What Tolstoy writes about Kutuzov and Napoleon. Essay on the topic “Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel War and Peace

Roman L.N. Tolstoy's War and Peace, as can be seen from the title, is largely built on oppositions. The work correlates, compares secular society Petersburg and the Moscow nobility, the war of 1805-1807. and the Patriotic War of 1812, the Rostov family and the Kuragin family... Within the framework of such a comparison, the differences between two great historical figures - Kutuzov and Napoleon - are also understood.

Kutuzov appears in Tolstoy’s novel not even as a talented commander, but as a symbolic person who inspired the Russian people to victory over the enemy. Old and practically infirm, disgraced in the memory of generals and officers, he was close in spirit to ordinary Russian soldiers who believed in him completely, which decided the outcome of the Battle of Borodino. Kutuzov, as Tolstoy writes, “was chosen by the people against the will of the tsar as a producer people's war" The warrior people, forgotten and abandoned by the tsar and generals, acquired in the person of Kutuzov spiritual father and a real commander.

Despite noble origin, Kutuzov is distinguished by “that national feeling that he carries within himself in all its purity and strength.” It is this quality that primarily distinguishes him from Napoleon. Tolstoy emphasizes that Kutuzov’s main advantage as a commander was not a thorough knowledge of the theory of warfare, not iron logic and calculation in actions, but a huge personal experience, supported by exceptional intuition, which fully manifested itself during the Battle of Borodino.

In Tolstoy's novel, Kutuzov is shown not only in the refined perception of the author himself. We alternately look at him through the eyes of the most different people- Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov, a simple Russian peasant... A look from different points of view gives the image of Kutuzov even more vitality.

The personality of Kutuzov, with his intuition and confidence in the strength of the people's spirit, is contrasted with the figure of Napoleon. In Tolstoy's portrayal, he appears as an ambitious man and a despot seeking to elevate himself through world domination. At the same time, the author does not deny the charm of this personality in the eyes of many people, including the heroes of his novel: the book reflected sympathy for Napoleon among Russian nobility after the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit. Young Pierre Bezukhov idealizes the French commander. Andrei Bolkonsky, noting the despotism and cruelty of Napoleon, at the same time recognizes in him a person who is not alien to knightly ideals. To a large extent, such sentiments influenced the outcome of the battle of Austerlitz, where the Russian army was defeated.

Tolstoy convincingly shows in his novel that Napoleon's power is based on such properties of his nature as ambitious aspirations, a cold mind, and the ability to make accurate calculations. Napoleon is well aware that, having risen and achieved glory, he is still for a long time will enjoy the rights of the strong. In the words of Tolstoy, this man “has already become convinced that intelligence, constancy and consistency are not needed for success.”

In the war with Russia, Napoleon personified strength, but turned out to be helpless against the “strongest enemy in spirit.” This happened because the great despot did not personify the truth in its universal and popular understanding - it simply cannot exist in the soul of an ambitious person, intoxicated with success and thirsting for even greater glory. The writer saw the reason for Napoleon's rise in a fatal coincidence and found a convincing image to show true place this man in history and the role assigned to him: “He was like a child who, holding on to the strings tied inside the carriage, imagines that he is ruling.”

“There is and cannot be greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth,” the writer concludes, contrasting the figure of an ambitious despot with the modest image of Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, a Russian commander, people’s favorite and chosen one.

Kutuzov and Napoleon in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"

L. N. Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" is, in the opinion famous writers and critics, " greatest novel in the world." "War and Peace" is an epic novel telling about significant and grandiose events from the history of the country, highlighting important aspects folk life, views, ideals, life and morals of various strata of society. Main artistic device, which is used by L.N. Tolstoy is the antithesis. This technique is the core of the work; it permeates the entire novel from bottom to top. Contrasted philosophical concepts in the title of the novel, the events of two wars (the war of 1805-07 and the war of 1812), battles (Austerlitz and Borodino), societies (Moscow and St. Petersburg, secular society and provincial nobility), characters. The comparison of two commanders - Kutuzov and Napoleon - also has a contrasting character.

