Pierre Bezukhov: character characteristics. Life path, the path of searches of Pierre Bezukhov
Introduction ………………………………………………………………… 3
The evolution of Pierre Bezukhov's personality …………………………………… ..4
Conclusion ………………………………………………………… ... 10
Used literature …………………………………………… 11
The evolution of the personality of Pierre Bezukhov
In the receipt of humanity c. Tolstoy draws two parallels: the history of the individual development of a person who gradually perceives his sight, who finally found the revelation and truth of life, and the moment of the collective movement of mankind, led by the finger of Providence. The first parallel is depicted by c. Pierre Bezukhov, the second - the Napoleonic massacres and the Patriotic War of the 12th year. A major event was not chosen without a purpose: if it is proved, the author thinks, that people are senseless ants in grandiose situations, similar to the abusive era of Napoleon, then, of course, in all other cases they do not deserve comparison even with aphids.
There are many different characters in the novel: men and women, gray-haired Catherine's elders and children in swaddling clothes, princes, counts, men, generalissimos and delicate diplomats, generals and soldiers; even three emperors appear on the stage; but all these persons serve only as additional proof of the irrefutable fidelity of the idea embodied in gr. Bezukhov and the Napoleonic movement.
Roman gr. Tolstoy begins with an image of the emptiness of the high-world customs, with which he acquaints the reader, introducing him into the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the maid of honor and confidant of the Empress Maria Feodorovna. In the same salon, the author also shows his hero. Pierre Bezukhov, a fat, clumsy gentleman, taller than usual, wide, with huge red hands, unable to enter the salon and even less to leave it, that is, before going out to say something especially pleasant. In addition, the hero is very distracted. So, getting up, leaving, instead of his hat, he grabbed a triangular hat with a general's plume and held it, tugging at the sultan, until the general asked to return it. But all his absent-mindedness and inability to enter the salon and says that he proved especially with his ardent intercession for Napoleon and his attack on the Bourbons - was redeemed with an expression of good nature, simplicity and modesty. Pierre, the bastard son of Count Bezukhov, from the age of ten was sent abroad with the tutor-abbot, where he stayed until the age of twenty. When he returned to Moscow, the count dismissed the abbot and said to the young man: “Now go to Petersburg, look around and choose. I agree to everything; here's a letter to Prince Vasily and here's your money. " And so Pierre arrived in St. Petersburg and does not know where to put his big and fat body. Go to the military, but that means fighting against Napoleon, i.e. help England and Austria against the greatest man in the world. Not deciding about the choice of the path, Pierre joined the company of drunken revelers, which were run by Prince Kuragin. What kind of life it was, the reader can see from the trick of Dolokhov, who, drunk, bet that, sitting down on the third-floor window and lowering his feet into the street, he would drink a bottle of rum in one gulp. Everyone was delighted, and Pierre was inspired to the point that he offered to repeat the same thing and already climbed up the window, but they pulled him off. Revelry and debauchery, nocturnal visits to some ladies, fun with a bear, to whose back they even tied a quarter warden - these are the exploits of the hero, whose moral enlightenment Gr. Tolstoy wants to determine the depth of the wisdom that should guide every person. Some kind of force wanders in Pierre's big body, but where it rushes - the person does not know; he has nothing precisely defined, clearly worked out. Having surrendered to his uncultured unbridledness, Pierre does all sorts of savagery, and just as he, for no reason, just out of confusion in strength, wanted to repeat Dolokhov's trick, so he marries the beautiful Helene. Why did he want to get married? The high society Anna Pavlovna decided to add Helene, but the complacent Pierre got in like hens wax. Perhaps Pierre would have passed the nets, but it so happened that at one of Anna Pavlovna's evening, Pierre found himself so close to Helene that with his myopic eyes he could not help discerning the living charm of her shoulders, neck, lips, and that it cost him only a little bend over to touch her. He could hear the warmth of her body, the smell of her perfume and the creak of her corset as she moved. He saw not her marble beauty, but integral with the dress; he saw and felt all the charm of her body, which was covered only with clothes. " So well tells gr. Tolstoy. We only wonder why Pierre got married after a month and a half, and not at the same second when he felt the warmth and all the charm of Helene's body.
