To “War and Peace” Leo Tolstoy walked painfully and for a long time. The first title of the conceived work sounded like “Decembrist,” then “Everything is good that ends well,” the next is “1805,” and only in the final version does it become an epic novel about Russian society, the dialectic of the soul, and the meaning of life. The comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, the main characters of the story, are clear evidence of this.
Tolstoy and his heroes
As a humanist writer, Lev Nikolayevich in each of his works examined the human soul, its internal development, rise or fall. He considered each person as part of the universe, he is interested in everything in it. And the writer is trying to figure out what makes a person great or low, what is most important in his life, whether he can influence history.
Leading the heroes of the novel through trials of secular society, money, love, war, the author always shows the inner experiences of people, the motives on which they act. It is from this point of view that the searches of Andrei Bolkonsky, who turned out to be too good to live in this world, are always considered.
The evolution of Pierre Bezukhov is the spiritual growth of the author himself, this character is very close to him, therefore he gives him to marry Natasha Rostov (the most beloved image of Leo Tolstoy), which he considered the ideal of a Russian woman.
In War and Peace, there are more than five hundred characters, most of them are real historical figures. The ingenious versatility of the novel allowed Tolstoy to place all of them in their places, to determine parallels (maybe even not specifically).
Image system
If we divide all the heroes of the work into four levels: historical, social, folk and natural (metaphysical), it is easy to find the verticals to which Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov belong. And also those who correspond to them. You can clearly show this in the table.
The crystal lattice of "War and Peace"
| Layers | The main lines of the novel |
| Public | Rostov | Bolkonsky | Bezukhov | Dolokhov |
| Historical | | Alexander 1 | Kutuzov | Napoleon |
| Folk | Tushin | Timokhin | Platon Karataev | Tikhon Scherbaty |
| Natural (element) | Land | Air | Water | Fire |
As we see, different people correspond to Prince Andrei and Count Bezukhov, standing at the same level of the public ladder, at the historical and national level, and their elements do not coincide.
The rootlessness, the groundlessness of Bolkonsky’s life, accompanied by constant aspirations for unattainable ideals, make him related to the bottomless blue sky that opened to him on the Austerlitz field.
Not at all Pierre. It was he and others like him - Kutuzov and Platon Karataev - who could defeat Napoleon and imagining himself superhuman Dolokhov, put in place Tikhon Shcherbaty, who was so good at fighting . The characterization of Pierre Bezukhov, more precisely, her analysis, carried out at a metaphysical level, indicates that his element is water. And only she can extinguish any flame, even hostile raging.
Attitude to high society
Despite all the difference in nature, Prince Andrei and Pierre are Tolstoy's favorite heroes. We meet with them on the very first pages of the novel, telling about salon life. And immediately we see the difference in their behavior, but we immediately realize that these people have deep respect and affection for each other.
At this, in modern slang, a high-profile party, they are for one reason - the situation is binding. But for the prince everything here is uninteresting and understandable. The falsity reigning in high society, vulgarity, the pursuit of money, venality have long been opposed to him, and he does not hide his contempt for the audience.
The young count is a newcomer here, he reverently watches the guests and does not notice that he is treated like a second-class man, because he is an illegitimate son, and it is still unknown whether he will inherit. But the characterization of Pierre Bezukhov would be incomplete if you didn’t specify that quite a bit of time would pass, and he, like the prince, would begin to relate to secular cold splendor and empty chatter with a sense of disgust.
Character traits
The friendship of these people, so dissimilar neither externally nor internally, was built on trust and respect, because they felt the sincerity of these relations, the desire to help understand themselves and people. Perhaps this is a vivid example of how opposing characters can peacefully complement each other. They are interested together.
The comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, as they appear at the beginning of the novel, will not be in favor of the second. The prince has a sober, one might even say, state mind, practical tenacity, the ability to bring the work begun to its logical conclusion. He is extraordinarily restrained, collected, highly educated, intelligent, firm in character and has tremendous willpower.
