What does Pierre do at the beginning of the war? Pierre Bezukhov: character description

One of the main characters of the epic “Warrior and Peace” is Pierre Bezukhov. The characteristics of the character in the work are revealed through his actions. And also through the thoughts and spiritual quests of the main characters. The image of Pierre Bezukhov allowed Tolstoy to convey to the reader an understanding of the meaning of the era of that time, of a person’s entire life.

Introducing the reader to Pierre

The image of Pierre Bezukhov is very difficult to briefly describe and understand. The reader needs to go with the hero throughout his entire

Acquaintance with Pierre is dated in the novel to 1805. He appears at a social reception hosted by Anna Pavlovna Scherer, a high-ranking Moscow lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting to the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of one of the Moscow nobles. He received a good education abroad, but upon returning to Russia, he did not find any use for himself. An idle lifestyle, carousing, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this life baggage he appears in Moscow. In turn, high society also does not attract the young man. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, and hypocrisy of its representatives. “Life is something deeper, more significant, but unknown to him,” reflects Pierre Bezukhov. “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy helps the reader understand this.

Moscow life

The change of residence did not affect the image of Pierre Bezukhov. By nature he is a very gentle person, easily falls under the influence of others, doubts about the correctness of his actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he finds himself in captivity of the idle with her temptations, feasts and revelry.

After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and his father's entire fortune. Society's attitude towards young people is changing dramatically. A famous Moscow nobleman, in pursuit of the young count's fortune, marries his beautiful daughter Helen to him. This marriage did not foretell a happy one family life. Very soon Pierre understands his wife’s deceit and deceit; her debauchery becomes obvious to him. Thoughts about his violated honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could prove fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended with the offender wounded, and Pierre’s life was out of danger.

The path of quest of Pierre Bezukhov

After the tragic events, the young count thinks more and more about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confusing, disgusting and meaningless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant compared to something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have sufficient fortitude and knowledge to discover this great thing, to find the true purpose of human life. The thoughts did not leave the young man, making his life unbearable. Brief description Pierre Bezukhov gives the right to say that he was a deep, thinking person.

Passion for Freemasonry

Having parted with Helen and given her a large share of his fortune, Pierre decides to return to the capital. On the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg, during a short stop, he meets a man who talks about the existence of the Masonic brotherhood. Only they know the true path, they are subject to the laws of existence. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.

Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, accepts the ritual and becomes a member of the Masonic lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, and views on life captivate Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything he hears at meetings, although much of his new life seems gloomy and incomprehensible to him. The journey of Pierre Bezukhov's quest continues. The soul still rushes about and finds no peace.

How to make life easier for people

New experiences and searches for the meaning of life lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many disadvantaged people around, deprived of any rights.

He decides to take actions aimed at improving the lives of the peasants on his estates. Many people don't understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was started, there is misunderstanding and rejection of the new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed and disappointed.

The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose description describes him as a soft, trusting person) realized that he had been cruelly deceived by the manager, his funds and efforts had been wasted.

Napoleon

The alarming events taking place in France at that time occupied the minds of the entire high society. excited the consciousness of young and old. For many young people, the image of the great emperor became an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes and victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I didn’t understand the people who decided to resist the talented commander and the great revolution. There was a moment in Pierre's life when he was ready to swear allegiance to Napoleon and defend the gains of the revolution. But this was not destined to happen. Feats and achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.

And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. The adoration of Napoleon's personality will be replaced in Pierre's soul by contempt and hatred. An irresistible desire will appear to kill the tyrant, taking revenge for all the troubles that he brought to the world. native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of ​​reprisal against Napoleon; he believed that this was destiny, the mission of his life.

Battle of Borodino

The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the established foundation, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. The aimless life of wealth and comfort was abandoned by the count without hesitation for the sake of serving the fatherland.

It was during the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization had not yet been flattering, began to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Getting closer to soldiers, representatives of the common people, helps to re-evaluate life.

