The epic novel by Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy is a rather instructive work. It reveals the true and false values, tears off the masks from hypocrites and shows unnoticed virtue, reveals the nature of each hero who appears before the reader in both happiness and sorrow. This is an extremely truthful book that makes us delve deeper into the essence of social relationships and understand how important it is to turn a close gaze inward. Therefore, such moral categories as indifference and responsiveness are presented most fully in War and Peace, and we can find there many useful arguments for the final essay.
- Princess Marya was always responsive and kind girl, although people did not always reciprocate her feelings. For example, her stern and rude father underestimated and humiliated his daughter in every possible way. She, however, treated him with touching care. She reacted humbly to the insults of the head of the family, although her self-esteem suffered significantly because of them. Marya is sure that she is not a beauty, and, judging by her father’s words, there is no trace of intelligence in her. However, the heroine did not withdraw into herself and did not harbor evil, but continued to come to the aid of all those in need with kindness and tenderness. It was she who raised her brother’s child and sheltered the Rostovs. Even her unforgiving parent, before his death, asked her for forgiveness for his antics, as he realized how devoted and responsive his daughter was. Tolstoy put these qualities in women above beauty, and he was right.
- Ellen Kuragina never tired of showing indifference throughout the novel. She pursued her goals head on and did not take into account the feelings of other people. For example, she didn’t care how Pierre felt when he saw her cheating. She deceived him and got married just to get his money and arrange her idle life luxuriously. With the same indifference, she changed lovers, because they were just a mirror in which she saw her attractiveness. Sated and spoiled, she found entertainment by playing with the fate of Natasha Rostova. It was Helen who lured her into the arms of her dishonest brother and actually became the culprit of her shame by betraying her friendship. However, her disregard for others came back to haunt her, because in difficult times no one came to her aid.
- There was responsiveness distinctive feature Natasha Rostova, who was always a sensitive and devoted friend, a wonderful daughter and a merciful girl. For example, Pierre Bezukhov loved her company very much, because the heroine always supported him with advice, sympathy and pity. Throughout the entire story, she treats Sonya kindly, comforting the poor orphan and giving her hope. She also treats her parents with attention and participation, not allowing them to lose heart. Natasha showed phenomenal fortitude when she gave rein to the wounded soldiers and eased their suffering, despite her mother’s objections. Andrei Bolkonsky especially needed her responsiveness. The heroine looked after him when he was dying, and was able to ease his soul before his death, to breathe into it the calm and peace that the prince so lacked during the war. She was rewarded for her virtue with a happy marriage.
- Nikolai Rostov showed shameful indifference to the fate of his relatives, getting into debt and putting his family in a difficult situation. In fact, his frivolity became the reason for the ruin of the Rostovs. He knew how difficult life was for his family, but he squandered almost his last money to maintain his status in the service. In addition, his indifference to Sonya, who was waiting for him so faithfully, is unpleasantly surprising. At first he shows sympathy for the girl, then he becomes cold towards her, and already openly declares that he will not be against her marriage. Selfishness is characteristic of this hero, and life teaches the selfish man a lesson when he is forced to admit that because of him, the family was on the verge of a local economic crisis. Then he faces the humiliating prospect of an arranged marriage, and only timely insight gives him a chance to arrange his destiny with dignity and help his relatives. This example demonstrates the fact that people can change for the better and overcome indifference within themselves.
- Mikhail Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace” shows responsiveness to soldiers and protects their lives, unlike Napoleon. The general is ready to endure the ridicule of the nobility and the anger of the emperor, just to save the army from unnecessary losses. The hero teaches this difficult science to the ambitious Prince Andrei, but he did not immediately understand her wisdom, like most young people. They did not yet know how much blood was shed in a war inspired by ambition. This uncontrollable element of violence and death could only be restrained by that person who feels the tragedy of every family that has lost its breadwinner, feels the grief of the country and the people. Such, without a doubt, was General Kutuzov, who was not indifferent to every fighter and believed that it was a simple peasant guy who lifted victory on his shoulders, and not military leaders and monarchs. This attitude of the commander led the Russian army to success.
- Indifference on a state scale appears before the reader when he sees Napoleon. This emperor was obsessed with his importance, his ambitions, so he did not think about the cost of his victory. He drove the soldiers forward, not feeling their fatigue and despondency in foreign lands, where the cold alone could drive them crazy. Advancing towards Moscow, forgetting about caution, the commander lost sight of the fact that in case of retreat his soldiers would have nothing to eat, because the Smolensk road was scorched and destroyed. In pursuit of glory, he abandoned responsibility for the lives of his subjects - this is the main reason why his attack was doomed to failure. Kutuzov knew this and took advantage of the enemy’s ambition, to whom more important than the army there was an immediate success - the capture of Moscow. But the French commander paid for his indifference: he lost, lost a significant part of his army and returned home with nothing. Interesting? Save it on your wall!
