How does L. Tolstoy understand patriotism? (based on the novel "War and Peace")

In his famous novel “War and Peace,” Tolstoy clearly showed the imaginary and true patriotism in the ranks of the Russian army during the war with Napoleon. The writer distinguished between those who really tried to do everything to preserve their homeland, ridding it of the enemy, and also those who, during the period of terrible battles, cared more about their personal well-being than about protecting their native state. It should be noted that this division of forces occurs not only in Tolstoy’s narrative.

It can be traced in all military conflicts, when some strive in every possible way to help their homeland, while others wish in various ways to rid themselves of possible troubles and deprivations.

The reader observes genuine patriotism in the novel in the example of Andrei Bolkonsky. Previously, the hero praised Napoleon and considered him a great man, and through his participation in battles he dreamed of showing his influence and gaining glory. But later, thanks to Tushin and his desire for victory for the sake of the happiness of the people, Bolkonsky changes his attitude towards battles and understands that in war one must fight for justice, and not for one’s own influence in society. Andrei achieves a final understanding of this at the Battle of Austerlitz. He strives to accomplish a feat and ultimately truly achieves his dream, in every possible way encouraging the fighters to new achievements. However, what was now important to him was not personal success, but people’s happiness. Later, the hero remembers the endless sky of Austerlitz and the new view of things that opened up to him in this battle. Subsequently, having recovered from the trauma received during this battle, as well as having been alone with his family, the hero returns to war again and dies heroically in one of the battles.

Also, true patriotism is reflected in the image of Pierre Bezukhov, who strongly supports the people during the war. He donates his funds and forms a militia. The key moment in Pierre's life was his stay in the Raevsky battery during the Battle of Borodino. A little later, the hero instilled in his mind the idea of ​​​​killing Napoleon, believing that by this action he would provide great support to the state and all people. But during the fire of Moscow, having failed to implement his grandiose plan, Pierre still shows courage and heroism. He saves a girl from the element of fire, and also protects a woman from the soldiers’ bullying.

In addition, Tushin’s battery accomplished a real feat during World War II. Despite the fact that Tushin was a rather modest person, during wartime he was able to reveal his full potential. And when, by coincidence, the cover of his battery disappeared, the hero did not cease to encourage the fighters and show efforts to protect his territory. Only with the help of enormous spiritual strength and practically without shells did the soldiers hold out under the enemy’s onslaught, holding their positions in every possible way. The desire for victory literally instilled itself in the hearts of Tushin’s battery, forcing the fighters to give all their strength for the good of the people and the country.

Natasha Rostova is also an example of true patriotism, because during the war she helped wounded soldiers absolutely free of charge. The heroine did everything to make their lives easier and eliminate the injuries they received while participating in battles and battles.

But in the work there are also heroes whose actions and deeds can be attributed to imaginary patriotism. These are Anatoly Kuragin and Boris Drubetskoy, who were afraid to engage in open battle with the enemy, but did not refuse to receive awards. They almost never took part in battles, since they cared only about their personal well-being, without taking into account the interests of the people. Their patriotism is a complete lie that has no boundaries. And the behavior of these heroes during the war is an indicator of their selfishness and indifference to the fate of their homeland.

False patriotism continues to manifest itself in the Scherer salon, where false and selfish people gather who have never directly faced danger face to face. It is also inherent in Berg and Count Rostopchin. All these people were removed from the real military situation and continued to lead their typical lifestyle.

Thus, in the novel L.N. Tolstoy's War and Peace contrasts imaginary and real patriots. However, the author strongly sympathizes with those who showed heroism and courage on the battlefield, since it was thanks to such people that the terrible war with Napoleon was won.

is a work on which the author worked for about seven years in order to reveal in it various problems of Russian reality. The author reveals all the topics against the background of a terrible event that remains on the pages of our history and this is the War of 1812. This time became a great test for every Russian person who did not stand aside. Everyone began to have patriotic feelings and everyone stood up to defend their land.

The patriotic theme in the novel War and Peace is revealed very well, about which we will write our essay, arguing about it. While studying the writer’s work, we saw descriptions of battle scenes, including a description of the Battle of Borodino. They are attended by defenders of the fatherland, ordinary people, in whom the author saw a hidden note of patriotism. Without the common people, it is unlikely that we would have emerged victorious in this war. But the danger that loomed over the country united everyone. A single patriotic impulse erased all boundaries and all differences. There are no peasants or serfs, aristocrats or common people here. There are patriots in the unity of their desires. It was impossible to give the country to the enemy. Therefore, an internal fire flared up in every person, thanks to which the Russian army won.

Here are ordinary men who put on soldiers' greatcoats and went against Napoleon. These are the patriots in Tushin’s battery, officers, ordinary soldiers, Kutuzov himself, who is shown by Tolstoy as a representative of the people’s war. We see the patriotic spirit in Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, in the Rostov family and others like them. The writer attributes a huge role to Vlas and Karp, who burned the hay and did not leave it or sell it to the enemy. The people, uniting with the Russian army, defeated and defeated the French army, which terrified all of Europe. And the patriotic spirit, unity, determination and desire to win turned out to be the strongest. This is evidenced by the raised theme of patriotism in the novel War and Peace.

