Comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. Similarities and differences between the heroes of L. Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

To "War and Peace" Leo Tolstoy walked painfully and for a long time. The first title of the conceived work sounded like "Decembrist", then - "All's well that ends well", the next - "1805", and only in the final version the written becomes an epic novel about Russian society, the dialectics of the soul and the meaning of life. A comparative description of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, the main characters of the story, is a clear confirmation of this.

Tolstoy and his heroes

Being a humanist writer, Lev Nikolaevich in each of his works explored the human soul, its internal development, rise or fall. He considered each person as a part of the universe, he was interested in everything in it. And the writer is trying to figure out what makes a person great or low, what is the most important thing in his life, whether he can influence history.

Leading the heroesnovel through trials by secular society, money, love, war, the author always shows the inner experiences of people, the motives for which they act. It is from this point of view that the search for Andrei Bolkonsky is always considered, who turned out to be too good to live in this world.

The evolution of Pierre Bezukhov is the spiritual growth of the author himself, this character is very close to him, therefore it is for him that he marries Natasha Rostova (the most beloved image of Leo Tolstoy), whom he considered the ideal of a Russian woman.

There are more than five hundred characters in War and Peace, most of them are real historical figures. The ingenious versatility of the novel allowed Tolstoy to place them all in their places, to identify parallels (maybe not even on purpose).

Skin system

If we divide all the heroes of the work into four levels: historical, social, folk and natural (metaphysical), then it is easy to find the verticals to which Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov belong. And also those who correspond to them. You can clearly show this in the table.

Crystal Grid "War and Peace"

Layers	Main lines of the novel
Public	Rostov	Bolkonsky	Bezukhov	Dolokhov
Historic		Alexander 1	Kutuzov	Napoleon
Folk	Tushin	Timokhin	Platon Karataev	Tikhon Shcherbaty
Natural(element)	Earth	Air	Water	Fire

As you can see, different people correspond to Prince Andrei and Count Bezukhov, who are on the same rung of the social ladder, on the historical and national level, and their elements do not match.

The rootlessness, the groundlessness of Bolkonsky's life, accompanied by constant striving for unattainable ideals, makes him related precisely to the bottomless blue sky that opened up to him on the Austerlitz field.

Not like Pierre at all. It is he and those like him - Kutuzov and Platon Karataev - who can defeat Napoleon and Dolokhov, who imagines himself a superman, put Tikhon Shcherbaty, who knows how to fight so well, in his place. The characteristic of Pierre Bezukhov, or rather, its analysis, carried out at the metaphysical level, indicates that his element is water. And only she can extinguish any flame, even hostile raging.

Attitude towards high society

Despite all the difference in nature, Prince Andrei and Pierre are Tolstoy's favorite characters. We meet them on the very first pages of the novel, which tells about salon life. And we immediately see the difference in their behavior, but we immediately understand that these people have deep respect and affection for each other.

At this, in modern slang, high society get-together, they are for one reason - the position obliges. But for the prince, everything here is uninteresting and understandable. Falsity, vulgarity, the pursuit of money, venality, which reign in high society, had long disgusted him, and hedoes not hide his contempt for the audience.

The young count is new here, he reverently watches the guests and does not notice that he is treated like a second-class person, because he is an illegitimate son, and whether he will inherit is still unknown. But the characterization of Pierre Bezukhov would be incomplete, if not to clarify that very little time will pass, and he, like the prince, will begin to treat with a sense of disgust the secular cold brilliance and empty chatter.

Character Traits

The friendship of these people, so different neither externally nor internally, was built on trust and respect, because they felt the sincerity of these relations, the desire to help understand themselves and people. Perhaps this is a vivid example of how opposite characters can peacefully complement each other. They are interested together.

Comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, as they appear at the beginning of the novel, will not be in favor of the latter. The prince has a sober, one might even say statesmanship, practical tenacity, the ability to bring the work begun to its logical conclusion. He is unusually reserved, collected, highly educated, intelligent, strong-willed and has great willpower.

