“The moral purity of Marya Bolkonskaya” (based on L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”)

The war did not allow the old prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky to die peacefully. That night when he forced himself to read his son’s letter and understand that the French were four passages from his house - that night was not in vain. The old general “as if suddenly came to his senses from a dream” and plunged into. feverish, sleepless activity: gathering militias, arming them, writing to military leaders... His strength ended suddenly: the prince was getting ready to go to the commander-in-chief; he “in his uniform and all the orders”, left the house... “So they brought him - almost brought - back to the house a few minutes later, “a little old man in a uniform and orders”, and Princess Marya saw with fear that “the former strict and the decisive expression on his face was replaced by an expression of timidity and humility.

Prince Andrei did not know what had happened. He thought that his father and sister were in Moscow, but in fact they had gone to Bogucharovo, which lay on the road along which the French were approaching. Prince Andrei received news that his father was sick, but he did not understand how sick he was. He did not see or hear what Alpatych and the servants saw and heard. He could not imagine the expression of timidity and submission on his father's domineering face.

This expression is a sign of approaching death; it is unbearable for loved ones. When the old prince lay unconscious for many days, “like a mutilated corpse,” this was only a continuation of the timidity and humility that so frightened Princess Mary on the first day.

The old man could no longer guide his daughter. A few days ago, Princess Marya, frozen with fear, decided to violate his will and did not leave for Moscow with Nikolenka and Desalles. She was afraid to leave her father alone - and then she realized that he was pleased with her decision, although he shouted at her and did not order her to show herself to him.

He, too, was afraid to be left alone, that’s why he screamed and got angry at his daughter: he couldn’t admit his weakness to her... And it turned out that his daughter’s fears were not in vain, his secret fear was justified: paralyzed, helpless, he was carried into the house , they put him on the very sofa, “which he had been so afraid of lately.”

Now Princess Marya must answer for him as firmly as he answered for her all his life. The daughter decided to take her father to Bogucharovo, and the days dragged on when the old prince lay unconscious, and the French walked and walked across Russia, but Princess Marya did not know about this, because day and night she thought about her father, only about her father.

Tolstoy is always merciless towards those of his heroes whom he loves, and most of all he is merciless towards Princess Marya. But the more you read about the shameful thoughts that possessed Princess Marya, the more you love her.

“Wouldn’t it be better if there was an end, a complete end!” - Princess Marya sometimes thought. She watched him day and night, almost without sleep, and, scary to say, she often watched him, not with the hope of finding signs of relief, but she watched, often wanting find signs of approaching the end. (Tolstoy's italics.)

One could deceive oneself, tell oneself that these thoughts are born of pity for the suffering of the patient. But Princess Marya does not deceive herself: “What was even more terrible for Princess Marya was that since her father’s illness... all the forgotten personal desires and hopes that had fallen asleep in her awoke... No matter how much she pushed away from herself, questions constantly came to her mind about how she was now, after Togo, will arrange his life. (Tolstoy's italics.)

Princess Marya is horrified by what is happening in her soul, and is tormented, and ashamed, and cannot overcome herself. So, she doesn't love her father? She loves her more than ever, and this is the most painful thing: “she has never been so sorry, she has never been so afraid of losing him.”

On the eve of his death, the old prince felt better. This is the final consolation that death bestows on the dying man and his loved ones: Princess Marya succumbed to the consolation. “My soul hurts,” her father told her indistinctly. ʼʼAll thoughts! about you... thoughts... I called you all night...ʼʼ

Unwittingly obeying her father, she now, in the same way as he spoke, tried to speak more with signs and seemed to also be moving her tongue with difficulty.

Darling... - or - my friend... - Princess Marya could not make out; but probably, from the expression of his gaze, a gentle, caressing word was said, which he never said. - Why didn’t you come?

“And I wished, wished for his death!” - thought Princess Marya. He paused.

Thank you... daughter, friend... for everything, for everything... forgive... thank you... forgive... thank you!.. - And tears flowed from his eyes. - Call Andryusha “,” he suddenly said, and something childishly timid and distrustful was expressed in his face at this demand.

Only before his death did he allow himself to be gentle. ʼʼDaughter, friend...ʼʼAnd he named his son Andryusha... But there is no son - he is at war, and in last time The truth enters the father's consciousness.

“Yes,” he said clearly and quietly. - Russia is dead! Ruined!ʼʼ

How scary it is to think that the boys killed near Leningrad, near Moscow, on the Dnieper, on the Volga never learned about the red flag over the Reichstag. How bitter it is to think that Chief General Bolkonsky never knew: Russia did not perish...

Princess Marya is in her grief, in torment of conscience, in fear for her father. “She could not understand anything, think about anything and feel anything except her passionate love for her father, a love that, it seemed to her, she did not know until that minute.” And the father dies. But he remains to live in his daughter - of course, she cannot understand this now, think about it.

“Princess, God’s will is being done, you must be ready for anything,” said the leader, meeting her at the front door.

Leave me; “It’s not true,” she angrily shouted at him.

