The topic of patriotism deeply worried Tolstoy. In his work, he tried to reveal this topic to the maximum. False and true patriotism in the novel "War and Peace" are opposed to each other. False patriots pursuing selfish goals, acting for the sake of their own interests and real defenders of the Fatherland, for whom duty, honor and conscience are above all. The war tore off the masks from people's faces, revealing their essence and turning everyone's soul inside out.

True patriotism

True patriotism is real actions, when, first of all, you think about the people and their fate. When, without hesitation, you give your life for the sake of your Motherland. Tolstoy was convinced that the Russian people were deeply patriotic. He is able to stand up like an invincible wall, protecting his own. The war affected everyone who was at that time and in that place. She did not choose who was rich or poor in front of her. Different segments of the population fell under its millstones. Everyone, to the best of their ability, tried to contribute to the overall victory over the enemy.

When the French occupied Smolensk, the peasants burned hay so that it would not go to the enemies. The merchant Ferapontov decided to show patriotism in his own way. He personally burned down his trading post so that it would not fall into the hands of the French. Residents of Moscow also did not stand aside. The people did not want to remain under the yoke of impostors. They left their homes, leaving their hometown.

Tolstoy describes Russian soldiers with love and pride. The battles of Smolensk, Shengraben, Austerlitz, the Battle of Borodino are examples worthy of respect. It was in battle that they manifested themselves best qualities: fortitude, iron character, willingness to sacrifice, courage. Everyone realized that the next battle could take the life of any of them, but no one was going to retreat or give up. They did not strive to look like heroes and did not flaunt their victories. They acted sincerely. In every step one could feel the love for the Motherland and Fatherland.

An example of true patriotism was commander Kutuzov. The tsar himself was against his appointment as commander, but Kutuzov managed to justify the trust placed in him. Kutuzov felt and understood the soldiers. He lived by their interests, cared for each one as if he were his own son. For him, everyone was family and loved ones.

The most difficult decision In Kutuzov's life during the war, there was an order to retreat. Not everyone would risk taking on such responsibility. It was a difficult choice. On the one hand, Moscow, on the other, all of Russia. Retreating from Moscow, he managed to preserve the army, the number of soldiers of which was significantly inferior to Napoleonic's. Another manifestation of Kutuzov's patriotism is his refusal to fight outside Russia. He was convinced that the people had fulfilled their civic duty to the Motherland and there was no need to risk their lives again.

Tolstoy did not ignore the partisans, comparing the partisan detachments with a strong club “rising with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes and rules... nailing the French... until the entire invasion was destroyed.”

False patriotism

False patriotism is completely saturated with falsehood. The actions of these people are ostentatious, the patriotic words coming from their lips are empty. Everything they do is only for their own benefit, for the sake of their own interests. At a time when real patriots fought for their Motherland, false patriots attended social events, went to salons, and spoke the enemy’s language.

Not only secular society angers Tolstoy. He criticizes the officers who prefer to sit back at headquarters, avoiding battles where blood is shed and people are dying. Careerists who want to rise up at someone else's expense and get another order for free.

The author sought to emphasize that true patriotism and sincere feelings for the Motherland are best demonstrated by ordinary people. In moments of shared grief, people become closer. An unknown force awakens in them, capable of pulverizing any enemy. Tolstoy tried to convey his theory to the people through Pierre Bezukhov, who realized that real happiness lies in unity with his people. Only when we are united are we invincible.

The novel “War and Peace” is a great work of Russian and world literature, a grandiose epic, the hero of which is the Russian people, who showed unprecedented heroism and patriotism in the struggle for the freedom and independence of their homeland in the War of 1812.

The enormous vital material of this novel is united by a single concept: “I tried to write the history of the people,” says Tolstoy. The people, according to Tolstoy, are not only peasants, but also nobles, those people who are worried about the fate of the country, who are in the whirlpool of great events. A colossal wave of anger arose among the people after the French attack. All Russian people, with the exception of a small handful of court aristocrats, could not imagine how they could live under the rule of the French. Every Russian acted as he found possible for himself. Who was advancing in active army who joined the partisan detachments. People like Pierre Bezukhov gave part of their money to equip the militia. Many, like the Smolensk merchant Ferapontov, burned shops and their property so that nothing would be left for the enemies. And many simply packed up and left their homes, destroying everything after them.

