The main characters of the novel "War and Peace. "War and Peace": characters

Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" is known to everyone. The events described in the book capture from the first minutes of reading. The author showed the complex world of human relationships, where many different names and destinies are closely intertwined. Among the heroes of the novel, I would like to mention Nikolai Rostov. He is the most endearing character.

The image and characterization of Nikolai Rostov in the novel "War and Peace" is the most organic of all. As in the palm of your hand, his whole life is shown, starting from the age of twenty, as he appears at the very beginning of the work and ending in adulthood, when he settled down and started a family, tying the knot with Marya Bolkonskaya.

Image

Nicholas son of Count Rostov. An enviable Moscow fiance. Any girl would gladly accept his courtship. Secured. Could afford to go to expensive clubs. He was a member of the English Club, where mere mortals were ordered to enter.

Nicholas is short. The head of the guy is strewn with small curls. Outwardly, he was handsome. There was always a blush on her cheeks, giving her face a shy look. A mustache began to appear above the lip.

“Nikolai was a short curly young man with an open expression. Black hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and swiftness and enthusiasm were expressed all over his face ... "

An open smile immediately attracted those around him. Kindness shone in his eyes.

"His kind and honest eyes with tears in them."

Cheerful, open guy. He was like this at twenty. I was a student at one of the universities, but my studies had to be postponed until later. Nicholas decided to devote himself to military service.

Characteristic

The guy decided for himself that serving the Fatherland was his calling. The main concepts for him were honor and dignity, loyalty to the oath. He participated in many military companies. He took part in the Patriotic War of 1812. Only once did his act belittle him in the eyes of his colleagues.

Battle of Shengraben. Nikolai rushed to the attack with all the swiftness characteristic of him. A small wound knocked the fuse. He began to panic. Thoughts swirled around in my head. He couldn't imagine that death was so near. Will he die. This cannot be allowed, because he is loved by everyone. He cowardly fled from the battlefield. Instead of firing a bullet at the enemy, he threw the pistol. The fear of dying so young was stronger than the fear of the enemy.

Nothing like this happened again. Nikolai managed to become a real officer, remaining faithful to duty.

Of hobbies, he preferred hunting. He was endowed with musical abilities.

Truthful, sincere.

"Rostov was a truthful young man, he would never deliberately tell a lie"

Tactful. Life has taught Rostov to understand when and what to say. Words spoken in the heat of the moment can hurt loved ones, which happened during a quarrel with his father.

Proud, independent. Likes to rush from one extreme to another. With difficulty finds a middle ground in a dispute.

Reasonable.

“His soul is full of nobility, true youth, which you meet so rarely in our age”

Love in the life of Nicholas

For a long time, Rostov had an affair with Sonya. He even thought about marrying her, although his mother was categorically against it. The girl was a dowry. Why such a bitch. She is not a match for her son. Sonya herself turned out to be smarter, not becoming imposed on him. In a letter addressed to him, she said that she was ready to let him go. Relationships have ended. Nicholas became free again.

The next woman in his life was Marya Bolkonskaya. Rich, but unattractive to men. Nikolai managed to discern in her precisely the inner world, and he was beautiful and pure. Their relationship developed difficult, but they managed to overcome all the difficulties on the way to family happiness. Complementing each other, they were able to become a harmonious, happy couple. Nikolai became a respectable farmer, putting an end to military service and devoting himself entirely to caring for his family.

In the novel, he is a positive character who tends to make mistakes and far from always his actions can be called correct, but he managed to realize and correct everything.

Nikolai Rostov - son of Count Ilya Ilyich Rostov, officer, man of honor. At the beginning of the novel, Nikolai leaves the university and goes to serve in the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment. He was distinguished by courage and courage, although in the battle of Shengraben, having no idea about the war, he rushes to the attack too bravely, therefore, when he sees a Frenchman in front of him, he throws a weapon at him and rushes to run, as a result of which he is wounded in the arm. But this episode does not speak of his cowardice, just in the face of danger, Nikolai could not make a decision. In all further battles, he showed himself heroically, for which he was awarded the St. George Cross. The war hardened him very much and he became a real hussar, devoted to his country and remaining faithful to the sovereign.