Since childhood, we have heard about the atrocities of the German invaders, in particular about the executions and cruel treatment of Soviet prisoners of war. And here we must admit that yes, such episodes took place during the war, but rather as exceptions or a response to the actions of the partisans and cruelty on the part of Soviet soldiers towards Germans who were captured. But what you definitely won’t see on TV or in history books are facts about the humane attitude of German soldiers towards captured Red Army soldiers. Well, it is not customary for us to give the enemy a human form, because the more terrible the enemy, the more glory and honor will go to his winners. And in the rays of this glory, our own crimes against humanity fade. We, in turn, invite you to familiarize yourself with the material, which proves that German soldiers and doctors provided medical assistance to prisoners and civilians of the occupied territory of the USSR and sent captured Soviet medical personnel to prisoner of war camps, where their work was in demand. Although, of course, there will be those who will say that the photos are staged, and in general, all this is Goebbels propaganda. We will advise them to continue learning history from Soviet and Russian films about the Great Patriotic War.
Soldiers of the SS division "Das Reich" provide medical assistance to a wounded Red Army soldier. Kursk 1943
Among the vineyards under the merciless scorching sun lay many wounded Russians. Deprived of the opportunity to quench their thirst, they awaited death in the open. German medical personnel It became necessary to try to rescue them, and Russian doctors and nurses were brought in from the prison camps to assist in combing the hills for wounded Russian soldiers. Russian doctors had to make a lot of efforts to convince lightly injured patients to go to medical centers. Sometimes it was necessary to resort to the help of stakes pulled out of the ground in the vineyards in order to force the wounded to move in the direction of the medical posts. (c) Biderman Gottlob - In mortal combat. Memoirs of an anti-tank crew commander. 1941-1945.
Medics of the 260th Wehrmacht Infantry Division provide assistance to captured wounded Red Army soldiers. District of the village of Romanishchi, Gomel region.
The field hospital is in full swing. Without hesitation, I immediately join. While we are operating, a continuous line of Ivans comes to the infirmary. Having surrendered their weapons, they surrender themselves. Apparently, a rumor spread through their ranks that we do not harm prisoners of war. In a few hours, our infirmary serves over a hundred prisoners of war. (c) Hans Killian - In the shadow of victories. German surgeon on the eastern front 1941–1943.
The Germans provide first aid to a Soviet colonel from the 5th Guards Tank Army. Kursk, July 1943
And I ask the chief doctor to immediately send this fierce lady (a captured Soviet paramedic - ed.) to a prisoner of war camp. Russian doctors are urgently needed there. (c) Hans Killian - In the shadow of victories. German surgeon on the eastern front 1941–1943.
Two Luftwaffe officers bandage the hand of a wounded Red Army prisoner. 1941
There were periods of multi-day Russian attacks. There were dead and wounded on both sides. We tried to get ours out every evening. We also took Russian wounded prisoners, if there were any. On the second or third day at night, we heard someone in the neutral zone moaning in Russian: “mama, mama.” My squad and I crawled out to look for this wounded man. It was suspiciously quiet, but we understood that the Russians would also crawl out after him. We found him. This soldier was wounded in the elbow by an explosive bullet. Only the Russians had such bullets, although they were prohibited. We also used them if we captured them from the Russians. My soldiers began to help him, and I moved forward and watched the Russian side. Five meters away from me I saw Russians, also about a squad. We opened fire, and the Russians threw a grenade at us. The Russians retreated, we also retreated, taking the wounded. We took him to the dressing station. There he was operated on and sent further, probably to Staraya Russa. Our wounded were not sent immediately to a hospital in Germany, but through at least three hospitals along the way, and each was better, higher level than the previous one. In the first, near the front line, there was only initial processing, rough, then better. (c) Excerpt from an interview with Klaus Alexander Dierschka.
A German provides medical assistance to a Soviet prisoner.
After the capture of Sevastopol, hundreds of thousands of Russian wounded lay there who needed help. And then a military doctor I knew got permission to take captured Russian doctors from a prisoner of war camp - and they treated the wounded and the population. German doctors did more than Russians! They saved many lives. And it was completely different when the Russians entered here in Germany. They didn't do anything, didn't save anyone. There have never been rapes on the German side, like in East Prussia! You've definitely heard something about this - there the German civilian population, the peasants, were killed, and the women were raped, and everyone was killed. This caused terrible disgust in Germany and greatly increased the will to resist. Young people, 16-17 year old schoolchildren, were called in to stop this violence from the east. This is, of course, a thing that, like a big bell, awakened the instinct of self-preservation of the nation - these unpleasant things that happened there. The same thing in Katyn - the Russians denied it for years, they said that the Germans did it. There was a lot of dirt there! (c) Excerpt from an interview with Dreffs Johannes
An SS man provides assistance to a Red Army soldier.
