Pierre's conversation with Andrei. True and false patriotism in the novel by L.N.

Strange as it may seem, a certain schematicism is visible in the composition of Tolstoy’s novel. In particular, one of the compositional foundations of the novel, a kind of backbone of the plot, is the meeting of two friends - Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. Moreover, life paths These two main characters and their intersections can be easily depicted mathematically using sinusoids, in which the events that cause the emotional uplift of each of the characters will sequentially and fairly evenly alternate with moments of mental crises. Moreover, each new meeting of friends occurs at a moment when one of the heroes is at the peak of elation (the top of the sine wave), and the other is at the very bottom of the crisis (the bottom of the sine wave); and with new meeting Each time, each person begins to move in the opposite direction - for one, from rise to crisis, for the other, from crisis to rise.

The first meeting of friends in the novel is in Scherer's salon. At this moment, Pierre is in a state of inspiration, full of new hopes, and Bolkonsky, like Onegin, is disappointed in the world and deeply bored. Mutual influence during communication, spiritual searches and vicissitudes of fate after this meeting slowly and surely lead Pierre to disappointment and mistakes, and Andrei to hopes. Pierre has carousing in St. Petersburg until his expulsion from the city, rapprochement with Helen, marriage, history with Dolokhov and complete devastation after a duel with him. For Andrey - the origin and development of a patriotic and at the same time ambitious desire to save the Russian army in Europe, farewell to his father, Schoengraben and Austerlitz and, finally, the pinnacle of philosophical discovery in this period of life - the endless Austerlitz sky with the small and insignificant recent idol Napoleon against the great background of this sky - a symbol of eternity and immortality.

Another meeting is on the ferry. Pierre came to her through devastation and, following this devastation, a meeting with a Freemason and a passion for Freemasonry. At the moment of the conversation with Prince Andrei, Pierre is again at the peak of hope, faith and creative enthusiasm. Andrei, after being disappointed in his recent idol, goes through another severe shock - the death of his wife - and by the time of the conversation on the ferry, he is extremely disappointed and closed in his secular-selfish pessimism. And again, “mutual contamination” occurs, and after this meeting, Andrey begins another upswing, associated with his rapprochement with Natasha and work on the Speransky commission, and Pierre begins another decline, caused by disappointment in Freemasonry and moving away from it.

The next highest point on the path of Prince Andrei’s quest (a new peak of the sine wave) will be at the moment of his explanation with Natasha, but Natasha’s betrayal will lead to another rapid fall into the abyss of skepticism and disappointment. At the same time, Pierre - again exactly the opposite - has a path to rise: rapprochement with Natasha, love for her. Highest point rise - speech in the Assembly of Nobility.

In 1812, friends meet before the Battle of Borodino. Now Pierre is in a gloomy mood, he is searching and cannot find himself, and Prince Andrei is again driven by patriotism and a more mature understanding that the success of battles depends on the spirit of the people, and not on the number of troops, their location or the skill of the commanders. Now the patriotism of Prince Andrei, in contrast to the state on the eve of Schöngraben and Austerlitz, is cleared of the admixture of vanity and therefore has become, according to Tolstoy, true.

As a result of their quest, both heroes reach the pinnacle of their quest. But these peaks are completely different. Prince Andrei will go through physical suffering, spiritual enlightenment from the forgiveness of Kuragin and Natasha and rise above earthly existence, having comprehended the highest gospel truth of love for everyone through physical death. Pierre will go through Borodino, Moscow occupied by the French, captivity, shock from the imminent execution, acquaintance with Platon Karataev and discover the highest earthly truth- the truth of serving the people. Prince Andrey finds the highest truth existence, and Pierre - the highest earthly truth.

Why does Tolstoy lead one of his most beloved heroes to death? After the happiness of Prince Andrei’s discovery of the highest unearthly truth, it is no longer possible to live further on earth. Unlike Bulgakov's master, Bolkonsky goes into the light, not into peace, and from the light to the sinful earth way back No. Which of the two happinesses – Bolkonsky’s happiness or Bezukhov’s happiness – does Tolstoy prefer? It is impossible to answer this question precisely, but, in all likelihood, Tolstoy seems to be telling the reader that everyone worthy person deserves his happiness - earthly or unearthly.

