Introduction

Leo Tolstoy in his epic depicted more than 500 characters typical of Russian society. In War and Peace, the heroes of the novel are representatives of the upper class of Moscow and St. Petersburg, key government and military figures, soldiers, people from the common people, and peasants. The depiction of all layers of Russian society allowed Tolstoy to recreate a complete picture of Russian life in one of the turning points in the history of Russia - the era of the wars with Napoleon of 1805-1812.

In War and Peace, the characters are conventionally divided into main characters - whose fates are woven by the author into the plot narrative of all four volumes and the epilogue, and secondary - heroes who appear sporadically in the novel. Among the main characters of the novel, one can highlight the central characters - Andrei Bolkonsky, Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov, around whose destinies the events of the novel unfold.

Characteristics of the main characters of the novel

Andrey Bolkonsky- “a very handsome young man with definite and dry features”, “short stature.” The author introduces Bolkonsky to the reader at the beginning of the novel - the hero was one of the guests at Anna Scherer's evening (where many of the main characters of Tolstoy's War and Peace were also present).

According to the plot of the work, Andrei was tired of high society, he dreamed of glory, no less than the glory of Napoleon, which is why he goes to war. The episode that changed Bolkonsky’s worldview was the meeting with Bonaparte - wounded on the field of Austerlitz, Andrei realized how insignificant Bonaparte and all his glory really were. The second turning point in Bolkonsky’s life is his love for Natasha Rostova. The new feeling helped the hero return to a full life, to believe that after the death of his wife and everything he had suffered, he could continue to live fully. However, their happiness with Natasha was not destined to come true - Andrei was mortally wounded during the Battle of Borodino and soon died.

Natasha Rostova- a cheerful, kind, very emotional girl who knows how to love: “dark-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but lively.” An important feature of the image of the central character of “War and Peace” is her musical talent - a beautiful voice that even people inexperienced in music were fascinated by. The reader meets Natasha on the girl’s name day, when she turns 12 years old. Tolstoy depicts the moral maturation of the heroine: love experiences, going out into the world, Natasha’s betrayal of Prince Andrei and her worries because of this, the search for herself in religion and the turning point in the heroine’s life – the death of Bolkonsky. In the epilogue of the novel, Natasha appears to the reader completely different - before us is more the shadow of her husband, Pierre Bezukhov, and not the bright, active Rostova, who a few years ago danced Russian dances and “won” carts for the wounded from her mother.

Pierre Bezukhov- “a massive, fat young man with a cropped head and glasses.” “Pierre was somewhat larger than the other men in the room,” he had “an intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room.” Pierre is a hero who is in constant search of himself through knowledge of the world around him. Every situation in his life, every life stage became special for the hero life lesson. Marriage to Helen, passion for Freemasonry, love for Natasha Rostova, presence on the field of the Borodino battle (which the hero sees precisely through the eyes of Pierre), French captivity and acquaintance with Karataev completely change Pierre’s personality - a purposeful and self-confident man with own views and goals.

Other important characters

In War and Peace, Tolstoy conventionally identifies several blocks of characters - the Rostov, Bolkonsky, Kuragin families, as well as characters included in the social circle of one of these families. The Rostovs and Bolkonskys, as positive heroes, bearers of truly Russian mentality, ideas and spirituality, are contrasted with the negative characters Kuragins, who had little interest in the spiritual aspect of life, preferring to shine in society, weave intrigues and choose acquaintances according to their status and wealth. It will help to better understand the essence of each main character a brief description of heroes of War and Peace.

Graph Ilya Andreevich Rostov- a kind and generous man, for whom the most important thing in his life was family. The Count sincerely loved his wife and four children (Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petya), helped his wife in raising their children and did his best to maintain a warm atmosphere in the Rostov house. Ilya Andreevich cannot live without luxury, he liked to organize magnificent balls, receptions and evenings, but his wastefulness and inability to manage economic affairs ultimately led to the critical financial situation of the Rostovs.
Countess Natalya Rostova is a 45-year-old woman with oriental features, who knows how to make an impression in high society, the wife of Count Rostov, and the mother of four children. The Countess, like her husband, loved her family very much, trying to support her children and educate them best qualities. Due to her excessive love for children, after Petya’s death, the woman almost goes crazy. In the countess, kindness towards loved ones was combined with prudence: wanting to improve the financial situation of the family, the woman tries with all her might to upset Nikolai’s marriage to the “unprofitable bride” Sonya.

Nikolay Rostov- “a short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face.” This is a simple-minded, open, honest and friendly young man, Natasha’s brother, the eldest son of the Rostovs. At the beginning of the novel, Nikolai appears as an admiring young man who wants military glory and recognition, but after participating first in the Battle of Shengrabe, and then in the Battle of Austerlitz, Patriotic War, Nikolai’s illusions are dispelled and the hero understands how absurd and wrong the very idea of ​​war is. Nikolai finds personal happiness in his marriage to Marya Bolkonskaya, in whom he felt a like-minded person even at their first meeting.

Sonya Rostova- “a thin, petite brunette with a soft look, shaded by long eyelashes, a thick black braid that wrapped around her head twice, and a yellowish tint to the skin on her face,” the niece of Count Rostov. According to the plot of the novel, she is a quiet, reasonable, kind girl who knows how to love and is prone to self-sacrifice. Sonya refuses Dolokhov, because she wants to be faithful only to Nikolai, whom she sincerely loves. When the girl finds out that Nikolai is in love with Marya, she meekly lets him go, not wanting to interfere with the happiness of her loved one.

Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky- Prince, retired general chief. He is a proud, intelligent, strict man of short stature “with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, which sometimes, as he frowned, obscured the brilliance of his intelligent and youthful sparkling eyes.” Deep down in his soul, Bolkonsky loves his children very much, but does not dare to show it (only before his death was he able to show his daughter his love). Nikolai Andreevich died from the second blow while in Bogucharovo.

Marya Bolkonskaya- a quiet, kind, meek girl, prone to self-sacrifice and sincerely loving her family. Tolstoy describes her as a heroine with “an ugly weak body and a thin face,” but “the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so beautiful that very often, despite the ugliness of everything faces, these eyes became more attractive than beauty.” The beauty of Marya’s eyes later amazed Nikolai Rostov. The girl was very pious, devoted herself entirely to caring for her father and nephew, then redirecting her love to her own family and husband.

Helen Kuragina- a bright, brilliantly beautiful woman with an “unchanging smile” and full white shoulders, who liked male company, Pierre’s first wife. Helen was not particularly intelligent, but thanks to her charm, ability to behave in society and establish the necessary connections, she set up her own salon in St. Petersburg and was personally acquainted with Napoleon. The woman died of a severe sore throat (although there were rumors in society that Helen had committed suicide).

Anatol Kuragin- Helen's brother, as handsome in appearance and noticeable in high society as his sister. Anatole lived the way he wanted, throwing away all moral principles and foundations, organizing drunkenness and brawls. Kuragin wanted to steal Natasha Rostova and marry her, although he was already married.

Fedor Dolokhov- “a man of average height, curly hair and with bright eyes", an officer of the Semenovsky regiment, one of the leaders of the partisan movement. Fedor’s personality amazingly combined selfishness, cynicism and adventurism with the ability to love and care for his loved ones. (Nikolai Rostov is very surprised that at home, with his mother and sister, Dolokhov is completely different - a loving and gentle son and brother).

Conclusion

Even short description heroes of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" allows us to see the close and inextricable relationship between the destinies of the characters. Like all events in the novel, the meetings and farewells of the characters take place according to the irrational, elusive law of historical mutual influences. It is these incomprehensible mutual influences that create the destinies of the heroes and shape their views on the world.

Work test

Every book you read is another life lived, especially when the plot and characters are so well developed. “War and Peace” is a unique epic novel; there is nothing like it in either Russian or world literature. The events described in it take place in St. Petersburg, Moscow, foreign estates of nobles and in Austria over the course of 15 years. The characters are also striking in their scale.

"War and Peace" is a novel in which more than 600 characters are mentioned. Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy describes them so aptly that the few apt characteristics bestowed upon the cross-cutting characters are enough to form an idea about them. Therefore, “War and Peace” is a whole life in all the fullness of colors, sounds and sensations. It's worth living.

The birth of an idea and creative quest

In 1856, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy began writing a story about the life of the Decembrist who returned after exile. The time of action was supposed to be 1810-1820. Gradually the period expanded until 1825. But by this time main character has already matured and become family man. And in order to better understand him, the author had to return to the period of his youth. And it coincided with a glorious era for Russia.