In Apolinovka, north of Dnepropetrovsk, the local Russian population was treated by our Dutch doctor, an SS Hauptsturmführer, completely free of charge. (c) Excerpt from an interview with Jan Münch.
A German military doctor examines a sick child. Oryol region. 1942
Doctors from the SS Division "Toten's Head" provide assistance to sick Soviet children, whose mothers brought them to a medical center opened in the village by the Germans. USSR. 1941
A German soldier bandages a wounded Russian girl. 1941
End of 1943 Wehrmacht orderlies take care of Russian refugees fleeing the Red Army.
Hero Soviet Union Major Yakov Ivanovich Antonov from the 25th IAP in German captivity, surrounded by German pilots, after providing medical assistance.
A medic and Luftwaffe fighter squadron pilots assist a downed Soviet pilot.
Medics of the 5th SS Viking Division provide assistance to a wounded Red Army soldier.
A German soldier bandages a Red Army soldier captured near the Titovka station in the Murmansk region.
A German infantryman helps a wounded Red Army soldier.
German soldiers help a wounded enemy. Stalingrad.
SS soldiers near a wounded Soviet pilot of a U-2 plane shot down on the Kursk Bulge.
A mountain ranger orderly examines the wound of a captured Red Army soldier.
A kind heart distinguishes a real person from a beast in human form. Kindness is a constant concept, it either exists or it never existed, but it is never too late to sow the sprouts of goodness in your heart. In the history of military operations, the first thing that is always reported is only the numbers of casualties, so no one can remember that huge amount human compassion, which thrived in times of violence. All these people said no to violence and chose love instead. This strong people which should serve as an example to all of us.
An infantryman consoles his comrade. Korean War, p. 1950 - 1953
Petty Officer Ryan Lee and dog Waldo lie in an embrace on the hospital floor after a successful rescue. Afghan war, 2011
This German soldier from the east knew he shouldn't let this child over the Berlin Wall, but the boy was separated from his parents. The watchman lifts the barbed wire to let him through, while looking around in search of those who can see it
Dick Powell shares a meal with a puppy. Korean War, 1951
A medic bandages a child's wounded leg while his little brother stands next to him. Second world war, 1944
Christians protect Muslims while they pray during the Egyptian revolution. Cairo, Egypt, 2011
A Russian special forces officer carries a liberated child from a school seized by terrorists. Beslan, 2004
A Bosnian soldier cares for a child he saved during the evacuation of Gorazde, 1995
A Ukrainian woman gives a drink to a Soviet soldier. World War II, 1941
A German soldier applies a bandage to a wounded Soviet woman. World War II, 1941
An Afghan soldier carries a crying child away from the site of a recent explosion. Afghan war, 2001 - 2014
A German soldier shares his rations with a Russian mother and her child. World War II, 1941
An Egyptian thanks soldiers after they refused to carry out an order that required them to shoot at civilians. Egyptian revolution, 2011
Journalist Raymond Walker runs across a bridge in France with a child, saving him from the Spanish Civil War, 1936
American soldiers of the 4th Armored Division push a captured vehicle containing two seriously wounded German soldiers. World War II, January 26, 1945
A woman protects a wounded protester by blocking the path of a military bulldozer. Egypt, 2013
Marine Frank Praytor feeds a kitten after its mother was killed by a mortar explosion. Korean War, 1953
US Navy Corpsman Richard Barnett holds a baby girl after she was separated from her family during a firefight. Iraq War, 2003
A French soldier helps a family fleeing the Spanish Civil War, 1938
A Jordanian soldier warms the hands of a Syrian child evacuated from the country. Syrian civil war, 2013
A priest comfortingly holds a wounded soldier after he comes under sniper fire aimed specifically at eliminating people in the area. Uprising in Venezuela, 1962
A Tunisian girl hands a soldier a rose after the army refused to shoot protesters and said it would "defend the revolution." Tunisian revolution, 2011
Football match between British and German soldiers on Western Front when they left their trenches. First World War, 24 December 1914
A boy leads a blind old man across the street during military action. Korean War, since 1951
An American soldier holds the hand of an Afghan girl. Afghan war, 2010
A soldier shares food and water with children in Saipan, July 1944.
