A brief description of the main characters of the novel War and the World of Leo Tolstoy. Heroes of "War and Peace" - a short description of the characters Portrait characteristics of the heroes war and peace
In this article we will present you the main characters of the work of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy "War and Peace". Characteristics of the heroes include the main features of the appearance and inner world. All the characters in the work are very curious. The novel "War and Peace" is very large in volume. The characteristics of the heroes are given only briefly, but meanwhile, for each of them, you can write a separate work. Let's start our analysis with a description of the Rostov family.
Ilya Andreevich Rostov
The Rostov family in the work are typical Moscow representatives of the nobility. Its head, Ilya Andreevich, is known for generosity and hospitality. This is a count, father of Petit, Vera, Nikolai and Natasha Rostov, a rich man and a Moscow gentleman. He is dumb, good-natured, loves to live. In general, speaking about the Rostov family, it should be noted that sincerity, benevolence, lively contact and ease of communication were characteristic of all its representatives.
Some episodes from the life of the writer's grandfather were used by him to create the image of Rostov. The fate of this person is burdened by the realization of ruin, which he does not immediately understand and is unable to stop. In its external appearance there are also some features of similarity with the prototype. This technique was used by the author not only in relation to Ilya Andreevich. Some internal and external features of Leo Tolstoy's relatives and friends can be discerned in other characters, which confirms the characterization of the heroes. "War and Peace" is a large-scale work with a huge number of characters.
Nikolay Rostov
Nikolai Rostov - the son of Ilya Andreevich, brother of Petya, Natasha and Vera, a hussar, an officer. At the end of the novel, he appears as the husband of Marya Bolkonskaya, princess. In the appearance of this man, one could see "enthusiasm" and "impetuosity." It reflected some of the features of the writer's father, who took part in the war of 1812. This hero is distinguished by such features as cheerfulness, openness, benevolence and self-sacrifice. Convinced that he was not a diplomat or an official, Nikolai left the university at the beginning of the novel and entered the hussar regiment. Here he takes part in the Patriotic War of 1812, in military campaigns. Nikolai receives his first baptism of fire when the crossing of the Ens takes place. In the Shengraben battle, he was wounded in the arm. Having passed the tests, this person becomes a real hussar, a brave officer.
Petya Rostov
Petya Rostov is the youngest child in the Rostov family, brother of Natasha, Nikolai and Vera. He appears at the beginning of the work as a young boy. Petya, like all Rostovs, is cheerful and kind, musical. He wants to imitate his brother and also wants to join the army. After Nikolai's departure, Petya becomes the main concern of the mother, who only realizes at that time the depth of her love for this child. During the war, he accidentally ends up in Denisov's detachment with an assignment, where he remains, since he wants to take part in the case. Petya dies by coincidence, showing before his death the best features of the Rostovs in relations with comrades.
Countess Rostov
Rostova is a heroine, when creating an image of which the author used as well as some life circumstances of L. A. Bers, mother-in-law of Lev Nikolaevich, and also P. N. Tolstoy, the writer's paternal grandmother. The Countess is used to living in an atmosphere of kindness and love, in luxury. She is proud of the trust and friendship of her children, pampers them, worries about their fate. Despite the external weakness, even some heroine makes reasonable and balanced decisions in relation to her children. It is dictated by her love for children and her desire to marry Nikolai at any cost to a wealthy bride, as well as nagging with Sonya.
Natasha Rostova
Natasha Rostova is one of the main heroines of the work. She is the daughter of Rostov, sister of Petit, Vera and Nikolai. At the end of the novel, he becomes the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. This girl is presented as "ugly, but alive", with a large mouth, black-eyed. The prototype for this image was Tolstoy's wife, as well as her sister Bers T.A. We see this, for example, during the removal of the wounded from Moscow, as well as in the episode of nursing the mother after Petya died.
One of the main advantages of Natasha is her musicality, beautiful voice. By her singing, she can awaken all the best that is in a person. This is what saves Nikolai from despair after he has lost a large sum.
Natasha, constantly carried away, lives in an atmosphere of happiness and love. After meeting Prince Andrey, a change takes place in her fate. The insult inflicted by Bolkonsky (the old prince) pushes this heroine to become infatuated with the Kuragin and to refuse Prince Andrei. Only after feeling and experiencing a lot, she realizes her guilt before Bolkonsky. But this girl feels true love only for Pierre, whose wife she becomes at the end of the novel.
Sonya
Sonya is the pupil and niece of Count Rostov, who grew up in his family. At the beginning of the work, she is 15 years old. This girl completely fits into the Rostov family, she is unusually friendly and close with Natasha, she has been in love with Nikolai since childhood. Sonya is taciturn, restrained, careful, reasonable, she has a highly developed capacity for self-sacrifice. She attracts attention with her moral purity and beauty, but she lacks the charm and spontaneity that Natasha possesses.
Pierre Bezukhov
Pierre Bezukhov is one of the main characters in the novel. Therefore, without him, the characterization of the heroes would be incomplete ("War and Peace"). Let us briefly describe Pierre Bezukhov. He is the illegitimate son of a count, a famous nobleman, who became the heir to a huge fortune and title. The work is portrayed as a fat, massive young man, with glasses. This hero is distinguished by a timid, intelligent, natural and observant look. He was brought up abroad, appeared in Russia shortly before the start of the 1805 campaign and the death of his father. Pierre is inclined to philosophical reflections, smart, kind-hearted and gentle, compassionate towards others. He is also impractical, at times subject to passions. Andrei Bolkonsky, his closest friend, characterizes this hero as the only "living person" among all representatives of the world.
Anatol Kuragin
Anatol Kuragin - officer, brother of Ippolit and Helen, son of Prince Vasily. Unlike Hippolytus, the "calm fool", his father looks at Anatole as a "restless" fool who must always be rescued from various troubles. This hero is stupid, arrogant, dapper, not eloquent in conversations, depraved, not resourceful, but has confidence. He looks at life as a constant amusement and pleasure.
Andrey Bolkonsky
Andrei Bolkonsky is one of the main characters in the work, the prince, the brother of Princess Marya, the son of N. A. Bolkonsky. Described as a "very handsome" young man of "short stature." He is proud, smart, looking for great spiritual and intellectual content in life. Andrey is educated, restrained, practical, has a strong will. His idol at the beginning of the novel is Napoleon, whom our characterization of the heroes ("War and Peace") will also present to the readers just below. Andrei Balkonsky dreams of imitating him. After participating in the war, he lives in the village, raises his son, and takes care of the household. Then he returns to the army, dies in the battle of Borodino.