The great Battle of Borodino played a special role in this. Pierre Bezukhov, being in the same ranks with the soldiers, saw their true patriotism without falsehood and pretense, their readiness to give their lives for the sake of their homeland without hesitation.

Destruction, blood, and related experiences give rise to the spiritual rebirth of the hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to the questions that have tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with all his heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, an explanation for which at this moment he cannot yet give.

Captivity

Further events unfold in such a way that the trials that befell Pierre should harden and finally shape his views.

Finding himself in captivity, he goes through an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but before his eyes, several Russian soldiers, who were captured by the French with him, are executed. The spectacle of the execution does not leave Pierre's imagination, bringing him to the brink of madness.

And only a meeting and conversations with Platon Karataev again awaken a harmonious beginning in his soul. Being in a cramped barracks, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel truly Life path Pierre Bezukhov helps you understand that being on earth is a great happiness.

However, the hero will have to reconsider his own life more than once and look for his place in it.

Fate decrees that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French because he fell ill and could not move. Karataev's death brings new suffering to the hero. Pierre himself was released from captivity by the partisans.

Relatives

Having been freed from captivity, Pierre receives news one after another from his relatives, about whom he knew nothing for a long time. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helen. best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, seriously wounded.

Karataev's death and disturbing news from relatives again excite the hero's soul. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that happened were his fault. He is the cause of the death of people close to him.

And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments of emotional distress the image of Natasha Rostova suddenly appears. She instills calm in him, gives him strength and confidence.

Natasha Rostova

During subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he has developed a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha has a reciprocal feeling for Pierre. In 1813 they got married.

Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, to feel him - this is the main dignity of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to preserve a person. The family is a small model of the world. The health of this cell determines the state of the entire society.

Life goes on

The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, and harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of internal development of the soul accompanied the hero all his life, and it gave its results.

But life does not stop, and Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization as a seeker is given here, is again ready to move forward. In 1820, he informed his wife that he intended to become a member of a secret society.

Lesson No. 6

Pierre in Freemasonry.

Goals:

    educational:

    formationthe ability to correctly and convincingly substantiate your point of view;

    nurturing the moral worldview of students;

    educational:

    understanding the complexity and inconsistency of the behavior and quests of the heroes of the novel;

    formation of ideas about the brotherhood of Freemasons;

    developing:

    improving skills in working with text, the ability to analyze what you read;

    providing opportunities to unleash the creative potential of students;

    development of mental and speech activity, the ability to analyze, compare, and logically correctly express thoughts.

Lesson type: lesson to improve knowledge, skills and abilities.

Lesson type: workshop lesson.

Methodical techniques: conversation on issues, retelling the text, expressive reading of the text, watching episodes from feature film, student messages.

Predicted result:

    be able toindependently find material on the topic and systematize it.

Equipment: notebooks, literary text, computer, multimedia, presentation, feature film.

Lesson progress

I. Organizational stage.

II. Motivation educational activities. Goal setting.

    The teacher's word.

Among the “blank spots” of our history, the mysteries covered in legends, Freemasonry occupies a special place. For a long time this topic was closed for study: there was no literature. Now more and more new publications about Freemasonry are appearing, books that were published in Russia even before the revolution are being published. Today in the lesson we will turn to a topic that is closely related to the formation of the worldview of people of past eras and the present. But there are many myths, misconceptions and speculations around Freemasonry both today and in the past. The theme of Freemasonry is reflected in fiction, therefore, the task of the lesson is to get acquainted with the basics of the teachings of the Masons, to find out who they are. What is the role of the Freemasons in the destinies of the heroes of the novel "War and Peace".

    Discussion of the topic and objectives of the lesson.

III . Improving knowledge, skills and abilities.

    The teacher's word.

A. Radishchev, N. Karamzin, A. Griboyedov, A. Pushkin, M. Speransky, Pavel I, Alexander I, A. Suvorov, M. Kutuzov are names known to everyone. But worldwide fame is not the only thing that unites them. All of them belonged to one of the most mysterious, little-studied philosophical movements in the history of Russia - Freemasonry.

