An essay on the theme of the image of the common people in the novel “War and Peace. Composition on the topic The image of the common people in the novel “War and Peace” Prepare a message for the people in the novel

"War and Peace" is one of the the brightest works world literature, revealing the extraordinary wealth human destinies, characters, an unprecedented breadth of coverage of the phenomena of life, the deepest image of the most important events in the history of the Russian people. The basis of the novel, as L. N. Tolstoy admitted, is “the thought of the people”. “I tried to write the history of the people,” said Tolstoy. The people in the novel are not only peasants and peasant soldiers in disguise, but also the yard people of the Rostovs, and the merchant Ferapontov, and the army officers Tushin and Timokhin, and representatives of the privileged class - the Bolkonskys, Pierre Bezukhov, the Rostovs, and Vasily Denisov, and the field marshal Kutuzov, that is, those Russian people for whom the fate of Russia was not indifferent. The people are opposed by a handful of court aristocrats and a "big-faced" merchant, worried about his goods before the French take Moscow, that is, those people who are completely indifferent to the fate of the country.

There are more than five hundred characters in the epic novel, a description of two wars is given, events unfold in Europe and Russia, but, like cement, all the elements of the novel are held together by “folk thought” and “original moral attitude author to the subject. According to Leo Tolstoy, an individual is valuable only when he is an integral part of the great whole, his people. “His hero is a whole country fighting against the invasion of the enemy,” wrote V. G. Korolenko. The novel begins with a description of the campaign of 1805, which did not touch the hearts of the people. Tolstoy does not hide the fact that the soldiers not only did not understand the goals of this war, but even vaguely imagined who Russia's ally was. Tolstoy is not interested foreign policy Alexander I, his attention is drawn to the love of life, modesty, courage, endurance, selflessness of the Russian people. Tolstoy's main task is to show the decisive role of the masses in historical events, to show the greatness and beauty of the feat of the Russian people in the conditions mortal danger when psychologically a person is revealed most fully.

The plot of the novel is based on the Patriotic War of 1812. The war brought decisive changes to the life of the entire Russian people. All the usual conditions of life were shifted, everything was now evaluated in the light of the danger that hung over Russia. Nikolai Rostov returns to the army, Petya volunteers for the war, old prince Bolkonsky forms a detachment of militias from his peasants, Andrei Bolkonsky decides to serve not at the headquarters, but directly command the regiment. Pierre Bezukhov gave part of his money to equip the militias. The Smolensk merchant Ferapontov, in whose mind the disturbing thought of the “death” of Russia arose when he learned that the city was being surrendered, does not seek to save property, but calls on the soldiers to drag everything out of the shop so that the “devils” do not get anything.

The War of 1812 is more represented by mass scenes. The people begin to realize the danger when the enemy approaches Smolensk. The fire and surrender of Smolensk, the death of the old prince Bolkonsky at the time of the review of the peasant militia, the destruction of the crop, the retreat of the Russian army - all this enhances the tragedy of events. At the same time, Tolstoy shows that in this difficult situation something new was born that was to destroy the French. In the growth of moods of determination and anger against the enemy, Tolstoy sees the source of the approaching turning point in the course of the war. The outcome of the war was determined long before its end by the "spirit" of the troops and people. This decisive "spirit" was the patriotism of the Russian people, which manifested itself simply and naturally: the people left the cities and villages captured by the French; refused to sell food and hay to enemies; huddled behind enemy lines partisan detachments.

The Battle of Borodino is the climax of the novel. Pierre Bezukhov, watching the soldiers, experiences a sense of the horror of death and suffering that the war brings, on the other hand, the consciousness of “the solemnity and significance of the coming minute”, which the people inspire him. Pierre was convinced how deeply, with all his heart, the Russian people understand the meaning of what is happening. The soldier, who called him a “countryman”, tells him confidentially: “They want to pile on all the people; one word - Moscow. They want to make one end." The militias, who have just arrived from the depths of Russia, in accordance with custom, put on clean shirts, realizing that they will have to die. Old soldiers refuse to drink vodka - "not such a day, they say."

