True and false patriotism in the novel “War and Peace” (Tolstoy Lev N.). Essay on the topic: Patriotism in the novel War and Peace, Tolstoy True patriots of the novel War and Peace
The colossal prose canvas “War and Peace,” which reflected with incredible sincerity and truthfulness real pictures of the life of the people in the abyss of difficult events in the first decades of the 19th century, became one of the most important works in Russian literature. The novel earned its high significance due to the seriousness of its problems. True and false patriotism in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the central ideas, the relevance of which continues more than 200 years later.
War is a test of character
Despite the extensive character system of the work, its main character is the Russian people. As you know, people show their true qualities when they find themselves in difficult life situations. There is nothing more terrible and responsible for both an individual and the nation as a whole than war. Like a magic mirror, she is able to reflect the true face of everyone, tearing off the masks of pretense and pseudo-patriotism of some, emphasizing the heroism and readiness for self-sacrifice for the sake of the civic duty of others. War becomes a kind of test for the individual. The novel depicts the Russian people in the process of overcoming this test in the form of the Patriotic War of 1812.
Artistic device of comparison
In the course of depicting the war, the author resorts to the method of comparative comparison of the moods and behavior of both the military and secular society, comparing the years 1805–1807, when the battles took place outside the Russian Empire, with 1812, the period of the French invasion of the territory of the state, which forced the people to rise to defend the Fatherland.
The main artistic device that the author masterfully uses in the work is antithesis. The author uses the method of contrast both in the table of contents of the epic novel, and in the parallel management of plot lines, and in the creation of characters. The heroes of the work are opposed to each other not only by their moral qualities and actions, but also by their attitude to civic duty, the manifestation of true and false patriotism.
The personification of true patriotism
The war affected various segments of the population. And many are trying to contribute to the cause of common victory. Peasants and merchants burn or give away their property just so that it does not go to the invaders, Muscovites and residents of Smolensk leave their homes, not wanting to be under the yoke of the enemy.
With special insight and pride, Lev Nikolaevich creates images of Russian soldiers. They demonstrated heroism and courage in episodes of military operations at Austerlitz, Shengraben, Smolensk and, of course, at the Battle of Borodino. It was there that the incomparable courage of ordinary soldiers, their love for the Motherland and perseverance, and willingness to sacrifice their own lives for the sake of freedom and the Fatherland were manifested. They are not trying to look like heroes, to emphasize their prowess compared to others, but are only trying to prove their love and devotion to the Fatherland. One can involuntarily read in the work the idea that true patriotism cannot be ostentatious and posturing.
One of the most striking characters who personifies true patriotism in the novel “War and Peace” is Mikhail Kutuzov. Appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army against the royal will, he managed to justify the trust placed in him. The logic of his appointment is best explained by the words of Andrei Bolkonsky: “While Russia was healthy, Barclay de Tolly was good... When Russia is sick, it needs its own man.”
One of the most difficult decisions that Kutuzov had to make during the war was the order to retreat. Only a far-sighted, experienced and deeply patriotic commander could take responsibility for such a decision. Moscow was on one side of the scale, and all of Russia was on the other. As a true patriot, Kutuzov makes a decision in favor of the entire state. The great commander demonstrated his patriotism and love for the people even after the expulsion of the invaders. He refuses to fight outside the country, believing that the Russian people have fulfilled their duty to the Fatherland, and there is no longer any point in shedding their blood.
A special role in the work is assigned to the partisans, whom the author compares to a club, “rising with all its menacing and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes and rules, nailed the French until the entire invasion was destroyed.”
The spirit of sincere love for the native land and state is characteristic not only of the military, but also of the civilian population. Merchants gave away their goods for free so that the invaders would not get anything. The Rostov family, despite the impending ruin, provides assistance to the wounded. Pierre Bezukhov invests his funds in the formation of the regiment and even makes an attempt to kill Napoleon, regardless of the consequences. Patriotic feelings are also characteristic of many representatives of the noble class.