Who are the Masons? Why do disputes about Freemasonry continue today? Why did it attract great people? What are the moral aspects of the philosophy of Freemasonry and its influence on the formation of the worldview of people of past eras and the present? To answer these questions, it is necessary to turn to the history of Freemasonry.

    Student message. History of Freemasonry.

The real history of Freemasonry begins with the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London under the direction of the architect Sir Christopher Wren. The cathedral took a long time to build, from 1675 to 1710. It was then that a wonderful idea was born: to attract public attention to this long-term construction and to raise additional funds, to found “artels” of masons who would “build” the cathedral without lifting a single brick, but only thinking about it. This is how “speculative” Freemasonry was born in England. The word "mason" translated from English and French means "mason", and with the definition "franc" - free mason. The symbols of Freemasonry were the mason's tools: a trowel, a plumb line, a compass, a square. The cathedral was finally built, but the Masonic artels - lodges - did not disappear, there were more of them. At the head of each lodge was a Master, a Venerable. The manager of an entire union of lodges was called a grandmaster or Great Master. The first theorists of Freemasonry also appeared: Andersen and Daugulier, who provided a philosophical basis for Freemasonry and began to create its theory and structure. On June 24, 1717, representatives of the first Masonic lodges gathered in a beer hall and established the “Grand Lodge of England” - a union of all existing lodges. This is the first and only reliable date for the birth of Freemasonry as an organized movement. Soon, Freemasonry spread to France and flourished, traditions and new symbolism appeared, the Freemasons came up with a solid history for themselves, dating back to the construction of Solomon’s Temple. The chief builder of this temple was Adoniram, who was killed for not revealing the magic word spoken to him by King Solomon. This name of God is "Jehovah". This legend of Adoniram is the basis of initiation into the degree of master in Masonic lodges. In Russia, the first lodges appeared in the 30s of the 18th century. Peter I was a “free mason”, Paul I was brought up by Freemasons and surrounded himself with them, Alexander I at the beginning of his reign was a Freemason, and in 1822 he banned Freemasonry, as a result of which this ban contributed to the development of secret societies of the Decembrists, among whom there were also many Freemasons ( Muravyov-Apostol, Pestel, Ryleev, Bestuzhev). Among the Freemasons there were many famous people in Russia.
At the beginning of the 20th century, interest in the Freemasons intensified. By 1910, there were more than 100 people in Russian political Freemasonry. Their composition was mostly cadets, Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, Trudoviks (Kerensky, Chkheidze, Konovalov, Nekrasov, Tereshchenko). Even before the 1917 revolution, a campaign against the Freemasons began. Two arguments were used:

1) Freemasons have Jews in their ranks, therefore they are enemies of Orthodoxy and autocracy;

2) the Freemasons have socialists in their ranks, which means they are connected with the “International”.

The main moral and philosophical ideas of Freemasonry were the following:

    The unacceptability of a monarchical government system.

    The Masonic ideal is a democratic republic

    All members of society are brothers. And neither language, nor rank, nor fortune, nor wealth makes a distinction between them.

    The goal of Freemasonry is the destruction of Christian culture and its replacement by the Masonic world.

    Humanity is higher than the fatherland. Freemasonry must cross out the past of peoples. It must create an international movement, the consequence of which will be the ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity among peoples.

    Ideas of national revolutions that will destroy historically established states and lead to the creation of a Masonic superstate.

The main thing in the philosophy of the Masons was and is man, his spiritual state and harmonious development. Mutual assistance among members of the order over time turned into a system of charity. Masons build and maintain hospitals, clinics, and research centers. Philanthropic funds exist thanks to voluntary contributions from fraternity members and various donations. In pre-revolutionary Russia, almshouses, schools, and orphanages were opened on the initiative of the Freemasons. But charity is only part of the order’s activities aimed at the benefit of humanity.

