What has changed in the life of Pierre himself. The life path of Pierre Bezukhov's spiritual quest in the novel "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy

In the title of the epic novel War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy reflected the idea of ​​the work, which is to reveal the relationship of society during the Napoleonic War. The author decided to introduce his heroes into just such a situation, because only in "an event contrary to the human mind and all human nature" can one see a real human face.

Tolstoy hid his own position regarding military operations in the image of Pierre Bezukhov, a hero who is a real opponent of the war. The dialogue between Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky makes it clear to the reader that Pierre is a true humanist, since it is he who is trying to convince Bolkonsky: if there were no war, then “it would be great.” In addition, the author conveys the idea of ​​philanthropy in the image of Bezukhov through an episode illustrating the battle on the Borodino field.

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The author specifically creates the image of Pierre during the battle, who was dressed in a white suit. It can be said that through this detail Tolstoy shows the reader that a person who has never seen a war does not even imagine its bloody destruction. That is why Bezukhov will be the person who will be horrified by what he sees during the battle. The hero in battle does not even have time to understand “that the colonel was killed, that he who shouted: “Brothers!” was a prisoner that in his eyes another soldier was stabbed in the back with a bayonet. Pierre did not even distinguish the Russians from the French, he saw only soldiers "with faces disfigured by suffering." The hero understands that a terrible picture is unfolding before his eyes, contrary to human consciousness, which is why he exclaims: “Now they (the French) will leave it, now they will be horrified by what they have done! This episode shows: Pierre is a true humanist who is alien to war.

From the first episode, illustrating the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer, the reader understands: Pierre Bezukhov is different from the characters around him. Bezukhov, having returned from France to Russia, enters secular society for the first time, therefore he does not know at all about its rules and traditions. For example, the hero, without listening to Aunt Scherer's speech, turned around and left the elderly lady. In addition, the hero could freely say that Napoleon was great, and the French Revolution was necessary. Bezukhov, although he entered secular society, did not belong to them.

It is important to say that the author at the very beginning of the novel presents Pierre as a brawler. Since, after arriving in Russia, the hero is just starting his journey of searching, he tries to "enter" various companies. Bezukhov lived in the Kuragins' house and participated in Anatole's "riotous life", which is why the hero is involved in the story of how several people tied a quarterly bear to the back.

Further, the author connects Pierre Bezukhov and Helen Kuragin with marriage bonds, which were built entirely on material gain, since Kuragin the elder, knowing about the hero’s inheritance, constantly pushed him to marry. It is worth noting that this union was only a parody of family life: the whole city knows about Helen's betrayals, and Bezukhov regretted the unsuccessful marriage. After another betrayal by Kuragina, Bezukhov learns from an anonymous letter that the subject of her new love affairs is Dolokhov, a hero whom Pierre, out of old friendship, invites to live in his house. Unable to bear such humiliation, Pierre Bezukhov challenges Fyodor Dolokhov to a duel. Perhaps the hero would not have dared to fight, but Dolokhov himself provoked a similar course of events. During a dinner in honor of Bagration, Fedor makes a toast: “To the health of beautiful women .... and their lovers,” and then snatches an anonymous letter from Bezukhov’s hands.

Not recognizing family happiness, Bezukhov is disappointed in his lifestyle and begins to look for his own way in this world. The hero was afraid that “having entered this life with all his teeth and hair”, he would leave it “without one tooth and hair”, without understanding the meaning of life. With this metaphor, the author explains to the reader that Pierre was afraid to spend his best years of his life solving eternal questions. In addition, even Bezukhov despised people who were satisfied with their position. The hero drowned out his own mental pain with wine, because only with the help of alcohol did he realize that “that tangled knot of life” was not as terrible as it seemed to him. The hero asked rhetorical questions: “What is wrong? What well?" Bezukhov, not finding a proper answer, believed that only after death could he find out everything and "stop asking." We can say that Pierre was unhappy.

Bezukhov manages to return faith in life only to the old freemason, Osip Bazdeev. He manages to point out the way of knowing the truth, which lies through the perception of "higher wisdom and truth" - "pure moisture", that is, the qualities that are the foundation of the spiritual component of man. But they can only be absorbed by the soul, into which the “light of God”, called conscience, is embedded. In order to come to the knowledge of the truth, it is necessary to come to an independent spiritual purification. The old man convinces the hero that he can benefit his neighbor if he helps tens of thousands of slaves. Later, Bezukhov joins the Masonic lodge, where he receives teachings about immortality.

