An essay based on the novel “War and Peace. Essay on the topic of war and peace by Tolstoy Essays on topics

November 4, 2016

In the novel War and Peace, Tolstoy raised all the public and personal issues that worried him for many years. A story about the Decembrists was conceived. But the result was a work that, due to its scale and diversity of images, can be called an encyclopedia of Russian life. An essay on the topic “War and Peace” can be devoted to one of the problems covered by the writer.

Plot features

In creating the novel, the writer acted as an innovative artist. When preparing to complete a task such as an essay on the topic “War and Peace,” you should pay attention to the plot and compositional features of the work. In Tolstoy's epic novel there is no intrigue, usual for the literature of the nineteenth century. The composition and plot are determined by historical events and philosophical understanding of the conflict that underlies the narrative.

An essay on the topic “War and Peace” should contain an analysis of the contrast between the central images. After all, the composition of the novel is based on antithesis.

A peaceful society is opposed to a military one. Napoleon - Kutuzov. Secular society with its false life values is contrasted with such characters as Pierre Bezukhov and Prince Andrei.

Tolstoy created a work that organically combines the features of a historical novel, epic, essay on morals and chronicle.

The Russian writer not only created vivid pictures of legendary battles, but also showed inner world every person involved in the flow of hostilities. An essay on the topic “War and Peace” is often dedicated to the images of great historical figures of the nineteenth century. The book contains the brilliant commander Kutuzov and the mediocre Austrian general Mack.

Tolstoy's work "War and Peace" has many advantages and unique artistic features. It contains vivid and succinct images of courageous commanders and corrupt careerists, courageous soldiers and cowards occupying warm and comfortable positions in the military elite.

The topics of the essays “War and Peace” are extremely diverse. And in order to reveal each of them, a lot of effort should be made: re-reading the primary source, the works of critics, historical works about military events of the early nineteenth century.

Kutuzov: “War and Peace”

Tolstoy's work is the greatest achievement of social development, history and philosophy. The subject of the writer's research was legendary historical figures. In philosophical digressions, the Russian classic insists on providentialism - a unique teaching that is based on the belief in the continuous connection of historical events with the will of Providence. The central place in the chapters devoted to the war is occupied by two antipodes - Kutuzov and Napoleon.

The Russian commander is a unique personality. He does not make unnecessary speeches; there is something in his appearance that resembles a simple soldier. Kutuzov remains himself both on the battlefield and at the military council. The War of 1812 put this person on a par with major political figures.

Historicity of the novel

What can you talk about in a written work dedicated to Tolstoy’s novel? The topics of the essays “War and Peace” are varied. But regardless of what issues they relate to in the work of a Russian writer, you should familiarize yourself with historical sources. How did Kutuzov’s life develop? What role did he play in the military-historical events of the early nineteenth century? The work “War and Peace” certainly answers these questions. The essay should be written based on impressions from the novel and information gleaned from non-fiction books. This approach makes it possible to comprehend the social, political and spiritual positions of the great Russian writer.

In the novel, this historical character is a bourgeois revolutionary, despot, conqueror. The French emperor was accompanied by glory and greatness. Napoleon was admired not only in France, but throughout the world. His strength was terrifying, but attractive. Tolstoy tore away the aura of false greatness from the French commander. And the writer did this consciously, as evidenced by the entries in his diary.

Tolstoy called Napoleon “the executioner of the people.” The great humanist sought to instill in his readers the idea that cruelty and violence can only be justified by those who have lost their true understanding of the world and themselves.

There is no denying that one of the greatest figures in history is Napoleon. “War and Peace” is an essay that is not just a multi-volume work reflecting important historical events. This is also an attempt to convince society that Napoleonic greatness is a destructive, terrible force.

Secular society

One of the most interesting topics in an essay based on Tolstoy’s work is the morals of representatives of the Russian aristocracy. The description of secular society in the novel is given considerable importance. This is a special world, living according to its own laws, morals and customs. The first thing that catches your eye when reading the book is the unnaturalness and pretense of representatives of secular society. They spend most of their time at all sorts of receptions where they discuss news from politics and art. But their conversations are mechanical. Each representative of this society plays his assigned role. At receptions, these people talk continuously, but do not hear each other.

