The main characters of the novel “War and Peace. Pyotr Volkonsky survived

Tolstoy’s favorite characters in the novel “War and Peace” are Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. They are united by the quality that the writer himself most valued in people. In his opinion, to be a real person, you need to “tear, struggle, get confused, make mistakes, start and quit” all your life, and “calmness is spiritual meanness.” That is, a person should not calm down and stop, he should search for meaning all his life and strive to find an application for his strengths, talents, and mind.

In this article we will look at the characteristics of the main characters of the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy. Pay attention to why Tolstoy endowed these heroes with such traits and what he wanted to tell his readers by this.

Pierre Bezukhov in the novel "War and Peace"

As we have already noted, speaking about the main characters of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” it is definitely worth discussing the image of Pierre Bezukhov. The reader first sees Pierre in the aristocratic St. Petersburg salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. The hostess treats him somewhat condescendingly, because he is just the illegitimate son of a rich nobleman of Catherine’s times, who has just returned from abroad, where he received an education.

Pierre Bezukhov differs from other guests in his spontaneity and sincerity. Drawing a psychological portrait of his main character, Tolstoy points out that Pierre was a fat, absent-minded person, but all this was redeemed by “an expression of good nature, simplicity and modesty.” The owner of the salon was afraid that Pierre would say something wrong, and indeed, Bezukhov passionately expresses his opinion, argues with the viscount and does not know how to follow etiquette rules. At the same time, he is good-natured and smart. The qualities of Pierre, shown in the first chapters of the novel, will be inherent in him throughout the entire narrative, although the hero himself will go through a difficult path of spiritual evolution. Why can Pierre Bezukhov be safely considered one of the main characters of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”? Consideration of the image of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand this.

Pierre Bezukhov is so loved by Tolstoy because this main character of the novel tirelessly searches for the meaning of life, asks himself painful questions: “What is bad? What well? What should you love, what should you hate? Why live, and what am I? What is life, what is death? What force controls everything?

Pierre Bezukhov goes through a difficult path of spiritual quest. He is not satisfied with the St. Petersburg revelries of the golden youth. Having received an inheritance and becoming one of the richest people in Russia, the hero marries Helen, but he blames himself for the failures of family life and even his wife’s infidelities, since he proposed without experiencing love.

For a while he finds meaning in Freemasonry. He is close to the idea of ​​his spiritual brothers about the need to live for the sake of others, to give as much as possible to others. Pierre Bezukhov is trying to change and improve the situation of his peasants. But soon disappointment sets in: the main character of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” understands that most of the Masons are trying to make acquaintances with influential people in this way. Further, the image and characteristics of Pierre Bezukhov are revealed in an interesting aspect.

The most important stage on the path of spiritual formation of Pierre Bezukhov is the War of 1812 and captivity. On the Borodino field, he understands that the truth is in the universal unity of people. In captivity, the peasant philosopher Platon Karataev reveals to the main character how important it is to “live with people” and stoically accept everything that fate presents.

Pierre Bezukhov has an inquisitive mind, thoughtful and often ruthless introspection. He is a decent person, kind and a little naive. He asks himself and the world philosophical questions about the meaning of life, God, the purpose of existence, without finding an answer, he does not brush aside painful thoughts, but tries to find the right path.

In the epilogue, Pierre is happy with Natasha Rostova, but personal happiness is not enough for him. He becomes a member of a secret society preparing transformations in Russia. So, discussing who the main characters are in Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” we focused on the image of Pierre Bezukhov and his characteristics. Let's move on to the next key character of the novel - Andrei Bolkonsky.

Andrei Bolkonsky in the novel "War and Peace"

The Bolkonsky family is united by common generic traits: a sharp analytical mind, nobility, the highest sense of honor, an understanding of their duty in serving the Fatherland. It is no coincidence that, seeing off his son to war, the father, admonishing him, says: “Remember one thing, Prince Andrei: if they kill you, it will hurt me, an old man... And if I find out that you did not behave like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I will ... ashamed!" Undoubtedly, Andrei Bolkonsky is a bright character and one of the main characters in the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy.