The main philosophical conflict arises between the two main characters of the novel - Prince Andrei and Pierre. It is impossible to express this conflict using only their inner speech. A real clash of opinions is necessary, and a dialogue is introduced into the book - a conversation between two heroes. From the very beginning a parallel is drawn: Prince Andrei - Pierre. They have different views on life different fate, but they are very close to each other. An association arises based on the names of the apostle brothers Peter and Andrew. Peter brought Christianity to Europe, and Andrei - to Rus'. The author shows the clash between “Western” Peter and “Eastern” Andrei.

For the first time we meet Prince Andrei and Pierre in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. They exchange a few phrases, but we see what close, friendly relations bind them from the prince’s soft smile, from the conversation as a whole. Real dialogue begins later, when, having left the salon, friends can free themselves from conventions and reveal their souls. But a philosophical dialogue is not being built. There is a conversation about everyday problems, affairs, Pierre's career and marriage.

Not much time passes between the first and second dialogue, but the conversation in Bogucharovo reveals to us completely new characters. Andrey saw eternal sky Austerlitz saw the senselessness and cruelty of the murder, he was devastated, all his ideas and dreams collapsed at once. Pierre, on the contrary, has a spiritual upsurge. He is interested in Freemasonry, it seems to him that he has comprehended the truth, and does not understand how it is possible in this beautiful, complete hidden meaning world to be unhappy.

A dialogue begins about murder - is it possible to kill at all. Prince Andrey allows for a division into “good” and “bad”, into those who can be killed and who cannot. Pierre is scared by these scary words, reminding us of Raskolnikov’s theory of “blood according to conscience.” The dialogue about evil and happiness is one of the most important moral and ethical moments of the work. In a conversation with Pierre, Prince Andrei claims that he will never serve in the Russian army again. Thus, Bogucharove’s conversations play a significant role compositional role and serves for further development plot, but more important is the internal one, philosophical meaning this dialogue. In any dialogue, you can better understand yourself, your thoughts, and here Prince Andrey needs to speak out, he must pour out his heavy thoughts in order to understand himself, and for Pierre this is a test of his strength Masonic ideas.

Pierre's monologue is significant as part of his philosophical worldview and as part of the philosophy of Tolstoy himself, but Andrei almost does not listen to him. You have to reach philosophical revelations yourself, and no one can convey in words the essence of the teachings and revelations. But Pierre’s words about God, about truth, by the end of the monologue melt the heart of Prince Andrei. He listens to the meaning of Pierre's words, delves into it, but sees further, deeper than Masonic philosophy. Pierre's words reveal his own new way. Once again, Prince Andrei looks at the sky and sees that high and eternal sky into which he looked at the field of Austerlitz, and again a revelation descends on him. For the second time in my life. It seems that he is re-learning the secrets of the universe.

The next, insignificant meeting of the heroes takes place at a ball in St. Petersburg, Natasha’s first ball: Pierre asks Prince Andrei to invite Rostova to dance.

Last meeting Prince Andrei and Pierre take place on the eve of the Battle of Borodino. Andrei is afraid to be alone with Pierre - he feels that he is not destined to live. Pierre feels this too. Once again the conversation is about murder - about war, about the philosophy of war and the philosophy of victory. The officers understand that tomorrow they will win at any cost. Pierre looks with fear at the alien, embittered Prince Andrei, who offers not to take prisoners. But it is precisely in the Battle of Borodino that Prince Andrei does not fire a single shot and personifies the holy army, and Pierre spiritually helps at Raevsky’s battery. Once again we see a contradiction between Prince Andrei and Pierre. Prince Andrei calls for non-resistance to evil through violence, he calls for turning to oneself, to the family, and Pierre is trying with all his might to benefit his army. He thinks that he can do good for Russia by being involved in politics, etc. Prince Andrei hopes to achieve harmony through inner peace. If he is happy, if his family is happy and if everyone thinks about their own good, then the world will finally achieve harmony.

Pierre, despite his dislike for external activities, is involved in public affairs, etc. But we still do not receive an answer as to which path is true.

After the death of Prince Andrei, his dialogue with Pierre does not stop. Pierre remembers Bolkonsky and communicates with him spiritually. Prince Andrei did not completely leave this world. His son Nikolenka also feels this, who internally often turns to his father and will probably continue his spiritual search.

