Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy in his epic novel “War and Peace” provided a wide system of images. His world is not limited to a few noble families: real historical characters mixed with fictional ones, major and minor. This symbiosis is sometimes so confusing and unusual that it is extremely difficult to determine which heroes perform a more or less important function.
The novel features representatives of eight noble families, almost all of them are central to the narrative.
Rostov family
This family is represented by Count Ilya Andreevich, his wife Natalya, their four children together and their pupil Sonya.
The head of the family, Ilya Andreevich, is a sweet and good-natured person. He has always been wealthy, so he does not know how to save; he is often deceived by friends and relatives for selfish purposes. The Count is not a selfish person, he is ready to help everyone. Over time, his attitude, reinforced by his addiction to card game, became disastrous for his entire family. Due to the father's squandering, the family has been on the brink of poverty for a long time. The Count dies at the end of the novel, after the wedding of Natalia and Pierre, a natural death.
Countess Natalya is very similar to her husband. She, like him, is alien to the concept of self-interest and the race for money. She is ready to help people who find themselves in difficult situation, she is overwhelmed with feelings of patriotism. The Countess had to endure many sorrows and troubles. This state of affairs is associated not only with unexpected poverty, but also with the death of their children. Of the thirteen born, only four survived, and subsequently the war took another one - the youngest.
Count and Countess Rostov, like most of the characters in the novel, have their own prototypes. They were the writer’s grandfather and grandmother – Ilya Andreevich and Pelageya Nikolaevna.
The Rostovs' eldest child's name is Vera. This is an unusual girl, unlike all the other family members. She is rude and callous at heart. This attitude applies not only strangers, but also immediate relatives. The rest of the Rostov children subsequently make fun of her and even come up with a nickname for her. The prototype of Vera was Elizaveta Bers, daughter-in-law of L. Tolstoy.
The next oldest child is Nikolai. His image is depicted in the novel with love. Nikolai is a noble man. He approaches any activity responsibly. Tries to be guided by the principles of morality and honor. Nikolai is very similar to his parents - kind, sweet, purposeful. After the disaster he experienced, he was constantly concerned about not being in a similar situation again. Nikolai takes part in military events, he is repeatedly awarded, but still he leaves military service after the war with Napoleon - his family needs him.
Nikolai marries Maria Bolkonskaya, they have three children - Andrei, Natasha, Mitya - and a fourth is expected.
The younger sister of Nikolai and Vera, Natalya, is the same in character and temperament as her parents. She is sincere and trusting, and this almost destroys her - Fyodor Dolokhov fools the girl and persuades her to escape. These plans were not destined to come true, but Natalya's engagement to Andrei Bolkonsky was terminated, and Natalya fell into deep depression. Subsequently, she became the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. The woman stopped watching her figure; those around her began to speak of her as an unpleasant woman. The prototypes of Natalya were Tolstoy’s wife, Sofya Andreevna, and her sister, Tatyana Andreevna.
Youngest child Rostov was Petya. He was the same as all the Rostovs: noble, honest and kind. All these qualities were enhanced by youthful maximalism. Petya was a sweet eccentric to whom all pranks were forgiven. Fate was extremely unfavorable for Petya - he, like his brother, went to the front and died there very young and young.
We invite you to read the novel by L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”.
Another child was raised in the Rostov family - Sonya. The girl was related to the Rostovs; after the death of her parents, they took her in and treated her like their own child. Sonya was in love with Nikolai Rostov for a long time; this fact did not allow her to get married on time.
Presumably she remained alone until the end of her days. Its prototype was L. Tolstoy’s aunt, Tatyana Alexandrovna, in whose house the writer was brought up after the death of his parents.
We meet all the Rostovs at the very beginning of the novel - they all actively act throughout the entire narrative. In the “Epilogue” we learn about the further continuation of their family.
Bezukhov family
The Bezukhov family is not represented in such a large number as the Rostov family. The head of the family is Kirill Vladimirovich. The name of his wife is not known. We know that she belonged to the Kuragin family, but it is unclear who exactly she was to them. Count Bezukhov has no children born in marriage - all his children are illegitimate. The eldest of them, Pierre, was officially named by his father as the heir to the estate.
After such a statement from the Count socially The image of Pierre Bezukhov begins to appear actively. Pierre himself does not impose his company on others, but he is a prominent groom - the heir to unimaginable wealth, so they want to see him always and everywhere. Nothing is known about Pierre's mother, but this does not become a reason for indignation and ridicule. Pierre received a decent education abroad and returned home full of utopian ideas, his vision of the world is too idealistic and divorced from reality, so all the time he faces unimaginable disappointments - in social activities, personal life, family harmony. His first wife was Elena Kuragina, a minx and a fidgety woman. This marriage brought a lot of suffering to Pierre. The death of his wife saved him from the unbearable - he did not have the power to leave Elena or change her, but he also could not come to terms with such an attitude towards his person. The second marriage - with Natasha Rostova - became more successful. They had four children - three girls and a boy.
Princes Kuragin
The Kuragin family is persistently associated with greed, debauchery and deceit. The reason for this was the children of Vasily Sergeevich and Alina - Anatol and Elena.
Prince Vasily was not a bad person, he had a number of positive qualities, but his desire for enrichment and gentleness of character towards his son brought all the positive aspects to naught.
Like any father, Prince Vasily wanted to provide a comfortable future for his children; one of the options was an advantageous marriage. This position not only had a negative impact on the reputation of the entire family, but also later played a tragic role in the lives of Elena and Anatoly.
Little is known about Princess Alina. At the time of the story she was quite ugly woman. Her distinguishing feature was her hostility towards her daughter Elena out of envy.