During military service, Bolkonsky is guided by considerations of the common good, and not his own career. He heroically rushes forward with a banner in his hands, because it pains him to see the flight of the Russian army on the Field of Austerlitz.

Andrei, like Pierre, faces a difficult path of searching for the meaning of life and disappointments. At first he dreams of the glory of Napoleon. But after the Austerlitz sky, in which the prince saw something infinitely lofty, beautiful and calm, the former idol seems to him small, insignificant with his vain aspirations.

The main character of the novel “War and Peace” Tolstoy experiences disappointment in love (Natasha betrays him, deciding to run away with the fool Anatoly Kuragin), in life for the sake of his family (he understands that this is not enough), in public service (Speransky’s activities turn out to be meaningless vanity, not bringing true benefit).

Andrey Bolkonsky.

One of the main characters in the novel is Andrei Bolkonsky. A prince of handsome appearance who dreams of military glory. For Andrei, the most important thing in life is duty to the Motherland. The mature prince was in love with the young Countess Natasha Rostova. He suffered a lot of emotional experiences, including betrayal from Natasha. But when a lot of time passed, and fate brought them together again with Natasha, but this time life turned out to be unfair. The hero's life ends tragically; he dies from a bullet wound received in battle.

Natasha Rostova.

A young heroine who is surrounded by wealth and loved by her parents. The girl is very lively, cheerful, and sincere. She is educated. She was in love with Andrei Bolkonsky. But life prepared many challenges for them. Her fate was ruined by war. The lovers were never destined to be together. Later she married Pierre Bezukhov, gave birth to children and found peace in family life. But this was no longer such a bright and active Natasha as several years ago.

Pierre Bezukhov.

Another important hero who inherited a valuable fortune from his father after his death. The hero is kind and naive, he was of strong build. Previously, he was married to a beautiful woman, Helen, which led to bad consequences. Later he took young Natalya Rostova as his wife. Pierre's personality changed over time and later he became a confident man who is able to achieve his goals and has his own views on life.

Ilya Andreevich Rostov.

He is a count, he is a kind and sympathetic person. He loves to live in luxurious conditions. He often organized luxurious balls. He loves his wife and children very much.

Nikolay Rostov.

He is the eldest son of the Rostovs. He is honest, kind and sympathetic. He was married to Maria Bolkonskaya. And with her I found personal happiness and peace.

Sonya.

A fragile, slender girl, she is kind and smart. She was in love with Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky, but upon learning that his heart belonged to another woman, she decided not to interfere with his happiness.

Ellen Kuragina.

The heroine is Pierre's first wife. The woman was not particularly intelligent, but thanks to her bright appearance and sociability, she was able to open her own salon in St. Petersburg.

Anatoly Kuragin.

He is Helen's brother. Outwardly, he is as charming as his sister. He preferred to live for his own pleasure. Being married, you want to steal Natasha and marry her.

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In his novel, Tolstoy portrayed a number of heroes. It is not for nothing that the author presents a detailed description of the characters. "War and Peace" is a novel in which entire noble families represent to the reader a reflection of the people who lived during the war with Napoleon. In "War and Peace" we see the Russian spirit, the features of historical events characteristic of the period of the late 18th - early 19th centuries. The greatness of the Russian soul is shown against the background of these events.

If you make a list of characters ("War and Peace"), you will only get about 550-600 heroes. However, they are not all equally important to the narrative. "War and Peace" is a novel whose characters can be divided into three main groups: main characters, secondary characters, and those simply mentioned in the text. Among them there are both fictional and historical figures, as well as heroes who have prototypes among the writer’s circle. This article will introduce the main characters. "War and Peace" is a work in which the Rostov family is described in detail. So let's start with it.

Ilya Andreevich Rostov

This is a count who had four children: Petya, Nikolai, Vera and Natasha. Ilya Andreevich is a very generous and kind-hearted person who loved life. As a result, his excessive generosity led to wastefulness. Rostov is a loving father and husband. He is a good organizer of receptions and balls. But living in grand style, as well as selfless assistance to wounded soldiers and the departure of Russians from Moscow dealt fatal blows to his condition. Ilya Andreevich’s conscience constantly tormented him because of the approaching poverty of his relatives, but he could not help himself. After the death of Petya, his youngest son, the count was broken, but perked up as he prepared the wedding of Pierre Bezukhov and Natasha. Count Rostov dies a few months after these characters get married. “War and Peace” (Tolstoy) is a work in which the prototype of this hero is Ilya Andreevich, Tolstoy’s grandfather.

