The life path of Andrei Bolkonsky, his spiritual quest, the evolution of his personality are described throughout the novel by L. N. Tolstoy. For the author, changes in the consciousness and attitude of the hero are important, because, in his opinion, this is what speaks of the moral health of the individual. Therefore, all the positive heroes of “War and Peace” go the way of searching for the meaning of life, the dialectics of the soul, with all the disappointments, loss and gaining happiness. The presence of a positive beginning in the character of Tolstoy indicates that despite the life troubles, the hero does not lose his dignity. These are Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. The general and most important thing in their quest is that the heroes come to the idea of unity with the people. Consider what led the spiritual search for Prince Andrew.
Focus on Napoleon's ideas
Prince Bolkonsky first appears before the reader at the very beginning of the epic, in the salon of Anna Scherer, maids of honor. Before us is a short man, with somewhat dry facial features, very handsome in appearance. Everything in his behavior speaks of complete disappointment with life, both spiritual and family. Having married a beautiful egoist, Lisa Meinen, Bolkonsky soon becomes tired of her and completely changes her attitude towards marriage. He even conjures Pierre Bezukhov's friend to never marry.
Prince Bolkonsky longs for something new, for him constant outings, family life is a vicious circle from which the young man strives to break out. How? Care to the front. This is the uniqueness of the novel “War and Peace”: Andrei Bolkonsky, as well as other characters, their dialectic of the soul, are shown in the framework of a certain historical situation.
At the beginning of the Tolstoy saga, Andrei Bolkonsky was an ardent Bonapartist, admiring Napoleon's military talent, adherent of his idea of gaining power through a military feat. Bolkonsky wants to get "his Toulon."
Service and Austerlitz
With the advent of the army, a new milestone in the quest of the young prince begins. The life path of Andrei Bolkonsky made a decisive turn in the direction of bold, courageous acts. The prince shows exceptional talent in officers, he shows courage, valor and courage.
Even with the smallest details, Tolstoy emphasizes that Bolkonsky made the right choice: his face became different, ceased to express fatigue from everything, false gestures and manners disappeared. The young man did not have time to think about how to behave correctly, he became real.
About what a talented adjutant Andrei Bolkonsky is, Kutuzov himself makes a mark: the great commander writes a letter to the father of the young man, where he notes that the prince is making exceptional progress. Andrey takes all victories and defeats to heart: sincerely rejoices and experiences with pain in his soul. He sees in Bonaparte the enemy, but at the same time continues to admire the genius of the commander. He still dreams of "his Toulon." Andrei Bolkonsky in the novel “War and Peace” is a spokesman for the author’s attitude to outstanding personalities, it is from his lips that the reader learns about the most important battles.
The center of this phase of the prince’s life is the Battle of Austerlitz. Showing high heroism, seriously wounded, he lies on the battlefield and sees a bottomless sky. Then Andrei comes to the realization that he must reconsider his life priorities, turn to his wife, who was despised and humiliated by his behavior. Yes, and once the idol, Napoleon, he sees him as an insignificant little man. Bonaparte appreciated the feat of the young officer, only Bolkonsky did not care. He dreams only of quiet happiness and an impeccable family life. Andrei decides to end his military career and return home, to his wife, in the Bald Mountains.
The decision to live for yourself and loved ones
Fate is preparing Bolkonsky another heavy blow. In childbirth, the wife dies, Lisa. She leaves Andrei a son. The prince did not have time to apologize, because he arrived too late, he was tormented by guilt. The life path of Andrei Bolkonsky further is caring for his loved ones.
Raising a son, building an estate, helping his father in the formation of the militia ranks - these are his life priorities at this stage. Andrei Bolkonsky lives in solitude, which allows him to focus on his spiritual world and the search for the meaning of life.
Progressive views of the young prince are manifested: he improves the life of his serfs (replaces corvee with dues), gives three hundred people the status of free cultivators. Nevertheless, he is still far from accepting a sense of unity with the common people: every now and then thoughts slip in his speech about neglect of the peasantry and ordinary soldiers.
Fateful conversation with Pierre
The life path of Andrei Bolkonsky passes to another plane during the visit of Pierre Bezukhov. The reader immediately notes the kinship of the souls of young people. Pierre, who is in a state of mental recovery due to the reforms carried out on his estates, infects Andrei with enthusiasm.
