One of the main characters of the epic "Warrior and Peace" is Pierre Bezukhov. The characterization of the character of the work is revealed through his actions. And also through the thoughts, spiritual searches of the main characters. The image of Pierre Bezukhov allowed Tolstoy to convey to the reader an understanding of the meaning of the era of that time, of the whole life of a person.

Introducing the reader to Pierre

It is very difficult to briefly describe and understand the image of Pierre Bezukhov. The reader needs to go with the hero all of it

Acquaintance with Pierre is referred in the novel to 1805. He appears at a social reception with Anna Pavlovna Sherer, a Moscow high-ranking lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting for the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of one of the Moscow nobles. He received a good education abroad, but after returning to Russia, he did not find an application for himself. An idle lifestyle, revelry, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this vital baggage, he appears in Moscow. In turn, the upper world also does not attract a young person. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, hypocrisy of his representatives. “Life is something deeper, more significant, but unknown to him,” reflects Pierre Bezukhov. Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace helps the reader understand this.

Moscow life

The change of place of residence did not affect the image of Pierre Bezukhov. By nature, he is a very gentle person, he easily falls under the influence of others, doubts about the correctness of his actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he finds himself in captivity at the idle with her temptations, feasts and revelry.

After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and the entire fortune of his father. The attitude of society towards a young person is changing dramatically. The eminent Moscow nobleman, in pursuit of the state of the young count, marries his beautiful daughter Helen to him. This marriage did not bode well for a happy family life. Very soon Pierre realizes the deceit, the deceit of his wife, her debauchery becomes obvious to him. Thoughts of outraged honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could be fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended with the wounding of the offender, and Pierre's life was out of danger.

The path of searches of Pierre Bezukhov

After the tragic events, the young count is increasingly thinking about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confused, disgusting and meaningless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant in comparison with something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have enough fortitude and knowledge to discover this great thing, to find the true purpose of human life. Reflections did not leave the young man, making his life unbearable. A brief description of Pierre Bezukhov gives the right to say that he was a deep, thinking person.

Passion for Freemasonry

After parting with Helene and giving her a large share of the fortune, Pierre decides to return to the capital. On the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg, during a short stop, he meets a man who talks about the existence of the brotherhood of Freemasons. Only they know the true path, they are subject to the laws of being. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.

Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, accepts the ceremony and becomes a member of the Masonic lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, outlook on life captivate Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything he hears in meetings, although much of his new life seems dark and incomprehensible to him. Pierre Bezukhov's search path continues. The soul still rushes about and finds no rest.

How to make life easier for the people

New experiences and searches for the meaning of being lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many disadvantaged, deprived of any right of people around.

He decides to take action to improve the lives of the peasants on his estates. Many do not understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was started, there is a lack of understanding, rejection of the new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed, disappointed.

The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose characterization describes him as a gentle, trusting person) realized that he had been cruelly deceived by the managers, and that his means and efforts were blown away.

Napoleon

The troubling events taking place in France at that time occupied the minds of the entire high society. excited the minds of young people and old people. For many young people, the image of the great emperor has become an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes, victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I did not understand the people who dared to resist the talented commander, the great revolution. There was a moment in Pierre's life when he was ready to swear allegiance to Napoleon and stand up for the conquests of the revolution. But this was not destined to happen. Feats, achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.

And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. The adoration of Napoleon's personality will be replaced in Pierre's soul by contempt and hatred. There will be an irresistible desire to kill the tyrant, avenging all the troubles he brought to his native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of ​​reprisal against Napoleon, he believed that this was the destiny, the mission of his life.

battle of Borodino

The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the established foundations, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. The aimless life of wealth and convenience was abandoned without hesitation by the count for the sake of serving the fatherland.

It was during the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization has not yet been flattering, begins to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Rapprochement with soldiers, representatives of the common people, helps to re-evaluate life.