Rostov was a noble and selfless person. Nicholas fell in love with Princess Marya, but could not break his word to Sonya that he would marry her, and although his parents were against it, because they wanted him to find a rich bride, he still decided to marry a dowry. But Sonya sends him a letter in which she releases him from his promises and gives him freedom. After the death of the count, Nikolai did not refuse the inheritance, but he got only debts. He believed that it was his duty to pay off the bills and take care of his mother and Sonya. The Rostovs were completely impoverished, they had to sell the estate and move to live in a small apartment, the countess hints to Nikolai that the way out of the predicament is a wedding with the princess. Nikolai does not even allow such a thought: he loves Marya, but if he marries her, then in society they will say that he married by calculation, and he considers this shameful. It’s good that Marya also loved him and they still got married. After the wedding, Nikolai became the best owner, his estate prospered and brought in huge income. As before, Nikolai devoted himself wholeheartedly to serving the country, so now he devoted himself to serving his family and household.

In Leo Tolstoy's novel there are many characters and their images, which the author singles out in a special way and with skill. Despite the fact that Nikolai Rostov is not the main character, he also played a significant role in this work.

Nikolai was born in an ideal family where everyone loves each other, is talented, friendly, obeys the voice of feelings. His family consisted of father, mother, Natasha, Vera and Sonya.

Nicholas was a short, handsome young man. Kind and honest eyes stood out on his face. It is known about his life that he quits his studies at the university for the sake of military service, considering the military profession to be his vocation, but this decision was partly made because of the fashion trends of those times. He is honest, decent, against marriage of convenience. Rostov believes that in life you need to achieve everything yourself.

When he loses a considerable amount of money to Dolokhov in cards, he is very worried about this, afraid to tell his father. Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy calls Rostov a twenty-year old man” for his prudence and wisdom.

During the Battle of Shengraben, he is wounded, which turns his mind about the war. He begins to take this more seriously, realizing that this is a real danger and a threat to his life.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, Nikolai Rostov reached the capital of France with his army, but was forced to leave the service at the request of his mother, since the youngest son of the Rostovs was killed, and Natalya simply would not survive another loss.

During the offensive and the approach of the French to the village of Bogucharovo, where Marya Bolkonskaya was with her son Andrei, Nikolai Rostov happened to be there. He helps the princess to leave a dangerous place and learns that his feelings for her are mutual. So, the young people got married and moved together to the Bald Mountains, to the Bolkonsky estate. Their marriage had a beneficial effect on both: Nikolai joins a quiet and peaceful family life, and Marya fulfilled her dream of family and love. She teaches him to run the household, and Nikolai is attracted to his wife by sincerity and nobility. In addition, the wedding with Marya helped the Rostov family out of their predicament.

Composition about Nikolai Rostov

The novel "War and Peace" L.N. Tolstoy is a myriad variety of human destinies and characters, a whole historical epoch spread over a period of time full of grandiose events. Plunging into the novel, we discover a whole world created only by the creative imagination of the author. Perhaps this is one of the few novels that can turn the worldview of any reader, provide him with the opportunity to study dozens of peculiar psychologies.

Nikolai Rostov is the apotheosis of innocence and honesty.

Life, happy in its good-natured fun, reigns in the Rostovs' house. It is here that we first meet Nikolai Rostov, "a short, curly-haired young man with an open expression."

The events of the novel develop in such a way that the next time we overtake Rostov in the Pavlodar hussar regiment, located in the village of Zalzenek. In the new world of complex official and human relationships, the character relies on three main dogmas for him: honor, dignity and duty. Therefore, the very fact of lying for Nikolai Rostov becomes impossible. In the process of service, the hero makes discoveries for himself in the psychological, moral and ethical field. In particular, the act of Telyatin influenced the maturation and maturation of Rostov's character, thanks to which the hero realized that the honor and dignity of the regiment were much higher than personal honor. "I'm to blame, all around to blame!" - chanting Nikolai Rostov, maturing before our eyes.