That’s when the meek Princess Marya awakened her father’s character. Several hours passed - and just as the father had to overcome his old age, his powerlessness, so Princess Marya will have to overcome her grief, which filled her entire life after the death of her father.

“Oh, if only someone knew how much I don’t care now,” she replied when Mademoiselle Burien started a conversation with her about how it would be better not to leave Bogucharovo, but to stay in the hope of patronage French. But then she took out an advertisement from the French General Rameau from her purse.

ʼʼPrincess Marya read the paper, and dry sobs shook her face...ʼʼSo that Prince Andrei knows that she is in the power of the French! So that she, the daughter of Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky, asks Mr. General Rameau to provide her with patronage and enjoy his benefits! ʼʼ - This thought horrified her, made her shudder, blush and to feel fits of anger and pride that she has not yet experienced...ʼʼ(Italics are mine. - N.D.)

So the character of her father awoke in her, and it is not surprising that Princess Marya was now thinking “not with her own thoughts, but feeling obligated to think for herself with the thoughts of her father and brother... The demands of life, which she considered destroyed with the death of her father, suddenly with a new one, a still unknown force appeared in front of Princess Marya and enveloped her.

The death of her father really freed Princess Marya - no matter how bitter it is, it is so. At that moment when Mademoiselle Burien stands in front of her with the appeal of the French general, Princess Marya, of course, does not think about her freedom - she is completely in the grip of indignation; she is offended - and these feelings, as it was with her father, result in quick, decisive action. Go, go immediately - just so as not to end up with the French!

But you can’t go - the “wild” Bogucharov men won’t give you a cart. Princess Marya's attempt to negotiate with them leads to the opposite results: now the men not only do not give the cart, but they also do not want to let the princess out of Bogucharovo.

This is where Nikolai Rostov appears - romantic hero, as Princess Marya sees him, but not at all romantic in Tolstoy’s eyes. He came to Bogucharovo in search of hay for the horses, and explained himself to the rebellious men in the most prosaic way: with the help of his fists.

In the conflict between Rostov and the peasants, Tolstoy is most likely on Rostov’s side: firstly, he pities Princess Marya, whom the peasants do not let out of Bogucharovo; secondly, he condemns the peasants who decided to remain under French rule so as not to lose their property.

We also condemn the peasants for succumbing to the persuasion of the enemy. But at the same time, we are offended to read how Rostov, with the help of the lackey Lavrushka, overcame the peasant revolt. It’s a shame to understand how dark the consciousness of the peasants is, how wild their ideas about good and evil, truth and lies, how timid their attempts to decide their fate independently, without instructions from the landowners.

And the most upsetting thing is to read those pages where Princess Marya with all her heart wants to help the peasants, to give them her bread - she feels that her father and brother would do the same - but the peasants do not understand her, they see cunning in her sincere desire to do good.

Tolstoy conceived his novel as a book about the Decembrist who returned from exile in the sixties of the 19th century. Then he decided to turn to earlier times - to the Decembrist uprising itself. Then he returned to the war of 1812 and even earlier - to the war of 1805-1807. “War and Peace” became a book showing the formation of Decembrism - the action of the novel ends five years before the events of Senate Square. We have already seen how poorly Pierre's attempts to alleviate the situation of his peasants succeeded. Now before us is a wall of mutual misunderstanding, separating the serfs from their landowner, Princess Marya. For Bogucharov’s men she is a stranger; but Prince Andrei lived among them for several years, trying as much as possible to ease their situation. It turns out that this did not help - the peasants still do not believe in the good intentions of their masters. The famous words of V.I. Lenin: “The circle of these revolutionaries is narrow.” “They are terribly far from the people,” they said about the Decembrists two years after Tolstoy’s death, in 1912. But Tolstoy’s book helps us to better understand the tragic justice of these words.

Let's return to Princess Marya. Rostov appeared as a savior in a difficult hour of her life, accomplished a feat (otherwise Princess Marya cannot and does not want to name his act) and entered into her destiny forever.

None of this would have happened if the old prince was alive and well. The peasants would never have dared to argue with him, there would have been neither rebellion nor salvation. Rostov would have bought hay from Alpatych and left without even seeing Princess Marya, and in addition, the old prince would most likely have greeted Nikolai arrogantly and contemptuously, as the brother of the one who insulted Prince Andrei.

Now everything happened differently - and it turns out that the death of the old prince actually freed Princess Marya. The difficulty of our relationship with our parents is that they really, albeit unwittingly, with their care prevent us from being independent. And the closer we are to our parents, the more we love and respect them, the stronger their spiritual power over us, the more they make our life difficult, without even wanting it.

Who is to blame for this? Yes, there is no one to blame here; Shouldn't love be a crime? And there is no way out of this situation, because youth naturally strives for independence, for full responsibility for their destiny, and old people just as naturally hold on to their place in life and do not want to give it to the young. There is no way out, and all that remains is to still love, still feel sorry for your old people, because the worst thing becomes when they leave forever and there is no one to interfere with us and rule over us.