The progress of society is possible only in the absence of wars between and within states. Therefore, free masons oppose resolving conflicts by force. Each of the brothers can and should benefit by awakening the most best qualities. Masons of all directions believe that the acquisition of knowledge in the natural and human sciences, long and patient self-training will help them create an equal and just social system, a kind of temple of freedom, equality and fraternity.

    The teacher's word.

There were some moments in the activities of the Freemasons of the Alexander era that impressed Tolstoy, and the writer speaks about them very warmly and sympathetically. These are, first of all, issues of moral self-improvement. The bearer of these ideas is Osip Aleksandrovich Bazdeev, who made a strong impression on Pierre with his passionate preaching.

The image of the “benefactor” Pierre, who convinced him to take the path of orthodox Freemasonry, was written with real person- Joseph Alekseevich Pozdeev, who was popular among Moscow masons.

4. Working with the text of the novel "War and Peace".

    At what point in Pierre's life does he meet the freemason Bazdeev?

Pierre Bezukhov's entry into the Masonic society occurred during a difficult period of his life, associated with his marriage to Helen Kuragina. He suffers, realizing that he was not only deceived, but also deceived others. He considered himself guilty for marrying without love - this plunges Pierre into a deep crisis. “What's wrong? What's good? What should you love, what should you hate? Why do you need to live and what am I? What is life, what is death? What force controls everything? - he asks himself. These reflections on the meaning of life are characteristic of goodies Tolstoy. Pierreis experiencing a mental crisis: this is a strong dissatisfaction with oneself and the associated desire to change one’s life, to build it on good principles.

Pierre's coming to Freemasonry was an important event, as it would help him find a way out of his inner turmoil. He “thought and thought and thought and thought,” the author reports. But the more he thought, the “darker, more confusing and more hopeless the past, future and, most importantly, the present seemed to him.”

During such reflections, when Pierre was immersed “in the highest mindset that a person can achieve,” at that moment a stranger entered the room. It was the old Mason Bazdeev, who came to Pierre to convert him. He immediately started talking about Freemasonry and suggested introducing Pierre to the “brotherhood of free masons,” where he would find peace. In the penetrating gaze of the freemason, Pierre “felt hope and reassurance.” A week later, Bezukhov’s reception was scheduled “at the St. Petersburg Northern Lights Lodge.” Pierre was accepted into the lodge in compliance with all rituals. New life instilled new strength in Pierre, and after initiation into the Freemasons he was “cheerful and restrained, as if making fun of the whole world, knowing the truth.”

    Was Pierre's meeting with the freemason Bazdeev by chance?

    Watching an episode from a feature film or retelling the episode “Pierre's Entry into Freemasonry.”

    For what purpose does Pierre join the Masonic Society?

Pierre finds the meaning of life in the philosophy of moral self-improvement as a means of eliminating evil in oneself and the world. Why does Pierre, being an atheist and considering religion “unfair,” join the Masonic society? Because I was attracted by the formulation of the goals of this society: by purifying and correcting the heart and mind of individual members of society, thereby correcting the human race and “confronting the evil that reigns in the world.” And he sincerely accepted the new teaching and believed in it. Pierre perceived Freemasonry not as a religious sect with its external ritualism, but as “the best single expression of the best, eternal sides of humanity.” This decision gave him for a time the illusion of a way out of the impasse caused by the feeling of the purposelessness of existence. It opened the way for him to the activity for which he yearned. He had so many doubts and hesitations that he reached out to those who had faith and conviction in something: “Pierre, with a sinking heart... experienced a joyful feeling of calm, renewal and return to life.” So, the desire to find something stable, a goal in life for himself, leads Pierre to Freemasonry.

    What was most dear to Pierre in Masonic teaching?

“...With all our might, resist the evil that reigns in the world.”

    What caused Pierre to doubt?

The ritual side of Freemasonry. - How did Pierre feel when he was accepted into the Masons? - “Where am I, what am I doing? Are they laughing at me? Will I be ashamed to remember this? Pierre has a sense of truth. He talked about his love for Helen and at the same time felt something false, unclean, which pushed him away from this woman. He accepted Freemasonry, but already upon initiation into the Freemasons, doubt arose in him about the truth and necessity of what he was doing.

