Why are Andrey and Pierre friends? based on the epic novel War and Peace (Tolstoy Lev N.). Why Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov are friends Why Bolkonsky and Bezukhov are friends

He always sought with all the strength of his soul

one thing: to be quite good.

Pierre about Prince Andrei

You are special to me because you

one living person among all of us

Andrey about Pierre

L. N. Tolstoy. War and Peace

Why do people become friends? If parents, children, and relatives are not chosen, then everyone is free to choose friends. Therefore, a friend is a person whom we completely trust, whom we respect, and whose opinion we take into account. But this does not mean that friends should think alike. A popular proverb says: “An enemy agrees, but a friend argues.” Sincerity and selflessness, mutual understanding and willingness to support and help - this is the basis of true friendship, such as the friendship of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, different in character, with different personalities, but with a common desire for a meaningful, fulfilling life, for useful activity.

“The soul must work,” these words, spoken a century after the creation of “War and Peace,” could become the motto of their life, their friendship. The reader's attention is drawn to Prince Andrei and Pierre from the first pages of the novel. Let's imagine a high-society evening in Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon. Famous guests, glitter of outfits and jewelry, false pleasantries, artificial smiles, “decent” conversations. Two people, so different from everyone else, found each other in the crowd of guests so as not to be separated until the end of the life of one of them.

How different they are: the sophisticated aristocrat Prince Bolkonsky, and the illegitimate son of the noble Catherine’s nobleman Count Bezukhov Pierre. Prince Andrey belongs here. He is accepted in society, smart, educated, his manners are impeccable. And Pierre’s appearance frightens Anna Pavlovna. Tolstoy explains that her fear “could only relate to that intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room.” Andrei Bolkonsky is frankly bored at this evening, he is tired of everything and everyone, but Pierre is not bored: he is interested in people and their conversations. Not observing etiquette, he “breaks into” disputes about Napoleon, disrupting the flow of a “decent conversational machine.” They were delighted to meet. Having known each other since childhood, the young people have not seen each other for a long time. They have something to tell each other, despite the age difference.

What unites them now, why are they interesting to each other? Both are at a crossroads. Both think not about a career, but about the meaning of life, about useful, worthy human activity. They don’t yet know what they want, what they need to strive for, not only the naive Pierre, but also Prince Andrei does not understand this, but Bolkonsky knows for sure that the life he leads is not according to him. He believes that life has failed, he rushes about, looking for a way out. However, this does not stop him from trying to influence Pierre, convincing him that he “will be good” in any field, but he must stay away from the company of Dolokhov and Anatoly Kuragin. They are concerned not only with personal problems. The name of Napoleon is on everyone's lips. It causes fear and indignation in court society. Pierre and Prince Andrei perceive him differently. Pierre ardently defends Napoleon, justifying his cruelty by the need to preserve the gains of the revolution; Prince Andrei is attracted to Bonaparte by the eccentricity of the commander, whose talent raised him to the pinnacle of glory.

While largely disagreeing with each other, they recognize the right of everyone to make their own judgments and make their own choices. But at the same time, the more experienced Bolkonsky is afraid (and, unfortunately, he is right!) of the corrupting influence on Pierre of the environment in which he found himself. And Pierre, considering Prince Andrei a model of all perfections, still does not heed his advice and is forced to learn from his own mistakes.

They still have a lot to do. Both cannot help but think, both struggle with themselves, often suffer defeats in this struggle, but do not give up, but continue to “fight, get confused, make mistakes, start and quit...” (L.N. Tolstoy). And this, according to Tolstoy, the main thing is not to be satisfied with yourself, to judge and punish yourself, to overcome yourself again and again. No matter how fate tests Prince Andrei and Pierre, they do not forget about each other.

Pierre, who has experienced a lot and has grown up, visits the widowed Prince Andrei in Bogucharovo after a trip to his estates. He is active, full of life, hopes, aspirations. Having become a Freemason, he became interested in the idea of ​​internal purification, believed in the possibility of the brotherhood of man, and did, as it seemed to him, a lot to alleviate the situation of the peasants. And Prince Andrei, who survived his “Austerlitz” and lost faith in life, is depressed and gloomy. Bezukhov was struck by the change in him: “... the words were kind, a smile was on the lips and face of Prince Andrei, but his gaze was extinguished, dead.”