Natalya Rostova (wife of Ilya Andreevich)

This 45-year-old woman, the wife of Rostov and the mother of four children, had some oriental. Those around her regarded the focus of sedateness and slowness in her as solidity, as well as her high significance for the family. However, the real reason for these manners lies in the weak and exhausted physical condition due to childbirth and the energy devoted to raising children. Natalya loves her family and children very much, so she was almost driven crazy by the news of Petya’s death. Countess Rostova, like Ilya Andreevich, loved luxury and demanded that everyone follow her orders. In her you can find the features of Tolstoy’s grandmother, Pelageya Nikolaevna.

Nikolay Rostov

This hero is the son of Ilya Andreevich. He is a loving son and brother, respects his family, but at the same time faithfully serves in the army, which is a very important and significant feature in his characterization. He often saw even his fellow soldiers as a second family. Although Nikolai was in love for a long time with Sonya, his cousin, he still marries Marya Bolkonskaya at the end of the novel. Nikolai Rostov is a very energetic man, with open and curly hair. His love for the Russian emperor and patriotism never dried up. Having gone through the hardships of the war, Nikolai becomes a brave and courageous hussar. He retires after the death of Ilya Andreevich in order to improve the financial situation of the family, pay off debts and finally become a good husband for his wife. Tolstoy sees this hero as a prototype of his own father. As you have probably already noticed, the presence of prototypes in many heroes is characterized by the character system of “War and Peace”. a work in which the morals of the nobility are presented through the characteristics of the family of Tolstoy, who was a count.

Natasha Rostova

This is the Rostovs' daughter. A very emotional and energetic girl who was considered ugly, but attractive and lively. Natasha is not very smart, but at the same time she is intuitive, as she could “guess people” well, their character traits and mood. This heroine is very impetuous and prone to self-sacrifice. She dances and sings beautifully, which was an important characteristic of a girl belonging to secular society at that time. Leo Tolstoy repeatedly emphasizes Natasha's main quality - closeness to the Russian people. It absorbed nations and Russian culture. Natasha lives in an atmosphere of love, happiness and kindness, but after a while the girl is faced with a harsh reality. Blows of fate, as well as heartfelt experiences, make this heroine an adult and ultimately give her true love for her husband, Pierre Bezukhov. The story of the rebirth of Natasha’s soul deserves special respect. She began attending church after becoming the victim of a deceitful seducer. Natasha is a collective image, the prototype of which was Tolstoy’s daughter-in-law, Tatyana Andreevna Kuzminskaya, as well as her sister (the author’s wife) Sofya Andreevna.

Vera Rostova

This heroine is the daughter of the Rostovs ("War and Peace"). The character portraits created by the author are distinguished by their diversity of characters. Vera, for example, was famous for her strict disposition, as well as for the inappropriate, although fair, remarks she made in society. Her mother, for some unknown reason, did not love her very much, and Vera felt this acutely, and therefore often went against everyone. This girl later became the wife of Boris Drubetsky. The prototype of the heroine is Lev Nikolaevich (Elizabeth Bers).

Peter Rostov

The Rostovs' son, still just a boy. Petya, growing up, was eager to go to war as a young man, and his parents could not stop him. He escaped from their tutelage and joined Denisov’s regiment. In the very first battle, Petya dies before he has even had time to fight. The death of their beloved son greatly devastated the family.

Sonya

With this heroine we finish the description of the characters ("War and Peace") belonging to the Rostov family. Sonya, a nice miniature girl, was Ilya Andreevich’s own niece and lived her whole life under his roof. Love for Nikolai became fatal for her, since she failed to marry him. Natalya Rostova, the old countess, was against this marriage, since the lovers were cousins. Sonya acted nobly, refusing Dolokhov and deciding to love only Nikolai all her life, freeing him from the promise given to her. She spends the rest of her life in the care of Nikolai Rostov, under the old countess.