The great Battle of Borodino played a special role in this. Pierre Bezukhov, being in the same ranks with the soldiers, saw their real patriotism without falsehood and pretense, their readiness to give their lives for the sake of their homeland without hesitation.

Destruction, blood, and related experiences give rise to the spiritual rebirth of the hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to the questions that have tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with all his heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, an explanation for which at this moment he cannot yet give.

Captivity

Subsequent events unfold in such a way that the trials that have befallen Pierre should temper and finally shape his views.

Once in captivity, he undergoes an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but before his eyes the execution of several Russian soldiers is carried out, together with him who fell into the hands of the French. The spectacle of the execution does not leave Pierre's imagination, bringing him to the brink of madness.

And only the meeting and conversations with Platon Karataev again awaken a harmonious beginning in his soul. Being in a cramped barrack, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel himself for real. The life path of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand that being on earth is a great happiness.

However, the hero more than once will have to revise his own and look for his place in it.

Fate decrees that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French, as he fell ill and could not move. The death of Karataev brings new suffering to the hero. Pierre himself was released from captivity by the partisans.

Relatives

Freed from captivity, Pierre, one after another, receives news from his relatives, about whom he did not know anything for a long time. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helene. The best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, is seriously injured.

The death of Karataev, alarming news from relatives again excite the soul of the hero. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that happened were his fault. He is the cause of death of people close to him.

And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments of emotional experience the image of Natasha Rostova unexpectedly appears. She instills in him calmness, gives strength and confidence.

Natasha Rostova

During subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he has a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha's feelings for Pierre flare up in response. They got married in 1813.

Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, to feel him - this is the main advantage of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to preserve a person. The family is a small model of the world. The state of the whole society depends on the health of this cell.

Life goes on

The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of the inner development of the soul accompanied the hero all his life, and it gave its results.

But life does not stop, and Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization as a seeker is given here, is again ready to move forward. In 1820, he informs his wife that he intends to become a member of the secret society.

One of the main characters in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" is Pierre Bezukhov. His image stands out clearly from other heroes of the epic. In the person of Bezukhov, the author depicts representatives of the advanced intelligentsia of the early 19th century, who are characterized by spiritual quests, since they could no longer live in the environment of the decaying system of autocracy.

In the course of the narration, the image of Pierre changes, as the meaning of his life changes when he finally comes to the highest ideals.

We meet Bezukhov at an evening with Anna Pavlovna Sherer: “A massive, fat young man with a bobbed head, glasses, light trousers in the fashion of the time, with a high frill and a brown tailcoat”. The external characterization of the hero does not represent anything interesting and causes only an ironic smile.

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Bezukhov is a stranger in this society, because along with his ridiculous appearance he has a “smart and at the same time timid, observant and natural look”, which does not see a single living soul in the high-society salon, except for the “mechanical” guests of the owner of the salon.

Having received a huge inheritance, Pierre still remains in this society, even, on the contrary, he becomes even more mired in it, having married the cold beauty Helen Kuragina.

However, everything about him opposes the secular society. Pierre's main character trait is his kindness. On the first pages of the novel, the hero is simple-minded and trusting, in his actions he is guided by the call of his heart, therefore sometimes he is impulsive and ardent, but in general he is distinguished by the generosity of the soul and ardent love. The first test of life for the hero is Helene's betrayal and Pierre's duel with Dolokhov. A deep spiritual crisis ensues in Bezukhov's life. The hero decides to join the Masonic lodge, it seems to him that the idea of ​​universal brotherhood, continuous work on the inner world - this is the meaning of life. But gradually Pierre becomes disillusioned with Freemasonry, because the matter does not go beyond the analysis of his own state of mind. However, Pierre continues to seek the meaning of life, wanting to be useful to the world.

A huge influence on the views of the hero had a meeting in French captivity with Platon Karataev, a simple soldier. The sayings and sayings with which Karataev's speech is saturated mean more for Bezukhov than the detached wisdom of the Freemasons.

