Secular society in the image “War and Peace” (Tolstoy Lev N.). Secular society in the image l

Readers are introduced to high society already on the first pages of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” when we find ourselves in A.P.’s salon. Scherer. We can't help but notice the ironic author's attitude to the insincerity, ostentatious stiffness, and mannerisms of the guests of this grand lady. Socialite Anna Pavlovna, as was customary in the world, very strictly approached the selection of guests for her magnificent evening: “Just as a good head waiter serves as something supernaturally beautiful that piece of beef that you won’t want to eat if you see it in a dirty kitchen, So this evening Anna Pavlovna served her guests first the Viscount, then the Abbot, like something supernaturally refined.”

The choice of guests is not explained by them human qualities or level of intelligence, but by nobility and wealth. The Viscount and the Abbot at this social evening are a kind of dessert and serve to give it significance, splendor, weight, just as exotic overseas fruits serve to decorate the table.

Tolstoy compares Anna Pavlovna Sherer to the “owner of a spinning workshop”, who methodically seated his “workers in their workplaces”, where everyone performs their task, and he walks around the workshop, keeping order. Tolstoy writes: “... so Anna Pavlovna, walking around her living room, approached a circle that had fallen silent or was talking too much and with one word or movement again started up a uniform, decent conversational machine.”

Everything here is luxurious, prim, somehow unnatural. That is why Scherer is so frightened by the new guest - the “massive, fat” Pierre Bezukhov, “the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine’s nobleman.” Fat, big, a little clumsy, so ungraceful and unaristocratic, he does not know secular manners at all and does not know how to behave in society. Anna Pavlovna also feels fear of “the intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room. This is what frightens people moving in secular circles: a real, lively mind, spontaneity, simplicity.”

And Pierre is still very naive. It's so kind person that he doesn’t even have thoughts about bad people. He cannot admit that in secular society there can be people like the cold, calculating Prince Kuragin and his daughter Helen. Or the unprincipled and vile Anatole, who, without hesitation, destroys a person’s life. Or the Bergs with their cynical life formula: “you can and should always have acquaintances with people who are taller than you, because only then will there be pleasure from acquaintances” and so that you don’t have children for a longer time, because “you have to live for society.”

Naive Pierre still sincerely believes that truly intelligent people gathered at this evening, “and his eyes, like a child’s in a toy store, were wide open”: “he was still afraid of missing the smart conversations that he might hear.” Pierre is waiting with hope for “something especially smart.”

Time will pass, and on a fateful day for Russia - the day of the Battle of Borodino - high society will also gather here to have a good time, demonstrate new outfits in public and express loud declarations of love for Russia. On a terrible day for Russia, Scherer’s guests did not have the tact to not organize a magnificent evening out of respect for those people who are now where blood is being shed, the groans and cries of the dying are heard. But Tolstoy writes: “Anna Pavlovna had an evening on August 26, the very day of the Battle of Borodino, the flower of which should have been the reading of the letter from the Right Reverend, written when sending the icon of the Reverend Sergius to the sovereign.”

Prince Vasily, who became famous for “his art of reading,” was entrusted with reading this letter. The reading of this letter "had political significance." And these people, drowning in luxury, still had the conscience to condemn Kutuzov! Receiving alarming news about the state of affairs of the war with the French, representatives of the secular nobility sighed and said: “What is the position of the sovereign!” Now they “no longer extolled, like the day before, but ... condemned Kutuzov, former cause the sovereign's worries." Meanwhile, all the patriotism of these people boils down to the fact that they refuse to speak French for a while and fine those who violate this rule in favor of the needs of the Russian army.

Representatives of high society view marriage between people, first of all, as a mutually beneficial, social union. Here we are, together with Natasha Rostova, rejoicing at her first ball, her first great love, her success. And Peronskaya comments: “This is a millionaire bride. And here are the grooms.” Among the suitors is Boris Drubetskoy. All fans of an ugly girl want only a profitable marriage, despite the lack of at least some sympathy for the girl.

Prince Vasily, having decided to marry Helene to the rich Pierre, arranges this marriage, which is destined to become unhappy. He behaves like a subtle psychologist and strategist. Prince Vasily forgets that a family union of two people is also a spiritual union, mutual understanding.