The apogee of the formation of the character's character falls on the Battle of Schengraben, when Rostov realizes the eventfulness of what is happening around. Murder and death is the end of everything, that's what the hero understands. “It can't be that they wanted to kill me,” Rostov argues, running away from the French. He is seized by a feeling of panic, in a fit of which, instead of shooting, he throws a weapon at the enemy. His manifested fear is not horror of an armed enemy, but fear of such an early end to his life, which did not even have time to unfold all the joys of youth.

Neither the sharp mind that Prince Andrei is endowed with, nor the innate intuitive attitude and ability to empathize, characteristic of Pierre Bezukhov, are inherent in Nikolai Rostov. It is not for nothing that Bolkonsky notices in him a nearby hussar officer. Rostov is "simple-hearted," notes Tolstoy. And, perhaps, it is this definition that briefly and aptly expresses the inner essence of the hero.

Having married, he remained an exemplary family man and owner, just as he had once been an exemplary officer.

Lev Nikolaevich reluctantly parted with Rostov. Subsequently, his image became the foundation for the development of the characters of such characters as Levin from Anna Karenina, as well as Prince Nekhlyudov from Resurrection.

Option 3

Nikolai Rostov is one of the main characters in Leo Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace. From the first pages we notice the young count, in Moscow everyone considers him a wonderful groom. Nikolai's gait is enviable, his movements are graceful. The whole of it is a figure slender, attractive.

The character was brought up in the best, according to the author himself, family. Rostov family. The atmosphere that prevailed in the house helped the children to grow up kind and sympathetic. Nikolai Rostov, a twenty-year-old youth, thanks to wonderful parents, himself became the embodiment of love. Warm feelings always dominated the Rostovs' house. They did not hide from society, they were always sincere. That is why Nikolai, having matured, became a wonderful person. And even his eyes are pure and naive. Childish joy never left Rostov. Throughout his own life, he kept in his heart a true love for the world around him. That's why he's charming.

Nikolai Rostov, as a man brought up in a gentle family, never harbored envy in his heart. He is not mean at all, but an outspoken hero. His image is simple but attractive. He is honest and frank. That is why Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy likes him!

A simple but very memorable truth lurks on the pages of the epic novel. And she says that "one must live, one must love, one must believe." And Nikolay unconditionally followed these simple, but very important words. His sweet face is like an open and exciting book, childishly naive and kind.

Despite the fact that the age of the character is not great for an experienced reflection on life, Nikolai Rostov, at the age of twenty, is a rather reasonable and analyzing being person.

The hero is not deprived of musical talent either. Together with his sister, Natasha Rostova, he sometimes sang and danced. It was the character's favorite thing to do.

It is attractive that Rostov is really a truthful person. He will not tell a lie in his life, the hero values ​​​​every word, because he would never “tell a lie” in the entire history of his growing up, which is why it becomes clear that Nikolai is endowed with positive qualities that make him a wonderful character in the eyes of the reader.

So, the image of the central character of the epic novel "War and Peace" - Nikolai Rostov - is ordinary, and therefore wonderful! No wonder Lev Nikolaevich placed him in the Rostov family. Where there is harmony, where there is peace, where the soul rejoices!

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In literature, the presence of too ideal characters is not an isolated phenomenon. Reading the work, you understand that with all the realism of the image of the background of events, the historical basis and other characters, this particular hero stands out sharply - with all the desire to find some kind of flaw in him, it becomes unthinkable. The image of Nikolai Rostov acts as such a hero in the novel "War and Peace" by L.N. Tolstoy.

