How many heroes are there in war and peace? The main characters of the novel “War and Peace”
Epic novel “War and Peace” Brief description of the characters:
Any book you read is an additional life lived. “War and Peace” by Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy is a unique work, having no analogues either in Russian or in foreign literature. The events in the novel span 15 years and take place in Russia and abroad, at balls on magnificent estates and in the courtyards where simple serfs live, in peacetime and during military operations. The author reveals to his reader not one, but several destinies of heroes with a rich and contradictory inner world. Not all the characters mentioned by Tolstoy occupy dominant positions on the pages of the novel; many only complement the overall picture, playing cameo roles, or serve as auxiliary factors for the full disclosure of the images of the main characters, which are discussed below in this article.
Brief description and characteristics of the main characters of the novel “War and Peace”
The main character of the work is the Russian people. By “people” Tolstoy means not just a category of society, but all the best that is in the Russian nation. The author refers to the “people” not only as peasants, but also as those aristocrats who are characterized by self-sacrifice and mercy. The people's representatives are opposed by the regulars of the Scherer salon, for example, Helen and Anatole Kuragin, and Napoleon. These heroes are negative.
Literary scholars tend to divide folk characters into two groups:
- People with a “simple consciousness”, guided in their life choice by the dictates of the heart: Platon Karataev, Natasha Rostova, Kutuzov and others.
- And people “searching for themselves”: Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov.
The latter are characterized by personal development and Tolstoy subjects them to severe life tests.
Image Andrey Bolkonsky in the novel "War and Peace"
The author introduces the reader to twenty-seven-year-old Andrei Bolkonsky at the very beginning of the novel. Andrey is the son of a wealthy prince. He is good-looking, short in stature with “dry” facial features. His mother is no longer alive and he has a sister, Marya. His best friend is Pierre Bezukhov. In his youth, the hero finds happiness next to Lisa Meinen, who is Kutuzov’s niece. Lisa dies during childbirth, leaving Andrei with a newborn son, Nikolenka.
The prince does not like secular society. In search of himself, he goes to war. Military actions “sober” the hero and he understands that glory earned on the battlefields is worth nothing, a person’s life is much more valuable. After the death of his wife,
Andrey loses his meaning own life and finds him again, having fallen in love with young Natasha Rostova. The couple did not have a happy life together - they broke up because of Natasha's passion for Anatoly Kuragin. At the Battle of Borodino, Bolkonsky was seriously wounded and soon died.
Image Natasha Rostova in the novel "War and Peace"
Natasha is a cheerful, subtle, loud and stubborn girl, but not particularly beautiful. But she has a beautiful voice that captivates everyone around her. The heroine's romance with Andrei Bolkonsky ends due to her betrayal with Anatole, about which she long time I reproached myself. The death of the prince in the war becomes in her life turning point. At the end of the story, little remains of the “living” Natasha. In the epilogue, she is the quiet, plump wife of Pierre Bezukhov, the mother of four children.
Image Pierre Buzukhov in the novel "War and Peace"
The author's favorite hero, who has a highly noble character and treats the common people with understanding. Pierre is moderately lazy, not practical, absent-minded and peaceful in all respects. He is Andrei Bolkonsky's best friend. Rich aristocrat. The hero had an outstanding appearance: large to the point of clumsiness in physique, but with an intelligent, albeit timid look.
According to the plot, Pierre experiences many emotional experiences, while he retains his good nature, remains responsive, ready to help. The hero's first marriage did not work out. He married a beautiful, but completely “alien” woman to him - Elen Kuragina. Pierre actively took part in the hostilities; the Battle of Borodino is shown to the reader entirely through his eyes. He was in French captivity, survived the death of his wife and best friend, was interested in Freemasonry.
Having fallen in love and married Natasha, the hero found happiness. But unlike his wife, he did not focus only on the family; his plans are to transform society for the better.
Image Marya Bolkonskaya in the novel "War and Peace"
An interesting and unforgettable image in the novel is the young Princess Bolkonskaya, in the development of the plot - Rostova. The author describes her as thin and weak in body, but attractive with her deep and radiant eyes. Marya is a pious, caring and kind girl.
At first she directed her love to her family, then to the family of her husband, Nikolai Rostov.
Image Nikolai Rostov in the novel "War and Peace"
TO important characters The novel also includes Nikolai, the eldest child in the Rostov family. A young man of short stature, curly hair, with open to the world and people face. He is friendly, honest and strives to military glory, romanticizing her.
After participating in hostilities, the hero lost his illusions about battles and battles. He realized how absurd and cruel war is. Nikolai found happiness and peace next to Marya Bolkonskaya, who turned out to be very close to him in spirit.
Image Sonya Rostova in the novel "War and Peace"
Sonya is the niece of Count Rostov and lives in his family. The heroine is petite and slender, with long eyelashes, her black hair tied up in a thick braid. The author speaks of her as a reasonable, quiet and kind girl. Sonya is in love with Nikolai Rostov, but when she realizes that her chosen one has chosen Marya, she calmly lets him go, not wanting to interfere with the happiness of her dear person.
Image Elen Kuragina in the novel "War and Peace"
A bright and beautiful female character in the novel. Helen shone in secular society and turned the men's heads. But under the mask of her charm there was a false and not gifted personality. She knew Napoleon personally and married the wealthy Count Pierre Bezukhov. The family life of the Bezukhov couple did not work out. Helen died of a sore throat, although there were rumors that she committed suicide.
Image Anatoly Kuragin in the novel "War and Peace"
Anatole is Helen's brother. As beautiful and effective as she is. But, unfortunately, like his sister, he did not have tall moral principles. The hero, having turned the head of the naive Natasha Rostova, at that time Andrei Bolkonsky's fiancée, planned to kidnap the girl and marry her secretly, while he himself was married. His plans were destroyed. However, the union of Natasha and Prince Bolkonsky also fell apart.
Image Platon Karataev in the novel "War and Peace"
An important character, thanks to whom Pierre Bezukhov understood the meaning of life. Pierre met Plato in French captivity. He was struck by the calmness, wisdom, and folk philosophy that radiated from Karataev, a simple Russian soldier nicknamed “Falcon” by his fellow soldiers. Platon Karataev died and “bequeathed” his wisdom to a random comrade Pierre.
Images Kutuzova And Napoleon in the novel "War and Peace"
In the novel there are not only characters fictional by Tolstoy, but also heroes who have real prototypes. The main ones include Napoleon Bonaparte and Kutuzov.
Kutuzov in the plot of the novel, as in historical reality, holds the post of commander in chief Russian army. He is described as a white-haired man with a plump face, a disfigured scar and an aquiline nose. This is a majestic, serious figure in the novel. Tolstoy characterizes the character as cunning, diplomatic, attentive and thoughtful in military campaigns.
Another historical figure, which definitely deserves attention - Emperor of France Napoleon. At the beginning of the novel, the hero is something of a model for imitation and admiration of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. Napoleon is confident that the whole world and everything that happens in it depends only on him. The hero is overly complacent and needs constant admiration from people.
In custody
Brief characteristics of the characters in the novel “War and Peace” allow us to notice unbreakable connection in their destinies. Just like all events in the work, the meetings and partings of its heroes depend on the irrational law of mutual influence. Due to this law, according to the author of the novel, destinies are decided and the views of the heroes are formed.
Alexey Durnovo talks about the prototypes of the heroes of the famous epic by Leo Tolstoy.
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky
Nikolay Tuchkov
One of those characters whose image is more fictional than borrowed from specific people. Like unattainable moral ideal, Prince Andrei, of course, could not have a specific prototype. Nevertheless, in the facts of the character’s biography one can find many similarities, for example, with Nikolai Tuchkov.
Nikolai Rostov and Princess Marya are the writer’s parents
He, just like Prince Andrei, received a mortal wound in the Battle of Borodino, from which he died in Yaroslavl three weeks later. The scene of the wounding of Prince Andrei at the Battle of Austerlitz was probably borrowed from the biography of Staff Captain Fyodor (Ferdinand) Tiesenhausen. He died with a banner in his hands when he led a Little Russian grenadier regiment against enemy bayonets in that very battle. It is possible that Tolstoy gave the image of Prince Andrei the features of his brother, Sergei. At least this applies to the story of the failed marriage of Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova. Sergei Tolstoy was engaged to Tatyana Bers, but the marriage, postponed for a year, never took place. Either because of the inappropriate behavior of the bride, or because the groom had a gypsy wife with whom he did not want to part.