I think it is no coincidence that the writer brings his heroes together at this very moment, when one of them, trying to live for others, “understood all the happiness of life,” and the other, having lost his wife, parted with the dream of fame, decided to live only for himself and his loved ones , "avoiding only two evils - remorse and illness." If they are connected by true friendship, this meeting is necessary for both. Pierre is inspired, he shares his new thoughts with Prince Andrei, but Bolkonsky listens to him incredulously and gloomily, does not want to talk about himself, does not even hide the fact that he is not interested in everything that Pierre is talking about, but does not give up the argument. Bezukhov proclaims that it is necessary to do good to people, and Prince Andrei believes that it is enough not to harm anyone. It seems that Pierre is right in this dispute, but in reality everything is more complicated. Prince Andrei, who had that “practical tenacity” that Pierre did not have, manages to do much of what he dreams of and what his friend cannot achieve: he is older, more experienced, knows life and people better.

The dispute, at first glance, did not change anything. However, the meeting with Pierre made a strong impression on Prince Andrei; it “awakened something that had long fallen asleep, something better that was in him.” Apparently, Bezukhov’s “golden heart” did not let him down when he was not afraid to hurt his friend, to offend the prince’s grief, convincing him that life goes on, that much is still ahead. He helped Prince Andrei take the first step towards internal rebirth, towards a new life, towards love.

It seems to me that, had it not been for Bogucharov’s meeting, Bolkonsky would not have noticed either the poetic moonlit night in Otradnoye, or the lovely girl who would soon enter his life and change it, and the old oak tree would not have helped him make such an important conclusion: “No, life is not over at thirty-one... It is necessary for everyone to know me, so that my life does not go on for me alone... So that it is reflected on everyone and so that they all live with me." In two months he will leave for St. Petersburg to be useful to people, and Pierre, influenced by a conversation with Bolkonsky, looking more closely at the Masonic brothers, realized that behind their correct words about the brotherhood of man lies their own goal - “the uniforms and crosses that they sought in life". This, in fact, began his break with Freemasonry.

Both friends still have many hopes, disappointments, downs, and ups ahead. But one thing, the main thing that unites them, both of them will retain - the constant desire to seek truth, goodness and justice. And how Pierre rejoices when he learns that Prince Andrei fell in love with Natasha Rostova, how wonderful and generous he is when he hides his feelings for her, moreover, he persuades his friend to forgive the girl for her infatuation with Anatoly Kuragin. Having failed to achieve this, Pierre painfully experiences their breakup, he hurts for both, he fights for their love, without thinking about himself. Before the events of 1812, Tolstoy again leads his friends to a deep crisis: Prince Andrei became disillusioned with government activities, his hope for personal happiness collapsed, his faith in people was trampled; Pierre broke with Freemasonry and unrequitedly loves Natasha. How difficult it is for both of them, and how they need each other! The events of 1812 are a severe test for both, and both pass it with honor, finding their place in the fight against the invaders. Before the Battle of Borodino, Pierre had to see Prince Andrei, because only he alone could explain to him everything that was happening. And so they meet. Pierre's expectations come true: Bolkonsky explains to him the situation in the army. Now Bezukhov understood that “hidden warmth... of patriotism” that was flaring up before his eyes. And for Prince Andrey, the conversation with Pierre is very important: expressing his thoughts to a friend, he felt that he might not return from this field, and, probably, he felt sorry for his life, his loved ones, his friendship with this huge, absurd, beautiful Pierre, but Andrei Bolkonsky - the true son of his father - restrains himself and does not betray the excitement that has gripped him.

They won't have to talk heart to heart anymore. A wonderful friendship was cut short by an enemy grenade. Although no, she didn’t cut it off. The deceased friend will forever remain next to Pierre as his most precious memory, as the most sacred thing that he had in his life. He still mentally consults with Prince Andrei and, making the main decision in his life - to actively fight evil, he is sure that Prince Andrei would be on his side. Pierre proudly speaks about this to Nikolenka Bolkonsky, the fifteen-year-old son of Prince Andrei, because he wants to see in the boy the heir to the thoughts and feelings of a person who has not died for him and will never die. What united two wonderful people: the constant work of the soul, the tireless search for truth, the desire to always be pure before their conscience, to benefit people - is immortal. There is something in human feelings that is always modern. The pages of War and Peace, dedicated to the friendship of such different and equally wonderful people as Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, are unforgettable. After all, before our eyes, these people, supporting each other, become better, cleaner, fairer. Everyone dreams of such friends and such friendship.

