The images of Napoleon and Kutuzov are key. Composition on the topic “Images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel “War and Peace”

The role of the images of Napoleon and Kutuzov in the novel by L. N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

One of the main questions in Tolstoy's novel is the philosophical question of what is a great man. The author answers it in the fourth volume of "War and Peace" thus: "There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth."

To understand the author's interpretation of the "great man", the images of Kutuzov and Napoleon presented in the novel are extremely important, as they help to understand the author's position as accurately as possible and see the author's own answer to this philosophical question.

In the image of Napoleon, the writer constantly emphasizes insincerity and pretense, which are manifested in the fact that Napoleon pays a lot of attention to his image and care about how he will look in the eyes of others. Tolstoy emphasizes the lack of simplicity in the French commander, describing the behavior of the emperor on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, when he examined the portrait of his son presented to him. Napoleon talks about what facial expression it makes sense for him to have when looking at a portrait of his child, that is, what kind of mask to put on: “He felt that what he would say and do now was history. And it seemed to him that it was best [.] for him to show, in contrast to this greatness, the simplest paternal tenderness.

A wonderful acting flair saves Napoleon in many situations when, in his own words, “du sublime au ridicule il n’y a qu’un pas” (“one step from the great to the ridiculous”). Speaking of this, Tolstoy makes the ironic remark "(he sees something sublime in himself)", that is, "he sees something great in himself", thereby casting doubt on this assertion. Also, talking about greatness, Tolstoy analyzes the meaning of the word “Grand” (“great”), which is attributed to many historical figures by historians: ““C’est grand!” (“This is majestic!”) - say historians, and then there is no good or bad, but there is “grand” and “not grand”. Grand - good, not grand - bad. Grand is a property, according to their concepts, of some special animals, which they call heroes. And Napoleon, getting home in a warm fur coat from not only his comrades, but (in his opinion) the people he brought here, is dying, he feels que c'est grand, and his soul is at peace.

Tolstoy, of course, agrees with Napoleon's aphorism about the great and funny, and this is evident in the scene where the emperor stands on Poklonnaya Hill and waits for the boyars with the keys to Moscow: “His speech to the boyars has already clearly formed in his imagination. This speech was full of dignity and that grandeur that Napoleon understood. But then it turned out that “Moscow is empty, that everyone left and left it,” and the main question in the Napoleonic environment was “how to announce that to the emperor, how, without putting his majesty in that terrible, called ridicule by the French (“funny "- Approx. ed.) position, to announce to him that he was waiting for the boyars in vain for so long that there are crowds of drunks, but no one else."

In the image of Kutuzov, Tolstoy, on the contrary, emphasizes naturalness, kindness, generosity and sincerity, the author emphasizes in every possible way that the commander-in-chief does not care about his image and tries to communicate with the soldiers on an equal footing. For example, in the fourth volume, after another successful battle, when Kutuzov addresses the soldiers with a speech, Tolstoy writes: “suddenly his voice and facial expression changed: the commander-in-chief stopped talking, and a simple, old man spoke.”

Tolstoy sees no kindness in Napoleon. This is emphasized by the fact that the emperor has certain habits, which, according to the author, are unnatural, and even proud of them. For example, Napoleon "considered the dead and wounded left on the battlefield." Tolstoy writes how Bolkonsky, lying wounded on the battlefield, sees Napoleon at this occupation and notes that Prince Andrei “knew that it was Napoleon - his hero, but at that moment Napoleon seemed to him such a small, insignificant person in comparison with that what was happening now between his soul and this high, endless sky with clouds running across it. In this scene, Napoleon loses his significance for Bolkonsky and appears only as a grain of sand under this huge sky of Austerlitz. This is the truth of life, which was revealed to Prince Andrei on the verge of life and death.

Kutuzov is portrayed by Tolstoy as a wise and insightful person. At the council in Fili, where all the generals got excited, offering ways to save Moscow, only Kutuzov retained his composure. Tolstoy writes that some of the participants in the discussion “as if they did not understand that the present council could not change the inevitable course of affairs and that Moscow had already been abandoned,” while others “understood this and, leaving aside the question of Moscow, spoke about the direction which, in its retreat, was to receive the army. In the end, Kutuzov answered Benigsen's question, posed in such a grandiloquent way (“Should we leave the sacred and ancient capital of Russia without a fight or defend it?”), At the same time, showing coldness and prudence. Tolstoy shows how difficult this decision was for the commander-in-chief: “But I (he stopped) by the power handed to me by my sovereign and fatherland, I order the retreat.”