6. BATMAN LAVRUSHKA AND OTHERS...

Let's go back a month - to the day when Napoleon had already crossed the Neman and was moving through the Polish provinces, and Prince Andrei arrived at the “headquarters of the army” to see Barclay de Tolly.

What he saw and heard there struck him not with its exclusivity, but, on the contrary, with its ordinariness. ʼʼEveryone was dissatisfied with the general course of military affairs in the Russian army; but no one thought about the danger of an invasion of the Russian provinces, no one imagined that the war could be transferred further than the western Polish provinces.

What were the people doing who took responsibility for leading the army? What was happening in this huge, hectic, brilliant and proud world?

There were nine different groups - Tolstoy describes them with irony: “war theorists”, discussing endless plans for the campaign; supporters of peace who feared Napoleon since the time of Austerlitz; "deal makers" between in different directions; supporters of Barclay and followers of Bennigsen, admirers of Emperor Alexander - Tolstoy’s irony is understandable if we remember that “no one thought about the danger of an invasion of the Russian provinces” - at headquarters they are busy with disputes, conversations, and not at all with what the country needs now .

But Tolstoy describes one group - the largest - not only with irony; in his every word there is hatred; ʼʼthe most large group...consisted of people... wanting only one thing, and the most essential: the greatest benefits and pleasures for yourself...

All the people of this party caught rubles, crosses, ranks and in this fishing they only followed the direction of the weather vane of the royal favor... Whatever the question was raised, let alone a swarm of these drones, without having finished talking about the previous topic, he flew to a new one and with his own buzzing muffled and darkened sincere, arguing voices. (Italics are mine. - N.D.)

That's who made Berg “assistant chief of staff of the left flank”; This is who Bagration called bastards in his letter to Arakcheev; This is who, finally, people came out against, claiming that “everything bad comes mainly from the presence of a sovereign with a military court under the army ...”

In the end, the tsar was persuaded to leave for St. Petersburg, along with the “drones”. Before leaving, he graciously received Prince Bolkonsky, and “Prince Andrei forever lost himself in the court world, not asking to remain with the sovereign’s person, but asking permission to remain in the army.”

Prince Andrei “lost himself” in the court world, but this world is alive, and it lives according to the same laws - the whole country is uplifted, swept up, the lives of all people have changed, except for those who surround the king.

“This life is unchanged... - says Tolstoy, - ... Anna Pavlovna’s salon and Helen’s salon were exactly the same as they were, one seven years ago, the other five years ago.”

Everything has changed; even the Bald Mountains, which seemed like an enchanted sleeping castle, were abandoned by their owners, ruined, and a war passed through them. But in St. Petersburg they still live a fantastic, imaginary life, and Prince Vasily today scolds Kutuzov last words, and tomorrow he admires him, because the king is forced under pressure public opinion appoint Kutuzov as commander-in-chief.

We remember how Tolstoy described Napoleon, mercilessly emphasizing his thickness, short legs, plump neck... He also does not spare Kutuzov: the old commander-in-chief “had grown fat, flabby and swollen with fat,” he, “heavily blurring and swaying, sat on his cheerful horse”; in his face and figure there was an “expression of fatigue”... But if Napoleon cares in every possible way about the impression he makes on others, then Kutuzov is, first of all, natural in his every movement; This is what Tolstoy loves about him.

Kutuzov was tired of the long and difficult life, it’s hard for him to carry his blurry body - he doesn’t even think about hiding all this. Like all old people, he is afraid of death - he, who knows how to be calm under bullets, “looked at Prince Andrei with frightened open eyes”, having heard about the death of his friend, the old Prince Bolkonsky. He is natural here too, he always remains himself.

Everything that Kutuzov says and does, he says and does differently from Napoleon and Alexander I

Tolstoy's entire novel is built on the principle of contrast - sharp opposition. The contrast is in the very title of the book: “War and Peace”. The wars are contrasting: the unjust, unnecessary war of 1805-1807 for the people and the Patriotic, People's War of 1812... Entire circles of society are contrasting: the nobles and the people are opposed to each other, but also among the nobles there is a contrast between honest people - the Bolkonskys, Rostovs, Pierre Bezukhov - and “drones” - Kuragin, Drubetsky, Zherkov, Berg.

Each camp has its own contrasts: the Bolkonskys are opposed to the Rostovs; the patriarchal Rostov family - to the homeless, despite their wealth, Pierre. Contrasting women: Helen and Natasha, Natasha and Sonya, Princess Marya and Sonya, Natasha and Princess Marya...

Sharply contrasting historical figures: Barclay and Kutuzov, Napoleon and Alexander I, Kutuzov and Napoleon. And, perhaps, the sharpest contrast is in the way Tolstoy draws Kutuzov and Alexander I. Tolstoy does not allow any direct ridicule of the Tsar. On the contrary, his king is handsome and charming. But already in the first war he becomes pitiful next to the flabby and powerless, but majestic and rebellious Kutuzov. And in the Patriotic War, Kutuzov outshines the Tsar precisely with his naturalness - the quality that Tolstoy values ​​most in people.