The writer glorified Commander-in-Chief Kutuzov in his novel as the inspirer and organizer of the victories of the Russian people. Tolstoy emphasizes that Kutuzov is truly folk hero who is guided in his actions by the national spirit. Kutuzov appears in the novel as a simple Russian man, alien to pretense, and at the same time as a wise man historical figure and commander. The main thing in Kutuzov for Tolstoy is his blood connection with the people, “that national feeling that he carries within himself in all its purity and strength.” That is why, Tolstoy emphasizes, the people chose him “against the will of the tsar as the producers of the people’s war.” And only this feeling brought him to the “highest human heights.” Tolstoy portrays Kutuzov as a wise commander who deeply and correctly understands the course of events. It is no coincidence that Kutuzov’s correct assessment of the course of events is always confirmed later. Thus, he correctly assessed the significance of the Battle of Borodino, declaring that it was a victory. As a commander, he is clearly superior to Napoleon. It was precisely such a commander that was needed to wage the war of 1812, and Tolstoy emphasizes that after the war moved to Europe, the Russian army needed another commander in chief: “The representative of the people’s war had no choice but death. And he died.”

In Tolstoy's depiction of Kutuzov - living face. Let us remember his expressive figure, gait, gestures, facial expressions, his famous eye, sometimes affectionate, sometimes mocking. It is noteworthy that Tolstoy gives this image in the perception of people who are different in character and social status faces, delving into psychological analysis. What makes Kutuzov deeply human and alive are scenes and episodes depicting the commander in conversations with people close and pleasant to him (Bolkonsky, Denisov, Bagration), his behavior at military councils, in the battles of Austerlitz and Borodin.

At the same time, it should be noted that the image of Kutuzov is somewhat distorted and is not without flaws, the reason for which is the incorrect position of Tolstoy the historian. Based on the spontaneity of the historical process, Tolstoy denied the role of the individual in history. The writer ridiculed the cult of “great personalities” created by bourgeois historians. He believed that the course of history is decided by the masses. He came to accept fatalism, arguing that all historical events are predetermined from above. It is Kutuzov who expresses these views of Tolstoy in the novel. He, according to Tolstoy, “knew that the fate of the battle was decided not by the orders of the commander-in-chief, not by the place where the troops stood, not by the number of guns and killed people, but by that elusive force called the spirit of war, and he followed this force and led it "as far as it was in his power." Kutuzov has Tolstoy’s fatalistic view of history, according to which the outcome historical events predetermined. Tolstoy's mistake was that, denying the role of the individual in history, he sought to make Kutuzov only a wise observer of historical events. And this led to some inconsistency in his image: he appears in the novel as a commander, with all his passivity, accurately assessing the course of military events and unerringly directing them. And ultimately, Kutuzov acts as an active figure, hiding enormous volitional tension behind external calm.

Kutuzov's antithesis in the novel is Napoleon. Tolstoy resolutely opposed the cult of Napoleon. For the writer, Napoleon is an aggressor who attacked Russia. He burned cities and villages, exterminated Russian people, robbed, destroyed great cultural values, ordered the Kremlin to be blown up. Napoleon is an ambitious man striving for world domination. In the first parts of the novel, the author speaks with evil irony about the admiration for Napoleon that arose in the highest secular circles of Russia after the Peace of Tilsit. Tolstoy characterizes these years as “the time when the map of Europe was redrawn different colors every two weeks" and Napoleon "has already become convinced that intelligence, constancy and consistency are not needed for success." From the very beginning of the novel, Tolstoy clearly expresses his attitude towards the statesmen of that era. He shows that there was no meaning in Napoleon's actions other than whim , but “he believed in himself, and the whole world believed in him.”

If Pierre sees “greatness of soul” in Napoleon, then for Scherer Napoleon is the embodiment french revolution and therefore a villain. Young Pierre does not understand that, having become emperor, Napoleon betrayed the cause of the revolution. Pierre defends both the revolution and Napoleon in equal measure. The more sober and experienced Prince Andrei sees the cruelty of Napoleon and his despotism, and Andrei’s father, the old man Bolkonsky, complains that there is no Suvorov who would show French Emperor what does it mean to fight.

