Examples of patriotism in war and peace. False and true patriotism in Tolstoy's novel war and peace - composition
Introduction
The theme of patriotism in the novel "War and Peace" is one of the central ones. It is no coincidence that almost two volumes of the famous epic are dedicated to her.
Patriotism of the people in the work
What is patriotism according to Tolstoy? This is a natural movement of the soul, which makes a person not think about himself "with the consciousness of a common misfortune." The war of 1812, which affected everyone, showed how much Russians love their Fatherland. Reading the text of the work, we find many examples of this.
So, Smolensk residents burn houses and bread so that the French do not get it. The merchant Ferapontov gives all the goods to the soldiers and sets fire to his property with his own hands. "Get it all, guys! Don't get the devils!" he shouts.
The residents of Moscow are also deeply patriotic. The episode when Napoleon on Poklonnaya Hill is waiting for a deputation with the keys to the city is indicative. But, most of the inhabitants left Moscow. Artisans and merchants left. The nobles also left the city, for whom, before the enemy arrived on Russian soil, French was their native language.
Patriotism in the novel sometimes wakes up even in those from whom it was difficult to expect. So, Princess Katish, who, together with Vasily, is participating in the hunt for the will of Count Bezukhov, declares to Pierre: “Whatever I am, I can’t live under Bonaparte power.”
Even the cutesy gossip Julie Karagina leaves with everyone with the words: “I am not Joan of Arc and not an Amazon.” Moscow. It was impossible to be under the control of the French."
Natasha and Pierre during the war
The writer's favorite characters cannot stay away from the common trouble. Pierre decides to stay in the capital in order to shoot the French emperor "in order to either perish or end the misfortune of all Europe." He saves an unfamiliar girl from a burning garden, pounces with his fists on a French soldier who is trying to remove a necklace from a woman. Pierre finds himself on the battlefield and captured, he was nearly shot by the French and rescued by Russian partisans. It is the war that makes Pierre look at himself and others with different eyes, feel his closeness to the common people.
The feeling of "the need for sacrifice and suffering" during the general misfortune makes Natasha Rostova scream at her mother, who does not want to give her wagons to the wounded. At that moment, Natasha does not think that she can be a dowry. She thinks only that the wounded cannot be left to the French.
True patriots on the battlefield
It is impossible, speaking about the theme of patriotism in "War and Peace", not to mention the direct participants in the battles, generals and ordinary soldiers.
First of all, the reader is attracted by the image of Kutuzov. Like many of Tolstoy's favorite heroes, Kutuzov has a completely unattractive appearance “in a long frock coat on a huge thick body”, “with a stooped back”, “with a leaky, white eye on a swollen face” - this is how the writer of the great commander draws before the battle of Borodino. Tolstoy emphasizes that this man combined physical weakness and spiritual power. It was she, this inner strength, that allowed him to make an unpopular decision - to leave Moscow in order to save the army. It was thanks to her that he had the strength to liberate the Fatherland from the French.
Images of other heroes also appear before us. These are real historical figures: generals Raevsky, Yermolov Dokhturov, Bagration. And fictional brave men, including Prince Andrei, Timokhin, Nikolai Rostov and many others whose names are unknown.
The true patriots of the fatherland are shown by the writer and participants in the partisan war. They did not participate in great battles, but destroyed the enemy in the ways available to them. Tikhon Shcherbaty, elder Vasilisa, Denis Davydov. It is their exploits that delight the young Petya Rostov, who joins the partisan detachment.
False patriots in the novel
Tolstoy contrasts true patriots with false patriots, who do not care about the common misfortune, and who are trying to extract their own benefit from it.
So, visitors to the Scherer salon live a normal life. She arranges a reception even on the day of the Battle of Borodino. The patriotism of the mistress of a fashionable salon is manifested only in the fact that she gently scolds those who visit the French theater.