But Tolstoy could not write about the triumph over Bonaparte's France without mentioning failures and mistakes. Now the novel already consisted of three parts. The first (as conceived by the author) was supposed to describe the youth of the future Decembrist and his participation in the War of 1812. This is the first period of the hero's life. Tolstoy wanted to devote the second part to the Decembrist uprising. The third is the hero’s return from exile and his future life. However, Tolstoy quickly abandoned this idea: the work on the novel turned out to be too large-scale and painstaking.

Initially, Tolstoy limited the duration of his work to 1805-1812. The epilogue, dated 1920, appeared much later. But the author was concerned not only with the plot, but also with the characters. "War and Peace" is not a description of the life of one hero. The central figures are several characters at once. And the main character is the people, which is much larger than the thirty-year-old Decembrist Pyotr Ivanovich Labazov, who returned from exile.

Work on the novel took Tolstoy six years, from 1863 to 1869. And this does not take into account the six that went into developing the idea of ​​​​the Decembrist, which became its basis.

The system of characters in the novel "War and Peace"

The main character in Tolstoy is the people. But in his understanding, he represents not just a social category, but a creative force. According to Tolstoy, the people are all the best that is in the Russian nation. Moreover, this includes not only representatives of the lower classes, but also those of the nobles who have a desire to live for the sake of others.

Tolstoy contrasts representatives of the people with Napoleon, the Kuragins and other aristocrats - regulars at Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon. This negative characters novel "War and Peace". Already in the description of their appearance, Tolstoy emphasizes the mechanical nature of their existence, lack of spirituality, “animality” of actions, lifelessness of smiles, selfishness and inability to compassion. They are incapable of change. Tolstoy does not see the possibility of their spiritual development, so they remain forever frozen, distant from the real understanding of life.

Researchers often distinguish two subgroups of “folk” characters:

• Those who are endowed with “simple consciousness”. They easily distinguish right from wrong, guided by the “mind of the heart.” This subgroup includes such characters as Natasha Rostova, Kutuzov, Platon Karataev, Alpatych, officers Timokhin and Tushin, soldiers and partisans.
• Those who are “looking for themselves.” Upbringing and class barriers prevent them from connecting with the people, but they manage to overcome them. This subgroup includes such characters as Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. It is these heroes who are shown capable of development and internal change. They are not without shortcomings; they make mistakes in their life's quest, but pass all tests with dignity. Sometimes Natasha Rostova is included in this group. After all, she too was once carried away by Anatole, forgetting about her beloved Prince Bolkonsky. The War of 1812 becomes a kind of catharsis for this entire subgroup, which makes them look at life differently and discard the class conventions that previously prevented them from living according to the dictates of their hearts, as the people do.

The simplest classification

Sometimes the characters in War and Peace are divided according to an even simpler principle - their ability to live for the sake of others. Such a character system is also possible. “War and Peace,” like any other work, is the author’s vision. Therefore, everything in the novel happens in accordance with Lev Nikolaevich’s worldview. The people, in Tolstoy’s understanding, are the personification of all the best that is in the Russian nation. Characters such as the Kuragin family, Napoleon, and many regulars at the Scherer salon know how to live only for themselves.

Along Arkhangelsk and Baku

• “Life-wasters,” from Tolstoy’s point of view, are the furthest from the correct understanding of existence. This group lives only for themselves, selfishly neglecting those around them.
• "Leaders." This is what Arkhangelsky and Buck call those who think they control history. For example, the authors include Napoleon in this group.
• “Wise men” are those who understood the true world order and were able to trust providence.
• "Ordinary people". This group, according to Arkhangelsky and Buck, includes those who know how to listen to their hearts, but do not particularly strive for anything.
• “Truth Seekers” are Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. Throughout the novel, they painfully search for the truth, strive to understand what the meaning of life is.
• The authors of the textbook include Natasha Rostova in a separate group. They believe that she is simultaneously close to both “ordinary people” and “sages”. The girl easily comprehends life empirically and knows how to listen to the voice of her heart, but the most important thing for her is family and children, as it should be, according to Tolstoy, for an ideal woman.

You can consider many more classifications of the characters in War and Peace, but they all ultimately come down to the simplest one, which fully reflects the worldview of the author of the novel. After all, he saw true happiness in serving others. Therefore, positive (“folk”) heroes know how and want to do this, but negative ones do not.

L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”: female characters

Any work is a reflection of the author's vision of life. According to Tolstoy, the highest purpose of a woman is to care for her husband and children. It is the keeper of the hearth that the reader sees Natasha Rostova in the epilogue of the novel.

All positive female characters in War and Peace fulfill their highest purpose. The author also imparts happiness to motherhood and family life to Maria Bolkonskaya. Interestingly, she is perhaps the most positive hero novel. Princess Marya has practically no flaws. Despite her varied education, she still finds her purpose, as befits a Tolstoy heroine, in caring for her husband and children.

A completely different fate awaited Helen Kuragina and the little princess, who saw no joy in motherhood.

Pierre Bezukhov

This is Tolstoy's favorite character. "War and Peace" describes him as a man who by nature has a highly noble character, so he easily understands the people. All his mistakes are due to the aristocratic conventions instilled in him by his upbringing.

Throughout the novel, Pierre experiences many emotional traumas, but does not become embittered or become less good-natured. He is loyal and responsive, often forgetting about himself in an effort to serve others. Having married Natasha Rostova, Pierre found that grace and true happiness that he so lacked in his first marriage to the completely false Helen Kuragina.

Lev Nikolaevich loves his hero very much. He describes in detail its formation and spiritual development from the very beginning to the end. The example of Pierre shows that the main thing for Tolstoy is responsiveness and devotion. The author rewards him with happiness with his beloved female heroine- Natasha Rostova.

From the epilogue one can understand Pierre's future. By changing himself, he seeks to transform society. He does not accept the contemporary political foundations of Russia. It can be assumed that Pierre will participate in the Decembrist uprising, or at least actively support it.

Andrey Bolkonsky

The reader first meets this hero in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. He is married to Lisa - the little princess, as she is called, and will soon become a father. Andrei Bolkonsky behaves extremely arrogantly with all the regulars of Sherer. But the reader soon notices that this is only a mask. Bolkonsky understands that those around him cannot understand his spiritual quest. He talks to Pierre completely differently. But Bolkonsky at the beginning of the novel is not alien to the ambitious desire to achieve heights in the military field. It seems to him that he is above aristocratic conventions, but it turns out that his eyes are just as blinkered as those of others. Andrei Bolkonsky realized too late that he should have given up his feelings for Natasha in vain. But this insight comes to him only before his death.

Like other “searching” characters in Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” Bolkonsky spends his entire life trying to find the answer to the question of what is the meaning of human existence. But he understands the highest value of family too late.

Natasha Rostova

This is Tolstoy's favorite female character. However, the entire Rostov family seems to the author to be the ideal of nobles living in unity with the people. Natasha cannot be called beautiful, but she is lively and attractive. The girl has a good sense of people's moods and characters.

According to Tolstoy, internal beauty does not combine with external beauty. Natasha is attractive due to her character, but her main qualities are simplicity and closeness to the people. However, at the beginning of the novel she lives in her own illusion. Disappointment in Anatol makes her an adult and contributes to the heroine’s maturation. Natasha begins to attend church and ultimately finds happiness in family life with Pierre.

Marya Bolkonskaya

The prototype of this heroine was Lev Nikolaevich’s mother. It is not surprising that it is almost completely devoid of shortcomings. She, like Natasha, is ugly, but has a very rich inner world. Like other positive characters in the novel “War and Peace,” in the end she also becomes happy, becoming the keeper of the hearth in her own family.

Helen Kuragina

Tolstoy has a multifaceted characterization of his characters. War and Peace describes Helen as a cutesy woman with a fake smile. It immediately becomes clear to the reader that there is no internal filling behind external beauty. Marrying her becomes a test for Pierre and does not bring happiness.

Nikolay Rostov

The core of any novel is its characters. War and Peace describes Nikolai Rostov as a loving brother and son, as well as a true patriot. Lev Nikolaevich saw in this hero the prototype of his father. Having gone through the hardships of the war, Nikolai Rostov retires to pay off his family's debts and finds his true love in Marya Bolkonskaya.

