Comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. Similarities and differences in the characters of Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"

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

Tolstoy and his heroes

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

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

The evolution of Pierre Bezukhov is the spiritual growth of the author himself, he is very close to this character, that's why he marries Natasha Rostov (the most beloved image of Leo Tolstoy) for him, which he considered to be the ideal of a Russian woman.

In "War and Peace" there are more than five hundred characters, most of them are real historical figures. The ingenious multifaceted nature of the novel allowed Tolstoy to place all of them in their places, to identify parallels (maybe not even specifically).

Image system

If you divide all the characters of the work into four levels: historical, public, folk and natural (metaphysical), then it is easy to find the verticals to which Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov belong. And also those who correspond to them. This can be clearly shown in the table.

The crystal lattice of "War and Peace"

As we see, to Prince Andrew and Count Bezukhov, standing on one step of the social ladder, different people correspond to the historical and national level, and the elements do not coincide with them.

The uncompromising, groundlessness of Bolkonsky's life, accompanied by constant aspirations to unattainable ideals, brings him closer to the bottomless blue sky that opened to him on the Austerlitz field.

This is not Pierre at all. It is he and his like - Kutuzov and Platon Karataev - who can defeat Napoleon and the superhuman Dolohov who thinks himself, to replace Tikhon Shcherbaty, who knows how to fight so well. The characteristic of Pierre Bezukhov, more precisely, its analysis, carried out at a metaphysical level, indicates that his element is water. But only it can extinguish any flame, even hostile raging.

Relation to the higher society

Despite all the difference of natures, Prince Andrew and Pierre are Tolstoy's favorite heroes. We meet with them on the very first pages of the novel, which tell about salon life. And immediately we see a difference in their behavior, but then we realize that these people have deep respect and affection for each other.

On this, to put it in modern slang, a high-society get-together, they are for one reason - the position obliges. But for the prince everything here is uninteresting and understandable. The falseness, vulgarity, the pursuit of money, corruptions in high society, have long ago disgusted him, and he does not hide his contempt for the gathered.

The young count is a beginner here, he reverently observes the guests and does not notice that they treat him like a second-rate man, because he is an illegitimate son, and if he gets his inheritance, it is still unknown. But the characterization of Pierre Bezukhov would be incomplete, if not to clarify that very little time will pass, and just like the prince, he will treat with a feeling of disgust for secular cold shine and idle chatter.

Character traits

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

Comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, as they appear at the beginning of the novel, will not be in favor of the second. The prince has sober, you can even say, the state mind, practical tenacity, the ability to bring the business to its logical conclusion. He is unusually restrained, collected, highly educated, intelligent, hard-tempered and has great willpower.

And Pierre is a sensitive nature, direct, broad, sincere. After coming from abroad, he does not fall into the best company of secular kutil and idlers. Безухов understands, that does incorrectly, but softness of character does not allow it to break off unnecessary communications. And then Kuragin appears with his sister, and this scorched schemer should not have been robbed of the gullible Pierre, having married him to Helen.

And yet Prince Andrew, so right and cold, a rationalist to the core, Pierre was free from conventions and allowed himself to speak quite frankly. Yes, and Bezukhov, in turn, believed only him and respected Bolkonsky unlimitedly.

Love Test

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

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

Bolkonsky could not understand and accept the repentance of a poor girl in treason, which, in fact, was not there. Only on the deathbed, when the whole past life no longer mattered, when all ambitious thoughts were not needed, Prince Andrew understands what it means to love. But this feeling, rather, not to a certain person, it is not even earthly, but divine.

The Test of War

The characterization of Andrei Bolkonsky as a warrior is brilliant. This is the type of Russian officers on which the army and the country are held. He is moderately cautious, brave, quickly makes decisions in extreme situations, takes care of his subordinates. No wonder Kutuzov did not want to let him go from his headquarters to the front line.

The war of 1805, incomprehensible and unjust, devastated the prince. After the wounding of the French captivity, when the ideal of Napoleon collapsed and depreciated in his eyes, Bolkonsky's life became empty. But on the battle of Borodino we see another Andrew. Here he is with his people, and he realized that the main goal of human existence is to help other people.

For Pierre, war was the purgatory of the soul. He stayed in Moscow to kill Napoleon, but, saving the child, came under arrest, then was preparing for the shooting, and then he was expected to be captured and retreated with the French. The full characterization of Pierre Bezukhov is impossible without the image of Platon Karataev. It is through this peasant that the count understands the people's character, its values and priorities. Probably, it is after the meeting with Karataev that the path of Bezukhov-Decembrist begins.

In search of truth

Both Andrew and Pierre throughout the novel languishingly search for meaning life, walking in the ways of spiritual searching. They are disappointed, then again resurrected for new things. The comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov show that the trials prepared by fate for them are, in general, very similar.

They both coped with the influence of the upper world, rejecting his parasitic existence. Everyone had an unhappy marriage. Together, they "got sick" with Napoleon, realizing the insignificance of the vain aspirations of anyone. Did not break their captivity. Both loved Natasha Rostov. But only Pierre remained alive.

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

Instead of output

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

And her heroes - Pierre and Andrei Bolkonsky - stand before us as the best representatives of that time. Their love for the Motherland is active. In them, Lev Nikolaevich embodied his attitude to life: to live a full life, it is natural and simple, then honestly it will turn out. You can and should make mistakes, throw everything and start again. But calmness is a spiritual death.