"False patriots" are among the staff officers. Among them is Boris Drubetskoy, who, thanks to his cunning, "managed to stay at the main apartment." Berg, who in a pathetic tone makes a fiery speech in front of Count Rostov, and then begins to bargain with him for a "chiffonier" and a toilet "with an English secret." And, of course, Count Rostopchin, who, with his calls and empty activities, doomed thousands of people to death, and then, having given the son of the merchant Vereshchagin to be torn to pieces by an angry crowd, he flees from Moscow.
Conclusion
In conclusion of the essay on the topic of patriotism in the novel "War and Peace" it must be said that Tolstoy was able to show the reader how a real patriot of his Motherland should behave in the hour of danger threatening her.
Artwork test
L.N. Tolstoy speaks in his novel both of the faithful sons of the fatherland and of false patriots. In the first volume of the work, the author talks about the war with Napoleon. After Austria refused to continue the war in alliance with Russia and Prussia, the threat of defeat hung over the Russian troops. The Austrian army surrendered. The threat of defeat hung over the Russian troops. And then Kutuzov decided to send Bagration with four thousand soldiers through the rugged Bohemian mountains towards the French. Bagration had to quickly make a difficult transition and delay the 40,000-strong French army until Kutuzov arrived. His detachment needed to accomplish a great feat in order to save the Russian army.
In this battle, patriotism is shown by the example of the fearless Dolokhov. His courage is shown in battle, where "he killed one Frenchman point-blank, the first took a surrendered officer by the collar." But after that, he goes to the regimental commander and reports on his "trophies": "Please remember, Your Excellency!" Then he untied the handkerchief, pulled it and showed the gore: “The wound with a bayonet, I stayed at the front. Remember, Your Excellency." In this act, I believe, true patriotism is not shown, because a real patriot will not be so proud of his act, as well as strive to become a hero.
Zherekhov's behavior does not surprise me either. When, at the height of the battle, Bagration sent him with an important order to the general of the left flank, he did not go forward, where the shooting was heard, but began to look for the general away from the battle. Due to an untransmitted order, the French cut off the Russian hussars, many died and were wounded. There were many such officers. Of course, they cannot be called cowards, but they cannot forget themselves and their personal interests for the sake of a common cause.
The Russian army, of course, consisted not only of such officers. In the chapters describing the Battle of Shengraben, we meet true heroes. Here he sits, the hero of this battle, the hero of this "case", small, thin and dirty, sitting barefoot, taking off his boots. This is artillery officer Tushin. “With big, intelligent and kind eyes, he looks at the commanders who have entered and tries to joke:“ The soldiers say that having taken off their shoes is more dexterous, ”and is embarrassed, feeling that the joke has failed.”
Tolstoy is doing everything so that Captain Tushin appears before us in the most unheroic, even ridiculous form. But this funny man was the hero of the day. Prince Andrey will rightly say about him: "We owe the success of the day most of all to the action of this battery and the heroic stamina of Captain Tushin with the company."
The second hero of the Shengraben battle is Timokhin. He appears at the very moment when the soldiers succumbed to panic and began to retreat. Everything seemed to be lost. Not at that moment, the advancing French suddenly ran back - Russian arrows appeared in the forest. It was Timokhin's company. And only thanks to Timokhin, the Russians had the opportunity to return and gather battalions. Based on his actions, we can say that Timokhin is a true patriot of his homeland.
Courage is varied. There are many people who are unrestrainedly brave in battle, but get lost in everyday life. On the images of Tushin and Timokhin, Tolstoy shows the reader truly brave people with a great sense of patriotism for their homeland.
In the war of 1812, when every soldier fought for his home, for his relatives and friends. The further Napoleon advanced into the depths of Russia, the more the strength and spirit of the Russian army increased, and the more the French army weakened, turning into a bunch of thieves and marauders.
Only the will of the people, only people's patriotism, "the spirit of the army" makes the army invincible. Tolstoy came to this conclusion in his immortal epic novel War and Peace.