Tolstoy notes in the Russian people a simple, sometimes unreflective feeling of patriotism, which was expressed not in loud phrases about love for the fatherland, but in decisive actions. Residents of Moscow left the ancient capital without any call. Tolstoy emphasizes that for Muscovites there could be no question of what would be good or bad under French rule in Moscow. It was simply impossible to live like that, as it was the worst of all.

The same thing is happening in other cities and villages of the Russian land. In the territory where the enemy had already entered, he saw hatred and genuine indignation of the people. The peasants refused to sell food and hay to the French. A partisan movement arose spontaneously, without any order from above. In Tolstoy’s figurative expression, “the partisans picked up fallen leaves that fell from the common tree of the French army, and sometimes shook this tree.”

Not only the common people, but also the advanced layers of the nobility and intelligentsia became imbued with bitterness towards the enemy. It’s not for nothing that Prince Andrei says that they destroyed his house, and now they are going to ruin Moscow, insulting it every second.” And therefore, according to his concepts, they are not only enemies, but also criminals. Prince Andrei honestly fulfills his duty, joining the active army at the very beginning of the war, although before that he decided that he would never be a military man again. He did not stay at headquarters, as he was offered, but goes to the forefront of events. The heroism and genuine love of Russians for their homeland was especially clearly demonstrated in the Battle of Borodino. On the eve of the battles, Andrei Bolkonsky says: “the battle will be won by the one who firmly decided to win it... and who will fight harder... Tomorrow, no matter what, we will win the battle.”

Defending their home, their family, their homeland, the right to life, the Russian people showed amazing fortitude and self-sacrifice, and showed miracles of courage. They aroused first surprise and then fear in the hitherto invincible Napoleon. One cannot help but be proud of the Russian people. And there is no doubt that such a people have a great future.

True patriotism is also inextricably linked with a sense of responsibility, with the ability to answer for actions taken in the name of the fate of the people and the country. The Russian people are the true patriots in the work. The episode with the French offensive in Smolensk is indicative. The merchant Ferapontov set fire to his own shop and lost the flour he was going to sell profitably: “I’ve made up my mind! Race! ... I’ll light it myself.” However, he is only one of many city residents who also decided to destroy their property. So, Smolensk was burned by the townspeople so as not to leave the French easy prey. Russian soldiers are also true patriots. We see the manifestation of true patriotism in scenes depicting the battles of Shengraben, Austerlitz, Borodino. When heroes face the enemy on the battlefield, their willingness to sacrifice their own lives and love for the Motherland are most clearly manifested.

Describing the preparation of soldiers for the Battle of Borodino, Tolstoy draws attention to their seriousness and concentration. Captain Timokhin tells Bolkonsky: “The soldiers in my battalion did not drink vodka: it’s not such a day, they say.” No one wants to get drunk before an important battle, because by doing so they could let down their Motherland. The soldiers are ready to die, but not to retreat: “The militia...put on clean, white shirts to prepare for death. What heroism, Count!” Another striking example of the manifestation of true patriotism is the image of General Tushin: he takes the initiative during the Battle of Shengraben. The hero is ready to answer for the fact that he disobeyed the order and acted in his own way: he set fire to the village of Shengraben, thereby saving the lives of other soldiers. Thus, the prose writer showed true patriotism in the novel.

The writer contrasts real patriotism with false patriotism, which is based on selfishness and hypocrisy. An example of this is the image of Dolokhov. In the first battle, when Kutuzov decides to send Bagration with an army through difficult mountains, Fedor does his job well, but he is driven not by a sense of patriotism and duty to the Motherland, but by the desire to become famous. After the battle, he actively focuses on his positive actions that he performed during the battle:

He poses as a patriot in order to find himself in an advantageous position in the eyes of his superiors. We also see a manifestation of false patriotism among the St. Petersburg aristocracy, who hired Russian language teachers and refused to go to the French theater to demonstrate “love” for the Fatherland and belonging to the Russian people. Thus, Tolstoy portrays false patriotism in the novel.

Thus, with the help of a system of images, the writer reveals one of the important themes of his work - the theme of true and false patriotism. The author considers Russian soldiers and ordinary people to be true patriots, since they are ready to sacrifice anything to save their Motherland. False patriots, according to L.N. Tolstoy, are the majority of representatives of the highest noble society. They do everything for their own comfort and safety while their Fatherland needs protection.

L.N. Tolstoy, according to A.P. Chekhov, holds first place among the figures of Russian art. The brilliant author of "War and Peace" is known throughout the world. Anatole France wrote: “Tolstoy is our common teacher.” Wonderful stories, novels, dramas and three brilliant novels - "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina" and "Resurrection" - will never cease to excite human minds and hearts. Throughout the 60s, Tolstoy worked on the epic novel War and Peace, which covers Russian life early XIX century. With great sympathy, the author portrays Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, who were looking for truth, justice and genuine human happiness in life.