The main philosophical conflict arises between the two main characters of the novel - Prince Andrei and Pierre. It is impossible to express this conflict using only their inner speech. A real clash of opinions is necessary, and a dialogue is introduced into the book - a conversation between two heroes. From the very beginning a parallel is drawn: Prince Andrei - Pierre. They have different views on life, different destinies, but they are very close to each other. An association arises based on the names of the apostle brothers Peter and Andrew. Peter brought Christianity to Europe, and Andrei - to Rus'. The author shows the clash between “Western” Peter and “Eastern” Andrei.

For the first time we meet Prince Andrei and Pierre in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. They exchange a few phrases, but we see what close, friendly relations bind them from the prince’s soft smile, from the conversation as a whole. The real dialogue begins later, when, having left the salon, friends can free themselves from conventions and reveal their souls. But a philosophical dialogue is not being built. There is a conversation about everyday problems, affairs, Pierre's career and marriage.

Not much time passes between the first and second dialogue, but the conversation in Bogucharovo reveals to us completely new characters. Andrei saw the eternal sky of Austerlitz, saw the meaninglessness and cruelty of the murder, he was devastated, all his ideas and dreams collapsed at once. Pierre, on the contrary, has a spiritual upsurge. He is interested in Freemasonry, it seems to him that he has comprehended the truth, and does not understand how one can be unhappy in this beautiful world full of hidden meaning.

A dialogue begins about murder - is it possible to kill at all. Prince Andrei allows for a division into “good” and “bad”, into those who can be killed and who cannot. Pierre is frightened by these terrible words, reminding us of Raskolnikov’s theory of “blood according to conscience.” The dialogue about evil and happiness is one of the most important moral and ethical moments of the work. In a conversation with Pierre, Prince Andrei claims that he will never serve in the Russian army again. Thus, Bogucharov’s conversations play a significant compositional role and serve for the further development of the plot, but what is more important is the internal, philosophical meaning of this dialogue. In any dialogue, you can better understand yourself, your thoughts, and here Prince Andrei needs to speak out, he must pour out his difficult thoughts in order to understand himself, and for Pierre this is a test of the strength of his Masonic ideas.

Pierre's monologue is significant as part of his philosophical worldview and as part of the philosophy of Tolstoy himself, but Andrei almost does not listen to him. You have to reach philosophical revelations yourself, and no one can convey in words the essence of the teachings and revelations. But Pierre’s words about God, about truth, by the end of the monologue melt the heart of Prince Andrei. He listens to the meaning of Pierre's words, delves into it, but sees further, deeper than Masonic philosophy. Pierre's words open up his own new path. Once again, Prince Andrei looks at the sky and sees that high and eternal sky into which he looked at the field of Austerlitz, and again a revelation descends on him. For the second time in my life. It seems that he is re-learning the secrets of the universe.

The next, insignificant meeting of the heroes takes place at a ball in St. Petersburg, Natasha’s first ball: Pierre asks Prince Andrei to invite Rostova to dance.

The last meeting of Prince Andrei with Pierre takes place on the eve of the Battle of Borodino. Andrei is afraid to be alone with Pierre - he feels that he is not destined to live. Pierre feels this too. Once again the conversation is about murder - about war, about the philosophy of war and the philosophy of victory. The officers understand that tomorrow they will win at any cost. Pierre looks with fear at the alien, embittered Prince Andrei, who offers not to take prisoners. But it is precisely in the Battle of Borodino that Prince Andrei does not fire a single shot and personifies the holy army, and Pierre spiritually helps at Raevsky’s battery. Once again we see a contradiction between Prince Andrei and Pierre. Prince Andrei calls for non-resistance to evil through violence, he calls for turning to oneself, to the family, and Pierre is trying with all his might to benefit his army. He thinks that he can do good for Russia by being involved in politics, etc. Prince Andrei hopes to achieve harmony through inner peace. If he is happy, if his family is happy and if everyone thinks about their own good, then the world will finally achieve harmony.

Pierre, despite his dislike for external activities, is involved in public affairs, etc. But we still do not receive an answer as to which path is true.