WHY ANDREY BOLKONSKY AND PIERRE BEZUKHOV ARE FRIENDS He always sought with all the strength of his soul
one thing: to be quite good.
Pierre about Prince Andrei
You are special to me because you
one living person among all of us
Sveta.
Andrey about Pierre
L. N. Tolstoy. War and Peace

Why do people become friends? If parents, children, and relatives are not chosen, then everyone is free to choose friends. Therefore, a friend is a person whom we completely trust, whom we respect, and whose opinion we take into account. But this does not mean that friends should think alike. A popular proverb says: “An enemy agrees, but a friend argues.” Sincerity and selflessness, mutual understanding and willingness to support and help - this is the basis of true friendship, such as the friendship of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, different in character, with different personalities, but with a common desire for a meaningful, fulfilling life, for useful activity.

“The soul must work,” these words, spoken a century after the creation of “War and Peace,” could become the motto of their life, their friendship.

The reader's attention is drawn to Prince Andrei and Pierre from the first pages of the novel. Let's imagine a high-society evening in Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon. Famous guests, glitter of clothes and jewelry, false pleasantries, artificial smiles, “decent” conversations. Two people, so different from everyone else, found each other in the crowd of guests so as not to be separated until the end of the life of one of them.

How different they are: the sophisticated aristocrat Prince Bolkonsky, and the illegitimate son of the noble Catherine’s nobleman Count Bezukhov Pierre. Prince Andrey belongs here. He is accepted in society, smart, educated, his manners are impeccable. And Pierre’s appearance frightens Anna Pavlovna. Tolstoy explains that her fear “could only relate to that intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room.”

Andrei Bolkonsky is frankly bored at this evening, he is tired of everything and everyone, but Pierre is not bored: he is interested in people and their conversations. Not observing etiquette, he “breaks into” disputes about Napoleon, disrupting the flow of a “decent conversational machine.” They were delighted to meet. Having known each other since childhood, the young people have not seen each other for a long time. They have something to tell each other, despite the age difference.

What unites them now, why are they interesting to each other? Both are at a crossroads. Both think not about a career, but about the meaning of life, about useful, worthy human activity. They don’t yet know what they want, what they need to strive for, not only the naive Pierre, but also Prince Andrei does not understand this, but Bolkonsky knows for sure that the life he leads is not according to him. He thinks he has failed, rushes about, looking for a way out. However, this does not stop him from trying to influence Pierre, convincing him that he “will be good” in any field, but he must stay away from the company of Dolokhov and Anatoly Kuragin.

They are concerned not only with personal problems. The name of Napoleon is on everyone's lips. It causes fear and indignation in court society. Pierre and Prince Andrei perceive him differently. Pierre ardently defends Napoleon, justifying his cruelty by the need to preserve the gains of the revolution; Prince Andrei is attracted to Bonaparte by the eccentricity of the commander, whose talent raised him to the pinnacle of glory.

While largely disagreeing with each other, they recognize the right of everyone to make their own judgments and make their own choices. But at the same time, the more experienced Bolkonsky is afraid (and, unfortunately, he is right!) of the corrupting influence on Pierre of the environment in which he found himself. But Pierre, considering Prince Andrei a model of all perfections, still does not heed his advice and is forced to learn from his own mistakes.

They still have a lot to do. Both cannot help but think, both struggle with themselves, often suffer defeats in this struggle, but do not give up, but continue to “fight, get confused, make mistakes, start and quit...” (L.N. Tolstoy).

And this, according to Tolstoy, the main thing is not to be satisfied with yourself, to judge and punish yourself, to overcome yourself again and again. No matter how fate tests Prince Andrei and Pierre, they do not forget about each other.

Pierre, who has experienced a lot and has grown up, visits the widowed Prince Andrei in Bogucharovo after a trip to his estates. He is active, full of life, hopes, aspirations. Having become a Freemason, he became interested in the idea of ​​internal purification, believed in the possibility of the brotherhood of man, and did, as it seemed to him, a lot to alleviate the situation of the peasants. And Prince Andrei, who survived his “Austerlitz” and lost faith in life, is depressed and gloomy. Bezukhov was struck by the change in him: “... the words were kind, a smile was on the lips and face of Prince Andrei, but his gaze was extinguished, dead.”