Vasily Sergeevich and Princess Alina had two sons and a daughter.
Anatole became the cause of all the family’s troubles. He led the life of a spendthrift and a rake - debts and rowdy behavior were a natural pastime for him. This behavior left an extremely negative imprint on the family’s reputation and financial situation.
Anatole was noticed to be amorously attracted to his sister Elena. Possibility of occurrence serious relationship between brother and sister were suppressed by Prince Vasily, but, apparently, they still took place after Elena’s marriage.
The Kuragins' daughter Elena had incredible beauty, like her brother Anatoly. She skillfully flirted and after marriage had affairs with many men, ignoring her husband Pierre Bezukhov.
Their brother Hippolytus was completely different from them in appearance - he was extremely unpleasant in appearance. In terms of the composition of his mind, he was not much different from his brother and sister. He was too stupid - this was noted not only by those around him, but also by his father. Still, Hippolytus was not hopeless - he knew well foreign languages and worked at the embassy.
Princes Bolkonsky
The Bolkonsky family occupies far last place in society - they are rich and influential.
The family includes Prince Nikolai Andreevich, a man of the old school and unique morals. He is quite rude in his interactions with his family, but still not devoid of sensuality and tenderness - he is kind to his grandson and daughter, in a peculiar way, but still, he loves his son, but he is not very good at showing the sincerity of his feelings.
Nothing is known about the prince's wife; even her name is not mentioned in the text. The Bolkonskys’ marriage produced two children – son Andrei and daughter Marya.
Andrei Bolkonsky is somewhat similar in character to his father - he is hot-tempered, proud and a little rude. He is distinguished by his attractive appearance and natural charm. At the beginning of the novel, Andrei is successfully married to Lisa Meinen - the couple gives birth to a son, Nikolenka, but his mother dies the night after giving birth.
After some time, Andrei becomes Natalya Rostova’s fiancé, but there was no need to have a wedding - Anatol Kuragin translated all the plans, which earned him personal hostility and exceptional hatred from Andrei.
Prince Andrei takes part in the military events of 1812, is seriously wounded on the battlefield and dies in the hospital.
Maria Bolkonskaya - Andrei's sister - is deprived of such pride and stubbornness as her brother, which allows her, not without difficulty, but still to get along with her father, who is not distinguished by an easy-going character. Kind and meek, she understands that she is not indifferent to her father, so she does not hold a grudge against him for his nagging and rudeness. The girl is raising her nephew. Outwardly, Marya does not look like her brother - she is very ugly, but this does not prevent her from marrying Nikolai Rostov and living happy life.
Lisa Bolkonskaya (Meinen) was the wife of Prince Andrei. She was an attractive woman. Her inner world was not inferior to her appearance - she was sweet and pleasant, loved to do needlework. Unfortunately, her fate did not work out in the best way - childbirth turned out to be too difficult for her - she dies, giving life to her son Nikolenka.
Nikolenka lost his mother early, but the boy’s troubles did not stop there - at the age of 7 he lost his father. Despite everything, he is characterized by the cheerfulness inherent in all children - he grows up as an intelligent and inquisitive boy. The image of his father becomes key for him - Nikolenka wants to live in such a way that his father can be proud of him.
Mademoiselle Burien also belongs to the Bolkonsky family. Despite the fact that she is just a hangout companion, her importance in the context of the family is quite significant. First of all, it consists of pseudo friendship with Princess Maria. Mademoiselle often acts meanly towards Maria and takes advantage of the girl’s favor towards her person.
Karagin family
Tolstoy does not talk much about the Karagin family - the reader gets acquainted with only two representatives of this family - Marya Lvovna and her daughter Julie.
Marya Lvovna first appears before readers in the first volume of the novel, and her daughter also begins to act in the first volume of the first part of War and Peace. Julie has an extremely unpleasant appearance, she is in love with Nikolai Rostov, but the young man does not pay any attention to her. Her enormous wealth does not help the situation either. Boris Drubetskoy actively draws attention to her material component; the girl understands that the young man is being nice to her only because of money, but does not show it - for her, this is actually the only way not to remain an old maid.
Princes Drubetsky
The Drubetsky family is not particularly active in the social sphere, therefore Tolstoy avoids a detailed description of the family members and focuses readers’ attention only on actively current characters– Anna Mikhailovna and her son Boris.
Princess Drubetskaya belongs to an old family, but now her family is going through difficult times. better times– Poverty became the Drubetskys’ constant companion. This state of affairs gave rise to a sense of prudence and self-interest in the representatives of this family. Anna Mikhailovna tries to benefit as much as possible from her friendship with the Rostovs - she lives with them for a long time.
Her son, Boris, was Nikolai Rostov's friend for some time. As they grew older, their views on life values and principles began to differ greatly, which led to distance in communication.
Boris begins to show more and more selfishness and the desire to get rich at any cost. He is ready to marry for money and successfully does so, taking advantage of the unenviable position of Julie Karagina
Dolokhov family
Representatives of the Dolokhov family are also not all active in society. Fedor stands out brightly among everyone. He is the son of Marya Ivanovna and best friend Anatoly Kuragin. In his behavior, he also did not go far from his friend: carousing and an idle way of life are a common occurrence for him. In addition, he is famous for his love affair with Pierre Bezukhov’s wife, Elena. Distinctive feature What separates Dolokhov from Kuragin is his affection for his mother and sister.
Historical figures in the novel "War and Peace"
Since Tolstoy's novel takes place against the background historical events related to the war against Napoleon in 1812, it is impossible to do without at least partial mention of real-life characters.