Need to download an essay? Click and save - "The main philosophical conflict between Prince Andrei and Pierre. And the finished essay appeared in my bookmarks. In the evening, Prince Andrei and Pierre got into a carriage and drove to Bald Mountains. Prince Andrei, glancing at Pierre, occasionally broke the silence with speeches that proved that he was in a good mood. He told him, pointing to the fields, about his economic improvements. Pierre was gloomily silent, answering in monosyllables, and seemed lost in his thoughts. Pierre thought that Prince Andrei was unhappy, that he was mistaken, that he did not know the true light, and that Pierre should come to his aid, enlighten him and lift him up. But as soon as Pierre figured out how and what he would say, he had a presentiment that Prince Andrei with one word, one argument would destroy all his teaching, and he was afraid to start, afraid to expose his beloved shrine to the possibility of ridicule. “No, why do you think,” Pierre suddenly began, lowering his head and taking on the appearance of a butting bull, “why do you think so?” You shouldn't think like that. - What am I thinking about? - Prince Andrei asked in surprise. — About life, about the purpose of a person. It can't be. I thought the same thing and it saved me, you know what? Freemasonry No, don't smile. Freemasonry is not a religious, not a ritual sect, as I thought, but Freemasonry is the best, the only expression of the best, eternal sides of humanity. - And he began to explain Freemasonry to Prince Andrey, as he understood it. He said that Freemasonry is the teaching of Christianity, freed from state and religious shackles; teachings of equality, brotherhood and love. - Only our holy brotherhood has real meaning in life; “everything else is a dream,” said Pierre. “You understand, my friend, that outside of this union everything is full of lies and untruths, and I agree with you that the smart and good man there is nothing left to do but live out your life like you, trying only not to interfere with others. But assimilate our basic convictions, join our brotherhood, give yourself to us, let us guide you, and you will now feel, as I did, part of this huge, invisible chain, the beginning of which is hidden in the heavens,” said Pierre. Prince Andrei silently, looking ahead, listened to Pierre's speech. Several times, unable to hear from the noise of the stroller, he repeated the unheard words from Pierre. By the special sparkle that lit up in the eyes of Prince Andrei, and by his silence, Pierre saw that his words were not in vain, that Prince Andrei would not interrupt him and would not laugh at his words. They arrived at a flooded river, which they had to cross by ferry. While the carriage and horses were being installed, they went to the ferry. Prince Andrei, leaning on the railing, silently looked along the flood glittering from the setting sun. - Well, what do you think about this? - asked Pierre. - Why are you silent? - What I think? I listened to you. “All this is true,” said Prince Andrei. “But you say: join our brotherhood, and we will show you the purpose of life and the purpose of man and the laws that govern the world.” Who are we? - People. Why do you know everything? Why am I the only one who doesn’t see what you see? You see the kingdom of goodness and truth on earth, but I don’t see it. Pierre interrupted him. - Do you believe in a future life? - he asked. - To the future life? - Prince Andrei repeated, but Pierre did not give him time to answer and took this repetition as a denial, especially since he knew Prince Andrei’s previous atheistic beliefs. “You say that you cannot see the kingdom of goodness and truth on earth. And I didn’t see him; and it cannot be seen if we look at our life as the end of everything. On earth, it is on this earth (Pierre pointed in the field) that there is no truth - everything is lies and evil; but in the world, in the whole world, there is a kingdom of truth and we are now children of the earth, and forever - children of the whole world. Do I not feel in my soul that I am part of this vast, harmonious whole? Do I not feel that I am in this countless number of beings in which divinity is manifested - high power, - as you wish, - that I constitute one link, one step from lower beings to higher ones? If I see, clearly see this staircase that leads from a plant to a person, then why should I assume that this staircase, which I do not see the end of below, is lost in the plants. Why should I assume that this ladder stops with me, and does not lead further and further to higher beings? I feel that not only can I not disappear, just as nothing disappears in the world, but that I will always be and always have been. I feel that besides me, spirits live above me and that there is truth in this world. “Yes, this is Herder’s teaching,” said Prince Andrei, “but that’s not what convinces me, my soul, but life and death, that’s what convinces me.” What is convincing is that you see a being dear to you, who is connected with you, before whom you were guilty and hoped to justify yourself (Prince Andrei’s voice trembled and turned away), and suddenly this being suffers, is tormented and ceases to be... Why? It cannot be that there is no answer! And I believe that he exists... That’s what convinces, that’s what convinced me,” said Prince Andrei. “Well, yes, well,” said Pierre, “isn’t that what I’m saying too!” - No. I’m only saying that it’s not arguments that convince you of the need for a future life, but when you walk hand in hand with a person in life, and suddenly that person disappears there V nowhere and you yourself stop in front of this abyss and look into it. And I looked... - Well, then! You know what there is there and what is somebody? There is - future life. Somebody there is God. Prince Andrei did not answer. The carriage and horses had long been taken to the other side and laid down, and the sun had already disappeared halfway and the evening frost covered the puddles near the ferry with stars, and Pierre and Andrey, to the surprise of the footmen, coachmen and carriers, were still standing on the ferry and talking. - If there is God and there is a future life, then there is truth, there is virtue; and man's highest happiness consists in striving to achieve them. We must live, we must love, we must believe, said Pierre, that we do not live now only on this piece of land, but have lived and will live forever there, in everything (he pointed to the sky). “Prince Andrei stood with his elbows on the railing of the ferry, and, listening to Pierre, without taking his eyes off, looked at the red reflection of the sun on the blue flood. Pierre fell silent. It was completely silent. The ferry had landed long ago, and only the waves of the current hit the bottom of the ferry with a faint sound. It seemed to Prince Andrei that this rinsing of the waves was saying to Pierre’s words: “It’s true, believe it.” Prince Andrei sighed and with a radiant, childish, tender gaze looked into Pierre’s flushed, enthusiastic, but still timid face in front of his superior friend. - Yes, if only it were so! - he said. “However, let’s go sit down,” added Prince Andrey, and, getting off the ferry, he looked at the sky that Pierre pointed out to him, 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 that was in him, suddenly woke up joyfully and youthfully in his soul. This feeling disappeared as soon as Prince Andrei returned to the usual conditions of life, but he knew that this feeling, which he did not know how to develop, lived in him. The meeting with Pierre was for Prince Andrei the era from which, although in appearance the same, but in the inner world, his new life began.