German soldiers play with a kitten. World War II, 1943
Three German soldiers help a Frenchman stuck in the mud of the fields near Verdun. First World War, p. 1916
Protesters carry an injured police officer to safety. Türkiye, 2013
American soldiers treat a wounded dog. World War II, 1944
A soldier talks to a little girl, 2011
18-year-old Keshia Thomas defends a Nazi from an angry mob, 1996
The soldier made friends with the puppy. Iraq War, 2003 - 2011
American soldiers invited Dutch children to dance. World War II, 1944 - 1945
Native Papua New Guinea, who were nicknamed the "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels", accompany a wounded Australian soldier. World War II, 1942
A Soviet soldier shares his cigarettes with German prisoners of war. World War II, July, 1943
A brave priest organizes a human shield between demonstrators and police. Ukrainian revolution, 2013
Two American soldiers console crying girl with a puppy. World War II, 1944
A protester hugs Officer Joselito Sevilla after he yells at him. Manila, Philippines, 2013
A soldier runs from the battlefield with two small Vietnamese children in his arms. Vietnam War, 1955-1975
- Actions done out of mercy may seem absurd and senseless at first glance.
- A person can show mercy even in the most difficult situations
- Actions related to helping orphans can be called merciful
- Showing mercy often requires sacrifices from a person, but these sacrifices are always justified in some way
- People who show mercy are worthy of respect
Arguments
L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace". Natasha Rostova shows mercy - one of the most important human qualities. When everyone begins to leave Moscow, captured by the French, the girl orders that the carts be given to the wounded, and not carry her own things on them. Helping people is much more important for Natasha Rostova material well-being. And it doesn’t matter to her at all that among the things that were to be taken away, the dowry is part of her future.
M. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man.” Andrei Sokolov, despite difficult life trials, did not lose the ability to show mercy. He lost his family and home, but could not help but pay attention to the fate of Vanyushka - little boy, whose parents died. Andrei Sokolov told the boy that he was his father and took him to his place. The ability to show mercy made the child happy. Yes, Andrei Sokolov did not forget his family and the horrors of war, but he did not leave Vanya in trouble. This means that his heart did not harden.
F.M. Dostoevsky "Crime and Punishment". The fate of Rodion Raskolnikov is difficult. He lives in a miserable dark room, malnourished. After the murder of the old pawnbroker, his whole life resembles suffering. Raskolnikov is still poor: he hides what he took from the apartment under a stone, rather than taking it for himself. However latest hero gives it to Marmeladov’s widow for the funeral, cannot ignore the misfortune that has happened, although he himself has nothing to live on. Rodion Raskolnikov turns out to be capable of mercy, despite the murder and the terrible theory he created.
M.A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita". Margarita is ready to do anything to see her Master. She makes a deal with the devil, agrees to be the queen at Satan's terrible ball. But when Woland asks what she wants, Margarita only asks that they stop giving Frida the handkerchief with which she gagged her own child and buried him in the ground. Margarita wants to save a complete stranger from suffering, and this is where mercy is manifested. She no longer asks for a meeting with the Master, because she cannot help but take care of Frida and get past the grief of others.
N.D. Teleshov "Home". Little Semka, the son of settlers who died of typhus, most of all wants to return to his native village of Beloye. The boy escapes from the barracks and hits the road. On the way he meets an unfamiliar grandfather, they walk together. Grandfather also goes to his native land. On the way, Semka falls ill. His grandfather takes him to the city, to the hospital, although he knows that he cannot go there: it turns out that this is the third time he has escaped from hard labor. There the grandfather is caught, and then sent back to hard labor. Despite the danger to himself, grandfather shows mercy towards Semka - he cannot abandon a sick child in trouble. One’s own happiness becomes less significant for a person than the life of a child.
N.D. Teleshov “Elka Mitricha”. On Christmas Eve, Semyon Dmitrievich realized that everyone would have a holiday, except for eight orphans living in one of the barracks. Mitrich decided to please the guys at all costs. Although it was hard for him, he brought a Christmas tree and bought fifty dollars worth of candy, given by the resettlement official. Semyon Dmitrievich cut each of the guys a piece of sausage, although for him sausage was his favorite delicacy. Sympathy, compassion, mercy prompted Mitrich to do this act. And the result turned out to be truly wonderful: joy, laughter, and enthusiastic screams filled the previously gloomy room. The children were happy from the holiday he organized, and Mitrich from the fact that he did this good deed.
I. Bunin “Lapti”. Nefed could not help but fulfill the wish of the sick child, who kept asking for some red bast shoes. Despite the bad weather, he went on foot for bast shoes and magenta to Novoselki, located six miles from home. For Nefed, the desire to help the child was more important than ensuring his own safety. He turned out to be capable of self-sacrifice - in a sense highest degree mercy. Nefed died. The men brought him home. A bottle of magenta and new bast shoes were found in Nefed’s bosom.
V. Rasputin “French Lessons”. For Lydia Mikhailovna, teacher French, the desire to help his student turned out to be more important than preserving his own reputation. The woman knew that the child was malnourished, which is why she played for money. So she invited the boy to play for money with her. This is unacceptable for a teacher. When the director found out about everything, Lydia Mikhailovna was forced to leave for her homeland, to Kuban. But we understand that her act is not bad at all - it is a manifestation of mercy. The seemingly unacceptable behavior of the teacher actually conveyed kindness and care for the child.