In these simple forms, connected with folk concepts and customs, the high moral strength of the Russian people was manifested. The high patriotic spirit and moral strength of the people brought victory to Russia in the war of 1812.

I tried to write the history of the people.

L. Tolstoy

L. N. Tolstoy believed that the movement of the hands on the clock of history depends on the rotation of many wheels linked to each other, and these wheels turn out to be people with an infinite variety of characters.

In "War and Peace" greatest work not only Russian, but also world literature - Tolstoy managed not only to display major events in the history of the Russian people, but also to reveal the features of Russian national identity.

Having based the novel on “folk thought”, the writer tests the value and maturity of his heroes by their attitude towards ordinary Russian peasants, towards soldiers. Watching the people, plunging into the thick of things, Tolstoy's heroes make important discoveries for themselves, which often change their future lives.

Sincere, open, life-loving Natasha Rostova, one might say, is saturated with the Russian national spirit: “Where, how, when she sucked into herself from that Russian air that she breathed, - this countess, brought up by a French governess, - this spirit, where did she get these techniques from... But these spirits and techniques were the same, inimitable, unlearned, Russian. That is why Natasha is close folk music, folk dances. But her love for the people is not limited to passive admiration, and in a difficult time for the country, Natasha demands that their carts, where the property has already been loaded, be given to the wounded. When communicating with Russian soldiers, Pierre Bezukhov finds the meaning and purpose of life, realizing the falsity of his previous attitudes. Forever he remains grateful to Platon Karataev, whom he met in captivity from the French, a Russian soldier who preaches kindness and love for life.

The courage and selflessness of the Russian people during the battle of Austerlitz largely influenced the rejection of the ambitious aspirations of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. And the prince dedicated his whole life to this people when the Patriotic War of 1812 began - a time of formidable trials that brought tremendous changes to the life of the entire Russian people.

A colossal wave of anger was caused by the French attack on Russia among all people who were not indifferent to the fate of their homeland. The whole country rose to fight the enemy. Many, including Andrei Bolkonsky, went to the active army. People like Pierre Bezukhov gave their money to the military, equipped the militias. Many merchants, such as Ferapontov, burned their shops or gave away property so that the French would not get anything. Civilians Moscow, before entering the city of Napoleon's troops, left the city so as not to be under the rule of the invaders. material from the site

The high patriotic spirit was shown by the Russian people during the Battle of Borodino, where a high sense of camaraderie, a sense of duty, and the physical and moral strength of the soldiers were manifested. On the Borodino field, the French first encountered an enemy of such fortitude. That is why the Russian people won this war, because the flight of the French from Moscow and their final defeat were the result of the joint actions of the regular army, partisan detachments and local residents, who refused to sell hay and food to enemies, left cities and villages captured by enemies, burned stocks and warehouses, dooming the French to starvation. The Russian people understood that the outcome of the war depended on each of them, and therefore did not need either persuasion or prodding. And they defended their lives. “The club of the people’s war rose with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes and rules, with stupid simplicity, but with expediency, without understanding anything, rose, fell and nailed the French until the entire invasion died ".

L. N. Tolstoy calls the Russian people “wonderful, incomparable people”, admiring his courage, dedication, fortitude of his spirit, which helped to defeat even the previously invincible army of Napoleon.

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1867 L. M. Tolstoy finished work on the epoch-making novel of his work “War and Peace”. The author noted that in "War and Peace" he "loved the thought of the people", poeticizing the simplicity, kindness and morality of the Russian people. L. Tolstoy reveals this “folk idea” by depicting the events of the Patriotic War of 1812. It is no coincidence that L. Tolstoy describes the war of 1812 only on the territory of Russia. The historian and realist artist L. Tolstoy showed that the Patriotic War of 1812 was a just war. Defending themselves, the Russians raised a “baton

A people's war that punished the French until the invasion was stopped. The war radically changed the life of the entire Russian people.