Having done one stupidity, Pierre inevitably had to make a number of more stupid things. He was captivated only by a beautiful body, and he had no other stronger moral ties with Helen. Therefore, it is not surprising that the beautiful body of Helene, who married Pierre by design, soon reached out to other, more handsome men than her husband, and Pierre began to get jealous. For what? why? what did he have in common with Helen? Pierre knows nothing, nothing, understands nothing. His broad, passionate nature, which fits in a huge body, only knows how to worry and boil. He is angry at Dolokhov, as at his wife's lover, and, finding fault with a trifle, calls him a scoundrel. A duel ensues, that is, a new stupidity, stupidity all the more fundamental and revealing the whole uncultured breadth of Pierre's nature, that in his life he never held a pistol in his hands, that he not only does not know how to load a pistol, but even how to pull the trigger. But there are forces over a person that make him go one way and not another - he ponders and intensifies to prove gr. Tolstoy. At the site of the duel, Pierre even decided to justify Dolokhov for what he had previously called a scoundrel. “Maybe I would have done the same in his place,” thought Pierre. “Even probably I would have done the same; why is this duel, this murder? Either I will kill him, or he will hit me in the head, in the elbow, in the knee. It occurred to Pierre to leave here, to run away, to close off somewhere ”. And despite such fair reflections, Pierre replied to the remarks of a second, who wanted to try on enemies, that there was no offense on either side and that it was not necessary to talk with Dolokhov, he replied: no, what to talk about, it doesn't matter ... And the same fate, which forced Pierre to marry for no reason, or out of nowhere to go to a duel, arranged so that Pierre, who did not even know how to pull the trigger, shot the famous breeder Dolokhov.
After the duel, Pierre, who was constantly thinking in hindsight, began to ponder why he had said to Helene before his marriage: "Je vous aime." “I am guilty and have to bear ... what? Shame on the name, the misfortune of life? eh, all the nonsense and shame of the name, and honor, everything is conditional, everything is independent of me. Louis XVI was executed for what they said that he was dishonorable and a criminal, it occurred to Pierre, and it was right from their point of view, just as those who died a martyr's death for him and canonized him are right. ... Then Robespierre was executed for being a despot. Who is right, who is wrong? - nobody. And live and live: you will die tomorrow, as you could have died an hour ago. And is it worth it to suffer when there is only one second left to live in comparison with eternity ”. Then Pierre decided that he needed to "leave" with his wife. He could not remain under the same roof with her. He will leave her a letter in which he will announce that he intends to be separated from her forever and will go tomorrow. But then his wife comes in and announces to him that he is a fool and a donkey, and that the whole world knows this, that in a drunken state, not remembering himself, he challenged a man who is jealous without any reason to a duel. Pierre. “And why could you believe that he was my lover, why? because I love his company? If you were smarter and nicer, I would prefer yours. " Pierre loses his temper, grabs a marble board from the table, waves at his wife and shouts: "I will kill you!" If the reader remembers that Pierre pressed nails into the wall, then he will understand that the marble board in the hands of such a Goliath posed some danger. “God knows what Pierre would have done at that moment if Helene had not rushed out of the room,” the author notes.
Apparently, it is not clear why gr. Tolstoy chose such a raw, wild nature as his hero. After all, this is an unbridled Mongol. Why is he called a count, why should he be given an abbot as tutor, why should he be sent abroad for ten years? Raw power, a heartfelt impulse, is the basis of Pierre's character. Its wandering power, hiding in the body of Goliath with the mind of an ostrich, of course, cannot come to any European results. But this is exactly what gr. Tolstoy: otherwise his philosophy, based on raw, immediate force, will lose ground. He needs the fatalism of the East, not the mind of the West.