] and his departure to Bila Tserkva, where this regiment was being formed, filled the countess with fear. The thought that both of her sons are at war, that both of them have left from under her wing, that today or tomorrow each of them, and maybe both together, like the three sons of one of her friends, can be killed, in for the first time now, this summer, it came to her mind with cruel clarity. She tried to get Nikolai to come to her, she wanted to go to Petya herself, to place him somewhere in St. Petersburg, but both of them turned out to be impossible. Petya could not be returned except with the regiment or through transfer to another active regiment. Nicholas was somewhere in the army and after his last letter, in which he described in detail his meeting with Princess Marya, he did not give any news about himself. The Countess did not sleep at night and, when she fell asleep, she saw her murdered sons in her dreams. After much advice and negotiations, the count finally came up with a means to calm the countess. He transferred Petya from Obolensky’s regiment to Bezukhov’s regiment, which was being formed near Moscow. Although Petya remained in military service, with this transfer the countess had the consolation of seeing at least one son under her wing and hoped to arrange for her Petya in such a way that she would no longer let him out and would always enroll him in such places of service where he could not possibly end up into battle. While only Nicolas was in danger, it seemed to the countess (and she even repented of it) that she loved the eldest more than all the other children; but when the youngest, the naughty one, who was a bad student, who broke everything in the house and who was boring everyone, Petya, this snub-nosed Petya, with his cheerful black eyes, a fresh blush and a little fluff on his cheeks, ended up there, with these big, scary, cruel men who they fight something there and find something joyful in it - then it seemed to the mother that she loved him more, much more than all her children. The closer the time approached when the expected Petya was supposed to return to Moscow, the more the countess’s anxiety increased. She already thought that she would never see this happiness. The presence of not only Sopa, but also her beloved Natasha, even her husband, irritated the countess. “What do I care about them, I don’t need anyone except Petya!” - she thought.
IN last days August the Rostovs received a second letter from Nikolai. He wrote from the Voronezh province, where he was sent for horses. This letter did not reassure the countess. Knowing that one son was out of danger, she began to worry even more about Petya.
Despite the fact that already on the 20th of August almost all of the Rostovs’ acquaintances left Moscow, despite the fact that everyone persuaded the countess to leave as soon as possible, she did not want to hear anything about leaving until her treasure returned, beloved Petya. On August 28, Petya arrived. The sixteen-year-old officer did not like the painfully passionate tenderness with which his mother greeted him. Despite the fact that his mother hid from him her intention not to let him out from under her wing, Petya understood her plans and, instinctively fearing that he would become soft with his mother, that he would not make love (as he thought to himself), he coldly treated her, avoided her, and during his stay in Moscow exclusively adhered to the company of Natasha, for whom he always had a special, almost loving brotherly tenderness.
Due to the usual carelessness of the count, on August 28 nothing was ready for departure and the carts expected from the Ryazan and Moscow villages to lift all the property from the house arrived only on the 30th.
From August 28 to 31, all of Moscow was in trouble and movement. Every day, thousands of wounded in the Battle of Borodino were brought to the Dorogomilovskaya outpost and transported around Moscow, and thousands of carts, with residents and property, went to other outposts. Despite Rostopchin's posters, or independently of them, or as a result of them, the most contradictory and strange news was transmitted throughout the city. Who said that no one was ordered to leave; who, on the contrary, said that they had lifted all the icons from the churches and that everyone was being expelled by force; who said that there was another battle after Borodino, in which the French were defeated; who said, on the contrary, that everything Russian army destroyed; who spoke about the Moscow militia, which would go with the clergy ahead to the Three Mountains; who quietly told that Augustine was not ordered to leave, that traitors had been caught, that the peasants were rioting and robbing those who were leaving, etc., etc. But this was only said, and in essence, both those who were traveling and those who remained (despite the fact that there had not yet been a council in Fili, at which it was decided to leave Moscow) - everyone felt, although they did not show it, that Moscow would certainly be surrendered and that they had to get out themselves as soon as possible and save your property. It felt like everything was suddenly going to break apart and change, but until the 1st, nothing had changed yet. Just as a criminal who is being led to execution knows that he is about to die, but still looks around him and straightens his poorly worn hat, so Moscow involuntarily continued its ordinary life, although she knew that the time of death was near, when all those conditional relationships of life to which they were accustomed to submit would be broken.
During these three days preceding the capture of Moscow, the entire Rostov family was in various everyday troubles. The head of the family, Count Ilya Andreich, constantly traveled around the city, collecting rumors circulating from all sides, and at home he made general superficial and hasty orders about preparations for departure.
