War in the novel "War and Peace" by Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. The image of the war in the novel "War and Peace"

Throughout the world, since the time of Homer, there is still no literary creation, which with such a comprehensive simplicity would depict life in the same way that Leo Tolstoy did in the epic "War and Peace".

The novel is as deep as life

In the work there are no main characters in the usual sense of the word. Russian genius let in the pages of the book the flow of life, which rumbles with war, then calms down the world. And ordinary people live in this stream, which are its organic particles. They sometimes influence it, but often rush along with it, solving their daily problems and conflicts. And even the war in the novel "War and Peace" is depicted truthfully and vitally. There is no heroization in the novel, but there is also no escalation of passions. Ordinary people live in conditions of war and peace, and manifest themselves exactly as it is in tune with their internal state.

Without artistic simplification

The theme of the war in the novel "War and Peace" is not artificially protruded by the author. It occupies just as much space in the work as it occupied in the real life of the Russian people at the beginning of the 19th century. And after all, Russia for 12 years waged constant wars, and thousands of people were involved in them. Europe is in a turmoil, the essence of the European soul is seeking new forms of being. Many roll down to "two-legged creatures," which are millions, but which "are tagged in Napoleons."

For the first time Prince Kutuzov appears on the pages of the novel before the Battle of Austerlitz. His conversation, profound and meaningful, with Andrei Bolkonsky, reveals the mystery of the role that Kutuzov played in the fate of his people. The image of Kutuzov in War and Peace is strange at first glance. He is a commander, but his writer does not notice his talent as a military leader. Yes, they were in it, if compared with Napoleon and Bagration, not too prominent. So what has he surpassed the military genius? And those feelings, the love that escaped from his heart under Austerlitz, when the Russian troops ran: "That's what hurts!"

Leo Tolstoy mercilessly draws the logic of war. From total destruction, the Russian army in 1805 saves the unknown Tushin, and not the generals talents of Bagration and Kutuzov. No doubt, the queen is a mighty figure, but her power turns into the power of a horse without a rider, when pawns refuse to die for him: they kick, bite, and that's it.

A separate topic - battles

For writers before Leo Tolstoy it was a fertile topic that helped to disclose to readers the best spiritual qualities of the characters of the works. And the Count was not a writer and spoiled everything. He caught the sound of human souls. His characters act exactly in accordance with the sound of their souls, whether in the yard war or peace. The image of Napoleon in War and Peace is shown on the most faithful side, namely, in the human tonality. He is no more significant than the same Natasha Rostova. They are both equal to life. And both go from battle to battle.

Only the way of Napoleon lies through the blood, and Natasha - through love. Napoleon and for a moment does not doubt that he leads the destinies of the peoples. That's how his soul sounds. But Napoleon was only chosen by that incredible combination of circumstances, when all the peoples of Europe got into the brain a terrible idea - to kill each other. And who could have been more consistent with this idea than Napoleon, an underdeveloped dwarf with a re-developed mind?

Battles large and small

Descriptions of battles in the novel "War and Peace" are present in full, large and small, during the war and during peace. Retreat of Russian troops from the border was also a battle. "When will we stop?" Young commanders ask Kutuzov impatiently. "And then, when everyone wants to fight," - answered the wise old Russian man. For them, war is a game and service, on which they receive awards and promotions on the career ladder. And for a one-eyed veteran and the people - this is life, which is one and only.

The battle of Borodino is the apogee of the struggle between two great nations, but only an episode in the life of everyone who has remained in the white world after it. Only a day the battle thundered. And something changed in the world after him. Europe came to herself. She chose the wrong path of development. And Napoleon has ceased to be necessary to her. Then only wilting. And neither the generic genius nor the political mind could save him from this, because the whole people on the Borodino field said that he wanted to remain himself with all his heart.

Knights of War

The war in the novel "War and Peace" is described from the point of view of various people. Among them there are those for whom war is a native element. Tikhon Shcherbaty, who wielded an ax like a wolf with his teeth; Dolokhov, bettor and player; Nikolai Rostov, a well-balanced and infinitely brave man; Denisov, the poet of drinking and war; The great Kutuzov; Andrei Bolkonsky is a philosopher and charismatic person. What do they have in common? And the fact that, apart from the war, there is no other life for them. The image of Kutuzov in "War and Peace" in this respect is simply perfectly drawn. He, even as Ilya of Murom, was dragged from the stove to save the Fatherland.