False patriotism in the work
However, not all the heroes of the work are familiar with sincere feelings of love for the Motherland and sharing the people's grief. Tolstoy contrasts the real fighters against the invaders with the false patriots who continued their luxurious life in salons, attended balls and spoke the language of the invader. The author considers not only secular society, but also the majority of the officers of the Russian army to be false patriots. Many of them are happy about the war as a way to receive orders and career growth. The author denounces most of the officers who huddle in headquarters and do not participate in battles, hiding behind ordinary soldiers.
The technique of antithesis in the depiction of feigned and real patriotism is one of the ideological lines of the epic novel “War and Peace”. According to the author, true feelings of love for their native land were demonstrated by representatives of the common people, as well as those nobles who were imbued with its spirit. Those who have no peace in moments of common grief reflect sincere love for the Motherland. This idea is one of the main ones in the work, as well as in the essay on the topic “True and false patriotism in the novel “War and Peace.” The author portrays this belief through the thoughts of Pierre Bezukhov, who realizes that true happiness is in unity with his people.
Work test
On the pages of the novel “War and Peace,” L. N. Tolstoy shows the patriotism of the masses, contrasting it with the complete indifference to the fate of their country and people of representatives of high society. The war did not change the luxurious and calm life of the capital’s nobility, which went on as before, was filled with a complex struggle of various parties, drowned out, “as always, by the trumpeting of court drones.” “...And because of the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves.”
Tolstoy exposes the noisy patriotism of “Rastopchin’s posters” written in pseudo-folk language, the false patriotism of St. Petersburg salons, whose visitors, brought up on French culture and having lost their national image, in connection with the war, urgently decided not to go to the French theater, abandon French cuisine and switch to Russian cabbage soup
Secular society was far from comprehending the threat hanging over Russia; it continued to live by its own petty interests: the same struggle for power and money, the same intrigues and easy flirting.
The writer creates a vivid picture of a meeting in the Sloboda Palace, where “blind-sighted, toothless, bald” old noblemen, far from political life, divorced from the people, truly unaware of the state of affairs, were called upon to save the fatherland. The speakers from the young nobles reveled in their own eloquence. All this is very unlike a genuine political impulse.
But there were also real patriots among the nobles, such as old Bolkonsky, who was energetically gathering militia to fight the French. He is overcome by paralysis. Dying, he sobs, mourning the death of Russia.
Tolstoy's main idea is that closeness to the people enriches and fills spiritual life with content. While the distance of the noble class from the masses indicates the poverty of the soul of its representatives, the absence of moral principles. Most often, these are deceitful and completely false courtiers like Prince Vasily or careerists like Boris Drubetsky, who wants to “arrange for himself the best position, especially the position of adjutant to an important person, which seemed especially tempting to him in the army,” or especially unpleasant persons of the Livonian Germans like Berg, who in a moment of general grief, he does not miss the opportunity to profit and is busy buying a wardrobe and a toilet “with an English secret.”
We see true patriots close to the people in the persons of Pierre, Prince Andrei, and Natasha. The “People's War” of 1812 carried within itself a tremendous force that contributed to the purification and moral rebirth of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, thanks to which they parted with class prejudices and became more humane and nobler. Prince Andrei, abandoning his pride, became close to ordinary soldiers and realized that the main purpose of a person is to serve the homeland and the people. Death interrupts his spiritual quest, but his son Nikolenka continues the good work of his father. Pierre's moral renewal also occurs through rapprochement with the soldiers. Showing the evolution of this hero, Tolstoy described his passion for European politics, Freemasonry, charity, and philosophy. But nothing gave him such moral satisfaction as the truth acquired through communication with ordinary people that the purpose of life is in life itself: “As long as there is life, there is happiness.”
The war brought many of the novel’s heroes closer to the foundations of national unity, introduced them to thoughts and feelings on a national scale, thanks to which they discovered a new world in their souls and gained fresh, ennobling strength.
Notable in this regard is the scene of the Rostovs’ departure from Moscow; beautiful is Natasha, who in a patriotic impulse decided to take out the wounded on family carts, leaving household property for the enemy to desecrate.