The Countess watched over the cleaning of things, was dissatisfied with everything and followed Petya, who was constantly running away from her, jealous of him for Natasha, with whom he spent all his time. Sonya alone managed the practical side of the matter: packing things. But Sonya was especially sad and silent during all this lately. Nicolas's letter, in which he mentioned Princess Marya, evoked in her presence the countess's joyful reflections about how she saw God's providence in Princess Marya's meeting with Nicolas.
“I was never happy then,” said the countess, “when Bolkonsky was Natasha’s fiancé, but I always wanted, and I have a presentiment, that Nikolinka would marry the princess. And how good that would be!
Sonya felt that this was true, that the only way to improve the Rostovs’ affairs was to marry a rich woman and that the princess was a good match. But she was very sad about it. Despite her grief, or perhaps precisely as a result of her grief, she took upon herself all the difficult worries of orders for cleaning and packing things and was busy all day long. The Count and Countess turned to her when they needed to order something. Petya and Natasha, on the contrary, not only did not help their parents, but for the most part they bothered and disturbed everyone in the house. And all day long you could almost hear their running, screaming and causeless laughter in the house. They laughed and rejoiced not at all because there was a reason for their laughter; but their souls were joyful and cheerful, and therefore everything that happened was a reason for joy and laughter for them. Petya was happy because, having left home as a boy, he returned (as everyone told him) a fine man; It was fun because he was at home, because he had left Belaya Tserkov, where there was no hope of getting into battle soon, and ended up in Moscow, where one of these days they would fight; and most importantly, it was cheerful because Natasha, whose mood he always obeyed, was cheerful. Natasha was cheerful because she had been sad for too long, and now nothing reminded her of the reason for her sadness, and she was healthy. She was also cheerful because there was a person who admired her (the admiration of others was the ointment of the wheels that was necessary for her car to move completely freely), and Petya admired her. The main thing is that they were cheerful because the war was near Moscow, that they would fight at the outpost, that they were distributing weapons, that everyone was running, leaving somewhere, that in general something extraordinary was happening, which is always joyful for a person, especially for young.
Berg, the Rostovs' son-in-law, was already a colonel with Vladimir and Anna around his neck and occupied the same calm and pleasant place as assistant chief of staff, assistant to the first department of the chief of staff of the second corps. On September 1, he returned from the army to Moscow.
He had nothing to do in Moscow; but he noticed that everyone from the army asked to go to Moscow and did something there. He also considered it necessary to take time off for household and family matters.
Berg, in his neat droshky on a pair of well-fed savrasenki, exactly the same as one prince had, drove up to his father-in-law’s house. He looked carefully into the yard at the carts and, entering the porch, took out a clean handkerchief and tied a knot.
From the hall, Berg ran into the living room with a floating, impatient step and hugged the count, kissed the hands of Natasha and Sonya and hurriedly asked about his mother’s health.
How is your health now? Well, tell me,” said the count, “what about the troops?” Are they retreating or will there be another battle?
One eternal God, dad, said Berg, can decide the fate of the fatherland. The army is burning with the spirit of heroism, and now the leaders, so to speak, have gathered for a meeting. What will happen is unknown. But I’ll tell you in general, dad, such a heroic spirit, the truly ancient courage of the Russian troops, which they - it,” he corrected himself, “showed or showed in this battle on the 26th, there are no words worthy to describe them... I tell you I’ll say, dad (he hit himself on the chest in the same way as one general who was talking in front of him hit himself, although a little late, because he should have hit himself on the chest at the word “ Russian army“), “I’ll tell you frankly that we, the commanders, not only shouldn’t have urged the soldiers or anything like that, but we could forcefully hold back these, these... yes, courageous and ancient feats,” he said quickly. - General Barclay de Tolly sacrificed his life everywhere in front of the troops, I’ll tell you. Our corps was placed on the slope of the mountain. You can imagine! - And then Berg told everything that he remembered from the various stories he had heard during this time. Natasha, without lowering her gaze, which confused Berg, as if looking for a solution to some question on his face, looked at him.
Such heroism in general, as shown by Russian soldiers, cannot be imagined and deservedly praised! - Berg said, looking back at Natasha and as if wanting to appease her, smiling at her in response to her persistent gaze... - “Russia is not in Moscow, it is in the hearts of her sons!” Right, dad? - said Berg.
At this time, the countess came out of the sofa room, looking tired and dissatisfied. Berg hastily jumped up, kissed the countess's hand, inquired about her health and, expressing his sympathy by shaking his head, stopped next to her.
Yes, mother, I will truly tell you, difficult and sad times for every Russian. But why worry so much? You still have time to leave...
“I don’t understand what people are doing,” said the countess, turning to her husband, “they just told me that nothing is ready yet.” After all, someone needs to give orders. You'll regret Mitenka. This will never end!
The Count wanted to say something, but apparently refrained. He stood up from his chair and walked towards the door.
Berg at this time, as if to blow his nose, took out a handkerchief and, looking at the bundle, thought, sadly and significantly shook his head.