The peasant girl Malasha, who by chance became a witness to this historical event, sympathizes not with the “long-sleeved” Benigsen, but with “grandfather” Kutuzov - so Tolstoy wanted to show that even a child, at some intuitive level, feels the simplicity, kindness and sincerity of Kutuzov, who retained his sober mind in the face of provocation.

Tolstoy in the novel gives one more detail that characterizes Kutuzov as a generous person. The commander-in-chief comes to the regiment to inspect the banners and prisoners, but when he looks at them, he feels sorry for them, and he says: “while they were strong, we did not spare ourselves, but now you can feel sorry for them. They are people too." After that, Kutuzov "read sympathy for his words" on the faces of the soldiers. Tolstoy writes that “the heartfelt meaning of this speech was not only understood, but that same, that very feeling of majestic triumph, combined with pity for enemies and the consciousness of one’s rightness, expressed by this, precisely this old man’s, good-natured curse - this very feeling lay in the soul of every soldier and was expressed by a joyful cry that did not stop for a long time. This means that Kutuzov very subtly felt the mood of his soldiers and expressed what they had long understood.

Showing Napoleon's attitude to prisoners of war and to military operations in general, Tolstoy gives him an exact description, which consists in the phrase of the commander himself before the battle: "Chess is set, the game will begin tomorrow", that is, Napoleon compares the battle with a chess game, and people, respectively, with pieces on the board, which the player can dispose of according to his wishes.

Kutuzov, according to Bolkonsky, “understands that there is something stronger and more significant than his will - this is an inevitable course of events, and he knows how to see them, knows how to understand their meaning and, in view of this meaning, knows how to renounce participation in these events , from his personal will directed to something else”, that is, he understands what is happening around him in a completely different way.

Kutuzov realized the full meaning of the words "Patriotic War" and thus won the favor of ordinary soldiers. Tolstoy asks how Kutuzov “guessed the meaning of the people’s meaning of the event so correctly that he never betrayed it in all his activity?” which he carried within himself in all its purity and strength.

In the novel, Kutuzov puts the humanistic idea of ​​the common good in the first place, while refusing personal glory. And this is the main difference between him and Napoleon, who quite often thinks about his greatness on the pages of the novel.

The images of these two historical figures on the pages of the novel allow Tolstoy to express his own vision of how it makes sense to be a person who can be called truly great.

By the beginning of the Napoleonic invasion, Tolstoy's favorite heroes approach with a load of broken hopes, disappointments, shame and dissatisfaction with themselves. Is it by chance? The moral crisis of each of the heroes is secretly connected with the shame experienced by Russia in the previous decade. To each of Tolstoy's favorite heroes it seems that his life is over. But we already know that in each of them lies a huge supply of vitality and the ability to internal movement. And so it happens.

Gradually, in the life of the heroes, personal thoughts and worries recede into the background, replaced by more general interests: Prince Andrei is busy with his regiment, Pierre is organizing the militia, waiting for news from the army, the Rostov family is busy with Petya.

Tolstoy knows that the attitude to war as a personal matter does not come to people immediately. The scenes in the shelled Smolensk are indicative in this respect. At first, people do not even realize the danger threatening them, they continue their former life. But gradually a consciousness of a common misfortune is born in them, and hatred of enemies unites the merchant, setting fire to his property, and Prince Andrei, who, contrary to the order of the commander, does not prevent this.

What manifestations of false patriotism does Tolstoy ridicule and condemn? The writer mockingly shows the false attempts of secular people to portray patriots: a ban on the French language, refusal to attend performances by a French troupe, etc. Tolstoy is indignant at "patriotic" atrocities, such as the massacre of Vereshchagin. The author teaches us to distinguish true patriotism from imaginary, to see the difference between the people and the crowd.

According to Tolstoy, a war becomes popular not only because the people, i.e., the civilian population, enter it, but because everyone who enters the war feels himself to be part of a single people, shares with everyone the feeling of national insult and hatred for the enemy.