The author introduces into the novel many images of peasants, Soldiers, whose thoughts and considerations together make up the people's worldview. The irresistible force of the Russian people is fully felt in the heroism and patriotism of the inhabitants of Moscow, who were forced to abandon hometown, their treasure, but not conquered in the soul; the peasants refuse to sell food and hay to the enemies, and create partisan detachments. Real heroes, persistent and firm in execution

L. Tolstoy showed his military duties in the images of Tushin and Timokhin. The theme of the folk element is revealed more expressively in the image guerrilla war. Tolstoy creates a vivid image of the partisan Tikhon Shcherbatov, who arbitrarily joined the Denisov detachment and was “the most useful person in the squad." Platon Karataev is a generalized image of the Russian peasant. In the novel, he appears on those pages where Pierre's stay in captivity is depicted. The meeting with Karataev changes a lot in relation to

Pierre to life. Deep folk wisdom as if concentrated in the image of Plato. This wisdom is calm, sane, without tricks and cruelty. From her, Pierre changes, begins to feel life in a new way, renews his soul.

Representatives of all strata of Russian society equally felt hatred for the enemy, and patriotism and closeness to the people are most inherent in Tolstoy's favorite heroes - Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, Natasha Rostova. The simple Russian woman Vasilisa, the merchant Feropontov, and the family of Count Rostov feel united in their desire to help the country. The spiritual strength that the Russian people showed in Patriotic war 1812, this is the same force that supported the activities of Kutuzov as a talented Russian and commander. He was elected commander-in-chief “against the will of the sovereign and according to. with the will of the people." That is why, Tolstoy believes, Kutuzov was able to fulfill his great historical mission, since each person is not worth something on his own, but only when he is part of his people. Thanks to unity, high patriotic enthusiasm and moral strength, the Russian people won the war.

"People's Thought" main idea novel War and Peace. Tolstoy knew that simple life people, with his “personal” destinies, vicissitudes, joy, make up the fate and history of the country. “I tried to write the history of the people,” said Tolstoy, the people in the broadest sense of the word. Therefore, the “folk thought” plays a huge role for the author, affirms the place of the people as a decisive force in history.

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Essays on topics:

1. Tolstoy himself presents this concept as follows: “Millions of people committed against each other such an innumerable number of atrocities ... which in whole centuries ...
2. The image of Pierre Bezukhov is one of the most unusual images of the novel "War and Peace". He became one of the author's favorite characters...

The people in the novel "War and Peace"

It is believed that wars are won and lost by commanders and emperors, but in any war a commander without an army is like a needle without a thread. After all, it is soldiers, officers, generals - people who serve in the army and take part in battles and battles, become the very thread with which history is embroidered. If you try to sew with only one needle, the fabric will pierce, perhaps even traces will remain, but there will be no result. So a commander without his regiments is just a lonely needle, which is easily lost in the haystacks formed by time if there is no thread of his troops behind him. Sovereigns are not at war, the people are at war. Sovereigns and commanders are only needles. Tolstoy shows that the theme of the people in the novel "War and Peace" is main topic the whole work. The people of Russia are people of different classes, and the highest society and those who make up middle class and ordinary people. They all love their Motherland and are ready to give their lives for it.

The image of the people in the novel

Two main storylines novels reveal to readers how the characters are formed and the destinies of two families - the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys - develop. Using these examples, Tolstoy shows how the intelligentsia developed in Russia, some of its representatives came to the events of December 1825, when the Decembrist uprising took place.

The Russian people in War and Peace are represented by different characters. Tolstoy seemed to have collected the features inherent ordinary people, and created several collective images, embodying them in specific characters.