Yes, he is old and weak, he listened to the reports of the generals “only because he had ears, which, despite the fact that there was a naval rope in one of them, could not help but hear...” But he defeats the king “with his experience of life” - and it is no coincidence that Tolstoy, precisely in the chapters preceding the Battle of Borodino, forces Kutuzov to solve the same issues that the tsar was already deciding before our eyes.

We remember the tragedy of Denisov and Rostov’s attempt to save his friend, and the tsar’s answer: “... because I can’t, because the law is stronger than me...” Denisov was accused of looting on the grounds that he took food for his soldiers by force.

Now Kutuzov is presented with a paper demanding the punishment of army commanders for the fact that the soldiers mowed green oats to feed horses.

Kutuzov smacked his lips and shook his head after listening to this matter.

Into the stove... into the fire! And once and for all I tell you, my dear,” he said, “all these things are on fire.” Let them mow bread and burn wood for their health. I don’t order this and I don’t allow it, but I can’t exact it either. It’s impossible without this...ʼʼ

A few days later, the red-nosed captain Timokhin will tell Pierre: “After all, we were retreating from the Sventsyans, don’t you dare touch a twig, or some hay, or whatever... In our regiment, two officers were put on trial for such things. Well, as His Serene Highness did, it just became so about this. They saw the light...ʼʼ

Both Barclay, who put the officers on trial “for such things,” and the Tsar, who refused to pardon Denisov, are objectively right: hay, oats and firewood belong to the landowners, they cannot be taken without permission. The provisions that Denisov recaptured were intended for someone - how could he take it? But Berg is essentially right when he shouts that it is impossible to burn houses - indeed, it is impossible - in Peaceful time. But in war there are different laws, and Kutuzov knows this. His “into the stove... into the fire” is fair, but the royal loyalty to the law turns into injustice and cruelty.

A few weeks ago, “Prince Andrei lost himself forever in the court world, not asking to remain with the sovereign, but asking permission to serve in the army.” Now Kutuzov invites him to stay at headquarters, and Prince Andrei again refuses.

“A smart, kind and at the same time subtly mocking expression shone on Kutuzov’s plump face. He interrupted Bolkonsky:

I'm sorry, I would need you; but you're right, you're right. This is not where we need people. There are always many advisers, but no people. The regiments wouldn’t be the same if all the advisers served there in regiments like you...ʼʼ

For the Tsar, as for Napoleon, the main thing is himself, his unique personality. Refusal to serve in his presence makes it more important than serving His Imperial Majesty! For Kutuzov, the main thing is the war, and no matter how upset he is by Prince Andrei’s refusal, he admits Bolkonsky is right.

The ability to recognize the rightness of another is something that the tsar lacks and that Kutuzov is endowed with.

But that’s not all - Kutuzov knows how to feel for other people, understand them. For this reason, he is so affectionate with Denisov, although he does not really listen to his plan. guerrilla warfare. For this reason, he calls Denisov, his adjutant, and Prince Andrei darlings (just like little captain Tushin), in this regard, he feels so sorry for Prince Andrei, who lost his father, and finds the only words with which Bolkonsky can now be consoled: “I I remember you from Austerlitz... I remember, I remember, I remember with the banner...ʼʼ

This ability to understand other people is completely deprived of Tolstoy by Napoleon, who is preoccupied with himself, always overflowing with himself. For this reason, he is defeated when he meets Rostov's (and formerly Denisov's) nosy orderly Lavrushka.

The cunning, always half-drunk Lavrushka knows how to find a way out of any situation. Later, when he and Rostov get to Bogucharovo and see the rioting men, he instantly understands the situation:

ʼʼ- Talk?.. Riot!.. Robbers! Traitors! - Rostov screamed senselessly, in a voice not his own, grabbing Karp by the collar. - Knit him, knit him! - he shouted, although there was no one to knit him except Lavrushka and Alpatych.

Lavrushka, however, ran up to Karp and grabbed his hands from behind.

- Will you order our people to click from under the mountain? - he shouted.

There were no “ours” under the mountain, and Lavrushka knew this very well, as did Rostov. But the rebellion was suppressed instantly, and the headman himself took off his sash, “as if helping” to tie himself up.

Outwitting dark men is not such a difficult matter. But a few days earlier, Lavrushka had fooled the ruler of all Europe.

Having been captured by the French, Lavrushka is brought before the emperor. Napoleon believes that Lavrushka does not know who he is talking to. Lavrushka, meanwhile, “knew very well that it was Napoleon himself, and Napoleon’s presence could not confuse a person with suspicion: should there be anything more important to him than the presence of Rostov or the sergeant with rods, because he had nothing that he didn’t Neither the sergeant nor Napoleon could have deprived him of it.

Lavrushka is cunning, chatting whatever comes to mind, and finally, to cheer up Napoleon, declares:

ʼʼ- We know, you have Bonaparte, he beat everyone in the world, well, there’s another article about us...

The translator conveyed these words to Napoleon without ending, and Bonaparte smiled.

