What is a secular society? Concept and description (based on the novel "War and Peace")

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

Secular society in the novel "War and Peace" is one of the key themes in the study of the epic. After all, it is an integral part of the ongoing events. Against its background, the main features of the main characters who are its representatives are most clearly visible. And finally, it also indirectly participates in the development of the plot.

General characteristics

Secular society occupies a prominent place in the novel. And it is no coincidence that the story begins with him. The aristocratic salon of one of the heroines becomes a kind of stage. The interests, opinions, ideas of the nobles collide on it, among which are the main characters of the work: Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. And the reader immediately has a question: what is this very secular society that occupies such a prominent place in the novel?

The writer describes in great detail the meeting of people, which is usually called this concept. He shows that it consists of representatives of the highestaristocracies, who are almost all cold, arrogant, stiff and preoccupied only with their own benefit. Against this background, the sincerity, directness, sociability and friendliness of Pierre, the nobility and dignity of Prince Andrei stand out even more.

Description of behavior

Secular society plays an important place in the first chapters of the work. War and Peace is an epic novel. And so the psychology of the main characters unfolds against a broad background. In this case, the reader sees the central characters surrounded by typical representatives of the higher nobility. The writer describes them as outwardly very well-mannered, mannered, polite and helpful people. They make a good impression and seem kind. However, the author immediately makes it clear: this is only an appearance. For example, when describing Prince Vasily, the writer emphasizes that his face looked like a mask. Thus, he immediately makes the reader understand that everything that happens in the salon is false and unnatural.

Princess Salon

Another representative of high society, Anna Pavlovna Sherer, makes about the same impression. Although from the first time she seems very sociable and good-natured. But from the way she treats Pierre, the reader understands: her kindness and helpfulness are feigned. In fact, this woman only cares about decency and decorum in her salon. The secular society gathered at her place must behave according to a strictly established order. And those who hold differently, she does not favor. Pierre allowsexpressing her thoughts directly and frankly to herself, which immediately displeases her.

Nobles of Petersburg

The secular society represented in the novel lives in the two main cities of the country: St. Petersburg and Moscow. The aristocracy of the Northern capital mainly spends its time attending balls, receptions, indulging in other amusements. However, the author has an extremely negative attitude towards these people, who, behind external cheerfulness and good nature, hide coldness, stiffness and arrogance. Any sincere display of feelings among them is not welcome. On the contrary, all life goes according to a planned order, deviation from which is highly undesirable.

Sincere expression of feelings, free expression of one's opinion also meets with criticism. Here, inner, spiritual beauty is not valued. But, on the contrary, ostentatious gloss is of great importance. A striking example is the image of Helen Bezukhova. Outwardly, she is very beautiful and spectacular, but in reality she is not a person in the moral sense of the word. It is not surprising that Pierre quickly breaks with her: being sincere by nature, he could not come to terms with his wife's hypocrisy.

Moscow aristocracy

The author described the secular society of the capital of Russia with more sympathy and warmth. Attention is drawn to the following curious fact. At first glance, these people are very similar to the metropolitan nobility. However, it soon becomes clear that they are more sincere, good-natured, honest and sociable. In general, they make a very good impression, despite the fact that the writerpoints out their shortcomings.

Description of secular society in Moscow should begin with a review of the Rostov family. Its members are open, hospitable, friendly, sociable. They are more open and direct in the manifestation of their thoughts and feelings, unlike other aristocracy. So, the old count is very cheerful and friendly. He enters into all the details of the upcoming holiday, revealing in communication the features of a very good-natured and direct person. By this, he immediately wins the sympathy of readers who feel the difference between him and his guests, Princess Anna Scherer and her salon, where everyone is stiff and busy only with formalities.

The Bolkonsky family as the best representatives of the nobility

The characterization of secular society in the epic novel under consideration should be supplemented by an overview of the families of the main characters. Since it was in their characters that the author embodied those features that he considered the best among high society. For example, the Bolkonskys lead a rather secluded life. And only Prince Andrei periodically appears in the world. But the reader immediately understands that he is doing this solely to comply with the necessary formalities.

In fact, he is so clearly a stranger, although he is accepted everywhere as a representative of a rich and noble family. Nevertheless, the prince does not like the people around him, because he feels falsity and hypocrisy in their communication. Therefore, he strives to go to war in order to escape from an existence that has bothered him, which wasfilled with meaningless visits, balls and receptions. This immediately distinguishes the prince from the rest of the nobility of St. Petersburg.

Princess Marya, his sister, led a very secluded life. And she retained her best qualities as a moral person. That is why she attracts Nikolai Rostov, who, in the end, marries her, and not Sonya, with whom he has been in love since childhood. Prince Nikolai Andreevich was an old nobleman who, despite all his severity, retained the nobility, honesty and openness of a nobleman. Perhaps that is why he did not fit into the capital's aristocratic circles in any way and sat hopelessly in his estate, not leaving anywhere.

Rostov family

These people are also the best representatives of the nobility of the time in question. They are very different from the Bolkonskys both in character and in lifestyle. However, they are united by honest and decent behavior, openness, kindness, sincerity. The first are more closed, others are open, sociable, friendly. However, neither of them fit into the usual concept of a secular society.

Rostovs enjoy universal respect and love. And this is indicative in the sense that not all the upper strata were stiff and cold, like guests in the salon of Princess Scherer. The images of the old count, his wife, Sonya, young Natasha, her brothers - Nikolai and Peter - are very pretty and attractive. They immediately have openness and immediacy. At the same time, the writer, striving for the maximum realistic depiction of reality, describes andthe shortcomings of these people, showing that they also tend to err. For example, Nikolai Rostov loses a large amount and generally leads a wild life. And yet in these people there are more positive qualities than negative ones. Therefore, the author considers them, along with the Bolkonskys, to be the best representatives of the nobility.

A few words in conclusion

So, the image of the nobility and its way of life is presented in the novel in sufficient detail, expressively, and most importantly, realistically. In this case, one recalls what the princess says about secular society: in her opinion, it is a kind of backbone of the then social life. Therefore, when referring to the work, you should pay a lot of attention to this topic.