Alexander I
The activities of Emperor Alexander I are most actively described in the novel. This is not surprising, because the main events take place on the territory Russian Empire. First we learn about the positive and liberal aspirations of the emperor, he is an “angel in the flesh.” The peak of its popularity falls during the period of Napoleon's defeat in the war. It was at this time that Alexander’s authority reached incredible heights. The Emperor could easily make changes and improve the lives of his subjects, but he doesn't. As a result, such an attitude and inactivity become the reason for the emergence of the Decembrist movement.
Napoleon I Bonaparte
On the other side of the barricade in the events of 1812 is Napoleon. Since many Russian aristocrats received their education abroad, and French was everyday life for them, the attitude of the nobles towards this character at the beginning of the novel was positive and bordered on admiration. Then disappointment occurs - their idol from the category of ideals becomes the main villain. Connotations such as egocentrism, lies, and pretense are actively used with the image of Napoleon.
Mikhail Speransky
This character is important not only in Tolstoy's novel, but also during the real era of Emperor Alexander.
His family could not boast of antiquity and significance - he is the son of a priest, but still he managed to become the secretary of Alexander I. He is not a particularly pleasant person, but everyone notes his importance in the context of events in the country.
In addition, the novel features historical characters of lesser importance than the emperors. These are the great commanders Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Kutuzov and Pyotr Bagration. Their activities and the revelation of the image take place on the battlefield - Tolstoy tries to describe the military part of the story as realistically and captivating as possible, therefore these characters are described not only as great and unsurpassed, but also in the role of ordinary people who are subject to doubts, mistakes and negative qualities character.
Other characters
Among the other characters, the name of Anna Scherer should be highlighted. She is the “owner” of a secular salon - the elite of society meet here. Guests are rarely left to their own devices. Anna Mikhailovna always strives to provide for her visitors interesting interlocutors, she often pimps - this arouses her special interest.
Characteristics of the heroes of the novel “War and Peace”: images of the characters
4.2 (84%) 5 votesIn the novel “War and Peace,” Leo Tolstoy conveyed the author’s vision of morals, the state of thoughts and worldview of the advanced stratum of Russian society at the beginning of the 19th century. Problems of the state arise as a result of great world events and become the concern of every conscious citizen. The main characters of the novel “War and Peace” are representatives of influential families at the emperor’s court.
Andrey Bolkonsky
The image of a Russian patriot who died in the fight against the French occupiers. He is not attracted to a quiet family life, social receptions and balls. The officer takes part in every military campaign of Alexander I. The husband of Kutuzov's niece, he becomes the adjutant of the famous general.In the Battle of Schoenberg, he raises a soldier to attack, carrying a fallen banner, like a real hero. In the Battle of Austerlitz, Bolkonsky is wounded and captured, freed by Napoleon. In the Battle of Borodino, a shell fragment hits a brave warrior in the stomach. The ladle died in agony in the arms of his beloved girl.
Tolstoy showed a man life priorities which are national duty, military valor and the honor of the uniform. Representatives of the Russian aristocracy have always been bearers of the moral values of monarchical power.
Natasha Rostova
The young countess grew up in luxury, surrounded by parental care. A noble upbringing and excellent education could provide a girl with a profitable match, have a fun life in high society. The war changed the carefree Natasha, who suffered the loss dear people.Having married Pierre Bezukhov, she became a mother of many children, finding peace in family concerns. Leo Tolstoy created positive image Russian noblewoman, patriot and keeper of the hearth. The author is critical of the fact that after giving birth to four children, Natasha stopped taking care of herself. The author wants to see a woman unfading, fresh and well-groomed throughout her life.
Maria Bolkonskaya
The princess was raised by her father, Potemkin’s contemporary and friend of Kutuzov, Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky. Old General attached importance to education, especially the study of technical sciences. The girl knew geometry and algebra and spent many hours reading books.The father was strict and biased, he tormented his daughter with lessons, this is how he demonstrated his love and care. Marya sacrificed her youth to her parent's old age and was with him until his last days. She replaced the mother of her nephew Nikolenka, trying to surround him with parental tenderness.
Maria met her fate during the war in the person of her savior Nikolai Rostov. Their relationship developed for a long time, both did not dare to take the first step. The gentleman was younger than his lady, this embarrassed the girl. The princess had a large inheritance from the Bolkonskys, which stopped the guy. They made a good family.
Pierre Bezukhov
The young man was educated abroad and was allowed to return to Russia at the age of twenty. High society accepted young man wary, because he was the illegitimate son of a noble nobleman. However, before his death, the father asked the king to recognize Pierre as the legal heir.In an instant, Bezukhov became a count and the owner of a huge fortune. The inexperienced, slow and gullible Pierre was used in selfish intrigues; he was quickly married to his daughter by Prince Vasily Kuragin. The hero had to go through the pain of betrayal, humiliation of his wife's lovers, a duel, Freemasonry and drunkenness.
The war cleansed the count’s soul, saved him from empty mental ordeals, and radically changed his worldview. Having gone through fire, captivity and the loss of dear people, Bezukhov found the meaning of life in family values, in the ideas of the new post-war political reforms.
Illarion Mikhailovich Kutuzov
Kutuzov's personality is a key figure in the events of 1812, because he commanded the army defending Moscow. Leo Tolstoy in the novel “Vona and Peace” presented his vision of the general’s character, his assessment of his actions and decisions.The commander looks like a kind, fat old man who, with his experience and knowledge of conducting large battles, is trying to lead Russia out of a difficult retreat situation. The Battle of Borodino and the surrender of Moscow was a cunning military combination that led to victory over the French army.