I think it is no coincidence that the writer brings his heroes together at this very moment, when one of them, trying to live for others, “understood all the happiness of life,” and the other, having lost his wife, parted with the dream of fame, decided to live only for himself and his loved ones , “avoiding only two evils - remorse and illness.” If they are connected by true friendship, this meeting is necessary for both. Pierre is inspired, he shares his new thoughts with Prince Andrei, but Bolkonsky listens to him incredulously and gloomily, does not want to talk about himself, does not even hide the fact that he is not interested in everything that Pierre is talking about, but does not give up the argument. Bezukhov proclaims that it is necessary to do good to people, and Prince Andrei believes that it is enough not to harm anyone. It seems that Pierre is right in this dispute, but in reality everything is more complicated. Prince Andrei, who had that “practical tenacity” that Pierre did not have, manages to do much of what he dreams of and what his friend cannot achieve: he is older, more experienced, knows life and people better.

The dispute, at first glance, did not change anything. However, the meeting with Pierre made a strong impression on Prince Andrei; it “awakened something that had long fallen asleep, something better that was in him.” Apparently, Bezukhov’s “golden heart” did not let him down when he was not afraid to hurt his friend, to offend the prince’s grief, convincing him that life goes on, that much is still ahead. He helped Prince Andrei take the first step towards internal rebirth, towards a new life, towards love.

It seems to me that, had it not been for Bogucharov’s meeting, Bolkonsky would not have noticed either the poetic moonlit night in Otradnoye, or the lovely girl who would soon enter his life and change it, and the old oak tree would not have helped him make such an important conclusion: “No, life is not over at thirty-one... It is necessary for everyone to know me, so that my life does not go on for me alone... So that it is reflected on everyone and so that they all live with me.” In two months he will leave for St. Petersburg, useful to people, and Pierre, influenced by a conversation with Bolkonsky, looking more closely at the Masonic brothers, realized that behind their correct words about the brotherhood of man lies their own goal - “the uniforms and crosses that they sought in life " This, in fact, began his break with Freemasonry.

Both friends still have many hopes, disappointments, downs, and ups ahead. But one thing, the main thing that unites them, both of them will retain - the constant desire to seek truth, goodness and justice. And how Pierre rejoices when he learns that Andrei fell in love with Natasha Rostova, how wonderful and generous he is when he hides his feelings for her, moreover, he persuades his friend to forgive the girl for her passion for Anatoly Kuragin. Having failed to achieve this, Pierre painfully experiences their breakup, he hurts for both, he fights for their love, without thinking about himself. Before the events of 1812, Tolstoy again leads his friends to a deep crisis: Prince Andrei became disillusioned with government activities, his hope for personal happiness collapsed, his faith in people was trampled; Pierre broke with Freemasonry and unrequitedly loves Natasha. How difficult it is for both of them, and how much they need each other! The events of 1812 are a severe test for both, and both pass it with honor, finding their place in the fight against the invaders. Before the Battle of Borodino, Pierre had to see Prince Andrei, because only he alone could explain to him everything that was happening. And so they meet. Pierre's expectations come true: Bolkonsky explains to him the situation in the army. Now Bezukhov understood that “hidden warmth... of patriotism” that was flaring up before his eyes. And for Prince Andrey, the conversation with Pierre is very important: expressing his thoughts to a friend, he felt that he might not return from this field, and, probably, he felt sorry for his life, his loved ones, his friendship with this huge, absurd, beautiful Pierre, but Andrei Bolkonsky - the true son of his father - restrains himself and does not betray the excitement that gripped him.

They won't have to talk heart to heart anymore. A wonderful friendship was cut short by an enemy grenade. Although no, she didn’t cut it off. The deceased friend will forever remain next to Pierre as his most precious memory, as the most sacred thing that he had in his life. He still mentally consults with Prince Andrei and, making the main decision in his life - to actively fight evil, he is sure that Prince Andrei would be on his side. Pierre proudly speaks about this to Nikolenka Bolkonsky, the fifteen-year-old son of Prince Andrei, because he wants to see in the boy the heir to the thoughts and feelings of a person who has not died for him and will never die. What united two wonderful people: the constant work of the soul, the tireless search for truth, the desire to always be pure before their conscience, to benefit people - is immortal. There is something in human feelings that is always modern. The pages of War and Peace, dedicated to the friendship of such different and equally wonderful people as Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, unforgettable. After all, before our eyes, these people, supporting each other, become better, cleaner, fairer. Everyone dreams of such friends and such friendship.