Natasha Rostova
Sofya Tolstaya - the writer's wife
Natasha has two prototypes at once, the already mentioned Tatyana Bers and her sister, Sophia Bers. Here it should be noted that Sophia is none other than the wife of Leo Tolstoy. Tatyana Bers married Senator Alexander Kuzminsky in 1867. She spent most of her childhood in the writer's family and managed to become friends with the author of War and Peace, even though she was almost 20 years younger than him. Moreover, under the influence of Tolstoy, Kuzminskaya herself took up literary creativity. It seems that every person who went to school knows about Sofya Andreevna Tolstaya. She actually rewrote War and Peace, a novel whose main character had a lot of common features with the author's wife.
Rostov
Ilya Andreevich Tolstoy - the writer’s grandfather
The surname Rostov was formed by replacing the first and last letters in the surname Tolstoy. “R” instead of “t”, “v” instead of “th”, well, minus “l”. So the family occupying important place in the novel, acquired a new name. The Rostovs are the Tolstoys, or rather the writer’s paternal relatives. There is even a coincidence in names, as in the case of the old Count Rostov.
Even Tolstoy did not hide the fact that Vasily Denisov is Denis Davydov
The writer’s grandfather, Ilya Andreevich Tolstoy, is hiding under this name. This man, in fact, led a rather wasteful lifestyle and spent colossal sums on entertainment events. And yet, this is not the good-natured Ilya Andreevich Rostov from War and Peace. Count Tolstoy was the governor of Kazan and a well-known bribe-taker throughout Russia. He was removed from his post after auditors discovered the theft of almost 15 thousand rubles from the provincial treasury. Tolstoy explained the loss of money as a “lack of knowledge.”
Nikolai Rostov is the father of the writer Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy. The prototype and the hero of “War and Peace” have more than enough similarities. Nikolai Tolstoy served in the hussars and went through all the Napoleonic wars, including the Patriotic War of 1812. It is believed that the descriptions of war scenes with the participation of Nikolai Rostov were taken by the writer from his father’s memoirs. Moreover, Tolstoy Sr. completed the financial ruin of the family with constant losses at cards and debts, and to correct the situation he married the ugly and reserved princess Maria Volkonskaya, who was four years older than him.
Princess Marya
Leo Tolstoy's mother Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya, by the way, is also the full namesake of the book heroine. Unlike Princess Marya, she had no problems with the sciences, in particular with mathematics and geometry. She lived for 30 years with her father in Yasnaya Polyana (Bald Mountains from the novel), but never got married, although she was a very enviable bride. The fact is that the old prince, in fact, had a monstrous character, and his daughter was a closed woman and personally rejected several suitors.
Dolokhov's prototype probably ate its own orangutan
Princess Volkonskaya even had a companion - Miss Hanessen, who was somewhat similar to Mademoiselle Bourrienne from the novel. After the death of her father, the daughter began to literally give away property, after which her relatives intervened and arranged Maria Nikolaevna’s marriage to Nikolai Tolstoy. Judging by the memoirs of contemporaries, the marriage of convenience turned out to be very happy, but short-lived. Maria Volkonskaya died eight years after the wedding, having given birth to her husband four children.
Old Prince Bolkonsky
Nikolai Volkonsky, who left the royal service to raise his only daughter
Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky is an infantry general who distinguished himself in several battles and received the nickname “Prussian King” from his colleagues. His character is very similar to the old prince: proud, self-willed, but not cruel. He left service after the accession of Paul I, retired to Yasnaya Polyana and began raising his daughter.
The prototype of Ilya Rostov is Tolstoy’s grandfather, who ruined his career
He spent all his days improving his farm and teaching his daughter languages and sciences. An important difference from the character from the book: Prince Nikolai survived the War of 1812 perfectly, and died only nine years later, a little short of reaching seventy.
Sonya
Tatyana Ergolskaya is Nikolai Tolstoy’s second cousin, who was raised in his father’s house. In their youth they had an affair that never ended in marriage. Not only Nikolai’s parents, but also Ergolskaya herself opposed the wedding. IN last time She rejected a marriage proposal from her cousin in 1836. The widowed Tolstoy asked Ergolskaya's hand in marriage so that she could become his wife and replace the mother of his five children. Ergolskaya refused, but after the death of Nikolai Tolstoy she really began raising his sons and daughter, devoting the rest of her life to them.
Dolokhov
Fyodor Tolstoy-American
Dolokhov also has several prototypes. Among them, for example, is Lieutenant General and partisan Ivan Dorokhov, the hero of several major campaigns, including the War of 1812. However, if we talk about character, Dolokhov has more similarities with Fyodor Ivanovich Tolstoy the American, a famous brethren, gambler and lover of women in his time. It must be said that Tolstoy is not the only writer who included the American in his works. Fyodor Ivanovich is also considered the prototype of Zaretsky, Lensky’s second from Eugene Onegin. Tolstoy received his nickname after he made a trip to America, during which he was thrown off a ship and ate his own monkey.
Kuragins
Alexey Borisovich Kurakin
In this case, it is difficult to talk about family, because the images of Prince Vasily, Anatole and Helen are borrowed from several people who are not related. Kuragin Sr. is undoubtedly Alexey Borisovich Kurakin, a prominent courtier during the reign of Paul I and Alexander I, who made brilliant career and made a fortune.
Prototypes of Helen - Bagration's wife and mistress of Pushkin's classmate
He had three children, exactly like Prince Vasily, of whom his daughter caused him the most trouble. Alexandra Alekseevna really had a scandalous reputation; her divorce from her husband made a lot of noise in the world. Prince Kurakin, in one of his letters, even called his daughter the main burden of his old age. Looks like a character from War and Peace, doesn't it? Although, Vasily Kuragin expressed himself a little differently.
Anatol Kuragin, apparently, does not have a prototype, except for Anatoly Lvovich Shostak, who at one time seduced Tatyana Bers.
Ekaterina Skavronskaya-Bagration
As for Helen, her image was taken from several women at once. In addition to some similarities with Alexandra Kurakina, she has much in common with Ekaterina Skvaronskaya (Bagration’s wife), who was known for her careless behavior not only in Russia, but also in Europe. In her homeland she was called the “Wandering Princess,” and in Austria she was known as the mistress of Clemens Metternich, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire. From him, Ekaterina Skavronskaya gave birth - of course, out of wedlock - a daughter, Clementina. Perhaps it was “The Wandering Princess” that contributed to Austria’s entry into the anti-Napoleonic coalition. Another woman from whom Tolstoy could have borrowed Helen’s features is Nadezhda Akinfova. She was born in 1840 and was very famous in St. Petersburg and Moscow as a woman scandalous reputation and wild disposition. She gained wide popularity thanks to her affair with Chancellor Alexander Gorchakov, a classmate of Pushkin. He, by the way, was 40 years older than Akinfova, whose husband was the chancellor’s great-nephew.
Vasily Denisov
Denis Davydov
Every schoolchild knows that the prototype of Vasily Denisov was Denis Davydov. Tolstoy himself admitted this.
Julie Karagina
There is an opinion that Julie Karagina is Varvara Aleksandrovna Lanskaya. She is known exclusively for the fact that she conducted a long correspondence with her friend Maria Volkova. Using these letters, Tolstoy studied the history of the War of 1812. Moreover, they were almost completely included in War and Peace under the guise of correspondence between Princess Marya and Julie Karagina.
Pierre Bezukhov
Peter Vyazemsky
Alas, Pierre does not have any obvious or even approximate prototype. This character has similarities both with Tolstoy himself and with many historical figures who lived during the times of the writer and during the Patriotic War. There is, for example, an interesting story about how the historian and poet Pyotr Vyazemsky went to the site of the Borodino battle. Allegedly, this incident formed the basis of the story about how Pierre traveled to Borodino. But Vyazemsky was a military man at that time, and arrived on the battlefield not due to an internal call, but due to official duties.
We have all read or heard about the novel War and Peace, but not everyone can remember the characters in the novel the first time. The main characters of the novel War and Peace— love, suffer, live life in the imagination of every reader.