Tolstoy raises the most important philosophical problem: does war cancel the moral values ​​of mercy, compassion, humanity? Is cruelty against enemies who insulted your homeland justified? Let's turn to part 3 of volume 4, which depicts guerrilla warfare. In the first chapters, the author gives his assessment of this phenomenon. We see that Tolstoy recognizes the actions of partisans as natural and expedient. They correspond to the spirit and meaning of the people's war.

But in subsequent chapters, Tolstoy forces us to evaluate the actions of people who were given maximum freedom of action by guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla warfare gives freedom of action to those who do not love and do not know how to obey. This quality unites Denisov and Dolokhov. But against the background of the war, the differences between them are even brighter. Denisov, although he grew a beard, retains the notions of honor characteristic of a nobleman and an officer, he cannot kill the unarmed, even knowing that it is unreasonable to take prisoners. Dolokhov, emphatically fit and clean-shaven, is much closer to Tikhon Shcherbaty. He is also ready to kill the French, regardless of any "chivalrous" rules.

Compare Dolokhov's reasoning with the thoughts of Prince Andrei on the eve of Borodin. Their expressions are the same, but are their motives the same? Is it possible to imagine that Prince Andrei is acting like Dolokhov?

The childish look of Petya Rostov creates the illumination of these scenes. Petya does not analyze the actions of his elders, he admires Dolokhov's cold fearlessness, but the purity of his moral sense makes him feel awkward next to Tikhon Shcherbaty, and sympathize with the captured French drummer. Petya's youth and kindness act as the moral measure that makes the reader remember the highest, absolute values, and not just the goals of the people's war. War is still "the most disgusting thing in life", even if it is popular. Tolstoy does not allow the reader to forget this. The scene of Petya's death is a terrible reminder of the essence of any war. Let us pay attention to the attitude of Denisov and Dolokhov to the death of Petya. For Denisov, she becomes a terrible shock, Dolokhov finds in her a new justification for his cruelty.

Showing the horror of war, Tolstoy at the same time reveals its impotence to stop the general course of life. During the war, people continue to meet and lose each other, love, make and correct mistakes. Events confirming this: Natasha's new rapprochement with Prince Andrei and his death, Nikolai Rostov's acquaintance with Princess Marya and love for her, etc.

Let us now trace how the heroes influenced the course of history. Tolstoy constantly pushes us to such thoughts (for example, in chapter 4 of part 1 of volume 4, talking about the military service of Nikolai Rostov and his trip to Voronezh). Let us analyze Tolstoy's paradoxical judgment: “Only one unconscious activity bears fruit, and a person who plays a role in a historical event never understands its significance. If he tries to understand it, he is amazed at the barrenness." To do this, you need to give examples of the actions of the heroes of the novel, useful and useless for defeating Napoleon.

The following facts can be mentioned: The Rostovs are leaving Moscow; Princess Marya of Bogucharov, taking care of her life; Prince Andrei goes to the army to find Anatole; Denisov leads a group of partisans in order to show his abilities and be away from his superiors; Nikolai suppresses the rebellion in Bogucharovo, only to help Princess Mary, etc. But all these actions contribute to the victory of Russia, since such actions are committed by many people. On the other hand, Pierre's attempts to save humanity from Bonaparte result in an absurd fuss with numbers and do not lead to any result. The most useless people in the war are military leaders and sovereigns (we see this in the examples of Shengraben, Austerlitz, Borodin). A vivid confirmation of Tolstoy’s thought can be the analysis of the scene “Pierre on Raevsky’s battery”: while Pierre is trying to catch the general course of the battle, inspecting the positions, etc., he interferes with everyone or simply remains useless. But the attacking Frenchman is trying to kill him. Pierre instinctively defends himself, thinking only about his own life, and brings visible benefits, forcing the enemy to retreat. Only very rarely, at special moments, people realize, feel that some of their personal motive - one among many others - is the same personal motive for many people, unites everyone into one whole (this happens with the participants in the Battle of Borodino). It is at such moments that the "swarm" becomes, according to Tolstoy, "the people." This is how we can comprehend Tolstoy's theory of the totality of all private human wills as the driving force of history.