And Pierre is a sensitive, direct, broad, sincere nature. After arriving from abroad, he does not fall into the best company of socialites and loafers. Bezukhov understands what he is doing wrong, but his soft character does not allow him to break unnecessary connections. And then Kuragin appears with his sister, and even this scorched schemer cost nothing to rob the gullible Pierre by marrying him to Helene.
And yet, Prince Andrey, so regular and cold, rationalist to the marrow of his bones, was with Pierre free from conventions and allowed himself to speak quite frankly. And Bezukhov, in turn, believed only in him and respected Bolkonsky infinitely.
Love test
An amazing thing: having the experience of unsuccessful marriages, both heroes fall in love with one girl, amazing with her sincerity and spontaneity, with an irrepressible desire to live - Natasha Rostov. And now the comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, their attitude to love will not be in favor of the first.
Yes, the prince was happier, because he became Natasha’s fiance, while the count didn’t even dare to admit to himself how dear this bright girl was to him. Young Rostov became a litmus test in the manifestation of the true feelings of Pierre and Andrei. If the first was ready to love all his life silently, because for him Natasha’s happiness was above all, and therefore he was ready to forgive her everything, then the second turned out to be an ordinary owner.
Bolkonsky could not understand and accept the remorse of the poor girl for treason, which, in fact, was not. Only on his deathbed, when all his past life no longer mattered, when all the ambitious thoughts were not needed, does Prince Andrei understand what love is. But this feeling, rather, is not for a specific person, it is not even earthly, but divine.
Test of war
The characterization of Andrei Bolkonsky as a warrior is brilliant. This is the same type of Russian officers on which the army and the country are supported. He is moderately cautious, courageous, quickly makes decisions in extreme situations, takes care of his subordinates. No wonder Kutuzov did not want to let him go from his headquarters to the front line.
The war of 1805, incomprehensible and unjust, devastated the prince. After the wound and the French captivity, when the ideal of Napoleon collapsed and depreciated in his eyes, Bolkonsky’s life was empty. But at the battle of Borodino, we already see another Andrei. Here he is together with his people, and he realized that the main goal of human existence is to help other people.
For Pierre, the war was a purgatory of the soul. He stayed in Moscow to kill Napoleon, but, saving a child, he was arrested, then he was preparing for execution, and then he was expected to be captured and retreat with the French. A complete characterization of Pierre Bezukhov is impossible without the image of Plato Karataev. It is through this peasant that the count comprehends the national character, its values ​​and priorities. Probably, it was after a meeting with Karataev that the path of Bezukhov-Decembrist began.
In search of truth
Both Andrei and Pierre throughout the novel languidly seek the meaning of life, following the paths of spiritual quest. They are either disappointed or resurrected again for new things. The comparative characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov show that the trials prepared by his fate, in general, are very similar.
They both coped with the influence of the upper world, rejecting its parasitic existence. Everyone had an unhappy marriage. Together they “fell ill” with Napoleon, realizing the insignificance of the vain aspirations of anyone. I did not break their captivity. Both loved Natasha Rostov. But only Pierre survived.
Prince Andrew realized his death as a return. His mission on this earth has ended - ahead of infinity and eternity.
Instead of output
Do not forget that Tolstoy's original plan was to write a novel about Decembrist. In the very first drafts of the protagonist, Pierre was already called, and his wife, Natasha. But it turned out that without an excursion into the war of 1812, nothing would be clear, and then it became obvious that it was necessary to start from 1805. So it turned out a wonderful book - “War and Peace”.
And her characters - Pierre and Andrei Bolkonsky - stand before us as the best representatives of that time. Their love for the homeland is active. In them, Lev Nikolaevich embodied his attitude to life: you need to live in full breasts, naturally and simply, then it will honestly work out. It is possible and necessary to make mistakes, quit and start all over again. But peace is mental death.