Platon Karataev
Let us also imagine this hero of the work "War and Peace". Platon Karataev is a soldier who met in captivity to Pierre Bezukhov. In the service, he is nicknamed Sokolik. Note that this character was not included in the original version of the work. Its appearance was caused by the final formulation of the image of Pierre in the philosophical concept of War and Peace.
When he first met this good-natured, affectionate person, Pierre was struck by the feeling of something calm emanating from him. This character attracts others with her calmness, kindness, confidence, and also a smile. After the death of Karataev, thanks to his wisdom, folk philosophy, expressed unconsciously in his behavior, Pierre Bezukhov understands the meaning of life.
But they are not only portrayed in the work "War and Peace". Characteristics of the heroes include real historical figures. The main ones are Kutuzov and Napoleon. Their images are described in some detail in the work "War and Peace". The characteristics of the heroes we have mentioned are below.
Kutuzov
Kutuzov in the novel, as in reality, is the commander-in-chief of the Russian army. Described as a man with a plump face, disfigured by a wound, with He steps heavily, full, gray-haired. For the first time on the pages of the novel appears in an episode when a review of troops near Branau is depicted. Impress everyone with knowledge of the matter, as well as the attention that is hidden behind external absent-mindedness. Kutuzov is capable of being diplomatic, he is rather cunning. Before the Shengraben battle, he blesses Bagration with tears in his eyes. A favorite of military officers and soldiers. He believes that victory in the campaign against Napoleon requires time and patience, that it is not knowledge, not intelligence and not plans that can solve the matter, but something else that does not depend on them, that a person is not able to really influence the course of history ... Kutuzov contemplates the course of events more than intervenes in them. However, he knows how to remember everything, listen, see, not interfere with anything useful and not allow anything harmful. This is a modest, simple and therefore majestic figure.
Napoleon
Napoleon is a real historical person, the French emperor. On the eve of the main events of the novel, he is the idol of Andrei Bolkonsky. Even Pierre Bezukhov admires the greatness of this man. His confidence and self-righteousness are expressed in the opinion that his presence plunges people into self-forgetfulness and delight, that everything in the world depends only on his will.
This is a brief description of the characters in the novel War and Peace. It can serve as a basis for a more detailed analysis. Referring to the work, you can supplement it if you need a detailed description of the characters. "War and Peace" (1 volume - the presentation of the main characters, subsequent - the development of characters) describes in detail each of these characters. The inner world of many of them changes over time. Therefore, Leo Tolstoy presents in dynamics the characteristics of the heroes ("War and Peace"). Volume 2, for example, reflects their lives between 1806 and 1812. The next two volumes describe further events, their reflection in the fate of the characters.
Characteristics of the heroes are of great importance for understanding such a creation by Leo Tolstoy as the work "War and Peace". Through them, the philosophy of the novel is reflected, the author's ideas and thoughts are transmitted.
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, with his pure Russian pen, gave life to a whole world of characters in the novel War and Peace. His fictional characters, which are intertwined in whole noble families or family ties between families, present to the modern reader a real reflection of those people who lived during the times described by the author. One of the greatest books of world significance "War and Peace" with the confidence of a professional historian, but at the same time, as in a mirror, presents to the whole world that Russian spirit, those characters of secular society, those historical events that were invariably present at the end of the XVIII and early 19th century.
And against the background of these events, the greatness of the Russian soul is shown, in all its power and diversity.
Leo Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" are going through the events of the last nineteenth century, but Lev Nikolaevich begins to describe the events of 1805. The impending war with the French, the decisively approaching world and the growing greatness of Napoleon, the confusion in Moscow secular circles and the clear calm in the St. Petersburg secular society - all this can be called a kind of background on which, like a brilliant artist, the author painted his characters. There are quite a lot of heroes - about 550 or 600. There are both main and central figures, and there are others or simply mentioned ones. In total, the heroes of "War and Peace" can be divided into three groups: central, secondary and mentioned characters. Among all of them, there are both fictional characters, as prototypes of the people who surrounded the writer at that time, and real-life historical figures. Consider the main characters in the novel.
Quotes from the novel "War and Peace"
“… I often think about how the happiness of life is sometimes unfairly distributed.
A person cannot own anything while he is afraid of death. And whoever is not afraid of her, he owns everything.
Until now, thank God, I have been a friend of my children and I enjoy their full confidence, ”said the Countess, repeating the delusion of many parents who believe that their children have no secrets from them.
Everything, from napkins to silver, faience and crystal, bore that special imprint of novelty that occurs in the household of young spouses.
If everyone fought only for their own convictions, there would be no war.
To be an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she did not even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast.
To love everyone, to always sacrifice oneself for love, meant not to love anyone, meant not living this earthly life.
Never, never marry, my friend; Here is my advice to you: do not marry until you tell yourself that you have done everything you could, and until you stop loving the woman you have chosen, until you see her clearly; otherwise you will be mistaken cruelly and irreparably. Marry an old man, worthless ...
Central figures of the novel "War and Peace"
Rostovs - Counts and Countesses
Rostov Ilya Andreevich
Count, father of four children: Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petit. A very kind and generous person who loved life very much. His overwhelming generosity ultimately led him to extravagance. A loving husband and father. A very good organizer of various balls and receptions. However, his life on a grand scale, and disinterested assistance to the wounded during the war with the French and the departure of the Russians from Moscow, inflicted fatal blows on his condition. His conscience tormented him constantly because of the impending poverty of his family, but he could not help himself. After the death of the youngest son Petya, the count was broken, but, however, revived during preparations for the wedding of Natasha and Pierre Bezukhov. Just a few months after the wedding of the Bezukhovs, Count Rostov dies.
Rostova Natalia (wife of Ilya Andreevich Rostov)
Wife of Count Rostov and mother of four children, this woman at the age of forty-five had oriental features. The focus of slowness and gravity in her was regarded by those around her as the solidity and high significance of her personality for the family. But the real reason for her manners, perhaps, lies in the emaciated and weak physical condition due to the birth and upbringing of four children. She loves her family and children very much, so the news of the death of her youngest son Petya almost drove her crazy. Just like Ilya Andreevich, Countess Rostova was very fond of luxury and the execution of any of her orders.
Leo Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" in Countess Rostova helped to reveal the prototype of the author's grandmother - Pelageya Nikolaevna Tolstoy.