Used book materials: Yu.V. Lebedev, A.N. Romanova. Literature. Grade 10. Lesson developments. - M.: 2014

Images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

An important feature of L.N. Tolstoy is the technique of contrasting juxtapositions. The writer's lie is opposed to the truth, the beautiful is opposed to the ugly. The principle of antithesis also underlies the composition of the epic novel "War and Peace". Tolstoy here contrasts war and peace, false and true life values, Kutuzov and Napoleon, two heroes representing the two polar points of the novel.

While working on the novel, the writer was amazed that Napoleon aroused the constant interest and even admiration of some Russian historians, while Kutuzov was considered by them as an ordinary, unremarkable person. “Meanwhile, it is difficult to imagine a historical person whose activity would be so invariably and constantly directed towards the same goal. It is difficult to imagine a goal more worthy and more in line with the will of the whole people,” the writer notes. Tolstoy, with his inherent great insight of the artist, correctly guessed and perfectly captured some of the character traits of the great commander: his deep patriotic feelings, love for the Russian people and hatred for the enemy, sensitive attitude towards the soldier. Contrary to the opinion of official historiography, the writer shows Kutuzov at the head of a just people's war.

Kutuzov is depicted by Tolstoy as an experienced commander, a wise, straightforward and courageous person who sincerely cares for the fate of the Fatherland. At the same time, his appearance is ordinary, in a certain sense “mundane”. The writer emphasizes characteristic details in the portrait: “fat neck”, “chubby old hands”, “stooped back”, “leaky white eye”. However, this character is very attractive to readers. His appearance is opposed to the spiritual strength and mind of the commander. “The source of this extraordinary power of insight in the sense of occurring phenomena lay in that popular feeling, which he carried in himself in all its purity and strength. Only the recognition of this feeling in him made the people, in such strange ways, choose him, an old man in disfavor, against the will of the tsar to be representatives of the people's war, ”notes L.N. Tolstoy.

In the novel, Kutuzov first appears before us as the commander of one of the armies in the military campaign of 1805-1807. And already here the writer outlines the character of the hero. Kutuzov loves Russia, takes care of the soldiers, is easy to deal with them. He seeks to save the army, opposes senseless military operations.

This is a sincere, straightforward, courageous person. Before the battle of Austerlitz, having heard from the sovereign the demand for an immediate performance, Kutuzov was not afraid to hint at the tsar's love for ostentatious reviews and parades. “After all, we are not in the Tsaritsyn Meadow,” Mikhail Illarionovich noted. He understood the doom of the battle of Austerlitz. And the scene at the military council while reading the disposition of Weyrother (Kutuzov dozed off at this military council) also has its own explanation. Kutuzov did not agree with this plan, but he understood that the plan had already been approved by the sovereign and the battle could not be avoided.

In the difficult time of the attack on Russia by the Napoleonic army, the people choose the commander "against the will of the tsar as representatives of the people's war." And the writer explains what is happening in this way: “While Russia was healthy, a stranger could serve it, and there was a wonderful minister; but as soon as she is in danger, she needs her own, dear person. And Kutuzov becomes such a person. In this war, the best qualities of an outstanding commander are revealed: patriotism, wisdom, patience, insight and insight, closeness to the people.

On the Borodino field, the hero is depicted in the concentration of all moral and physical strength, as a person who cares, first of all, about maintaining the fighting spirit of the troops. Upon learning of the capture of the French marshal, Kutuzov conveys this message to the troops. And vice versa, he tries to prevent unfavorable news from leaking into the mass of soldiers. The hero closely follows everything that happens, being in firm confidence in victory over the enemy. “With a long military experience, he knew and understood with an senile mind that it was impossible for one person to lead hundreds of thousands of people fighting death, and he knew that the fate of the battle was decided not by the orders of the commander in chief, not by the place on which the troops stood, not by the number of guns and killed people , and that elusive force called the spirit of the army, and he followed this force and led it, as far as it was in his power, ”writes Tolstoy. Kutuzov attaches great importance to the Battle of Borodino, since it is this battle that becomes the moral victory of the Russian troops. Assessing the commander, Andrei Bolkonsky thinks about him: “He will not have anything of his own. He will not invent anything, will not undertake anything, but he will listen to everything, remember everything and will not allow anything harmful. He understands that there is something stronger and more significant than his will - this is the inevitable course of events, and he knows how to see them, knows how to understand their significance and, in view of this significance, knows how to renounce participation in these events, from his personal will aimed at another."