And Pierre is a sensitive, direct, wide, sincere nature. After arriving from abroad, he finds himself not in the best company of secular revelers and loafers. Bezukhov understands what he is doing wrong, but the gentleness of his character does not allow him to break unnecessary ties. And then Kuragin appears with his sister, and thisit cost nothing for a hardened schemer to rob the gullible Pierre, marrying him to Helen.

And yet, Prince Andrei, so correct and cold, a rationalist to the marrow of his bones, it was with Pierre that he was free from conventions and allowed himself to speak quite frankly. Yes, and Bezukhov, in turn, believed only him and respected Bolkonsky infinitely.

Test of love

An amazing thing: having experienced unsuccessful marriages, both heroes fall in love with one girl, amazing in her sincerity and spontaneity, with an irrepressible desire to live - Natasha Rostova. And now a comparative description of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, their attitude towards love will not be in favor of the first.

Yes, the prince turned out to be happier, because he became Natasha's fiancé, while the count did not even dare to admit to himself how dear this bright girl was to him. Young Rostova became a litmus test in the manifestation of the true feelings of Pierre and Andrei. If the first was ready to love silently all his life, because for him Natasha's happiness was above all, and therefore he was ready to forgive her everything, then the second turned out to be an ordinary owner.

Bolkonsky could not understand and accept the poor girl's remorse for treason, which, in fact, did not exist. Only on his deathbed, when the whole past life no longer mattered, when all ambitious thoughts were not needed, Prince Andrei understands what it is to love. But this feeling, rather, is not for a specific person, it is not even earthly, but divine.

Test by war

Description of Andrei Bolkonsky aswarrior is brilliant. This is the same type of Russian officers who keep the army and the country. He is moderately cautious, courageous, quickly makes decisions in extreme situations, takes care of his subordinates. No wonder Kutuzov did not want to let him go from his headquarters to the front line.

The war of 1805, incomprehensible and unfair, devastated the prince. After the injury and the French captivity, when the ideal of Napoleon collapsed and depreciated in his eyes, Bolkonsky's life was empty. But at the Battle of Borodino, we see a different Andrei. Here he is with his people, and he realized that the main purpose of human existence is to help other people.

For Pierre, the war turned out to be a purgatory of the soul. He stayed in Moscow to kill Napoleon, but, saving the child, he was arrested, then he was preparing to be shot, and then he was expected to be captured and retreat with the French. A complete characterization of Pierre Bezukhov is impossible without the image of Platon Karataev. It is through this peasant that the count comprehends the national character, its values and priorities. Probably, it was after the meeting with Karataev that the path of Bezukhov the Decembrist began.

Seeking the Truth

Both Andrei and Pierre throughout the whole novel are languidly looking for the meaning of life, following the paths of spiritual quest. They are either disappointed or resurrected again for new things. A comparative description of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov shows that the trials prepared for them by fate are, in general, very similar.

They both de alt with the influence of high society,rejecting its parasitic existence. Each had an unhappy marriage. Together they "got sick" with Napoleon, realizing the insignificance of the conceited aspirations of anyone. Did not break their captivity. Both loved Natasha Rostova. But only Pierre survived.

Prince Andrei realized his death as a return. His mission on this earth is over - ahead of infinity and eternity.

Instead of output

Don't forget that Tolstoy's original intention was to write a novel about the Decembrist. In the very first drafts, the main character was already called Pierre, and his wife was Natasha. But it turned out that without an excursion into the war of 1812, nothing would be clear, and then it became obvious that it was necessary to start from 1805. So we got a wonderful book - "War and Peace".

And her heroes - Pierre and Andrei Bolkonsky - stand before us as the best representatives of that time. Their love for the Motherland is active. In them, Lev Nikolayevich embodied his attitude to life: you need to live fully, naturally and simply, then it will work out honestly. You can and should make mistakes, drop everything and start again. But peace is spiritual death.