Natasha Rostova

At the beginning of the novel, the heroine appears before the reader as a sweet, lively teenager. Throughout the events reflected in the book, she changes and matures. The meaning of life for Natasha is love. But during her breakup with Bolkonsky, she makes a mistake. And finally, at the end of the epic, this image acquires features that, in Tolstoy’s understanding, are inherent in the ideal of a woman. With marriage and the birth of children, she loses her former charm and lightness. But she is also responsive, spontaneous, and sincere. And most importantly, from now on Natasha completely devotes herself to her family. In an essay-reasoning it is worth comparing this image with other heroines of the book.

Pierre Bezukhov

The image of this hero also undergoes significant changes. Bezukhov is in a spiritual quest, searching for the meaning of life. At social gatherings he is like a stranger. Bezukhov senses the unnaturalness, pretense, and deceit that reign around him. He has an observant, inquisitive mind. And this quality does not allow him to conduct thoughtless mechanical conversations at social gatherings. However, Bezukhov does not manage to get rid of a society that is unpleasant to him soon. The image of this literary hero- another topic for an essay based on Tolstoy’s novel.

Tolstoy's work "War and Peace" is a book that shows different people. But due to social circumstances, they still have a strong connection. Tolstoy treats the Bolkonskys with extraordinary sympathy. The qualities characteristic of the members of this family are patriotism, nobility, and a sense of duty. Unlike other representatives of secular society, they do not spend their time idle. Using the example of the Bolkonskys, the writer reveals his own idea of an ideal family.

Prince Nicholas amazingly combines softness and hardness. Intelligence and activity are the main virtues, according to the theory of this hero. In an essay about the work of the Russian humanist writer, it is necessary to reveal the topic of family values, because it is one of the main ones in Tolstoy’s books. A creative assignment can also be devoted to the landscape in an epic novel or to the characterization of minor, but no less interesting characters.

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L. N. Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” is a grandiose work not only in the monumentality of the historical events described in it, deeply researched by the author and artistically processed into a single logical whole, but also in the variety of created images, both historical and fictional. In depicting historical characters, Tolstoy was more of a historian than a writer; he said: “Where historical figures speak and act, he did not invent and used materials.” Fictional images are described artistically and at the same time are conductors of the author’s thoughts. Female characters convey Tolstoy's ideas about the complexity of human nature, about the peculiarities of relationships between people, about family, marriage, motherhood, and happiness.
From the point of view of the system of images, the heroes of the novel can be conditionally divided into “living” and “dead”, that is, developing, changing over time, deeply feeling and experiencing and - in contrast to them - frozen, not evolving, but static. There are women in both “camps”, and there are so many female images that it seems almost impossible to mention them all in the essay; perhaps it would be wiser to dwell in more detail on the main characters and typical secondary characters who play a significant role in the development of the plot.
The “living” heroines in the work are, first of all, Natasha Rostova and Marya Bolkonskaya. Despite the difference in upbringing, family traditions, atmosphere at home, character, in the end they become close friends. Natasha, who grew up in a warm, loving, open, sincere family atmosphere, having absorbed the carelessness, dashing, and enthusiasm of the “Rostov breed,” has been winning hearts since her youth with her all-encompassing love for people and her thirst for reciprocal love. Beauty in the generally accepted sense of the word is replaced by mobility of features, liveliness of the eyes, grace, flexibility; her wonderful voice and ability to dance captivate many. Princess Marya, on the contrary, is clumsy, the ugliness of her face is only occasionally illuminated by her “radiant eyes.” Life without going out in the village makes her wild and silent, communication with her is difficult. Only a sensitive and insightful person can notice the purity, religiosity, even self-sacrifice hidden behind external isolation (after all, in quarrels with her father, Princess Marya blames only herself, not recognizing his temper and rudeness). However, at the same time, the two heroines have much in common: a living, developing inner world, a craving for high feelings, spiritual purity, and a clear conscience. Fate pits both of them against Anatoly Kuragin, and only chance saves Natasha and Princess Marya from a connection with him. Due to their naivety, the girls do not see Kuragin’s low and selfish goals and believe in his sincerity. Due to the external difference, the relationship between the heroines is not easy at first, misunderstanding, even contempt arises, but then, having gotten to know each other better, they become irreplaceable friends, forming an indivisible moral union, united by the best spiritual qualities of Tolstoy’s favorite heroines.
In constructing a system of images, Tolstoy is far from schematism: the line between the “living” and the “dead” is permeable. Tolstoy wrote: “For an artist there cannot and should not be heroes, but there must be people.” Therefore, female images appear in the fabric of the work, which are difficult to definitely classify as “living” or “dead”. This can be considered the mother of Natasha Rostova, Countess Natalya Rostova. From the conversations of the characters, it becomes clear that in her youth she moved in society and was a member and welcome guest of salons. But, having married Rostov, she changes and devotes herself to her family. Rostova as a mother is an example of cordiality, love and tact. She is a close friend and adviser to the children: in touching conversations in the evenings, Natasha devotes her mother to all her secrets, secrets, experiences, and seeks her advice and help. At the same time, at the time of the main action of the novel, her inner world is static, but this can be explained by a significant evolution in her youth. She becomes a mother not only for her children, but also for Sonya. Sonya gravitates towards the camp of the “dead”: she does not have that seething cheerfulness that Natasha has, she is not dynamic, not impulsive. This is especially emphasized by the fact that at the beginning of the novel Sonya and Natasha are always together. Tolstoy gave this generally good girl an unenviable fate: falling in love with Nikolai Rostov does not bring her happiness, since for reasons of the well-being of the family, Nikolai’s mother cannot allow this marriage. Sonya feels gratitude to the Rostovs and focuses on her so much that she becomes fixated on the role of the victim. She does not accept Dolokhov’s proposal, refusing to advertise her feelings for Nikolai. She lives in hope, basically showing off and demonstrating her unrecognized love.