    Who did Pierre see among the Masons?

Those whom he knew from St. Petersburg society and who never aroused his sympathy.

    What does Pierre Bezukhov do after joining Freemasonry?

“A week later, Pierre, having said goodbye to his new friends, the Freemasons, and leaving them large sums of alms, left for his estate. His new friends gave him letters to Kyiv and Odessa, to the Freemasons there, and promised to write to him and guide him in his new activities.”

    Tell us what specific steps Pierre Bezukhov took to confirm the moral calls of the Freemasons with practical deeds?

Pierre unwittingly became the head of St. Petersburg Freemasonry. He set up lodges, recruited new members, took care of uniting various lodges... He gave his money for the construction of churches and replenished, as far as he could, alms collections, for which most members were stingy and careless. He almost alone, at his own expense, supported the home of the poor, established by the order in St. Petersburg...”, Tolstoy narrates.

Pierre, after the Masons revealed the truth to him, decides that he must confront the evil that reigns in the world. He strives to “immediately” take “measures for the complete liberation of the peasants from serfdom.”

    How does Tolstoy explain Pierre's failure to alleviate the situation of the peasants?

“Pierre did not have that practical tenacity that would give him the opportunity to directly get down to business, so he did not like him and only tried to pretend to the manager that he was busy with business.”

    Did the peasants on Pierre's estates really become happy?

    Tell us how the life of the peasants changed as a result of Pierre’s “activities.”

The situation of the peasants not only did not improve, but in some respects worsened; in any case, “the peasants continued to give with work and money everything that they give from others, that is, everything that they can give.”

    Did Pierre realize that he had failed?

No, he returned from his “journey” “in the happiest state of mind.” This is the only time in Pierre's life when he did not feel the falsehood of his position.

With Andrei Bolkonsky.

    What change in Prince Andrei struck Pierre?

“The words were affectionate, a smile was on the lips and face of Prince Andrei, but his gaze was extinguished, dead.” If we look closely at the development of Prince Andrei and Pierre, we will notice that the development of one, with some delay, duplicates the development of the other. Both pass in different times the same circles of hell

    How did Prince Andrei react to Pierre’s thoughts about improving the lives of the peasants?

He refutes them. It now seems to Prince Andrei that simply existing, without tormenting himself with questions, is easier, better than thinking about the meaning of life, and he envies the man living an animal life. Why do people need schools? To the physical torment they will add moral torment. - Well, Prince Andrei is against the liberation of the peasants? - No, he is for the liberation of the peasants, but not for them, but for... the nobles, who, being “raised in... the traditions of unlimited power , become cruel, rude,” become more and more “unhappy and unhappy.” It is interesting that Prince Andrei’s gaze “became more animated the more hopeless his judgments were.”

Arguing with Pierre, with his conviction of the need to serve his neighbor, Prince Andrei becomes animated, focusing on this issue, and in some way internally agrees with Pierre.

    What significance did this meeting with Pierre have for Prince Andrei?

“The meeting with Pierre was for Prince Andrei the era from which his new life began.

    Reading an excerpt from chapter XII of the second part - “Pierre and Andrey on the ferry.”

Look how Tolstoy draws the influence of nature on Prince Andrei. - “Ferry! has long been stuck, and only waves of current with a weak sound! hit the bottom of the ferry. It seemed to Prince Andrei that this rinsing of the waves was saying to Pierre’s words: “True, believe it.” And how did Prince Andrei’s face change? - “Prince Andrey sighed and radiantly,children's looked with a gentle gaze into... Pierre’s face.” - The theme of a bright and pure childhood almost automatically evokes the theme of heaven in Tolstoy. Prince Andrei, “coming off the ferry,... looked at the sky,... and for the first time after Austerlitz he saw that high, eternal sky that he had seen while lying on the Field of Austerlitz, and something that had long fallen asleep, something better “What was in him suddenly woke up joyfully and youthfully in his soul.” Prince Andrei could not remain passive for long. This is typical Tolstoy positive character, always making mistakes and searching

Pierre manages to convince Prince Andrei that although lies reign on earth, they are transitory, and the truth is eternal. A world of truth, goodness and justice, huge world the world of Pierre and Prince Andrei becomes the world of higher humanity. Their search for reason and the difficult experience of life led them to this world.