Rostov Nikolay
The son of Count Rostov Ilya Andreevich. A loving brother and son who reveres his family, at the same time loves to serve in the Russian army, which is very significant and important for his dignity. Even in his fellow soldiers, he often saw his second family. Although he was in love with his cousin Sonya for a long time, he nevertheless marries Princess Marya Bolkonskaya at the end of the novel. A very energetic young man, with curly hair and an "open expression." His patriotism and love for the emperor of Russia never dried up. Having gone through many hardships of the war, he becomes a brave and brave hussar. After the death of Father Ilya Andreevich, Nikolai retires in order to improve the financial affairs of the family, pay debts and, finally, become a good husband for Marya Bolkonskaya.
It appears to Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy as a prototype of his father.
Rostova Natasha
Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. A very energetic and emotional girl, who was considered ugly, but lively and attractive, she is not very smart, but intuitive, because she knew how to perfectly “guess people”, their mood and some character traits. She is very impulsive to nobility and self-sacrifice. She sings and dances very beautifully, which at that time was an important characteristic quality for a girl from a secular society. The most important quality of Natasha, which Leo Tolstoy, like his characters, repeatedly emphasizes in the novel "War and Peace" - is closeness to the common Russian people. And she herself has completely absorbed the Russianness of culture and the strength of the nation's spirit. Nevertheless, this girl lives in her illusion of goodness, happiness and love, which, after some time, brings Natasha into reality. It is these blows of fate and her heartfelt experiences that make Natasha Rostova an adult and end up giving her mature true love for Pierre Bezukhov. The story of the rebirth of her soul, how Natasha began to attend church after succumbing to the temptation of a lying seducer, deserves special respect. If you are interested in the works of Tolstoy in which the Christian heritage of our people is considered more deeply, then you need to read a book about Father Sergius and how he fought temptation.
A collective prototype of the writer's daughter-in-law Tatyana Andreevna Kuzminskaya, as well as her sister - the wife of Lev Nikolaevich - Sofia Andreevna.
Rostova Vera
Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. She was famous for her strict disposition and inappropriate, albeit fair, remarks in society. It is not known why, but her mother did not really love her and Vera felt this acutely, apparently, therefore, she often went against everyone around her. Later she became the wife of Boris Drubetskoy.
It is the prototype of Tolstoy's sister Sophia - the wife of Lev Nikolaevich, whose name was Elizabeth Bers.
Rostov Peter
Still a boy, the son of the Count and Countess Rostovs. Growing up, Petya, as a young man, was eager to go to war, and in such a way that his parents absolutely could not hold him back. Having escaped all the same from parental care and decided to join Denisov's hussar regiment. Petya dies in the very first battle, without having had time to fight. His death severely crippled his family.
Sonya
The diminutive, glorious girl Sonya was the native niece of Count Rostov and spent her whole life under his roof. Her long-term love for Nikolai Rostov became fatal for her, because she never managed to unite with him in marriage. In addition, the old county Natalya Rostova was very against their marriage, because they were cousins. Sonya acts nobly, refusing Dolokhov and agreeing to love only Nicholas for the rest of her life, while freeing him from his promise to marry her. The rest of her life she lives with the old countess in the care of Nikolai Rostov.
The prototype of this seemingly insignificant character was Lev Nikolaevich's second aunt, Tatiana Aleksandrovna Ergolskaya.
Bolkonsky - princes and princesses
Bolkonsky Nikolay Andreevich
Father of the protagonist, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. In the past, the acting general-in-chief, in the present prince, who has earned himself the nickname "King of Prussia" in Russian secular society. Socially active, strict as a father, tough, pedantic, but wise owner of his estate. Outwardly, it was a thin old man in a powdered white wig, thick eyebrows hanging over shrewd and intelligent eyes. She does not like to show feelings even for her beloved son and daughter. Constantly harassing his daughter Marya with nagging, sharp words. Sitting on his estate, Prince Nicholas is constantly on the alert for the events taking place in Russia, and only before his death he loses a full understanding of the scale of the tragedy of the Russian war with Napoleon.
The prototype of Prince Nikolai Andreevich was the writer's grandfather Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky.
Bolkonsky Andrey
Prince, son of Nikolai Andreevich. Ambitious, like his father, he is restrained in the manifestation of sensual impulses, but he loves his father and sister very much. He is married to the "little princess" Liza. Made a good military career. He philosophizes a lot about life, the meaning and state of his spirit. From which it is clear that he is in some kind of constant search. After the death of his wife in Natasha Rostova saw hope for himself, a real girl, and not a fake one as in a secular society and a certain light of future happiness, so he was in love with her. Having made an offer to Natasha, he was forced to go abroad for treatment, which served both as a real test of their feelings. As a result, their wedding fell through. Prince Andrew went to war with Napoleon and was seriously wounded, after which he did not survive and died of a serious wound. Natasha devotedly looked after him until the end of his death.
Bolkonskaya Marya
Daughter of Prince Nicholas and sister of Andrei Bolkonskikh. A very meek girl, not beautiful, but kind in soul and very rich, like a bride. Her inspiration and devotion to religion serve as an example of kindness and meekness to many. She unforgettably loves her father, who often mocked her with his ridicule, reproaches and injections. And he also loves his brother, Prince Andrew. She did not immediately accept Natasha Rostova as a future daughter-in-law, because she seemed to her too frivolous for her brother Andrei. After all the hardships she experienced, she marries Nikolai Rostov.
The prototype of Marya is the mother of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy - Volkonskaya Maria Nikolaevna.
Bezukhovs - Counts and Countesses
Pierre Bezukhov (Peter Kirillovich)
One of the main characters who deserves close attention and the most positive assessment. This character has gone through a lot of mental trauma and pain, possessing in itself a kind and highly noble disposition. Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel "War and Peace" very often express their love and acceptance of Pierre Bezukhov as a man of very high morals, complacent and a man of a philosophical mind. Lev Nikolaevich is very fond of his hero, Pierre. As a friend of Andrei Bolkonsky, young Count Pierre Bezukhov is very loyal and sympathetic. Despite the various intrigues weaving under his nose, Pierre did not become embittered and did not lose his good-naturedness towards people. And by marrying Natalya Rostova, he finally found that grace and happiness that he so lacked in his first wife, Helen. At the end of the novel, one can trace his desire to change the political foundations in Russia and from afar one can even guess his Decembrist sentiments.
Character prototypes
Most of the heroes are so complex in their structure of the novel, they always reflect some people who, in one way or another, met along the path of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy.
The writer successfully created a whole panorama of the epic history of the events of that time and the private life of secular people. In addition, the author managed to very brightly color the psychological traits and characters of his characters so that a modern person can learn worldly wisdom from them.