Main characters War and Peace
The main characters of the novel War and Peace are Natasha Rostova, Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky.
It is quite difficult to say which is the main one, since Tolstoy’s characters are described as if in parallel.
The main characters are different, they have different views for life, different aspirations, but a common misfortune, war. And Tolstoy shows in the novel not one, but many destinies. The story of each of them is unique. There is no best, no worst. And we understand the best and the worst by comparison.
Natasha Rostova- one of the main characters with her own history and troubles, Bolkonsky also one of best characters, whose story, alas, had to end. He himself has exhausted his life limit.
Bezukhov a little strange, lost, insecure, but his fate bizarrely presented him with Natasha.
The main character is the one who is closest to you.
Characteristics of the heroes War and Peace
Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna- a Moscow lady, known throughout the city “not for wealth, not for honors, but for directness of mind and frank simplicity of manner.” They told anecdotal stories about her, quietly laughed at her rudeness, but they were afraid and sincerely respected. A. knew both capitals and even royal family. The prototype of the heroine is A. D. Ofrosimova, known in Moscow, described by S. P. Zhikharev in “The Student’s Diary.”
The heroine's usual way of life consists of doing housework at home, traveling to mass, visiting forts, receiving petitioners, and traveling to the city on business. Her four sons serve in the army, which she is very proud of; He knows how to hide his concern for them from strangers.
A. always speaks Russian, loudly, she has a “thick voice”, a corpulent body, she holds high “her fifty-year-old head with gray curls.” A. is close to the Rostov family, loving Natasha most of all. At the name day of Natasha and the old countess, it is she who dances with Count Rostov, delighting the entire assembled society. She boldly reprimands Pierre for the incident because of which he was expelled from St. Petersburg in 1805; she reprimands old Prince Bolkonsky for the discourtesy he made to Natasha during the visit; She also upsets Natasha’s plan to run away with Anatole.
Bagration- one of the most famous Russian military leaders, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, prince. In the novel he appears as a real historical figure and a participant in the plot action. B. “short, with oriental type hard and motionless face, dry, not yet an old man" In the novel he participates mainly as the commander of the Battle of Shengraben. Before the operation, Kutuzov blessed him “for the great feat” of saving the army. The mere presence of the prince on the battlefield changes a lot in its course, although he does not give any visible orders, but at the decisive moment he dismounts and himself goes on the attack ahead of the soldiers. He is loved and respected by everyone, it is known about him that Suvorov himself gave him a sword for his courage back in Italy. During the Battle of Austerlitz, one B. spent the whole day fighting off an enemy twice as strong and, during the retreat, led his column out of the battlefield undisturbed. That is why Moscow chose him as its hero, a dinner was given in B.’s honor at an English club, in his person “due honor was given to a fighting, simple, without connections or intrigue, Russian soldier...”.
Bezukhov Pierre- one of the main characters of the novel; At first, the hero of the story about the Decembrist, from the concept of which the work arose.
P. is the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, a famous Catherine nobleman, who became the heir to the title and a huge fortune, “a massive, fat young man with a cropped head, wearing glasses,” he is distinguished by an intelligent, timid, “observant and natural” look. P. was brought up abroad and appeared in Russia shortly before the death of his father and the beginning of the campaign of 1805. He is intelligent, inclined to philosophical reasoning, gentle and kind-hearted, compassionate towards others, kind, impractical and subject to passions. His closest friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, characterizes P. as the only “living person” among the whole world.
At the beginning of the novel, P. considers Napoleon greatest man in the world, but gradually becomes disillusioned, reaching the point of hatred towards him and the desire to kill. Having become a rich heir and falling under the influence of Prince Vasily and Helen, P. marries the latter. Very soon, having understood his wife’s character and realizing her depravity, he breaks up with her. In search of the content and meaning of his life, P. becomes interested in Freemasonry, trying to find in this teaching answers to the questions that torment him and get rid of the passions that torment him. Realizing the falsity of the Freemasons, the hero breaks with them, tries to reorganize the lives of his peasants, but fails due to his impracticality and gullibility.
The greatest trials befell P. on the eve and during the war; it is not for nothing that “through his eyes” readers see the famous comet of 1812, which, according to the general belief, foreshadowed terrible misfortunes. This sign follows P.’s declaration of love to Natasha Rostova. During the war, the hero, having decided to watch the battle and not yet very clearly realizing the strength of national unity and the significance of the ongoing event, ends up on the Borodino field. On this day, his last conversation with Prince Andrey, who realized that the truth is where “they” are, that is, ordinary soldiers, gives him a lot. Left in burning and deserted Moscow to kill Napoleon, P. tries as best he can to fight the misfortune that has befallen people, but is captured and experiences terrible moments during the execution of prisoners.
A meeting with Platon Karataev reveals to P. the truth that one must love life, even while innocently suffering, seeing the meaning and purpose of each person in being a part and reflection of the whole world. After meeting with Karataev, P. learned to see “the eternal and infinite in everything.” At the end of the war, after the death of Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha’s revival to life, P. marries her. In the epilogue, he is a happy husband and father, a man who, in a dispute with Nikolai Rostov, expresses convictions that allow him to be seen as a future Decembrist.
Berg- German, “a fresh, pink guards officer, impeccably washed, buttoned and combed.” At the beginning of the novel he is a lieutenant, at the end - a colonel who has made a good career and has awards. B. is precise, calm, courteous, selfish and stingy. Those around him laugh at him. B. could only talk about himself and his interests, the main of which was success. He could talk about this subject for hours, with visible pleasure for himself and at the same time teaching others. During the campaign of 1805, B. is a company commander, proud of the fact that he is efficient, careful, enjoys the trust of his superiors, and has arranged his material affairs favorably. When meeting him in the army, Nikolai Rostov treats him with slight contempt.
B. first the intended and desired groom of Vera Rostova, and then her husband. Offer future wife the hero does at a time when refusal is impossible for him - B. correctly takes into account the Rostovs’ financial difficulties, which does not prevent him from demanding part of the promised dowry from the old count. Having achieved a certain position, income, having married Vera, who meets his requirements, Colonel B. feels contented and happy, even in Moscow, abandoned by the residents, worrying about purchasing furniture.
Bolkonskaya Lisa- the wife of Prince Andrei, to whom the name of “little princess” was assigned in the world. “Her pretty upper lip, with a slightly blackened mustache, was short in teeth, but the more sweetly it opened and the more sweetly it sometimes stretched out and fell onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her shortcomings - short lips and half-open mouth - seemed to be special, actually her beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty expectant mother, full of health and vivacity, who endured her situation so easily.”
The image of L. was formed by Tolstoy in the first edition and remained unchanged. The prototype of the little princess was the wife of the writer’s second cousin, Princess L.I. Volkonskaya, née Truzson, some of whose features were used by Tolstoy. The “Little Princess” was universally loved because of her constant liveliness and courtesy. secular woman, who could not imagine her life outside of the world. In her relationship with her husband, she is characterized by a complete lack of understanding of his aspirations and character. During arguments with her husband, her face, because of her raised lip, took on a “brutal, squirrel expression,” however, Prince Andrei, repenting of marrying L., in a conversation with Pierre and his father, notes that this is one of the rare women with whom “you can be calm for your honor."
After Bolkonsky left for the war, L. lives in Bald Mountains, experiencing constant fear and antipathy towards his father-in-law and becoming friendly not with his sister-in-law, but with Princess Marya’s empty and frivolous companion, Mademoiselle Bourrienne. L. dies, as she had a presentiment, during childbirth, on the day of the return of Prince Andrei, who was considered killed. The expression on her face just before her death and after seems to say that she loves everyone, does no harm to anyone and cannot understand why she is suffering. Her death leaves Prince Andrei with a feeling of irreparable guilt and sincere pity for the old prince.
Bolkonskaya Marya - Princess, daughter of the old Prince Bolkonsky, sister of Prince Andrei, later the wife of Nikolai Rostov. M. has “an ugly, weak body and a thin face... the eyes of a princess, large, deep and radiant (as if rays warm light sometimes they came out of them in sheaves), they were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of the whole face, these eyes became more attractive than beauty.”