During his captivity, Pierre Bezukhov becomes patient, he steadfastly endures life's hardships and hardships, and also begins to overestimate all the events that happened to him before: “He learned to see the great, the eternal and the infinite ... great, incomprehensible and endless life ”.

After captivity, Pierre feels spiritually free, his character changes. The attitude towards people has also changed: he wants to understand people, to see something good in everyone.

Pierre becomes really happy when he is married to Natasha Rostova. In the epilogue of the novel, Bezukhov appears before us as a happy family man, the father of four children. The hero found his happiness, peace of mind and joy. Of course, Bezukhov is interested in public issues that relate not only to his personal happiness. He shares his thoughts with Nikolai Rostov, his wife's brother. But Pierre's political activities remain behind the scenes, we say goodbye to the hero on a positive note, leaving him with his family, where he feels completely happy.

Updated: 2012-03-14

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One of the brightest masterpieces in Russian prose is the epic novel War and Peace. The four-volume work, which is distinguished by a variety of plot lines, a ramified system of characters, the number of which reaches five hundred heroes, is, first of all, not only a reflection of pictures of historical reality, but a novel of ideas. To the final version of the work Tolstoy followed the path of ideological and plot searches, which also recalls the image of Pierre Bezukhov "War and Peace" by Tolstoy.

Ideological searches of the author and hero

Initially, Lev Nikolaevich did not plan to write the history of this character, creating him in the image of a Decembrist fighting for civil equality and freedom. However, gradually, in the course of comprehending historical events and writing the novel, Tolstoy's ideological orientation changes. In the finale of the work, we clearly see that the true essence of the destiny of an active hero is not in struggle, but in gaining spiritual harmony and personal happiness through rapprochement with the people. Tolstoy reflected his ideological searches through the image of the main character - Pierre Bezukhov.

Development of the image of Pierre Bezukhov

At the beginning of the work, the hero is opposed to contemporary high society, in which insincerity, flattery, and superficiality prevail. Young Bezukhov, from the first pages of the novel, appears as an open and honest man who at all costs is trying to find the truth and his vocation in life - this is the characteristic of Pierre in the fat novel War and Peace.

Suddenly finding himself rich, Pierre becomes a victim of his own financial situation and falls into the shackles of an unhappy marriage. Marrying Helen Kuragina made Pierre disillusioned with the spirituality and purity of the institution of marriage and family. Pierre still does not give up. He tries to find his place in life, to do good, to help people, to feel his need for society. He believes that he will surely find his just cause: "I feel that besides me, spirits live above me and that there is truth in this world." These aspirations became the reason for the hero's entry into the ranks of the Masonic movement. Imbued with the ideas of equality and brotherhood, mutual assistance and self-sacrifice, Pierre shares the views of Freemasonry with high ideological passion. However, this period of his life also brought disappointment. The hero again finds himself at a crossroads.

Whatever he did or thought was motivated by the desire to carry out activities useful for society, for Russia. The war of 1812 was a chance for him to finally do the right thing and serve his people. The protagonist of the novel "War and Peace" Pierre Bezukhov, with the same passion and zeal, is fired up with the idea of ​​sharing the fate of his people and contributing his all possible help for a common victory. To this end, he organizes the regiment and fully finances its support.

Not being a military man, Pierre cannot directly participate in hostilities, but the role of a passive observer for such an active hero is also not sweet. He decides what exactly he needs to carry out the most important mission that will rid Russia of the French invaders. Desperate Pierre contemplates an attempt on the life of Napoleon himself, whom he once considered his idol. Following the lead of his ardent ideas, Bezukhov does not think about the possible consequences. Ultimately, his plan failed, and the hero himself was captured.