After his explanation with his wife, Pierre went to Petersburg and at the station, in Torzhok, met with some mysterious gentleman. The mysterious gentleman was a stocky, broad-boned, yellow, wrinkled old man with gray, overhanging eyebrows over shiny, indeterminate grayish eyes. The mysterious stranger, speaking, underlined every word and, like a prophet, knew what had happened to Pierre. “You are not happy, my sir,” the mysterious old man said to Pierre. “You are young, I am old. I would like to help you to the best of my ability. But if for some reason you are unpleasant talking with me, then you say so, my sir. Pierre was struck by the mystery and the whole appearance of an incomprehensible old man and, like a completely cordial person, shyly submitted to a force incomprehensible to him. It was only then for the first time that Pierre felt that everything he was doing was not that he was not able to comprehend life with his mind or heart, and that wisdom and truth flowed past him like a key, not watering his soul. The highest wisdom is not based on reason, not on those secular sciences of physics, history and chemistry, into which mental knowledge decomposes. The highest wisdom is one. The highest wisdom has one science, the science of everything, a science that explains all the universe and the place occupied in it by man ... improve. And to achieve these goals, the light of God, called conscience, is embedded in our souls. Look with spiritual eyes at your inner person and ask yourself: are you satisfied with yourself? What have you achieved by being guided by one mind? What are you? “You are young, you are rich, you are smart, educated, my sir. What have you done out of all these blessings given to you by God? ”Said the mysterious old man, and Pierre, broken down to tears, felt that he had not done anything but stupid things until now. Moreover, he did not even believe in God. The conversation with the Mason made a deep impression on Pierre, and the first of the external influences made him look at himself at least a little. Pierre was not a hopeless fool, but he had a broad Russian nature. Pierre could not think well, but he could feel well if external circumstances favored him. Gr. Tolstoy puts him in such positions that should personify philosophy, convincing in the mental insignificance of the West and in the superiority of the direct feeling of the Russian broad nature, which does not need intelligence to find the truth.
Gr. Tolstoy is right when he attributes great importance to the personal improvement of a person. If the story about which he speaks is an aggregate of personal arbitrariness, then, of course, the higher the perfection of individual people, the happier the fate of mankind. But gr. Tolstoy falls into contradiction when he blocks the path to personal improvement with a mortifying fatalism. In an effort to prove that the individual is guided by personal arbitrariness, he at the same time says that the collective humanity is moving according to well-known, outlines that do not depend on him. But if history is created by the personal arbitrariness of individuals, then how can it be reconciled with fatalism? The world law does not admit of dualism. The same law of gravitation, which governs the smallest atoms, governs both huge bodies and their total life. If this law falls into dualism, the universe will collapse. As on the destroyed universe gr. Tolstoy wants to create his own system of social harmony?
The mysterious old man was one of the famous Masons and Martinists. His influence was so strong that Pierre entered the Freemasons. In Freemasonry, it seemed to him, he found the light that he was looking for, found that inner peace and contentment, which he had not yet had. It seemed to Pierre that Freemasonry is the only expression of the best, eternal sides of humanity. Only the Masonic holy brotherhood has real meaning in life, and everything else is a dream. Pierre enthusiastically gave himself up to the new influence. He arranged dining rooms and gravestone boxes; recruited new members, took care of the unification of various lodges and the acquisition of authentic acts. He gave his money for the construction of a temple and replenished, as far as he could, alms, to which most of the members were stingy and sloppy. He was almost alone, at his own expense, supported the poor house, set up by the Order in St. Petersburg. As the year passed, Pierre, however, began to feel that the soil of Freemasonry on which he stood was getting out of his feet the harder he tried to stand on it. When he started Freemasonry, he felt the feeling of a man trustingly placing his foot on the flat surface of a swamp. Putting his foot down, he fell through. In order to be fully confident in the firmness of the soil on which he stood, he put his other foot and sank even deeper. He became disillusioned with the brothers and with the reality of the self-improvement that Freemasonry supposedly aspired to. In the members of the Society, he saw not brothers in labor and exploits of his mystical order, but some B., gr. D. - people weak and insignificant, from under the Masonic aprons and signs, which he saw uniforms and crosses, which they achieved in life. He understood all the falsity and lies of the word, which did not agree with the deed, and he was depressed. Pierre began to look for a way out in prayer and in spiritual and edifying reading. During this period, he wrote in his diary: “I go to bed with a happy and calm spirit. Great Lord, help me to walk in your paths: 1. to conquer a part of anger-quietness, slowness; 2. lust-abstinence and aversion; 3. to move away from the hustle and bustle, but not to wean oneself from: a) state affairs of the service, b) family concerns, c) friendly relations, and d) economic pursuits. A little further Pierre wrote: “I had an instructive and long conversation with brother V.,., Who advised me to stick to brother A. Much, although unworthy, was revealed to me. Adonai is the name of the one who created the world. Elohim is the name of the ruler of all. The third name is the ineffable name that has the meaning of everything. The difference between the poor teaching of the social sciences and our holy all-embracing teaching is clear to me. Human sciences subdivide everything - in order to understand, they kill everything - in order to consider. In the holy science of the Order, everything is one, everything is cognized in its totality and life. Trinity-three beginnings of things-sulfur, mercury and salt. Sulfur of elemental and fiery properties; it, in combination with salt with its fieryness, arouses craving in it, by means of which it attracts mercury, embraces it, retains and collectively produces separate bodies. Mercury is a liquid and volatile spiritual essence - Christ, the Holy Spirit, He. " It seemed to Pierre that this nonsense was exactly the truth he was looking for, and that his mystical chemistry was much cleverer about the combination of sulfur, mercury and salt than the chemistry of Lavoisier and Berzelius.