Tolstoy’s favorite characters in the novel “War and Peace” are Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. They are united by the quality that the writer himself most valued in people. In his opinion, to be a real person, you need to “tear, struggle, get confused, make mistakes, start and quit” all your life, and “calmness is spiritual meanness.” That is, a person should not calm down and stop, he should search for meaning all his life and strive to find an application for his strengths, talents, and mind.

In this article we will look at the characteristics of the main characters of the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy. Pay attention to why Tolstoy endowed these heroes with such traits and what he wanted to tell his readers by this.

Pierre Bezukhov in the novel "War and Peace"

As we have already noted, speaking about the main characters of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” it is definitely worth discussing the image of Pierre Bezukhov. The reader first sees Pierre in the aristocratic St. Petersburg salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. The hostess treats him somewhat condescendingly, because he is just the illegitimate son of a rich nobleman of Catherine’s times, who has just returned from abroad, where he received an education.

Pierre Bezukhov differs from other guests in his spontaneity and sincerity. Drawing psychological picture of his main character, Tolstoy points out that Pierre was a fat, absent-minded man, but all this was redeemed by “an expression of good nature, simplicity and modesty.” The owner of the salon was afraid that Pierre would say something wrong, and indeed, Bezukhov passionately expresses his opinion, argues with the viscount and does not know how to follow etiquette rules. At the same time, he is good-natured and smart. The qualities of Pierre, shown in the first chapters of the novel, will be inherent in him throughout the entire narrative, although the hero himself will go through a difficult path of spiritual evolution. Why can Pierre Bezukhov be safely considered one of the main characters of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”? Consideration of the image of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand this.

Pierre Bezukhov is so loved by Tolstoy because this main character of the novel tirelessly searches for the meaning of life, asks himself painful questions: “What is bad? What well? What should you love, what should you hate? Why live, and what am I? What is life, what is death? What force controls everything?

Pierre Bezukhov goes through a difficult path of spiritual quest. He is not satisfied with the St. Petersburg revelries of the golden youth. Having received an inheritance and becoming one of the richest people in Russia, the hero marries Helen, but he blames himself for the failures of family life and even his wife’s infidelities, since he proposed without experiencing love.

For a while he finds meaning in Freemasonry. He is close to the idea of ​​his spiritual brothers about the need to live for the sake of others, to give as much as possible to others. Pierre Bezukhov is trying to change and improve the situation of his peasants. But soon disappointment sets in: the main character of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” understands that most of the Masons are trying to make acquaintances with influential people in this way. Further, the image and characteristics of Pierre Bezukhov are revealed in an interesting aspect.

The most important stage on the path of spiritual formation of Pierre Bezukhov is the War of 1812 and captivity. On the Borodino field, he understands that the truth is in the universal unity of people. In captivity, the peasant philosopher Platon Karataev reveals to the main character how important it is to “live with people” and stoically accept everything that fate presents.

Pierre Bezukhov has an inquisitive mind, thoughtful and often ruthless introspection. He is a decent person, kind and a little naive. He asks himself and the world philosophical questions about the meaning of life, God, the purpose of existence, without finding an answer, he does not brush aside painful thoughts, but tries to find the right way.

In the epilogue, Pierre is happy with Natasha Rostova, but personal happiness is not enough for him. He becomes a member of a secret society preparing transformations in Russia. So, discussing who the main characters are in Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” we focused on the image of Pierre Bezukhov and his characteristics. Let's move on to the next key character of the novel - Andrei Bolkonsky.

Andrei Bolkonsky in the novel "War and Peace"

The Bolkonsky family is united by common family traits: a sharp analytical mind, nobility, the highest feeling honor, understanding of one’s duty in serving the Fatherland. It is no coincidence that, seeing off his son to war, the father, admonishing him, says: “Remember one thing, Prince Andrei: if they kill you, it will hurt me, an old man... And if I find out that you did not behave like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I will ... ashamed!" Undoubtedly, Andrei Bolkonsky is a bright character and one of the main characters in the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy.

During military service, Bolkonsky is guided by considerations of the common good, and not his own career. He heroically rushes forward with a banner in his hands, because it pains him to see the flight of the Russian army on the Field of Austerlitz.

Andrei, like Pierre, faces a difficult path of searching for the meaning of life and disappointments. At first he dreams of the glory of Napoleon. But after the Austerlitz sky, in which the prince saw something infinitely lofty, beautiful and calm, the former idol seems to him small, insignificant with his vain aspirations.

The main character of the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy experiences disappointment in love (Natasha betrays him by deciding to run away with the fool Anatoly Kuragin), in life for the sake of his family (he understands that this is not enough), in public service(Speransky’s activities turn out to be meaningless vanity that does not bring true benefit).

We have all read or heard about the novel War and Peace, but not everyone can remember the characters in the novel the first time. The main characters of the novel War and Peace— love, suffer, live life in the imagination of every reader.

Main characters War and Peace

The main characters of the novel War and Peace are Natasha Rostova, Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky.

It is quite difficult to say which is the main one, since Tolstoy’s characters are described as if in parallel.

The main characters are different, they have different views on life, different aspirations, but they have a common problem: war. And Tolstoy shows in the novel not one, but many destinies. The story of each of them is unique. There is no best, no worst. And we understand the best and the worst by comparison.

Natasha Rostova- one of the main characters with her own history and troubles, Bolkonsky also one of best characters, whose story, alas, had to end. He himself has exhausted his life limit.

Bezukhov a little strange, lost, insecure, but his fate bizarrely presented him with Natasha.

The main character is the one who is closest to you.

Characteristics of the heroes War and Peace

Akhrosimova Marya Dmitrievna- a Moscow lady, known throughout the city “not for wealth, not for honors, but for directness of mind and frank simplicity of manner.” They told anecdotal stories about her, quietly laughed at her rudeness, but they were afraid and sincerely respected. A. was known to both capitals and even the royal family. The prototype of the heroine is A. D. Ofrosimova, known in Moscow, described by S. P. Zhikharev in “The Student’s Diary.”

The heroine’s usual lifestyle consists of doing housework at home, traveling to mass, visiting forts, receiving petitioners, and traveling to the city on business. Her four sons serve in the army, which she is very proud of; He knows how to hide his concern for them from strangers.

A. always speaks Russian, loudly, she has a “thick voice”, a corpulent body, she holds high “her fifty-year-old head with gray curls.” A. is close to the Rostov family, loving Natasha most of all. At the name day of Natasha and the old countess, it is she who dances with Count Rostov, delighting the entire assembled society. She boldly reprimands Pierre for the incident because of which he was expelled from St. Petersburg in 1805; she reprimands old Prince Bolkonsky for the discourtesy he made to Natasha during the visit; She also upsets Natasha’s plan to run away with Anatole.

Bagration- one of the most famous Russian military leaders, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, prince. In the novel it appears as real historical figure and a participant in the plot action. B. “short, with an oriental type of hard and motionless face, dry, not yet an old man" In the novel he participates mainly as the commander of the Battle of Shengraben. Before the operation, Kutuzov blessed him “for the great feat” of saving the army. The mere presence of the prince on the battlefield changes a lot in its course, although he does not give any visible orders, but at the decisive moment he dismounts and himself goes on the attack ahead of the soldiers. He is loved and respected by everyone, it is known about him that Suvorov himself gave him a sword for his courage back in Italy. During the Battle of Austerlitz, one B. spent the whole day fighting off an enemy twice as strong and, during the retreat, led his column out of the battlefield undisturbed. That is why Moscow chose him as its hero, a dinner was given in B.’s honor at an English club, in his person “due honor was given to a fighting, simple, without connections or intrigue, Russian soldier...”.

Bezukhov Pierre- one of the main characters of the novel; At first, the hero of the story about the Decembrist, from whose conception the work arose.

P. is the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, a famous Catherine nobleman, who became the heir to the title and a huge fortune, “a massive, fat young man with a cropped head, wearing glasses,” he is distinguished by an intelligent, timid, “observant and natural” look. P. was brought up abroad and appeared in Russia shortly before the death of his father and the beginning of the campaign of 1805. He is intelligent, inclined to philosophical reasoning, gentle and kind-hearted, compassionate towards others, kind, impractical and subject to passions. His closest friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, characterizes P. as the only “living person” among the whole world.