These are all the knights of war, in whose minds there is no worldview or imagination, but an animal instinct of danger. Kutuzov differs little from Tikhon Shcherbaty. They both do not think, do not represent, but feel in an animal way that there is danger and where it threatens. It is not difficult to imagine a drunk Tikhon, who begs near the church. Nikolai Rostov at the end of the novel talks about something with Bezukhov, but in all conversations he sees only battle scenes.

In the novel "War and Peace" there is no lie either ordinary or the one that is said for the sake of a red word. Leo Tolstoy is mercilessly justified in depicting his heroes. He never condemns them, but he does not praise them either. Even Andrei Bolkonsky, it would seem, his favorite hero, he does not make a role model. It is a flour to live next to him, because he is also a knight of war even in times of peace. Death and Natasha's deathbed love were his reward, because he is essentially a soul of Napoleon, which is more terrible than the real Napoleon. Everyone loved him, and he - no one. The spiritual power of this knight of war affected even when appeasement came to him before his death. Even the kindest person - Pierre Bezukhov with a boundless heart - fell into his influence, and this is such a danger to the world that is worse than the bloodiest war.

Split in Heaven

Andrei Bolkonsky was lying on the field under Austerlitz and saw the heavens. Infinity was revealed over him. And suddenly Napoleon and his entourage come. "That's a beautiful death!" - said one who did not understand anything in death, and, moreover, in life. And what can one understand in this matter that does not feel life in another person? The question is rhetorical. And the war scenes in the novel "War and Peace" are all rhetorical.

People rush on the ground, shoot each other, tear out pieces of bread from other people's mouths, humiliate and deceive their loved ones. Why all this, when the sky is bottomlessly calm? Heaven is split, because in the souls of the people there is also a split. Everyone wants to live next to a good neighbor, but at the same time inflicts spiritual wounds on the kind person.

Why is war and peace in life close by?

Tolstoy's depiction of war in the novel "War and Peace" is inseparable from the image of the world, because in real life they are consubstantial. And the Russian genius paints the real life, and not what he would like to see around him. His philosophical reasoning in the work is rather primitive, but there is more truth in them than in the thoughts of highbrow scientists. After all, man is not a formula on paper.

Passions say more often than the mind. Karataev is not wise because he is intelligent, but because he absorbed every part of his body from the brain to the tips of his nails. The novel reflects the consubstantiality of the endless process of life, in which is the immortality of the human race, and hence of each individual.

And the world cracked in half - it smokes a rift

Bolkonsky on the operating table, and next to him sawing Anatol Kuragin's leg. And the first thought in Andrei's head: "Why is he here?" With such thoughts, every scene in the life of a human being is ready to turn to the battle scene in a single moment. War in the novel "War and Peace" not only depicts where guns are firing and people are running into a bayonet attack. When the mother screams about the youngest son who was killed, is not this a battle scene? And what could be more violent than when two people talk about the lives and deaths of millions of people whom they both did not see in their eyes? The heavenly light was split into war and peace, split.

Beauty of life in the novel "War and Peace"

Leo Tolstoy is ruthless in depicting human images, ruthless and in depicting the very life of man. But her beauty is seen in every word of the great novel. Bezukhov pulls a child out of the fire, the mother is looking for. Someone sleepily answers questions, petrified from troubles. But Bezukhov himself and his thoughtless actions are perceived by readers as the extraordinary beauty of the human soul.

And overheard by Bolkonsky enthusiasm of Natasha Rostova in the night silence! And even the unfortunate Sonya with her childless-spirit soul also has her dreary, aching beauty. She fought for her happiness and lost the war to an inexorable fate. War in the novel "War and Peace" has thousands of shades, like beauty.

The nondescript Tushin, who throws the nucleus with his hands into the enemy, grows into a mythical beautiful giant not only in his imagination. It becomes akin to the oak tree with which Andrei Bolkonsky spoke. The scene of the meeting of generals after the battle of Borodino is filed in the novel through the perception of the child. And how beautiful is what the meeting saw and remembered the child: "Grandfather woke up and everyone obeyed him!"

Reach out to heaven

After writing the novel "War and Peace", according to many critics, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy only managed to climb to the top of the super-truthful literary art twice - in the "Devil" and in the "Confession", but not for long.