Appearance of Nikolai Rostov

The image of Nikolai Rostov is devoid of any distinctive characteristics. "Nikolai was a short curly young man with an open expression." He has a childishly sweet, handsome face with regular features, on which "kind and honest eyes."

He has a slender figure and graceful movements. He has the charm and coquetry of youth.

Characteristics of personal qualities

In many things, Nikolai resembles his father - he has a cheerful disposition, a sanguine person by nature, despondency and spleen are alien to him.

“I can’t hide what I feel,” he says about himself. And indeed, his sweet, childish face is an open book, on the pages of which you can read all his emotions and feelings.

He is quite sensible, despite his young age - "an old man of twenty". His soul is full of "nobility, true youth, which you meet so rarely in our age."

Nicholas is endowed with musical talent. He often sang and played with his younger sister Natalya.

At balls, he also does not sit out, but willingly showed himself as a "dexterous dancer", causing bewilderment and admiration of the public.

With no less passion, Nikolai indulged in hunting, which was held in high esteem by his father. After marriage, he does not leave his passion, "leaving for a month and two on a trip with his hunting."

Nikolai is well versed in horses; they arouse the same interest in him as hunting.

"Rostov was a truthful young man; he would never deliberately tell a lie." Lies are contrary to his life principles. Over time, life taught him another principle - tact, Rostov begins to understand that the truth must be told at the right time. Phrases spoken at the wrong time can cause many problems both for him personally and for those around him. So, for example, his truthfulness, told after the Shengraben battle to the regimental commander, dealt a significant blow to the reputation of the entire regiment.

Rostov is not alien to feelings of pride and independence. He often rushes from one extreme to another and does not know the golden mean during disputes and discussions.

In general, Nikolai Ilyich is endowed with positive qualities - honest, respectable, sincere and kind.

Childhood and environment

From the point of view of his biography, he is the most ordinary aristocrat. His parents also have aristocratic roots. His mother, Natalya, nee Shinshina, is a kind and sweet woman, she tried to be strict with her children, but often, out of the kindness of her soul, she gave them concessions. “The countess was a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by her children, of whom she had twelve people.” Despite the fact that many of her children did not survive, the countess maintains a positive attitude, by the end of the novel, under the influence of military events, the ruin and death of her son, she became noticeably despondent.

Nikolai's father, Ilya Andreevich Rostov, was a man of a cheerful disposition, sentimental and impressionable. He, like his wife, does not know how to economically handle his fortune. It is likely that this was affected by the fact that both spouses were from wealthy families who never had to get out of financial difficulties. Deprived of such a sad experience, they carelessly spend exorbitant money on the arrangement of their homes and to help their acquaintances and friends who find themselves in a difficult situation.

In addition to Nikolai, three more of the Rostovs' own children are brought up in the family, the adopted daughter Sonya (she is a relative of her mother), as well as Boris and Mitya, boys from impoverished noble families taken in by the Rostovs.

The good-natured positive atmosphere has a positive effect on Nikolai. Thanks to his observation and ability to draw conclusions from various situations, Nikolai manages to avoid many unpleasant situations in his personal life - contrary to the generally accepted tendency, he prefers to learn from the mistakes of others, rather than from his own.

Education and military career

Despite the predisposition, physical data and financial condition, at that time all young people sought to try on a military uniform. It was a fashion trend, a career in any other industry was approved only if there were no other options (for example, the consequences of injuries could not allow the service). Despite the fact that a military career was generally accepted for aristocrats, "despite the disgust for the civil service" of their son, the Rostovs send Nikolai to study at the university. At the age of 20, a young man abruptly changes his mind - the Russian-Austrian-French war makes him reconsider his views on duty and vocation. To everyone's horror, everyone's favorite "Nikolushka" - "impulsive, pure young man turns into a defender of the fatherland, connected with his comrades in arms by the corporate concept of honor."

At first, everyone thinks that his act is justified by the desire to keep up with his friend, Boris, who was taken as an officer, and Nikolai dissuades them: “I just feel called to military service.”