M. is very religious, welcomes pilgrims and wanderers, enduring the ridicule of her father and brother. She has no friends with whom she could share her thoughts. Her life is focused on love for her father, who is often unfair to her, for her brother and his son Nikolenka (after the death of the “little princess”), for whom she, as best she can, replaces the mother. M. is an intelligent, meek, educated woman, not hoping for personal happiness. Because of her father’s unfair reproaches and the inability to endure it any longer, she even wanted to go on a journey. Her life changes after meeting Nikolai Rostov, who managed to guess the wealth of her soul. Having gotten married, the heroine is happy, completely sharing all her husband’s views “on duty and oath.”
Bolkonsky Andrey- one of the main characters of the novel, prince, son of N.A. Bolkonsky, brother of Princess Marya. “...Short stature, a very handsome young man with definite and dry features.” This is an intelligent, proud person who seeks great intellectual and spiritual content in life. His sister notes in him some kind of “pride of thought”; he is restrained, educated, practical and has a strong will.
By origin, B. occupies one of the most enviable places in society, but is unhappy in his family life and is not satisfied with the emptiness of the world. At the beginning of the novel, his hero is Napoleon. Wanting to imitate Napoleon, dreaming of “his Toulon,” he leaves for the active army, where he shows courage, composure, and a heightened sense of honor, duty, and justice. Participates in the Battle of Shengraben. Seriously wounded in Battle of Austerlitz, B. understands the futility of his dreams and the insignificance of his idol. The hero returns home, where he was considered dead, on the day of his son’s birth and his wife’s death. These events shock him even more, leaving him feeling guilty about deceased wife. Having decided not to serve anymore after Austerlitz, B. lives in Bogucharovo, doing housework, raising his son and reading a lot. During Pierre's arrival, he admits that he lives for himself alone, but something momentarily awakens in his soul when he sees the sky above him for the first time since his injury. From that time on, while maintaining the same circumstances, “his new life began in the inner world.”
Over the two years of living in the village, B. has been busy analyzing the latest military campaigns, which prompts him, under the influence of a trip to Otradnoye and awakened vitality, to go to St. Petersburg, where he works under the supervision of Speransky, who is in charge of the preparation of legislative changes.
In St. Petersburg, B.’s second meeting with Natasha takes place, and a deep feeling and hope for happiness arises in the hero’s soul. Having postponed the wedding for a year under the influence of his father, who did not agree with his son’s decision, B. goes abroad. After his fiancée’s betrayal, in order to forget about it and calm the feelings that washed over him, he returns to the army again under the command of Kutuzov. Participating in the Patriotic War, B. wants to be at the front, and not at headquarters, gets close to the soldiers and comprehends the power of the “spirit of the army” fighting for the liberation of his homeland. Before participating in the last battle of Borodino in his life, the hero meets and talks with Pierre. Having received a mortal wound, B., by a coincidence, leaves Moscow in the Rostov convoy, reconciling with Natasha along the way, forgiving her and understanding before his death the true meaning of the power of love that unites people.
Bolkonsky Nikolay Andreevich- prince, general-in-chief, dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the village. Father of Princess Marya and Prince Andrei. In the image of the old prince, Tolstoy restored many of the features of his maternal grandfather, Prince N. S. Volkonsky, “an intelligent, proud and gifted man.”
N.A. lives in the village, pedantically distributing his time, most of all not enduring idleness, stupidity, superstition and violation of the once established order; he is demanding and harsh with everyone, often tormenting his daughter with nagging, but deep down loving her. The universally revered prince “walked in the old-fashioned way, in a caftan and powder”, was short, “in a powdered wig... with small dry hands and gray hanging eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, obscuring the brilliance of his intelligent and seemingly young sparkling eyes.” He is very proud, smart, restrained in expressing feelings; Perhaps his main concern is the preservation of family honor and dignity. Until the last days of his life, the old prince retained an interest in political and military events, only just before his death losing real ideas about the scale of the misfortune that happened to Russia. It was he who instilled feelings of pride, duty, patriotism and scrupulous honesty in his son Andrei.
Bolkonsky Nikolenka- the son of Prince Andrei and the “little princess”, born on the day of his mother’s death and the return of his father, who was considered dead. He was brought up first in his grandfather's house, then by Princess Marya. Outwardly he looks very much like his late mother: he has the same upturned lip and curly hair. dark hair. N. grows up as a smart, impressionable and nervous boy. In the epilogue of the novel, he is 15 years old, he witnesses an argument between Nikolai Rostov and Pierre Bezukhov. Under this impression, N. sees a dream with which Tolstoy completes the events of the novel and in which the hero sees glory, himself, his late father and uncle Pierre at the head of a large “right-wing” army.
Denisov Vasily Dmitrievich- combat hussar officer, gambler, gambling, noisy “little man with a red face, shiny black eyes, black tousled mustache and hair.” D. is the commander and friend of Nikolai Rostov, a man for whom the highest thing in life is the honor of the regiment in which he serves. He is brave, capable of daring and rash actions, as in the case of the seizure of food transport, participates in all campaigns, commanding a partisan detachment in 1812 that freed prisoners, including Pierre.
D.'s prototype was largely the hero of the war of 1812 D. V. Davydov, who is also mentioned in the novel as a historical figure. Dolokhov Fedor - “Semyonovsky officer, famous gambler and buster.” “Dolokhov was a man of average height, curly hair and with light blue eyes. He was about 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 completely visible. The lines of this mouth were remarkably finely curved. In the middle upper lip energetically sank onto the strong lower one with a sharp wedge, and something like two smiles constantly formed in the corners, one on each side; and all together, and especially in combination with a firm, insolent, intelligent look, it created such an impression that it was impossible not to notice this face.” The prototypes of D.'s image are R.I. Dorokhov, a reveler and a brave man whom Tolstoy knew in the Caucasus; relative of the writer, famous in early XIX V. Count F. I. Tolstoy-American, who also served as the prototype for the heroes A. S. Pushkin, A. S. Griboyedov; partisans of the Patriotic War of 1812 A. S. Figner.
D. is not rich, but he knows how to position himself in society in such a way that everyone respects and even fears him. He gets bored in the conditions ordinary life and relieves boredom in strange, even cruel ways, by doing incredible things. In 1805, for mischief with a police officer, he was expelled from St. Petersburg and demoted to the ranks, but during the military campaign he regained his officer rank.
D. is smart, brave, cold-blooded, indifferent to death. He carefully hides it from. outsiders his tender affection for his mother, confessing to Rostov that everyone considers him an evil person, but in fact he does not want to know anyone except those he loves.
Dividing all people into useful and harmful, he sees around him mostly harmful, unloved people whom he is ready to “run over if they stand in the way.” D. is impudent, cruel and treacherous. Being Helen's lover, he provokes Pierre to a duel; coldly and dishonestly beats Nikolai Rostov, taking revenge for Sonya’s refusal to his proposal; helps Anatoly Kuragin prepare an escape with Natasha, Drubetskaya Boris - the son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya; Since childhood, he was brought up and lived for a long time in the Rostov family, to whom he is related through his mother, and was in love with Natasha. "A tall, blond young man with the right subtle features calm and beautiful face." The prototypes of the hero are A. M. Kuzminsky and M. D. Polivanov.
D. has been dreaming of a career since his youth, he is very proud, but he accepts his mother’s troubles and condones her humiliations if it benefits him. A. M. Drubetskaya, through Prince Vasily, gets her son a place in the guard. Having entered military service, D. dreams of making a brilliant career in this area.
While participating in the campaign of 1805, he acquired many useful acquaintances and understood the “unwritten subordination”, wanting to continue to serve only in accordance with it. In 1806, A.P. Scherer “treats” his guests to him, who arrived from the Prussian army as a courier. In the world, D. strives to make useful contacts and uses his last money to give the impression of a rich and successful person. He becomes a close person in Helen's house and her lover. During the meeting of the emperors in Tilsit, D. is there, and from that time on his position is especially firmly established. In 1809, D., seeing Natasha again, becomes interested in her and for some time does not know what to choose, since marriage with Natasha would mean the end of his career. D. is looking for a rich bride, choosing at one time between Princess Marya and Julie Karagina, who eventually became his wife.
Karataev Platon- a soldier of the Absheron regiment, who met Pierre Bezukhov in captivity. Nicknamed Falcon in the service. This character was not present in the first edition of the novel. Its appearance is apparently due to the development and finalization of the image of Pierre and the philosophical concept of the novel.