Prince, father of Helene, Anatole and Hippolytus. This is a very famous and quite influential person in society, he holds an important court post. Prince V.'s attitude to everyone around him is condescending and patronizing. The author shows his hero "in a courtly, embroidered uniform, in stockings, shoes, with the stars, with a bright expression of a flat face", with a "perfumed and radiant bald head." But when he smiled, there was "something unexpectedly rude and unpleasant in his smile." Prince V. specially wishes no one harm. He simply uses people and circumstances to carry out his plans. V. always seeks to get closer to people who are richer and higher in status. The hero considers himself an exemplary father, he does everything possible to arrange the future of his children. He is trying to marry his son Anatol to the rich princess Marya Bolkonskaya. After the death of the old prince Bezukhov and the receipt of a huge inheritance by Pierre, V. notices the rich groom and cunningly gives him his daughter Helene. Prince V. is a great intriguer who knows how to live in society and make acquaintances with the right people.
Anatol Kuragin
The son of Prince Vasily, brother of Helen and Hippolyta. Prince Vasily himself looks at his son as a "restless fool" who constantly needs to be rescued from various troubles. A. is very handsome, dandy, impudent. He is frankly stupid, not resourceful, but popular in society, because "he also had the ability of calmness, precious for the world, and unchangeable confidence." A. Dolokhov's friend, constantly participates in his revelry, looks at life as a constant stream of pleasures and pleasures. He doesn't care about other people, he is selfish. A. treats women with contempt, feeling his superiority. He is used to being liked by everyone, without experiencing anything serious in return. A. got carried away by Natasha Rostova and tried to take her away. After this incident, the hero was forced to flee from Moscow and hide from Prince Andrey, who wanted to challenge the seducer of his bride to a duel.Kuragina Helen
Daughter of Prince Vasily, and then wife of Pierre Bezukhov. A brilliant Petersburg beauty with a "unchanging smile", full white shoulders, glossy hair and a beautiful figure. There was no noticeable coquetry in her, as if she was ashamed "for her undoubtedly and too strongly and victoriously acting beauty." E. is imperturbable, giving everyone the right to admire themselves, which makes her feel like a gloss from the multitude of other people's views. She knows how to be tacitly worthy in the light, giving the impression of a tactful and intelligent woman, which, combined with beauty, ensures her constant success. Having married Pierre Bezukhov, the heroine discovers in front of her husband not only the limitedness of the mind, the coarseness of thought and vulgarity, but also cynical depravity. After breaking up with Pierre and receiving from him by proxy a large part of the fortune, she lives in Petersburg, then abroad, then returns to her husband. Despite the family break, the constant change of lovers, including Dolokhov and Drubetskoy, E. continues to be one of the most famous and kindly ladies of St. Petersburg. In the light, she is making very great strides; living alone, she becomes the mistress of the diplomatic and political salon, gains a reputation for intelligent womenAnna Pavlovna Sherer
Maid of honor, close to Empress Maria Feodorovna. Sh. Is the owner of a salon fashionable in St. Petersburg, the description of the evening in which the novel opens. A.P. 40 years old, she is artificial, like all high society. Her attitude towards any person or event depends entirely on the latest political, court or secular considerations. She is friends with Prince Vasily. Sh. "Is full of animation and impulse", "being an enthusiast has become her social position." In 1812, her salon displayed false patriotism by eating cabbage soup and fines for French speech.Boris Drubetskoy
The son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya. From childhood he was brought up and lived for a long time in the house of the Rostovs, to whom he was a relative. B. and Natasha were in love with each other. Outwardly, this is "a tall, blond youth with regular thin features of a calm and handsome face." From his youth, B. dreams of a military career, allows his mother to humiliate herself in front of her superiors, if this helps him. So, Prince Vasily finds him a place in the guard. B. is going to make a brilliant career, makes many useful acquaintances. After a while, he becomes Helen's lover. B. manages to be in the right place at the right time, and his career and position are particularly firmly established. In 1809 he again meets Natasha and is fond of her, even thinks of marrying her. But that would have hindered his career. Therefore, B. begins to look for a rich bride. He eventually marries Julie Karagina.Count Rostov
Rostov Ilya Andreevi - Count, father of Natasha, Nikolai, Vera and Petit. A very good-natured, generous person who loves life and does not really know how to calculate his funds. R. is best able to make a reception, a ball, he is a hospitable host and an exemplary family man. The count is used to living on a grand scale, and when the means no longer allow it, he gradually ruins his family, from which he suffers greatly. When leaving Moscow, it was R. who began to give carts for the wounded. So he deals one of the last blows to the family's budget. The death of Petya's son finally broke the count, he comes to life only when he prepares a wedding for Natasha and Pierre.Countess Rostov
Count Rostov's wife, "a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five, apparently exhausted by children ... The sluggishness of her movements and dialects, stemming from the weakness of her strength, gave her a significant look that inspires respect." R. creates an atmosphere of love and kindness in his family, and is very concerned about the fate of his children. The news of the death of Petya's youngest and beloved son almost drives her crazy. She is accustomed to luxury and the execution of the slightest whims, and requires this after the death of her husband.
Natasha Rostova
Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. She is "black-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but alive ...". N.'s distinctive features are emotionality and sensitivity. She's not very smart, but she has an amazing ability to guess people. She is capable of noble deeds, she can forget about her interests for the sake of other people. So, she calls on her family to take out the wounded by carts, leaving behind the property. N. takes care of his mother with all his dedication after the death of Petya. N. has a very beautiful voice, she is very musical. With her singing, she is able to awaken the best in a person. Tolstoy notes N.'s closeness to the common people. This is one of her best qualities. N. lives in an atmosphere of love and happiness. Changes in her life take place after meeting with Prince Andrey. N. becomes his bride, but later becomes fond of Anatol Kuragin. After a while, N. realizes the full force of his guilt before the prince, before his death, he forgives her, she remains with him until his death. N. feels true love for Pierre, they perfectly understand each other, they are very good together. She becomes his wife and completely surrenders to the role of wife and mother.
Nikolay Rostov
Son of Count Rostov. "A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression." The hero is distinguished by "swiftness and enthusiasm", he is cheerful, open, benevolent and emotional. N. participates in military campaigns and the Patriotic War of 1812. In the battle of Shengraben N. goes on the attack at first very bravely, but then he is wounded in the arm. This wound causes him to panic, he thinks about how he can die, "whom everyone loves so much." This event somewhat belittles the image of the hero. After N. becomes a brave officer, a real hussar who remains faithful to his duty. N. had a long affair with Sonya, and he was going to do a noble deed by marrying a homeless woman against the will of his mother. But he receives a letter from Sonya in which she says that she is letting him go. After the death of his father, N. takes care of the family, having retired. She and Marya Bolkonskaya fall in love and get married.