Among other things, Pierre sometimes had bright moments when he again turned to his dissolute, riotous life, but these moments were not long. Pierre lived in some kind of child, especially intensified by the general patriotic warlike mood, for Napoleon was already on his way to Moscow. Pierre's nerves were extremely tense. He felt the approach of some kind of catastrophe that was supposed to change his whole life, and in everything he looked for signs of this terrible approaching moment. Napoleon is the Antichrist, and his name is the animal number 666. It seems, why go further, but the half-mad Pierre wanted to find the animal number in his own name by all means. He wrote his name in Russian and French, truncated, skipped letters and finally reached the point that the desired number 666 was obtained. This discovery excited him. How, by what connection he was connected with that great event, which was predicted in the Apocalypse, he did not know; but he did not doubt this connection for a minute.
The catastrophe has indeed arrived. Under the influence of warlike passion, Pierre, dressed up, went to watch the Battle of Borodino. He was in the company of soldiers and realized, as if suddenly, that they, these strange people, not known to him until then, were just real people. “War is the most difficult submission of human freedom to the law of God,” said some mystical voice in Pierre. Simplicity is his obedience to God, you cannot get away from Him. And they are simple. They don't say what they are doing. The spoken word is silver, not the spoken word is golden. A person cannot own anything as long as he is afraid of death, and whoever is not afraid of it, everything belongs to him. If there was no suffering, a person would not know the boundaries of himself, he would not know himself. The most difficult thing is to be able to combine the meaning of everything in your soul. All to connect? - no, not to connect. It is impossible to connect thoughts, but to connect all these thoughts is what you need! Yes, you need to pair, you need to pair! "
This impulse of a sick, excited person still did not resolve the insoluble that Pierre was looking for. An agitated person threw himself everywhere and, left to himself, his mental helplessness and wretchedness, only got confused in the sensations of a dark feeling, finding no comfort in anything. Pierre did not have a healthy, active life, he never had anything to do, he decidedly did not know what to do with his huge body, and what to direct his Goliath power to. By nature, a man of passionate feelings, he had to move stones in order to calm the hot blood that was strongly fermenting in him. But the millions of contradictions that collided in this chaotic, uncommon, unsettled nature forced him to look for a fulcrum that he had not yet found. A man of a simple democratic make-up, Pierre, who was born by mistake from a count, felt out of place in the aristocratic salons with their stiffness, conventional decency, to which he could not accustom himself. And now, having been in a soldier's company, having eaten a mess, listening to simple soldiers' speeches, Pierre felt his people in the soldiers and saw his sphere in the ingenuousness of their mental life. That is why a man like Karataev should have discovered a tremendous influence on Pierre.
References.
1. L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace" volumes 1, 2, 3, 4. Moscow, 1869.
2. Roman L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace" in Russian Criticism: Collection of articles. articles / ed. entry articles and comments Sukhikh I.N. Leningrad, 1989
3. Shelgunov N.V. Works: In 2 volumes. Vol. 2. 2nd edition SPb., 1895
4. Strakhov N.N. Critical articles about I.S. Turgenev and Leo Tolst.
T 1. Kiev, 1901.
Introduction.
I chose the topic for my essay "The Evolution of the Personality of Pierre Bezukhov", because Pierre is the main person of the fifth volume, which most clearly reflects the moral process that took place in Russian souls, his adventures best portray the feelings that seized everyone at that time. His escape from his palace, disguise, an attempt to kill Napoleon, etc. - all testify to a deep emotional turmoil, a passionate desire to somehow share the misfortunes of his homeland, to suffer when everyone is suffering. He finally gets his way and calms down in captivity. That is why I chose this particular topic for my essay.
Conclusion.
In the course of writing the essay, I came to the conclusion that the inner meaning of the fifth volume is focused on Pierre and Karataev as persons who, suffering along with everyone, but remaining without action, had the opportunity to think over and endure in their souls the impression of a great common disaster. For Pierre, a deep spiritual process ended in a moral renewal; Natasha says that Pierre was morally cleansed, that captivity was a moral bathhouse for him (vol. 4, p. 136). Karataev had nothing to learn, he taught others in word and deed and died having bequeathed his spirit to Pierre.