It is worth noting that Pierre fully realized the teachings of the Freemason only in captivity, as he finds himself in an extreme situation. Bezukhov, freely walking around the camp, provokes the wrath of the French soldiers, after which he utters the final monologue in his image. The hero realizes his unity with the world and is no longer afraid of possible death, because he is sure that no one can kill his immortal soul. After this episode, Bezukhov stops looking for his life path, because he is already finding harmony.

It should be noted that after marrying Natasha Rostova, the hero "began to live in a big house, family." Pierre Bezukhov was completely surrounded by his relatives, replacing him with "the most expensive luxury." Pierre explains that the new way of life is cheap, and therefore much closer and more accessible to the hero. The author gives an assessment of Pierre's activities through the eyes of Nikolenka, for whom Bezukhov was "an object of admiration and passionate love." We can say that the author specifically focuses the reader's attention on the epilogue, illustrating the family life of the Bezukhovs, through whom he conveys the truth - if such families exist, then they will adorn society.

One of the main characters of the epic "Warrior and Peace" is Pierre Bezukhov. Characteristics of the character of the work is revealed through his actions. And also through the thoughts, spiritual searches of the main characters. The image of Pierre Bezukhov allowed Tolstoy to convey to the reader an understanding of the meaning of the era of that time, the whole life of a person.

Acquaintance of the reader with Pierre

The image of Pierre Bezukhov is very difficult to briefly describe and understand. The reader must go through with the hero all of his

Acquaintance with Pierre is referred in the novel to 1805. He appears at a secular reception with Anna Pavlovna Sherer, a Moscow high-ranking lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting for the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of one of the Moscow nobles. He received a good education abroad, but when he returned to Russia, he did not find a use for himself. An idle lifestyle, revelry, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this life baggage, he appears in Moscow. In turn, the high society also does not attract a young man. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, hypocrisy of his representatives. “Life is something deeper, more significant, but unknown to him,” Pierre Bezukhov reflects. "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy helps the reader to understand this.

Moscow life

The change of residence did not affect the image of Pierre Bezukhov. By nature, he is a very gentle person, easily falls under the influence of others, doubts about the correctness of his actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he finds himself in captivity of the idle with her temptations, feasts and revelry.

After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and the entire fortune of his father. The attitude of society towards young people is changing dramatically. The eminent Moscow nobleman, in pursuit of the fortune of the young count, marries his beautiful daughter Helen to him. This marriage did not portend a happy family life. Very soon, Pierre understands the deceit, deceit of his wife, her debauchery becomes obvious to him. Thoughts of desecrated honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could be fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended with the injury of the offender, and Pierre's life was out of danger.

The path of searching for Pierre Bezukhov

After the tragic events, the young count thinks more and more about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confusing, disgusting and meaningless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant in comparison with something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have sufficient fortitude and knowledge to discover this great, to find the true purpose of human life. Thoughts did not leave the young man, making his life unbearable. A brief description of Pierre Bezukhov gives the right to say that he was a deep, thinking person.

Fascination with Freemasonry

After parting with Helen and giving her a large share of the fortune, Pierre decides to return to the capital. On the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg, during a short stop, he meets a man who talks about the existence of a brotherhood of Masons. Only they know the true path, they are subject to the laws of life. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.

Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, takes the rite and becomes a member of the Masonic lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, views on life captivate Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything he hears at the meetings, although much of his new life seems gloomy and incomprehensible to him. The path of searching for Pierre Bezukhov continues. The soul is still rushing about and does not find peace.

How to make people's lives easier

New experiences and searches for the meaning of being lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many destitute, deprived of any right people around.

He decides to take action to improve the lives of the peasants on his estates. Many do not understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was started, there is a misunderstanding, a rejection of the new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed, disappointed.

The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose characterization describes him as a gentle, trusting person) realized that he had been cruelly deceived by the manager, funds and efforts were wasted.

Napoleon

The disturbing events taking place in France at that time occupied the minds of the entire high society. stirred the minds of the young and the old. For many young people, the image of the great emperor has become an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes, victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I did not understand people who dared to resist the talented commander, the great revolution. There was a moment in Pierre's life when he was ready to swear allegiance to Napoleon and defend the gains of the revolution. But this was not destined to happen. Feats, achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.

And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. The adoration of Napoleon's personality will be replaced in Pierre's soul with contempt and hatred. There will be an irresistible desire to kill the tyrant, avenging all the troubles that he brought to his native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of ​​​​reprisal against Napoleon, he believed that this was a destiny, the mission of his life.

battle of Borodino

The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the established foundation, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. The aimless life of wealth and convenience was left without hesitation by the count for the sake of serving the fatherland.