The prototype of this heroine is Tatyana Aleksandrovna Ergolskaya, the writer’s second cousin.

Not only the Rostovs in the work are the main characters. "War and Peace" is a novel in which the Bolkonsky family also plays a large role.

Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky

This is the father of Andrei Bolkonsky, a general-in-chief in the past, and in the present a prince who has earned the nickname “Prussian king” in Russian secular society. He is socially active, strict like a father, pedantic, and a wise owner of the estate. Outwardly, he is a thin old man with thick eyebrows that hang over intelligent and penetrating eyes, wearing a powdered white wig. Nikolai Andreevich does not like to show his feelings even to his beloved daughter and son. He torments Marya with constant nagging. Prince Nicholas, sitting on his estate, follows the events taking place in the country, and only before his death he loses the idea of ​​the scale of the Russian war with Napoleon. Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky, the writer’s grandfather, was the prototype of this prince.

Andrey Bolkonsky

This is the son of Nikolai Andreevich. He is ambitious, like his father, and is restrained in expressing his feelings, but he loves his sister and father very much. Andrei is married to Lisa, the “little princess.” He had a successful military career. Andrey philosophizes a lot about the meaning of life, the state of his spirit. He is in constant search. In Natasha Rostova, after the death of his wife, he found hope for himself, because he saw a real girl, and not a fake one, as in secular society, and that’s why he fell in love with her. Having proposed to this heroine, he was forced to go abroad for treatment, which became a test of their feelings. The wedding ended up being cancelled. Andrei went to war with Napoleon, where he was seriously wounded and died as a result. Until the end of his days, Natasha devotedly looked after him.

Marya Bolkonskaya

This is Andrei's sister, daughter of Prince Nikolai. She is very meek, ugly, but kind-hearted and also very rich. Her devotion to religion serves as an example of meekness and kindness to many. Marya unforgettably loves her father, who often pesters her with his reproaches and ridicule. This girl also loves her brother. She did not immediately accept Natasha as her future daughter-in-law, since she seemed too frivolous for Andrei. After all the hardships, Marya marries Nikolai Rostov.

Its prototype is Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya, Tolstoy’s mother.

Pierre Bezukhov (Peter Kirillovich)

The main characters of the novel "War and Peace" would not be fully listed if Pierre Bezukhov were not mentioned. This hero plays one of the most important roles in the work. He has experienced a lot of pain and mental trauma, and has a noble and kind disposition. Lev Nikolaevich himself loves Pierre very much. Bezukhov, as a friend of Andrei Bolkonsky, is very responsive and devoted. Despite the intrigues weaving under his nose, Pierre did not lose trust in people and did not become embittered. By marrying Natasha, he finally found the happiness and grace that he lacked with his first wife, Helen. At the end of the work, his desire to change the political foundations in Russia is noticeable; one can even guess from afar Pierre’s Decembrist sentiments.

These are the main characters. "War and Peace" is a novel in which a large role is given to such historical figures as Kutuzov and Napoleon, as well as some other commanders-in-chief. Other social groups besides the nobility are also represented (merchants, burghers, peasantry, army). The list of characters ("War and Peace") is quite impressive. However, our task is to consider only the main characters.

Introduction

Leo Tolstoy in his epic depicted more than 500 characters typical of Russian society. In War and Peace, the heroes of the novel are representatives of the upper class of Moscow and St. Petersburg, key government and military figures, soldiers, people from the common people, and peasants. The depiction of all layers of Russian society allowed Tolstoy to recreate a complete picture of Russian life in one of the turning points in the history of Russia - the era of the wars with Napoleon of 1805-1812.

In War and Peace, the characters are conventionally divided into main characters - whose fates are woven by the author into the plot narrative of all four volumes and the epilogue, and secondary - heroes who appear sporadically in the novel. Among the main characters of the novel, one can highlight the central characters - Andrei Bolkonsky, Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov, around whose destinies the events of the novel unfold.