At the beginning of the novel, P. considers Napoleon greatest man in the world, but gradually becomes disillusioned, reaching the point of hatred towards him and the desire to kill. Having become a rich heir and falling under the influence of Prince Vasily and Helen, P. marries the latter. Very soon, having understood his wife’s character and realizing her depravity, he breaks up with her. In search of the content and meaning of his life, P. becomes interested in Freemasonry, trying to find in this teaching answers to the questions that torment him and get rid of the passions that torment him. Realizing the falsity of the Freemasons, the hero breaks with them, tries to reorganize the lives of his peasants, but fails due to his impracticality and gullibility.

The greatest trials befell P. on the eve and during the war; it is not for nothing that “through his eyes” readers see the famous comet of 1812, which, according to the general belief, foreshadowed terrible misfortunes. This sign follows P.’s declaration of love to Natasha Rostova. During the war, the hero, having decided to watch the battle and not yet very clearly realizing the strength of national unity and the significance of the ongoing event, ends up on the Borodino field. This day gives him a lot last conversation with Prince Andrei, who realized that the truth is where “they” are, that is, ordinary soldiers. Left in burning and deserted Moscow to kill Napoleon, P. tries as best he can to fight the misfortune that has befallen people, but is captured and experiences terrible moments during the execution of prisoners.

A meeting with Platon Karataev reveals to P. the truth that one must love life, even while innocently suffering, seeing the meaning and purpose of each person in being a part and reflection of the whole world. After meeting with Karataev, P. learned to see “the eternal and infinite in everything.” At the end of the war, after the death of Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha’s revival to life, P. marries her. In the epilogue, he is a happy husband and father, a man who, in a dispute with Nikolai Rostov, expresses convictions that allow him to be seen as a future Decembrist.

Berg- German, “a fresh, pink guards officer, impeccably washed, buttoned and combed.” At the beginning of the novel he is a lieutenant, at the end - a colonel who has made a good career and has awards. B. is precise, calm, courteous, selfish and stingy. Those around him laugh at him. B. could only talk about himself and his interests, the main one of which was success. He could talk about this subject for hours, with visible pleasure for himself and at the same time teaching others. During the campaign of 1805, B. is a company commander, proud of the fact that he is efficient, careful, enjoys the trust of his superiors, and has arranged his material affairs favorably. When meeting him in the army, Nikolai Rostov treats him with slight contempt.

B. first the intended and desired groom of Vera Rostova, and then her husband. The hero makes a proposal to his future wife at a time when refusal is impossible for him - B. correctly takes into account the Rostovs’ financial difficulties, which does not prevent him from demanding part of the promised dowry from the old count. Having achieved a certain position, income, having married Vera, who meets his requirements, Colonel B. feels contented and happy, even in Moscow, abandoned by the residents, worrying about purchasing furniture.

Bolkonskaya Lisa- the wife of Prince Andrei, to whom the name “little princess” was assigned in the world. “Her pretty upper lip, with a slightly blackened mustache, was short in teeth, but the more sweetly it opened and the more sweetly it sometimes stretched out and fell onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her flaw—short lips and half-open mouth—seemed special to her, her actual beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty expectant mother, full of health and vivacity, who endured her situation so easily.”

The image of L. was formed by Tolstoy in the first edition and remained unchanged. The prototype of the little princess was the wife of the writer’s second cousin, Princess L.I. Volkonskaya, née Truzson, some of whose features were used by Tolstoy. The “little princess” enjoyed universal love because of her constant liveliness and courtesy of a society woman who could not imagine her life outside the world. In her relationship with her husband, she is characterized by a complete lack of understanding of his aspirations and character. During arguments with her husband, her face, because of her raised lip, took on a “brutal, squirrel expression,” however, Prince Andrei, repenting of marrying L., in a conversation with Pierre and his father, notes that this is one of the rare women with whom “you can be calm for your honor."

After Bolkonsky left for the war, L. lives in Bald Mountains, experiencing constant fear and antipathy towards his father-in-law and becoming friendly not with his sister-in-law, but with Princess Marya’s empty and frivolous companion, Mademoiselle Bourrienne. L. dies, as she had a presentiment, during childbirth, on the day of the return of Prince Andrei, who was considered killed. The expression on her face just before her death and after seems to say that she loves everyone, does no harm to anyone and cannot understand why she is suffering. Her death leaves Prince Andrei with a feeling of irreparable guilt and sincere pity for the old prince.

Bolkonskaya Marya- Princess, daughter of the old Prince Bolkonsky, sister of Prince Andrei, later the wife of Nikolai Rostov. M. “has an ugly, weak body and a thin face... the princess’s eyes, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), were so beautiful that very often, despite the ugliness of her whole face, these eyes became more attractive beauty."

M. is very religious, welcomes pilgrims and wanderers, enduring the ridicule of her father and brother. She has no friends with whom she could share her thoughts. Her life is focused on love for her father, who is often unfair to her, for her brother and his son Nikolenka (after the death of the “little princess”), for whom she, as best she can, replaces the mother. M. is an intelligent, meek, educated woman, not hoping for personal happiness. Because of her father’s unfair reproaches and the inability to endure it any longer, she even wanted to go on a journey. Her life changes after meeting Nikolai Rostov, who managed to guess the wealth of her soul. Having gotten married, the heroine is happy, completely sharing all her husband’s views “on duty and oath.”

Bolkonsky Andrey - one of the main characters of the novel, prince, son of N.A. Bolkonsky, brother of Princess Marya. “...Short stature, a very handsome young man with definite and dry features.” This is an intelligent, proud person who seeks great intellectual and spiritual content in life. His sister notes in him some kind of “pride of thought”; he is restrained, educated, practical and has a strong will.

By origin, B. occupies one of the most enviable places in society, but is unhappy in his family life and is not satisfied with the emptiness of the world. At the beginning of the novel, his hero is Napoleon. Wanting to imitate Napoleon, dreaming of “his Toulon,” he leaves for active army, where he shows courage, composure, a heightened sense of honor, duty, and justice. Participates in the Battle of Shengraben. Seriously wounded in the Battle of Austerlitz, B. understands the futility of his dreams and the insignificance of his idol. The hero returns home, where he was considered dead, on the day of his son’s birth and his wife’s death. These events shock him even more, leaving him feeling guilty towards his dead wife. Having decided not to serve anymore after Austerlitz, B. lives in Bogucharovo, doing housework, raising his son and reading a lot. During Pierre's arrival, he admits that he lives for himself alone, but something momentarily awakens in his soul when he sees the sky above him for the first time since his injury. From that time on, while maintaining the same circumstances, “his new life began in the inner world.”

Over the two years of living in the village, B. has been busy analyzing the latest military campaigns, which prompts him, under the influence of a trip to Otradnoye and awakened vitality, to go to St. Petersburg, where he works under the supervision of Speransky, who is in charge of the preparation of legislative changes.

In St. Petersburg, B.’s second meeting with Natasha takes place, and a deep feeling and hope for happiness arises in the hero’s soul. Having postponed the wedding for a year under the influence of his father, who did not agree with his son’s decision, B. goes abroad. After his fiancée’s betrayal, in order to forget about it and calm the feelings that washed over him, he returns to the army again under the command of Kutuzov. Participating in the Patriotic War, B. wants to be at the front, and not at headquarters, gets close to the soldiers and comprehends the power of the “spirit of the army” fighting for the liberation of his homeland. Before participating in the last battle of Borodino in his life, the hero meets and talks with Pierre. Having received a mortal wound, B., by a coincidence, leaves Moscow in the Rostov convoy, reconciling with Natasha along the way, forgiving her and understanding before his death the true meaning of the power of love that unites people.

Bolkonsky Nikolai Andreevich- prince, general-in-chief, dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the village. Father of Princess Marya and Prince Andrei. In the image of the old prince, Tolstoy restored many of the features of his maternal grandfather, Prince N. S. Volkonsky, “an intelligent, proud and gifted man.”

N.A. lives in the village, pedantically distributing his time, most of all not enduring idleness, stupidity, superstition and violation of the once established order; he is demanding and harsh with everyone, often tormenting his daughter with nagging, but deep down loving her. The universally revered prince “walked in the old-fashioned way, in a caftan and powder”, was short, “in a powdered wig... with small dry hands and gray hanging eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, obscuring the brilliance of his intelligent and seemingly young sparkling eyes.” He is very proud, smart, restrained in expressing feelings; Perhaps his main concern is the preservation of family honor and dignity. Before last days During his life, the old prince retains an interest in political and military events, only just before his death he loses any real idea of ​​​​the scale of the misfortune that happened to Russia. It was he who instilled feelings of pride, duty, patriotism and scrupulous honesty in his son Andrei.