In his famous novel "War and Peace" Tolstoy clearly showed the imaginary and genuine patriotism in the ranks of the Russian army during the war with Napoleon. The writer distinguished between those who really tried to do everything to save their homeland, saving it from the enemy, as well as those who, during the period of terrible battles, cared more about their personal well-being than about protecting their native state. It should be noted that such a division of forces occurs not only in Tolstoy's narrative.
It can be traced in all military conflicts, when some seek to help their homeland in every possible way, while others wish to save themselves from possible troubles and hardships in various ways.
The reader observes true patriotism in the novel using the example of Andrei Bolkonsky. Previously, the hero praised Napoleon and considered him a great man, and with his participation in battles he dreamed of showing his influence and gaining glory. But later, thanks to Tushin and his desire for victory for the happiness of the people, Bolkonsky changes his attitude to battles and understands that in a war one must fight for justice, and not for one's own influence in society. Andrew reaches the final understanding of this in the battle of Austerlitz. He strives to accomplish a feat and in the end really achieves his dream, in every possible way encouraging the fighters to new achievements. However, for him now it was far from personal success that was important, but the happiness of the people. Later, the hero recalls the endless sky of Austerlitz and a new look at things that was revealed to him in this battle. In the future, having recovered from the injury received during this battle, as well as being alone with his family, the hero again returns to the war and heroically dies in one of the battles.
Also, real patriotism is reflected in the image of Pierre Bezukhov, who in every possible way supports the people during the war. He donates his funds and forms a militia. The key moment in Pierre's life was his stay in the Rayevsky battery during the Battle of Borodino. A little later, the hero instilled in his mind the idea of the assassination of Napoleon, believing that this action would provide tremendous support to the state and all people. But during the fire of Moscow, unable to put into practice his grandiose plan, Pierre still shows courage and heroism. He saves the girl from the fiery element, and also protects the woman from the soldiers' bullying.
In addition, the Tushin battery during World War II accomplished a real feat. Despite the fact that Tushin was a rather modest person, in wartime he was able to reveal his full potential. And when, by coincidence, the cover of his battery disappeared, the hero did not stop cheering the fighters and making efforts to protect his territory. Only with the help of enormous spiritual strength and practically without shells, the soldiers held out under the onslaught of the enemy, holding back their positions in every possible way. The desire for victory literally took root in the hearts of Tushin's battery, forcing the fighters to give all their strength for the good of the people and the country.
Natasha Rostova is also an example of true patriotism, because she helped wounded soldiers absolutely free of charge during the war years. The heroine did everything to make their life easier and eliminate the injuries they received by participating in battles and battles.
But in the work there are also such heroes whose actions and deeds can be attributed to imaginary patriotism. These are Anatoly Kuragin and Boris Drubetskoy, who were afraid to engage in an open battle with the enemy, but did not refuse to receive awards. They almost never took part in battles, as they only cared about their personal well-being, without taking into account the interests of the people. Their patriotism is a complete lie that has no boundaries. And the behavior of these heroes during the war years is an indicator of their selfishness and indifference to the fate of their homeland.
Spurious patriotism continues to manifest itself in Scherer's salon, where false and greedy people gather who have never directly faced danger face to face. It is also inherent in Berg and Count Rostopchin. All these people were removed from the real military situation and continued to lead their typical lifestyle.
Thus, in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace" is opposed by imaginary and genuine patriots. However, the author is in every possible way sympathetic to those who showed heroism and courage on the battlefield, since it was thanks to such people that the terrible war with Napoleon was won.
The novel "War and Peace" is a great work of Russian and world literature, a grandiose epic, the hero of which is the Russian people, who showed unprecedented heroism and patriotism in the struggle for the freedom and independence of their homeland in the war of 1812.