Patriotic theme in L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”

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The novel “War and Peace” is a great work of Russian and world literature, a grandiose epic, the hero of which is the Russian people, who showed unprecedented heroism and patriotism in the struggle for the freedom and independence of their homeland in the War of 1812.

The enormous vital material of this novel is united by a single concept: “I tried to write the history of the people,” says Tolstoy. The people, according to Tolstoy, are not only peasants, but also nobles, those people who are worried about the fate of the country, who are in the whirlpool of great events. A colossal wave of anger arose among the people after the French attack. All Russian people, with the exception of a small handful of court aristocrats, could not imagine how they could live under the rule of the French. Every Russian acted as he found possible for himself. Some joined the active army, some went to partisan detachments. People like Pierre Bezukhov gave part of their money to equip the militia. Many, like the Smolensk merchant Ferapontov, burned shops and their property so that nothing would be left for the enemies. And many simply packed up and left their homes, destroying everything after them.

Tolstoy notes in the Russian people a simple, sometimes unreflective feeling of patriotism, which was expressed not in loud phrases about love for the fatherland, but in decisive actions. Residents of Moscow left the ancient capital without any call. Tolstoy emphasizes that for Muscovites there could be no question of what would be good or bad under French rule in Moscow. It was simply impossible to live like that, as it was the worst of all.

The same thing is happening in other cities and villages of the Russian land. In the territory where the enemy had already entered, he saw hatred and genuine indignation of the people. The peasants refused to sell food and hay to the French. A partisan movement arose spontaneously, without any order from above. In Tolstoy’s figurative expression, “the partisans picked up fallen leaves that fell from the common tree of the French army, and sometimes shook this tree.”

Not only the common people, but also the advanced layers of the nobility and intelligentsia became imbued with bitterness towards the enemy. It’s not for nothing that Prince Andrei says that they destroyed his house, and now they are going to ruin Moscow, insulting it every second.” And therefore, according to his concepts, they are not only enemies, but also criminals. Prince Andrei honestly fulfills his duty, joining the active army at the very beginning of the war, although before that he decided that he would never be a military man again. He did not stay at headquarters, as he was offered, but goes to the forefront of events. The heroism and genuine love of Russians for their homeland was especially clearly demonstrated in the Battle of Borodino. On the eve of the battles, Andrei Bolkonsky says: “the battle will be won by the one who firmly decided to win it... and who will fight harder... Tomorrow, no matter what, we will win the battle.”

Defending their home, their family, their homeland, the right to life, the Russian people showed amazing fortitude and self-sacrifice, and showed miracles of courage. They aroused first surprise and then fear in the hitherto invincible Napoleon. One cannot help but be proud of the Russian people. And there is no doubt that such a people have a great future.

Introduction

The theme of patriotism in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the central ones. It is no coincidence that almost two volumes of the famous epic are dedicated to her.

Patriotism of the people in the work

What is patriotism according to Tolstoy? This is a natural movement of the soul that makes a person not think about himself “with the awareness of general misfortune.” The War of 1812, which affected everyone, showed how much Russians love their Fatherland. Reading the text of the work, we find many examples of this.

So, Smolensk residents burn houses and bread so that the French do not get them. The merchant Ferapontov gives all the goods to the soldiers and sets fire to his property with his own hands. “Get everything, guys! Don't let the devils get you!" - he shouts.

Moscow residents are also deeply patriotic. An indicative episode is when Napoleon is waiting for a deputation with the keys to the city on Poklonnaya Hill. But most residents left Moscow. Craftsmen and merchants left. The nobles, for whom French was their native language before the enemy arrived on Russian soil, also left the city.

Patriotism in the novel sometimes awakens even in those from whom it would be difficult to expect. Thus, Princess Katish, who, together with Vasily, is participating in the hunt for the will of Count Bezukhov, declares to Pierre: “Whatever I am, I cannot live under Bonaparte’s rule.”

Even the cutesy gossip Julie Karagina leaves along with everyone with the words: “I am not Joan of Arc and not an Amazon.” Muscovites left their hometown “because for the Russian people there could be no question: whether it would be good or bad under the rule of the French in Moscow. It was impossible to be under the control of the French.”

Natasha and Pierre during the war

The writer’s favorite heroes cannot stay away from the general misfortune. Pierre decides to stay in the capital to shoot the French emperor “in order to either die or end the misfortune of all of Europe.” He saves an unfamiliar girl from a burning garden and attacks a French soldier who is trying to remove a necklace from a woman. Pierre finds himself on the battlefield and in captivity, he was almost shot by the French and saved by Russian partisans. It is the war that makes Pierre look at himself and others with different eyes, and feel his closeness to the common people.