Bolkonsky Nikolenka- the son of Prince Andrei and the “little princess”, born on the day of his mother’s death and the return of his father, who was considered dead. He was brought up first in his grandfather's house, then by Princess Marya. Outwardly he looks very much like his late mother: he has the same upturned lip and curly hair. dark hair. N. grows up as a smart, impressionable and nervous boy. In the epilogue of the novel, he is 15 years old, he witnesses an argument between Nikolai Rostov and Pierre Bezukhov. Under this impression, N. sees a dream with which Tolstoy completes the events of the novel and in which the hero sees glory, himself, his late father and uncle Pierre at the head of a large “right-wing” army.

Denisov Vasily Dmitrievich- combat hussar officer, gambler, gambling, noisy " small man with a red face, shiny black eyes, black tousled mustache and hair." D. is the commander and friend of Nikolai Rostov, a man for whom the highest thing in life is the honor of the regiment in which he serves. He is brave, capable of daring and rash actions, as in the case of the seizure of food transport, participates in all campaigns, commanding a partisan detachment in 1812 that freed prisoners, including Pierre.

D.'s prototype was largely the hero of the war of 1812 D. V. Davydov, who is also mentioned in the novel as a historical figure. Dolokhov Fedor - “Semyonovsky officer, famous gambler and buster.” “Dolokhov was a man of average height, curly hair and with light blue eyes. He was about twenty-five years old. He did not wear a mustache, like all infantry officers, and his mouth, the most striking feature of his face, was completely visible. The lines of this mouth were remarkably finely curved. In the middle, the upper lip energetically dropped onto the strong lower lip like a sharp wedge, and something like two smiles constantly formed in the corners, one on each side; and all together, and especially in combination with a firm, insolent, intelligent look, it created such an impression that it was impossible not to notice this face.” The prototypes of D.'s image are R.I. Dorokhov, a reveler and a brave man whom Tolstoy knew in the Caucasus; relative of the writer, famous in early XIX V. Count F. I. Tolstoy-American, who also served as the prototype for the heroes A. S. Pushkin, A. S. Griboyedov; partisans of the Patriotic War of 1812. A. S. Figner.

D. is not rich, but he knows how to position himself in society in such a way that everyone respects and even fears him. He gets bored in the conditions of ordinary life and gets rid of boredom in a strange, even cruel way, doing incredible things. In 1805, for mischief with a police officer, he was expelled from St. Petersburg and demoted to the ranks, but during the military campaign he regained his officer rank.

D. is smart, brave, cold-blooded, indifferent to death. He carefully hides it from. outsiders his tender affection for his mother, confessing to Rostov that everyone considers him an evil person, but in fact he does not want to know anyone except those he loves.

Dividing all people into useful and harmful, he sees around him mostly harmful, unloved people whom he is ready to “run over if they stand in the way.” D. is impudent, cruel and treacherous. Being Helen's lover, he provokes Pierre to a duel; coldly and dishonestly beats Nikolai Rostov, taking revenge for Sonya’s refusal to his proposal; helps Anatoly Kuragin prepare an escape with Natasha, Drubetskaya Boris - the son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya; Since childhood, he was brought up and lived for a long time in the Rostov family, to whom he is related through his mother, and was in love with Natasha. “A tall, blond young man with regular, delicate features of a calm and handsome face.” The prototypes of the hero are A. M. Kuzminsky and M. D. Polivanov.

D. has been dreaming of a career since his youth, he is very proud, but he accepts his mother’s troubles and condones her humiliations if it benefits him. A. M. Drubetskaya, through Prince Vasily, gets her son a place in the guard. Having entered military service, D. dreams of making a brilliant career in this area.

While participating in the campaign of 1805, he acquired many useful acquaintances and understood the “unwritten subordination”, wanting to continue to serve only in accordance with it. In 1806, A.P. Scherer “treats” his guests to him, who arrived from the Prussian army as a courier. In the world, D. strives to make useful contacts and uses his last money to give the impression of a rich and successful person. He becomes a close person in Helen's house and her lover. During the meeting of the emperors in Tilsit, D. is there, and from that time on his position is especially firmly established. In 1809, D., seeing Natasha again, becomes interested in her and for some time does not know what to choose, since marriage with Natasha would mean the end of his career. D. is looking for a rich bride, choosing at one time between Princess Marya and Julie Karagina, who eventually became his wife.

Karataev Platon- a soldier of the Absheron regiment, who met Pierre Bezukhov in captivity. Nicknamed Falcon in the service. This character was not present in the first edition of the novel. Its appearance is apparently due to the development and finalization of the image of Pierre and the philosophical concept of the novel.

At the first meeting with this small, affectionate and good-natured man, Pierre is struck by the feeling of something round and calm that comes from K. He attracts everyone to himself with his calmness, confidence, kindness and smiling face. round face. One day K. tells the story of an innocently convicted merchant, humbled and suffering “for his own and for other people’s sins.” This story makes an impression among the prisoners as something very important. Weakened by fever, K. begins to lag behind on crossings; The French guards shoot him.

After K.'s death, thanks to his wisdom and the folk philosophy of life unconsciously expressed in all his behavior, Pierre comes to understand the meaning of existence.

Kuragin Anatol- son of Prince Vasily, brother of Helen and Hippolyte, officer. In contrast to the “calm fool” Ippolit, Prince Vasily looks at A. as a “restless fool” who always needs to be rescued from troubles. A. is a tall, handsome man with a good-natured and “victorious look,” “beautiful big” eyes and light brown hair. He is dapper, arrogant, stupid, not resourceful, not eloquent in conversations, depraved, but “but he also had the ability of calm and unchangeable confidence, precious for the world.” Being a friend of Dolokhov and a participant in his revelry, A. looks at his life as constant pleasure and amusement that should have been arranged for him by someone, he does not care about his relationships with other people. A. treats women with contempt and with a consciousness of his superiority, having become accustomed to being liked and not having serious feelings for anyone.

After becoming infatuated with Natasha Rostova and attempting to take her away, A. is forced to hide from Moscow, and then from Prince Andrei, who intended to challenge the offender to a duel. Their last meeting will take place in the hospital after the Battle of Borodino: A. is wounded, his leg is amputated.

Kuragin Vasily- Prince, father of Helen, Anatole and Hippolyte; a well-known and influential person in the St. Petersburg world, occupying important court positions.

Prince V. treats everyone around him condescendingly and patronizingly, speaks quietly, always bending the hand of his interlocutor. He appears “in a courtier, embroidered uniform, in stockings, shoes, under the stars, with a bright expression flat face", with a "perfumed and shining bald head." When he smiles, there is “something unexpectedly rough and unpleasant” in the wrinkles of his mouth. Prince V. does not wish harm to anyone, does not think through his plans in advance, but, as a secular person, uses circumstances and connections to carry out the plans that spontaneously arise in his mind. He always strives to get closer to people who are richer and higher in position than him.

The hero considers himself an exemplary father, who has done everything possible to raise his children and continues to care about their future. Having learned about Princess Marya, Prince V. takes Anatole to Bald Mountains, wanting to marry him to a rich heiress. A relative of the old Count Bezukhov, he goes to Moscow and, together with Princess Katish, starts an intrigue before the count’s death to prevent Pierre Bezukhov from becoming the heir. Having failed in this matter, he starts a new intrigue and marries Pierre and Helene.

Kuragina Elen- daughter of Prince Vasily, and then the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. A brilliant St. Petersburg beauty with an “unchanging smile”, white full shoulders, glossy hair and a beautiful figure. There was no noticeable coquetry in her, as if she was ashamed “for her undoubtedly and too much and win? truly effective beauty.” E. is unperturbed, giving everyone the right to admire herself, which is why she feels like she has a gloss from many other people’s glances. She knows how to be silently dignified in the world, giving the impression of a tactful and intelligent woman, which, combined with beauty, ensures her constant success.

Having married Pierre Bezukhov, the heroine reveals to her husband not only limited intelligence, coarseness of thought and vulgarity, but also cynical depravity. After breaking up with Pierre and receiving a large part of the fortune from him by proxy, she lives either in St. Petersburg, then abroad, or returns to her husband. Despite the family breakup, the constant change of lovers, including Dolokhov and Drubetskoy, E. continues to remain one of the most famous and favored ladies of the St. Petersburg society. She is making very great progress in the world; Living alone, she becomes the mistress of a diplomatic and political salon and gains a reputation as an intelligent woman. Having decided to convert to Catholicism and considering the possibility of divorce and a new marriage, entangled between two very influential, high-ranking lovers and patrons, E. dies in 1812.