Each character in the novel thinks about Napoleon in his own way, and in the life of each hero the commander occupies a certain place. It must be said that in relation to Napoleon, Tolstoy was not objective enough, asserting: “He was like a child who, holding on to the ribbons tied inside the carriage, imagines that he is ruling.” But Napoleon was not powerless in the war with Russia. He simply turned out to be weaker than his opponent - “the strongest in spirit,” as Tolstoy put it.

The writer depicts this famous commander and outstanding figure as " little man"with an "unpleasantly feigned smile" on his face, with a "fat chest", "round belly" and "fat thighs of short legs." Napoleon appears in the novel as a narcissistic, arrogant ruler of France, intoxicated with success, blinded by glory, considering himself driving force historical process. His insane pride makes him take acting poses and utter pompous phrases. All this is facilitated by the servility surrounding the emperor. Tolstoy's Napoleon is a "superman" for whom "only what happened in his soul" is of interest. And “everything that was outside of him did not matter to him, because everything in the world, as it seemed to him, depended only on his will.” It is no coincidence that the word “I” - favorite word Napoleon. To the extent that Kutuzov expresses the interests of the people, Napoleon is so petty in his egocentrism. Comparing two great commanders. Tolstoy concludes: “There is no and cannot be greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.” Therefore, it is Kutuzov who is truly great - a people’s commander who thinks about the glory and freedom of the Fatherland.

The work “War and Peace” is one of the greatest in all Russian literature. In it, L.N. Tolstoy was able to paint a broad panorama of the life of Russian society from 1805 to 1820. And in the central part of this panorama is the defeat of Napoleonic troops, which until that time seemed completely invincible. On the pages of his novel, Tolstoy develops the idea of ​​​​the role of the people and the individual in the development of historical events.

Unity with the people

The image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the most noble in the entire work. The commander was a man who did not change his own convictions in a single action or word. He was an example of true selflessness, as well as the ability to understand the future significance of upcoming events. It is difficult to imagine a person whose activities were aimed at achieving the same goal for such a long time. And it is also difficult to imagine a more worthy task than Kutuzov had.

Kutuzov was not only wise, but also close to the people; he valued the life of every soldier. And therefore from the rest historical figures only Kutuzov is called a truly great man. The writer raises the image of the commander to the highest level of purity of spiritual aspirations.

A good-natured and attentive commander

Describing the image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace”, it is necessary to emphasize: the commander is endowed by Tolstoy with the features of a charismatic leader - he has authority, which is based on his personal qualities. This is wisdom and heroism, and even to some extent holiness. During meetings with soldiers, the commander knows how to communicate with them mutual language, sometimes even makes an interesting and funny joke. You can also hear from Kutuzov “an old man’s good-natured curse.” For example, one can recall how soldiers shared their impressions of Kutuzov after the review at Braunau. One soldier says that Kutuzov is “crooked, with one eye.” Another echoes him - “Totally crooked.” But the answer to this is that Kutuzov was able to see everything - both the boots and the tucks.

Understanding the spirit of the army

In 1812, both the commander and every ordinary soldier were filled with patriotism. Describing battle of Borodino, Tolstoy emphasizes: Kutuzov understood that the outcome of the battle was not decided by the orders of the commander of the troops. Giving a description of the image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace,” the student can emphasize: he understood that main role plays that elusive force that is called the “spirit of the army.” The commander can only observe and direct this force, but only to a certain extent. For example, when Kutuzov receives the news about Murat’s capture, he says that it is too early to rejoice. However, at the same time, he sends an adjutant to tour the troops and tell everyone this news.

For the same purpose of maintaining high morale in the army, Kutuzov, at the end of the day of the Battle of Borodino, gave the order to read out the order for tomorrow's offensive among the soldiers. When ordinary soldiers Having heard this order, the meaning of which stemmed from the feelings of the commander-in-chief, they, although exhausted, were encouraged and consoled.

The image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace” is deeply patriotic. This quality can be traced not only in the words of Kutuzov himself, but also in the words with which other heroes characterize him. For example, Prince Andrei finds peace after meeting Kutuzov. Bolkonsky reflects on the commander in this way: Kutuzov will not come up with anything, but he will be able to listen to everything and put it in its place. He will not interfere with what is useful, and he will not allow what is harmful.