Nikolai prefers to start his service from the bottom - Rostov is far from the intricacies of military affairs, he does not want to burden himself with these difficulties: “I then went to the hussars, I thought that subtleties were not needed here,” but as it turned out, this is not so.

Over time, Nikolai is convinced that he made the right choice: “I know that I am no good, except for military service; I am not a diplomat, not an official.

During the Battle of Shengraben, Rostov receives his first wound: "The hand was like someone else's ... Captain, for God's sake, I am shell-shocked in the arm," he said timidly.

The first wound was a turning point in Rostov's mind - naturally, he understood the fact that he could be killed or seriously injured on the battlefield, but only now he realizes this. Nikolai waited a long time for the start of the battle in order to "experience the pleasure of the attack." Hurry, he thinks. However, finding himself in a difficult situation after being wounded, threatening him to end in captivity, he flees.

Obtaining an officer's rank

The diligence and efforts of Nicholas during the two battles did not pass by the eyes of the command - he is "identified as an officer." In letters home, Nikolai tries not to talk about the difficulties of military service, injuries - this would cause a lot of anxiety to his relatives. “Slightly wounded, but promoted to officer; he is now healthy, he writes himself” – but even positive news causes tears – his relatives worry about him.

New hostilities again become a cause of worries and suffering, and meanwhile, pride for his family.

Nikolai takes part in the battle of Austerlitz. This time more successfully. “Now he is a hussar lieutenant in a silver cape, with soldier George.”

In the future, career advancement for Nikolai is still as fast. In 1807 he was already a commander himself. Rostov notes that military service is pleasant to him, he is pleased to be here. "The regiment was also a home, and the house was invariably sweet and expensive, like the parental home."

Rostov managed to gain respect from colleagues. He achieved this unintentionally - humanity and courage did much more than the desire to be the favorite of the soldiers. Rostov "was loved and respected by his comrades, subordinates and superiors."

In 1812, Nicholas takes an active part in the war with Napoleon. He receives the rank of captain. The battle on Ostrovno becomes significant for him: “Rostov kept thinking about this brilliant feat of his, which, to his surprise, gained him the St. George Cross and even made him a reputation as a brave man.”



With his army, Rostov managed to reach Paris. After the war, he was supposed to be promoted to commander, but this did not happen. Grief-stricken and the loss of her youngest son, Countess Rostova opposes further service. Nikolai this time yields to his mother and "having removed his favorite uniform", he masters a new position for himself as an official.

What is Nikolai Rostov afraid of?

Reading about military service, battles, one gets the impression that Nikolai Rostov is not afraid of anything. However, it is not. No matter how great his fearlessness and courage, the feeling of fear is still present in Rostov.

This is especially pronounced in the first battle. It is here that we can compare the military skills of Rostov with the achievements of other characters in the novel.

Nicholas is significantly inferior in intelligence to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, he is deprived of the compassionate skill of Pierre Bezukhov. Having lost his horse, having been wounded, Rostov is shy in front of the crowd, the French running at him. At this moment, he realizes with horror that this fleeing crowd wants to kill him "the one whom everyone loves so much." Fear "for his happy young life" takes over - Rostov forgets about everything in the world and instead of shooting at the approaching enemy - he throws his weapons at opponents.



Perhaps the same fear was the reason that Nikolai gave in to his mother's persuasion to change military service to civilian. He realizes that his luck on the battlefield cannot be eternal, he has every chance to end his life as sadly as Prince Andrei.

Nikolai and Maria Bolkonskaya

Marriage with Maria was extremely beneficial for the Rostov family - after the ruin, this would be a great opportunity to restore the financial independence of the family, to bring it out of poverty. Nikolai has a feeling of sympathy for the girl, but he is worried that others will perceive this event as a marriage of convenience: “I am disgusted with this thought alone, marrying for money.” Since marriage according to this principle is alien to Nikolai, he cares about his reputation, therefore, contrary to his feelings, he does not agree to his mother's persuasion about marriage with Bolkonskaya.

