is a truly popular feeling. It covers all soldiers without exception. The soldiers calmly, simply, confidently do their job without saying loud words.
Heroes and true patriots Tolstoy's people become outwardly unremarkable. This is Captain Tushin, who finds himself in the face of his superiors in a comical position without boots, embarrassed, stumbling, and at the same time, at the most critical moment, doing exactly what is needed.
Force folk spirit will give birth to outstanding commanders. Such as Mikhail Kutuzov. Kutuzov in the novel is an exponent of the idea of patriotism; he was appointed commander against the will of the tsar and the royal court. Andrei explains this to Pierre this way: “While Russia was healthy, Barclay de Tolly was good... When Russia is sick, it needs its own man.”
He lives only by the feelings, thoughts, interests of the soldiers, perfectly understands their mood, and takes care of them like a father. He firmly believes that the outcome of the battle is determined by “an elusive force called the spirit of the army” and strives with all his might to support this hidden warmth of patriotism in the army.
The episode in Fili is important. Kutuzov takes upon himself the gravest responsibility and orders a retreat. This order contains the true patriotism of Kutuzov. Retreating from Moscow, Kutuzov retained an army that could not yet compare in numbers with Napoleonic's. Defending Moscow would mean losing the army, and this would lead to the loss of both Moscow and Russia.
After Napoleon was pushed beyond Russian borders, Kutuzov refuses to fight outside Russia. He believes that the Russian people fulfilled their mission by expelling the invader, and there is no need to shed more people’s blood.
The patriotism of the Russian people is manifested not only in battle. After all, not only that part of the people who were mobilized into the army took part in the fight against the invaders.
"Karps and Vlas" did not sell hay to the French even for good money, but burned it, thereby undermining the enemy army. The small merchant Ferapontov, before the French entered Smolensk, asked the soldiers to take his goods for free, since if “Raceya decided,” he himself would burn everything. Residents of Moscow and Smolensk did the same, burning their houses so that they would not fall to the enemy. The Rostovs, leaving Moscow, gave up all their carts to transport the wounded, thus completing their ruin. Pierre Bezukhov invests huge amounts of money in the formation of a regiment, which he takes for his own support, while he himself remains in Moscow, hoping to kill Napoleon in order to behead the enemy army.
Tolstoy shows that patriotic feelings cover people of different political views: the progressive intelligentsia (Pierre, Andrey), the confrontational old Prince Bolkonsky, the conservative Nikolai Rostov, the meek Princess Marya. A patriotic impulse also penetrates the hearts of people who seem far from the war - Petya, Natasha Rostov. But it only seemed so. According to Tolstoy, a real person cannot help but be a patriot of his Fatherland. All these people are united by a feeling that exists in the soul of every Russian person. (The Rostov family, leaving the city, gives all the carts to the wounded, thereby losing their property. After the death of her father, Maria Bolkonskaya leaves the estate, not wanting to live in the territory occupied by enemies. Pierre Bezukhov thinks about killing Napoleon, knowing full well how this could end.)
The writer attaches great importance to the partisan movement. This is how Tolstoy describes its spontaneous growth: “Before guerrilla warfare was officially accepted by our government, thousands of people of the enemy army - backward marauders, foragers - were exterminated by the Cossacks and peasants, who beat these people as unconsciously as dogs unconsciously kill a rabid dog.” Tolstoy characterizes the partisan “war not according to the rules” as spontaneous, comparing it with a club, “rising with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes and rules... nailed the French... until the entire invasion was destroyed.” Generated by a “feeling of insult and revenge,” personal hatred of the French, which was experienced by the residents of Moscow, who left their homes and left the city so as not to submit to Napoleon’s army, and by the men who burned all their hay so that the French would not get it, the idea of this war gradually spread to all levels of society. Awakened national identity , reluctance to be defeated by Napoleon united various classes in the struggle for freedom and independence of Russia. That is why guerrilla warfare is so diverse in its manifestations, and partisan detachments are so different from each other: “there were parties that adopted all the techniques of the army, with infantry, artillery, headquarters; there were only Cossacks... there were peasants and landowners.” Napoleon's Grand Army was destroyed piece by piece, thousands of French were exterminated by partisans and their numerous “small, prefabricated, foot and horse” detachments. The heroes of this war are representatives of different classes, having little in common, but united by the common goal of defending their homeland. This is the sexton, “who took several hundred prisoners a month,” the hussar Denis Davydov, “who took the first step” in legitimizing the partisan war, the elder Vasilisa, “who beat hundreds of Frenchmen,” and, of course, Tikhon Shcherbaty. In the image of this partisan, Tolstoy embodies a certain type of Russian peasant, not meek and humble, like Platon Karataev, but unusually brave, not devoid of a good, moral principle in his soul, but in many ways acting instinctively. That’s why he easily kills the French, “does no harm to them, but he beat about two dozen marauders.” Tikhon Shcherbaty, “one of the most necessary, useful and brave people in the party,” is distinguished by his dexterity and ingenuity: “No one else discovered cases of attack, no one else captured him and beat the French.” But at the same time, the reckless cruelty of Tikhon, who used to not use tongues and not take prisoners, but who beat his enemies not out of hatred and malice, but because of his underdevelopment, contradicts Tolstoy’s humanistic beliefs. This hero, as well as Dolokhov, who commanded a small party and fearlessly went on the most dangerous forays, is associated with a peculiar ideology of guerrilla warfare, reflected in the words of Prince Andrei: “The French ruined my home, they are my enemies, they are all criminals. They must be executed.” Dolokhov considered it “stupid courtesy”, “chivalry” to leave the French alive, who would still “die of hunger or be beaten by another party.” However, such a hero as Denisov, who released prisoners “on receipt”, “did not have a single person on his conscience” and “did not want to sully the honor of a soldier”, as well as Petya Rostov, “who felt love for all people”, felt pity for Vincent Bosse , a young drummer taken prisoner, embody Tolstoy’s ideas of humanism, compassion and love for people. The laws of peace, according to the author, will certainly triumph over war, because hostility and hatred towards the enemy is replaced by pity and sympathy.