Unfortunately, even in the wonderful Rostov family such marriages take place! Even in this family, where comfort, complete mutual understanding, sincere, ardent affection for each other reign. Nikolenka and Sonya have been in love with each other since childhood, they swore allegiance. But miracles only happen in fairy tales. Sonya lives in the Rostov family, does not need anything, she is a full member of this friendly family. But still, she is a homeless woman who has nothing. The Rostovs' affairs are not in very good shape. good condition, and this marriage can completely destroy them.

The Rostovs need money. The Count and Countess protest against Nikolenka's marriage to Sonya, and he marries Marya Bolkonskaya. Of course, Marya turned out to be a wonderful girl. Marya and Nikolai truly fell in love with each other, created a good family, but the fact remains: unprofitable marriages are unacceptable in high society.

Tolstoy's attitude towards high society is ambivalent. He perfectly sees the vices of the world: insincerity, stiffness, arrogance, deceit, self-interest. But Tolstoy’s high society is also intelligent, noble people with a fine spiritual organization. This is Pierre Bezukhov, and Natasha Rostova, and Andrei Bolkonsky, and Marya Bolkonskaya, and Nikolai Rostov. These are people who know how to love, know how to forgive and truly love their Russia.

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy - Russian writer, publicist, philosopher, moralist, religious teacher, teacher. The author of the great work "War and Peace", which describes Russian society during the era of the wars against Napoleon in the period from one thousand eight hundred five to one thousand eight hundred and twelve.

The idea for the novel was formed long before work began on the text that is known today. The main topic This work is the historical fate of the Russian people in the Patriotic War.

Depicting the life and character of the common people, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy paints with bright colors the life and morals of secular society, which in most cases consisted of nobles. It should be noted that secular society at that time was divided into two types - St. Petersburg and Moscow.

When Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was working on his novel, St. Petersburg was the capital Russian Empire, characterizing the architectural splendor of the city combined with cold gloominess and inaccessibility.

The writer transfers the unique character of the city to St. Petersburg society, whose main activities were balls, various receptions and social events. It was there that the political, secular and cultural news happening at that time in the country were discussed. The main representatives of secular societies were Anna Pavlovna Scherer, a maid of honor, close to the empress, whose meaning of life was the successful existence of her salon, and Helen Kuragina, a depraved, stupid, deceitful girl, however, despite this, she enjoyed enormous success in the world and had constant admirers .

A feature of St. Petersburg society was falseness and pretense. All social evenings, in my opinion, were similar to a masquerade, where the characters that the author introduces us to only play their role, putting on one mask or another.

Moscow society appears to us as completely opposite, the brightest representatives of which are the Rostov family.

At first glance, it may seem that the secular society of Moscow is not much different from the society of St. Petersburg. However, later we can notice that the conversations of the nobles were not hypocritical and empty, the Rostovs and their guests spoke sincerely, worrying with all their souls about the fate of their state and its citizens. In addition, the Moscow nobility was closer to the Russian people, their traditions and customs, which speaks of the kindness, openness and cordiality of the representatives of this social circle. However, one should not assume that Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy idealizes Moscow society. On the contrary, he emphasizes many of his traits and morals, which do not find approval from the author. But nevertheless, he turns a blind eye to these insignificant things.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the role of secular society is very important in the work. Based on the antithesis, the author shows us both the good and bad qualities of these societies, ultimately revealing the truthful and holistic one.

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Simultaneously with the depiction of the life and character of the common people, Tolstoy paints vivid pictures of the life and morals of the upper layer of the nobility, who proudly called themselves “light.” The author focuses here on the family of Prince Vasily Kuragin with his sons Ippolit Anatoly and daughter Helen.

Prince Vasily Kuragin is an “important and official” representative of the ruling elite; The fates of many people depend on him, but the only driving force behind all his actions is personal gain. “Prince Vasily did not think through his plans. He even less thought of doing evil to people in order to gain benefit. He was only a secular man... He did not say to himself, for example: “Pierre is rich, I must lure him to marry his daughter and borrow the forty thousand I need”; but a man in strength met him, and at that very moment instinct told him that this man could be useful, and Prince Vasily became close to him... flattered, became familiar, talked about what was needed... He was constantly drawn to those who who is stronger and richer than him, and he had the talent to catch the very moment when it was possible to take advantage of people.”