The feeling of “the need for sacrifice and suffering” during a general misfortune makes Natasha Rostova shout at her mother, who does not want to give her carts to the wounded. At that moment, Natasha does not think that she might end up homeless. She only thinks that the wounded cannot be left to the French.

True patriots on the battlefields

When talking about the theme of patriotism in War and Peace, it is impossible not to mention the direct participants in the battles, generals and ordinary soldiers.

First of all, the reader is attracted by the image of Kutuzov. Like many of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, Kutuzov has an unattractive appearance “in a long frock coat on a huge thick body”, “with a stooped back”, “with a leaky white eye on a swollen face” - this is how the writer depicts the great commander before the Battle of Borodino. Tolstoy emphasizes that this man combined physical weakness and spiritual strength. It was she, this inner strength, that allowed him to make an unpopular decision - to leave Moscow in order to save the army. It was thanks to her that he had the strength to free the Fatherland from the French.

Images of other heroes also appear before us. These are real historical figures: generals Raevsky, Ermolov Dokhturov, Bagration. And fictional brave men, including Prince Andrei, Timokhin, Nikolai Rostov and many others, whose names are unknown.

The writer and participants in the guerrilla war show true patriots of the fatherland. They did not participate in great battles, but destroyed the enemy in the ways available to them. Tikhon Shcherbaty, elder Vasilisa, Denis Davydov. It is their exploits that delight young Petya Rostov, who joins the partisan detachment.

False patriots in the novel

Tolstoy contrasts true patriots with false patriots, who do not care about the common misfortune and who try to extract their own benefit from it.

So, visitors to the Scherer salon live an ordinary life. She even organizes a reception on the day of the Battle of Borodino. The patriotism of the owner of a fashionable salon is manifested only in the fact that she gently scolds those who visit the French theater.

There are also “false patriots” among staff officers. Among them is Boris Drubetskoy, who, thanks to his ingenuity, “managed to stay in the main apartment.” Berg, who in a pathetic tone makes a fiery speech to Count Rostov, and then begins to bargain with him for a “dressing room” and a toilet “with an English secret.” And, of course, Count Rostopchin, who with his calls and empty activities doomed thousands of people to death, and then, having given the son of the merchant Vereshchagin to be torn to pieces by an angry crowd, flees from Moscow.

Conclusion

In conclusion of the essay on the topic of patriotism in the novel “War and Peace,” it must be said that Tolstoy was able to show the reader how a true patriot of his Motherland should behave in the hour of danger that threatens it.

Work test

True patriotism is also inextricably linked with a sense of responsibility, with the ability to answer for actions taken in the name of the fate of the people and the country. The Russian people are the true patriots in the work. The episode with the French offensive in Smolensk is indicative. The merchant Ferapontov set fire to his own shop and lost the flour he was going to sell profitably: “I’ve made up my mind! Race! ... I’ll light it myself.” However, he is only one of many city residents who also decided to destroy their property. So, Smolensk was burned by the townspeople so as not to leave the French easy prey. Russian soldiers are also true patriots. We see the manifestation of true patriotism in scenes depicting the battles of Shengraben, Austerlitz, Borodino. When heroes face the enemy on the battlefield, their willingness to sacrifice their own lives and love for the Motherland are most clearly manifested.

Describing the preparation of soldiers for the Battle of Borodino, Tolstoy draws attention to their seriousness and concentration. Captain Timokhin tells Bolkonsky: “The soldiers in my battalion did not drink vodka: it’s not such a day, they say.” No one wants to get drunk before an important battle, because by doing so they could let down their Motherland. The soldiers are ready to die, but not to retreat: “The militia...put on clean, white shirts to prepare for death. What heroism, Count!” Another striking example of the manifestation of true patriotism is the image of General Tushin: he takes the initiative during the Battle of Shengraben. The hero is ready to answer for the fact that he disobeyed the order and acted in his own way: he set fire to the village of Shengraben, thereby saving the lives of other soldiers. Thus, the prose writer showed true patriotism in the novel.

The writer contrasts real patriotism with false patriotism, which is based on selfishness and hypocrisy. An example of this is the image of Dolokhov. In the first battle, when Kutuzov decides to send Bagration with an army through difficult mountains, Fedor does his job well, but he is driven not by a sense of patriotism and duty to the Motherland, but by the desire to become famous. After the battle, he actively focuses on his positive actions that he performed during the battle:

He poses as a patriot in order to find himself in an advantageous position in the eyes of his superiors. We also see a manifestation of false patriotism among the St. Petersburg aristocracy, who hired Russian language teachers and refused to go to the French theater to demonstrate “love” for the Fatherland and belonging to the Russian people. Thus, Tolstoy portrays false patriotism in the novel.

Thus, with the help of a system of images, the writer reveals one of the important themes of his work - the theme of true and false patriotism. The author considers Russian soldiers and ordinary people to be true patriots, since they are ready to sacrifice anything to save their Motherland. False patriots, according to L.N. Tolstoy, are the majority of representatives of the highest noble society. They do everything for their own comfort and safety while their Fatherland needs protection.