Awareness of the essence of true human happiness

Another time of disappointment is coming. This time the hero is completely disappointed in faith in people, in kindness, in the possibility of mutual assistance and friendship. However, a meeting and conversation with Platon Karataev completely changes his worldview. It was this simple soldier who had the maximum influence on changing the hero's views. The simplicity and a certain primitiveness of Karataev's speech was able to reveal all the spiritual wisdom and value of human life more than intricate Masonic treatises.

Thus, Pierre's captivity became decisive in the formation of his civil and personal consciousness. Finally, Pierre realizes that the essence of happiness was in fact so simple and was always on the surface, but he was looking for its meaning in philosophical depths, personal suffering, striving for active action. The hero realized that true happiness is to have the opportunity for spiritual and physical freedom, to live a simple life in unity with his people. “There is truth, there is virtue; and the highest happiness of man is to strive to achieve them. " Awareness of such simple human values ​​finally led the main character to peace of mind, inner harmony and personal happiness.

Implementation of the idea of ​​the novel by the hero

At the end of his ideological quest, the author rewards Pierre with life in an atmosphere of a real family idyll. The hero enjoys serenity and happiness, surrounded by the care of his beloved wife and the happy voices of four children. The image of Pierre Bezukhov is the personification of the hero, through whose spiritual and ideological searches and the way of their comprehension, the main idea of ​​the work is revealed.

As we can see, like Pierre Bezukhov, the author himself renounces his initial convictions. Thus, in the basis of the novel "War and Peace", the main idea was not serving civic duty or participating in social movements. The main idea of ​​the work and my essay on the theme: The image of Pierre Bezukhov in the novel "War and Peace" - in the image of the ideal of human happiness in the family circle, in life on their native land, in the absence of war, in unity with their people.

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The writer combined the best human qualities in him, showed through the prism of world-scale events the personal experiences of the character, the spiritual formation of the personality.

After finishing War and Peace, Lev Nikolayevich said that he was ready to spend his entire life writing the novel, if only it would resonate in the hearts of his compatriots, so that the work would be turned to both 20 years later and 30 years later. The dreams of the author of the epic came true: after a century and a half the novel makes readers around the world think about the meaning of life.

The novel "War and Peace"

Leo Tolstoy approached the creation of another imperishable work with inherent pedantry. War and Peace is five thousand draft sheets and seven years of hard work. In an attempt to find the truth about the war, the author spent months studying documents, books and magazines about the events of 1812, even visited the battlefields in Borodino.

At first, the writer was going to create a novel about an exiled Decembrist, where the action takes place in the middle of the 19th century, then he changed his mind and returned 25 years ahead, then he pushed the frame to the beginning of the war and finally stopped at 1805.

The great artistic creation went down in history as a new literary format. Lev Nikolaevich stubbornly searched for an unusual type of presentation, as a result he presented to the reading world a genre that had not yet existed - an epic novel that united dozens of destinies in the light of significant historical events.

The prose writer settled Pierre Bezukhov next to the central characters. The illegitimate son of Count Kirill Bezukhov, after 10 years spent abroad, returned to his native land. The reader meets the young man in the salon of Anna Scherer - this is Pierre's first appearance in the world. Society with disgust and irony looks at the naive bastad with his ridiculous appearance, manners and straightforward statements.

After the death of his father, Pierre Bezukhov inherits and acquires the status of an enviable groom, falls into revelry and revelry. Soon he says goodbye to his bachelor life, taking as his wife Elena Kuragina, known as Helen. The mistake in choosing a life partner is obvious - a stupid, calculating lady, moreover, does not differ in chastity, cheating on her husband right and left.

A shock for Pierre is the news of a love affair with his friend Fyodor Dorokhov. Only a duel is capable of defending honor, in which the clumsy and harmless Bezukhov, forced by the laws of society to shoot himself, miraculously wounded an opponent. Living with Helen Kuragina is no longer unbearable, and the young man is at odds with his wife.