The image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy: the goals of the commander

Kutuzov gives the order to leave Moscow with only one goal - to achieve victory and expel enemy troops at any cost. It is no coincidence that the commander constantly repeats the same words: “I will force them to eat horse meat.” All Kutuzov’s actions are aimed at three main goals:

• exerting all one's strength for triumph over the enemy;
• winning;
• driving the enemy out of the country and alleviating, as far as possible, the consequences for the people and soldiers.

And only after these tasks have been solved does the commander leave the activities of the commander-in-chief of the troops. How could he achieve these goals without ever retreating from his noble goals? He was able to do this for the reason that in his soul there was a truly great national feeling, an invincible principle.

Fatalism or realism in the image of Kutuzov?

Giving a description of the image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace,” the student can point out: to some extent, L.N. Tolstoy makes the commander a fatalist: after all, he submits to the course of events of history. The writer does not talk about how Kutuzov prepared soldiers for clashes after leaving Moscow and how he carried out his plan. Being a realist writer, Tolstoy nevertheless sought to overcome the philosophy of fatalism, and in many of his traits Kutuzov is shown correctly from a historical point of view: he is characterized by high strategic skill, he spends whole nights thinking about the upcoming military campaign, and acts as an active figure. Behind the apparent calm of Kutuzov lies a strong-willed tension.

The commander's position that led to victory

The image and characterization of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace” will be incomplete without a description of his moral and spiritual position, the source of the wisdom of this military leader. The commander takes care of his soldiers with all his might and wages a confrontation with the king and court generals. Soldiers and officers love him. Kutuzov knows the laws of war, he is quite capable of foreseeing the course of further developments, since it takes into account the spiritual state of the army.

The main source of his wisdom is his closeness to the people. And the image of the commander is most clearly revealed during the description of the Battle of Borodino. Napoleon is already starting to get nervous, because crowds of upset and exhausted soldiers are returning to him. Kutuzov calmly ponders how the battle can be completed. This must be mentioned in the description of the image of Kutuzov in L. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”. After all, with his calmness he gives birth to confidence in the soldiers. For example, to General Wolzogen, who is completely in a panic, he says: “Victory!” Even before the end of the battle, Kutuzov announces that the battle is won. He understands that it is necessary to give up Moscow in order to save the country. After all, the French in Moscow will begin to succumb to moral decay, they will become looters, their discipline will completely dry up.

Characteristics of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace”: the commander and his age

During the first war, Kutuzov was still presented as a brave general. However, during Patriotic War the commander is already old. And his enemies allow themselves to laugh at this. However, from the side of his troops, Kutuzov’s age only causes respectful attitude. Kutuzov is an old man with a white head, plump. He usually wears a white frock coat and a cap with a red band without a visor. During meetings of the military council, he falls asleep. It is difficult for a commander to mount a horse and just as difficult for him to get down. The writer also emphasizes that Kutuzov is “weak to tears.” He can cry, not only thinking about the fate of his country, but even at the sight of wounded soldiers. However, this quality of his does not diminish the image of the commander.

Image of Napoleon

The images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel “War and Peace” are opposite to each other in the work. They are antipodes. Tolstoy talks about his rejection of the French commander and his strategy. All the reader’s sympathies, according to the author’s idea, should be on Kutuzov’s side. The fame of Napoleon spread throughout the world. However, Tolstoy writes about his army that it was “a crowd of marauders.” Napoleon himself was distinguished by cruelty and treachery.

The life of his army was deeply indifferent to him. He watches with complete indifference as his soldiers die. After all, they are just a tool to achieve his purely personal goals. Popular recognition flatters the French military leader. However, Napoleon does not feel gratitude. After all, everyone was obliged to obey only his will without any objections. Tolstoy writes that millions of people were forced to kill each other only because of Bonaparte’s lust for power.