Can people who know each other always become friends? This is always a free choice, it does not concern parents and children, who, as we all know, are not chosen. Therefore, only someone who can always be completely trusted, respected and taken into account in everything can be a friend. But friends don't always think alike. It’s not for nothing that the proverb says that an enemy will assent, but a true friend will argue. The friendship between Prince Andrei and Pierre Bezukhov, who are completely different in character and have different personalities, is based on selflessness and sincerity. They are ready to support each other and help in difficult situations. They have many differences, but they have one thing in common - the desire for useful activities. Their common goal is a full and meaningful life. Just as two opposites attract, so these two people found each other in a whole crowd. They will meet at one of the high-society evenings, held among many guests, glitter of jewelry and expensive clothes, where false courtesy reigns, artificial smiles, and "decent" conversations are conducted. Two dissimilar people, among everyone else, will find each other, they will not part until the end of their days one of them.

The friendship of these two men, the sophisticated aristocrat Bolkonsky and the illegitimate son of a noble nobleman Pierre, seems strange. Bolkonsky belongs in this society, he is accepted by everyone in this society, with his impeccable manners. Education and flexible mind. And Pierre, having first appeared in this living room, without observing the rules of etiquette, begins an argument about Napoleon. Everything here is new to him and therefore interesting: both the conversations and the people who lead them. They were sincerely happy to meet. Having known each other since childhood, they did not meet each other for several years. They have something to talk about, even despite these years and the difference in their ages. What can unite them now, what makes them interesting to each other? Both young men are at a crossroads, their thoughts are not a career, but the meaning of life, and useful, worthy of a person, activity. They both know what they want and what they need to strive for. Neither naive Pierre nor Prince Andrey knows this. He himself does not like the life Bolkonsky leads, he considers it a failure and is constantly looking for a way out of this situation. He tries to influence Pierre, convince him that he can be useful in various fields, warns him about the bad influence of the company of Kuragin and Dolokhov.

These two friends talk not only about their personal problems; the name of Napoleon, which causes not only indignation, but also fear, was then on the lips of the entire court society. The rifles perceive him differently. Thus, Pierre, who ardently defends it, justifies his cruelty as a necessity for preserving the gains of the French Revolution. Prince Andrei is attracted to Bonaparte by his originality, as a great commander who, thanks to his talent, rose to the very pinnacle of glory.On many issues, friends do not agree with each other, but they retain the right to their own judgment and choice. Prince Bolkonsky, as the more experienced one, fears for his friend, for the negative and corrupting influence that the environment in which Pierre finds himself may have. For Bezukhov, his friend is an example of all perfections, but he does not listen to his advice, so he learns from his own mistakes. Fate will test friends more than once, but they never forgot about each other, no matter how difficult the situation they were in. Everyone struggles with themselves, they sometimes win it, sometimes they suffer defeat, but they still persist in it, never giving up. In the novel we see two different people who supported each other all the time, became better people, in some cases fairer and purer in soul. One can only dream of such friendship and mutual assistance these days.

Leo Tolstoy’s journey to “War and Peace” was painful and long. The first title of the planned work sounded like “Decembrist”, then “All’s well that ends well”, the next one was “1805”, and only in the final version what was written becomes an epic novel about Russian society, the dialectics of the soul and the meaning of life. The comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, the main characters of the story, are clear confirmation of this.

Tolstoy and his heroes

Being a humanist writer, Lev Nikolaevich in each of his works explored the human soul, its internal development, rise or fall. He considered each person as a part of the universe, he was interested in everything about it. And the writer tries to figure out what makes a person great or low, what is most important in his life, whether he can influence history.

Leading the novel's heroes through trials with money, love, and war, the author always shows people's inner experiences and the motives by which they act. It is from this point of view that the quest of Andrei Bolkonsky, who turned out to be too good to live in this world, is always considered.

The evolution of Pierre Bezukhov is the spiritual growth of the author himself; this character is very close to him, so it is to him that he marries Natasha Rostova (the most favorite image of Leo Tolstoy), whom he considered the ideal of a Russian woman.