Kutuzov- Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army. A participant in real historical events described by Tolstoy, and at the same time in the plot of the work. He has a “plump, wound-disfigured face” with an aquiline nose; he is gray-haired, plump, and walks heavily. On the pages of the novel, K. first appears in the episode of the review near Braunau, impressing everyone with his knowledge of the matter and attention hidden behind the apparent absent-mindedness. K. knows how to be diplomatic; he is quite cunning and speaks “with the elegance of expressions and intonations”, “with the affectation of respect” of a subordinate and unreasoning person, when the matter does not concern the security of the homeland, as before the Battle of Austerlitz. Before the Battle of Shengraben, K., crying, blesses Bagration.

In 1812, K., contrary to the opinion of secular circles, received princely dignity and was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army. He is a favorite of soldiers and military officers. From the beginning of his activities as commander-in-chief, K. believes that to win a campaign “you need patience and time”, that the whole matter can be solved not by knowledge, not by plans, not by intelligence, but by “something else, independent of intelligence and knowledge” . According to Tolstoy's historical and philosophical concept, a person is not able to truly influence the course of historical events. K. has the ability to “calmly contemplate the course of events,” but he knows how to see, listen, remember, not interfere with anything useful and not allow anything harmful. On the eve and during the Battle of Borodino, the commander oversees the preparations for battle, together with all the soldiers and militiamen prays before the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God and during the battle controls the “elusive force” called the “spirit of the army.” K. experiences painful feelings when deciding to leave Moscow, but “with all his Russian being” he knows that the French will be defeated. Having directed all his strength to liberate his homeland, K. dies when his role is fulfilled and the enemy is driven beyond the borders of Russia. “This simple, modest and therefore truly majestic figure could not fit into that deceitful form of a European hero, ostensibly ruling people, which history has invented.”

Napoleon- French emperor; a real historical person depicted in the novel, a hero with whose image the historical and philosophical concept of L. N. Tolstoy is connected.

At the beginning of the work, N. is the idol of Andrei Bolkonsky, a man whose greatness Pierre Bezukhov bows to, a politician whose actions and personality are discussed in the high society salon of A.P. Scherer. As the protagonist of the novel, he appears in the Battle of Austerlitz, after which the wounded Prince Andrei sees “the radiance of complacency and happiness” on N.’s face, admiring the view of the battlefield.

N.’s figure was “plump, short... with broad, thick shoulders and an involuntarily protruding belly and chest, had that representative, dignified appearance that forty-year-old people living in the hall have”; his face is youthful, full, with a protruding chin, short hair, and “his white plump neck protruded sharply from behind the black collar of his uniform.” N.'s self-satisfaction and self-confidence are expressed in the belief that his presence plunges people into delight and self-forgetfulness, that everything in the world depends only on his will. Sometimes he is prone to outbursts of anger.

Even before the order to cross the borders of Russia, the hero’s imagination is haunted by Moscow, and during the war he does not foresee its general course. In giving the Battle of Borodino, N. acts “involuntarily and senselessly”, without being able to somehow influence its course, although he does not do anything harmful to the cause. For the first time during the Battle of Borodino he experiences bewilderment and hesitation, and after it the sight of the dead and wounded “defeated the spiritual strength in which he believed his merit and greatness.” According to the author, N. was destined for an inhuman role, his mind and conscience were darkened, and his actions were “too opposite to goodness and truth, too far from everything human.”

Rostov Ilya Andreevich- Count, father of Natasha, Nikolai, Vera and Petya Rostov, famous Moscow gentleman, rich man, hospitable man. R. knows how and loves to live, is good-natured, generous and spendthrift. The writer used many character traits and some episodes from the life of his paternal grandfather, Count I. A. Tolstoy, when creating the image of the old Count Rostov, noting in his appearance those features that are known from the portrait of his grandfather: a full body, “sparse gray hair on a bald head."

R. is known in Moscow not only as a hospitable host and a wonderful family man, but also as a person who knows how to organize a ball, reception, dinner better than others, and if necessary, use his own money for this. He has been a member and foreman of the English club since its foundation. It is he who is entrusted with the efforts of arranging a dinner in honor of Bagration.

Count R.'s life is burdened only by the constant consciousness of his gradual ruin, which he is unable to stop, allowing the managers to rob himself, not being able to refuse petitioners, not being able to change the once established order of life. Most of all, he suffers from the consciousness that he is ruining his children, but he becomes more and more confused in his affairs. To improve their property affairs, the Rostivs live in the village for two years, the count leaves the leadership, looks for a place in St. Petersburg, transporting his family there and, with his habits and social circle, giving the impression of a provincial there.

R. is distinguished by his gentle deep love and kindness of heart towards his wife and children. When leaving Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, it was the old count who began to slowly give carts to the wounded, thereby dealing one of the last blows to his condition. Events of 1812-1813 and the loss of Petya completely broke the hero’s mental and physical strength. The last event, which, out of old habit, he directs, producing the same active impression, is the wedding of Natasha and Pierre; in the same year, the count dies “precisely at a time when things... were so confused that it was impossible to imagine how it would all end,” and leaves behind a good memory.

Rostov Nikolay- son of Count Rostov, brother of Vera, Natasha and Petya, officer, hussar; at the end of the novel, the husband of Princess Marya Volkonskaya. “A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face,” in whom one could see “impetuousness and enthusiasm.” The writer gave N. some of the traits of his father, N.I. Tolstoy, a participant in the War of 1812. The hero is distinguished by many of the same traits of openness, cheerfulness, goodwill, self-sacrifice, musicality and emotionality as all the Rostovs. Confident that he is neither an official nor a diplomat, N. at the beginning of the novel leaves the university and enters the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment, in which he for a long time his whole life is concentrated. He takes part in military campaigns and the Patriotic War of 1812. N. receives his first baptism of fire while crossing the Enns, not being able to combine in himself “the fear of death and stretchers and the love of the sun and life.” In the Battle of Shengraben, he goes on the attack too bravely, but, being wounded in the arm, he gets lost and leaves the battlefield with the thought of the absurdity of the death of the one “whom everyone loves so much.” Having passed these tests, N. becomes a brave officer, a real hussar; he retains a sense of adoration for the sovereign and loyalty to his duty. Feeling at home in his native regiment, as if in some special world where everything is simple and clear, N. finds himself there, too, not free from solving complex moral problems, as, for example, in the case of officer Telyanin. In the regiment N. becomes a “completely hardened” kind fellow, but remains sensitive and open to subtle feelings. In peaceful life he behaves like a real hussar.

His long-lasting romance with Sonya ends with N.’s noble decision to marry a dowry-free woman even against his mother’s will, but he receives a letter from Sonya returning his freedom. In 1812, during one of his trips, N. met Princess Marya and helped her leave Bogucharovo. Princess Marya amazes him with her meekness and spirituality. After the death of his father, N. retires, taking on all the obligations and debts of the deceased, taking care of his mother and Sonya. When he meets Princess Volkonskaya, out of noble motives, he tries to avoid her, one of the richest brides, but their mutual feeling does not weaken and is crowned with a happy marriage.

Rostov Petya- the youngest son of the counts of Rostov, brother of Vera, Nikolai, Natasha. At the beginning of the novel, P. is still a small boy, enthusiastically succumbing to the general atmosphere of life in the Rostov house. He is musical, like all Rostovs, kind and cheerful. After Nicholas joined the army, P. wants to imitate his brother, and in 1812, carried away by a patriotic impulse and an enthusiastic attitude towards the sovereign, he asks to join the army. “Snub-nosed Petya, with his cheerful black eyes, fresh blush and slightly fluff on his cheeks” becomes after leaving the mother’s main concern, who only at that time realizes the full depth of her love for youngest child. During the war, P. accidentally ends up with an assignment in Denisov’s detachment, where he remains, wanting to take part in the real case. He accidentally dies, showing on the eve of his death in his relations with his comrades all the best traits of the “Rostov breed” that he inherited in his home.