The huge life material of this novel is united by a single idea, "I tried to write the history of the people," says Tolstoy. The people, according to Tolstoy, are not only peasants, but also nobles, those people who are worried about the fate of the country, who are in the whirlpool of great events. A colossal wave of anger rose among the people after the French attack. All Russian people, with the exception of a small handful of court aristocrats, could not imagine how they could live under the rule of the French. Every Russian acted as he found it possible for himself. Who attacked the active army, who went to partisan detachments. People like Pierre Bezukhov gave part of their money to equip the militias. Many, like the Smolensk merchant Ferapontov, burned shops and their property so that nothing was left for the enemies. And many simply gathered and left their native places, destroying everything after themselves.
Tolstoy notes in the Russian people a simple, sometimes incomprehensible feeling of patriotism, which was expressed not in loud phrases about love for the fatherland, but in decisive actions. Residents of Moscow left the ancient capital without any call. Tolstoy emphasizes that for Muscovites there could be no question of what would be good or bad under French rule in Moscow. It was simply impossible to live like this, as it was the worst of all.
The same thing happens in other cities and villages of the Russian land. On the territory where the enemy had already entered, he saw the hatred and genuine indignation of the people. The peasants refused to sell food and hay to the French. A partisan movement sprang up spontaneously, without any order from above. According to Tolstoy's figurative expression, "the partisans picked up fallen leaves that fell from the common tree of the French army, and sometimes shook this tree."
Not only the common people, but also the advanced layers of the nobility and intelligentsia were imbued with bitterness towards the enemy. No wonder Prince Andrei says that they smashed his house, and now they are going to ruin Moscow, insulting it every second ”And therefore, according to his concepts, they are not only enemies, but also criminals. Prince Andrei honestly fulfills his duty by joining the army at the very beginning of the war, although before that he had decided that he would never be a military man again. He did not stay at the headquarters, as he was offered, but goes to the forefront of events. The heroism and genuine love of Russians for their homeland was especially clearly manifested in the battle of Borodino. On the eve of the battles, Andrei Bolkonsky says: “The battle will be won by the one who firmly decided to win it ... and who will fight harder ... Tomorrow, no matter what, we will win the battle.”
Defending their home, their family, their homeland, the right to life, the Russian people showed amazing fortitude and self-sacrifice, showed miracles of courage. They aroused surprise in Napoleon, who had been invincible so far, and then fear. It is impossible not to be proud of the Russian people. And there is no doubt that such a people has a great future.
L. N. Tolstoy, according to A. P. Chekhov, belongs to the first place among the figures of Russian art. The brilliant author of "War and Peace" is known throughout the world. Anatole France wrote: "Tolstoy is our common teacher." Wonderful stories, novellas, dramas and three brilliant novels - "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina" and "Resurrection" - will never cease to excite human minds and hearts. Throughout the 1960s, Tolstoy worked on the epic novel War and Peace, which covers Russian life in the early 19th century. With great sympathy, the author portrays Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov, who were looking for truth, justice and genuine human happiness in life.
The focus of the novel is the Patriotic War of 1812. Among the huge number of characters in "War and Peace" there are both outstanding historical figures and ordinary participants in the war. Tolstoy managed with extraordinary force to convey the patriotic enthusiasm that the Russian people experienced in 1812. "In War and Peace, I loved folk thought," the writer said. With the entire content of War and Peace, Tolstoy showed that it was the Russian people, who had risen to fight for national independence, that drove the French out of their country and ensured victory.
War forces everyone to act and act in a way that is impossible not to act. People act not on orders, but in obedience to an inner feeling, a sense of the significance of the moment. Tolstoy writes that they united in their aspirations and actions when they sensed the danger hanging over the people. In the battle of Shengraben, the Russians sacrificed themselves in the name of saving their comrades, showing miracles of courage, and this was done unconsciously, instinctively.