Tolstoy also has an ambivalent attitude towards guerrilla warfare itself. People's War delights the writer as highest manifestation patriotism, as the unity of people of all classes in their love for their homeland and in the common desire to prevent the enemy from capturing Russia. Only a guerrilla war, that is, a liberation war, which is not a “game”, not “the fun of idle people,” but retribution for ruin and misfortune, aimed at protecting one’s own freedom and the freedom of the entire country, is fair, according to Tolstoy.
Tolstoy contrasts the true patriotism of the bulk of the Russian people with the false patriotism of the highest noble society, which is repulsive in its falsehood, selfishness and hypocrisy. These are fake people, whose patriotic words and deeds become a means of achieving base goals. Tolstoy mercilessly tears off the mask of patriotism from German and half-German generals in Russian service, “golden youth” like Anatoly Kuragin, careerists like Boris Drubetsky. Tolstoy angrily denounces that part of the senior staff officers who did not take part in the battles, but tried to get a job at headquarters and receive awards for nothing.
There is a war going on in Austria. General Mack is defeated at Ulm. The Austrian army surrendered. The threat of defeat loomed over the Russian army. And then Kutuzov decided to send Bagration with four thousand soldiers through the rugged Bohemian mountains to meet the French. Bagration had to quickly make a difficult transition and delay the forty-thousand-strong French army until Kutuzov arrived. His squad needed to accomplish a great feat in order to save the Russian army. This is how the author leads the reader to the depiction of the first great battle. In this battle, as always, Dolokhov is bold and fearless. Dolokhov's bravery is manifested in battle, where "he killed one Frenchman at point-blank range and was the first to take a surrendering officer by the collar." But after that he goes to the regimental commander and reports on his “trophies”: “Please remember, Your Excellency!” Then he untied the handkerchief, pulled it and showed the dried blood: “Wound with a bayonet, I stayed at the front. Remember, Your Excellency." Everywhere, always, he remembers, first of all, about himself, only about himself, everything he does, he does for himself. We are not surprised by Zherkov’s behavior either. When, at the height of the battle, Bagration sent him with an important order to the general of the left flank, he did not go forward, where the shooting was heard, but began to look for “the general on the side of the battle. Because of an unfaithful order, the French cut off the Russian hussars, many died and were wounded. There are many such officers. They are not cowardly, but they do not know how to forget themselves, their careers and personal interests for the sake of the common cause.
There will be many such people as false patriots until people realize that everyone must defend their country, and that there will be no one else to do this except them. This is exactly what Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy wanted to convey through antithesis, the opposition of true and false patriots. But Tolstoy does not fall into the false patriotic tone of the narrative, but looks at events sternly and objectively, like a realist writer. This helps him more accurately convey to us the importance of the problem of false patriotism.
A false patriotic atmosphere reigns in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer, Helen Bezukhova and in other St. Petersburg salons: “... calm, luxurious, concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life, St. Petersburg life went on as before; and because of the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles were efforts made to recall the difficulty of the present situation.” Indeed, this circle of people was far from understanding all-Russian problems, from understanding the great misfortune and needs of the people during this war. The world continued to live by its own interests, and even in a moment of national disaster, greed, promotion, and serviceism reign here.