The situation changes after Nikolai finds out that his feelings are mutual. “In the autumn of 1814, Nikolai married Princess Marya and moved with his wife, mother and Sonya to live in Bald Mountains.”

Princess Marie was not distinguished by the beauty and plasticity of her movements, her movement was heavy, which was wildness for a young girl. Therefore, the question of Nicholas's love for Mary for some time caused bewilderment. Nikolai believes that his wife is a part of himself, like any part of the body of his body. “Well, do I love my finger? I don’t love, but try to cut it off,” he draws an analogy to explain his love for Mary.

Life with Mary, thanks to the relationship of their souls, was the cause of many happy moments for both spouses. They had three children in their marriage, Maria is expecting a fourth, but his birth is already hidden from the reader - the narrative of the novel ends before the birth of the child.

Nikolai Rostov becomes a landowner

At the age of 35, Nikolai Rostov becomes the owner of a successful estate. "Rare owners had so early and well sown and harvested fields and so much income, like Nikolai." He is always kind to his peasants, encouraging in them the desire to have large families, feelings of kindness and honesty, hard work and condemning lies and laziness. His serfs love him and consider him the ideal of a landowner. Nikolai Ilyich believes that it is necessary to achieve good results by setting realistic goals and treating his subjects like a human being - his main goal is to create a stable economy that would provide a happy and comfortable life for his children.

Thus, the personality of Nikolai Ilyich Rostov is multifaceted and unusual. He has talents in many things and is able to do well any job that he would not undertake. Thanks to his ability to analyze, be kind, sincere and sympathetic, he gains authority in any environment, be it secular society, colleagues, or peasants.

In literature, the presence of too ideal characters is not an isolated phenomenon. Reading the work, you understand that with all the realism of the image of the background of events, the historical basis and other characters, this particular hero stands out sharply - with all the desire to find some kind of flaw in him, it becomes unthinkable. The image of Nikolai Rostov acts as such a hero in the novel "War and Peace" by L.N. Tolstoy.

Appearance of Nikolai Rostov

The image of Nikolai Rostov is devoid of any distinctive characteristics. "Nikolai was a short curly young man with an open expression." He has a childishly sweet, handsome face with regular features, on which "kind and honest eyes."

He has a slender figure and graceful movements. He has the charm and coquetry of youth.

Characteristics of personal qualities

In many things, Nikolai resembles his father - he has a cheerful disposition, a sanguine person by nature, despondency and spleen are alien to him.

“I can’t hide what I feel,” he says about himself. And indeed, his sweet, childish face is an open book, on the pages of which you can read all his emotions and feelings.

He is quite sensible, despite his young age - "an old man of twenty". His soul is full of "nobility, true youth, which you meet so rarely in our age."

Nicholas is endowed with musical talent. He often sang and played with his younger sister Natalya.

At balls, he also does not sit out, but willingly showed himself as a "dexterous dancer", causing bewilderment and admiration of the public.

With no less passion, Nikolai indulged in hunting, which was held in high esteem by his father. After marriage, he does not leave his passion, "leaving for a month and two on a trip with his hunting."

Nikolai is well versed in horses; they arouse the same interest in him as hunting.

"Rostov was a truthful young man; he would never deliberately tell a lie." Lies are contrary to his life principles. Over time, life taught him another principle - tact, Rostov begins to understand that the truth must be told at the right time. Phrases spoken at the wrong time can cause many problems both for him personally and for those around him. So, for example, his truthfulness, told after the Shengraben battle to the regimental commander, dealt a significant blow to the reputation of the entire regiment.

Rostov is not alien to feelings of pride and independence. He often rushes from one extreme to another and does not know the golden mean during disputes and discussions.

In general, Nikolai Ilyich is endowed with positive qualities - honest, respectable, sincere and kind.