Speaking about true and false patriotism, one cannot help but note the writer’s exposure of the “Russian patriotism” of the Germans. This, as has already been said, is Berg’s low behavior, and Natasha’s contemptuous words, uttered in response to her mother’s order not to unload the cart for the wounded: “... In my opinion, this is such disgusting, such an abomination, such ... I don’t I know. Are we some kind of Germans?..” And in other episodes there is an exposure of the stupid soldiery of the Germans in Russian service, their contemptuous and arrogant attitude towards the people and the country in which they live is noted. And this is not only a reflection of Tolstoy’s ardent patriotic feelings, but also a passionate struggle for the foundations of Russian national culture, its traditions, worries about the influence of foreign trends on it, weakening the consciousness of certain sections of society, which carry a destructive force. After all, only knowledge of one’s origins, the cultural history of the country and its people makes a person a true patriot of his homeland.
“War and Peace” by Tolstoy is a vivid example of the true patriotism of the Russian people, which shows, heroes and patriots, what our people were capable of at a time when a common misfortune descended on Russian soil in the form of Napoleon Bonaparte. At first in the work we see how the Emperor of France is admired by many Russians who followed the events taking place in France, but as soon as Bonaparte decided to attack Russia, the enthusiasm disappeared, only the patriotic spirit and the desire to eradicate the French army, destroy it, drive it away from Russian lands remained. enemy.
Patriotic heroes in the novel War and Peace
Who is the patriotic hero in the novel War and Peace? I would immediately like to mention Bolkonsky, who in the first days of the proclamation of military events went to war, leaving his pregnant wife. Nikolai Rostov, although he had panic fear and the horrors of the war brought him into confusion, he always returned to the battlefield, taking with him Vasily Denisov, who can also be considered a true patriot. Also, Peter Rostov goes against the will of his parents just to repel the French army. These heroes of the novel are true defenders, examples of courage and patriotism.
In addition, in the novel we see the entire Russian people, who are ready to make any sacrifice so that the French do not get Russian land, so the Smolensk people burn houses, food, so as not to leave anything for the French, many gave their goods and belongings to Russian soldiers, not thinking that they themselves are left with nothing. We see the patriotism of Muscovites who began to leave the capital, not wanting to be under the rule of the French emperor. Moreover, we see awakened patriotism in those from whom you would least expect a patriotic manifestation. These are Princess Katish and Julie Karagina who believed that “you cannot be under the control of the French” and it does not matter whether they lived well or poorly.
Brave heroes and patriots in the person of the partisans played a big role in the Battle of Borodino. It is impossible not to mention, when talking about patriots, those who were directly on the battlefield and this is Kutuzov, who had spiritual power and who managed to liberate our land from the French. Patriotism is shown by generals Raevsky, Bagration, Ermolov and, of course, ordinary soldiers who, at the cost of their lives, won and defended the Fatherland.
Concluding my reasoning, I would like to say that Tolstoy showed us a vivid example of how our compatriots should act in the event of a common disaster, although we really hope that peacetime will never end for us.
True heroes and patriots in the novel “War and Peace” by L. N. Tolstoy
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Essay on the topic: negative heroes of the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "WAR AND PEACE" 
True and false in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"
Tolstoy divided the characters in his novel into positive and negative. They all show their patriotism in different ways. Positive heroes, such as Natasha Rostova, Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky, love their homeland and are ready to sacrifice themselves to save it. Negative heroes are alien to the concepts of goodness and honor; they look after only their own interests. For them, their native country is just an endless source of consumption, which they enjoy using.
Natasha Rostova, trying to help the wounded soldiers, offers them an overnight stay in her house, without demanding anything in return. Despite the fact that Natasha is young and generally far from military life, she tries to help to the best of her ability. Natasha is a patriot of her homeland, because she is often ready to sacrifice her comfort for the well-being of the country. The girl is very kind to other people, so when she feels that she can help, she helps.
The thought of surrendering Moscow to the French leads Natasha to despair: the fate of her homeland is important to her, she cannot simply come to terms with the fact that Moscow is abandoned, but she is unable to change anything.