Petya Rostov
The youngest son of the Rostovs. At the beginning of the novel, we see P. as a young boy. He is a typical representative of his family, kind, cheerful, musical. He wants to imitate his older brother and go along the military line in life. In 1812 he was full of patriotic impulses and went into the army. During the war, the young man accidentally ends up with an assignment in Denisov's detachment, where he remains, wanting to take part in the present case. He accidentally dies, the day before showing all his best qualities in relation to his comrades. His death is the greatest tragedy for his family.
Pierre Bezukhov
Illegal son of Count Bezukhov, a wealthy and well-known in society. He appears almost before the death of his father and becomes the heir to the entire fortune. P. is very different from people belonging to high society, even outwardly. He is a "massive, fat young man with a bobbed head and glasses" with an "observant and natural" look. He was brought up abroad, received a good education there. P. is smart, has a penchant for philosophical reasoning, he has a very kind and gentle disposition, he is completely impractical. Andrei Bolkonsky loves him very much, considers him his friend and the only "living person" among the entire high world.In pursuit of money, P. entangles the Kuragin family and, taking advantage of P.'s naivety, force him to marry Helen. He is unhappy with her, realizes that this is a terrible woman and breaks off relations with her.
At the beginning of the novel, we see that P. considers Napoleon his idol. After that, he is terribly disappointed in him and even wants to kill. P. is characterized by a search for the meaning of life. That is how he is fond of Freemasonry, but, seeing their falsity, he leaves there. P. is trying to reorganize the lives of his peasants, but he does not succeed because of his gullibility and impracticality. P. participates in the war, not yet fully understanding what it is. Remaining in burning Moscow to kill Napoleon, P. is taken prisoner. He is experiencing great moral torment during the execution of prisoners. There P. meets with the spokesman for "people's thought" Platon Karataev. Thanks to this meeting, P. learned to see "the eternal and infinite in everything." Pierre loves Natasha Rostova, but she is married to his friend. After the death of Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha's revival to life, Tolstoy's best heroes get married. In the epilogue we see P. as a happy husband and father. In a dispute with Nikolai Rostov, P. expresses his convictions, and we understand that we are facing a future Decembrist.
Sonya
She is “a slender, petite brunette with a soft, shaded long eyelashes look, a thick black braid, twice wrapped around her head, and a yellowish tint of skin on her face and especially on her naked thin, but graceful arms and neck. With the smoothness of movements, the softness and flexibility of small members and a somewhat cunning and restrained manner, she resembles a beautiful, but not yet formed kitten, which will be a lovely kitty. "S. - the niece of the old Count Rostov, is brought up in this house. Since childhood, the heroine has been in love with Nikolai Rostov, and is very friendly with Natasha. S. is restrained, silent, reasonable, capable of sacrificing herself. The feeling for Nikolai is so strong that she wants to "always love, and let him be free." Because of this, she refuses Dolokhov, who wanted to marry her. S. and Nikolai are linked by word, he promised to marry her. But the old Countess of Rostov is against this wedding, he reproaches S ... She, not wanting to pay with ingratitude, refuses to marry, freeing Nicholas from this promise. After the death of the old count, he lives with the countess in the care of Nicholas.
Dolokhov
“Dolokhov was a man of average height, curly hair and light blue eyes. He was twenty-five years old. He did not wear a mustache, like all infantry officers, and his mouth, the most striking feature of his face, was all visible. The lines of this mouth were remarkably finely curved. In the middle, the upper lip energetically descended on the strong lower lip in a sharp wedge, and in the corners something like two smiles, one on each side, constantly formed; and all together, and especially in combination with a firm, impudent, intelligent look, made the impression that it was impossible not to notice this face. " This hero is not rich, but he knows how to present himself in such a way that everyone around him respects and is afraid of him. He loves to have fun, and in a rather strange and sometimes cruel way. For one case of mockery of the quarter, D. was demoted to the ranks. But during the hostilities he regained his rank of officer. He is an intelligent, brave and cold-blooded person. He is not afraid of death, is reputed to be an evil person, hides his tender love for his mother. In fact, D. does not want to know anyone except those he really loves. He divides people into harmful and useful, sees around him mostly harmful and is ready to get rid of them if they suddenly get in his way. D. was Helene's lover, he provokes Pierre to a duel, dishonestly beats Nikolai Rostov at cards, helps Anatol arrange an escape with Natasha.Nikolay Bolkonsky
The prince, general-in-chief, was dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the countryside. He is the father of Andrei Bolkonsky and Princess Marya. This is a very pedantic, dry, active person, who cannot stand idleness, stupidity, and superstition. Everything in his house is scheduled by the clock, he must be busy all the time. The old prince did not have the slightest change in order and schedule.ON THE. short in stature, "in a powdered wig ... with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, overshadowed the brilliance of intelligent and like young shiny eyes." The prince is very restrained in the manifestation of feelings. He constantly harasses his daughter with nagging, although in fact he loves her very much. ON THE. a proud, intelligent person, constantly cares about the preservation of family honor and dignity. In his son, he brought up a sense of pride, honesty, duty, patriotism. Despite his departure from public life, the prince is constantly interested in political and military events taking place in Russia. Only before his death, he loses the idea of the scale of the tragedy that happened to his homeland.
Andrey Bolkonsky
The son of Prince Bolkonsky, brother of Princess Marya. At the beginning of the novel, we see B. as an intelligent, proud, but rather arrogant person. He despises people of high society, is unhappy in marriage and does not respect his pretty wife. B. is very restrained, well educated, he has a strong will. This hero is going through a great spiritual change. First we see that his idol is Napoleon, whom he considers a great man. B. goes to war, sent to the army. There he fights on a par with all the soldiers, shows great courage, composure, prudence. Participates in the Battle of Shengraben. B. was seriously wounded in the battle of Austerlitz. This moment is extremely important, because it was then that the hero's spiritual rebirth began. Lying motionless and seeing above him the calm and eternal sky of Austerlitz, B. understands all the pettiness and stupidity of everything that happens in the war. He realized that in reality there should be completely different values in life than those that he had until now. All feats, glory do not matter. There is only this vast and eternal sky. In the same episode B. sees Napoleon and understands all the insignificance of this person. B. returns home, where everyone thought he was dead. His wife dies in childbirth, but the child survives. The hero is shocked by the death of his wife and feels guilty before her. He decides not to serve anymore, settles in Bogucharovo, is engaged in housekeeping, raising his son, and reads many books. During a trip to St. Petersburg B. meets with Natasha Rostova for the second time. A deep feeling awakens in him, the heroes decide to get married. B.'s father does not agree with his son's choice, they postpone the wedding for a year, the hero goes abroad. After betrayal of the bride, he returns to the army under the leadership of Kutuzov. During the Borodino battle he was mortally wounded. By chance he leaves Moscow in the Rostovs' wagon train. Before his death, he forgives Natasha and understands the true meaning of love.