Young people for a long time discuss the principles and meaning of changes in the life of the peasantry. Andrei does not agree with something; he does not accept Pierre’s most liberal views on serfs at all. However, practice has shown that, unlike Bezukhov, Bolkonsky was able to really make life easier for his peasants. All thanks to his active nature and practical look at the fortress system.
Nevertheless, the meeting with Pierre helped Prince Andrei to penetrate deeply into his inner world and begin the movement towards soul transformations.
Revival to a new life
A breath of fresh air, a change in outlook on life was made by a meeting with Natasha Rostova, the main character of the novel War and Peace. Andrei Bolkonsky on land acquisition visits the Rostov estate in Otradnoye. There he observes a calm, cozy atmosphere in the family. Natasha is so pure, direct, real ... She met him on a starry night during the first ball in her life and immediately captured the heart of the young prince.
Andrei, as it were, is reborn: he understands what Pierre once told him: you need to live not only for yourself and your family, you need to be useful to the whole society. That is why Bolkonsky goes to Petersburg to make his proposals to the military charter.
Awareness of the meaninglessness of "state activity"
Unfortunately, Andrei did not succeed in meeting the sovereign; he was sent to Arakcheev, a man unprincipled and stupid. Of course, he did not accept the idea of the young prince. However, there was another meeting that influenced the worldview of Bolkonsky. It's about Speransky. He saw in the youth a good potential for public service. As a result, Bolkonsky is appointed to a position related to the compilation of a military charter. In addition, Andrei heads the wartime law commission.
But soon, Bolkonsky was disappointed with the service: a formal approach to work did not satisfy Andrei. He feels that he is doing an unnecessary job here, he will not render real help to anyone. More and more often, Bolkonsky recalls life in the village where he was really useful.
Initially admiring Speransky, Andrei now saw pretense and unnaturalness. More and more often Bolkonsky is visited by thoughts about the idleness of Petersburg life and the absence of any meaning in his service to the country.
Break with Natasha
Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky were a very beautiful couple, but they were not destined to get married. The girl gave him the desire to live, to do something for the good of the country, to dream of a happy future. She became the muse of Andrew. Natasha favorably differed from other girls in St. Petersburg society: she was pure, sincere, her actions came from the heart, they were devoid of any calculation. The girl sincerely loved Bolkonsky, and not just saw in him a profitable party.
Bolkonsky makes a fatal mistake, postponing the wedding with Natasha for a whole year: this provoked her enthusiasm for Anatoly Kuragin. The young prince could not forgive the girl. Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky break the engagement. The blame for everything is the prince's excessive pride, unwillingness to hear and understand Natasha. He is again as egocentric as the reader observed Andrei at the beginning of the novel.
Final fracture in consciousness - Borodino
It was with such a heavy heart that Bolkonsky entered in 1812, a turning point for the Fatherland. Initially, he longs for revenge: he dreams of meeting Anatoly Kuragin among the military and avenging his failed marriage by challenging him to a duel. But gradually, the life path of Andrei Bolkonsky is once again changing: the stimulus for this was the vision of the tragedy of the people.
Kutuzov entrusts the young officer with command of the regiment. The prince fully surrenders to his service - now this is a matter of his life for him, he has become so close to the soldiers that they call him “our prince”.
Finally, there comes the day of the apotheosis of World War II and the quest for Andrei Bolkonsky - the battle of Borodino. It is noteworthy that L. Tolstoy puts his vision of this great historical event and the absurdity of wars into the mouth of Prince Andrei. He reflects on the meaninglessness of so many victims for the sake of victory.
The reader sees here Bolkonsky, having passed a difficult life path: disappointment, death of loved ones, betrayal, rapprochement with ordinary people. He feels that he understands and realizes too much now, one might say, portends his death: “I see that I have begun to understand too much. But a man is not good at eating from the tree of good and evil. ”
Indeed, Bolkonsky is mortally wounded and among other soldiers falls into the care of the Rostovs.
The prince feels death is approaching, he thinks about Natasha for a long time, understands her, “sees his soul”, dreams of meeting his beloved, asking for forgiveness. He confesses love to the girl and dies.
The image of Andrei Bolkonsky is an example of high honor, fidelity to duty to the motherland and people.