Childhood and environment

From the point of view of his biography, he is the most ordinary aristocrat. His parents also have aristocratic roots. His mother, Natalya, nee Shinshina, is a kind and sweet woman, she tried to be strict with her children, but often, out of the kindness of her soul, she gave them concessions. “The countess was a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by her children, of whom she had twelve people.” Despite the fact that many of her children did not survive, the countess maintains a positive attitude, by the end of the novel, under the influence of military events, the ruin and death of her son, she became noticeably despondent.

Nikolai's father, Ilya Andreevich Rostov, was a man of a cheerful disposition, sentimental and impressionable. He, like his wife, does not know how to economically handle his fortune. It is likely that this was affected by the fact that both spouses were from wealthy families who never had to get out of financial difficulties. Deprived of such a sad experience, they carelessly spend exorbitant money on the arrangement of their homes and to help their acquaintances and friends who find themselves in a difficult situation.

In addition to Nikolai, three more of the Rostovs' own children are brought up in the family, the adopted daughter Sonya (she is a relative of her mother), as well as Boris and Mitya, boys from impoverished noble families taken in by the Rostovs.

The good-natured positive atmosphere has a positive effect on Nikolai. Thanks to his observation and ability to draw conclusions from various situations, Nikolai manages to avoid many unpleasant situations in his personal life - contrary to the generally accepted tendency, he prefers to learn from the mistakes of others, rather than from his own.

Education and military career

Despite the predisposition, physical data and financial condition, at that time all young people sought to try on a military uniform. It was a fashion trend, a career in any other industry was approved only if there were no other options (for example, the consequences of injuries could not allow the service). Despite the fact that a military career was generally accepted for aristocrats, "despite the disgust for the civil service" of their son, the Rostovs send Nikolai to study at the university. At the age of 20, a young man abruptly changes his mind - the Russian-Austrian-French war makes him reconsider his views on duty and vocation. To everyone's horror, everyone's favorite "Nikolushka" - "impulsive, pure young man turns into a defender of the fatherland, connected with his comrades in arms by the corporate concept of honor."

At first, everyone thinks that his act is justified by the desire to keep up with his friend, Boris, who was taken as an officer, and Nikolai dissuades them: “I just feel called to military service.”

Nikolai prefers to start his service from the bottom - Rostov is far from the intricacies of military affairs, he does not want to burden himself with these difficulties: “I then went to the hussars, I thought that subtleties were not needed here,” but as it turned out, this is not so.

Over time, Nikolai is convinced that he made the right choice: “I know that I am no good, except for military service; I am not a diplomat, not an official.

During the Battle of Shengraben, Rostov receives his first wound: "The hand was like someone else's ... Captain, for God's sake, I am shell-shocked in the arm," he said timidly.

The first wound was a turning point in Rostov's mind - naturally, he understood the fact that he could be killed or seriously injured on the battlefield, but only now he realizes this. Nikolai waited a long time for the start of the battle in order to "experience the pleasure of the attack." Hurry, he thinks. However, finding himself in a difficult situation after being wounded, threatening him to end in captivity, he flees.

Obtaining an officer's rank

The diligence and efforts of Nicholas during the two battles did not pass by the eyes of the command - he is "identified as an officer." In letters home, Nikolai tries not to talk about the difficulties of military service, injuries - this would cause a lot of anxiety to his relatives. “Slightly wounded, but promoted to officer; he is now healthy, he writes himself” – but even positive news causes tears – his relatives worry about him.

New hostilities again become a cause of worries and suffering, and meanwhile, pride for his family.

Nikolai takes part in the battle of Austerlitz. This time more successfully. “Now he is a hussar lieutenant in a silver cape, with soldier George.”

In the future, career advancement for Nikolai is still as fast. In 1807 he was already a commander himself. Rostov notes that military service is pleasant to him, he is pleased to be here. "The regiment was also a home, and the house was invariably sweet and expensive, like the parental home."