When he first meets this small, affectionate and good-natured man, Pierre is struck by the feeling of something round and calm that comes from K. He attracts everyone to him with his calmness, confidence, kindness and smiling face. One day K. tells the story of an innocently convicted merchant, humbled and suffering “for his own and for other people’s sins.” This story makes an impression among the prisoners as something very important. Weakened by fever, K. begins to lag behind on crossings; The French guards shoot him.
After K.'s death, thanks to his wisdom and the folk philosophy of life unconsciously expressed in all his behavior, Pierre comes to understand the meaning of existence.
Kuragin Anatol- son of Prince Vasily, brother of Helen and Hippolyte, officer. In contrast to the “calm fool” Ippolit, Prince Vasily looks at A. as a “restless fool” who always needs to be rescued from troubles. A. is a tall, handsome man with a good-natured and “victorious look,” “beautiful big” eyes and light brown hair. He is dapper, arrogant, stupid, not resourceful, not eloquent in conversations, depraved, but “but he also had the ability of calm and unchangeable confidence, precious for the world.” Being a friend of Dolokhov and a participant in his revelry, A. looks at his life as constant pleasure and amusement that should have been arranged for him by someone, he does not care about his relationships with other people. A. treats women with contempt and with a consciousness of his superiority, having become accustomed to being liked and not having serious feelings for anyone.
After becoming infatuated with Natasha Rostova and attempting to take her away, A. is forced to hide from Moscow, and then from Prince Andrei, who intended to challenge the offender to a duel. Their last meeting will take place in the hospital after the Battle of Borodino: A. is wounded, his leg is amputated.
Kuragin Vasily- Prince, father of Helen, Anatole and Hippolyte; a well-known and influential person in the St. Petersburg world, occupying important court positions.
Prince V. treats everyone around him condescendingly and patronizingly, speaks quietly, always bending the hand of his interlocutor. He appears “in a courtly, embroidered uniform, in stockings, shoes, with stars, with a bright expression on his flat face,” with a “perfumed and shining bald head.” When he smiles, there is “something unexpectedly rough and unpleasant” in the wrinkles of his mouth. Prince V. does not wish harm to anyone, does not think through his plans in advance, but, as a secular person, uses circumstances and connections to carry out the plans that spontaneously arise in his mind. He always strives to get closer to people who are richer and higher in position than him.
The hero considers himself an exemplary father, who has done everything possible to raise his children and continues to care about their future. Having learned about Princess Marya, Prince V. takes Anatole to Bald Mountains, wanting to marry him to a rich heiress. A relative of the old Count Bezukhov, he goes to Moscow and, together with Princess Katish, starts an intrigue before the count’s death to prevent Pierre Bezukhov from becoming the heir. Having failed in this matter, he starts a new intrigue and marries Pierre and Helene.
Kuragina Elen- daughter of Prince Vasily, and then the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. A brilliant St. Petersburg beauty with an “unchanging smile”, white full shoulders, glossy hair and a beautiful figure. There was no noticeable coquetry in her, as if she was ashamed “for her undoubtedly and too much and win? truly effective beauty.” E. is unperturbed, giving everyone the right to admire herself, which is why she feels, as it were, a gloss from many other people’s glances. She knows how to be silently dignified in the world, giving the impression of being tactful and smart women s, which, combined with beauty, ensures her constant success.
Having married Pierre Bezukhov, the heroine reveals to her husband not only limited intelligence, coarseness of thought and vulgarity, but also cynical depravity. After breaking up with Pierre and receiving a large part of the fortune from him by proxy, she lives either in St. Petersburg, then abroad, or returns to her husband. Despite the family breakup, the constant change of lovers, including Dolokhov and Drubetskoy, E. continues to remain one of the most famous and favored ladies of the St. Petersburg society. She is making very great progress in the world; Living alone, she becomes the mistress of a diplomatic and political salon and gains a reputation as an intelligent woman. Having decided to convert to Catholicism and considering the possibility of divorce and a new marriage, entangled between two very influential, high-ranking lovers and patrons, E. dies in 1812.
Kutuzov- Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army. A participant in real historical events described by Tolstoy, and at the same time in the plot of the work. He has a “plump, wound-disfigured face” with an aquiline nose; he is gray-haired, plump, and walks heavily. On the pages of the novel, K. first appears in the episode of the review near Braunau, impressing everyone with his knowledge of the matter and attention hidden behind the apparent absent-mindedness. K. knows how to be diplomatic; he is quite cunning and speaks “with the elegance of expressions and intonations”, “with the affectation of respect” of a subordinate and unreasoning person, when the matter does not concern the security of the homeland, as before the Battle of Austerlitz. Before the Battle of Shengraben, K., crying, blesses Bagration.
In 1812, K., contrary to the opinion of secular circles, received princely dignity and was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army. He is a favorite of soldiers and military officers. From the beginning of his activities as commander-in-chief, K. believes that to win a campaign “you need patience and time”, that the whole matter can be solved not by knowledge, not by plans, not by intelligence, but by “something else, independent of intelligence and knowledge” . According to Tolstoy's historical and philosophical concept, a person is not able to truly influence the course of historical events. K. has the ability to “calmly contemplate the course of events,” but he knows how to see, listen, remember, not interfere with anything useful and not allow anything harmful. On the eve and during the Battle of Borodino, the commander oversees the preparations for battle, together with all the soldiers and militiamen prays before the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God and during the battle controls the “elusive force” called the “spirit of the army.” K. experiences painful feelings when deciding to leave Moscow, but “with all his Russian being” he knows that the French will be defeated. Having directed all his strength to liberate his homeland, K. dies when his role is fulfilled and the enemy is driven beyond the borders of Russia. “This simple, modest and therefore truly majestic figure could not fit into that deceitful form of a European hero, ostensibly ruling people, which history has invented.”
Napoleon- French emperor; a real historical person depicted in the novel, a hero with whose image the historical and philosophical concept of L. N. Tolstoy is connected.
At the beginning of the work, N. is the idol of Andrei Bolkonsky, a man whose greatness Pierre Bezukhov bows to, a politician whose actions and personality are discussed in the high society salon of A.P. Scherer. As the protagonist of the novel, he appears in the Battle of Austerlitz, after which the wounded Prince Andrei sees “the radiance of complacency and happiness” on N.’s face, admiring the view of the battlefield.
N.’s figure was “plump, short... with broad, thick shoulders and an involuntarily protruding belly and chest, had that representative, dignified appearance that forty-year-old people living in the hall have”; his face is youthful, full, with a protruding chin, short hair, and “his white plump neck protruded sharply from behind the black collar of his uniform.” N.'s self-satisfaction and self-confidence are expressed in the belief that his presence plunges people into delight and self-forgetfulness, that everything in the world depends only on his will. Sometimes he is prone to outbursts of anger.
Even before the order to cross the borders of Russia, the hero’s imagination is haunted by Moscow, and during the war he does not foresee its general course. In giving the Battle of Borodino, N. acts “involuntarily and senselessly”, without being able to somehow influence its course, although he does not do anything harmful to the cause. For the first time during the Battle of Borodino he experiences bewilderment and hesitation, and after it the sight of the dead and wounded “defeated that mental strength, in which he believed his merit and greatness." According to the author, N. was destined for an inhuman role, his mind and conscience were darkened, and his actions were “too opposite to goodness and truth, too far from everything human.”
Rostov Ilya Andreevich- Count, father of Natasha, Nikolai, Vera and Petya Rostov, famous Moscow gentleman, rich man, hospitable man. R. knows how and loves to live, is good-natured, generous and spendthrift. The writer used many character traits and some episodes from the life of his paternal grandfather, Count I. A. Tolstoy, when creating the image of the old Count Rostov, noting in his appearance those features that are known from the grandfather’s portrait: a full body, “sparse gray hair on a bald head.”
R. is known in Moscow not only as a hospitable host and a wonderful family man, but also as a person who knows how to organize a ball, reception, dinner better than others, and if necessary, use his own money for this. He has been a member and foreman of the English club since its foundation. It is he who is entrusted with the efforts of arranging a dinner in honor of Bagration.