One of the main characters of the epic "Warrior and Peace" is Pierre Bezukhov. The characterization of the character of the work is revealed through his actions. And also through the thoughts, spiritual searches of the main characters. The image of Pierre Bezukhov allowed Tolstoy to convey to the reader an understanding of the meaning of the era of that time, of the entire life of a person.
Introducing the reader to Pierre
It is very difficult to briefly describe and understand the image of Pierre Bezukhov. The reader needs to go with the hero all of it
Acquaintance with Pierre is referred in the novel to 1805. He appears at a social reception with Anna Pavlovna Sherer, a Moscow high-ranking lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting for the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of one of the Moscow nobles. He received a good education abroad, but after returning to Russia, he did not find an application for himself. An idle lifestyle, revelry, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this vital baggage, he appears in Moscow. In turn, the upper world also does not attract a young person. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, hypocrisy of his representatives. “Life is something deeper, more significant, but unknown to him,” reflects Pierre Bezukhov. Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace helps the reader understand this.
Moscow life
The change of place of residence did not affect the image of Pierre Bezukhov. By nature, he is a very gentle person, easily falls under the influence of others, doubts about the correctness of his actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he is captured by the idle with her temptations, feasts and revelry.
After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and the entire fortune of his father. The attitude of society towards a young person is changing dramatically. The eminent Moscow nobleman, in pursuit of the state of the young count, marries his beautiful daughter Helene to him. This marriage did not bode well for a happy family life. Very soon Pierre realizes the deceit, the deceitfulness of his wife, her debauchery becomes obvious to him. Thoughts of outraged honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could be fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended with the wounding of the offender, and Pierre's life was out of danger.
The path of searches of Pierre Bezukhov
After the tragic events, the young count is thinking more and more about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confused, disgusting and meaningless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant in comparison with something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have sufficient strength of mind and knowledge to discover this great, to find the true purpose of human life. Reflections did not leave the young man, making his life unbearable. A brief description of Pierre Bezukhov gives the right to say that he was a deep, thinking person.
Passion for Freemasonry
After parting with Helene and giving her a large share of the fortune, Pierre decides to return to the capital. On the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg, during a short stop, he meets a man who talks about the existence of the brotherhood of Freemasons. Only they know the true path, they are subject to the laws of being. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.
Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, accepts the ceremony and becomes a member of the Masonic lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, outlook on life captivate Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything he hears in meetings, although much of his new life seems dark and incomprehensible to him. Pierre Bezukhov's journey continues. The soul still rushes about and finds no rest.
How to make life easier for the people
New experiences and searches for the meaning of being lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many disadvantaged people around, deprived of any right.
He decides to take action to improve the lives of the peasants on his estates. Many do not understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was started, there is a lack of understanding, rejection of the new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed, disappointed.
The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose characterization describes him as a gentle, trusting person) realized that he had been cruelly deceived by the managers, and his means and efforts were blown away.
Napoleon
Alarming events taking place in France, at that time, occupied the minds of the entire high society. excited the minds of young people and old people. For many young people, the image of the great emperor has become an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes, victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I did not understand the people who dared to resist the talented commander, the great revolution. There was a moment in Pierre's life when he was ready to swear allegiance to Napoleon and stand up to defend the conquests of the revolution. But this was not destined to happen. Feats, achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.
And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. The adoration of Napoleon's personality will be replaced in Pierre's soul by contempt and hatred. An irresistible desire will appear to kill the tyrant, avenging all the troubles he brought to his native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of reprisal against Napoleon, he believed that this was the destiny, the mission of his life.
battle of Borodino
The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the established foundations, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. The aimless life of wealth and convenience was abandoned without hesitation by the count for the sake of serving the fatherland.
It was during the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization has not yet been flattering, begins to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Rapprochement with soldiers, representatives of the common people, helps to re-evaluate life.
The great Battle of Borodino played a special role in this. Pierre Bezukhov, being in the same ranks with the soldiers, saw their real patriotism without falsehood and pretense, their readiness to give their lives for the sake of their homeland without hesitation.
Destruction, blood, and related experiences give rise to the spiritual rebirth of the hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to the questions that have tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with all his heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, an explanation for which at this moment he cannot yet give.
Captivity
Subsequent events unfold in such a way that the trials that have befallen Pierre should temper and finally shape his views.