The author described the famous Kutuzov as ordinary person, a slave to his weaknesses, who has experience and wisdom accumulated over for many years life. The general is an example of an army commander who takes care of the soldiers, worries about their uniforms, food and sleep.
Leo Tolstoy tried to convey through the image of the main characters of the novel the difficult fate of the representatives high society Russia, which survived the European military storm early XIX century. Then a generation of Decembrists was formed, who would lay the foundation for new reforms, the result of which would be the abolition of serfdom.
The main feature that unites all the heroes is patriotism, love for the Motherland, and respect for parents.
Every book you read is another life lived, especially when the plot and characters are so well developed. “War and Peace” is a unique epic novel; there is nothing like it in either Russian or world literature. The events described in it take place in St. Petersburg, Moscow, foreign estates of nobles and in Austria over the course of 15 years. The characters are also striking in their scale.
"War and Peace" is a novel in which more than 600 characters are mentioned. Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy describes them so aptly that the few apt characteristics bestowed upon the cross-cutting characters are enough to form an idea about them. Therefore, “War and Peace” is a whole life in all the fullness of colors, sounds and sensations. It's worth living.
The birth of an idea and creative quest
In 1856, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy began writing a story about the life of the Decembrist who returned after exile. The time of action was supposed to be 1810-1820. Gradually the period expanded until 1825. But by this time main character He has already matured and become a family man. And in order to better understand him, the author had to return to the period of his youth. And it coincided with a glorious era for Russia.
But Tolstoy could not write about the triumph over Bonaparte's France without mentioning failures and mistakes. Now the novel already consisted of three parts. The first (as conceived by the author) was supposed to describe the youth of the future Decembrist and his participation in the War of 1812. This is the first period of the hero's life. Tolstoy wanted to devote the second part to the Decembrist uprising. The third - the return of the hero from exile and his later life. However, Tolstoy quickly abandoned this idea: the work on the novel turned out to be too large-scale and painstaking.
Initially, Tolstoy limited the duration of his work to 1805-1812. The epilogue, dated 1920, appeared much later. But the author was concerned not only with the plot, but also with the characters. "War and Peace" is not a description of the life of one hero. The central figures are several characters at once. And most importantly actor- a people that is much larger than the thirty-year-old Decembrist Pyotr Ivanovich Labazov, who returned from exile.
Work on the novel took Tolstoy six years, from 1863 to 1869. And this does not take into account the six that went into developing the idea of the Decembrist, which became its basis.
The system of characters in the novel "War and Peace"
The main character in Tolstoy is the people. But in his understanding, he represents not just a social category, but a creative force. According to Tolstoy, the people are all the best that is in the Russian nation. Moreover, this includes not only representatives of the lower classes, but also those of the nobles who have a desire to live for the sake of others.
Tolstoy contrasts representatives of the people with Napoleon, the Kuragins and other aristocrats - regulars at Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon. This negative characters novel "War and Peace". Already in the description of their appearance, Tolstoy emphasizes the mechanical nature of their existence, lack of spirituality, “animality” of actions, lifelessness of smiles, selfishness and inability to compassion. They are incapable of change. Tolstoy does not see the possibility of their spiritual development, so they remain forever frozen, distant from the real understanding of life.
Researchers often distinguish two subgroups of “folk” characters:
- Those who are endowed with “simple consciousness”. They easily distinguish right from wrong, guided by the “mind of the heart.” This subgroup includes such characters as Natasha Rostova, Kutuzov, Platon Karataev, Alpatych, officers Timokhin and Tushin, soldiers and partisans.
- Those who are “looking for themselves.” Upbringing and class barriers prevent them from connecting with the people, but they manage to overcome them. This subgroup includes such characters as Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. It is these heroes who are shown capable of development and internal change. They are not without shortcomings; they make mistakes in their life quests, but pass all tests with dignity. Sometimes Natasha Rostova is included in this group. After all, she too was once carried away by Anatole, forgetting about her beloved Prince Bolkonsky. The War of 1812 becomes a kind of catharsis for this entire subgroup, which makes them look at life differently and discard the class conventions that previously prevented them from living according to the dictates of their hearts, as the people do.
The simplest classification
Sometimes the characters in War and Peace are divided according to an even simpler principle - their ability to live for the sake of others. Such a character system is also possible. “War and Peace,” like any other work, is the author’s vision. Therefore, everything in the novel happens in accordance with Lev Nikolaevich’s worldview. The people, in Tolstoy’s understanding, are the personification of all the best that is in the Russian nation. Characters such as the Kuragin family, Napoleon, and many regulars at the Scherer salon know how to live only for themselves.
Along Arkhangelsk and Baku
- “Life-wasters,” from Tolstoy’s point of view, are the furthest from the correct understanding of existence. This group lives only for themselves, selfishly neglecting those around them.
- "Leaders" This is what Arkhangelsky and Buck call those who think they control history. For example, the authors include Napoleon in this group.
- “Wise men” are those who understood the true world order and were able to trust providence.
- "Ordinary people." This group, according to Arkhangelsky and Buck, includes those who know how to listen to their hearts, but do not particularly strive for anything.
- “Truth Seekers” are Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. Throughout the novel, they painfully search for the truth, strive to understand what the meaning of life is.
- The authors of the textbook include Natasha Rostova in a separate group. They believe that she is simultaneously close to both “ordinary people” and “sages”. The girl easily comprehends life empirically and knows how to listen to the voice of her heart, but the most important thing for her is family and children, as it should be, according to Tolstoy, for an ideal woman.