Count R.'s life is burdened only by the constant consciousness of his gradual ruin, which he is unable to stop, allowing the managers to rob himself, not being able to refuse petitioners, not being able to change the once established order of life. Most of all, he suffers from the consciousness that he is ruining his children, but he becomes more and more confused in his affairs. To improve their property affairs, the Rostivs live in the village for two years, the count leaves the leadership, looks for a place in St. Petersburg, transporting his family there and, with his habits and social circle, giving the impression of a provincial there.
R. is distinguished by tender, deep love and heartfelt kindness towards his wife and children. When leaving Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, it was the old count who began to slowly give carts to the wounded, thereby dealing one of the last blows to his condition. Events of 1812-1813 and the loss of Petya completely broke the hero’s mental and physical strength. Latest event, which he leads out of old habit, producing the same active impression - the wedding of Natasha and Pierre; in the same year, the count dies “precisely at a time when things... were so confused that it was impossible to imagine how it would all end,” and leaves behind a good memory.
Rostov Nikolay- son of Count Rostov, brother of Vera, Natasha and Petya, officer, hussar; at the end of the novel, the husband of Princess Marya Volkonskaya. “A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face,” in whom one could see “impetuousness and enthusiasm.” The writer gave N. some of the traits of his father, N.I. Tolstoy, a participant in the War of 1812. The hero is distinguished by many of the same traits of openness, cheerfulness, goodwill, self-sacrifice, musicality and emotionality as all the Rostovs. Confident that he is neither an official nor a diplomat, N. at the beginning of the novel leaves the university and enters the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment, in which he for a long time his whole life is concentrated. He takes part in military campaigns and the Patriotic War of 1812. N. receives his first baptism of fire while crossing the Enns, not being able to combine in himself “the fear of death and stretchers and the love of the sun and life.” In the Battle of Shengraben, he goes on the attack too bravely, but, being wounded in the arm, he gets lost and leaves the battlefield with the thought of the absurdity of the death of the one “whom everyone loves so much.” Having passed these tests, N. becomes a brave officer, a real hussar; he retains a sense of adoration for the sovereign and loyalty to his duty. Feeling at home in his native regiment, as if in some special world where everything is simple and clear, N. finds himself there, too, not free from solving complex moral problems, as, for example, in the case of officer Telyanin. In the regiment N. becomes a “completely hardened” kind fellow, but remains sensitive and open to subtle feelings. In peaceful life he behaves like a real hussar.
His long-lasting romance with Sonya ends with N.’s noble decision to marry a dowry-free woman even against his mother’s will, but he receives a letter from Sonya returning his freedom. In 1812, during one of his trips, N. met Princess Marya and helped her leave Bogucharovo. Princess Marya amazes him with her meekness and spirituality. After the death of his father, N. retires, taking on all the obligations and debts of the deceased, taking care of his mother and Sonya. When he meets Princess Volkonskaya, out of noble motives, he tries to avoid her, one of the richest brides, but their mutual feeling does not weaken and is crowned with a happy marriage.
Rostov Petya- the youngest son of the counts of Rostov, brother of Vera, Nikolai, Natasha. At the beginning of the novel P. is still a little boy, enthusiastically succumbing to the general atmosphere of life in the Rostov house. He is musical, like all Rostovs, kind and cheerful. After Nicholas joined the army, P. wants to imitate his brother, and in 1812, carried away by a patriotic impulse and an enthusiastic attitude towards the sovereign, he asks to join the army. “Snub-nosed Petya, with his cheerful black eyes, fresh blush and slightly fluff on his cheeks” becomes after leaving main concern mother, realizing only at this time the full depth of her love for youngest child. During the war, P. accidentally ends up with an assignment in Denisov’s detachment, where he remains, wanting to take part in the real case. He accidentally dies, showing everything on the eve of death in his relations with his comrades. best features“Rostov breed”, inherited by him in his home.
Rostov- Countess, “a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by children... The slowness of her movements and speech, resulting from weakness of strength, gave her a significant appearance that inspires respect.” When creating the image of the Countess, R. Tolstoy used the character traits and some circumstances of the life of his paternal grandmother P. N. Tolstoy and mother-in-law L. A. Bers.
R. is used to living in luxury, in an atmosphere of love and kindness. She is proud of the friendship and trust of her children, spoils them, and worries about their destinies. Despite the apparent weakness and even lack of will, the Countess makes balanced and reasonable decisions regarding the fate of the children. Her love for children is also dictated by her desire to marry Nikolai to a rich bride at all costs, and her nagging towards Sonya. The news of Petya's death nearly drives her insane. The only subject of the countess's displeasure is the old count's inability to manage affairs and small quarrels with him over the waste of the children's fortune. At the same time, the heroine cannot understand either the position of her husband or the position of her son, with whom she remains after the death of the count, demanding the usual luxury and fulfillment of all her whims and desires.
Rostova Natasha- one of the main heroines of the novel, daughter of Count Rostov, sister of Nikolai, Vera and Petya; at the end of the novel, the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. N. - “black-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but alive...”. Tolstoy’s prototype was his wife and her sister T. A. Bers, formerly Kuzminskaya. According to the writer, he “took Tanya, mixed with Sonya, and it turned out to be Natasha.” The image of the heroine gradually developed from the very inception of the idea, when the writer, next to his hero, a former Decembrist, introduces himself to his wife.
N. is very emotional and sensitive, she intuitively guesses people, “not deigning” to be smart, sometimes she is selfish in the manifestations of her feelings, but more often she is capable of self-forgetfulness and self-sacrifice, as in the case of transporting the wounded from Moscow or nursing her mother after the death of Petya.
One of N.'s defining qualities and advantages is her musicality and rare beauty of a voice. With her singing, she is able to influence the best in a person: it is N.’s singing that saves Nikolai from despair after losing 43 thousand. The old Count Rostov says about N. that she is all about him, “gunpowder,” while Akhrosimova calls her “Cossack” and “potion girl.”
Constantly carried away, N. lives in an atmosphere of love and happiness. A change in her destiny occurs after meeting Prince Andrei, who became her fiancé. The impatient feeling that overwhelms N., the insult inflicted by the old Prince Bolkonsky, pushes her to become infatuated with Anatoly Kuragin and to refuse Prince Andrei. Only after experiencing and experiencing a lot, she realizes her guilt before Bolkonsky, reconciling with him and remaining near the dying Prince Andrei until his death. True love N. has feelings only for Pierre Bezukhov, with whom he finds complete understanding and whose wife he becomes, plunging into the world of family and maternal concerns.
Sonya- niece and pupil of the old Count Rostov, who grew up in his family. The storyline of S. is based on the fate of T. A. Ergolskaya, a relative, close friend and teacher of the writer, who lived until the end of her days in Yasnaya Polyana and in many ways encouraged Tolstoy to study literary work. However, Ergolskaya’s spiritual appearance is quite far from the character and inner world heroines. At the beginning of the novel, S. is 15 years old, she is “a thin, petite brunette with a soft look, shaded by long eyelashes, a thick black braid that wrapped around her head twice, and a yellowish tint to the skin on her face and especially on her bare, thin, but graceful arms and neck . With the smoothness of her movements, the softness and flexibility of her small limbs, and her somewhat cunning and restrained manner, she resembles a beautiful, but not yet formed kitten, which will be a lovely cat.”
S. fits perfectly into the Rostov family, is unusually close and friendly with Natasha, and has been in love with Nikolai since childhood. She is restrained, silent, reasonable, careful, in her highest degree the ability to self-sacrifice is developed. S. attracts attention with her beauty and moral purity, but she does not have that spontaneity and inexplicably irresistible charm that Natasha has. S.’s feeling for Nikolai is so constant and deep that she wants to “love always, and let him be free.” This feeling forces her to refuse her enviable fiancé, Dolokhov, in her dependent position.
The content of the heroine's life depends entirely on her love: she is happy, being connected by word with Nikolai Rostov, especially after Christmastide and his refusal of his mother's request to go to Moscow to marry the rich Julie Karagina. S. finally decides her fate under the influence of the biased reproaches and reproaches of the old countess, not wanting to pay with ingratitude for everything that was done for her in the Rostov family, and most importantly, wishing Nikolai happiness. She writes him a letter in which she frees him from of this word, however, he secretly hopes that his marriage to Princess Marya will be impossible after Prince Andrei’s recovery. After the death of the old count, he remains to live with the countess in the care of the retired Nikolai Rostov.