Once in captivity, he undergoes an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but before his eyes the execution of several Russian soldiers is carried out, together with him who fell into the hands of the French. The spectacle of the execution does not leave Pierre's imagination, bringing him to the brink of madness.
And only the meeting and conversations with Platon Karataev again awaken a harmonious beginning in his soul. Being in a cramped barrack, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel himself for real. The life path of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand that being on earth is a great happiness.
However, the hero more than once will have to revise his own and look for his place in it.
Fate decrees that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French, as he fell ill and could not move. The death of Karataev brings new suffering to the hero. Pierre himself was released from captivity by the partisans.
Relatives
Freed from captivity, Pierre, one after another, receives news from his relatives, about whom he did not know anything for a long time. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helene. The best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, is seriously injured.
The death of Karataev, alarming news from relatives again excite the soul of the hero. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that happened were his fault. He is the cause of death of people close to him.
And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments of emotional experience the image of Natasha Rostova unexpectedly appears. She instills in him calmness, gives strength and confidence.
Natasha Rostova
During subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he has a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha's feelings for Pierre flare up in response. They got married in 1813.
Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, to feel him - this is the main advantage of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to preserve a person. The family is a small model of the world. The state of the whole society depends on the health of this cell.
Life goes on
The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of the inner development of the soul accompanied the hero all his life, and it gave its results.
But life does not stop, and Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization as a seeker is given here, is again ready to move forward. In 1820, he informs his wife that he intends to become a member of the secret society.
Composition
Russian classical literature of the 19th century asserted the highest spiritual moral values, the realization of which leads the heroes to harmony with the world. Perhaps there is some regularity in the fact that its achievement is often impossible for the noble intellectuals. Possessing many remarkable qualities, by virtue of their privileged position and upbringing, they are doomed to a tragic break with the age-old national traditions inherent in the Russian people. Therefore, in monotonous secular pleasures, the life of an intelligent, critically thinking Onegin passes, giving rise to a feeling of emptiness and boredom. Pechorin wastes his rich spiritual strength on trifles. In my opinion, Tolstoy refers to the 1812 era in War and Peace for a reason. After all, this terrible disaster that befell Russia was able to shake Russian people of different classes to the ground, make them comprehend the surrounding life in a new way, understand and feel what is most valuable and dear in it. It was the war that could bring in one trench or captivity a nobleman and a peasant, united by the common goal of saving the fatherland. That is, the heroic era of 1812 itself gives the hero-intellectual a chance to come to full agreement with life, to find its highest meaning.
This theme finds its fullest expression in the image of Pierre Bezukhov, which is given by the author in the dynamics of evolution. Tracing the path of your hero. Tolstoy shows how his character is changing, the worldview of the progressive person of the era is being formed - a patriot, a Decembrist. At the beginning of the novel, Pierre is a fat, massive young man with an intelligent, timid and observant gaze that distinguishes him from the rest of the living room visitors. Having recently arrived from abroad, this illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov stands out in the high-society salon for his naturalness, sincerity and simplicity. He is soft, malleable, easily amenable to other people's influence. For example, he leads a chaotic, riotous life, participating in the revelry and excesses of secular youth, although he perfectly understands the emptiness and worthlessness of such a pastime. Pierre's naivety and gullibility, his inability to understand people make him commit a number of life mistakes, of which the most serious is his marriage to the stupid and cynical beauty Helen Kuragina. By this thoughtless act, Pierre deprives himself of all hope for possible personal happiness. Having dispersed with his wife and giving her a significant share of his fortune, he seeks to find application of his strengths and abilities in other areas of life.
Tolstoy makes the hero go through a difficult path of losses, mistakes, delusions and searches. Having become close to the Freemasons, Pierre tries to find the meaning of life in religious truth. Freemasonry gave the hero the belief that there should be a kingdom of good and righteousness in the world, and the highest human happiness is to strive to achieve them. But these ideas are too abstract, devoid of specific features. Pierre cannot be satisfied with mysterious, mystical rituals and sublime conversations about good and evil. He wants to find a field of activity in order to translate fair and humane ideas into a concrete useful cause. Therefore, Bezukhov, like Andrei, begins to beautify his serfs. All measures taken by him are imbued with sympathy for the oppressed peasantry. Pierre makes sure that only exhortatory punishments are applied, not corporal, so that the men are not burdened with backbreaking work, and hospitals, orphanages and schools were established on each estate. But all Pierre's good intentions remained intentions. Why, wishing to help the peasants, he could not do it? The answer is simple. His naivety, lack of practical experience, and ignorance of reality prevented the young humane landowner from realizing good undertakings. The stupid, but cunning chief executive easily twisted an intelligent and intelligent master around his finger, creating the appearance of the exact execution of his orders.