Rostov managed to gain respect from colleagues. He achieved this unintentionally - humanity and courage did much more than the desire to be the favorite of the soldiers. Rostov "was loved and respected by his comrades, subordinates and superiors."

In 1812, Nicholas takes an active part in the war with Napoleon. He receives the rank of captain. The battle on Ostrovno becomes significant for him: “Rostov kept thinking about this brilliant feat of his, which, to his surprise, gained him the St. George Cross and even made him a reputation as a brave man.”



With his army, Rostov managed to reach Paris. After the war, he was supposed to be promoted to commander, but this did not happen. Grief-stricken and the loss of her youngest son, Countess Rostova opposes further service. Nikolai this time yields to his mother and "having removed his favorite uniform", he masters a new position for himself as an official.

What is Nikolai Rostov afraid of?

Reading about military service, battles, one gets the impression that Nikolai Rostov is not afraid of anything. However, it is not. No matter how great his fearlessness and courage, the feeling of fear is still present in Rostov.

This is especially pronounced in the first battle. It is here that we can compare the military skills of Rostov with the achievements of other characters in the novel.

Nicholas is significantly inferior in intelligence to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, he is deprived of the compassionate skill of Pierre Bezukhov. Having lost his horse, having been wounded, Rostov is shy in front of the crowd, the French running at him. At this moment, he realizes with horror that this fleeing crowd wants to kill him "the one whom everyone loves so much." Fear "for his happy young life" takes over - Rostov forgets about everything in the world and instead of shooting at the approaching enemy - he throws his weapons at opponents.



Perhaps the same fear was the reason that Nikolai gave in to his mother's persuasion to change military service to civilian. He realizes that his luck on the battlefield cannot be eternal, he has every chance to end his life as sadly as Prince Andrei.

Nikolai and Maria Bolkonskaya

Marriage with Maria was extremely beneficial for the Rostov family - after the ruin, this would be a great opportunity to restore the financial independence of the family, to bring it out of poverty. Nikolai has a feeling of sympathy for the girl, but he is worried that others will perceive this event as a marriage of convenience: “I am disgusted with this thought alone, marrying for money.” Since marriage according to this principle is alien to Nikolai, he cares about his reputation, therefore, contrary to his feelings, he does not agree to his mother's persuasion about marriage with Bolkonskaya.

The situation changes after Nikolai finds out that his feelings are mutual. “In the autumn of 1814, Nikolai married Princess Marya and moved with his wife, mother and Sonya to live in Bald Mountains.”

Princess Marie was not distinguished by the beauty and plasticity of her movements, her movement was heavy, which was wildness for a young girl. Therefore, the question of Nicholas's love for Mary for some time caused bewilderment. Nikolai believes that his wife is a part of himself, like any part of the body of his body. “Well, do I love my finger? I don’t love, but try to cut it off,” he draws an analogy to explain his love for Mary.

Life with Mary, thanks to the relationship of their souls, was the cause of many happy moments for both spouses. They had three children in their marriage, Maria is expecting a fourth, but his birth is already hidden from the reader - the narrative of the novel ends before the birth of the child.

Nikolai Rostov becomes a landowner

At the age of 35, Nikolai Rostov becomes the owner of a successful estate. "Rare owners had so early and well sown and harvested fields and so much income, like Nikolai." He is always kind to his peasants, encouraging in them the desire to have large families, feelings of kindness and honesty, hard work and condemning lies and laziness. His serfs love him and consider him the ideal of a landowner. Nikolai Ilyich believes that it is necessary to achieve good results by setting realistic goals and treating his subjects like a human being - his main goal is to create a stable economy that would provide a happy and comfortable life for his children.

Thus, the personality of Nikolai Ilyich Rostov is multifaceted and unusual. He has talents in many things and is able to do well any job that he would not undertake. Thanks to his ability to analyze, be kind, sincere and sympathetic, he gains authority in any environment, be it secular society, colleagues, or peasants.


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