There are more than five hundred characters in War and Peace, most of them are real historical figures. The ingenious diversity of the novel allowed Tolstoy to place them all in their places, to identify parallels (maybe not even on purpose).

Image system

If we divide all the heroes of the work into four levels: historical, social, folk and natural (metaphysical), then it is easy to find the verticals to which Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov belong. And also those who correspond to them. This can be clearly shown in the table.

Crystalline grid of War and Peace

As we see, Prince Andrei and Count Bezukhov, standing on the same rung of the social ladder, correspond to different people at the historical and national level, and their elements do not coincide.

The rootlessness and groundlessness of Bolkonsky's life, accompanied by constant aspirations for unattainable ideals, make him similar to that bottomless blue sky that opened up to him on the Field of Austerlitz.

Pierre is not like that at all. It is he and others like him - Kutuzov and Platon Karataev - who can defeat Napoleon and Dolokhov, who imagines himself a superman, and put him in his place, who knows how to fight so well. More precisely, her analysis, carried out on a metaphysical level, indicates that his element is water. And only she can extinguish any flame, even a hostile one.

Attitude to high society

Despite all the differences in nature, Prince Andrei and Pierre are Tolstoy’s favorite heroes. We meet them on the very first pages of the novel, which tell about salon life. And we immediately see the difference in their behavior, but we immediately understand that these people have deep respect and affection for each other.

At this, to use modern slang, high-society get-together, they are there for one reason - their position obliges them. But for the prince, everything here is uninteresting and understandable. The falsehood, vulgarity, pursuit of money, and corruption that reign in high society have long disgusted him, and he does not hide his contempt for those gathered.

The young count is new here, he reverently watches the guests and does not notice that he is treated like a second-class person, because he is an illegitimate son, and whether he will get an inheritance is still unknown. But the characterization of Pierre Bezukhov would be incomplete if it were not clarified that very little time will pass, and he, just like the prince, will begin to treat with a sense of disgust the cold secular glitter and empty chatter.

Character traits

The friendship of these people, so different neither externally nor internally, was built on trust and respect, because they felt the sincerity of these relationships, the desire to help understand themselves and people. Perhaps this is a striking example of how opposing characters can peacefully complement each other. They are interested in being together.

A comparative description of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, as they appear at the beginning of the novel, will not be in favor of the latter. The prince has a sober, one might even say, statesmanlike mind, practical tenacity, and the ability to bring the work he has started to its logical conclusion. He is unusually restrained, collected, highly educated, intelligent, strong in character and has enormous willpower.

And Pierre is a sensitive, spontaneous, broad, sincere nature. After arriving from abroad, he does not find himself in the best company of secular revelers and slackers. Bezukhov understands that he is doing wrong, but his gentleness of character does not allow him to break unnecessary ties. And then Kuragin appears with his sister, and it was easy for this hardened intriguer to rob the gullible Pierre by marrying him to Helen.

And yet, Prince Andrei, so correct and cold, a rationalist to the core, was with Pierre free from conventions and allowed himself to speak completely frankly. And Bezukhov, in turn, believed only him and respected Bolkonsky limitlessly.

Test of love

An amazing thing: having the experience of unsuccessful marriages, both heroes fall in love with the same girl, amazing in her sincerity and spontaneity, with an irrepressible desire to live - Natasha Rostova. And now a comparative description of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, their attitude to love will not be in favor of the first.

Yes, the prince turned out to be happier, because he became Natasha’s fiancé, while the count did not even dare to admit to himself how dear this bright girl was to him. Young Rostova became a manifestation of the true feelings of Pierre and Andrei. If the first was ready to love silently all his life, because for him Natasha’s happiness was above all, and therefore he was ready to forgive her everything, then the second turned out to be an ordinary owner.

Bolkonsky could not understand and accept the poor girl’s repentance for betrayal, which, in fact, never happened. Only on his deathbed, when his entire past life no longer mattered, when all his ambitious thoughts were no longer needed, does Prince Andrei understand what it is to love. But this feeling is most likely not for a specific person; it is not even earthly, but divine.

Trial by war

The characterization of Andrei Bolkonsky as a warrior is brilliant. This is the same type of Russian officers on whom the army and the country rest. He is moderately cautious, courageous, quickly makes decisions in extreme situations, and cares about his subordinates. No wonder Kutuzov did not want to let him go from his headquarters to the front line.