The patriotism of the Russian people was expressed very simply. The small merchant Ferapontov, before the French entered Smolensk, shouted to the soldiers to take all the goods from his shop, since "Raseya decided" and he himself would burn everything. The Karps and Vlass did not sell hay to the French "for the good money they were offered, but burned it" so that the enemy would not get it. The Rostov family gave carts for the wounded in Moscow, thus completing their ruin. The Moscow poor wanted to arm themselves in order to protect the old capital, the peasants joined partisan detachments and destroyed the invaders. Muscovites left the capital simply from the consideration that it was impossible to live in it under Bonaparte, even if they were not directly threatened by any danger. The Moscow lady leaves the capital with her black-haired and pugs: back in June, for the reason that "she is not Bonaparte's servant."
Natasha Rostova also does not remain aloof from the events of 1812. She understands that no one will be able to help Russia, but it is not in her power to remain indifferent. Before the capture of Moscow by the French, people are urgently evacuated to the cities, there are many wounded in Moscow, carts are urgently needed. And when Natasha finds out about this, she does not hesitate for a minute: she cannot understand how it is possible to take out some things when people are dying. The Russian principle that is embedded in him helps Prince Andrei in critical moments of his life, it helps him to understand all the deceit and hypocrisy of his idol, Napoleon: “All the interests that occupied Napoleon seemed so insignificant to him at that moment, his hero himself seemed so petty to him, with this petty vanity, and the joy of victory, in comparison with that high, just and kind sky that he saw and understood - that he could not answer him.
The greatest manifestation of patriotism was the Battle of Borodino, in which the Russian army defeated the numerically strongest enemy. The French generals reported to Napoleon that "the Russians are holding their positions and are producing hellish fire, from which the French army is melting." “Our fire is tearing them out in rows, and they are standing,” the adjutants reported to Napoleon, and he felt how “a terrible swing of the arm fell magically and powerlessly.” At the same time, Raevsky informed Kutuzov that "the troops are firmly in their places and that the French do not dare to attack anymore."
Kutuzov is an exponent of the patriotic: the spirit of the Russian army, its ideological inspirer and leader. Outwardly, the decrepit, inert and weak old man turned out to be strong: he was handsome internally: he alone made bold, sober and correct decisions, did not think about himself, about honors and glory, seeing in front of him only one great goal, which was his desire for desire, - victory over the hated invaders. His "simple, modest and therefore truly majestic figure could not lie down in that deceitful form of a European hero, allegedly controlling people, which they invented."
Kutuzov's strategy was to combine two forces: patience and time - on the one hand, and on the other - the morale of the army, which he always zealously cared about. He understood more deeply than others the significance of every event in the course of the war; connection with his homeland, with the Russian land, unity with the army were the source of his strength as a commander and as a person. Kutuzov's patriotism, like the patriotism of ordinary Russian people - Tushin, Timokhin, Tikhon Shcherbaty - is completely devoid of external effects, his patriotism is based on confidence in the strength and courage of the Russian people, on his faith in victory.
Tolstoy makes a sharp distinction between true and false patriotism. True patriotism is hatred for enemies, but love for people in general. And false - only hatred.
In the episode on the bridge, K. B. Schubert reports how many were wounded and killed after the battle, and some kind of satisfaction is heard in his voice, and Nikolai Rostov, who is present at the same time, cannot understand such a conversation, because behind these people stand in bare figures. The true patriotism of the Russian people manifests itself in moments of real danger to the motherland, that is, only when "the swarm is disturbed." When a war is going on on foreign territory, the Russian people do not join the fight, and the soldiers only do their military duty.
Tolstoy also distinguishes between hidden and ostentatious patriotism. The ostentatious patriotism is deceit, unnaturalness. This idea, most likely, comes to Tolstoy from the Gospel, the Sermon on the Mount: “But when you pray, go into your room and, having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret; and your Father, who sees the secret, will reward you openly. ".
There is no other work in Russian literature where the power and greatness of the Russian people were depicted with such persuasiveness and force as in War and Peace. Tolstoy's patriotic novel has worldwide significance: "This novel is perhaps the greatest of all that has ever been written," said the French writer Louis Aragon.