From the very beginning, Lev Nikolaevich presents the character as a restless person who tries to answer eternal questions about the meaning of life, purpose, love and hate. Spiritual searches are gaining momentum after betrayal and a duel, as a result, Pierre is fond of Freemasonry. But here, too, disappointment awaits: instead of higher motives, Bezukhov reveals the true goals of the movement - to rise in society, take possession of "uniforms and crosses", have a good time in fashionable salons.

The events of 1812, which destroyed the hero's ideals, help to recover from the experienced personal drama. Pierre Bezukhov sees the heroism of soldiers in war and also follows their example, revealing courage, courage and the ability to sacrifice in his soul. The battle of Borodino clearly shows Pierre how ordinary people, without too much thought about the meaning of life, defend their native land.

Bezukhov decides to stay in the occupied capital, naively believing that he will kill Napoleon. But he is captured, where a fateful acquaintance with the peasant Platon Karataev happens.

The wisdom and high spirituality of a soldier changes Pierre's attitude to life and society. Surprisingly, it is only in captivity that the hero finds peace, accepts himself and the shortcomings of others: he understands "not with his mind, but with his whole being, with his life, that man was created for happiness, that happiness is in himself, in satisfying natural human needs."

However, the simple path of full acceptance of being is not for Pierre, he sees the way out in the moral renewal of society and decides to join the ranks of a secret organization. On the love front, fate presents Pierre with a gift - reciprocal feelings and a happy family life. Although it took years before the couple reunited.

For the first time, Pierre saw a 13-year-old girl with an open and trusting soul visiting the Rostovs. For a very long time, Bezukhov treated her like a child, observing with interest the development and formation of a personality. Natasha, betrothed to a close friend of Pierre's, betrayed the groom, almost escaping with her brother Kuragin, Helen's brother. Betrayal plunges Bezukhov into shock, moreover, he feels some kind of involvement in the fall of the heroine, because he was still married to Helen.

But soon the girl woke up from the spell of Kuragin and plunged into a maelstrom of the strongest experiences. Bezukhov supported Natasha - and through this suffering he examined the pure soul of the heroine. Feelings arose gradually, only after the death of Bolkonsky, communicating with Rostova, he realized that he was full of love for this pure, lofty being. At the end of the novel, Natasha Rostova accepts a marriage proposal from Pierre Bezukhov, and years later the couple are raising four children.

Image

Leo Tolstoy could not determine in any way the name of one of the key characters in the novel. Before becoming Pyotr Kirillovich Bezukhov, his "passport data" changed three times: in the sketches he appeared first as Prince Kushnev, then Peter Medynsky, then Arkady Bezukhim. And when the author conceived a work about the Decembrists, the hero was named Pyotr Lobazov. Moreover, Pierre does not have a specific prototype, as the writer admitted, the character is in many ways similar to himself.

There is no aristocracy in the appearance of the hero. Readers get acquainted with a well-fed young man with a shaved head and glasses - in a word, nothing remarkable. A gloomy, somewhat stupid face, sometimes with the expression of a guilty person, instantly changes his smile - then Pierre even becomes beautiful. The absurdity of the image, the absent-mindedness of the environment causes ridicule. However, observant people notice, albeit timid, but smart look.

Pierre Bezukhov - illustration for the book "War and Peace"

Tolstoy embodied all the best characteristics in the character, making him the standard for all time. Brilliant education, kindness, willingness to rush to help, nobility, innocence and credulity - from the first pages Bezukhov evokes sympathy. He does not even hate the enemy in a duel, on the contrary, he justifies Dorokhova - who knows, perhaps Pierre could have been in the place of his wife's lover.

The novel reflects the evolution of Pierre Bezukhov's character. From being naive and driven, he turns into a self-sufficient person. The character still manages to come to inner harmony.

Screen adaptations

They tried to transfer the novel of the great Russian writer to the screen even in the era of silent cinema. The viewer saw the first picture directed by Pyotr Chardynin in 1913. By the middle of the century, the film version of the epic was successfully presented by the Americans - the film received three Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

The Soviet authorities decided to give an answer to the foreigners, entrusting the case of "national importance" to the director. It took six years and 18 million rubles to create the picture. As a result - the main prize of the Moscow International Film Festival and the Oscar.