The war of 1805, incomprehensible and unfair, devastated the prince. After injury and French captivity, when in his eyes Napoleon’s ideal collapsed and became devalued, Bolkonsky’s life was empty. But now we see a different Andrey. Here he is with his people, and he realized that the main purpose of human existence is to help other people.

For Pierre, the war turned out to be a purgatory of the soul. He stayed in Moscow to kill Napoleon, but while saving a child, he was arrested, then prepared to be shot, and then captured and retreated with the French. A complete description of Pierre Bezukhov is impossible without It is through this man that the count comprehends the people's character, its values ​​and priorities. Probably, it was after the meeting with Karataev that the path of Bezukhov the Decembrist began.

In search of truth

Both Andrei and Pierre, throughout the entire novel, languidly search for the meaning of life, following the paths of spiritual quest. They are either disappointed, then resurrected again for new things. A comparative description of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov shows that the tests fate has prepared for them are, in general, very similar.

Prince Andrei realized his death as a return. His mission on this earth is over - infinity and eternity lie ahead.

Instead of output

We should not forget that Tolstoy’s original plan was to write a novel about the Decembrist. In the very first drafts, the main character was already named Pierre, and his wife was Natasha. But it turned out that without an excursion into the War of 1812, nothing would be clear, and then it became obvious that we needed to start from 1805. So we got a wonderful book - “War and Peace”.

And its heroes - Pierre and Andrei Bolkonsky - stand before us as the best representatives of that time. Their love for the Motherland is active. In them, Lev Nikolaevich embodied his attitude to life: you need to live to the fullest, naturally and simply, then it will work out honestly. You can and should make mistakes, give up everything and start again. But peace is spiritual death.

As you know, initially L.N. Tolstoy conceived a novel about a Decembrist who returns from hard labor to post-reform Russia. But the writer decided to talk about the Decembrist uprising in order to identify the reasons for this event for the fate of the homeland. However, this event also required him to turn to the origins of Decembrism - the Patriotic War of 1812.

The writer himself said that it was impossible for him to talk about the time of Russian victories without turning to the era of “shame and defeat” - the war of 1805-1807. This is how the novel “War and Peace” appeared. As can be seen from this story, the novel initially had one hero - Pierre Bezukhov.

Images of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov in the novel “War and Peace”

The image of Andrei Bolkonsky appeared from the scene of the death of a young officer on the Austrelitz field. So, in “War and Peace” there are two positive characters who are close to the author and in many ways interpret the events the way the author interpreted them.

Prince Andrei appears on the pages of the novel as an already established person: he is an officer, leads a social life, is married, but

“the life he leads is not according to him.”

This explains the reason for his desire to go to war. We know almost nothing about the hero’s childhood, but knowing his father, the old Prince Bolkonsky, we can say with confidence that Prince Andrei’s upbringing was harsh; he most likely did not know his mother’s caresses. But at the same time, from his father he inherited a great sense of duty, patriotism, loyalty to his word, aversion to falsehood and lies.

We also know little about Pierre's childhood. His fate is influenced by the fact that he is the illegitimate son of a major Catherine nobleman. Pierre returns from abroad, where he was raised. His foreign upbringing instilled in him a humanistic approach to the problems of humanity. We meet the characters at Anna Pavlovna Sherer's evening. Both Pierre and Andrey stand out from everyone present at the evening:

• Andrey - because he is frankly bored, he is only fulfilling the duty of a socialite,
• and Pierre - by the fact that he naively violates the established order with sincerity and naturalness. Pierre doesn't know life well and doesn't understand people well.

The world of Tolstoy's heroes is the world of the patriarchal nobility. The writer is trying to understand the position of the best representatives of the noble intelligentsia.

Both Pierre and Andrey are characterized by:

• painful thoughts about the purpose of life,
• thoughts about the fate of the homeland,
• nobility, sincerity,
• awareness of the unity of one’s destiny and the destiny of the people and homeland.

The writer’s attitude to the war is expressed by Prince Andrei in a conversation with Pierre before the Battle of Borodino:

“War is the most disgusting thing in the world.”

Tolstoy leads each of the heroes on a painful path of searching for the truth. It is fundamentally important that the writer is not afraid to show the mistakes and failures of the characters.