Work by L.N. Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is known, perhaps, to every person. This novel has become our national treasure, as it touches on a huge number of socially significant problems. The writer in his work was able to describe both direct military actions and everyday life people in difficult years for the country.

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The author also colorfully describes the aggressive campaigns of the French army and the liberation movement of Russian soldiers. At the same time, L.N. Tolstoy does not miss a single detail of the narrative, which allows the reader to put together a holistic picture of the Patriotic War and an idea of its influence on all spheres of public life.

Undoubtedly, the novel would not have become so great if the author had not introduced into his work the best and well-known heroes, such as Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov, Natasha Rostova. He described their eternal quest, changing morals and principles of life. So, for example, Prince Andrei always hated secular society, since he saw in it only hatred, evil and unnaturalness. The hero constantly strived for the truth, doing good deeds and moral quests. Initially, Bolkonsky seems to be a man interested in the fate of Napoleon and admiring him in every way. Then, wanting to be useful, he enlists in the active army and goes to a terrible war, where he shows his personality at its best. He, unlike many other soldiers, does not try to find easy ways, but always, no matter what, does his job correctly and remains faithful to the oath. Bolkonsky showed true patriotism during the war, helping his homeland in every possible way. He no longer puts the personality of Napoleon at the head of everything, but, on the contrary, is trying with all his might to deal with the French army. There were many troubles in his life, one of which was the death of his wife. Despite the fact that she gave birth to Andrei’s child, this period became a spiritual crisis for the hero, from which Natasha Rostova later pulled him out. However, Bolkonsky was not truly happy with her for a long time, since this heroine lived by feelings, and Andrei himself lived by reason. The following author’s words speak about Natasha’s ambiguity: “Having returned home, Natasha did not sleep all night; she was tormented by an insoluble question: who did she love: Anatoly or Prince Andrei? And only dying, on the Borodino field, Bolkonsky literally learns all the versatility of life: “...Everything seems good that was before...”

Pierre Bezukhov is also the best hero of the work. He, like Andrei, was not indifferent to the fate of his homeland, so he always showed himself in the best light, being with the people in difficult times for the country. Bezukhov was able to raise himself as a highly moral person, capable of sympathy and empathy. This hero is the personification of constant work on oneself. After all, according to his words, “As long as there is life, there is happiness in it. And much, much happiness lies ahead...”