Chernyshevsky pointed out that a feature of Tolstoy’s realism is his depiction of the internal psychological process of human life, the “dialectic of the soul” of a person. Tolstoy great attention devotes inner life heroes. His heroes are trying to answer the eternal questions: “What is good and evil? Why do I live and who am I? What is the meaning of human life? We have to go through a lot emotional drama, try yourself in a variety of fields, make mistakes, fall and be reborn again, in order to ultimately come to the harmony of life. Tolstoy paints his heroes in a certain environment, in a certain era, showing how this environment, this environment influence people’s worldview.

We meet Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov in the Scherer salon and immediately notice something in common that makes them similar and sets them apart from secular society. Both are nobles by birth. Their fathers know each other well, they once served together, perhaps this is where the origins of their friendship lie. But secular society treats them differently. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky is one of our own, an equal, if not in views, then in origin. And Bezukhov is greeted only by bowing his head, because he is illegitimate. Andrey most lived on his father's estate. His family is there. Pierre Bezukhov has just returned from Paris, where he was finishing his education. They also differ in appearance. Prince Andrei is a secular man. He's dressed according to latest fashion, he has excellent French pronunciation, a quiet, slow gait and universal boredom in his eyes. Pierre is fat, huge and clumsy; he looks very little like a society dandy. Andrey is older than Pierre, but they enjoy each other's company. Prince Andrei appears before us as a completely mature person, which cannot be said about Pierre Bezukhov. The formation of this hero occurs throughout the seven years of the novel’s life. When they meet, Prince Andrei tells Pierre about his dissatisfaction with the life he leads. “This life that I lead here, this life is not for me,” says Prince Andrei. Let's try to trace what Prince Andrei and Pierre Bezukhov were talking about after they left the salon. At first there seems to be a conversation about everyday problems, affairs, career and marriage of Pierre. But Tolstoy already reveals Andrei’s inner world, saying that “Prince Andrei was apparently not interested in these abstract conversations about eternal peace" This means he is interested in something else. What? The conversation turns to war, and Prince Andrei expresses his views. Andrei craves fame, believes in Napoleon and wants to imitate him. Pierre at this time also admires Napoleon, mistakenly seeing in him the leader of revolutionary France.

After the meeting at Scherer, Andrei and Pierre's paths diverge for a short time. Prince Andrey enters service at the headquarters of the commander-in-chief.

He dreams of accomplishing a feat in order to be noticed. IN Battle of Austerlitz, leading soldiers into battle, he was noticed, even by the same Napoleon, whom he had previously admired so much. But now this is no longer the main thing for Andrey. Wounded, he sees the blue high sky and begins to understand that happiness lies in himself. He thinks about his relatives who are left at home. Disappointed in military career Having never found the meaning of life in the war, Bolkonsky returns home.