The image of Napoleon and Kutuzov in Tolstoy is contrasting. Napoleon always counts on the audience, he is effective in his speeches and actions, he strives to appear before others in the form of a great conqueror. Kutuzov, on the contrary, is far from our traditional ideas about the great commander. He is easy to communicate, his behavior is natural. And the writer emphasizes this idea, depicting him at the military council in Fili, before the surrender of Moscow. Russian generals, together with the commander-in-chief, gather in a simple peasant hut, and the peasant girl Malasha sees them. Kutuzov here decides to leave Moscow without a fight. He surrenders Moscow to Napoleon in order to save Russia. When he then learns that Napoleon left Moscow, he cannot restrain his feelings and cries for joy, realizing that Russia has been saved.

It is worth noting that the novel reveals the views of L.N. Tolstoy on history, on military art. The writer claims that "the course of world events is predetermined from above, depends on the coincidence of all the arbitrariness of the people participating in these events, and that the influence of Napoleons on the course of these events is only external and fictitious." Thus, Tolstoy denies the role of the personality of the commander in this war, his military genius. Kutuzov in the novel also underestimates the role of military science, attaching importance only to the "spirit of the army."

Commander Kutuzov is opposed in the novel by Napoleon Bonaparte. From the very beginning, the writer debunks Napoleon, highlighting everything petty and insignificant in his appearance: he is a “little man”, “with small hands” and an “unpleasantly sugary smile” on his “swollen and yellow face”. The author stubbornly emphasizes the "corporeality" of Napoleon: "fat shoulders", "thick back", "overgrown with fat chest". This "corporality" is especially emphasized in the scene of the morning toilet. Undressing his hero, the writer, as it were, removes Napoleon from his pedestal, grounds him, emphasizes his lack of spirituality.

Napoleon Tolstoy is a gambler, a narcissistic, despotic man, thirsting for fame and power. “If Kutuzov is characterized by simplicity and modesty, then Napoleon is like an actor playing the role of the ruler of the world. Theatrically false is his behavior in Tilsit during the awarding of the Russian soldier Lazarev with the French Order of the Legion of Honor. Napoleon behaves no less unnaturally before the Battle of Borodino, when ... the courtiers present him with a portrait of his son and he plays a loving father out of himself.

On the eve of the battle of Borodino, the emperor says: "Chess is set, the game will begin tomorrow." However, the "game" here turns into defeat, blood, suffering of people. On the day of the Battle of Borodino, "the terrible view of the battlefield defeated that spiritual strength in which he believed his merit and greatness." “Yellow, swollen, heavy, with cloudy eyes, a red nose and a hoarse voice, he sat on a folding chair, involuntarily listening to the sounds of firing and not raising his eyes ... He endured the suffering and death that he saw on the battlefield. The heaviness of his head and chest reminded him of the possibility of suffering and death for him too. At that moment, he did not want for himself either Moscow, or victory, or glory. “And never, however,” writes Tolstoy, “until the end of his life, he could understand neither goodness, nor beauty, nor truth, nor the meaning of his actions, which were too opposite to goodness and truth, too far from everything human ... ".

Tolstoy definitively debunks Napoleon in the scene on Poklonnaya Hill, before entering Moscow. “While waiting for a deputation from Moscow, Napoleon thinks about how he should appear before the Russians at such a magnificent moment for him. As an experienced actor, he mentally played out the whole scene of the meeting with the "boyars" and composed his generosity speech to them. Using the artistic technique of the hero's "inner" monologue, Tolstoy exposes in the French emperor the petty vanity of the player, his insignificance, his posturing. “Here it is, this capital; she lies at my feet, waiting for her fate ... And this moment is strange and majestic! “...One of my words, one movement of my hand, and this ancient capital perished... Here it lies at my feet, playing and trembling with golden domes and crosses in the rays of the sun.” The second part of this monologue contrasts sharply with the first. “When it was announced to Napoleon with due caution that Moscow was empty, he looked angrily at the one who informed about this and, turning away, continued to walk silently ... “Moscow is empty. What an incredible event!” he said to himself. He did not go to the city, but stopped at an inn in the Dorogomilovsky suburb. And here Tolstoy notes that the denouement of the theatrical performance failed - "the power that decides the fate of peoples does not lie in the conquerors." Thus, Tolstoy denounces Bonapartism as a great social evil, "contrary to human reason and all human nature."