It is in the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization has not yet been flattering, begins to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Rapprochement with soldiers, representatives of the common people, helps to re-evaluate life.

The great Battle of Borodino played a special role in this. Pierre Bezukhov, being in the same ranks with the soldiers, saw their real patriotism without falsehood and pretense, their readiness to give their lives without hesitation for the sake of their homeland.

Destruction, blood, and related experiences give rise to the spiritual rebirth of the hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to questions that have tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with all his heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, an explanation for which at this moment he cannot yet give.

Captivity

Further events unfold in such a way that the trials that befell Pierre should temper and finally form his views.

Once in captivity, he goes through an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but in front of his eyes several Russian soldiers are executed, who along with him fell to the French. The spectacle of the execution does not leave Pierre's imagination, bringing him to the brink of insanity.

And only a meeting and conversations with Platon Karataev again awaken a harmonious beginning in his soul. Being in a cramped barracks, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel truly. The life path of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand that being on earth is a great happiness.

However, the hero will have to reconsider his own and look for his place in it more than once.

Fate disposes so that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French, as he fell ill and could not move. The death of Karataev brings new suffering to the hero. Pierre himself was released from captivity by the partisans.

Native

Freed from captivity, Pierre, one after another, receives news from his relatives, about whom he knew nothing for a long time. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helen. Best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, is seriously wounded.

The death of Karataev, disturbing news from relatives again excite the soul of the hero. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that have occurred were his fault. He is the cause of the death of his loved ones.

And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments of spiritual experiences, the image of Natasha Rostova suddenly comes. She instills in him peace, gives strength and confidence.

Natasha Rostova

At subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he has a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha has a reciprocal feeling for Pierre. In 1813 they got married.

Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, to feel him - this is the main advantage of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to save a person. The family is a small model of the world. The state of the whole society depends on the health of this cell.

Life goes on

The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of the inner development of the soul accompanied the hero all his life, and it gave its results.

But life does not stop, and Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization as a seeker is given here, is again ready to move forward. In 1820, he informs his wife that he intends to become a member of a secret society.

The writer combined in him the best human qualities, showed through the prism of world-scale events the personal experiences of the character, the spiritual formation of the personality.

After finishing "War and Peace", Lev Nikolayevich said that he was ready to spend his whole life writing a novel, if only it would resonate in the hearts of his compatriots, so that the work would be addressed both after 20 years and after 30. The dreams of the author of the epic came true: after a century and a half The novel makes readers all over the world think about the meaning of life.

Novel "War and Peace"

Leo Tolstoy approached the creation of another imperishable work with inherent pedantry. "War and Peace" is five thousand sheets of drafts and seven years of hard work. The author, in an attempt to find the truth about the war, spent months studying documents, books and magazines about the events of 1812, even visited the battlefields in Borodino.

At first, the writer was going to create a novel about an exiled Decembrist, where the action takes place in the middle of the 19th century, then he changed his mind and returned 25 years ahead, then pushed back the framework to the beginning of the war with, and finally stopped at 1805.

The great artistic creation also went down in history as a new literary format. Lev Nikolayevich stubbornly searched for an unusual type of presentation, as a result he presented to the reading world a genre that had not yet existed - an epic novel that united dozens of destinies in the light of significant historical events.

Next to the central characters, the prose writer settled Pierre Bezukhov. The illegitimate son of Count Kirill Bezukhov, after 10 years spent abroad, returned to his native land. The reader meets the young man in the salon of Anna Scherer - this is Pierre's first appearance in the world. Society with disgust and irony looks at the naive bastad with his ridiculous appearance, manners and straightforward statements.

After the death of his father, Pierre Bezukhov inherits and acquires the status of an enviable groom, strikes in revelry and revelry. Soon he says goodbye to his bachelor life, taking Elena Kuragina, known as Helen, as his wife. The mistake in choosing a life partner is obvious - a stupid, prudent lady, moreover, is not distinguished by chastity, cheating on her husband right and left.

A shock for Pierre is the news of a love affair with a friend Fyodor Dorokhov. Only a duel can protect honor, in which the clumsy and harmless Bezukhov, forced by the laws of society to shoot himself, miraculously wounded his opponent. Living with Helen Kuragina is no longer bearable, and the young man is at odds with his wife.

From the very beginning, Lev Nikolayevich presents the character as a restless person who is trying to answer eternal questions about the meaning of life, purpose, love and hate. Spiritual quests are gaining momentum after treason and a duel, as a result, Pierre is fond of Freemasonry. But here, too, disappointment awaits: instead of higher motives, Bezukhov reveals the true goals of the movement - to rise in society, take possession of "uniforms and crosses", and have a good time in fashionable salons.