In addition, Natasha Rostova also represents a unique symbol of the work. She is beautiful, sensual, sweet and gentle. This heroine gives light not only to other characters in the novel, but also to readers. During the war, she concentrated all her efforts on helping the wounded, helping them recover after difficult battles.

Thus. Work by L.N. Tolstoy's War and Peace is undoubtedly a great book. Using the life examples of heroes, you can formulate your idea of goodness, happiness, love and many other important aspects of life. That is why the novel is of great value.

Updated: 2018-06-19

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It is impossible to meet a hero in literature who does not dream. Sometimes dreams become a stimulus in life and help the hero to do bold things, sometimes they consume a person, drive him crazy, and prevent him from seeing real life. Dreams can be associated with high ideals or material values. And they cannot exist outside the context of reality, they are generated by it, but when dreams and reality collide, the individual can expect disappointment. In L. N. Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” there are many examples of how desires became guiding stars for the heroes, but crumbled into dust when trying to realize them, and how they helped them to know themselves and find the right path.

Andrei Bolkonsky was married, rich, noble, he was soon to have a child, but the man was not happy, he was looking for more. The prince is proud and vain, Napoleon is his idol, and he also wants to find his “Toulon”, he craves fame and recognition, which he can achieve through heroic deeds in war. But because of his dream he didn't value it at all simple life with the people who loved him. Only when he found himself on the field of the Battle of Austerlitz, having been wounded, did he suddenly realize how insignificant was what he longed for. War and exploits no longer seemed to him the height of bliss; the blue sky, as a symbol of an eternal, calmly flowing life, contrasted so sharply with the chaos happening on the field. The desire for glory filled the hero’s existence with meaning, but only on the battlefield, when confronted with reality, Andrei realized that his dream was meaningless, he stopped idealizing Napoleon, because of whom this war began, abandoned his vain dreams and returned home.
Nikolai Rostov also had dreams of military exploits. When the war began, Nikolai left his studies at the university and decided to defend the Fatherland. He was not vain, like Prince Andrei, but he was very ardent, stubborn in his intention to crush the enemy, he had no fear. He begins military service from the lower ranks, serves diligently, and is loved by his comrades. It is in the army that he matures and learns about the concept of collective honor. But during his first battle (Battle of Shengraben), Nikolai is wounded in the arm. This brings him out of the euphoria caused by the wave of patriotism, he becomes scared, it seems that during his entire service the hero is thinking about death for the first time. He cannot understand how someone can wish him death, and he himself is not capable of killing a person. The fighter throws his weapon at the enemy and runs away from the battlefield. It cannot be said that Nikolai became a coward, he simply lived in his dreams, where death did not frighten him, reality made adjustments to his imagination, made his outlook on life more sober. The hero continued to serve, but no longer rushed into battle so thoughtlessly. Thus, dreams always pass the test of strength when they come true.
If reality sobers up some heroes and removes the dreamy veil from their eyes, then life is capable of punishing someone for making too many mistakes. This is what happened to young Petya Rostov. The boy grew up during the war, before his eyes was the example of his brother who served, and the patriotic sentiments hovering around could not help but influence the young man. Petya is decisive and worries about the fate of the Fatherland. But still he wants to prove himself, to become famous, he “will not miss any case of real heroism.” The Rostovs still release Petya to serve. In 1812, he took part in the battle of Vyazma, in which he disobeyed the general’s order and rushed directly into enemy fire. This time he was not hurt. He receives a severe reprimand from the general, but instead of now obeying his commander, he, Dolokhov and Denisov, attack the French. A stray bullet hits him in the head and he dies instantly. Petya dreamed of glory and heroism, he was not afraid of war, and did not realize the horror of this phenomenon. For this, fate punished him: in reality, war is not a place for dreams to come true, but fear and pain. Having underestimated reality, Petya died without fulfilling his dream.
In addition to military dreams, the work also contains “peaceful” dreams. For example, the dreams of Pierre Bezukhov. Pierre is the hero of the search. He feels strength and desire, but for a long time he does not know where to apply himself. He falls in love with Helen Kuragina, but after marrying her, he realizes that he made a mistake. He becomes a Freemason, which helps him come to terms with himself for a while and find purpose. Pierre believes in Masonic ideals and really wants to improve the world, but in reality the Masonic fraternity does not do much for this, but pays more attention to external attributes. Then he dreams of economic reforms and improving the lives of peasants, but people do not understand him. In search of himself, he even goes to war and after that dreams of killing Napoleon. The hero dreams a lot, and every time he makes an effort to fulfill his dreams. But desires often looked good only in his mind; when implemented, all his plans were greatly modified, distorted, and lost significance. The hero realized how difficult it is to do what you imagine in your imagination. But still, through trial and error, Pierre realized what was really necessary and important in life, and in the end he became happy. Sometimes dreams come true not in the form we would like, but if you don’t just dream, but make an effort, test and get to know yourself, you will definitely achieve happiness.
Sometimes a dream is not destined to come true, even if you do everything for it. Sonya is a poor relative living in the care of the Rostovs. Her dream is to marry Nikolai. She is faithful to him, she refuses Dolokhov when he wants to marry her. But her dream is not destined to come true. Nikolai married Andrei Bolkonsky's sister, Marya. This was a love marriage, but there was also material consideration. The princess convinced Sonya to write the man a letter in which she released him from his promise to marry her. She did this because she knew that Nikolai's marriage to a wealthy heiress could save the family's situation. A sense of duty and external circumstances forced the young girl to give up love and forever kill her dream of a happy life with Nikolai. Even if a person makes every effort to fulfill his desire, sometimes he must give it up due to the harsh conditions of reality.