Rostov- Countess, “a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by children... The slowness of her movements and speech, resulting from weakness of strength, gave her a significant appearance that inspires respect.” When creating the image of the Countess, R. Tolstoy used the character traits and some circumstances of the life of his paternal grandmother P. N. Tolstoy and mother-in-law L. A. Bers.

R. is used to living in luxury, in an atmosphere of love and kindness. She is proud of the friendship and trust of her children, spoils them, and worries about their destinies. Despite the apparent weakness and even lack of will, the Countess makes balanced and reasonable decisions regarding the fate of the children. Her love for children is also dictated by her desire to marry Nikolai to a rich bride at all costs, and her nagging towards Sonya. The news of Petya's death nearly drives her insane. The only subject of the countess's displeasure is the old count's inability to manage affairs and small quarrels with him over the waste of the children's fortune. At the same time, the heroine cannot understand either the position of her husband or the position of her son, with whom she remains after the death of the count, demanding the usual luxury and fulfillment of all her whims and desires.

Rostova Natasha- one of the main heroines of the novel, daughter of Count Rostov, sister of Nikolai, Vera and Petya; at the end of the novel, the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. N. - “black-eyed, with a big mouth, ugly, but alive...”. Tolstoy’s prototype was his wife and her sister T. A. Bers, formerly Kuzminskaya. According to the writer, he “took Tanya, mixed with Sonya, and it turned out to be Natasha.” The image of the heroine gradually developed from the very inception of the idea, when the writer, next to his hero, a former Decembrist, introduces himself to his wife.

N. is very emotional and sensitive, she intuitively guesses people, “not deigning” to be smart, sometimes she is selfish in the manifestations of her feelings, but more often she is capable of self-forgetfulness and self-sacrifice, as in the case of transporting the wounded from Moscow or nursing her mother after the death of Petya.

One of N.'s defining qualities and advantages is her musicality and rare beauty of a voice. With her singing, she is able to influence the best in a person: it is N.’s singing that saves Nikolai from despair after losing 43 thousand. The old Count Rostov says about N. that she is all about him, “gunpowder,” while Akhrosimova calls her “Cossack” and “potion girl.”

Constantly carried away, N. lives in an atmosphere of love and happiness. A change in her destiny occurs after meeting Prince Andrei, who became her fiancé. The impatient feeling that overwhelms N., the insult inflicted by the old Prince Bolkonsky, pushes her to become infatuated with Anatoly Kuragin and to refuse Prince Andrei. Only after experiencing and experiencing a lot, she realizes her guilt before Bolkonsky, reconciling with him and remaining near the dying Prince Andrei until his death. N. feels true love only for Pierre Bezukhov, with whom he finds complete understanding and whose wife he becomes, plunging into the world of family and maternal concerns.

Sonya- niece and pupil of the old Count Rostov, who grew up in his family. The basis storyline S. is based on the fate of T. A. Ergolskaya, a relative, close friend and teacher of the writer, who lived until the end of her days in Yasnaya Polyana and in many ways prompted Tolstoy to engage in literary work. However, Ergolskaya’s spiritual appearance is quite far from the character and inner world heroines. At the beginning of the novel, S. is 15 years old, she is “a thin, petite brunette with a soft look, shaded by long eyelashes, a thick black braid that wrapped around her head twice, and a yellowish tint to the skin on her face and especially on her bare, thin, but graceful arms and neck . With the smoothness of her movements, the softness and flexibility of her small limbs, and her somewhat cunning and restrained manner, she resembles a beautiful, but not yet formed kitten, which will be a lovely cat.”

S. fits perfectly into the Rostov family, is unusually close and friendly with Natasha, and has been in love with Nikolai since childhood. She is restrained, silent, reasonable, cautious, and has a highly developed ability for self-sacrifice. S. attracts attention with her beauty and moral purity, but she does not have that spontaneity and inexplicably irresistible charm that Natasha has. S.’s feeling for Nikolai is so constant and deep that she wants to “love always, and let him be free.” This feeling forces her to refuse her enviable fiancé, Dolokhov, in her dependent position.

The content of the heroine's life depends entirely on her love: she is happy, being connected by word with Nikolai Rostov, especially after Christmastide and his refusal of his mother's request to go to Moscow to marry the rich Julie Karagina. S. finally decides her fate under the influence of the biased reproaches and reproaches of the old countess, not wanting to pay with ingratitude for everything that was done for her in the Rostov family, and most importantly, wishing Nikolai happiness. She writes him a letter in which she releases him from his word, but secretly hopes that his marriage to Princess Marya will be impossible after Prince Andrei recovers. After the death of the old count, he remains to live with the countess in the care of the retired Nikolai Rostov.

Tushin- staff captain, hero of the Battle of Shengraben, “a small, dirty, thin artillery officer with large, intelligent and kind eyes. There was something “unmilitary, somewhat comical, but extremely attractive” about this man. T. is timid when meeting with his superiors, and there is always some kind of fault on his part. On the eve of the battle, he talks about the fear of death and the unknown of what awaits after it.

In battle, T. completely changes, imagining himself as the hero of a fantastic picture, a hero throwing cannonballs at the enemy, and the enemy’s guns seem to him to be the same puffing smoking pipes as his own. Battery T. was forgotten during the battle and left without cover. During the battle, T. has no feelings of fear or thoughts about death and injury. He becomes more and more cheerful, the soldiers listen to him like children, but he does everything he can, and thanks to his ingenuity, he sets fire to the village of Shengraben. The hero is rescued from yet another trouble (cannons left on the battlefield) by Andrei Bolkonsky, who announces to Bagration that the detachment owes much of its success to this man.

Sherer Anna Pavlovna- maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna, hostess of a fashionable high-society “political” salon in St. Petersburg, with a description of the evening in which Tolstoy begins his novel. A.P. is 40 years old, she has “outdated facial features”, every time she mentions the empress she expresses a combination of sadness, devotion and respect. The heroine is dexterous, tactful, influential at court, and prone to intrigue. Her attitude towards any person or event is always dictated by the latest political, court or secular considerations; she is close to the Kuragin family and is friendly with Prince Vasily. A.P. is constantly “full of animation and impulse”, “being an enthusiast has become her social status", and in his salon, in addition to discussing the latest courtiers and political news, she always “treats” guests to some new product or celebrity, and in 1812 her circle demonstrated salon patriotism in the St. Petersburg world.

Shcherbaty Tikhon- a man from Pokrovsky near Gzhat, who joined Denisov’s partisan detachment. He got his nickname due to the lack of one tooth. He is agile and walks on “flat, turned-out legs.” In the detachment T. is the most necessary person; no one can bring the “language” and do any inconvenient and dirty work more dexterously than him. T. goes to the French with pleasure, bringing trophies and bringing prisoners, but after he is wounded, he begins to unnecessarily kill the French, laughingly referring to the fact that they were “bad.” This is why he is not liked in the squad.

Now you know the main characters of War and Peace, as well as their brief characteristics.

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, with his pure Russian pen, gave life to a whole world of characters in the novel “War and Peace.” His fictional characters, who are intertwined into whole noble families or family ties between families, show the modern reader a real reflection of those people who lived in the times described by the author. One of the greatest books of world significance, “War and Peace,” with the confidence of a professional historian, but at the same time, as if in a mirror, presents to the whole world that Russian spirit, those characters of secular society, those historical events, which were invariably present at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries.
And against the backdrop of these events, it is shown in all its power and diversity.

L.N. Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” experience the events of the past nineteenth century, but Lev Nikolaevich begins to describe the events of 1805. The coming war with the French, the growing greatness of Napoleon decisively approaching the whole world, turmoil in Moscow social circles and demonstrable calm in St. Petersburg secular society- all this can be called a kind of background against which, like a brilliant artist, the author drew his characters. There are quite a lot of heroes - about 550 or 600. There are main and central figures, and there are others or just mentioned ones. In total, the heroes of War and Peace can be divided into three groups: central, secondary and mentioned characters. Among all of them, there are both fictional characters, both prototypes of people who surrounded the writer at that time, and those who really existed historical figures. Let's look at the main characters novel.

Quotes from the novel “War and Peace”

- ... I often think how unfairly the happiness of life is sometimes distributed.

A person cannot own anything while he is afraid of death. And whoever is not afraid of her, everything belongs to him.

Until now, thank God, I have been a friend of my children and enjoy their complete trust,” said the countess, repeating the misconception of many parents who believe that their children have no secrets from them.

Everything, from napkins to silver, earthenware and crystal, bore that special imprint of novelty that happens in the household of young spouses.