Napoleon's translator acts exactly as Prince Vasily would have acted in his place: protecting his master, he translates only the part of Lavrushka's remark that is flattering to him. And Napoleon remains convinced that even the wild Cossack, “the child of the Don,” admires his victories.

But the “child of Don” also behaves like an experienced courtier. Hearing the message that Napoleon himself was in front of him, Lavrushka immediately pretended to be amazed, stunned, bulged his eyes and made the same face that he was accustomed to when he was taken to be flogged.

This maneuver was a complete success: a satisfied Napoleon released him, and Lavrushka “by the evening found his master Nikolai Rostov.” So he outwitted Napoleon, because Napoleon could not even imagine that a simple Cossack could be smarter than him.

And all this happened because great commander Napoleon stopped understanding other people; Lavrushka understood him, but he did not understand Lavrushka.

This funny story has more serious implications than it might seem. Napoleon does not understand the people with whom he is fighting - this must be what will determine his impending defeat. Kutuzov knows how to understand Lavrushka, and Nikolai Rostov, and Prince Bolkonsky, and every soldier - this is what distinguishes him from Napoleon, from Alexander I; this will determine his understanding people's war which he headed.

PRINCESS MARYA BOLKONSKAYA - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "PRINCESS MARYA BOLKONSKAYA" 2017, 2018.

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In the novel L.N. There's a lot of Tolstoy female images, deprived of a pleasant appearance. This state of affairs has a negative impact on the owners of such a deficiency - they are ignored in society, they have every chance of remaining alone and not experiencing family happiness.
One of these characters is Marie Bolkonskaya.

Origin of Marie Bolkonskaya

Marya Bolkonskaya noble origin. Their family has ancient roots. Prince Rurik is their ancestor.

Their family is very rich.

Family of Marya Bolkonskaya

The Bolkonsky family is not as numerous as other families. The head of the family is Prince Nikolai, a former military man, a man of complex character and tough character.

Mother Maria is no longer alive.

In addition to the girl, the family also has one child - her older brother Andrei. He was successfully married to Princess Lisa Meinen, but this brother’s marriage ended in tragedy - his young wife did not survive after childbirth and died. The child was saved - Marya takes over the functions of the mother in raising the child. This action is not forced - the young girl enjoys taking care of her nephew.

Among the family members one can also count Mademoiselle Bourien, a lifelong companion.

Appearance of Princess Marie

Nature was extremely unfair with the young girl - her appearance wants to be much better. The characters speak about her like this: “she doesn’t need to spoil anything - they’re already ugly.”

Marie is short, she has an excessively thin face, her body was devoid of grace and beautiful forms. She was physically weak and extremely unattractive.

The only thing that was beautiful in her appearance was her eyes: deep, radiant and sincere. Her eyes “were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of the whole face, these eyes became more attractive than beauty.”

Marie's gait was also not like the light tread of women - her steps were heavy.
Those around her understood that Marie had no chance of marrying for love: “And who will take her out of love? Dull, awkward. They’ll take you for your connections, for your wealth.”

The princess is not stupid, she understands the true state of things and is aware of her physical flaws, but, like everyone else, she wants to be loved and happy.

The moral character of the princess

The inner world of Princess Marya Bolkonskaya is significantly different from her external appearance.

Marie was educated at home. Her father taught her the exact sciences, in particular mathematics and geometry. The girl also knows how to play the clavichord. She often indulges music lessons and can play for a long time: “one could hear the difficult passages of Dussek’s sonata repeated twenty times.”

The girl has a pure soul, she is full of noble aspirations. Those who communicate with her for some time note this fact. They are touched by the girl’s sincerity and kindness. Marie does not know how to deceive people and be disingenuous; prudence and coquetry are alien to her.

She has a calm disposition and has the ability to analyze the actions and words of others. This allows her to be in non-conflict relationships even with the most hot-tempered people. The princess first of all draws attention to inner world of a person, what is important to her is not the inner shell of a person, but his thoughts and moral character.

Marie is a deeply religious girl. Religion becomes her passion, in which she finds answers to many questions that interest her inquisitive mind:

“religion, and only religion, can, let alone console us, but save us from despair; Religion alone can explain to us what man cannot understand without its help.”

Marie often helps homeless people, she does this secretly from her father: “This comforting dream and hope were given to her by God’s people - holy fools and wanderers, who visited her secretly from the prince.”

Her nephew Nikolenka becomes her second passion - the girl gets sincere pleasure from playing and teaching the child. Communication with the child was her consolation and, in fact, the only joy in life.

Marie's attitude towards family members

Relations in the Bolkonsky family are strained and tense. First of all, this is due to the character and disposition of the old count. He is a quick-tempered and harsh person. He does not know how to control himself and often addresses his family in the rudest form. Marie continually endures mockery and unjustified remarks. "All the outbursts of his causeless anger for the most part attacked Princess Marya. It was as if he was diligently looking for all her most painful places in order to morally torture her as cruelly as possible.”

She steadfastly endures all his insults. Marie does not think that her father hates her, she understands that he does not know how to express his love and care in any other way.