Liza Bolkonskaya
The wife of Prince Andrew. She is the favorite of the whole world, an attractive young woman, whom everyone calls "the little princess." “Her pretty, with a slightly blackened mustache, the upper lip was short across the teeth, but the lovelier it opened and the lovelier it sometimes stretched out and sank onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her lack - the shortness of her lips and a half-open mouth - seemed to be her special, her own beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty mother-to-be, full of health and liveliness, who so easily endured her position. " L. was a universal favorite due to her everlasting liveliness and courtesy of a secular woman, she could not imagine her life without the upper light. But Prince Andrew did not love his wife and felt unhappy in his marriage. L. does not understand her husband, his aspirations and ideals. After Andrei left for the war, L. lives in the Bald Hills with the old prince Bolkonsky, to whom he feels fear and dislike. L. has a presentiment of his imminent death and actually dies during childbirth.Princess Marya
D the eyes of the old prince Bolkonsky and the sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. M. is ugly, painful, but her whole face is transformed by beautiful eyes: "... the eyes of the princess, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of the whole face , these eyes became more attractive than beauty. " Princess M. is very religious. She often receives all kinds of pilgrims and wanderers. She has no close friends, she lives under the oppression of her father, whom she loves, but is incredibly afraid. The old prince Bolkonsky was distinguished by a bad character, M. was absolutely crushed by him and did not believe at all in her personal happiness. She gives all her love to her father, brother Andrei and his son, trying to replace little Nikolenka's deceased mother. M.'s life changes after meeting with Nikolai Rostov. It was he who saw all the wealth and beauty of her soul. They marry, M. becomes a devoted wife, fully sharing all the views of her husband.Kutuzov
A real historical person, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army. For Tolstoy, he is the ideal of a historical figure and the ideal of a person. “He will listen to everything, remember everything, put everything in its place, will not interfere with anything useful and will not allow anything harmful. He understands that there is something stronger and more significant than his will - this is an inevitable course of events, and he knows how to see them, knows how to understand their meaning and, in view of this meaning, knows how to renounce participation in these events, from his personal will directed to something else. " K. knew that “the fate of the battle is not decided by the orders of the commander-in-chief, not by the place where the troops are stationed, not by the number of guns and killed people, but by that elusive force called the spirit of the army, and he watched this force and led it, as far as it was. in his power. " K. merges with the people, he is always modest and simple. His behavior is natural, the author constantly emphasizes his overweight, senile weakness. K. is the spokesman for popular wisdom in the novel. His strength lies in the fact that he understands and knows well what worries the people, and acts in accordance with this. K. dies when he has fulfilled his duty. The enemy has been driven out of the borders of Russia, there is nothing more for this national hero to do.Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace is not just a classic novel, but a real heroic epic, the literary value of which is incomparable with any other work. The writer himself considered him a poem where a person's private life is inseparable from the history of an entire country.
It took Leo Tolstoy seven years to perfect his novel. Back in 1863, the writer repeatedly 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 idea of the writer. Historians consider this date to be the official start of work on the epic. A month later, Tolstoy writes to his relative that all his time and attention is occupied by a new novel, over which he thinks like never before.
History of creation
The original idea of the writer 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 display everything from the beginning of the Decembrist uprising in 1825. And this was not destined to come true: the third idea of the writer was the desire to describe the young years of the hero, 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 personalities who have gone through all the hardships of different historical periods in the life of the country.
The title of the novel also had several variants. "Workers" was called "Three Pores": 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 important events in the history of Russia took place at once - the Crimean War, the death of Nicholas I, the return of the amnestied Decembrists from Siberia. In the final version, the writer decided to focus on the first period, 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 more than once tried to quit his job, since in his opinion it was not possible to convey the whole idea on paper. Historians say that there were fifteen variants of the beginning of the epic in the writer's archive. In the process of 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 all information sources gave different assessments to both Napoleon and Alexander I. Then Tolstoy decided for himself to move away from the subjective statements of strangers and reflect in the novel his own assessment of events based on truthful facts. From various sources, he borrowed documentary materials, notes of contemporaries, newspaper and magazine articles, letters from generals, archival documents of the Rumyantsev Museum.
(Prince Rostov and Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna)
Seeing it necessary to visit the scene directly, Tolstoy spent two days in Borodino. It was important for him to personally go 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 an opportunity to experience the spirit of history in a new way; became a kind of inspiration for further work. For seven years the work was going on in a spirit of excitement and "burning". The manuscripts consisted of over 5200 sheets. Therefore, "War and Peace" is easy to read even after a century and a half.
Analysis of the novel
Description
(Napoleon before the battle in reverie)
The novel War and Peace touches upon a sixteen-year period in the history of Russia. The starting date is 1805, the final one is 1821. More than 500 characters are employed in the work. These are both real-life people and fictional ones by the writer to add color to the description.
(Kutuzov before the battle of Borodino is considering a plan)
In the novel, two main storylines are intertwined: historical events in Russia and the personal lives of the heroes. Real historical figures are mentioned in the description of the Austerlitz, Shengrabensky, Borodino battles; the capture of Smolensk and the surrender of Moscow. More than 20 chapters are devoted to the Battle of Borodino, as the main decisive event of 1812.
(The illustration shows an episode of Natasha Rostova's Ball from the 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, reconcile, hate, suffer ... In the confrontation of various characters, Tolstoy shows the difference in the moral principles of individuals. The writer tries to tell that various events can change the worldview. One integral picture of the work consists of three hundred and thirty-three chapters of 4 volumes and another twenty-eight chapters located in the epilogue.
First volume
The events of 1805 are described. In the "peaceful" part, they touch upon life in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The writer introduces the reader to the society of the protagonists. "Military" part - Austerlitz and Shengraben battles. Tolstoy concludes the first volume with a description of how military defeats affected the peaceful life of the characters.