Having finally become disillusioned with Freemasonry, Pierre falls into a dead end in life and plunges into a state of hopeless melancholy and despair. Feeling a strong need for high noble activity, feeling rich in himself, Pierre nevertheless does not see the purpose and meaning of life. The hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, the general patriotism of which captured him, helps the hero find a way out of this state of discord with himself and the world around him. Not being a military officer, like Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre expressed his love for the fatherland in his own way: he formed a regiment at his own expense and took it on for support, while he himself remained in Moscow to kill Napoleon as the main culprit of the people's disasters. It was here, in the capital occupied by the French, that Pierre's selfless kindness was fully revealed. Seeing helpless people at the mercy of the outrageous French soldiers, he cannot remain a passive witness to the many human dramas unfolding before his eyes. Not thinking about his own safety, Pierre protects the woman, stands up for the madman, saves the child from the burning house. Before his eyes, representatives of the most cultured and civilized nation are rampaging, violence and arbitrariness are happening, people accused of arson, which they did not commit, are executed. These eerie and painful experiences are exacerbated by the environment of captivity. But the most terrible thing for the hero is not hunger and lack of freedom, but the collapse of faith in a just order of the world, in man and God. But in a wretched barrack, he meets a peasant Platon Karataev, rapprochement with ordinary people. A round, affectionate soldier performs a real miracle, forcing Pierre to look at the world with light and joy again, to believe in goodness, love, and justice. Communication with Karataev evokes a sense of peace and comfort in the hero. His exhausted soul is warmed up under the influence of the cordiality and participation of an ordinary Russian person. Platon Karataev possesses some special gift of love, a sense of blood connection with all people. His wisdom, which amazed Pierre, is that he lives in complete harmony with everything earthly, as if dissolving in it.
A turning point occurs in Bezukhov's soul, which means the adoption of a life-loving view of the world of Platon Karataev. But the feeling of complete harmony for such an intelligent and inquisitive person like Pierre is impossible without participation in specific useful activities aimed at achieving a high goal - the very harmony that cannot exist in a country where the people are in the position of a slave. Therefore, Pierre naturally comes to Decembrism, entering a secret society in order to fight against everything that interferes with life, humiliates the honor and dignity of a person. This struggle becomes the meaning of his life, but does not make him a fanatic who, for the sake of an idea, consciously refuses the joys of being. We see in the finale of the novel a happy man who has a good family, a faithful and devoted wife, who loves and is loved. Thus, it is Pierre Bezukhov who achieves spiritual harmony with the world and himself in War and Peace. He goes to the end the difficult path of searching for the meaning of life and finds it, becoming an advanced, progressive man of his era.
Pierre belongs to the number of those people who are strong only when they feel completely clean.
L. Tolstoy. Diary
On the pages of Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" I, we meet with many people who undergo moral evolution, the development of ideas, and a change in worldview in the course of various events. One of such people is Pierre Bezukhov, whose life path was difficult and difficult, but in whom the thirst for self-improvement, personal development, the search for freedom and truth never quenched.
Brought up abroad, the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, Pierre appears before us as a free-thinking person, but far enough from the real Russian reality, as a result of which he becomes an obedient toy in the hands of cunning and shameless people.
Brought up on the ideas of the French enlighteners, Bezukhov completely denies God, but he, like every Russian person, needs some kind of faith. So he becomes a Freemason. Easily succumbing to the external charm of Freemasonry, Pierre is happy to sing. He feels strong, because now he can figure out where is the truth and where is the lie. However, it took Pierre not so much time to understand that those who preach poverty and the correctness of life themselves live in lies, and all their rituals only cover up the falsity of their behavior, the desire to derive their own benefit.
At one time Pierre was soberly attracted by the image of Napoleon to him too
I wanted to go ahead, to be strong and invincible. However, with the natives of the Patriotic War of 1812, this enthusiasm passes, Pierre realizes that he worshiped a despot and a villain, and he knows an empty idol. Remaining in Moscow, Pierre is even imbued with the idea of killing Napoleon, but his plan fails, and Bezukhov is captured by the French.