The events of 1812, which destroyed the ideals of the hero, help to recover from the experienced personal drama. Pierre Bezukhov sees the heroism of soldiers in the war and also follows their example, discovering courage, courage and the ability to sacrifice in his soul. The Battle of Borodino clearly shows Pierre how ordinary people defend their native land without much thought about the meaning of life.

Bezukhov decides to stay in the occupied capital, naively believing that he will kill Napoleon. But he is captured, where a fateful acquaintance with the peasant Platon Karataev happens.

The wisdom and high spirituality of a soldier changes Pierre's attitude to life and society. Surprisingly, only in captivity does the hero find peace, accept himself and the shortcomings of others: he understands “not with his mind, but with his whole being, with his life, that a person was created for happiness, that happiness is in himself, in satisfying natural human needs.”

However, a simple path to the complete acceptance of being is not for Pierre, he sees a way out in the moral renewal of society and decides to join the ranks of a secret organization. On the love front, fate presents Pierre with a gift - reciprocal feelings and a happy family life. Although before the couple reunited, years passed.

For the first time, Pierre saw a 13-year-old girl with an open and trusting soul visiting the Rostovs. For a very long time, Bezukhov treated her like a child, watching with interest the development and formation of a person. Natasha, betrothed to a close friend of Pierre, betrayed her fiancé, almost escaping with Kuragin, Helen's brother, who had seduced her. The betrayal shocks Bezukhov, besides, he feels some involvement in the fall of the heroine, because he was still married to Helen.

But soon the girl woke up from the spell of Kuragin and plunged into a pool of strong emotions. Bezukhov supported Natasha - and through these sufferings he examined the pure soul of the heroine. Feelings arose gradually, only after the death of Bolkonsky, communicating with Rostova, he realized that he was full of love for this pure, high being. At the end of the novel, Natasha Rostova accepts a marriage proposal from Pierre Bezukhov, and years later the couple raise four children.

Image

Leo Tolstoy could not decide on the name of one of the key characters in the novel. Before becoming Pyotr Kirillovich Bezukhov, his “passport data” changed three times: in the sketches he appeared as Prince Kushnev, then Pyotr Medynsky, then Arkady Bezukhy. And when the author conceived a work about the Decembrists, the hero bore the name Pyotr Lobazov. Moreover, Pierre does not have a specific prototype, as the writer admitted, the character is in many ways similar to himself.

In the appearance of the hero there is no aristocracy. Readers get acquainted with a well-fed young man with a cropped head and glasses - in a word, nothing remarkable. A sullen, somewhat stupid face, sometimes with the expression of a guilty person, is instantly changed by a smile - then Pierre even becomes handsome. The absurdity of the image, absent-mindedness causes ridicule from the environment. However, observant people notice a timid, but intelligent look.

Pierre Bezukhov - illustration for the book "War and Peace"

Tolstoy concluded in the character all the best characteristics, making him a standard for all time. Brilliant education, kindness, willingness to rush to help, nobility, innocence and gullibility - from the first pages Bezukhov evokes sympathy. He doesn’t even hate his opponent in a duel, on the contrary, he justifies Dorokhov - who knows, perhaps Pierre could have been in the place of his wife’s lover.

The novel reflects the evolution of the character of Pierre Bezukhov. From a naive and driven person, he turns into a self-sufficient person. The character manages to come to inner harmony.

Screen adaptations

They tried to transfer the novel of the great Russian writer to the screen back in the era of silent films. The viewer saw the first picture directed by Pyotr Chardynin in 1913. By the middle of the century, the film version of the epic was successfully presented by the Americans - the film received three nominations for the Oscar and the Golden Globe Award.

The Soviet authorities decided to give an answer to foreigners, entrusting the director with a case of "national importance". It took six years and 18 million rubles to create the picture. As a result - the main prize of the Moscow International Film Festival and "Oscar".

"War and Peace" inspired the film industry to create two series. The first was released on the BBC channel in 1972, the script of which was written for 20 episodes. The production of the 2007 television version brought together several countries - Russia, Germany, France, Italy and Poland. And after almost 10 years, the BBC corporation again took up the matter, revealing to the world, which includes six episodes.