Characteristics of the main characters of the novel

Andrey Bolkonsky- “a very handsome young man with definite and dry features”, “short stature.” The author introduces Bolkonsky to the reader at the beginning of the novel - the hero was one of the guests at Anna Scherer's evening (where many of the main characters of Tolstoy's War and Peace were also present).

According to the plot of the work, Andrei was tired of high society, he dreamed of glory, no less than the glory of Napoleon, which is why he goes to war. The episode that changed Bolkonsky’s worldview was the meeting with Bonaparte - wounded on the field of Austerlitz, Andrei realized how insignificant Bonaparte and all his glory really were. The second turning point in Bolkonsky’s life is his love for Natasha Rostova. The new feeling helped the hero return to a full life, to believe that after the death of his wife and everything he had suffered, he could continue to live fully. However, their happiness with Natasha was not destined to come true - Andrei was mortally wounded during the Battle of Borodino and soon died.

Natasha Rostova- a cheerful, kind, very emotional girl who knows how to love: “dark-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but lively.” An important feature of the image of the central character of “War and Peace” is her musical talent - a beautiful voice that even people inexperienced in music were fascinated by. The reader meets Natasha on the girl’s name day, when she turns 12 years old. Tolstoy depicts the moral maturation of the heroine: love experiences, going out into the world, Natasha’s betrayal of Prince Andrei and her worries because of this, the search for herself in religion and the turning point in the heroine’s life – the death of Bolkonsky. In the epilogue of the novel, Natasha appears to the reader completely different - before us is more the shadow of her husband, Pierre Bezukhov, and not the bright, active Rostova, who a few years ago danced Russian dances and “won” carts for the wounded from her mother.

Pierre Bezukhov- “a massive, fat young man with a cropped head and glasses.” “Pierre was somewhat larger than the other men in the room,” he had “an intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room.” Pierre is a hero who is in constant search of himself through knowledge of the world around him. Every situation in his life, every stage of life became a special life lesson for the hero. Marriage to Helen, passion for Freemasonry, love for Natasha Rostova, presence on the field of the Borodino battle (which the hero sees precisely through the eyes of Pierre), French captivity and acquaintance with Karataev completely change Pierre’s personality - a purposeful and self-confident man with own views and goals.

Other important characters

In War and Peace, Tolstoy conventionally identifies several blocks of characters - the Rostov, Bolkonsky, Kuragin families, as well as characters included in the social circle of one of these families. The Rostovs and Bolkonskys, as positive heroes, bearers of truly Russian mentality, ideas and spirituality, are contrasted with the negative characters Kuragins, who had little interest in the spiritual aspect of life, preferring to shine in society, weave intrigues and choose acquaintances according to their status and wealth. A brief description of the heroes of War and Peace will help you better understand the essence of each main character.

Graph Ilya Andreevich Rostov- a kind and generous man, for whom the most important thing in his life was family. The Count sincerely loved his wife and four children (Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petya), helped his wife in raising their children and did his best to maintain a warm atmosphere in the Rostov house. Ilya Andreevich cannot live without luxury, he liked to organize magnificent balls, receptions and evenings, but his wastefulness and inability to manage economic affairs ultimately led to the critical financial situation of the Rostovs.
Countess Natalya Rostova is a 45-year-old woman with oriental features, who knows how to make an impression in high society, the wife of Count Rostov, and the mother of four children. The Countess, like her husband, loved her family very much, trying to support her children and bring up the best qualities in them. Due to her excessive love for children, after Petya’s death, the woman almost goes crazy. In the countess, kindness towards loved ones was combined with prudence: wanting to improve the financial situation of the family, the woman tries with all her might to upset Nikolai’s marriage to the “unprofitable bride” Sonya.

Nikolay Rostov- “a short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face.” This is a simple-minded, open, honest and friendly young man, Natasha’s brother, the eldest son of the Rostovs. At the beginning of the novel, Nikolai appears as an admiring young man who wants military glory and recognition, but after participating first in the Battle of Shengrabe, and then in the Battle of Austerlitz and the Patriotic War, Nikolai’s illusions are dispelled and the hero understands how absurd and wrong the very idea of ​​war is. Nikolai finds personal happiness in his marriage to Marya Bolkonskaya, in whom he felt a like-minded person even at their first meeting.