The focus of the novel is Patriotic War 1812. Among the huge number of characters in "War and Peace" there are outstanding historical figures, and ordinary participants in the war. Tolstoy was able to convey with extraordinary force the patriotic uplift that the Russian people experienced in 1812. “In War and Peace, I loved popular thought,” said the writer. With the entire content of War and Peace, Tolstoy showed that it was the Russian people, who rose up to fight for national independence, expelled the French from the borders of their country and ensured victory.

War forces everyone to act and do things that are impossible not to do. People do not act according to orders, but obeying an inner feeling, a sense of the significance of the moment. Tolstoy writes that they united in their aspirations and actions when they sensed the danger looming over the people. In the battle of Shengraben, the Russians sacrificed themselves to save their comrades, showing miracles of courage, and this was done unconsciously, instinctively.

The patriotism of the Russian people was expressed very simply. The small merchant Ferapontov, before the French entered Smolensk, shouted to the soldiers to take all the goods from his shop, since “Race had decided” and he himself would burn everything. Karpi and Vlas did not sell hay to the French “for the good money they were offered, but burned it” so that the enemy would not get it. The Rostov family donated carts for the wounded in Moscow, thus completing their ruin. The Moscow poor wanted to arm themselves to defend the old capital, the peasants joined partisan detachments and destroyed the invaders. Moscow residents left the capital simply out of the consideration that it was impossible to live in it under Bonaparte, even if they were not directly threatened by any danger. The Moscow lady leaves the capital with her blackamoors and pugs: back in June, out of the consideration that “she is not Bonaparte’s servant.”

Natasha Rostova also does not remain aloof from the events of 1812. She understands that she cannot help Russia, and she cannot remain indifferent. Before the capture of Moscow by the French, people were urgently evacuated to the cities, there were many wounded in Moscow, and carts were urgently needed. And when Natasha finds out about this, she does not hesitate for a minute: she cannot understand how it is possible to take out some things when people are dying. Helps Prince Andrey in moments of crisis Russian beginning which is inherent in him, it helps him understand all the deceit and hypocrisy of his idol - Napoleon: “At that moment all the interests that occupied Napoleon seemed so insignificant to him, his hero himself seemed so petty to him, with this petty vanity and the joy of victory, in comparison with that high, fair and kind sky that he saw and understood - that he could not answer it."

The greatest manifestation of patriotism was the Battle of Borodino, in which the Russian army won a victory over a numerically stronger enemy. French generals reported to Napoleon that “the Russians are holding their ground and producing hellish fire, from which the French army is melting.” “Our fire is tearing them out in rows, and they are standing,” the adjutants reported to Napoleon, and he felt how “the terrible span of his arm fell magically and powerlessly.” At the same time, Raevsky reported to Kutuzov that “the troops are firmly in their places and that the French do not dare to attack anymore.”

Kutuzov is an exponent of the patriotic spirit of the Russian army, its ideological inspirer and leader. Outwardly decrepit, inert and weak, the old man turned out to be strong: and beautiful internally: he alone made bold, sober and correct decisions, did not think about himself, about honors and glory, seeing before himself only one great goal, which was his desire for desire - victory over the hated invaders. His “simple, modest and therefore truly majestic figure could not fit into that deceitful form of a European hero, ostensibly ruling people, which was invented.”

Kutuzov's strategy was to combine two forces: patience and time, on the one hand, and, on the other, the moral spirit of the army, which he always zealously cared for. He understood more deeply than others the significance of every event during the war; connection with his homeland, with the Russian land, unity with the army were the source of his strength as a commander and as a person. Kutuzov's patriotism, like the patriotism of ordinary Russian people - Tushin, Timokhin, Tikhon Shcherbaty - is completely devoid of external effects, his patriotism is based on confidence in the strength and courage of the Russian people, on his faith in victory.

Tolstoy sharply distinguishes between true and false patriotism. True patriotism is hatred of enemies, but love for people in general. And the false one is only hatred.

In the episode on the bridge, K. B. Schubert reports how many wounded and killed there were after the battle, and some kind of satisfaction can be heard in his voice, and Nikolai Rostov, who is present at the same time, cannot understand such a conversation, because behind these people stand in bare numbers. The true patriotism of the Russian people manifests itself in moments of real danger for the homeland, that is, only when “the swarm is disturbed.” When the war is on foreign territory, the Russian people do not join the fight, and the soldiers only fulfill their military duty.