“And I have a big request for you, dad,” he said.
Hm?.. - said the count, stopping.
“I’m driving past Yusupov’s house now,” Berg said, laughing. - The manager is familiar to me, he ran out and asked if you would buy something. I went in, you know, out of curiosity, and there was one wardrobe and a toilet. You know how Veruschka wanted this and how we argued about it. (Berg involuntarily switched to a tone of joy about his well-being when he began talking about the wardrobe and toilet.) And such a delight! comes forward with an English secret, you know? But Verochka wanted it for a long time. So I want to surprise her. I saw so many of these guys in your yard. Give me one please, I'll pay him well and...
The Count frowned and gagged.
Ask the countess, but I don’t give orders.
If it’s difficult, please don’t,” Berg said. - I would really like it for Verushka.
Oh, get away to hell, to hell, to hell and to hell!.. - shouted the old count. - My head is spinning. - And he left the room.
The Countess began to cry.
Yes, yes, mummy, very much hard times! - said Berg.
Natasha went out with her father and, as if having difficulty figuring something out, first followed him, and then ran downstairs.
Petya stood on the porch, arming the people who were traveling from Moscow. Pawned carts still stood in the yard. Two of them were untied, and an officer, supported by an orderly, climbed onto one of them.
Do you know why? - Petya asked Natasha (Natasha understood that Petya understood why his father and mother quarreled). She didn't answer.
Because daddy wanted to give all the carts to the wounded,” said Petya. - Vasilich told me. I think...
“In my opinion,” Natasha suddenly almost screamed, turning her embittered face to Petya, “in my opinion, this is such disgusting, such an abomination, such... I don’t know! Are we some kind of Germans?.. - Her throat trembled with convulsive sobs, and she, afraid to weaken and release the charge of her anger in vain, turned and quickly rushed up the stairs. Berg sat next to the countess and comforted her with kindly respect. The Count, pipe in hand, was walking around the room when Natasha, with her face disfigured by anger, burst into the room like a storm and with quick steps went up to her mother.
This is disgusting! This is an abomination! - she screamed. - It can't be that you ordered.
Berg and the Countess looked at her in bewilderment and fear. The Count stopped at the window, listening.
Mama, this is impossible; look what's in the yard! - she screamed. - They remain!..
What's wrong with you? Who are they? What do you need?
The wounded, that's who! This is impossible, mamma; this doesn’t look like anything... No, Mama, my dear, this is not the same, please forgive me, my dear... Mama, what do we need, what are we going to take away, just look at what’s in the yard... Mama !.. This can’t be!..
The Count stood at the window and, without turning his face, listened to Natasha’s words. Suddenly he sniffed and brought his face closer to the window.
The Countess looked at her daughter, saw her face ashamed of her mother, saw her excitement, understood why her husband was now not looking back at her, and looked around her with a confused look.
Oh, do as you wish! Am I disturbing anyone? - she said, not yet suddenly, giving up.
Mama, my dear, forgive me!
But the countess pushed her daughter away and approached the count.
“Mon cher, you do the right thing... I don’t know that,” she said, lowering her eyes guiltily.
Eggs... eggs teach a hen... - the count said through happy tears and hugged his wife, who was glad to hide her ashamed face on his chest.
Daddy, mummy! Can I make arrangements? Is it possible?.. - asked Natasha. “We’ll still take everything we need...” said Natasha.
The Count nodded his head affirmatively at her, and Natasha, with the same quick run as she used to run into the burners, ran across the hall to the hallway and up the stairs to the courtyard.
People gathered around Natasha and until then could not believe the strange order that she conveyed, until the count himself, in the name of his wife, confirmed the order that all carts should be given to the wounded, and chests should be taken to storerooms. Having understood the order, people happily and busily set about the new task. Now not only did it not seem strange to the servants, but, on the contrary, it seemed that it could not be otherwise; just as a quarter of an hour before, not only did it not seem strange to anyone that they were leaving the wounded and taking things, but it seemed that it could not be otherwise.
All the household, as if paying for the fact that they had not taken up this task earlier, busily began the new task of housing the wounded. The wounded crawled out of their rooms and surrounded the carts with joyful, pale faces. Rumors also spread in the neighboring houses that there were carts, and the wounded from other houses began to come to the Rostovs’ yard. Many of the wounded asked not to take off their things and only put them on top. But once the business of dumping things had begun, it could not stop. It didn't matter whether to leave everything or half. In the yard lay untidy chests with dishes, bronze, paintings, mirrors, which had been so carefully laid out the previous night, and everyone was looking for and finding an opportunity to put this and that and give away more and more carts.
You can still take four,” said the manager, “I’m giving away my cart, otherwise where are they going to go?”
“Give me my dressing room,” said the countess. - Dunyasha will get into the carriage with me.
