Boris Drubetskoy: a purposeful careerist in the novel "War and Peace"

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

One of the central images of the novel "War and Peace" is the impoverished Prince Boris Drubetskoy. A. M. Kuzminsky and M. D. Polivanov served as prototypes for it. In this article, we will look at the character created by the author and all the changes that occur to him as the action develops. First a young man will appear before us, then a young man - Boris Drubetskoy. The characteristic (“War and Peace”) of this hero is the topic of the article.

Drubetsky family

This impoverished noble family consists of two people. Mother, whose name is Anna Mikhailovna, and son Boris. The elderly lady has not appeared in the world for a long time and has lost touch. She maintains only close relations with the Rostov family. They are distant relatives and friends. She is also distantly related to Prince Bezukhov. Her son Boris Drubetskoy, who is twenty years old at the beginning of the novel, is similar in character to his mother. Already at this age, he is prudent, practical and purposeful.

Appearance of Prince Boris

Boris Drubetskoy is handsome and calm. He is tall and lean. He has blond hair and regular features. His hands are graceful, white, with thin fingers.

Despite the poverty, the mother tries her best to dress him neatly, elegantly and fashionably so that her son can enter the best homes in both capitals.

Boris' personality traits

He is a smart, sweet and hard man. Boris Drubetskoy knows how to control himself and is always calm. He often has a pleasant smile on his face. The tone in which he speaks is usually friendly and slightly derisive. He is poor but proud, and when his mother struggles to get at least a small share of the legacy of the old Bezukhov, Boris Drubetskoy is, as it were, in a detached position, although he is the godson of the old count.

He does not consider himself his relative, although he has very distant connections, and does not want to accept anything from him. The young man is very resourceful. This is evidenced by the case when the youth of the Rostovs ran into the living room, where the countess received the honorable mother and daughter of the Karagins. The whole company was confused, and only Boris found a suitable joke about Natasha's old doll.

“This doll,” as Boris said, “he knew as a girl with a clean nose.” The calmness and playful tone of Drubetskoy relieved the awkward atmosphere in the living room. Restrained and prudent, Boris Drubetskoy is looking for profitable acquaintances with people who are above him and can be useful to him. Therefore, he manages to quickly build a career. Unlike Berg, he is not looking for money, but only for those who can raise him in the service. In the army, he quickly concluded that even a low rank inthe General Staff can put him above the army general. Purposefulness helps him to always achieve his goals. Drubetskoy is simply offended by the thought that he might not achieve something. Freemasons are a fashionable and useful organization. Not caring about the spiritual goals that they set for themselves, Boris Drubetskoy joins the brotherhood of masons, because there are many people from high society there. They can affect his life. Such is Boris Drubetskoy. His characterization is not very attractive and speaks of his selfishness and extraordinary perseverance in order to raise himself high in the world.

Military service

Simple military service does not attract our hero. He is not as naive as young Rostov, who likes to swing his saber and feel the excitement of battle. At first he was just an ensign, but in the guard.

A year later, he becomes adjutant at the headquarters of the commander-in-chief with a "very important person." He receives a serious courier assignment to Prussia. A year later, through his patron, he receives a place in the retinue of the emperor, ends up in Tilsit and is extremely pleased that his position is now firm. By 1812, he was already serving as assistant to Count Bennigson. This is an important post at army headquarters.

Drubetskoy and women

Little Natasha Rostova is infatuated with an adult, seven years her senior, Boris. But both of them are not rich, and Boris is frankly poor at all. Therefore, he does not allow himself to be carried away by a charming girl.

Even after separation, when Drubetskoyfelt a strong attraction to Natalya Ilyinichna, who had become unusually charming, he stopped himself and stopped the acquaintance, which could develop into marriage and end his career. He prefers an easy relationship with Countess Bezukhova, which gives him a brilliant position in society and in the service. In the salon of Anna Scherer, he becomes the person who is "treated" to the guests. His position is completely strengthened by his marriage to the ugly, but the richest bride of Moscow, Julie Karagina, whom he beautifully and romantically looks after. Now he does not need to seek patronage, he is on an equal footing with his higher peers.

The prudent careerist is Boris Drubetskoy. The characterization of the hero portrayed by the author makes an overall unpleasant impression. He always tries to present himself in the best possible light in front of superior people, hiding his shortcomings and forgetting about the principles of honor, duty and conscience.