If everyone fought only according to their convictions, there would be no war.

Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast.

Everything, to love everyone, to always sacrifice oneself for love, meant not loving anyone, meant not living this earthly life.

Never, never marry, my friend; Here's my advice to you: don't get married until you tell yourself that you did everything you could, and until you stop loving the woman you chose, until you see her clearly; otherwise you will make a cruel and irreparable mistake. Marry an old man who is worthless...

The central figures of the novel "War and Peace"

Rostov - counts and countesses

Rostov Ilya Andreevich

Count, father of four children: Natasha, Vera, Nikolai and Petya. A very kind and generous person who loved life very much. His exorbitant generosity ultimately led him to wastefulness. Loving husband and father. A very good organizer of various balls and receptions. However, his life on a grand scale, and selfless assistance to the wounded during the war with the French and the departure of the Russians from Moscow, dealt fatal blows to his condition. His conscience constantly tormented him because of the impending poverty of his family, but he could not help himself. After the death of his youngest son Petya, the count was broken, but nevertheless revived during the preparations for the wedding of Natasha and Pierre Bezukhov. Literally a few months pass after the Bezukhovs’ wedding when Count Rostov dies.

Rostova Natalya (wife of Ilya Andreevich Rostov)

The wife of Count Rostov and the mother of four children, this woman, aged forty-five, had oriental features. The concentration of slowness and sedateness in her was regarded by those around her as solidity and the high importance of her personality for the family. But the real reason for her mannerisms probably lies in her exhausted and weak physical condition from giving birth and raising four children. She loves her family and children very much, so the news of the death of her youngest son Petya almost drove her crazy. Just like Ilya Andreevich, Countess Rostova was very fond of luxury and the fulfillment of any of her orders.

Leo Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” in Countess Rostova helped reveal the prototype of the author’s grandmother, Pelageya Nikolaevna Tolstoy.

Rostov Nikolay

Son of Count Rostov Ilya Andreevich. A loving brother and son who honors his family while also loving to serve Russian army, which is very significant and important for his dignity. Even in his fellow soldiers, he often saw his second family. Although he was in love with his cousin Sonya for a long time, at the end of the novel he marries Princess Marya Bolkonskaya. A very energetic young man, with curly hair and an “open expression.” His patriotism and love for the Emperor of Russia never dried up. Having gone through many hardships of war, he becomes a brave and courageous hussar. After the death of Father Ilya Andreevich, Nikolai retires in order to improve the family’s financial affairs, pay off debts and, finally, become good husband for Marya Bolkonskaya.

Introduced to Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich as a prototype of his father.

Rostova Natasha

Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. A very energetic and emotional girl, considered ugly, but lively and attractive, she is not very smart, but intuitive, because she knew how to perfectly “guess people,” their mood and some character traits. Very impulsive towards nobility and self-sacrifice. She sings and dances very beautifully, which at that time was an important characteristic for a girl from secular society. Natasha’s most important quality, which Leo Tolstoy, like his heroes, repeatedly emphasize in the novel “War and Peace” is her closeness to the ordinary Russian people. And she herself completely absorbed the Russianness of culture and the strength of the spirit of the nation. However, this girl lives in her illusion of goodness, happiness and love, which, after some time, brings Natasha into reality. It is these blows of fate and her heartfelt experiences that make Natasha Rostova an adult and ultimately give her a mature true love to Pierre Bezukhov. The story of the rebirth of her soul deserves special respect, how Natasha began to attend church after succumbing to the temptation of a deceitful seducer. If you are interested in Tolstoy's works, which take a deeper look at the Christian heritage of our people, then you need to read about how he fought temptation.

A collective prototype of the writer’s daughter-in-law Tatyana Andreevna Kuzminskaya, as well as her sister, Lev Nikolaevich’s wife, Sofia Andreevna.

Rostova Vera

Daughter of Count and Countess Rostov. She was famous for her strict disposition and inappropriate, albeit fair, remarks in society. It is unknown why, but her mother did not really love her and Vera felt this acutely, apparently, which is why she often went against everyone around her. Later she became the wife of Boris Drubetsky.

She is the prototype of Tolstoy’s sister Sophia, the wife of Lev Nikolaevich, whose name was Elizaveta Bers.

Rostov Peter

Just a boy, the son of Count and Countess Rostov. Growing up, Petya, as a young man, was eager to go to war, and in such a way that his parents could not restrain him at all. Having finally escaped from parental care and joined Denisov’s hussar regiment. Petya dies in the first battle, without having had time to fight. His death greatly affected his family.

Sonya

The miniature, nice girl Sonya was the niece of Count Rostov and lived all her life under his roof. Her long-term love for Nikolai Rostov became fatal for her, because she never managed to unite with him in marriage. In addition, the old count Natalya Rostova was very against their marriage, because they were cousins. Sonya acts nobly, refusing Dolokhov and agreeing to love only Nikolai for the rest of her life, while freeing him from his promise to marry her. She lives the rest of her life under the old countess in the care of Nikolai Rostov.

The prototype of this seemingly insignificant character was Lev Nikolaevich’s second cousin, Tatyana Aleksandrovna Ergolskaya.

Bolkonsky - princes and princesses

Bolkonsky Nikolai Andreevich

The father of the main character, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. In the past, the current general-in-chief, in the present, a prince who earned himself the nickname “Prussian king” in Russian secular society. Socially active, strict like a father, tough, pedantic, but wise master of his estate. Outwardly, he was a thin old man in a powdered white wig, thick eyebrows hanging over penetrating and intelligent eyes. He doesn’t like to show feelings even to his beloved son and daughter. He constantly torments his daughter Marya with nagging and sharp words. Sitting on his estate, Prince Nikolai is constantly on the alert for events taking place in Russia, and only before his death does he lose a full understanding of the scale of the tragedy of the Russian war with Napoleon.

The prototype of Prince Nikolai Andreevich was the writer’s grandfather Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky.

Bolkonsky Andrey

Prince, son of Nikolai Andreevich. He is ambitious, just like his father, restrained in the manifestation of sensual impulses, but loves his father and sister very much. Married to the “little princess” Lisa. Made a good one military career. He philosophizes a lot about life, meaning and the state of his spirit. From which it is clear that he is in some kind of constant search. After the death of his wife, in Natasha Rostova he saw hope for himself, a real girl, and not a fake one as in secular society, and some light of future happiness, so he was in love with her. Having proposed to Natasha, he was forced to go abroad for treatment, which served as a real test for both of their feelings. As a result, their wedding fell through. Prince Andrei went to war with Napoleon and was seriously wounded, after which he did not survive and died from a serious wound. Natasha devotedly looked after him until the end of his death.

Bolkonskaya Marya

Daughter of Prince Nikolai and sister of Andrei Bolkonsky. A very meek girl, not beautiful, but kind-hearted and very rich, like a bride. Her inspiration and devotion to religion serves as an example of good morals and meekness to many. She unforgettably loves her father, who often mocked her with his ridicule, reproaches and injections. And he also loves his brother, Prince Andrei. She did not immediately accept Natasha Rostova as her future daughter-in-law, because she seemed too frivolous for her brother Andrei. After all the hardships she has experienced, she marries Nikolai Rostov.

The prototype of Marya is the mother of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy - Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya.

Bezukhovs - counts and countesses

Bezukhov Pierre (Peter Kirillovich)

One of the main characters who deserves close attention and the most positive assessment. This character has experienced a lot of emotional trauma and pain, possessing a kind and highly noble disposition. Tolstoy and the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” very often express their love and acceptance of Pierre Bezukhov as a man of very high morals, complacent and a man of a philosophical mind. Lev Nikolaevich loves his hero, Pierre, very much. As a friend of Andrei Bolkonsky, the young Count Pierre Bezukhov is very loyal and responsive. Despite the various intrigues weaving under his nose, Pierre did not become embittered and did not lose his good nature towards people. And having married Natalya Rostova, he finally found the grace and happiness that he so lacked in his first wife, Helen. At the end of the novel, his desire to change the political foundations in Russia can be traced, and from afar one can even guess his Decembrist sentiments.

Character prototypes
Most of the heroes of such a complex novel in their structure always reflect some people who one way or another met on the path of Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy.

The writer successfully created a whole panorama of the epic history of the events of that time and the private lives of secular people. In addition, the author managed to very brightly color the psychological traits and characters of his characters so that he can learn worldly wisdom and modern man.