• 1913 - "War and Peace" (dir. Pyotr Chardynin)
• 1915 - "Natasha Rostova" (dir. Pyotr Chardynin)
• 1956 - "War and Peace" (dir. King Vidor)
• 1967 - "War and Peace" (dir. Sergei Bondarchuk)
• 1972 - "War and Peace" (dir. John Davis)
• 2007 - "War and Peace" (dir. Robert Dornhelm)
• 2016 - "War and Peace" (dir. Tom Harper)

actors

The magnificent picture of King Vidor, based on Tolstoy's novel, brought together brilliant actors. The role of Pierre Bezukhov went to Henry Fonda, although they planned to shoot. But the man flatly refused to join the company on the set in the image of Natasha Rostova. Later, the actress said that it was difficult to get used to such a difficult role.

Sergei Bondarchuk could not decide who to give the role of Countess Rostova to. The master of the cinema was brought a ballerina - a tender and fragile girl, but a blonde, while Tolstoy's heroine has dark hair. Lyudmila did not pass the audition, but got a second chance. On the screens, viewers see the actress in a wig. Bastard Bezukhov was performed by the director himself, and the charming friend of Andrei Bolkonsky played.

In the 1972 series, the restless hero was presented, so convincingly that the actor was awarded a BAFTA award.

The authors of the television series "War and Peace" in 2007 allowed themselves to deviate from the storyline of the work of the Russian classic, changing some points. So, Helen Kuragina died from a terrible disease (in the book, the consequences of an abortion led to death), and in the duel Nikolai Rostov acted as Pierre's second (in fact, he was the opponent's assistant). Yes, and Natasha Rostova in performance is not similar to the image described in the novel.

(Andrey Bolkonsky) and (Natasha Rostova). And he demonstrated the evolution of the character of Pierre Bezukhov.

Quotes

"We all know what evil is for ourselves"

“How easy, how little effort is needed to do so much good,” thought Pierre, “and how little we care about it!”

“We can only know that we know nothing. And this is the highest degree of human wisdom.”

“A person cannot own anything while he is afraid of death. And whoever is not afraid of her, everything belongs to him.

“The main thing is to live, the main thing is to love, the main thing is to believe”

“You are the kind of people who come to people when they are happy to spoil their mood”

L. N. Tolstoy is a writer of enormous, worldwide scale, since the subject of his research was man, his soul. For Tolstoy, man is part of the universe. He is interested in what path the human soul goes in striving for the high, ideal, in striving to know oneself.

Pierre Bezukhov is an honest, highly educated nobleman. This is a spontaneous nature, capable of keenly feeling, easily excited. Pierre is characterized by deep thoughts and doubts, the search for the meaning of life. His life path is complex and tortuous. At first, under the influence of youth and the environment, he makes many mistakes: he leads a reckless life of a secular reveler and loafer, allows Prince Kuragin to rob himself and marry his daughter Helen. Pierre shoots himself in a duel with Dolokhov, breaks with his wife, is disappointed in life. He hates the widely recognized lies of secular society, and he understands the need to fight.

At this critical moment, Pierre falls into the hands of the freemason Bazdeev. This "preacher" deftly sets up before the gullible count the nets of a religious-mystical society, which called for the moral improvement of people and their unification on the basis of brotherly love. Pierre understood Freemasonry as a doctrine of equality, brotherhood and love. This helped him to direct his forces to the improvement of the serfs. He liberated the peasants, established hospitals, shelters and schools.

The war of 1812 makes Pierre ardently get down to business again, but his passionate appeal to help the Motherland causes general dissatisfaction among the Moscow nobility. He fails again. However, seized with a patriotic feeling, Pierre equips a thousand militia with his own money and remains in Moscow himself to kill Napoleon: “either die, or end the misfortunes of all of Europe, which, according to Pierre, came from Napoleon alone.”

An important stage on the path of Pierre's searches is his visit to the Borodino field at the time of the famous battle. He understood here that history is created by the most powerful force in the world - the people. Bezukhov approvingly perceives the wise words of the soldier: “They want to pile on all the people, one word - Moscow. They want to make one end." The sight of lively and sweaty militia men, with loud laughter and talking, working on the field, "acted on Pierre more than anything that he had seen and heard so far about the solemnity and significance of the present moment."

If Pierre’s closer rapprochement with ordinary people occurs after a meeting with a soldier, a former peasant, Platon Karataev, who, according to Tolstoy, is a particle of the masses. From Karataev, Pierre gains peasant wisdom, in communication with him "finds that calmness and contentment with himself, to which he vainly sought before."

The life path of Pierre Bezukhov is typical for the best part of the noble youth of that time. It was from such people that the iron cohort of the Decembrists was made up. They have much in common with the author of the epic, who was faithful to the oath given to him in his youth: “In order to live honestly, one must tear, get confused, fight, make mistakes, start and quit again, and start again and quit again and always fight and lose. And peace is spiritual meanness.