Sonya Rostova- “a thin, petite brunette with a soft look, shaded by long eyelashes, a thick black braid that wrapped around her head twice, and a yellowish tint to the skin on her face,” the niece of Count Rostov. According to the plot of the novel, she is a quiet, reasonable, kind girl who knows how to love and is prone to self-sacrifice. Sonya refuses Dolokhov, because she wants to be faithful only to Nikolai, whom she sincerely loves. When the girl finds out that Nikolai is in love with Marya, she meekly lets him go, not wanting to interfere with the happiness of her loved one.

Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky- Prince, retired General Chief. He is a proud, intelligent, strict man of short stature “with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, which sometimes, as he frowned, obscured the brilliance of his intelligent and youthful sparkling eyes.” Deep down in his soul, Bolkonsky loves his children very much, but does not dare to show it (only before his death was he able to show his daughter his love). Nikolai Andreevich died from the second blow while in Bogucharovo.

Marya Bolkonskaya- a quiet, kind, meek girl, prone to self-sacrifice and sincerely loving her family. Tolstoy describes her as a heroine with “an ugly weak body and a thin face,” but “the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so beautiful that very often, despite the ugliness of everything their faces and eyes became more attractive than beauty.” The beauty of Marya’s eyes later amazed Nikolai Rostov. The girl was very pious, devoted herself entirely to caring for her father and nephew, then redirecting her love to her own family and husband.

Helen Kuragina- a bright, brilliantly beautiful woman with an “unchanging smile” and full white shoulders, who liked male company, Pierre’s first wife. Helen was not particularly intelligent, but thanks to her charm, ability to behave in society and establish the necessary connections, she set up her own salon in St. Petersburg and was personally acquainted with Napoleon. The woman died of a severe sore throat (although there were rumors in society that Helen had committed suicide).

Anatol Kuragin- Helen's brother, as handsome in appearance and noticeable in high society as his sister. Anatole lived the way he wanted, throwing away all moral principles and foundations, organizing drunkenness and brawls. Kuragin wanted to steal Natasha Rostova and marry her, although he was already married.

Fedor Dolokhov- “a man of average height, curly hair and light eyes,” an officer of the Semenovsky regiment, one of the leaders of the partisan movement. Fedor’s personality amazingly combined selfishness, cynicism and adventurism with the ability to love and care for his loved ones. (Nikolai Rostov is very surprised that at home, with his mother and sister, Dolokhov is completely different - a loving and gentle son and brother).

Conclusion

Even a brief description of the heroes of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” allows us to see the close and inextricable relationship between the destinies of the characters. Like all events in the novel, the meetings and farewells of the characters take place according to the irrational, elusive law of historical mutual influences. It is these incomprehensible mutual influences that create the destinies of the heroes and shape their views on the world.

Work test

), the French invasion of Russia, the Battle of Borodino and the capture of Moscow, the entry of allied forces into Paris; the end of the novel is dated to 1820. The author re-read many historical books and memoirs of contemporaries; he understood that the task of the artist does not coincide with the task of the historian and, without striving for complete accuracy, he wanted to create the spirit of the era, the originality of its life, the picturesqueness of its style.

Lev Tolstoy. War and Peace. The main characters and themes of the novel

Of course, Tolstoy's historical figures are somewhat modernized: they often speak and think like the author's contemporaries. But this renewal is always inevitable with the historian’s creative perception of the process as a continuous, vital flow. Otherwise, the result is not a work of art, but dead archeology. The author did not invent anything - he only chose what seemed to him the most revealing. “Everywhere,” writes Tolstoy, “where historical figures speak and act in my novel, I did not invent, but used materials from which I formed a whole library of books during my work.”

For “family chronicles” placed within the historical framework of the Napoleonic wars, he used family memoirs, letters, diaries, and unpublished notes. The complexity and richness of the “human world” depicted in the novel can only be compared with the gallery of portraits of Balzac’s multi-volume “Human Comedy”. Tolstoy gives more than 70 detailed characteristics, outlines with a few strokes many minor characters - and they all live, do not merge with each other, and remain in memory. One sharply captured detail determines a person’s figure, his character and behavior. In the reception room of the dying Count Bezukhov, one of the heirs, Prince Vasily, walks on tiptoe in confusion. “He couldn’t walk on tiptoes and awkwardly bounced his whole body.” And in this bouncing the whole nature of the dignified and powerful prince is reflected.