It is characteristic that the writer strove for an objective assessment of Napoleon's military talent. So, before the Battle of Austerlitz, Bonaparte was able to correctly assess the military situation: "his assumptions turned out to be correct." But still, according to Tolstoy, “in historical events, great people are only labels that give a name to the event ...” “Napoleon,” the writer notes, “during all this time of his activity was like a child who, holding on to ribbons tied inside the carriage imagines that he rules."

Thus, the main driving force of history, according to Tolstoy, is the people. And the truly great personalities of the writer are simple, natural, they are the bearers of the “people's feeling”. Such a person in the novel appears Kutuzov. And "there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth," therefore Tolstoy's Napoleon appears as the embodiment of extreme individualism, aggression, lack of spirituality.

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Turning to the characteristics of such characters as Kutuzov and Napoleon, we note that writers draw inspiration from the world of their own fantasies and dreams. But they are also interested in history. Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy followed the same path when he wrote out historical figures in the novel "War and Peace" - along with the fruits of the imagination. On the pages of the novel, the Russian emperor Alexander and the great general Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration, the brilliant military leader Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov and the French commander, ruler Napoleon Bonaparte received an alternative life. As well as other persons who existed in reality.

Kutuzov and Napoleon represent two lines of war. Part of the world is devoted to everyday life, the search for an answer to the question of personal happiness, romantic relationships. The war section includes questions about spiritual searches and social problems, about the war of 1812, which was somewhat different from other military actions. different. That's just what? The author of the epic novel tries to answer these and other questions by writing out the images of the characters.

Literary method: meaningful antithesis

Antithesis appears in literature where the author uses opposition: describes polar things, refers to binary oppositions. Binaries, as you know, are the basis of mythological consciousness. No matter how a person denies that he is influenced by mythologies (here the definition of Roland Barthes is used), but the influence of myths on us is very strong. And, accordingly, binary oppositions.

Dear readers! We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the novel by L. N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”

The novel by L. Tolstoy is constructed in such a way that the reader sympathizes with Kutuzov, and, on the contrary, he develops antipathy towards Napoleon. If the writer describes such characters as Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov, Natasha Rostova in detail, then the generals appear as heroes, the impression of which the reader gets as he reads the text. This impression is influenced not by the author's characterization of the figures, but by actions and decisions. We also pay attention to actions, thoughts, words, fragmentary descriptions of appearance.

But let's make a remark: the images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel "War and Peace" are not those historical figures. This is an artistic assimilation of reality, which means that those personalities who actually existed are presented here through the lenses of such assimilation: some qualities are hidden, while others, on the contrary, are too prominent. With the help of this technique, the author presents the reader with his assessment of the characters.

Kutuzov and Napoleon as commanders in chief

So, both heroes lead the fighting during the war of 1812. Kutuzov defends his own country and land from the aggressive intentions of Napoleon. Already here, the reader has sympathy for the Russian commander, and for the Frenchman - at least hostility, and at most - even hateful disgust.

But commanders make decisions not only about strategy and tactics in battle. The fate of thousands of people and their lives depend on their actions. However, the heroes also stand at the head of the military meat grinder in different ways: Kutuzov is on an equal footing with his subordinates, does not consider himself different from the soldiers, does not watch the battle, standing on a hill; the second clearly delineates the role of the emperor. However, Napoleon himself began as a soldier, and therefore he had strict discipline and high demands on himself. But in a fit of paranoia and in the pursuit of security, he allows only selected and close associates into the tent.

Portrait of Kutuzov

Simplicity, kindness, modesty - these are the features of Kutuzov, which L. Tolstoy especially outlined. However, not only the literary character Kutuzov had the same features, but also Kutuzov the historical figure. High society did not accept him: they did not recognize either himself or his methods of warfare. But it was impossible to disagree with the effectiveness of Mikhail Illarionovich's tactics.