The victory of the army depends on the experience and skill of the military leader. Leo Tolstoy admires Kutuzov's military skill. At the cost of burning Moscow, the great commander managed to save the army, and therefore preserve the country’s statehood. A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel “War and Peace” makes it possible to analyze the reasons for the defeat of the Russian army in the first half of the Patriotic War of 1812 and its victory during the second half of the military campaign.

Comparison of the appearance of the two heroes

Main facial feature Kutuzova is a smile and a lonely tear against the background of a one-eyed facial expression (the Russian field marshal lost an eye due to a wound received in a battle with a Turkish landing force in 1774). The hero met the Patriotic War of 1812 as a very old man in his seventh decade, and went through it with heavy steps. The plump, bright face of Mikhail Illarionovich was adorned with the wise expression of a lonely eye socket; he was corpulent and stooped due to his venerable age, but this did not prevent the prince from skillfully leading the army.

Napoleon was forty years old when he attacked Russia, his prominent belly looked ridiculous given his small stature. Bonaparte carefully monitored his appearance. The emperor's hands stood out with aristocratic whiteness, and his body was enveloped in the aroma of exquisite cologne. Excessive fullness of the legs was revealed by tight leggings white, and his fat neck was emphasized by the blue collar of his military jacket.

Character traits of Kutuzov and Napoleon

Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov became famous among the soldiers for his kindness, often showed concern for the rank and file, ordinary people. The prince was distinguished by his attentiveness, noticing individual details of what was happening around him. His Excellency was not embarrassed by the complexity of any situation; he remained calm and unperturbed under any circumstances. The field marshal moved slowly, sleepily shifting from foot to foot.

Kutuzov expressed his thoughts clearly, concisely, with special charm and fatherly intonation. Leo Tolstoy emphasizes the simplicity of the military leader and closeness with the people. The hero does not play any role either with his posture or his demeanor. specific role, but remains an ordinary person. It's common for an old man to be interested beautiful women, joke in your circle with subordinates.

Contemporaries noted Kutuzov's habit of addressing officers and soldiers kindly. Bolkonsky knows that the boss is weak to tears, capable of sincerely expressing sympathy, and a person who believes to the depths of his soul. The heroes of the novel speak of the field marshal as a wise commander who recognizes that in some moments of the war it is better not to interfere, giving history the opportunity to develop arbitrarily.

Napoleon On the contrary, he has a high opinion of his actions. The egocentrism of the Emperor of France makes him think that his own decisions are the only correct ones. Tolstoy paints a portrait of a narcissistic little man. Provoking the murder of millions of soldiers is baseness, insignificance and intellectual limitation, dictated by the whim of unlimited power.

Table of comparative characteristics of Kutuzov and Napoleon

Kutuzov:

1. The field marshal smiled sincerely at the corners of his lips, thereby decorating his disfigured face.
2. Unpretentious to the conditions of life in the field, he could stay in any hut.
3. He considers it his mission to save Russia from enslavement by an enemy army.
4. Fatherly attitude towards soldiers, parting words before battle are short and to the point. For example: “Get some sleep!”
5. Personally takes part in the main battles of the military campaign of 1812.
6. Understands that the outcome of the war depends on many factors, including the morale of ordinary soldiers.
7. How a religious person recognizes his small significance in the historical process.

Napoleon:

1. The imperial smile was deceitful, but his eyes remained indifferent.
2. Gravitating towards luxury, the courtyard amazes with its splendor.
3. He wants to conquer the whole world in order to impose his cultural values ​​and enrich himself at the expense of other states.
4. He believes that the army wins only thanks to his craft of waging war, known for pathetic long speeches before battles.
5. Tries to stay at a distance from the line of fire.
6. He thinks that everything in life depends solely on his will.
7. He believes that the world revolves around him, his role in everything that happens is key, he is destined to change the picture of Europe.

Leo Tolstoy repeatedly reminds: Kutuzov kept his soldiers from bloody battles, tried in every possible way to avoid the death of the army, even at the cost of the surrender of Moscow. For the commander-in-chief, war is a national disaster, his fate is to help the people survive, to free themselves from the fate of suffering a foreign conqueror on their land.