There are many examples in “War and Peace” that can be given in this area, and if you don’t have enough arguments, write in the comments and we’ll add them.

...Characteristics of various circles of the nobility
society goes in the novel (“War and Peace”)
by families, by family nests.
S. M. Petrov

L.N. that in “War and Peace” he loved “people's thought”, and in “Anna Karenina” - “family thought”. But the strength of the family, the similarity of people of the “same breed,” their moral closeness, the continuity of generations are problems that the great writer reflected on earlier, while working on “War and Peace.” Tolstoy’s brilliant work is a national epic about the feat of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812, an artistic encyclopedia of human life, and a noble “family chronicle.” The author strives to show the reader that “in those days (meaning the beginning of the 19th century) they loved, envied, sought truth, virtue, were carried away by passions, and had the same complex mental and moral life” as when he worked on a book.

In the center of the story are several families: the Rostovs, the Kuragins, the Drubetskys. The family life and moral and psychological aspects of life in the environment depicted in the novel are revealed. Talking about these families, the writer attaches much more importance to morality, everyday life, and customs than to economics and politics. Tolstoy, assessing the lives of his heroes from a moral point of view, emphasized the decisive importance of the family for the formation of a person’s character, his attitude to life, to himself.

In the foreground, of course, are the Rostovs and Bolkonskys. They are contrasted in intellectual development, family structure, and everyday life, but are equally dear to the writer. The Rostov family attracts with its sincerity, naturalness, kindness, closeness to the people and their customs. It is with this family that the most poetic pages of the novel are associated: winter Christmastide, the arrival of the mummers, hunting, Christmas fortune-telling for girls, Natasha’s singing, her first ball. All family members, with the exception of the rational and cold Vera, are very attached to each other, are able to understand the mental state of a loved one at a glance, are spontaneous and kind. Cold calculation is alien to them. All of them, especially Natasha, are endowed with the “mind of the heart,” which is closer to Tolstoy than the “mind of the mind.” At the same time, he does not hide that his favorite heroes are mentally ordinary, their feeling often replaces thought, therefore “the interest in the details of feeling” in their spiritual life replaces the interest in the development of thought. “She doesn’t deign to be smart,” says Natasha, who is in love with her, about the “sorceress.” And these words do not contain censure, but admiration for the girl’s inexplicable charm. True to the truth of life, Tolstoy also shows the shortcomings of this family. We see the poor spiritual interests of the Rostovs, the mismanagement of the old Count Ilya Andreevich, the capricious authority of the Countess, the selfishness and limitations of Nikolai, the inconstancy of Natasha, the prudence of Vera.

And yet, only in such a family, humane, sincere, loving, could an amazing young generation be formed: charming, poetic Natasha, bright, romantic, loving people.