You can consider many more classifications of the characters in War and Peace, but they all ultimately come down to the simplest one, which fully reflects the worldview of the author of the novel. After all, he saw true happiness in serving others. Therefore, positive (“folk”) heroes know how and want to do this, but negative ones do not.
L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”: female characters
Any work is a reflection of the author's vision of life. According to Tolstoy, the highest purpose of a woman is to care for her husband and children. It is the keeper of the hearth that the reader sees Natasha Rostova in the epilogue of the novel.
All positive female characters in War and Peace fulfill their highest purpose. The happiness of motherhood and family life endowed by the author and Maria Bolkonskaya. Interestingly, she is perhaps the most positive hero of the novel. Princess Marya has practically no flaws. Despite her diverse education, she still finds her purpose, as befits a Tolstoy heroine, in caring for her husband and children.
A completely different fate awaited Helen Kuragina and the little princess, who saw no joy in motherhood.
Pierre Bezukhov
This is Tolstoy's favorite character. "War and Peace" describes him as a man who by nature has a highly noble character, so he easily understands the people. All his mistakes are due to the aristocratic conventions instilled in him by his upbringing.
Throughout the novel, Pierre experiences many mental traumas, but does not become embittered or become less good-natured. He is loyal and responsive, often forgetting about himself in an effort to serve others. Having married Natasha Rostova, Pierre found that grace and true happiness that he so lacked in his first marriage to the completely false Helen Kuragina.
Lev Nikolaevich loves his hero very much. He describes in detail his formation and spiritual development from the very beginning to the end. The example of Pierre shows that the main thing for Tolstoy is responsiveness and devotion. The author rewards him with happiness with his favorite female heroine - Natasha Rostova.
From the epilogue one can understand Pierre's future. By changing himself, he strives to transform society. He does not accept the contemporary political foundations of Russia. It can be assumed that Pierre will participate in the Decembrist uprising, or at least actively support it.
Andrey Bolkonsky
The reader first meets this hero in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. He is married to Lisa - the little princess, as she is called, and will soon become a father. Andrei Bolkonsky behaves extremely arrogantly with all the regulars of Sherer. But the reader soon notices that this is only a mask. Bolkonsky understands that those around him cannot understand his spiritual quest. He talks to Pierre completely differently. But Bolkonsky at the beginning of the novel is not alien to the ambitious desire to achieve heights in the military field. It seems to him that he is above aristocratic conventions, but it turns out that his eyes are just as blinkered as those of others. Andrei Bolkonsky realized too late that he should have given up his feelings for Natasha in vain. But this insight comes to him only before his death.
Like other “searching” characters in Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” Bolkonsky spends his entire life trying to find the answer to the question of what is the meaning of human existence. But he understands the highest value of family too late.
Natasha Rostova
This is my favorite female character Tolstoy. However, the entire Rostov family seems to the author to be the ideal of nobles living in unity with the people. Natasha cannot be called beautiful, but she is lively and attractive. The girl has a good sense of people's moods and characters.
According to Tolstoy, inner beauty does not match with the outside. Natasha is attractive due to her character, but her main qualities are simplicity and closeness to the people. However, at the beginning of the novel she lives in her own illusion. Disappointment in Anatol makes her an adult and contributes to the heroine’s maturation. Natasha begins to attend church and ultimately finds happiness in family life with Pierre.
Marya Bolkonskaya
The prototype of this heroine was Lev Nikolaevich’s mother. It is not surprising that it is almost completely devoid of flaws. She, like Natasha, is ugly, but has a very rich inner world. Like others positive characters novel "War and Peace", at the end she also becomes happy, becoming the keeper of the hearth in her own family.
Helen Kuragina
Tolstoy has a multifaceted characterization of his characters. War and Peace describes Helen as a cutesy woman with a fake smile. It immediately becomes clear to the reader what external beauty there is no internal filling. Marrying her becomes a test for Pierre and does not bring happiness.
Nikolay Rostov
The core of any novel is its characters. War and Peace describes Nikolai Rostov as a loving brother and son, as well as a true patriot. Lev Nikolaevich saw in this hero the prototype of his father. Having gone through the hardships of the war, Nikolai Rostov retires to pay off his family's debts and finds his true love in the person of Marya Bolkonskaya.
Alexey Durnovo talks about the prototypes of the heroes of the famous epic by Leo Tolstoy.
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky
Nikolay Tuchkov
One of those characters whose image is more fictional than borrowed from specific people. Like unattainable moral ideal, Prince Andrei, of course, could not have a specific prototype. Nevertheless, in the facts of the character’s biography one can find many similarities, for example, with Nikolai Tuchkov.
Nikolai Rostov and Princess Marya are the writer’s parents
He, just like Prince Andrei, received a mortal wound in the Battle of Borodino, from which he died in Yaroslavl three weeks later. The scene of the wounding of Prince Andrei at the Battle of Austerlitz was probably borrowed from the biography of Staff Captain Fyodor (Ferdinand) Tiesenhausen. He died with a banner in his hands when he led a Little Russian grenadier regiment against enemy bayonets in that very battle. It is possible that Tolstoy gave the image of Prince Andrei the features of his brother, Sergei. At least this applies to the story of the failed marriage of Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova. Sergei Tolstoy was engaged to Tatyana Bers, but the marriage, postponed for a year, never took place. Either because of the inappropriate behavior of the bride, or because the groom had a gypsy wife with whom he did not want to part.