Napoleon obsessed with war, sees himself key figure history that changed the map of the world in direct meaning of these words. Examining the Borodino field, strewn with the corpses of soldiers from both armies, the emperor admires the mortal appearance of the wounded Bolkonsky.

The reason for Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 lies in the unity of the state and the people. Leo Tolstoy shows each person, be it a peasant or a nobleman, as an insignificant grain of sand in society. As soon as people unite in a single historical process, their strength increases many times over and turns into a victorious wave, sweeping away any campaign launched in its path. evil genius. Kutuzov loved his people and appreciated their patriotic power and natural will to freedom.

One of the most best works all world literature. The work perfectly depicts historical events, highlights aspects of the life of Russian people, their views and ideals (from completely different layers of society).

The artistic device that Tolstoy chose for the novel is antithesis. Even in the title of the work we see the opposition of the concepts “War” and “Peace”; he compares the battle of Borodino and Austerlitz, St. Petersburg and Moscow. The author has favorite and unloved heroes.

A striking example of antithesis in the work are the images of Kutuzov and Napoleon. These two great commanders are also opposed to each other. They can be compared with psychological and moral poles epic novel. They are like light and shadow. The images of these two great people are key in the description of both historical events and in revealing the idea of ​​the novel. They were created by the author on the principle of contrast. These characters are undisputed leaders and worthy opponents. The only difference is that one of the commanders will inevitably suffer defeat, while the other will achieve a glorious victory.

In the image of Kutuzov, a field marshal of the Russian army, the author shows his seemingly incompatible features such as folk simplicity and historical greatness. We will not see anything unnatural or artificial in this person. The author often emphasizes his old age with various details; he writes about his loose body, the scar on his face, his chubby arms, and the fact that it has become difficult for him to climb onto his horse. Having seen a lot in his life, the Russian commander-in-chief, being a representative of the Suvorov school, is always described as a reserved and very calm person. Even despite his fatigue and age, Kutuzov always makes brilliant decisions, especially during military operations. How very strong personality, he is characterized by such traits as: simplicity, perseverance, truth and goodness. By appearance The hero may get the impression that he is inactive, constantly dozing, but this is just a superficial definition. Kutuzov was always self-confident and strong spirit human. He was, like no other, close to every soldier. The reason for this is constant concern for the soldiers, the desire to preserve their lives, these qualities of Kutuzov’s character are perhaps the most important in his character. The skill of the commander is the moral leadership of the battle, the staff officers do not like this, they constantly criticize Kutuzov’s decisions. He himself often talked to his soldiers not as a military commander, but as a fighting friend. He sent soldiers to the battlefield, like his own father, they answered him mutual love and respect, calling him “himself.” Mikhail Illarionovich was a truly wise politician who could, with the help of guile, prevail over intrigue and defeat the enemy with his own weapons.

The image of Napoleon in the novel is multidimensional and complex, since this figure was quite iconic at that time. He made his a dizzying career, from a simple officer to an emperor, this aroused the admiration of his contemporaries. For many, he was a genius, and served as a true example; they tried to imitate him in many ways. For the author of the novel, he was not even a statesman; they describe him as a capricious, narcissistic gambler and poseur. Readers' attention is drawn to the fact that the emperor never looked at people, but rather past them, and believed that everything in the world depended only on his will: both the fate of people and the outcome of the Patriotic War. But the objective demands of reality and the interests of the people diverged from their personal interests. The author of the novel, using different ways, exposes the greatness of Napoleon, debunking the cult of personality and superman. The moral side of this hero is shown satirical techniques and means, this is evident from the characteristics of his portrait. The author compares Napoleon to an actor, as if he plays chess and always calculates the steps of all the pieces in advance. He was used to the fact that everything should happen exactly as he decided, but the Battle of Borodino destroyed this stereotype. He underestimated the courage of the Russian soldiers, who, even after losing half of their forces, also bravely continued to stand in their positions. The author predetermined the fate of the emperor; time itself put everything in its place. Napoleon is viewed by Tolstoy not as a talented commander, but from other aspects - moral and ethical. He believes that he is a benefactor for his people, but in reality he turns out to be an executioner. In the work, the author denied the emperor talent, since he believed that “villain” and “genius” are incompatible concepts.