In captivity, Pierre Bezukhov meets Platon Karataev, and this Man gives him a completely new understanding of the world and the role of Man in it, answering the questions: for him to live and who am I? Bezukhov only develops and deepens this new understanding for himself: "I lived for myself and ruined my life. And only now, when I live ... for others, only now I understand the nature of my life."
Tolstoy wrote: "There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness, and truth." And the whole point of the ideological and moral evolution of Pierre Bezukhov is the gradual overcoming of individualistic self-assertion, in self-denial for the good and benefit of others.
After the end of the war, Pierre marries Natasha Rostova. And she, after their suffering, and he, after all misfortunes and doubts, find real happiness in their love. But Pierre does not calm down and enters a secret society. Perhaps soon, "hand in hand with those who love the good," he will come out to Senate Square.
For Tolstoy, not only the results of the heroes' quests are soberly important, but also the paths they traveled, cancer as these paths reveal the true content of life, brightly illuminate the real relationships that exist in the war. Pierre Bezukhov's search for truth is also peculiar, but fero dictated the time, circumstances, people around, therefore it is no less important for us, we are the truths that the hero had comprehended by the time of our parting with him.
Essay text:
Pierre is one of those people who are strong only when they feel completely clean.
L. Tolstoy. Diary
On the pages of Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" I, we meet with many people who undergo moral evolution, the development of ideas, and a change in worldview in the course of various events. One of such people is Pierre Bezukhov, whose life path was difficult and difficult, but in whom the thirst for self-improvement, personality development, the search for freedom and truth never quenched.
Brought up abroad, the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, Pierre appears before us as a free-thinking person, but far enough from the real Russian reality, as a result of which he becomes an obedient toy in the hands of cunning and dishonorable people.
Having become the legitimate Count Bezukhov, Pierre acquires the status of a noble and wealthy man, marrying the capricious and soulless, but amazingly beautiful Helene. Over time, Bezukhova begins to burden the idle and parasitic way of life that he leads because he is; see how false the society to which he belongs. Forced to live according to his laws, Pierre is busy "doing some business, attending balls and salons, shooting a duel with Dolokhov, realizing all the senselessness of such existence. Disappointed, he leaves his wife, leaving her almost all his fortune, and leaves, tormented questions about the meaning of life and a person's place in it.
Brought up on the ideas of the French enlighteners, Bezukhov completely denies God, but he, like every Russian person, needs some kind of faith. So he becomes a Freemason. Having easily succumbed to the external charm of Freemasonry, Pierre is almost happy. He feels strong, because now he can figure out where is the truth and where is the lie. However, it took Pierre not so long to understand that those who preached poverty and the correctness of life themselves live in lies, and all their rituals only cover up the falsity of their behavior, the desire to derive their own benefit.
At one time, Pierre was extremely attracted by the image of Napoleon, he also wanted to go ahead, to be strong and invincible. However, with the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, this hobby passed, Pierre realizes that he worshiped a despot and a villain, and that means an empty idol. Remaining in Moscow, Pierre is even imbued with the idea of killing Napoleon, but his plan fails, and Bezukhov is captured by the French.
In captivity, Pierre Bezukhov met Platon Karataev, and this man gives him a completely new understanding of the world and the role of man in it, answering the questions: why live and what am I? Bezukhov only develops and deepens this new understanding for himself: "I lived for myself and ruined my life. And only now, when I live ... for others, only now I understand the happiness of my life."
Tolstoy wrote: "There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness, and truth." And the whole point of the ideological and moral evolution of Pierre Bezukhov consists in the gradual overcoming of individualistic self-assertion, in self-denial for the good and benefit of others.
After returning from captivity, Pierre already looks at life and at the people around him with different eyes, he strives for an active change in reality, since now even the thought of a parasitic lifestyle hates him: you just have to do the same. "
After the end of the war, Pierre married Natasha Rostova. And she, after her suffering, and he, after all the misfortunes and doubts, find real happiness in my love. But Pierre does not calm down and enters a secret society. Perhaps soon, "hand in hand with those who love the good," he will come out to Senate Square.
For Tolstoy, not only the results of the heroes' quests are extremely important, but also the paths they went through, cancer as a pathway, and I reveal the true content of life, vividly illuminate the real relationships that exist in Iraq. Pierre Bezukhov's search for truth is also peculiar, but fero dictated the time, the circumstances, the people around him, to the lyricist he is no less important to us than the truths that the hero had comprehended by the time of our parting with him.
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