Tushin- staff captain, hero of the Battle of Shengraben, “a small, dirty, thin artillery officer with large, intelligent and kind eyes. There was something “unmilitary, somewhat comical, but extremely attractive” about this man. T. is timid when meeting with his superiors, and there is always some kind of fault. On the eve of the battle, he talks about the fear of death and the unknown of what awaits after it.
In battle, T. completely changes, imagining himself as a hero fantastic picture, a hero throwing cannonballs at the enemy, and the enemy’s guns seem to him to be the same puffing smoking pipes as his own. Battery T. was forgotten during the battle and left without cover. During the battle, T. has no feelings of fear or thoughts about death and injury. He becomes more and more cheerful, the soldiers listen to him like children, but he does everything he can, and thanks to his ingenuity, he sets fire to the village of Shengraben. The hero is rescued from yet another trouble (cannons left on the battlefield) by Andrei Bolkonsky, who announces to Bagration that the detachment owes much of its success to this man.
Sherer Anna Pavlovna- maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna, hostess of a fashionable high-society “political” salon in St. Petersburg, with a description of the evening in which Tolstoy begins his novel. A.P. is 40 years old, she has “outdated facial features”, every time she mentions the empress she expresses a combination of sadness, devotion and respect. The heroine is dexterous, tactful, influential at court, and prone to intrigue. Her attitude towards any person or event is always dictated by the latest political, court or secular considerations; she is close to the Kuragin family and is friendly with Prince Vasily. A.P. is constantly “full of animation and impulse,” “being an enthusiast has become her social position,” and in her salon, in addition to discussing the latest court and political news, she always “treats” guests to some new product or celebrity, and in 1812 Her circle demonstrates salon patriotism in the St. Petersburg world.
Shcherbaty Tikhon- a man from Pokrovsky near Gzhat, who joined Denisov’s partisan detachment. He got his nickname due to the lack of one tooth. He is agile and walks on “flat, turned-out legs.” In the detachment T. is the most necessary person; no one can bring the “language” and do any inconvenient and dirty work more dexterously than him. T. goes to the French with pleasure, bringing trophies and bringing prisoners, but after he is wounded, he begins to unnecessarily kill the French, laughingly referring to the fact that they were “bad.” This is why he is not liked in the squad.
Now you know the main characters of War and Peace, as well as their brief characteristics.
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, who are intertwined into entire noble families or family ties between families, represent to the modern reader a real reflection of those people who lived in 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 if in a mirror, presents to the whole world that Russian spirit, those characters of secular society, those historical events, which were invariably present at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries.
And against the backdrop of these events, it is shown in all its power and diversity.
L.N. Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” experience the events of the past nineteenth century, but Lev Nikolaevich begins to describe the events of 1805. The coming war with the French, the decisively approaching the whole world and the growing greatness of Napoleon, the turmoil in Moscow secular circles and the apparent calm in St. Petersburg secular society - all this can be called a kind of background against which, like a brilliant artist, the author drew his characters. There are quite a lot of heroes - about 550 or 600. There are main and central figures, and there are others or just 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, prototypes of people who surrounded the writer at that time, and real historical figures. Let's consider the main characters of the novel.
Quotes from the novel “War and Peace”
- ... I often think how unfairly the happiness of life is sometimes distributed.
A person cannot own anything while he is afraid of death. And whoever is not afraid of her, everything belongs to him.
Until now, thank God, I have been a friend of my children and enjoy their complete trust,” said the countess, repeating the misconception of many parents who believe that their children have no secrets from them.
Everything, from napkins to silver, earthenware and crystal, bore that special imprint of novelty that happens in the household of young spouses.
If everyone fought only according to their convictions, there would be no war.
Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast.
Everything, to love everyone, to always sacrifice oneself for love, meant not loving anyone, meant not living this earthly life.
Never, never marry, my friend; Here's my advice to you: don't get married until you tell yourself that you did everything you could, and until you stop loving the woman you chose, until you see her clearly; otherwise you will make a cruel and irreparable mistake. Marry an old man who is worthless...
The central figures of the novel "War and Peace"
Rostov - counts and countesses
Rostov Ilya Andreevich
Count, father of four children: Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petya. A very kind and generous person who loved life very much. His exorbitant generosity ultimately led him to wastefulness. Loving husband and father. Very good organizer various balls and techniques. However, his life on a grand scale, and selfless assistance to the wounded during the war with the French and the departure of the Russians from Moscow, dealt fatal blows to his condition. His conscience constantly tormented him because of the impending poverty of his family, but he could not help himself. After the death of his youngest son Petya, the count was broken, but nevertheless revived during the preparations for the wedding of Natasha and Pierre Bezukhov. Literally a few months pass after the Bezukhovs’ wedding when Count Rostov dies.
Rostova Natalya (wife of Ilya Andreevich Rostov)
The wife of Count Rostov and the mother of four children, this woman, aged forty-five, had oriental features. The concentration of slowness and sedateness in her was regarded by those around her as solidity and the high importance of her personality for the family. But the real reason for her mannerisms probably lies in her exhausted and weak physical condition from giving birth and raising 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 fulfillment of any of her orders.
Leo Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” in Countess Rostova helped reveal the prototype of the author’s grandmother, Pelageya Nikolaevna Tolstoy.
Rostov Nikolay
Son of Count Rostov Ilya Andreevich. A loving brother and son who honors his family, at the same time he 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, at the end of the novel he marries Princess Marya Bolkonskaya. 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 war, he becomes a brave and courageous hussar. After the death of Father Ilya Andreevich, Nikolai retires in order to improve the family’s financial affairs, pay off debts and, finally, become a good husband for Marya Bolkonskaya.
Introduced to Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich as a prototype of his father.
Rostova Natasha
Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. A very energetic and emotional girl, 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. Very impulsive towards nobility and self-sacrifice. She sings and dances very beautifully, which at that time was an important characteristic for a girl from secular society. Natasha’s most important quality, which Leo Tolstoy, like his heroes, repeatedly emphasize in the novel “War and Peace” is her closeness to the ordinary Russian people. And she herself completely absorbed the Russianness of culture and the strength of the spirit of the nation. However, 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 ultimately give her a mature, true love for Pierre Bezukhov. The story of the rebirth of her soul deserves special respect, how Natasha began to attend church after succumbing to the temptation of a deceitful seducer. If you are interested in Tolstoy's works, which take a deeper look at the Christian heritage of our people, then you need to read about how he fought temptation.
A collective prototype of the writer’s daughter-in-law Tatyana Andreevna Kuzminskaya, as well as her sister, Lev Nikolaevich’s wife, 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 unknown why, but her mother did not really love her and Vera felt this acutely, apparently, which is why she often went against everyone around her. Later she became the wife of Boris Drubetsky.
She is the prototype of Tolstoy’s sister Sophia, the wife of Lev Nikolaevich, whose name was Elizaveta Bers.
Rostov Peter
Just a boy, the son of Count and Countess Rostov. Growing up, Petya, as a young man, was eager to go to war, and in such a way that his parents could not restrain him at all. Having finally escaped from parental care and joined Denisov’s hussar regiment. Petya dies in the first battle, without having had time to fight. His death greatly affected his family.
Sonya
The miniature, nice girl Sonya was the niece of Count Rostov and lived all her 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 count Natalya Rostova was very against their marriage, because they were cousins. Sonya acts nobly, refusing Dolokhov and agreeing to love only Nikolai for the rest of her life, while freeing him from his promise to marry her. She lives the rest of her life under the old countess in the care of Nikolai Rostov.
The prototype of this seemingly insignificant character was Lev Nikolaevich’s second cousin, Tatyana Aleksandrovna Ergolskaya.