Marie's attitude towards high society

According to her status, Marie has every right to be active in aristocratic circles, but she does not do this. The girl has spent her whole life in the village, and she has no desire to change anything in this regard. It is likely that the encouragement of other norms of behavior played a role in this attitude - coquetry, often turning into a love affair, deception, lies, hypocrisy - all this is alien to Marie. Another reason for not attending public places it could quite possibly have something to do with the princess’s appearance. Naturally, the girl was not alien to love and affection, she wanted to create her own personal family, and in society she would have to notice the predominance of a person’s external qualities over moral character. Marie would become lonely in such a world.

Willingness to be friendly

Marie does not shy away from communicating with people. She is willing to maintain friendly relations with them. For example, she actively communicates with Princess Julie Karagina. In fact, this is her only friend. Julie, like Marie, is also not blessed with a pretty face, so both girls are familiar with unpleasant feelings about the perception of appearance. The friends are sincere in their friendly impulses and are ready to support each other in any situation.

The second person with whom Marie shares feelings of friendship is Mademoiselle Bourien. The girl lives in the Bolkonskys' house and is a companion. Their communication is radically different from their friendship with Julie. First of all, this concerns the attitude of Mademoiselle Bourrienne towards Marie. In her case, it's pseudo friendship. The girl is ready to deceive Marie for selfish purposes.

Marie Bolkonskaya and Anatol Kuragin

Naturally, the marriage was the only way Princess Marie escape from home and end her miserable life of insults. Therefore, when Anatol Kuragin comes with his father to woo the girl, she experiences anxiety.

“When thinking about marriage, Princess Marya dreamed of family happiness and children, but her main, strongest and hidden dream was earthly love.”

Anatole impresses her with his appearance - he is very handsome. To the girl he seems a good man, but her father doesn’t think so - Nikolai Bolkonsky is not such a naive and gullible person as his daughter. It was not hidden from his gaze that Anatole did not experience not only love, nor even a feeling of sympathy for his daughter, nor the young man’s interest in the Bolkonskys’ maid.

He tells his daughter about this and makes her think that Anatole is not a match for her - he is only interested in money, but final choice leaves it to his daughter. Marie witnesses Anatole's tenderness with Mademoiselle Bourien and refuses young man.

Marriage to Nikolai Rostov

A new hope for personal happiness was kindled in Marie’s soul with the appearance of Nikolai Rostov in her life. Marriage to this man allowed the princess to develop morally and spiritually. She realized herself as a mother. The role of a teacher is close to Marie; she enjoys taking care of her children and even keeps a diary where she writes down all kinds of information related to the stages of development and the characteristics of raising her children.

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In the novel L.N. Tolstoy has many female images, deprived of a pleasant appearance. This state of affairs has a negative impact on the owners of such a deficiency - they are ignored in society, they have every chance of remaining alone and not experiencing family happiness.
One of these characters is Marie Bolkonskaya.

Origin of Marie Bolkonskaya

Marya Bolkonskaya is of noble origin. Their family has ancient roots. Prince Rurik is their ancestor.

Their family is very rich.

Family of Marya Bolkonskaya

The Bolkonsky family is not as numerous as other families. The head of the family is Prince Nikolai, a former military man, a man of complex character and tough character.

Mother Maria is no longer alive.

In addition to the girl, the family also has one child - her older brother Andrei. He was successfully married to Princess Lisa Meinen, but this brother’s marriage ended in tragedy - his young wife did not survive after childbirth and died. The child was saved - Marya takes over the functions of the mother in raising the child. This action is not forced - the young girl enjoys taking care of her nephew.

Among the family members one can also count Mademoiselle Bourien, a lifelong companion.

Appearance of Princess Marie

Nature was extremely unfair with the young girl - her appearance wants to be much better. The characters speak about her like this: “she doesn’t need to spoil anything - they’re already ugly.”

Marie is short, she has an excessively thin face, her body was devoid of grace and beautiful forms. She was physically weak and extremely unattractive.

The only thing that was beautiful in her appearance was her eyes: deep, radiant and sincere. Her eyes “were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of the whole face, these eyes became more attractive than beauty.”

Marie's gait was also not like the light tread of women - her steps were heavy.
Those around her understood that Marie had no chance of marrying for love: “And who will take her out of love? Dull, awkward. They’ll take you for your connections, for your wealth.”

The princess is not stupid, she understands the true state of things and is aware of her physical flaws, but, like everyone else, she wants to be loved and happy.

The moral character of the princess

The inner world of Princess Marya Bolkonskaya is significantly different from her external appearance.

Marie was educated at home. Her father taught her the exact sciences, in particular mathematics and geometry. The girl also knows how to play the clavichord. She often indulges in musical studies and can play for a long time: “difficult passages of the Dussek Sonata were heard repeated twenty times.”

The girl has a pure soul, she is full of noble aspirations. Those who communicate with her for some time note this fact. They are touched by the girl’s sincerity and kindness. Marie does not know how to deceive people and be disingenuous; prudence and coquetry are alien to her.