The purpose of his arrival for the evening with Anna Scherer was the intention to arrange his son Hippolyte as the first secretary in Vienna. He wants to marry his second son Anatole, who is ruining him with his carousing, to the rich bride Maria Bolkonskaya. Kuragin skillfully plays the role of a emotional person in the Bolkonskys’ house. When the theft of Count Bezukhov's will fails and Pierre becomes the heir to all his wealth, Prince Vasily, taking advantage of his impracticality and inexperience in life, marries him to his daughter. While Kutuzov is in disgrace, Kuragin speaks of him very contemptuously, but as soon as he is appointed commander-in-chief, the “crafty courtier” begins to praise him. And it is characteristic that, with the exception of one inexperienced person, this does not surprise anyone, and Prince Vasily enjoys the general respect of secular society, which fully characterizes this society.

In Prince Vasily's eldest son, Ippolit, Tolstoy emphasizes his stupidity. But she doesn't interfere to the young prince pursue a diplomatic career. Much more often than Hippolytus, his younger brother Anatole, a handsome, brilliant officer, appears on the pages of War and Peace. Already at the first meeting with him, thanks to a small touch: “Anatole stood straight, eyes open,” the absence of a higher inner life is felt in him. His spiritual and mental insignificance is manifested with sufficient clarity in a conversation with the old man Bolkonsky.

Anatole's mental limitations, depravity and baseness of nature were also reflected in his behavior with the Frenchwoman, the companion of his intended bride. But his zoological egoism and complete unscrupulousness in his attempt to kidnap Natasha Rostova stand out most clearly. At the same time, he considered himself an impeccable person. “Anatole was always pleased with his position, with himself and others. He was instinctively, with his whole being, convinced that he could not live otherwise than the way he lived, and that he had never done anything bad in his life.” Everything was permitted, and the only measure of good and bad was the pleasure (at the same time crude, base) that this or that action gave him.

The fourth member of the Kuragin family was the beautiful Helen, a stupid, but very cunning, depraved, unprincipled woman. “Where you are, there is debauchery, evil,” Pierre tells her, and these words fully express the author’s own opinion about her. Kuragins were no exception among aristocratic society. All members of this family are typical representatives of their circle, their time. Andrei Bolkonsky calls them and people like them, who make up the overwhelming majority of the so-called secular society, “court lackeys and idiots,” and points to their “selfishness, vanity, insignificance in everything.” “All the people of this party were fishing for rubles, crosses, ranks, and in this fishing they only followed the direction of the weather vane of the royal favor...”

Ruthlessly exposing this world, Tolstoy sometimes deliberately exaggerates its negative aspects, sharpens the images, and emphasizes their typicality. In this regard, the statements of Prince Vasily Kuragin about Kutuzov are especially characteristic, causing general sympathy in the Scherer salon. Before his appointment as commander-in-chief, Kutuzov, according to Prince Vasily, was “a man of the worst rules,” “decrepit and blind,” fit only for playing blind man’s buff. After the appointment of Kutuzov - “ the smartest person“, and Prince Vasily is “happy” on the occasion of the most successful choice of the commander-in-chief.

The same technique of consciously sharpening the image is applied by Tolstoy to Anatoly Kuragin (his behavior during the matchmaking with Bolkonskaya), and to Helen (the pursuit of two new husbands, a letter to Pierre, etc.), and to Hippolyte, and to Anna Pavlovna Scherer, and to others. This conscious exaggeration of satirical elements in the images of representatives of the court nobility characterizes Tolstoy's socio-political views. The complete type of careerist is given in the person of Boris Drubetsky. A descendant of a noble but impoverished family, he paves his way to wealth with great dexterity and perseverance. Having received an appointment to the guard thanks to the efforts of his nosy mother, he directs his efforts to secure profitable connections there.

In particular, he enjoys the support of Andrei Bolkonsky. When in 1812 Kutuzov began to dismiss everyone from the headquarters extra people, Boris managed to stay there. Boris also cleverly arranges his material affairs, having married Julie Kuragina, who disgusted him, but was rich. Without saying anything directly on his own behalf about Alexander 1, Tolstoy, however, with the entire totality of individual actions and statements of the tsar, shows his lack of understanding of the events taking place, his inability to understand people, arrogance and vanity, weakness as a public figure, especially clearly manifested during the period Patriotic War. Surrounded by court flatterers and careerists, whom Tolstoy calls the “drone population,” the Russian emperor is far from understanding the true interests of Russia and does not know how to appreciate people who are truly useful to her, as was the case with Kutuzov. The presence of Alexander 1 in the active army so interferes with its actions and weakens it that Secretary of State Shishkov with a group of other statesmen “respectfully and under the pretext of the need for the sovereign to inspire the people in the capital to war, offered the sovereign to leave the army.” And indeed, with Alexander’s departure, things in the army went more successfully, especially with the appointment of Kutuzov, which was also forced on the part of the emperor.