The life path of Prince Andrei

• aversion to social life (“... this life is not for me”, author’s description: “He read everything, knew everything, had an idea about everything”)

• war of 1805-1807, dreams of glory (“I want fame, I want to be known to people, I want to be loved by them”)
• Austerlitz's sky (“Yes! Everything is empty, everything is deception, except this endless sky...”)
• life in the Bald Mountains, raising a son (Live in such a way as not to do harm to others, live for yourself)
• rebirth to life: conversation with Pierre on the ferry, night in Otradnoye, oak tree ("Everyone must know me, so that my life does not go on for me alone...")
• rapprochement and breakup with Speransky - love for Natasha and breakup with her - (“I can’t forgive”)
• Patriotic War of 1812, unity with the people, injury, search for eternity, forgiveness of enemies (Kuragina) - love for (“I love you more, better than before”) - discovery of eternity.

The most important thing that the reader takes away from the fate of Andrei Bolkonsky is that knowledge of the truth requires a person to renounce individualism and selfishness, while the truth, according to Tolstoy, is forgiveness and reconciliation with life.

The paths of Andrei and Pierre constantly intersect, but it is interesting that the heroes are almost never at the same point: Pierre’s periods of rise almost always coincide with periods of decline for Prince Andrei.

The path of spiritual quest of Pierre Bezukhov

Let's look at the path of spiritual quest of Pierre Bezukhov. Marriage to Helen is Pierre's first life test. Here, not only ignorance of life and an inability to withstand pressure was revealed, but also an inner feeling that something unnatural had happened. The duel with Dolokhov is a turning point in Pierre’s life: he, in turn, understands that the life he leads is not for him

("... the main screw on which his whole life was held was turned")

But Pierre’s hero sees the reason for what happened first of all. He takes the blame upon himself. At this moment, his meeting with the freemason Osip Alekseevich Bazdeev takes place. Bezukhov begins to see the meaning of life in the need to do good to people. But Pierre does not yet know life, which is why it is so easy to deceive him, just as his clerks and managers on his estates deceive him. He still cannot distinguish truth from lies. Disappointment in Freemasonry comes to the hero when he encounters representatives of high society in the Masonic lodge and understands that for them Freemasonry is only an opportunity to make a career and gain benefits. It is noteworthy that love for Natasha comes to Pierre when Natasha made a terrible mistake by meeting Anatole Kuragin. Love makes a person better, cleaner.

Pierre's love for Natasha, at first hopeless, revives the hero to search for the truth. The Battle of Borodino turns his life upside down, like the lives of many Russian people. Bezukhov wants to be a simple soldier,

“throw off all this unnecessary, devilish, all the burden of this external world.”

A naive desire to kill Napoleon, sacrifice himself, saving a girl, captivity, execution, loss of faith in life, meeting with Platon Karataev - the stages of Pierre’s spiritual formation in the novel “War and Peace” are rapidly changing. The hero learns from Plato the ability to live in any circumstances, to accept life, to feel like a part of a huge world

(“And all this is mine, and all this is in me, and all this is me!”).

It is noteworthy that after captivity, Pierre acquired the ability to communicate with people and understand them, it is no longer possible to deceive him, he has an internal understanding of good and bad. The meeting with Natasha, the mutual feeling of love revives Bezukhov and gives him happiness. In the epilogue of the novel, Pierre is passionate about the ideas of radical changes in the social structure of Russia - he is a future Decembrist.

Revealing the characters of Pierre and Andrei in the novel

It should be especially noted that the images of Pierre and Andrey do not duplicate each other: before us are two different people, two different characters. The appearance in the novel of not the only positive hero gives Tolstoy the opportunity to show that the search for the meaning of life, spiritual quests were characteristic of the best nobles of Russia.

The character of Tolstoy's heroes is revealed:

• in a clash with other characters (explanation scene between Pierre and Hélène),
• in the monologues of the heroes (the reflections of Prince Andrei on the road to Otradnoye),
• the psychological state of the hero (“No matter what he started to think about, he returned to the same questions that he could not resolve and could not stop asking himself” - about Pierre),
• on the spiritual and mental state of the hero (the sky of Austerlitz, the oak tree on the road to Otradnoye).

The whole life of the writer Tolstoy was aimed at comprehending the Truth. These are his favorite heroes - Pierre and Andrey, who seem to set the reader a high standard for comprehending the meaning of life, make them painfully experience ups and downs, and comprehend life and themselves.