She has a calm disposition and has the ability to analyze the actions and words of others. This allows her to be in non-conflict relationships even with the most hot-tempered people. The princess first of all pays attention to the inner world of a person; what is important to her is not the inner shell of a person, but his thoughts and moral character.

Marie is a deeply religious girl. Religion becomes her passion, in which she finds answers to many questions that interest her inquisitive mind:

“religion, and only religion, can, let alone console us, but save us from despair; Religion alone can explain to us what man cannot understand without its help.”

Marie often helps homeless people, she does this secretly from her father: “This comforting dream and hope were given to her by God’s people - holy fools and wanderers, who visited her secretly from the prince.”

Her nephew Nikolenka becomes her second passion - the girl gets sincere pleasure from playing and teaching the child. Communication with the child was her consolation and, in fact, the only joy in life.

Marie's attitude towards family members

Relations in the Bolkonsky family are strained and tense. First of all, this is due to the character and disposition of the old count. He is a quick-tempered and harsh person. He does not know how to control himself and often addresses his family in the rudest form. Marie continually endures mockery and unjustified remarks. “All the outbursts of his causeless anger mostly fell on Princess Marya. It was as if he was diligently looking for all her most painful places in order to morally torture her as cruelly as possible.”

She steadfastly endures all his insults. Marie does not think that her father hates her, she understands that he does not know how to express his love and care in any other way.

Marie's attitude towards high society

According to her status, Marie has every right to be active in aristocratic circles, but she does not do this. The girl has spent her whole life in the village, and she has no desire to change anything in this regard. It is likely that the encouragement of other norms of behavior played a role in this attitude - coquetry, often turning into a love affair, deception, lies, hypocrisy - all this is alien to Marie. Another reason for refusing to visit public places could quite possibly be the attitude towards the princess’s appearance. Naturally, the girl was not alien to love and affection, she wanted to create her own personal family, and in society she would have to notice the predominance of a person’s external qualities over moral character. Marie would become lonely in such a world.

Willingness to be friendly

Marie does not shy away from communicating with people. She is willing to maintain friendly relations with them. For example, she actively communicates with Princess Julie Karagina. In fact, this is her only friend. Julie, like Marie, is also not blessed with a pretty face, so both girls are familiar with unpleasant feelings about the perception of appearance. The friends are sincere in their friendly impulses and are ready to support each other in any situation.

The second person with whom Marie shares feelings of friendship is Mademoiselle Bourien. The girl lives in the Bolkonskys' house and is a companion. Their communication is radically different from their friendship with Julie. First of all, this concerns the attitude of Mademoiselle Bourrienne towards Marie. In her case, it's pseudo friendship. The girl is ready to deceive Marie for selfish purposes.

Marie Bolkonskaya and Anatol Kuragin

Naturally, marriage was the only way for Princess Marie to escape from home and end her miserable life of abuse. Therefore, when Anatol Kuragin comes with his father to woo the girl, she experiences anxiety.

“When thinking about marriage, Princess Marya dreamed of family happiness and children, but her main, strongest and hidden dream was earthly love.”

Anatole impresses her with his appearance - he is very handsome. The girl thinks he is a good person, but her father does not think so - Nikolai Bolkonsky is not as naive and trusting a person as his daughter. It was not hidden from his gaze that Anatole did not experience not only love, nor even a feeling of sympathy for his daughter, nor the young man’s interest in the Bolkonskys’ maid.

He tells his daughter about this and makes her think that Anatole is not a match for her - he is only interested in money, but leaves the final choice to his daughter. Marie witnesses Anatole's tenderness with Mademoiselle Bourien and refuses the young man.

Marriage to Nikolai Rostov

A new hope for personal happiness was kindled in Marie’s soul with the appearance of Nikolai Rostov in her life. Marriage to this man allowed the princess to develop morally and spiritually. She realized herself as a mother. The role of a teacher is close to Marie; she enjoys taking care of her children and even keeps a diary where she writes down all kinds of information related to the stages of development and the characteristics of raising her children.

Each writer or poet has his own ideal images, which he gives special preference to. There has always been an image of a woman in literature, in which each of the creators saw something different. A.S. Pushkin embodied the ideal of Russian beauty in the image of Tatyana, and A.A. Blok centrally his poetry is the image of a sweet stranger, for N.A. Nekrasov it is a devoted real Russian woman. Leo Tolstoy also has his own ideal feminine essence, which he revealed to us in the novel War and Peace. It is not difficult to guess that Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya are Tolstoy’s favorite heroines. After all, in them Tolstoy embodied certain ideals of female purity, devotion, family, and the true purpose of a woman in this world.

Natasha Rostova

For L.N. Tolstoy, Natasha Rostova is, without a doubt, the most beloved heroine. Everything says this: and external description, And internal state souls, and Natasha’s relationships with other characters - everything about Tolstoy is sweet about her. Natasha meets us as a twelve-year-old girl. Her childlike spontaneity, cheerful face, and smile make Tolstoy’s novel brighter and bring some kind of joy. She falls in love with ease handsome men, she likes to dance and sing. Tolstoy describes her at name days, at a ball, when meeting Nikolai Rostov, etc. She was cheerful everywhere: “jumped like a goat,” “squealed shrilly,” “laughed at every word,” “could not contain her joy,” “a happy smile lit up her face.” Natasha is the center of attention, love, participation, understanding, kindness. She believed that all people should be happy. She wasn't interested small talk about politics, at the ball she thought only of one thing: “They should know how much I want to dance, how great I am at dancing, and how much fun it will be for them to dance with me.”