The field marshal appears on the pages of the novel as a tired person: he has grown old, his body is filled with diseases, a burden - not only physiological, but also psychological. Kutuzov defeats Napoleon in defiance of everyone, because the environment believed that a blind in one eye, sick old commander would not defeat a younger and more active Frenchman. In Kutuzov, life seems to be competing with itself: matter with form.

Dear readers! We suggest that you read the article by L.N. Tolstoy.

L. N. Tolstoy favors Kutuzov. We see that the writer loves this character, he respects him, shows him understanding and sympathy. In addition, the writer admires Mikhail Illarionovich. Kutuzov is the spokesman for the main idea of ​​the novel, as conceived by the author, namely, “the thought of the people.” Therefore, Kutuzov, and not Napoleon, is the people's commander here.

Interestingly, Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief not by the will of the Russian emperor, but in spite of it.

A rare case when the goal of one person (Kutuzov) coincides with the goal of the people. Everything that Kutuzov does, all the decisions that he makes, proceed from only one task - the salvation of the fatherland.

Kutuzov appears in the novel at the height of the crisis: the Russian army lost Smolensk, Napoleon began to move towards Moscow ... The reader sees the commander, trying on the "glasses" of different people: soldiers, representatives of the partisan movement, directly the author of War and Peace, as well as Andrei Bolkonsky.

L. N. Tolstoy draws attention to the image of Kutuzov as a "dormant old man." It seems that during the battle of Austerlitz, the council of generals at Fili, and also at Borodino, he was passive and did not take an obvious part in the events. But this was an appearance: such is the form of the wisdom of a military leader. For example, at first Kutuzov dissuaded Emperor Alexander from the battle of Austerlitz, but he did not listen to him. The behavior of the general is a consequence of what he realized: nothing can be changed and you need not regret, but think about the next steps.

Portrait of Napoleon

The French emperor seems to have won even before entering Russia: he is young, smart and cunning, full of vitality. He is healthy and ready to conquer the whole world. But despite this, the reader develops a completely different vision of Napoleon: he does not like the French commander, but, on the contrary, warm emotions arise for the old man Kutuzov - as opposed to the opinion of secular society written out in the novel.

Napoleon Bonaparte was an idol for that era. He was perceived as a genius, as a great and talented military man, as a man who managed to become an emperor from a simple soldier. Napoleon was imitated, inherited, envied. Everyone wanted to take his place. But no one would want to take the place of Kutuzov, because it would be an unbearable burden for an ordinary person who lives by himself and his own interests, longing for fame. Who will notice here other traits inherent in Napoleon? For example, arrogance, boasting and posturing, falsehood, self-deception, pride.

But Napoleon was, unlike Kutuzov, far from his soldiers. His army, according to L. Tolstoy, was a "bunch of marauders" who were interested in things that seemed valuable. Meanwhile, in Kutuzov we find incorruptible values ​​that cannot be stolen and taken away: this is respect for one's neighbor, equality, justice, selfless service to the earth.

Thus, the figures of Kutuzov and Napoleon are people of the same profession and goal. They only achieved their goals by different means. If for Napoleon the end justified the means, then Kutuzov followed the ideas of I. Kant: he saw in people the end, but “never the means” (the reader noticed how Kutuzov was concerned about the problem of the soldiers’ lack of boots), and also did not put the end above the means.

One of the unique and brilliant writers known all over the world, "the great hope of Russian literature", a man who tried to rethink life, understand its laws and unravel the mysteries. Leo Tolstoy had a special view of the world order, including his theory of the role of man in history and its significance in the context of eternity. In the novel "War and Peace" this concept was embodied by the generals of the two great armies. A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon (a table with brief conclusions on the topic will be presented below) allows you to fully reveal the writer's attitude to the question: "Can one person create history?"

Life and work of L. N. Tolstoy

The life of Lev Nikolaevich is rich in events. His youth was spent in St. Petersburg, where he was one of the main ringleaders and a famous rake. Then fate threw him into the Crimean War, after which the writer returned to the capital again. Here, having already matured and seen a lot, he begins to cooperate with the Sovremennik magazine, closely communicating with the editorial staff (N. A. Nekrasov, A. N. Ostrovsky, I. S. Turgenev). Tolstoy publishes Sevastopol Tales, where he draws pictures of the war he went through. Then he travels around Europe and remains very dissatisfied with her.