They also gave away a dressing cart and sent it to pick up the wounded two houses away. All the household and servants were cheerfully animated. Natasha was in an ecstatic and happy revival, which she had not experienced for a long time.
Where should I tie it? - people said, adjusting the chest to the narrow back of the carriage, - we must leave at least one cart.
What is he with? - Natasha asked.
With count's books.
Leave it. Vasilich will clean it up. It's not necessary.
The chaise was full of people; doubted about where Pyotr Ilyich would sit.
He's on the ass. Are you a jerk, Petya? - Natasha shouted.
Sonya kept busy too; but the goal of her efforts was the opposite of Natasha’s goal. She put away those things that were supposed to remain; I wrote them down, at the countess’s request, and tried to take with me as many as possible.
With God! - said Yefim, putting on his hat. - Pull it out! - The postilion touched. The right drawbar fell into the clamp, the high springs crunched, and the body swayed. The footman jumped onto the box as he walked. The carriage shook as it left the yard onto the shaking pavement, the other carriages also shook, and the train moved up the street. In the carriages, carriages and chaises, everyone was baptized at the church that was opposite. The people remaining in Moscow walked on both sides of the carriages, seeing them off.
Natasha had rarely experienced such a joyful feeling as the one she was experiencing now, sitting in the carriage next to the countess and looking at the walls of an abandoned, alarmed Moscow slowly moving past her. She occasionally leaned out of the carriage window and looked back and forth at the long train of wounded preceding them. Almost ahead of everyone, she could see the closed top of Prince Andrei's carriage. She did not know who was in it, and every time, thinking about the area of her convoy, she looked for this carriage with her eyes. She knew she was ahead of everyone.
In Kudrin, from Nikitskaya, from Presnya, from Podnovinsky, several trains similar to the Rostov train arrived, and carriages and carts were already traveling in two rows along Sadovaya.
While driving around the Sukharev Tower, Natasha, who was curiously and quickly examining the people riding and walking, suddenly cried out in joy and surprise:
Fathers! Mom, Sonya, look, it’s him!
Who? Who?
Look, by God, Bezukhov! - Natasha said, leaning out of the carriage window and looking at a tall, fat man in a coachman’s caftan, obviously a dressed-up gentleman by his gait and posture, who, next to a yellow, beardless old man in a frieze overcoat, approached under the arch of the Sukharev Tower.
By God, Bezukhov, in a caftan, with some old boy! By God,” said Natasha, “look, look!”
No, it's not him. Is it possible, such nonsense.
Mom,” Natasha shouted, “I’ll give you your head to cut off that it’s him!” I assure you. Wait, wait! - she shouted to the coachman; but the coachman could not stop, because more carts and carriages were leaving Meshchanskaya, and they were shouting at the Rostovs to get going and not delay the others.
Indeed, although already much further away than before, all the Rostovs saw Pierre or a man unusually similar to Pierre, in a coachman's caftan, walking down the street with a bowed head and a serious face, next to a small beardless old man who looked like a footman. This old man noticed a face sticking out of the carriage at him and, respectfully touching Pierre's elbow, said something to him, pointing to the carriage. For a long time Pierre could not understand what he was saying; so he was apparently immersed in his thoughts. Finally, when he understood it, he looked as directed and, recognizing Natasha, at that very second, surrendering to the first impression, quickly headed towards the carriage. But, having walked ten steps, he, apparently remembering something, stopped.
Natasha’s face, sticking out of the carriage, shone with mocking affection.
Pyotr Kirilych, go! After all, we found out! This is amazing! - she shouted, holding out her hand to him. - How are you? Why are you doing this?
Pierre took the outstretched hand and awkwardly kissed it as he walked (since the carriage continued to move).
What's the matter with you, Count? - the countess asked in a surprised and compassionate voice.
What? What? For what? “Don’t ask me,” Pierre said and looked back at Natasha, whose radiant, joyful gaze (he felt this without looking at her) filled him with its charm.
What are you doing or are you staying in Moscow? - Pierre was silent.
In Moscow? - he said questioningly. - Yes, in Moscow. Farewell.
Oh, if I wished I were a man, I would certainly stay with you. Oh, how good it is! - Natasha said. - Mom, let me stay.
Pierre looked absentmindedly at Natasha and wanted to say something, but the countess interrupted him:
You were at the battle, we heard?
Yes, I was,” answered Pierre. “Tomorrow there will be a battle again...” he began, but Natasha interrupted him:
What's the matter with you, Count? You don't look like yourself...
Oh, don't ask, don't ask me, I don't know anything myself. Tomorrow... No! “Goodbye, goodbye,” he said, “a terrible time!” - And, falling behind the carriage, he walked onto the sidewalk.
Natasha leaned out of the window for a long time, beaming at him with a gentle and slightly mocking, joyful smile.