Natasha Rostova
Sofya Tolstaya - the writer's wife
Natasha has two prototypes at once, the already mentioned Tatyana Bers and her sister, Sophia Bers. Here it should be noted that Sophia is none other than the wife of Leo Tolstoy. Tatyana Bers married Senator Alexander Kuzminsky in 1867. She spent most of her childhood in the writer's family and managed to become friends with the author of War and Peace, even though she was almost 20 years younger than him. Moreover, under the influence of Tolstoy, Kuzminskaya herself took up literary creativity. It seems that every person who went to school knows about Sofya Andreevna Tolstaya. She actually rewrote War and Peace, a novel whose main character had a lot of common features with the author's wife.
Rostov
Ilya Andreevich Tolstoy - the writer’s grandfather
The surname Rostov was formed by replacing the first and last letters in the surname Tolstoy. “R” instead of “t”, “v” instead of “th”, well, minus “l”. Thus, the family, which occupies an important place in the novel, acquired a new name. The Rostovs are the Tolstoys, or rather the writer’s paternal relatives. There is even a coincidence in names, as in the case of the old Count Rostov.
Even Tolstoy did not hide the fact that Vasily Denisov is Denis Davydov
The writer’s grandfather, Ilya Andreevich Tolstoy, is hiding under this name. This man, in fact, led a rather lavish lifestyle and spent enormous sums on entertainment. And yet, this is not the good-natured Ilya Andreevich Rostov from War and Peace. Count Tolstoy was the governor of Kazan and a well-known bribe-taker throughout Russia. He was removed from his post after auditors discovered the theft of almost 15 thousand rubles from the provincial treasury. Tolstoy explained the loss of money as a “lack of knowledge.”
Nikolai Rostov is the father of the writer Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy. The prototype and the hero of “War and Peace” have more than enough similarities. Nikolai Tolstoy served in the hussars and went through everything Napoleonic wars, including the Patriotic War of 1812. It is believed that the descriptions of war scenes with the participation of Nikolai Rostov were taken by the writer from his father’s memoirs. Moreover, Tolstoy Sr. completed the financial ruin of the family with constant losses at cards and debts, and to correct the situation he married the ugly and reserved princess Maria Volkonskaya, who was four years older than him.
Princess Marya
Leo Tolstoy's mother Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya, by the way, is also the full namesake of the book heroine. Unlike Princess Marya, she had no problems with the sciences, in particular with mathematics and geometry. She lived for 30 years with her father in Yasnaya Polyana (Bald Mountains from the novel), but never got married, although she was a very enviable bride. The fact is that the old prince, in fact, had a monstrous character, and his daughter was a closed woman and personally rejected several suitors.
Dolokhov's prototype probably ate its own orangutan
Princess Volkonskaya even had a companion - Miss Hanessen, who was somewhat similar to Mademoiselle Bourrienne from the novel. After the death of her father, the daughter began to literally give away property, after which her relatives intervened and arranged Maria Nikolaevna’s marriage to Nikolai Tolstoy. Judging by the memoirs of contemporaries, the marriage of convenience turned out to be very happy, but short-lived. Maria Volkonskaya died eight years after the wedding, having given birth to her husband four children.
Old Prince Bolkonsky
Nikolai Volkonsky, who left the royal service to raise his only daughter
Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky is an infantry general who distinguished himself in several battles and received the nickname “Prussian King” from his colleagues. His character is very similar to the old prince: proud, self-willed, but not cruel. Left service after the accession of Paul I, retired to Yasnaya Polyana and began raising his daughter.
The prototype of Ilya Rostov is Tolstoy’s grandfather, who ruined his career
He spent all his days improving his farm and teaching his daughter languages and sciences. An important difference from the character from the book: Prince Nikolai survived the War of 1812 very well, and died only nine years later, slightly short of seventy.
Sonya
Tatiana Ergolskaya - second cousin Nikolai Tolstoy, who was brought up in his father’s house. In their youth they had an affair that never ended in marriage. Not only Nikolai’s parents, but also Ergolskaya herself opposed the wedding. IN last time She rejected a marriage proposal from her cousin in 1836. The widowed Tolstoy asked Ergolskaya's hand in marriage so that she could become his wife and replace the mother of his five children. Ergolskaya refused, but after the death of Nikolai Tolstoy she really began raising his sons and daughter, devoting the rest of her life to them.
Dolokhov
Fyodor Tolstoy-American
Dolokhov also has several prototypes. Among them, for example, is Lieutenant General and partisan Ivan Dorokhov, the hero of several major campaigns, including the War of 1812. However, if we talk about character, Dolokhov has more similarities with Fyodor Ivanovich Tolstoy the American, a famous brethren, gambler and lover of women in his time. It must be said that Tolstoy is not the only writer who included the American in his works. Fyodor Ivanovich is also considered the prototype of Zaretsky, Lensky’s second from Eugene Onegin. Tolstoy received his nickname after he made a trip to America, during which he was thrown off a ship and ate his own monkey.
Kuragins
Alexey Borisovich Kurakin
IN in this case it is difficult to talk about the family, because the images of Prince Vasily, Anatole and Helen are borrowed from several people who are not related. Kuragin Sr. is undoubtedly Alexey Borisovich Kurakin, a prominent courtier during the reign of Paul I and Alexander I, who made a brilliant career at court and made a fortune.
Prototypes of Helen - Bagration's wife and mistress of Pushkin's classmate
He had three children, exactly like Prince Vasily, of whom his daughter caused him the most trouble. Alexandra Alekseevna really had a scandalous reputation; her divorce from her husband made a lot of noise in the world. Prince Kurakin, in one of his letters, even called his daughter the main burden of his old age. Looks like a character from War and Peace, doesn't it? Although, Vasily Kuragin expressed himself a little differently.
Anatol Kuragin, apparently, has no prototype, except for Anatoly Lvovich Shostak, who at one time seduced Tatyana Bers.