Falling in love with Boris Drubetsky did not leave even a shadow of disappointment. The same cannot be said about Anatol Kuragin. Carried away by him, Natasha admitted the idea that Andrei Bolkonsky was not her love. But, seeing Kuragin’s insincerity, he understands that there was simply no love. Nevertheless, Tolstoy gives Natasha the opportunity to correct her mistake. It is she who spends Bolkonsky’s last days next to him. She takes care of the wounded Andrei, giving him all her time, all her thoughts, all her feelings.

Natasha is a true patriot of Russia. Looking out the window and seeing wounded soldiers in the yard, Natasha, without hesitation, asks her father and mother to hand over all the carts prepared for transporting their property. The Count and Countess do not contradict her, but silently, brushing away a tear, agree to help.

In comparing Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya, Tolstoy focuses on their family nature. Both Natasha and Marya maintained harmony, comfort, and love in their families. While not yet married, they already understood their purpose, they already knew that family well-being depended on them.

Marya Bolkonskaya

This heroine is described by Tolstoy with special love. The author brings Marya Bolkonskaya's attitude to religion to the fore. For her, helping people, being humble, and doing good are true life desires.

Her portrait is not so attractive: “...an ugly, weak body and a thin face. Eyes, always sad...the eyes of the 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 all the faces, these eyes became more attractive than beauty.” “Radiant,” Tolstoy will say more than once in the novel. And the eyes are the mirror of the soul.

The severity of Marya's father's upbringing did not harden her heart; on the contrary, she loved the prince even more, cared for him until last day. Her father's death brought an irreparable loss into her heart that only she knew. Marya loved Andrei and him very much little son. Marya’s attitude towards people was: “I only wish you were all happy as I am.” In the characteristics of Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya you can find a lot in common. They lived in different families, but will eventually merge into one. It is probably no coincidence that Tolstoy ended his novel this way.

Family of Natasha and Marya

At the end of the novel we see Natasha, the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. She is happy in her own way. “The subject that Natasha completely immersed herself in was family, that is, husband ... and children who had to be carried, given birth, fed, raised.”

Marya Bolkonskaya will become the wife of Nikolai Rostov. She will be everyone's keeper happy days their family life. Devoting herself to her children and husband, Marya lived in complete happiness. This is precisely what Tolstoy sees as the purpose of a woman. A woman is a wife, a mother.

In my essay “Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya are Tolstoy’s favorite heroines” the main idea, which is revealed by Tolstoy in the novel “War and Peace,” is the purpose of a woman. It is still relevant today. I think the values ​​of love and family will be important at all times.

Work test

Princess Maria Bolkonskaya- the heroine of L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”, daughter of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky.

Daughter of old Prince Bolkonsky and sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. Maria is ugly, healthy, and her whole face is transformed by beautiful eyes: “... the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so beautiful that very often, despite the ugliness of everything their faces and eyes became more attractive than beauty.”

Vasily Kuragin decides to marry his son Anatoly who leads a wild lifestyle, Maria Bolkonskaya.

In November 1805, Prince Vasily was supposed to go to an audit in four provinces. He arranged this appointment for himself in order to visit his ruined estates at the same time, and taking with him (at the location of his regiment) his son Anatoly, he and him would go to Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky in order to marry his son to the daughter of this rich man old man.

During the visit, Anatole Kuragin began to flirt with Mlle Bourienne, the princess's companion. Mlle Bourienne fell in love with a rich groom.

She [the princess] raised her eyes and, two steps away, saw Anatole, who was hugging the Frenchwoman and whispering something to her. Anatole with a terrible expression on beautiful face looked back at Princess Marya and did not release mlle Bourienne’s waist at the first second, who could not see her.

As a result, Princess Maria Bolkonskaya decides to sacrifice her own happiness and is going to arrange the marriage of Mlle Bourienne with Anatoly Kuragin. Nothing came of this venture.

Princess Maria is distinguished by her great religiosity. She often hosts all kinds of pilgrims, or as she calls them “ God's people", wanderers. She has no close friends, she lives under the yoke of her father, whom she loves but is incredibly afraid of. Old Prince Bolkonsky was different bad character, Maria was absolutely overwhelmed by him and did not believe in her personal happiness at all. She gives all her love to her father, brother Andrei and his son, trying to replace little Nikolenka’s deceased mother.

Maria's life changes from the moment she meets Nikolai Rostov. He “saved” her from the courtyard men who did not want to let the princess out of the estate where her father died. It was Nikolai who saw all the wealth and beauty of her soul. They get married, Maria becomes a devoted wife, completely sharing all the views of her husband.