Tolstoy also distinguishes between hidden and ostentatious patriotism. Ostentatious patriotism is deceit and unnaturalness. This idea most likely comes to Tolstoy from the Gospel, the Sermon on the Mount: “When you pray, go into your room and, having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” ".

There is no other work in Russian literature where the power and greatness of the Russian people were depicted with such conviction and force as in War and Peace. Tolstoy's patriotic novel has worldwide significance: “This novel is perhaps the greatest that has ever been written,” said the French writer Louis Aragon.

Problems of true and false patriotism in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

In extreme situations, in moments of great upheaval and global change, a person will definitely prove himself, show his inner essence, certain qualities of his nature. In Tolstoy's novel, someone utters loud words, engages in noisy activities or useless vanity - someone experiences a simple and natural feeling of “the need for sacrifice and suffering in the consciousness of general misfortune.” The first only consider themselves patriots and loudly shout about love for the Fatherland, the second - patriots in essence - give their lives in the name of common victory or leave their own property to be plundered so that it does not fall to the enemy.

In the first case, we are dealing with false patriotism, repulsive with its falseness, selfishness and hypocrisy. This is how secular nobles behave at a dinner in honor of Bagration: when reading poems about the war, “everyone stood up, feeling that the dinner was more important than the poetry.” A false patriotic atmosphere reigns in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer, Helen Bezukhova and in other St. Petersburg salons: “... calm, luxurious, concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life, St. Petersburg life went on as before; and because of the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles were efforts made to recall the difficulty of the present situation.” Indeed, this circle of people was far from understanding all-Russian problems, from understanding the great misfortune and needs of the people during this war. The world continued to live by its own interests, and even in a moment of national disaster, greed, promotion, and serviceism reign here.

Count Rastopchin also displays false patriotism, posting stupid “posters” around Moscow, calling on city residents not to leave the capital, and then, fleeing the people’s anger, deliberately sending the innocent son of the merchant Vereshchagin to death. Meanness and betrayal are combined with conceit and pout: “It not only seemed to him that he controlled the external actions of the inhabitants of Moscow, but it seemed to him that he controlled their mood through his proclamations and posters, written in that ironic language that in its midst despises the people and which he does not understand when he hears it from above.”

Such a false patriot is Berg in the novel, who, in a moment of general confusion, is looking for an opportunity to profit and is preoccupied with buying a wardrobe and a toilet “with an English secret.” It doesn’t even occur to him that now it’s embarrassing to think about wardrobes. This is, finally, Drubetskoy, who, like other staff officers, thinks about awards and promotion, wants to “arrange for himself the best position, especially the position of adjutant to an important person, which seemed especially tempting to him in the army.” It is probably no coincidence that on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, Pierre notices this greedy excitement on the faces of the officers; he mentally compares it with “another expression of excitement,” “which spoke of not personal, but general issues, issues of life and death.”

About what “other” persons we're talking about? Of course, these are the faces of ordinary Russian men, dressed in soldiers' greatcoats, for whom the feeling of the Motherland is sacred and inalienable. True patriots in the Tushin battery fight without cover. Yes, myself

Tushin “did not experience the slightest unpleasant feeling of fear, and the thought that he could be killed or painfully wounded did not occur to him.” An intense, bloody feeling for the Motherland forces soldiers to resist the enemy with incredible fortitude. The merchant Ferapontov, who gives up his property for plunder when leaving Smolensk, is also, of course, a patriot. “Get everything, guys, don’t leave it to the French!” - he shouts to the Russian soldiers.

What is Pierre doing? He gives his money, sells his estate to equip the regiment. And what makes him, a wealthy aristocrat, go into the thick of the Battle of Borodino? The same feeling of concern for the fate of one’s country, the desire to help in the general misfortune.

Let us finally remember those who left Moscow, not wanting to submit to Napoleon. They were convinced: “It was impossible to be under the control of the French.” That is why they “simply and truly” did “that great deed that saved Russia.”

Petya Rostov is rushing to the front because “The Fatherland is in danger.” And his sister Natasha frees the carts for the wounded, although without family goods she will remain homeless.

True patriots in Tolstoy's novel do not think about themselves, they feel the need for their own contribution and even sacrifice, but do not expect rewards for this, because they carry in their souls a genuine holy feeling of the Motherland.