Bolkonsky - princes and princesses
Bolkonsky Nikolai Andreevich
The father of the main character, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. In the past, the current general-in-chief, in the present, a prince who earned himself the nickname “Prussian king” in Russian secular society. Socially active, strict like a father, tough, pedantic, but wise master of his estate. Outwardly, he was a thin old man in a powdered white wig, thick eyebrows hanging over penetrating and intelligent eyes. He doesn’t like to show feelings even to his beloved son and daughter. He constantly torments his daughter Marya with nagging and sharp words. Sitting on his estate, Prince Nikolai is constantly on the alert for events taking place in Russia, and only before his death does he lose 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. He is ambitious, just like his father, restrained in the manifestation of sensual impulses, but loves his father and sister very much. Married to the “little princess” Lisa. He had a good military career. He philosophizes a lot about life, meaning and the state of his spirit. From which it is clear that he is in some kind of constant search. After the death of his wife, Natasha Rostova saw hope for himself, real girl, and not fake as in secular society and some light of future happiness, that’s why I was in love with her. Having proposed to Natasha, he was forced to go abroad for treatment, which served as a real test for both of their feelings. As a result, their wedding fell through. Prince Andrey went to war with Napoleon and was seriously wounded, after which he did not survive and died from a serious wound. Natasha devotedly looked after him until the end of his death.
Bolkonskaya Marya
Daughter of Prince Nikolai and sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. A very meek girl, not beautiful, but kind-hearted and very rich, like a bride. Her inspiration and devotion to religion serves as an example of good morals 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 Andrei. She did not immediately accept Natasha Rostova as her future daughter-in-law, because she seemed too frivolous for her brother Andrei. After all the hardships she has experienced, she marries Nikolai Rostov.
The prototype of Marya is the mother of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy - Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya.
Bezukhovs - counts and countesses
Bezukhov Pierre (Peter Kirillovich)
One of the main characters who deserves close attention and the most positive assessment. This character has experienced a lot of emotional trauma and pain, possessing 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 loves his hero, Pierre, very much. As a friend of Andrei Bolkonsky, the young Count Pierre Bezukhov is very loyal and responsive. Despite the various intrigues weaving under his nose, Pierre did not become embittered and did not lose his good nature towards people. And having married Natalya Rostova, he finally found the grace and happiness that he so lacked in his first wife, Helen. At the end of the novel, his desire to change the political foundations in Russia can be traced, and from afar one can even guess his Decembrist sentiments. (100%) 4 votes
Vasily Kuragin
Prince, father of Helen, Anatole and Hippolyte. This is a very famous and quite influential person in society; he occupies an important court post. Prince V.'s attitude towards everyone around him is condescending and patronizing. The author shows his hero “in a courtly, embroidered uniform, in stockings, shoes, under the stars, with a bright expression on a flat face,” with a “perfumed and shining bald head.” But when he smiled, there was “something unexpectedly rude and unpleasant” in his smile. Prince V. specifically does not wish harm on anyone. He simply uses people and circumstances to carry out his plans. V. always strives to get closer to people who are richer and higher in position than him. 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 Anatole to the rich princess Marya Bolkonskaya. After the death of the old Prince Bezukhov and Pierre receiving a huge inheritance, V. notices a rich groom and cunningly marries his daughter Helene to him. Prince V. is a great intriguer who knows how to live in society and make acquaintances with the right people.Anatol Kuragin
Kuragina Elen
Anna Pavlovna Sherer
Boris Drubetskoy
Count Rostov
Countess of Rostov
The wife of Count Rostov, “a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by children... The slowness of her movements and speech, resulting from weakness of strength, gave her a significant appearance 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 her youngest and beloved son Petya almost drives her crazy. She is accustomed to luxury and fulfillment of the slightest whims, and demands 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...”. Distinctive features N. - emotionality and sensitivity. She is not very smart, but she has an amazing ability to read people. She is capable of noble deeds and can forget about her own interests for the sake of other people. So, she calls on her family to take out the wounded on carts, leaving their property behind. N. takes care of his mother with all his dedication after Petya’s death. 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 occur after meeting Prince Andrei. N. becomes his bride, but later becomes interested in Anatoly Kuragin. After a while, N. understands the full force of her guilt before the prince; before his death, he forgives her, she remains with him until his death. N. feels true love for Pierre, they understand each other perfectly, they feel very good together. She becomes his wife and completely devotes herself to the role of wife and mother.
Nikolay Rostov
Son of Count Rostov. “A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face.” The hero is distinguished by “impetuousness and enthusiasm”, he is cheerful, open, friendly and emotional. N. participates in military campaigns and the Patriotic War of 1812. In the Battle of Shengraben, N. goes on the attack very bravely at first, but is then wounded in the arm. This wound causes him to panic, he thinks about how he, “whom everyone loves so much,” could die. This event somewhat diminishes the image of the hero. After N. becomes a brave officer, a real hussar, remaining faithful to duty. N. had a long affair with Sonya, and he was going to do a noble deed by marrying a dowry 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 and retires. She and Marya Bolkonskaya fall in love and get married.
Petya Rostov
Younger son Rostov. At the beginning of the novel we see P. as a small boy. He is a typical representative of his family, kind, cheerful, musical. He wants to imitate his older brother and follow the military line in life. In 1812, he was full of patriotic impulses and joined 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 real deal. He accidentally dies, having shown all his best qualities in relation to his comrades the day before. His death is the greatest tragedy for his family.
Pierre Bezukhov
In pursuit of money, P. is entangled by the Kuragin family and, taking advantage of P.’s naivety, they force him to marry Helen. He is unhappy with her, he understands that this scary woman and breaks off relations with her.
At the beginning of the novel we see that P. considers Napoleon his idol. Afterwards he becomes terribly disappointed in him and even wants to kill him. P. is characterized by a search for the meaning of life. This is how he becomes interested in Freemasonry, but when he sees their falsehood, he leaves from there. P. tries to reorganize the lives of his peasants, but he fails due to his gullibility and impracticality. P. participates in the war, not yet fully understanding what it is. Left in burning Moscow to kill Napoleon, P. is captured. He experiences great moral torment during the execution of prisoners. There P. meets with the exponent of “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 the revival of Natasha to life, Tolstoy's best heroes get married. In the epilogue we see P. a happy husband and father. In a dispute with Nikolai Rostov, P. expresses his beliefs, and we understand that before us is a future Decembrist.
Sonya
S. is the niece of the old Count Rostov, and is being brought up in this house. Since childhood, the heroine has been in love with Nikolai Rostov, and is very friendly with Natasha. S. is reserved, silent, reasonable, and capable of sacrificing herself. The feeling for Nikolai is so strong that she wants to “love always, and let him be free.” Because of this, she refuses Dolokhov, who wanted to marry her. S. and Nikolai are bound by word, he promised to take her as his wife. But the old Countess of Rostov is against this wedding, he reproaches S... She, not wanting to pay with ingratitude, refuses the marriage, releasing Nikolai from his promise. After the death of the old count, he lives with the countess in the care of Nicholas.
Dolokhov
Nikolai Bolkonsky
ON THE. short in stature, “in a powdered wig... with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, obscuring the brilliance of intelligent and seemingly young sparkling eyes.” The prince is very restrained in expressing his feelings. He constantly torments his daughter with nagging, although in fact he loves her very much. ON THE. proud, clever man, constantly cares about preserving family honor and dignity. He instilled in his son a sense of pride, honesty, duty, and patriotism. Despite his withdrawal from public life, the prince is constantly interested in political and military events taking place in Russia. Only before his death does he lose sight of the scale of the tragedy that happened to his homeland.
Andrey Bolkonsky
Son of Prince Bolkonsky, brother 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 his marriage and does not respect his pretty wife. B. is very reserved, well educated, and has a strong will. This hero is experiencing great spiritual changes. First we see that his idol is Napoleon, whom he considers a great man. B. gets into war and is sent to the active army. There he fights along with all the soldiers, showing great courage, composure, and 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 spiritual rebirth of the hero began. Lying motionless and seeing the calm and eternal sky of Austerlitz above him, B. understands all the pettiness and stupidity of everything that is happening in the war. He realized that in fact there should be completely different values in life than those that he had until now. All exploits and glory do not matter. There is only this vast and eternal sky. In the same episode, B. sees Napoleon and understands the insignificance of this man. 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 towards her. He decides not to serve anymore, settles in Bogucharovo, takes care of the household, raising his son, and reads a lot of books. During a trip to St. Petersburg, B. meets 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 his fiancee betrays him, he returns to the army under the leadership of Kutuzov. During the Battle of Borodino, he was mortally wounded. By chance, he leaves Moscow in the Rostov convoy. Before his death, he forgives Natasha and understands the true meaning of love.
Lisa Bolkonskaya
Princess Marya
Kutuzov