In 1956 he retired and began the life of a landowner in Yasnaya Polyana. Marries, takes care of the household and writes his most famous novels and stories: "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", "Sunday", "Kreutzer Sonata".

Novel "War and Peace"

The epic novel describes the events of the Napoleonic War (1805-1812). The work was a huge success both in Russia and in Europe. "War and Peace" is an artistic canvas that has no analogues in literature. Tolstoy managed to depict all social classes, from emperors to soldiers. An unprecedented evolution of characters and the integrity of images, each hero appears as a living full-blooded person. The writer managed to feel and convey all the facets of the psychology of the Russian people: from lofty impulses to the ruthless, almost bestial moods of the crowd.

The image of Kutuzov, closely connected with Russia and its people, turned out to be surprising. The opposite of him in everything is the narcissistic and selfish Napoleon. These characters will be discussed in detail.

The role of personality in history: Kutuzov and Napoleon

Tolstoy, who always praised the greatness and power of the Russian people, showed in his novel that it was he who won the war. Moreover, the feeling of nationality formed the basis of the main assessment of the actions of the characters in the novel. Therefore, Kutuzov - a commander and an outstanding military man - appears as one of the Russian people, he is not so much a person as a part of the country. It is in unity with the people that the guarantee of Kutuzov's victory.

The opposite of him is Napoleon, who separated himself from the world, imagined that he was practically a god. In more detail, the differences between these characters are illustrated by Kutuzov and Napoleon (table below). However, it can already be said that, according to Tolstoy, a person who decides to change the world alone is doomed to defeat.

The image of Kutuzov

Tolstoy portrayed Kutuzov in the novel as a kind of old man, who knows life perfectly and understands what lies ahead. He knows what will be lost and calmly talks about it. He falls asleep at the council, knowing full well what all the conversations will eventually lead to. Kutuzov feels the beating of life, understands its laws. His inaction turns into folk wisdom, his actions are guided by intuition.

Kutuzov is a commander, but all his actions are subject to the great will of history itself, he is her "slave". But only in this way, taking a wait-and-see attitude, it was possible to win. It was this idea of ​​Tolstoy that was embodied in the character of Kutuzov.

Image of Napoleon

Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is the exact opposite of Kutuzov. In contrast to the whole personality of the Russian general, Tolstoy portrays the French emperor in two forms: a man and a commander. As a commander, Napoleon is talented, has rich experience and knowledge of military affairs.

But for Lev Nikolayevich, the main thing is precisely the human component, spiritual qualities. It is in this respect that the writer debunks the romantic image of the enemy commander. Already in Napoleon one can see the attitude of the author: “small”, “fat”, unremarkable, poseur and egoist.

Napoleon is the emperor of France, but he has little power over his country, he sees himself as the ruler of the world, considers himself superior to others. The desire to possess consumed him, he is morally poor and incapable of feeling, loving, rejoicing. Napoleon goes over the corpses to his goal, because it justifies any means. "Winners are not judged" - that's his motto.

Comparative characteristics of Kutuzov and Napoleon: table

Generalization of the table

A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon (the table is presented above) is built on the opposition of individualism and nationality. Only a person who imagines himself superior and better than others could start a bloody war in order to achieve his selfish goals. Such a character cannot become a hero, so Tolstoy, with his humanism and faith in folk wisdom, draws him negatively and repulsively. Appearance, gait, manners, even the character of Napoleon - all this is a consequence of his desire to be a superman.

Kutuzov, wise, calm, seemingly inactive, carries all the power of the Russian people. He does not make decisions - he follows the course of events. He does not try to create history - he submits to it. This humility contains his spiritual and moral strength, which helped win the war.

Conclusion

Incredible national power was concluded by L. N. Tolstoy in his novel "War and Peace". A brief description of this force is given on the example of the image of Kutuzov, which is opposed to the spiritually poor, who does not understand his people, Napoleon. The great Russian commander and the French emperor embodied two principles: creative and destructive. And, of course, the humanist Tolstoy could not endow Napoleon with a single positive trait. As he could not denigrate the image of Kutuzov. The heroes of the novel have little in common with real historical figures. But Lev Nikolaevich created them in order to illustrate his historical concept.