    What feeling did Pierre begin to experience after a year of his participation in the Masonic lodge?

Previously, “he experienced the feeling of a person trustingly placing his foot on the flat surface of a swamp.” But “having put his foot down, he failed. To be completely sure of the solidity of the soil on which he stood, he put his other foot down and sank even further, got stuck and involuntarily walked knee-deep in the swamp.” Freemasonry turned out to be a dirty swamp. We saw that Pierre immediately noticed something false in Freemasonry. Now, as is typical for both Pierre and Andrey, the mind “caught up” with the initial sensations. The feeling did not deceive.

    What pushed Pierre away from the Freemasons?

Pierre is convinced that many Masons entered the society in order to acquire connections with strong and wealthy people, of whom there were many. “From under the Masonic aprons and signs, he saw on them the uniforms and crosses that they sought in life.” Pierre saw that many representatives of high society, who had no less wealth than he, and who had taken the Masonic oath to give all their property for their neighbors, shied away from giving even a penny alms, and doubts began to creep into his soul. “In the midst of his studies and hobbies, Pierre, however, after a year began to feel how the ground of Freemasonry on which he stood was increasingly slipping away from under his feet, the more firmly he tried to stand on it.” Pierre began to feel dissatisfied with his activities. He did not doubt Freemasonry, but suspected that “Russian Freemasonry had taken the wrong path and deviated from its source.”

    Did he try to influence the Masons?

To understand everything, he goes abroad. There he gains the trust of many high-ranking officials, penetrates into many secrets, is elevated to the highest degree, and brings the plan of the order to Russia. This entire plan was based on “to form strong, virtuous people, bound by the unity of conviction, which consists in persecuting vice and stupidity everywhere and with all their might and patronizing talents and virtue.” In St. Petersburg, he spoke to the “brothers”, spoke for a long time, but his speech made not so much a strong impression as excitement and was received coldly. His proposals were not accepted

And Pierre felt that he was not on the same path with the Freemasons. “The melancholy that he was so afraid of came over Pierre again.”

5. The teacher's word.

Today in Europe, America, and Asia there are a large number of Masonic lodges. A significant part of them are united in an international organization. But there is no unity in the ranks of the Freemasons. The Masons themselves deny their connection with politics less and less, but, as before, they consider humanistic ideals and ensuring human rights to be the main ones. Several Masonic lodges operate legally in Russia. One of them - the "Grand Lodge of Russia" - has its own official website on the Internet. The Grand Master, a certain Gregory D., in his address to the readers of the site reports that his lodge avoids getting involved in politics. When asked whether among modern Masons there are famous people from the world of business and politics, he answers: “I believe that there may be.” What will Freemasonry be like in the future? Will it be an influential force or will it attract people with its involvement in ancient secrets and mysterious rituals? The future will provide answers to these questions.

IV . Information about homework.

1. Social activities Bolkonsky.

What does Prince Andrey do after Austerlitz?

Dispute with Pierre in Bogucharovo.

The role of nature in the life of the prince.

What brought Bolkonsky to life?

2. Report about Speransky.

V . Summing up.

VI . Reflection.

Pierre Bezukhov, one of the main characters of Leo Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace, throughout the entire work tries to understand what the meaning of his life is. Bezukhov faces many trials, both factual and spiritual, and the people he meets in his life largely help the hero better understand himself and his purpose.