In Platon Karataev, met by Pierre in captivity, embodied character traits serfs. Kind, calm, hard-working Plato, who talks about life, but does not think about it: “He, apparently, never thought about what he said and what he would say ...”. In the novel, Plato is the embodiment of a part of the Russian people of that time, wise, obedient to fate and the tsar, who loves their homeland, but went to fight for it only because they were caught and "given to the soldiers." His natural kindness and wisdom revive the "master" Pierre, who is constantly looking for the meaning of life and cannot find and comprehend it.

But at the same time, "When Pierre, sometimes struck by the meaning of his speech, asked to repeat what was said, Plato could not remember what he had said a minute ago." All these searches and throwings are alien and incomprehensible to Karataev, he knows how to accept life as it is at this very moment, and he accepts death humbly and without grumbling.

Merchant Ferapontov, an acquaintance of Alpatych, typical representative merchants, on the one hand stingy and cunning, but at the same time burning their own property so that the enemy does not get it. And he does not want to believe that Smolensk will be surrendered, and he even beats his wife for her requests to leave the city.

And the fact that Ferapontov and other merchants themselves set fire to their shops and houses is a manifestation of patriotism and love for Russia, and it is already clear that Napoleon will not be able to defeat the people, who are ready to do anything to save their homeland.

The collective image of the people in the novel "War and Peace" is created by many characters. These are partisans like Tikhon Shcherbaty, who fought the French in their own way, and, as if effortlessly, destroyed small detachments. These are wanderers, humble and religious, such as Pelageyushka, who went to holy places. Militia men, dressed in simple white shirts, "to prepare for death", "with a loud voice and laughter" digging trenches on the Borodino field before the battle.

In difficult times, when the country was in danger of being conquered by Napoleon on foreground All these people had one main goal - the salvation of Russia. Before her, everything else was petty and unimportant. At such moments, people show their true colors with amazing clarity, and in War and Peace, Tolstoy shows the difference between ordinary people who are ready to die for their country and other people, careerists and opportunists.

This is especially well manifested in the description of the preparations for the battle on the Borodino field. A simple soldier with the words: “They want to fall on all the people ...”, some officers, for whom the main thing is that “for tomorrow big awards should have been distributed and new people put forward”, soldiers praying in front of the Smolensk icon Mother of God, Dolokhov, asking for forgiveness from Pierre - all these are strokes overall picture who stood in front of Pierre after a conversation with Bolkonsky. “He understood that hidden ... warmth of patriotism that was in all those people he saw, and which explained to him why all these people were calmly and as if frivolously preparing for death” - this is how Tolstoy describes general state people before the Battle of Borodino.

But the author does not idealize the Russian people at all, in the episode where the Bogucharov peasants, trying to preserve their acquired property, do not let Princess Marya out of Bogucharov, he clearly shows the meanness and meanness of these people. In describing this scene, Tolstoy shows the behavior of the peasants as alien to Russian patriotism.

Conclusion

In an essay on the topic “The Russian people in the novel “War and Peace”, I wanted to show the attitude of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstov towards the Russian people as a “whole and unified” organism. And I want to end the essay with a quote from Tolstov: “... the reason for our triumph was not accidental, but lay in the essence of the character of the Russian people and troops, ... this character should have been expressed even more clearly in an era of failures and defeats ... "

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The narrator in the novel "War and Peace" writes about the people that he "calmly awaited his fate, feeling the strength in himself in the very Hard time find what needs to be done. And as soon as the enemy approached, the richest elements of the population left, leaving their property; the poorest remained and set fire to and destroyed what was left.” This was the idea of ​​what people's war". There was no room here for self-interest, for thinking about your own property, for thinking about tomorrow: there will be no tomorrow while today the enemy tramples native land. It happens here - very a short time- the unity of the whole people: from poor peasants setting fire to the abandoned property that should not go to the enemy - to Emperor Alexander I, who resolutely and categorically rejects peace negotiations while Napoleon is within Russia. In the people, Tolstoy sees simplicity, sincerity, awareness of one's own dignity and duty to the Motherland. It is no coincidence that Tolstoy wrote: “It is more interesting for me to know how and under the influence of what feeling one soldier killed another than the disposition of troops at the Battle of Austerlitz or Borodino.”