Pierre Bezukhov also does not remain aloof from the war that shook Russia. He organizes his regiment, which, in his opinion, should lead the country to the long-awaited victory over the French. His plan does not lead to the result that he expected, but the young man does not despair and prepares to independently engage in battle with the enemy. Pierre believes that it is he who is destined to kill Napoleon, thereby freeing his homeland. He goes to the most dangerous place of military operations and there provides all possible assistance to the soldiers. He is not embarrassed by his own position - after all, Pierre was a count - and he fights along with the rest of the soldiers. Even though he did not have much influence on the outcome of the war, the very fact of his participation in the battle shows Pierre as a true patriot.
Using the example of Vasily Kuragin, we will consider the manifestation of false patriotism. Having once admired Field Marshal Kutuzov (“I always said that he alone is capable of defeating Napoleon”), literally the next day he changes his opinion to the completely opposite (“I’m surprised how it was possible to entrust such a person with the fate of Russia”). The predominance of personal interests over the interests of the homeland is inherent in the character of this person. Vasily can only criticize others, but he himself will never take up arms and go into battle along with the soldiers.
Thus, Tolstoy in his novel showed how different people relate to the fate of their homeland. True patriotism is inherent in positive characters, for whom the homeland is not just a place where they live, but something more native and dear to them, something for which it is not a pity to die. Negative characters are far from this, so their interests stand above others.
“War and Peace” - a novel by Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy - is a national epic dedicated to the heroism of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812, a feat accomplished by the people.
While still describing the Battle of Shengraben, one of the main episodes of the 1805 campaign, Tolstoy showed the feat of Captain Tushin and the soldiers of his battalion. Captain Tushin is an ordinary officer, a man who personifies folk wisdom and simplicity. During the battle, he fearlessly leads the bombing, showing an example of courage to the soldiers, religiously fulfilling his military duty.
Captain Timokhin also accomplishes a feat, and the attack of his company at a critical moment changed the course of the battle. Like Tushin, he is... duty, courage and diligence.
According to Tolstoy, war is “an event that is contrary to human reason by its human nature,” but the war of 1812 was a terrible necessity. To execute the enemy, to expel him from his native land is the duty of every Russian person.
If in the highest aristocratic circles they only uttered pompous phrases about love for the fatherland, but in fact only “followed ... the weather vane of the royal favor,” then the best people from the nobles acted differently: Nikolai Rostov returned to the army, the young man went to war Petya, gives a million to the militia Pierre Bezukhov, commands the regiment, trying to be closer to the people, Prince Andrey, gives all the carts to the soldiers wounded near the village of Borodin, Rostov, dooming themselves to ruin.
A feeling of hatred for the enemies of the homeland forces the residents of Smolensk and Moscow to burn their property so that the French do not get it, and the act of the merchant Ferapontov and the “man in a frieze overcoat” is an example of true patriotism.
Russian peasants, “Karps and Vlasas,” as Tolstoy calls them, did not want to sell hay to the French even for big money, they burned it. Each Russian person fought the enemy in his own way.
The Battle of Borodino is the greatest manifestation of the patriotism of the Russian people. Ordinary people understood the importance of this moment. “They want to attack all the people,” says one of the soldiers; In preparation for possible death in the upcoming battle, the militia men put on white shirts. The same mood reigns in Andrei Bolkonsky’s regiment.
The artillerymen on the Raevsky battery behave calmly and courageously during the battle, ready to die but fulfill their duty.
Kutuzov is the exponent of the patriotic folk spirit in the novel. He is confident in the courage and perseverance of the soldiers, and knows that the enemy will be defeated. This “wonderful, incomparable people” is understandable and close to Kutuzov. Material from the site
The partisan movement played a huge role in the Patriotic War of 1812. The writer speaks about the detachment of elder Vasilisa, who killed hundreds of Frenchmen, and about the sexton who commanded the detachment, and about Denisov’s partisans, and about Dolokhov’s detachment. Tolstoy tells about the partisan Tikhon Shcherbat, the bravest and most necessary person in Denisov’s detachment, who was distinguished by his special daring. Shcherbaty is one of those heroes who quietly and imperceptibly do their job, doing everything that prompted them to feel love for their Motherland.
The patriotism of Russian people of all classes, the courage and heroism of officers and ordinary soldiers - this is the guarantee of the invincibility of the Russian people.
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