At the beginning of the work, Pierre Bezukhov appears before the readers as a somewhat clumsy, rustic man, inspired by the image of Napoleon, who considers the great commander practically his idol. Over time, Bezukhov makes some reassessment own values, understanding that all people are imperfect, and trying to create an ephemeral and obviously unattainable role model for yourself is stupid and even naive. Due to his deep mind and such inappropriate irrationality and excessive gentleness, Pierre makes many mistakes and wrong actions.

Having married Helen Kuragina, the daughter of Prince Vasily, Bezukhov becomes disillusioned with family life, observing the behavior of his wife - a beautiful, but very greedy and calculating girl. The disgruntled hero of the novel, in an attempt to find himself, comes to Masonic lodge, hoping to discover true brotherhood there, however, even here he is disappointed - beautiful words are not followed by corresponding actions, and the brotherhood turns out to be ordinary secular society, who have assumed a touch of mystery.

It is impossible not to mention the meeting of Pierre Bezukhov with Platon Karataev, a man who will have a strong influence on the hero’s life. Having met Karataev in incredibly cruel and inhuman conditions of captivity, Pierre manages to understand the main thing - the true value of humanity and each individual in particular. Platon Karataev opens the hero's eyes to how important it is to love life, despite the conditions in which you find yourself, because every person is an integral part of this world. Each person is a reflection of the Earth. It was after meeting Plato that Pierre Bezukhov learned to look at the world broadly with open eyes, and in every event that occurs, see the grain of truth, the grain of infinite unity with the world.

The end of the novel shows what the hero's life has become six years later. After the death of his wife, Helen Bezukhova, Pierre married Natasha Rostova, this time meeting his true love. I believe that without the changes that occurred in the soul of Pierre Bezukhov over the course of his life, there would have been neither a happy ending nor the long-awaited calm of the hero. All the characters that Bezukhov met in his life had an influence on him - positive or negative. All the events in which the hero was involved affected his worldview. The path that Pierre Bezukhov went from a clumsy young man who first appeared in Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s living room to a harmonious family man, fulfilled both in his career and in his family, is truly admirable.

In my opinion, in the novel “War and Peace” Leo Tolstoy does a truly great thing - he shows us how much the same person can change for the better, despite all the difficulties that he had to face.

Bezukhov's life path

Pierre Bezukhov - main character works "War and Peace" written by Leo Tolstoy. Pierre is the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov. Count Bezukhov is one of the outstanding personalities in history Russian Empire 18th century. Pierre hardly saw his father; he studied and was raised abroad. In the novel, Pierre and I meet in Anna Pavlovna’s house. On this day, Anna Pavlovna organized an evening in which she invited all the noble people of high society. Pierre arrived a little later in the evening and immediately entered into an argument concerning the Russian-French war. Pierre was a fan of Napoleon, and of course, he justified the French emperor. Pierre, at the beginning of the work, led a wild life; if you read it, you will immediately remember the story with the bear. Society does not accept Pierre, and our hero does not like it, he feels out of place. Count Bezukhov was sick and soon died. After the death of his father, suddenly everyone shows him respect. It turns out that Count Bezukhov gave all his property to Pierre, and our Pierre soon became Count Bezukhov.

Pierre and Helen Kuragina

After the death of his father, Pierre married the beautiful Helene, the daughter of Prince Vasily. But their life together didn't last long. Soon, rumors began to circulate in society that Countess Bezukhova was cheating on Pierre with Dolokhov. One fine day, Pierre was invited to an evening, and soon, as it turned out, Dolokhov was there too. All evening, Dolokhov constantly insulted Pierre, and the latter, in the end, could not stand it and challenged him to a duel. During the duel, Pierre wounded Dolokhov, and then divorced his wife.

Freemasonry

After the divorce, Pierre decides to go to St. Petersburg; on the road he meets a freemason who was traveling with him. After a long conversation, Pierre decided to believe in God and follow the religious path.

Renewed relationship with Helen

After his Freemasonry, Pierre resumes his relationship with Hélène. But soon, rumors about Pierre's betrayal appear in society again. This time, Hélène cheats on her husband with the prince, and Pierre leaves again.

wild life

After Pierre's Masonic mentor dies, and Natasha Rostova, who is so dear to him, chooses Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre decides that his life has no meaning and begins to drink. Then he leaves for Moscow.