We have the opportunity to judge the war of 1812 from the standpoint of the 21st century, and we see what selflessness the Russian soldiers had when they entered into battle with the Napoleonic army, which had managed to conquer almost the whole world before that. After all, every wound in that war could be fatal: the soldiers were not protected by anything, medical care was very limited. Even if the wound was light, the soldier could soon die from blood poisoning. In the novel "War and Peace" the soldiers themselves think little about death: they simply fulfill their patriotic duty, without complicating their feat with thoughts. In this simplicity lies, according to Tolstoy, the greatness of the people's feat.

Prince Andrei looks at the bathing soldiers and realizes that they are cannon fodder. He is one of the few who thinks about their doom and understands the power of their heroism. Therefore, for the soldiers, he is “our prince”.

In the first two volumes, we see how the threat is approaching Russia, how it is growing. In the third and fourth volumes of the novel "War and Peace" the picture of the national feat that saved Russia from the Napoleonic capture is widely developed.

One of Tolstoy's great literary discoveries is his description of the psychology of the crowd. The description of the people is not only made up of individual portraits of heroes from the people, but is also presented as a collective image of the people. We see the people in the prayer scene before the battle, on the Moscow square before the burning of Moscow, before the surrender of Moscow to Napoleon's troops, we hear the roll of voices. Such a collective image in Russian "fine literature" first appeared precisely in Tolstoy. In addition, the magnificent beginning of the novel - an evening at Anna Pavlovna Sherer's - is also, in fact, a description of the crowd, only the "high society crowd".

Contemporaneous readers paid special attention to the rebellion of the Bogucharovo peasants. Bogucharovo was the so-called "beyond the eyes" of Bolkonsky. Already by this name it is clear that Bogucharovo did not often catch his eye. And in general, there were few landowners in the vicinity of this estate. The landlords, among other things, were also news transmitters (which, by the way, sometimes in real life used not quite conscientiously: the peasants didn’t subscribe to newspapers, and there were no other “mass media” yet). Therefore, it is understandable that among the Bogucharovites "there were always some obscure rumors, either about listing them all as Cossacks, or about a new faith to which they would be converted, or about some kind of royal lists ...".

The old prince Bolkonsky did not like the Bogucharovites "for their savagery." According to his rule, Prince Andrei made life easier for the Bogucharovites as best he could. During the short time that he lived there, Andrei Bolkonsky reduced the quitrent to the peasants. With this, landowner "reforms" usually began and ended, but the prince went further, built hospitals and schools. However, the peasants were not very happy about this. After the Napoleonic invasion, they decided to stay in Bogucharovo, hoping with the help of the French to free themselves from the landowners, from the "fortress". However, Napoleon had no plans to free the Russian peasants: their "controllability" through well-spoken French landlords quite suited him. The conflict between the peasants and Princess Mary began unexpectedly for her. However, it was enough for the brave officer Nikolai Rostov to appear, to command loudly, and the peasants themselves tied up the instigators of this failed revolt. In the denouement of this unexpectedly begun and just as unexpectedly ended incident, the attitude of the writer himself to the peasant uprisings was undoubtedly affected. early XIX century: they were simply impossible, according to Tolstoy. That is why his hero must become a Decembrist, a member of secret society, trying to free the peasants "from above", through the long-awaited constitution.

It was this people, which so easily abandoned their plans, as soon as an unknown officer shouted, turned out to be the glorious winner of Napoleon. It was the national resistance, the "club of the people's war."

Source (abbreviated): Lanin B.A. Russian language and literature. Literature: Grade 10 / B.A. Lanin, L.Yu. Ustinova, V.M. Shamchikov. - M.: Ventana-Graf, 2016