Second volume
(Natasha Rostova's first ball)
This is a completely "peaceful" part of the novel, which touched the life of the heroes in the period 1806-1811: the birth of Andrei Bolkonsky's love for Natasha Rostova; Freemasonry of Pierre Bezukhov, abduction of Natasha Rostova by Karagin, Bolkonsky's receipt of refusal from Natasha Rostova to marry. The end of the volume is 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, a battle of their film "War and Peace", 1967.)
In this part of the epic, the writer turns to wartime: the invasion of Napoleon, 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 staged an unsuccessful attempt on Napoleon's life.
Fourth volume
(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 upon the period of the partisan war after 1812. All this is intertwined with the "peaceful" destinies of the heroes: Andrei Bolkonsky and Helen pass away; love is born between Nikolai and Marya; Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov are thinking about living together. And the main character of the volume is the Russian soldier Platon Karataev, in whose words Tolstoy is trying to convey all the wisdom of the common people.
Epilogue
This part is devoted to describing the changes in the lives of heroes seven years after 1812. Natasha Rostova is married to Pierre Bezukhov; Nikolai and Marya found their happiness; the son of Bolkonsky, 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 relationship of 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 with special features not only character, but also appearance:
Andrei Bolkonsky is a prince, son of Nikolai Bolkonsky. Constantly looking 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 very 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 the 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 in spirit.
Pierre Bezukhov is the son of Count Kirill Bezukhov. A clumsy massive figure, a kind and at the same time strong character. He can be tough, or he can become a child. He is fond of Freemasonry. He is trying to change the lives of peasants and influence large-scale events. At first he is married to Helen Kuragina. At the end of the novel he marries Natasha Rostova.
Helen Kuragin is the daughter of Prince Kuragin. A beauty, a prominent socialite. She married Pierre Bezukhov. Changeable, cold. Dies as a result of abortion.
Nikolai Rostov is the son of Count Rostov and brother of Natasha. Heir to the family and defender of the Fatherland. He took part in military campaigns. He married Marya Bolkonskaya.
Fedor Dolokhov is an officer, a member of the partisan movement, as well as a big revelry and a lover of ladies.
Counts of Rostov
Count Rostovs are the parents of Nikolai, Natasha, Vera, Petit. A respected married couple, an example to follow.
Nikolai Bolkonsky is a prince, father of Marya and Andrei. In Catherine's time he was a significant person.
The author pays much attention to the description of Kutuzov and Napoleon. The commander appears before us as intelligent, unfeigned, kind and philosophical. Napoleon is described as a little fat man with an unpleasantly feigned 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 the "popular thought". Its essence is that each positive hero has its own connection with the nation.
Tolstoy departed from the principle of leading the story in the novel from the first person. Evaluation of characters and events goes through monologues and author's digressions. At the same time, the writer reserves the right to the reader himself to assess what is happening. A vivid example of this is the scene of the Borodino battle, shown both from the side of historical facts and the subjective opinion of the hero of the novel Pierre Bezukhov. The writer does not forget about a bright historical personality - General Kutuzov.
The main idea of the novel lies not only in revealing historical events, but also in the ability to understand that you need to love, believe and live under any circumstances.
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, main and secondary ones. This symbiosis is sometimes so confusing and unusual that it is extremely difficult to determine which heroes perform a more or less important function.
Representatives of eight noble families act in the novel, almost all of them occupy a central place in the narrative.
The 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 was always wealthy, therefore he does not know how to save money, he is often deceived by acquaintances and relatives for mercenary purposes. The count is not a selfish person, he is ready to help everyone. Over time, this attitude, reinforced by his addiction to the game of cards, became disastrous for his entire family. Due to the squandering of the father, the family has been on the verge 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 in difficult situations, 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, subsequently the war took another - the youngest.
The Count and Countess Rostovs, like most of the characters in the novel, have their own prototypes. They were the grandfather and grandmother of the writer - Ilya Andreevich and Pelageya Nikolaevna.
The Rostovs' eldest child is named Vera. This is an unusual girl, unlike all other family members. She is rough and callous at heart. This attitude applies not only to strangers, but also to immediate family members. The rest of the Rostovs' children subsequently make fun of her and even come up with a nickname for her. The prototype of Vera was Elizaveta Bers, L. Tolstoy's daughter-in-law.
The next oldest child is Nikolai. His image is sketched in the novel with love. Nikolai is a noble man. He takes a responsible approach to any occupation. He tries to be guided by the principles of morality and honor. Nikolai is very similar to his parents - kind, sweet, purposeful. After the experience of distress, he constantly took care not to find himself in a similar situation anymore. Nikolai takes part in military events, he is repeatedly awarded, but nevertheless 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 character and temperament as her parents. She is sincere and trusting and it almost ruins her - Fyodor Dolokhov fools the girl and persuades her to run away. These plans were not destined to come true, but Natalya's engagement to Andrei Bolkonsky was terminated, and Natalya fell into a deep depression. Subsequently, she became the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. The woman stopped following her figure, those around her began to speak of her as an unpleasant woman. Natalia's prototypes were Tolstoy's wife, Sofya Andreevna and her sister, Tatyana Andreevna.
The youngest child of the Rostovs was Petya. He was the same as all Rostovs: noble, honest and kind. All these qualities were enhanced by youthful maximalism. Petya was a sweet eccentric, to whom all the pranks were forgiven. The fate of Petya was extremely unfavorable - he, like his brother, went to the front and died there very young and young.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the novel by L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace".
Another child was brought up in the Rostov family - Sonya. The girl was related to the Rostovs; after the death of her parents, they took her into foster care 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 Tolstoy's aunt, Tatyana Aleksandrovna, in whose house the writer was brought up after the death of his parents.
We get to know all the Rostovs at the very beginning of the novel - they are all active throughout the entire story. In the "Epilogue" we learn about the further continuation of their kind.
The Bezukhov family
The Bezukhov family is not represented in such a numerous form 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. Count Bezukhov has no children born in wedlock - all of his children are illegitimate. The eldest of them - Pierre - was officially named by the father as the heir to the estate.
After such a statement by the count, the image of Pierre Bezukhov began to appear in the public plane. Pierre himself does not impose his society on those around him, but he is a prominent groom - the heir of unthinkable 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 to his homeland full of utopian ideas, his vision of the world is too idealistic and divorced from reality, so all the time he is faced with unthinkable disappointments - in social activities, personal life, family harmony. His first wife was Elena Kuragina, a whore and a freak. This marriage brought a lot of suffering to Pierre. The death of his wife saved him from the unbearable - he did not have the strength to leave Elena or change her, but he 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 stubbornly associated with greed, debauchery and deceit. The reason for this was the children of Vasily Sergeevich and Alina - Anatole and Elena.