Patriotic War

In 1812, our hero decides to go to the front to take part in Patriotic War. Soon, he is captured by the French. At this time, his wife, Helen, dies. Life in captivity teaches Pierre to look at the world differently, he understands life values etc. He becomes wise.

Pierre and Natasha Rostova

At the end of the novel, the main characters marry each other, Pierre Bezukhov and Natasha Rostova, and they soon had 3 daughters and one son.

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Life's quest Pierre Bezukhov

Pierre Bezukhov was illegitimate son one of the richest people in Russia. In society he was perceived as an eccentric, everyone laughed at his beliefs, aspirations and statements. No one considered his opinion or took him seriously. But when Pierre received a huge inheritance, everyone began to fawn on him, he became a desired groom for many social coquettes...

While living in France, he became imbued with the ideas of Freemasonry; it seemed to Pierre that he had found like-minded people, that with their help he could change the world for the better. But soon he became disillusioned with Freemasonry, although his desire for equality among people and justice in everything was ineradicable.

Pierre Bezukhov is still very young and inexperienced, he is looking for the purpose of his life and existence in general, but, unfortunately, he comes to the conclusion that nothing can be changed in this world and falls under the bad influence of Kuragin and Dolokhov. Pierre simply begins to “waste his life”, spending his time on balls and social evenings. Kuragin marries him to Helen.

Bezukhov was inspired by passion for Helen Kuragina, the very first secular beauty, he rejoiced at the happiness of marrying her. But after some time, Pierre noticed that Helen was just a beautiful doll with an icy heart, a painted smile and a cruel, hypocritical disposition. Marriage to Helen Kuragina brought Pierre Bezukhov only pain and disappointment in the female sex.

Tired of a wild life and inaction, Pierre's soul is eager to work. He begins to carry out reforms in his lands, tries to give freedom to the serfs, but what is very unfortunate is that people do not understand him, they are so accustomed to slavery that they cannot even imagine how they can live without it. People decide that Pierre has “quirks.”

When the War of 1812 began, Pierre Bezukhov, although not a military man, went to the front to see how people fought for their Fatherland. While on the fourth bastion, Pierre saw a real war, he saw how people were suffering because of Napoleon. Bezukhov was struck and inspired by the patriotism, zeal and self-sacrifice of ordinary soldiers, he felt pain along with them, Pierre was filled with fierce hatred of Bonaparte, he wanted to kill him personally. Unfortunately, he failed and was captured instead.

Bezukhov spent a month in prison. There he met a simple “soldier” Platon Karataev. This acquaintance and being in captivity played a significant role in life's quest Pierre. He finally understood and realized the truth that he had been looking for for a long time: that every person has the right to happiness and should be happy. Pierre Bezukhov saw the true price of life.

Pierre found his happiness in marriage with Natasha Rostova, she was for him not only his wife, the mother of his children and his beloved woman, she was more - she was a friend who supported him in everything.

Bezukhov, like all the Decembrists, fought for truth, for the freedom of the people, for honor; it was these goals that served as the reason for his joining their ranks.

A long path of wandering, sometimes erroneous, sometimes funny and absurd, nevertheless led Pierre Bezukhov to the truth, which he had to understand after going through difficult trials of fate. We can say that, no matter what, the end of Pierre’s life quest is good, because he achieved the goal that he initially pursued. He tried to change this world for the better. And each of us must also strive for this goal, because the house consists of small bricks, and they are made of small grains of sand, and the grains of sand are our good and fair deeds.

In addition to the essay about Pierre Bezukhov’s life quest, also see:

  • The image of Marya Bolkonskaya in the novel “War and Peace”, essay
  • The image of Napoleon in the novel "War and Peace"
  • The image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace”
  • Comparative characteristics of the Rostovs and Bolkonskys - essay