In his coverage of the local nobility, Tolstoy depicts the Bolkonsky and Rostov families with great sympathy. Pierre Bezukhov. Sympathy for them is caused mainly by their active participation in ongoing historical events, their attraction to the Russian people, contempt for predation and careerism.

The wide hospitality, simplicity, gullibility, good-naturedness, lack of petty calculation, generosity of the Rostovs, their deep mutual affection make this family very attractive. The Rostovs lived in St. Petersburg as hospitably as in Moscow, and a variety of people came to dinner with them: neighbors of Otradny, old poor landowners with their daughters and the maid of honor Peronskaya, Pierre Bezukhov and the son of the district postmaster, who served in St. Petersburg. In the selection of guests and acquaintances there is no calculation, no selfish thought; here you can feel selfless cordiality. The life of the Rostovs in the village is even more patriarchal in nature: on Christmastide, the serfs dress up and have fun with the masters. The Rostovs are alien to any kind of prudence. And when, under difficult circumstances, Nikolai’s mother asked Nikolai what to do with the bill of exchange from the Drubetskys, now rich people, he tore up this bill, thereby arousing the admiration of the old countess. But at the same time, this lack of prudence turns into extravagance, characteristic of a significant part of the nobility, due to the habit of luxury and idleness. Both young Rostovs take part in the wars with Napoleon, their service
They carry without any shade of careerism, show great courage and are loved by the people around them. “The stupid Rostov breed,” Denisov says excitedly about the Rostovs, putting a completely different meaning into this expression. This brave man, who many times looked death in the face without fear, cries bitterly when he sees the murdered Petya. Tolstoy loves the Rostov family, and yet the great realist artist takes precedence over family legends in him (as you know, he portrayed his father in the person of Nikolai Rostov). The essence of Rostov complacency appears before us in a completely different light when we turn to a poor relative raised in their family, the orphan Sonya, “involuntarily learned by her dependent life of secrecy.” That random kindness that characterizes the Rostovs was (perhaps, except for Natasha) more external in nature and manifested itself until it cost them nothing.

L.N. Tolstoy initially wanted to write a short novel about a Decembrist who returned home from exile. About his views on life, changes in worldview. But in the process of work, I realized that it was impossible to do without the previous history. It was necessary to reveal the origins of the Decembrist movement, the character of the Russian nobility and the common people. But this world is so multifaceted that the work resulted in a voluminous, truly legendary epic novel.

Attitude to war

Showing the war, Tolstoy describes Napoleon's attack on Russia, Battle of Borodino, the slow return of the Russian army, the French conquest of Moscow, the fire in the capital and the return of Napoleon's army during a harsh winter. The French commander had to flee from Russia under fire from Russian soldiers. His army is suffering from cold and hunger, since the Russians have destroyed all food supplies. Napoleon's capture of Moscow proved futile, and ultimately destroyed most of his army.

Along with these historical events Tolstoy describes the different classes Russian society in terms of their participation in the war and the impact the war had on their lives. At the beginning of the novel, the Russian aristocratic class insists on Russian participation in the war. They wanted a quick victory, pride in the Russian nobility. But they did not expect that the war would destroy houses, agriculture, and take many lives of compatriots. However, the majority of this class did not plan to participate in the war themselves, but intended to win the battles through the hands of the peasants.

At the beginning of the novel, representatives of the aristocracy dream of war, admiring the genius of Napoleon. It doesn’t matter to them how many battles will take human lives, how many people will be crippled, how many orphans will be left. During bloody and protracted confrontations, the nobility makes other pathetic speeches, scolding the French commander. The attitude towards the French language, so praised only recently, is also changing. Fines are being introduced for this speech.

Character antagonism

Tolstoy leads the reader to an awareness of true and false moral values, patriotism, honor and dishonor. People like Drubetskoy are eager to go to war only for their own benefit. By killing hundreds of people, they want to get a high officer rank. Their aspirations are base, vile, vulgar, and deceitful. But simple, inconspicuous people, like Tushin, really care about victory, have compassion for people, love, and are deeply rooted for their Motherland. The same applies to women in the novel. Young Natasha Rostova, whom many considered flighty and unconscious, gives her carts to the wounded, realizing that because of this she will not be able to evacuate in time. The author gently pushes us to compare Helen Kuragina and Marya Bolkonskaya. Everyone considers Helen a beauty, many are in love with her. She is in demand in secular society. Maria, on the other hand, has an inconspicuous appearance, is modest and quiet. But she has a sensitive soul, is virtuous, and internally beautiful. You understand this only after reading the novel in its entirety.