Prince Vasily was not a bad person, he possessed a number of positive qualities, but his desire for enrichment and gentleness of character in relation to his son brought all the positive aspects to nothing.
Like any father, Prince Vasily wanted to ensure a comfortable future for his children, one of the options was a profitable marriage. This position not only affected the reputation of the whole family in a bad way, but also later played a tragic role in the lives of Elena and Anatole.
Little is known about Princess Alina. At the time of the story, she was a rather ugly woman. Her hallmark was envy of her daughter Elena.
Vasily Sergeevich and Princess Alina had two sons and a daughter.
Anatole - became the cause of all the troubles of the family. He led the life of a squander and a rake - debts, debauches were a natural occupation for him. This behavior left an extremely negative imprint on the family's reputation and financial situation.
Anatole was seen in love with his sister Elena. The possibility of a serious relationship between brother and sister was suppressed by Prince Vasily, but, apparently, it still took place after Elena's marriage.
Kuragin's daughter Elena possessed incredible beauty, like her brother Anatol. She skillfully flirted and after marriage had a love affair with many men, ignoring her husband Pierre Bezukhov.
Their brother Hippolytus was completely unlike 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. Yet Hippolytus was not hopeless - he knew foreign languages well and worked at the embassy.
Princes Bolkonsky
The Bolkonsky family is far from the last place in society - they are rich and influential.
The family includes Prince Nikolai Andreevich - a man of old schooling and peculiar morals. He is rather rude in dealing with his family, but still he is not devoid of sensuality and tenderness - he is anxious about his grandson and daughter, in a peculiar way, but nevertheless, he loves his son, but he is not very successful in showing the sincerity of his feelings.
Nothing is known about the prince's wife, even her name is not mentioned in the text. In the marriage of the Bolkonskys, two children were born - a son Andrei and a daughter Marya.
Andrei Bolkonsky is partially similar in character to his father - he is quick-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 has a son, Nikolenka, but his mother dies the night after giving birth.
After a while, Andrei becomes the fiancé of Natalya Rostova, but he did not have to get married - all plans were translated by Anatol Kuragin, which earned him personal dislike and exceptional hatred from Andrei.
Prince Andrew 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 devoid 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 a docile character. Kind and meek, she understands that she is not indifferent to her father, therefore she does not hold grudges against him for nit-picking 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 a happy life.
Liza Bolkonskaya (Meinen) was the wife of Prince Andrew. She was an attractive woman. Her inner world was not inferior to her appearance - she was sweet and pleasant, she loved to do needlework. Unfortunately, her fate did not turn 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 also loses 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 a father becomes key for him - Nikolenka wants to live in such a way that his father can be proud of him.
Mademoiselle Burienne also belongs to the Bolkonski family. Despite the fact that she is just a companion, she has a significant meaning in the context of the family. First of all, it consists in a pseudo friendship with Princess Mary. Often Mademoiselle acts meanly in relation to Mary, enjoys the girl's favor in relation to her person.
The Karagin family
Tolstoy does not really spread about the Karagin family - the reader gets to know 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, her daughter also begins acting 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. Its enormous wealth does not save the situation either. Boris Drubetskoy actively pays attention to her material component, the girl realizes that the young man is courting her only because of the money, but does not show it - for her, this is actually the only way not to remain an old maid.
Princes Drubetskoy
The Drubetskoy family is not particularly active in the public sphere, therefore Tolstoy avoids a detailed description of the representatives of the family and focuses the readers' attention only on actively acting characters - Anna Mikhailovna and her son Boris.
Princess Drubetskaya belongs to an old family, but now her family is going through hard times - poverty has become a constant companion of the Drubetskoys. This state of affairs gave rise to a sense of prudence and self-interest in the representatives of this family. Anna Mikhailovna tries to derive as much benefit as possible from friendship with the Rostovs - she has been living with them for a long time.
Her son, Boris, was a friend of Nikolai Rostov for some time. As they matured, their views on life values and principles began to differ greatly, which led to a detachment in communication.
Boris more and more begins to show self-interest and the desire to get rich at any cost. He is ready to marry for money and does it successfully, taking advantage of the unenviable position of Julie Karagina
Dolokhov family
Representatives of the Dolokhov family are also not all active in the life of society. Among all, Fedor stands out brightly. He is the son of Marya Ivanovna and the best friend of Anatoly Kuragin. In his behavior, he also did not go far from his friend: revelry 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. A distinctive feature of 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 backdrop of historical events associated with the war against Napoleon in 1812, it is impossible to do without at least partial mention of real-life characters.
Alexander I
The most active in the novel describes the activities of Emperor Alexander I. This is not surprising, because the main events take place on the territory of the Russian Empire. First, we learn about the positive and liberal aspirations of the emperor, he is an "angel in the flesh." The peak of his popularity falls on the period of Napoleon's defeat in the war. It was at this time that Alexander's authority reached incredible heights. The Emperor can easily make changes and improve the lives of his subjects, but he does not. As a result, this attitude and inactivity become the reason for the appearance 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 were educated abroad, and French was their everyday language, the attitude of the nobles towards this character at the beginning of the novel was positive and bordering on admiration. Then disappointment occurs - their idol from the category of ideals becomes the main villain. With the image of Napoleon, such connotations as egocentrism, lies, and pretense are actively used.
Mikhail Speransky
This character is significant 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 very pleasant person, but everyone notes his importance in the context of events in the country.
In addition, historical characters of lesser importance than emperors act in the novel. These are the great commanders Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Kutuzov and Peter Bagration. Their activities and the disclosure of the image take place on the battlefields - Tolstoy tries to describe the military part of the narrative as realistic 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 character traits.
Other characters
Among the rest of the characters, the name of Anna Scherer should be distinguished. She is the "owner" of a secular salon - here the elite of society meet. Guests are rarely left to their own devices. Anna Mikhailovna always strives to provide her visitors with interesting interlocutors, she often pimps - this arouses her special interest.
Adolph Berg, the husband of Rostova's faith, is of great importance in the novel. He is an ardent careerist and selfish person. With his wife, he is brought together by temperament and attitude to family life.
Another significant character is Platon Karataev. Despite his ignoble origins, his role in the novel is extremely important. Possession of folk wisdom and understanding of the principles of happiness gives him the opportunity to influence the formation of Pierre Bezukhov.
Thus, both fictional and real-life characters are active in the novel. Tolstoy does not burden his readers with unnecessary information about the genealogy of families; he actively talks only about those representatives who are actively working within the framework of the novel.