In Tolstoy, the external feature acquires a deep psychological and symbolic resonance. He has incomparable visual acuity, brilliant observation, almost clairvoyance. By one turn of the head or movement of the fingers, he guesses the person. Every feeling, even the most fleeting, is immediately embodied for him in a bodily sign; Movement, posture, gesture, the expression of the eyes, the line of the shoulders, the trembling of the lips are read by him as a symbol of the soul. Hence the impression of mental and physical integrity and completeness that his heroes produce. In the art of creating living people with flesh and blood, breathing, moving, casting shadows, Tolstoy has no equal.

Princess Marya

At the center of the action of the novel are two noble families - the Bolkonskys and the Rostovs. The elder Prince Bolkonsky, general-in-chief of Catherine's time, a Voltairian and an intelligent gentleman, lives on the Bald Mountains estate with his daughter Marya, ugly and no longer young. Her father loves her passionately, but he raises her harshly and torments her with algebra lessons. Princess Marya “with beautiful radiant eyes” and a shy smile is an image of high spiritual beauty. She meekly bears the cross of her life, prays, accepts “God’s people” and dreams of becoming a pilgrim... “All the complex laws of humanity were concentrated for her in one simple and clear law of love and self-sacrifice, taught to her by the One Who lovingly suffered for humanity when He Himself He is God. What did she care about the justice or injustice of other people? She had to suffer and love herself, and she did it.”

And yet she is sometimes worried about the hope of personal happiness; she wants to have a family, children. When this hope comes true and she marries Nikolai Rostov, her soul continues to strive for “infinite, eternal perfection.”

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky

Princess Marya's brother, Prince Andrei, does not look like his sister. This is a strong, intelligent, proud and disappointed man, feeling his superiority over those around him, burdened by his chirping, frivolous wife and looking for practically useful activities. He collaborates with Speransky in the commission for drafting laws, but soon gets tired of this abstract desk work. He is overcome by a thirst for glory, he sets out on the campaign of 1805 and, like Napoleon, awaits his “Toulon” - exaltation, greatness, “human love.” But instead of Toulon, the Austerlitz field awaits him, on which he lies wounded and looks into the bottomless sky. “Everything is empty,” he thinks, “everything is deception, except this endless sky. There is nothing, nothing, except him. But even that is not there, there is nothing but silence, calmness.”

Andrey Bolkonsky

Returning to Russia, he settles on his estate and plunges into the “melancholy of life.” The death of his wife and the betrayal of Natasha Rostova, who seemed to him the ideal of girlish charm and purity, plunge him into dark despair. And only slowly dying from a wound received in the Battle of Borodino, in the face of death, does he find that “truth of life” that he has always so unsuccessfully sought: “Love is life,” he thinks. – Everything, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Love is God, and to die means for me, a particle of love, to return to the common and eternal source.”

Nikolay Rostov

Complex relationships connect the Bolkonsky family with the Rostov family. Nikolai Rostov is an integral, spontaneous nature, like Eroshka in “Cossacks” or brother Volodya in “Childhood”. He lives without questions or doubts, he has a “common sense of mediocrity.” Direct, noble, brave, cheerful, he is surprisingly attractive, despite his limitations. Of course, he does not understand the mystical soul of his wife Marya, but he knows how to create a happy family and raise kind and honest children.

Natasha Rostova

His sister Natasha Rostova is one of Tolstoy’s most charming female characters. She enters the lives of each of us as a beloved and close friend. Her lively, joyful and spiritual face emits a radiance that illuminates everything around her. When she appears, everyone becomes happy, everyone starts smiling. Natasha is full of such an excess of vitality, such a “talent for life” that her whims, frivolous hobbies, selfishness of youth and thirst for the “pleasures of life” - everything seems charming.