Ekaterina Skavronskaya-Bagration
As for Helen, her image was taken from several women at once. In addition to some similarities with Alexandra Kurakina, she has much in common with Ekaterina Skvaronskaya (Bagration’s wife), who was known for her careless behavior not only in Russia, but also in Europe. In her homeland she was called the “Wandering Princess,” and in Austria she was known as the mistress of Clemens Metternich, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire. From him, Ekaterina Skavronskaya gave birth - of course, out of wedlock - a daughter, Clementina. Perhaps it was “The Wandering Princess” that contributed to Austria’s entry into the anti-Napoleonic coalition. Another woman from whom Tolstoy could have borrowed Helen’s features is Nadezhda Akinfova. She was born in 1840 and was very famous in St. Petersburg and Moscow as a woman of scandalous reputation and wild disposition. She gained wide popularity thanks to her affair with Chancellor Alexander Gorchakov, a classmate of Pushkin. He, by the way, was 40 years older than Akinfova, whose husband was the chancellor’s great-nephew.
Vasily Denisov
Denis Davydov
Every schoolchild knows that the prototype of Vasily Denisov was Denis Davydov. Tolstoy himself admitted this.
Julie Karagina
There is an opinion that Julie Karagina is Varvara Aleksandrovna Lanskaya. She is known exclusively for the fact that she conducted a long correspondence with her friend Maria Volkova. Using these letters, Tolstoy studied the history of the War of 1812. Moreover, they were almost completely included in War and Peace under the guise of correspondence between Princess Marya and Julie Karagina.
Pierre Bezukhov
Peter Vyazemsky
Alas, Pierre does not have any obvious or even approximate prototype. This character has similarities both with Tolstoy himself and with many historical figures who lived during the times of the writer and in the years Patriotic War. There is, for example, interesting story about how the historian and poet Pyotr Vyazemsky went to the site of the Borodino battle. Allegedly, this incident formed the basis of the story about how Pierre traveled to Borodino. But Vyazemsky was a military man at that time, and arrived on the battlefield not due to an internal call, but due to official duties.
"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy is not just a classic novel, but a real heroic epic, the literary value of which is incomparable to any other work. The writer himself considered it a poem in which a person’s private life is inseparable from the history of an entire country.
It took Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy seven years to perfect his novel. Back in 1863, the writer more than once discussed plans to create a large-scale literary canvas with his father-in-law A.E. Bersom. In September of the same year, the father of Tolstoy’s wife sent a letter from Moscow, where he mentioned the writer’s idea. Historians consider this date to be the official beginning of work on the epic. A month later, Tolstoy writes to his relative that all his time and attention is occupied by new novel, which he thinks about like never before.
History of creation
The writer's original idea was to create a work about the Decembrists, who spent 30 years in exile and returned home. The starting point described in the novel was supposed to be 1856. But then Tolstoy changed his plans, deciding to depict everything from the beginning of the Decembrist uprising of 1825. And this was not destined to come true: the writer’s third idea was the desire to describe the hero’s young years, which coincided with large-scale historical events: the War of 1812. The final version was the period from 1805. The circle of heroes was also expanded: the events in the novel cover the history of many individuals who went through all the hardships of different historical periods in the life of the country.
The title of the novel had several variations. “Workers” was the name “Three Times”: the youth of the Decembrists during the Patriotic War of 1812; The Decembrist uprising of 1825 and the 50s of the 19th century, when several events occurred at once important events in the history of Russia - the Crimean War, the passing of Nicholas I, the return of the amnestied Decembrists from Siberia. In the final version, the writer decided to focus on the first stage, since writing a novel, even on such a scale, required a lot of effort and time. So, instead of an ordinary work, a whole epic was born, which has no analogues in world literature.
Tolstoy devoted the entire autumn and early winter of 1856 to writing the beginning of War and Peace. Already at this time, he tried more than once to quit his job, because in his opinion it was impossible to convey the entire plan on paper. Historians say that in the writer’s archive there were fifteen versions of the beginning of the epic. In the process of his work, Lev Nikolaevich tried to find answers for himself to questions about the role of man in history. He had to study many chronicles, documents, materials describing the events of 1812. The confusion in the writer's head was caused by the fact that everything information sources They assessed both Napoleon and Alexander I differently. Then Tolstoy decided to move away from the subjective statements of strangers and reflect in the novel his own assessment of events, based on true facts. From diverse sources he borrowed documentary materials, notes from contemporaries, newspaper and magazine articles, letters from generals, archival documents Rumyantsev Museum.
(Prince Rostov and Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna)
Considering it necessary to visit the scene of events, Tolstoy spent two days in Borodino. It was important for him to personally travel around the place where large-scale and tragic events unfolded. He even personally made sketches of the sun on the field during different periods of the day.
The trip gave the writer the opportunity to experience the spirit of history in a new way; became a kind of inspiration for further work. For seven years, the work proceeded with elation and “burning”. The manuscripts consisted of more than 5,200 sheets. Therefore, War and Peace is easy to read even after a century and a half.
Analysis of the novel
Description
(Napoleon is thoughtful before the battle)
The novel “War and Peace” touches on a sixteen-year period in Russian history. The starting date is 1805, the final date is 1821. The work contains more than 500 characters. These are both real people and fictional by the writer to add color to the description.
(Kutuzov, before the Battle of Borodino, considers a plan)
The novel intertwines two main storylines: historical events in Russia and the personal lives of the characters. Real historical figures are mentioned in the description of the Austerlitz, Shengraben, Borodino battles; capture of Smolensk and surrender of Moscow. More than 20 chapters are devoted specifically to the Battle of Borodino, as the main decisive event of 1812.