War and Peace inspired the film industry to create two series. The first was released on the BBC in 1972, the script of which was written for 20 episodes. The 2007 TV version brought together several countries - Russia, Germany, France, Italy and Poland. And after almost 10 years the BBC corporation again took up the case, showing the world, which includes six episodes.

• 1913 - "War and Peace" (directed by Pyotr Chardinin)
• 1915 - Natasha Rostova (directed by Pyotr Chardinin)
• 1956 - "War and Peace" (directed by King Vidor)
• 1967 - "War and Peace" (directed by Sergei Bondarchuk)
• 1972 - War and Peace (directed by John Davis)
• 2007 - War and Peace (directed by Robert Dornhelm)
• 2016 - War and Peace (directed by Tom Harper)

Actors

The magnificent picture of King Vidor, based on the novel by Tolstoy, united the brilliant actors. The role of Pierre Bezukhov went to Henry Fonda, although they planned to shoot. But the man flatly refused to join the company on the set in the image of Natasha Rostova. Later, the actress said that it was difficult to get used to such a difficult role.

Sergei Bondarchuk could not decide in any way who to give the role of Countess Rostova. The master of cinema was brought in a ballerina - a delicate and fragile girl, but blonde, while the Tolstoy heroine has dark hair. Lyudmila did not pass the test, but got a second chance. On the screens, viewers see an actress in a wig. Bastard Bezukhov was performed by the director himself, and Andrei Bolkonsky's friend was played by a charming one.

In the 1972 series, he presented the restless hero, and so convincingly that the actor was awarded a BAFTA award.

The authors of the 2007 television series "War and Peace" allowed themselves to deviate from the storyline of the work of the Russian classic, altering some points. So, Helen Kuragina died of a terrible illness (in the book, the consequences of an abortion led to death), and in a duel Nikolai Rostov acted as Pierre's second (in fact, he was the enemy's assistant). And Natasha Rostova's performance is not similar to the image described in the novel.

(Andrey Bolkonsky) and (Natasha Rostova). And he demonstrated the evolution of Pierre Bezukhov's character.

Quotes

"We all know what evil is to ourselves"

"How easy, how little effort it takes to do so much good," thought Pierre, "and how little we care about it!"

“We can only know that we know nothing. And this is the highest degree of human wisdom "

“A person cannot own anything while he is afraid of death. And whoever is not afraid of her, he owns everything "

"The main thing is to live, the main thing is to love, the main thing is to believe"

"You are the kind of people who come to people when they feel good in order to ruin their mood"

Pierre Bezukhov is one of the central characters in Tolstoy's novel War and Peace.

His appearance with soft and rounded forms, a full, kind face with glasses and a sincere childish smile, distinguish him from all other characters, making the image memorable and very uncommon.

Throughout the work, he lives a difficult and interesting life, full of various events and life trials.

Characteristics of the main character

Pierre is the illegitimate son of the wealthy and influential Count Kirill Bezukhov, who after his death received his title and a significant inheritance. We first meet with him in 1805 in the fashionable secular salon of Anna Scherer. Pierre is a young man of twenty years old, distinguished by a massive and thick figure, has a round face with glasses, a bobbed head. It can be seen that a person feels confused and a little awkward, he is here recently, because until that time he lived abroad for a long time, where he received an excellent education and joined the European progressive views on life.

His appearance, as well as his simple demeanor, strikingly distinguishes him from those present, bringing considerable anxiety to the owner of the salon, she is very frightened, albeit timid, but nevertheless very observant and natural look of an unusual guest. Pierre's only friend, whom he also meets here, is the young prince Andrei Bolkonsky, they are glad to meet, because they have not seen each other for many years. They are united by a kinship of souls and worship of Napoleon Bonaparte, whom they consider the greatest figure of the time.