She is constantly on the move, intoxicated with joy, inspired by feeling; she does not reason, “does not deign to be smart,” as Pierre says about her, but the clairvoyance of the heart replaces her mind. She immediately “sees” a person and accurately identifies him. When her fiancé Andrei Bolkonsky leaves for war, Natasha becomes interested in the brilliant and empty Anatoly Kuragin. But the break with Prince Andrei and then his death turn her whole soul upside down. Her noble and truthful nature cannot forgive herself for this guilt. Natasha falls into hopeless despair and wants to die. At this time, news comes about the death of her younger brother Petya in the war. Natasha forgets about her grief and selflessly looks after her mother - and this saves her.

“Natasha thought,” writes Tolstoy, “that her life was over. But suddenly love for her mother showed her that the essence of her life - love - was still alive in her. Love has awakened and life has awakened.” Finally, she marries Pierre Bezukhov and turns into a child-loving mother and devoted wife: she gives up all the “pleasures of life” that she so passionately loved before, and devotes herself wholeheartedly to her new, complex responsibilities. For Tolstoy, Natasha is life itself, instinctive, mysterious and holy in her natural wisdom.

Pierre Bezukhov

The ideological and compositional center of the novel is Count Pierre Bezukhov. All the complex and numerous lines of action coming from the two “family chronicles” - the Bolkonskys and the Rostovs - are drawn towards him; he clearly enjoys the author's greatest sympathy and is closest to him in his spiritual makeup. Pierre belongs to the “seeking” people, reminds Nikolenka, Nekhlyudova, Venison, but most of all Tolstoy himself. Not only the external events of life pass before us, but also the consistent history of his spiritual development.

The path of quest of Pierre Bezukhov

Pierre was brought up in an atmosphere of Rousseau's ideas, he lives by feeling and is prone to “dreamy philosophizing.” He is looking for the “truth”, but due to weakness of will he continues to lead an empty social life, go on carousing, play cards, go to balls; An absurd marriage to the soulless beauty Helen Kuragina, a break with her and a duel with his former friend Dolokhov produce a profound revolution in him. He's interested in Freemasonry, thinks to find in him “inner peace and agreement with oneself.” But disappointment soon sets in: the philanthropic activities of the Freemasons seem insufficient to him, their passion for uniforms and magnificent ceremonies outrages him. Moral stupor and panicky fear of life come over him.

The “tangled and terrible knot of life” strangles him. And here on the Borodino field he meets the Russian people - a new world opens up to him. The spiritual crisis was prepared by stunning impressions that suddenly fell upon him: he sees the fire of Moscow, is captured, spends several days awaiting the death sentence, and is present at the execution. And then he meets “Russian, kind, round Karataev.” Joyful and bright, he saves Pierre from spiritual death and leads him to God.

“Before, he sought God for the goals that he set for himself,” writes Tolstoy, and suddenly he learned in his captivity, not in words, not by reasoning, but by direct feeling, what his nanny had told him long ago; that God is here, here, everywhere. In captivity he learned that God in Karataev is greater, infinite and incomprehensible than in the Architect of the Universe recognized by the Freemasons.”

Religious inspiration covers Pierre, all questions and doubts disappear, he no longer thinks about the “meaning of life,” for the meaning has already been found: love of God and selfless service to people. The novel ends with a picture of the complete happiness of Pierre, who married Natasha Rostova and became a devoted husband and loving father.

Platon Karataev

The soldier Platon Karataev, whose meeting in French-occupied Moscow produced a revolution in the truth-seeking Pierre Bezukhov, was conceived by the author as a parallel to the “folk hero” Kutuzov; he is also a person without personality, passively surrendering to events. This is how Pierre sees him, that is, the author himself, but to the reader he seems different. It is not impersonality, but the extraordinary originality of his personality that strikes us. His apt words, jokes and sayings, his constant activity, his bright joy of spirit and sense of beauty ("decency"), his active love for his neighbors, humility, cheerfulness and religiosity are formed in our imagination not into the image of an impersonal "part of the whole", but into the amazingly complete face of the people's righteous man.

Platon Karataev is the same “great Christian” as the holy fool Grisha in “Childhood”. Tolstoy intuitively sensed its spiritual originality, but his rationalistic explanation skimmed the surface of this mystical soul.