Count Rastopchin also displays false patriotism, posting stupid “posters” around Moscow, calling on city residents not to leave the capital, and then, fleeing the people’s anger, deliberately sending the innocent son of the merchant Vereshchagin to death. Meanness and betrayal are combined with conceit and pout: “It not only seemed to him that he controlled the external actions of the inhabitants of Moscow, but it seemed to him that he controlled their mood through his proclamations and posters, written in that ironic language that in its midst despises the people and which he does not understand when he hears it from above.”
Berg is such a false patriot in the novel. Already the initial phrase of the author’s narration, introducing Berg, eloquently characterizes the value system of this hero: “Berg... was already a colonel with Vladimir and Anna around his neck and occupied the same calm and pleasant place of assistant chief of staff...” This representation of the character is built in strict accordance with the hierarchy of the hero’s values (rank, awards, place) - as if Berg was represented not by the author, but by himself. The epithets “peaceful”, “pleasant” (place) attract attention, in principle contrasting with the idea of selfless service to the Fatherland at a tragic moment in its history.
To expose Berg's false patriotism, Tolstoy uses the technique of comparing impressions, which is quite common in his work. Here are Berg's thoughts on the heroism and patriotism of Russian soldiers: "The army burns with the spirit of heroism... such a heroic spirit, truly ancient courage... cannot be imagined and deservedly praised... Russia is not in Moscow, it is in the hearts of its sons!" What is noteworthy is the abundance of big words and the fact that Berg gets confused and confused when using them (“which they are, he corrected himself”); it is quite obvious: the hero is concerned about whether they will believe him, whether his passionate patriotic speech will make the right impression on his listeners. And then - the author’s insightful look at the hero, expressed in a caustic remark: “he hit himself in the chest in the same way as one general who spoke in front of him hit himself, although somewhat late, because he should have hit himself in the chest at the word “Russian army” ..."; this remark completely destroys Berg, revealing all the shameless speculativeness of his passionate speech. Berg is absolutely indifferent to what is happening around him at this tragic moment for Russia, he is only interested in “his own well-being”; and so that nothing threatens his well-being , - we need to declare ourselves more often as a patriot.
The hero's second monologue confirms this conclusion: talking about the wardrobe, Berg is completely transformed, speaks so convincingly, so interestedly. He is so fascinated by the wardrobe that he accidentally forgets about the role of the patriot that he was just trying to play.
Satirical pathos is given to the scene by the use of diminutive suffixes in the names of objects of the material world with which the hero has surrounded himself: “drozhechki”, “savrasenkie”. Berg's cleanliness, his pathetic desire to arrange his life the way that, in his opinion, secular people should have (remember the horses “exactly like those that one prince had”), provokes an active rebuke from Tolstoy.
Indicative for understanding author's attitude to what is happening and the reaction of the scene participants to Berg’s behavior - both direct and not having a direct connection with the hero’s monologues. The direct reaction is contained in the Count’s actions: “The Count wrinkled his face and choked...”; “Oh, you all get out to hell, to hell, to hell and to hell!” Natasha Rostova’s reaction is even more definite: “... this is such disgusting, such an abomination, such... I don’t know! Are we Germans any?..” Natasha Rostova’s exclamation is somewhat divorced from Berg’s monologues; the plot is connected with Petya’s story about his parents’ quarrel over carts. But it is obvious that Tolstoy puts these words into Natasha’s mouth, among other things, with the aim of giving a final assessment of Berg’s hypocritical shamelessness (the mention of the Germans is no coincidence).
This is, finally, Drubetskoy, who, like other staff officers, thinks about awards and promotion, wants to “arrange for himself the best position, especially the position of adjutant to an important person, which seemed especially tempting to him in the army.” It is probably no coincidence that on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, Pierre notices this greedy excitement on the faces of the officers; he mentally compares it with “another expression of excitement,” “which spoke of not personal, but general issues, issues of life and death.”
Of course, these people, far from the people, are alien to the original Russian patriotic feeling.
Tolstoy convinces us that only those nobles who comprehend the spirit of the people, for whom there can be no happiness outside the peace and prosperity of their country, can be true patriots.
By uniting people on a moral principle, emphasizing the special importance in assessing a person of the truth of his patriotic feeling, Tolstoy brings together people who are very different in their social status. They turn out to be close in spirit, rising to the greatness of people's patriotism. And it is not without reason that during a difficult period of his life, Pierre Bezukhov, finding himself on the Borodino field, comes to the conviction that true happiness is merging with common people. (“Be a soldier, just a soldier. Enter this common life with the whole being.")
Thus, true patriotism in Tolstoy’s understanding is the highest manifestation of the moral strength and spirit of the people. People's patriotism is an invincible force in the fight against enemies. The winner is the Russian people. The true heroes are ordinary Russian people who accomplished a great deed - they defeated the “invincible Napoleon.”