Attitude towards peasants

All Moscow and St. Petersburg nobility of that time were landowners. But only a few of them treated the peasants as people. Then it was easy to sell a person, trade him or lose at cards. And the peasants were measured by “souls.” This suggests that the aristocrats imagined themselves almost as gods, thinking that they owned human souls. Meanwhile, the Russian people are true hero great work.

Conclusion

The writer paid a lot of attention to the depiction of the noble class. Lev Nikolaevich makes us understand the insignificance of these people. They are cold, arrogant, prim. Personal gain, money, rank, gossip are more important to them than honor, truth, and morality. It is not customary here to express one’s thoughts openly, out loud, and personal opinion must correspond to the opinion of the crowd. Any sincere manifestation of feelings is only condemned here. Some of them, such as: Pierre Bezukhov, Natasha Rostova, Andrei Bolkonsky, through physical and moral suffering, were able to cleanse themselves and come to inner harmony after brutal introspection. But there are only a few of them.

The writer also reveals the role of women in society. She should not be a coquette, like Helen Kuragina, or a society lady, like Anna Scherer, but a mother and wife. It becomes like this main character novel - Natasha Rostova.

In the novel "War and Peace" Tolstoy created a true and complete picture of Russian life in the first quarter of the 19th century. During this period in Russia, the main social role was played by the nobles, so a significant place in the novel is given to the description of secular society. It should be noted that the high society at that time was represented mainly by two metropolitan societies, quite different from each other: St. Petersburg and Moscow.

St. Petersburg is the capital, a cold, inhospitable city, on par with European cities. The St. Petersburg high society is a special world with its own laws, customs, morals, the intellectual center of the country, oriented towards Europe. But the first thing that catches your eye when describing relationships in this society is unnaturalness. All representatives of high society are accustomed to playing roles imposed on them by society or taken by them voluntarily; it is not for nothing that Prince Vasily is compared to an actor in the novel.

One of the main types of pastime for members of high society were social receptions at which news, the situation in Europe and much more were discussed. It seemed to the new person that everything being discussed was important, and all those present were very smart and thoughtful people, seriously interested in the subject of the conversation. In fact, there is something mechanical and indifferent in these techniques, and Tolstoy compares those present in the Scherer salon to a talking machine. An intelligent, serious, inquisitive person cannot be satisfied with such communication, and he quickly becomes disillusioned with the world. However, the basis of a secular society is made up of those who like such communication and for whom it is necessary. Such people develop a certain stereotype of behavior, which they transfer to their personal, family life. Therefore, in their relationships in the family there is little cordiality, more practicality and calculation. A typical St. Petersburg family is the Kuragin family.

Moscow secular society appears to us completely different, which, however, is still similar in some ways to St. Petersburg. The first image of Moscow light in the novel is the description of the name day in the Rostov house. The morning reception of guests is reminiscent of social receptions in St. Petersburg: discussion of news, although not on a global scale, but local, feigned feelings of surprise or indignation, but the impression immediately changes with the appearance of children, who bring spontaneity, happiness, and causeless fun into the living room. At dinner with the Rostovs, all the qualities inherent in the Moscow nobility are manifested: hospitality, cordiality, nepotism. Moscow society in many ways resembles one big family, where everyone knows everything, where they forgive each other’s small weaknesses and can publicly scold each other for mischief. Only in such a society could such a figure as Akhrosimova appear, and Natasha’s outburst be condescendingly appreciated. Unlike the St. Petersburg nobility, the Moscow nobility is closer to the Russian people, their traditions and customs. In general, Tolstoy’s sympathies, apparently, are on the side of the Moscow nobility; it is not for nothing that his favorite heroes, the Rostovs, live in Moscow. And although the writer cannot approve of many of the traits and morals of Muscovites (gossiping, for example), he does not focus on them. In his depiction of secular society, Tolstoy actively uses the technique of “detachment,” which allows him to look at events and characters from an unexpected point of view. Thus, when describing an evening at Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s, the writer compares the salon with a spinning workshop, illuminating the social reception from an unexpected angle and allowing the reader to penetrate into the essence of the relationships at it. French in the speech of the heroes is also a technique of “detachment,” making it possible to more fully create the image of a secular society that at that time spoke mainly French.