One of the most striking traits of Bezukhov's character is his kindness and innocence. He easily succumbs to other people's influence, and Prince Vasily Kuragin is in a hurry to take advantage of this, who manages to arrange the marriage of Bezukhov with his beautiful, but absolutely spoiled and depraved Helen. Married life does not bring him happiness, his wife constantly cheats and deceives him. He is even forced to fight a duel with her lover Dolokhov, although this absolutely contradicts his kind and gentle nature. Empty social life and its entertainment are disgusting to Bezukhov, he dreams of something higher and greater, but does not know how to change his way of life and fill it with meaning. Disappointed in people and in his whole life, Pierre drops everything and leaves for Moscow.

On the way, he joins the movement of the Freemasons and accepts their ideals, tries to implement new projects. For example, having arrived at his estate, he decides to make the life of the peasants easier and make their life better. However, the peasants themselves resist innovations, so that he quickly becomes disillusioned, and again he is swallowed up by hopelessness and depression.

Before the war with the French, Pierre was suppressed by the approaching terrible events and their mystical forerunners. The hero's heavy morale is complicated by his feeling of deep love for Natasha Rostova, whom he met as a 13-year-old girl in her parents' house. He was attracted by her liveliness and openness, so looking at her he wanted to "laugh for himself, not knowing why."

(Pierre got to the battle of Borodino, rather as an observer than a participant)

The philosophical and mystical ideas of Freemasonry contribute to the fact that Bezukhov decides to hide in Moscow, to which Napoleon's army is moving to kill him. He becomes an observer rather than a participant in the Battle of Borodino, is captured and there, having met a simple soldier Platon Karataev, he understands that the meaning of life must be sought in communication with his native nature and unity with his people. A person not of his circle, an ordinary peasant reveals to him that the meaning of life and the purpose of any person is to be a reflection and part of the world. After this meeting, Pierre learned to love life in all its manifestations and to see "the eternal and infinite in everything."

Returning from captivity, Bezukhov meets Natasha Rostova, devastated and heartbroken after the death of people close to her, he consoles and supports her as the most faithful and devoted friend. Experiences and losses bring them closer together, and in 1813 Rostov became his wife. Real family and marital happiness awaits them, Natasha turns out to be a wonderful mother and mistress, love and idyll reign in their house. Husband and wife understand and appreciate each other, and are ready to overcome any troubles and obstacles in their life together.

The image of the main character

(Sergei Bondarchuk plays Pierre Bezukhov in his film "War and Peace", USSR 1966)

The real prototypes of the image of Bezukhov were the Decembrists who returned from exile, whose difficult fates provided the brilliant Russian writer with rich material for writing the greatest epic about the events before and after 1812. In the process of working on the novel and in its early edition, the future character of the future Pierre Bezukhov was represented by various names - Arkady Bezukhiy, Prince Kushev, Pyotr Medynsky, and the storyline has always remained unchanged, which showed the evolution of the hero from the simplicity and naivety of adolescence to maturity and wisdom in later years.

The image of Bezukhov throughout the novel develops in the direction of rapprochement and unity with the people, with its principles and ideals of the world. The character of each of the heroes of the novel is the embodiment of some kind of beginning: Rostov - emotional, Volkonsky - rational, Platon Karataev - intuitive, and in Bezukhov all beginnings are harmoniously combined into a single whole, therefore the heroes are close to each other and are related by kinship of souls.

The image of Pierre is very close and understandable to the author, because the combination of rational and emotional principles in life was close to him, he also took care of the fate of the people and his formation as a person took place in the struggle between mind and feelings. And although Pierre is happy in a quiet family haven, he does not forget about his duty to society and will continue to take part in the struggle for its improvement. According to the author's intention, Bezukhov will become a Decembrist in the future, because after what he has experienced and understood, he will never be able to live as before, now his lot is to fight for the people and their happy life.