(The illustration shows an episode of Natasha Rostova's Ball from their film "War and Peace" 1967.)
In opposition to “wartime,” the writer describes the personal world of people and everything that surrounds them. Heroes fall in love, quarrel, make peace, hate, suffer... In the confrontation between different characters, Tolstoy shows the difference in moral principles individuals. The writer is trying to tell that various events can change one’s worldview. One complete picture of the work consists of three hundred thirty-three chapters of 4 volumes and another twenty-eight chapters located in the epilogue.
First volume
The events of 1805 are described. The “peaceful” part touches on life in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The writer introduces the reader to the society of the main characters. The “military” part is the Battle of Austerlitz and Shengraben. Tolstoy concludes the first volume with a description of how military defeats affected peaceful life characters.
Second volume
(Natasha Rostova's first ball)
This is a completely “peaceful” part of the novel, which affected the lives of the heroes in the period 1806-1811: the birth of Andrei Bolkonsky’s love for Natasha Rostova; Freemasonry of Pierre Bezukhov, Karagin's kidnapping of Natasha Rostova, Bolkonsky's refusal to marry Natasha. The volume concludes with a description of a formidable omen: the appearance of a comet, which is a symbol of great upheaval.
Third volume
(The illustration shows an episode of Borodinsky's battle in the film "War and Peace" 1967.)
In this part of the epic, the writer turns to wartime: Napoleon's invasion, the surrender of Moscow, the Battle of Borodino. On the battlefield, the main male characters of the novel are forced to intersect: Bolkonsky, Kuragin, Bezukhov, Dolokhov... The end of the volume is the capture of Pierre Bezukhov, who organized unsuccessful attempt assassination attempt on Napoleon.
Volume four
(After the battle, the wounded arrive in Moscow)
The “military” part is a description of the victory over Napoleon and the shameful retreat of the French army. The writer also touches on the period of partisan warfare after 1812. All this is intertwined with the “peaceful” destinies of the heroes: Andrei Bolkonsky and Helen pass away; love arises between Nikolai and Marya; think about life together Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov. And the main character of the volume is the Russian soldier Platon Karataev, through whose words Tolstoy tries to convey all the wisdom of the common people.
Epilogue
This part is devoted to describing the changes in the lives of the heroes seven years after 1812. Natasha Rostova is married to Pierre Bezukhov; Nikolai and Marya found their happiness; Bolkonsky’s son Nikolenka has matured. In the epilogue, the author reflects on the role of individuals in the history of an entire country, and tries to show the historical relationships between events and human destinies.
The main characters of the novel
More than 500 characters are mentioned in the novel. The author tried to describe the most important of them as accurately as possible, endowing them with special features not only of character, but also of appearance:
Andrei Bolkonsky is a prince, the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky. Constantly searching for the meaning of life. Tolstoy describes him as handsome, reserved and with “dry” features. He has a strong will. Dies as a result of a wound received at Borodino.
Marya Bolkonskaya - princess, sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. Inconspicuous appearance and radiant eyes; piety and concern for relatives. In the novel, she marries Nikolai Rostov.
Natasha Rostova is the daughter of Count Rostov. In the first volume of the novel she is only 12 years old. Tolstoy describes her as a girl of not exactly beautiful appearance (black eyes, big mouth), but at the same time “alive.” Her inner beauty attracts men. Even Andrei Bolkonsky is ready to fight for your hand and heart. At the end of the novel she marries Pierre Bezukhov.
Sonya
Sonya is the niece of Count Rostov. In contrast to her cousin Natasha, she is beautiful in appearance, but much poorer mentally.
Pierre Bezukhov is the son of Count Kirill Bezukhov. An awkward, massive figure, kind and at the same time strong character. He can be stern, or he can become a child. He is interested in Freemasonry. Tries to change the lives of peasants and influence large-scale events. Initially married to Helen Kuragina. At the end of the novel he takes Natasha Rostova as his wife.
Helen Kuragina is the daughter of Prince Kuragin. A beauty, a prominent socialite. She married Pierre Bezukhov. Changeable, cold. Died as a result of an abortion.
Nikolai Rostov is the son of Count Rostov and Natasha's brother. Successor of the family and defender of the Fatherland. He took part in military campaigns. He married Marya Bolkonskaya.
Fyodor Dolokhov is an officer, a participant in the partisan movement, as well as a big reveler and lover of ladies.
Countess of Rostov
Countess Rostov - parents of Nikolai, Natasha, Vera, Petya. Revered married couple, an example to follow.
Nikolai Bolkonsky is a prince, the father of Marya and Andrei. In Catherine's time, a significant personality.
The author pays much attention to the description of Kutuzov and Napoleon. The commander appears before us as smart, unfeigned, kind and philosophical. Napoleon is described as a small, fat man with an unpleasantly fake smile. At the same time, it is somewhat mysterious and theatrical.
Analysis and conclusion
In the novel “War and Peace” the writer tries to convey to the reader “ popular thought" Its essence is that everyone positive hero has its own connection with the nation.
Tolstoy moved away from the principle of telling a novel in the first person. The assessment of characters and events occurs through monologues and author's digressions. At the same time, the writer leaves the right to the reader to evaluate what is happening. A striking example of this is the scene of the Battle of Borodino, shown both from the side historical facts, and the subjective opinion of the hero of the novel Pierre Bezukhov. The writer does not forget about the bright historical figure- General Kutuzov.
The main idea of the novel lies not only in the disclosure of historical events, but also in the opportunity to understand that one must love, believe and live under any circumstances.