What is Pierre doing at this time? His life is spent in fun and revelry in the company of Kuragin. The old Count Bezukhov, Pierre's father, dies and makes his illegitimate son his only heir. Pierre receives wealth and title. He is noticed in the world, now he is a welcome guest in all salons and houses. He's marrying himself beautiful woman- Helen Kuragina, who, for all her beauty, turns out to be a stupid and empty person. Now Pierre begins to think about the meaning of life, to look for answers to eternal questions. He carries out a number of reforms to make life easier for his serfs, but remains misunderstood by the peasants, many of them simply consider him a fool. In order to understand the people and be understood by them, Pierre will still need to live among these people, go through all the horror of the war with them.

Prince Andrei, returning from the war, receives another blow - his wife dies, leaving him little son. Shocked by this tragedy, Andrei buries himself alive in the village. He is now trying, like Pierre, to improve the lives of the peasants. Pierre arrives in Bogucharovo and finds Andrei completely depressed. Another important conversation takes place between them. Andrei saw Austerlitz, saw the senselessness and cruelty of the murder. He is devastated, all his dreams and hopes have been crushed. Pierre, on the contrary, is elated: he is interested in Freemasonry and believes that he has learned the truth. Pierre at first does not understand the reason for Andrey's misfortune. We are talking about murder, is it possible to kill at all? After the war, Prince Andrei believes that there are people who can be killed, since they kill themselves. Pierre is frightened by these words and advises living according to God's commandments: act towards others as you want people to treat you. Andrey believes that in life we must strive for happiness, and happiness is the absence of remorse and illness. To distract his friend, Pierre tells him about Freemasonry. Prince Andrey listens attentively to Pierre's words, but sees beyond Masonic philosophy. Pierre's words open a new path for him. Andrei looks up, sees the same high and eternal sky as the one he looked into at Austerlitz, and this is where revelation descends on him. For the second time in my life. It seems that he is re-learning the secrets of the universe. “The meeting with Pierre was for Prince Andrei the era with which his new life began in appearance, and the same, but in the inner world.”

In Otradnoye, Andrei meets Natasha, whose whole appearance fascinates him. She has so much energy and joy of life that he involuntarily wants to experience something similar himself. Now Prince Andrei believes that life at 31 does not end, but only begins. Bolkonsky leaves for St. Petersburg. There he meets new people and participates in the work of government commissions. Prince Andrei strives to benefit the fatherland, but all his work turns out to be idle. Andrei returns to Natasha, but she is carried away by Anatoly Kuragin and allows herself to be persuaded to run away from home. Proud Prince Andrei cannot forgive her for this act. When French troops invade Russia, he goes off to war again.

Pierre also goes to war. Having sold his estate, he used the money to form a regiment. He also had to go through the war, like Andrei. Pierre lives among the soldiers, sleeps side by side with them, and, like them, goes hungry. There he meets Platon Karataev, who becomes a real teacher for him. Pierre endured a lot and understood a lot. Was he destined to see Prince Andrey again? but this meeting was the last. The conversation between them was about the war. Both understood that the battle awaiting the Russian troops was a decisive one, in which they must win at any cost. Pierre looks with fear at Prince Andrei, who is unlike himself, angry, and every now and then breaks into a cry, who offers not to take prisoners. But in Borodino, it is Prince Andrey who does not fire a single shot, and Pierre helps the soldiers at Raevsky’s battery. Seriously wounded, Prince Andrei hopes to find peace of mind through understanding his inner world. And again Natasha helps him with this. She is no longer the same, but different, but now she is infinitely dear to him. Prince Andrei dies, but before his death he finds that highest truth that he had been looking for all his life. His successor, both in physical and in spiritual sense, will be his son Nikolenka.

Pierre still had to experience earthly happiness. After Helen died, he happily married Natasha. Using the example of their marriage, Tolstoy showed a model of a family that one should strive for.

Throughout the entire time allotted to them in the novel, the characters are looking for answers to important life questions, trying to understand the meaning of human existence on earth. Bolkonsky believes that you need to live for yourself. Happiness for Pierre lies in being useful to others. Pierre considers it unfair that there is evil for another person. Each hero found his own happiness and his own understanding of life.

I would like to end with the words of Tolstoy: “A living person is one who goes forward to where it is illuminated... in front of him by a moving lantern, and who never reaches the illuminated place, but the illuminated place goes ahead of him. And that's life. And there is no other.” A person must constantly look for himself, his place in life. And while he is looking for it, he will live.