The Bolkonskys are completely different people. They are fully characterized by the “mind of the mind”, the tireless work of thought. The writer notes the harshness, complexity of character, and quarrelsomeness of the old Prince Nikolai Andreevich, his confidence in his superiority over other people, family despotism; The external coldness, excessive restraint, and rationality of Andrei Bolkonsky, and the asceticism of Princess Marya do not go unnoticed. Difficult characters, it is not easy for them to be with each other, but without each other it is impossible. This family doesn't like beautiful words, do not allow sentimental explanations. The strict routine is never broken, even on the day of Prince Andrei’s departure for war; children's submission to their father is unquestioning. And yet Nikolai Andreevich is forced to admit that his beloved son is going his own way. But at the same time, the father is sure: the path of Prince Andrei is “the path of honor,” I am sure because he raised his children himself and, never deviating from his principles, was an indisputable authority for them. Yes, he is a man of his era, his class, with all the inherent shortcomings of this class. Although no, not with everyone. Nikolai Andreevich is an unbending personality. He served honestly, but he would not serve anyone in the world, not for anything. And when Prince Andrei says to himself: “I cannot be afraid,” this is the voice of his father, a man of honor, resounding in him. The Bolkonsky moral code is for all times.

Their constant desire to live in harmony with their conscience, “search for thought,” loyalty to their principles, strength of feelings are qualities that evoke admiration even today. Despite the very important, very significant differences in family life, and in spiritual life, and in psychology (this probably explains the drama of Natasha and Prince Andrei), the Rostovs and Bolkonskys, representing different strata of the Russian nobility, are close to the author (and the reader, of course, too) primarily because they found their place in the life of the people and became participants in the heroic struggle of the Russian people against the Napoleonic invasion. In this sense, Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a wealthy Catherine nobleman who knew only his own pleasures in life, is also close to them. Apparently, it was no coincidence that an illegitimate son, and even raised in freedom-loving Europe, became a man whom Prince Andrei honored with his friendship. Pierre does not bear the imprint of the family traits of the Bezukhov counts.

The Rostovs, Bolkonskys, and Pierre Bezukhov are opposed in every way to the families of the Kuragins, Drubetskys, and Bergs. The writer characterizes in particular detail two generations of the Kuragin family, completely devoid of moral sense, indifferent to the fate of their homeland and people, who do not even feel simple family affection for each other. The members of this family lack both the “mind of the heart” and the “mind of the head,” but they know how to prudently suppress everything human in themselves in the name of profit. About his father, Prince Vasily, Tolstoy writes: “Something constantly attracted him to people stronger and richer than him, and he was gifted with the rare art of catching exactly the moment when it was necessary and possible to take advantage of people.” He raised his children the same way, the “restless fool” Anatole and the brilliant Helen. Endowed with a beautiful appearance, they are internally ugly, communication with them brings disappointment and grief to worthy people (Pierre, Natasha). It costs these regulars of social salons nothing to ruin someone else's life; they are never tormented by remorse. In terms of their moral qualities, they are joined by the high-society Molchalins Boris Drubetskoy and Berg, whose motto, like Molchalin’s, is “moderation and accuracy.”

These people are not only far from their own people, they are also strangers among the progressive nobility. Let's remember how Boris Drubetskoy made his career. And what about Berg’s famous “dressing room”, with which he was occupied during the terrible hours of “abandoning Moscow”. The thirst for a career and wealth suppressed everything human in them (in the life story of Boris this can be seen especially clearly). This revealed the influence of the family, the influence of a selfish environment devoid of spiritual interests. This is how those who became the “trash of Alexander’s generation” are contrasted with those who made up its glory. In this contrast, the great writer reflected the stratification of the Russian nobility in the first quarter of the 19th century, which led to the formation of two warring camps within it. Tolstoy showed that the rapprochement of the nobles with the people in the days when the historical fate of Russia was being decided, or the distance from it, serving only their own selfish interests, was largely determined by family traditions, family upbringing, and the moral foundations of the family.

Thus, “folk thought” merges in the novel with “family thought,” forming an inseparable fusion. That is why the theme of continuity of generations, “family thought” becomes one of the main ones in Tolstoy’s brilliant epic.