Bolkonsky is one of the main characters of the novel. In character he is very similar to his father. Prince Andrey is a strong, energetic, persistent nature, with a clear mind and strong will. At the beginning of the novel, he is presented as a man with certain convictions, but life breaks these convictions, and then he loses his former balance, begins to look for the meaning of life, and only before death does he find peace.
The main feature of Bolkonsky’s mental make-up is his sense of personality. His thoughts are constantly directed at himself, busy analyzing his feelings and impressions. This sense of personality cannot be confused with the egoism that permeates other characters in the novel, for example, Berg or Boris Drubetskoy, who cares only about his own material well-being. Prince Andrei's individualism is based on the consciousness of his mental and moral superiority over the surrounding society. The rationalistic worldview, formed partly under the influence of his father, a Voltairian skeptic, fills Bolkonsky’s soul with coldness, disbelief and
contempt for people. Human life seems clear, simple and at the same time boring to him. None of those around him understand his mood, so he is always lonely and even proud of his loneliness.
The bright mind of Andrei Bolkonsky is revealed in his understanding of people and the phenomena of life around him. Pierre, who was educated abroad, is amazed at Prince Andrei’s extraordinary erudition, his memory and ability to work and study. Thanks to his realistic mindset, Bolkonsky had the ability for practical activities. He perfectly arranges the life of his peasants, is an efficient commander of his regiment, and proves himself to be an active assistant to Speransky in drawing up the draft constitution. But Andrey is not a one-sided person. In him, feeling is no less strong than reason - only he always keeps it in power. Only in some difficult moments of his life does the power of will weaken in him, and then his
a healthy, strong feeling breaks free.
Bolkonsky's iron will never turns into stubbornness or tyranny; her bright mind and kind heart do not allow this to happen. Willpower is revealed in the ability to control oneself, constantly control oneself and subordinate one’s mental movements to mental control. This character trait was especially noticeable at the time when Prince Andrei heard about Natasha’s betrayal: despite the complete destruction of his hopes for happiness, Prince Andrei retains complete composure and surprises Pierre with his outward calm. Bolkonsky's willpower was also revealed in his ability to subjugate people and achieve his goals.
The harmonious combination of mind and will makes Prince Andrey a wonderful person, and he himself is aware of his merits and is proud of them. Hence the contemptuous attitude towards people, hence the thirst for fame and personal aggrandizement. Therefore, he is first attracted to Napoleon, since he appreciates his strong personality, forcing everyone to bow before him. Submitting to his ambitious desires, Bolkonsky goes to the war of 1805 and looks forward to his “Toulon”, that is, an opportunity that would help him achieve glory. But the course of the war convinced Prince Andrei that the success of the cause depended not on individuals, but on the general spirit of the army. Having been wounded at Austerlitz, Bolkonsky realized that all his dreams of glory were insignificant in the face of eternity, which looked into his eyes. Returning to Russia, Prince Andrei leaves his service and settles on the estate to lead a secluded, secluded life.
Life seemed meaningless to him, happiness impossible; The only good available to man seemed to him to be a calm conscience and the absence of suffering. “Living for yourself is all my wisdom now,” he says when meeting Pierre. He even felt some
then bitterness and bitterness towards their men. “...You want to free the peasants,” he says to Pierre. - This is very good; but not for you and even less for the peasants. If they are beaten, flogged, sent to Siberia, then I think that it is no worse for them. In Siberia he leads the same bestial life, and the scars on his body will heal, and he is as happy as he was before. But this [the liberation of the peasants] is needed for those people who are perishing morally and are becoming rude because they have the opportunity to execute - rightly and wrongly” [that is, for slave-owners and landowners].
Not finding satisfaction for his vanity in military service, Andrei Bolkonsky decided to serve under the command of Speransky. During this period, he begins an affair with Natasha. His heart softens, but he does not have enough energy to defy his father, who demands that the wedding be postponed for a year. Natasha at this time became interested in Anatole, which deeply offended Bolkonsky’s pride. To Princess Mary’s admonitions that we need to forgive Anatole and forgive people in general, he replies: “If I were a woman, I would do this, Marie. This is the virtue of a woman. But a man should not and cannot forget and forgive.”
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy is a great artist who depicts, first of all, the dialectic of the soul of his heroes. In all his works, the writer turns to the moral quest of the heroes. In my opinion, the best of these heroes are Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. Andrei Bolkonsky is Tolstoy’s favorite hero, and it was for him that he destined a difficult fate. The writer first classifies his hero as an individualist. He wants to solve the problem of individualism, to end it forever.
In Russian classical literature there is not one
Tolstoy addressed this problem. Regardless of him, Dostoevsky in his novel “Crime and Punishment” solves the problem of individualism. The content of the author's position of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky has common features - this is a criticism of “Napoleonism”.
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and commoner Rodion Raskolnikov are siblings in their moral and psychological appearance. Both heroes are gloomy, gloomy, arrogant and proud, but at the same time they are generous and kind, sometimes cold and insensitive, really, as if two opposite characters are alternately replaced in them. Andrei Bolkonsky and Rodion Raskolnikov are related
Awareness of their undoubted superiority, which influenced the development of their individualistic tendencies and claims to power. Napoleon, as the ideal of a “strong personality,” passionately captivated them. But both, through difficult trials, came to realize the futility and insignificance of their chosen ideal, to bitter disappointment in Napoleon. They were saved by the same force - love and union with the people to whom they offered their power.
The first time we meet Prince Andrei Bolkonsky is at Mrs. Scherer’s ball. Here comes into the hall “... a very handsome young man with definite and dry features. Everything about his figure, from his tired, bored look to his quiet, measured step, represented the sharpest contrast with his ... wife. He, apparently, not only knew everyone in the living room, but was already so tired of him that he found it very boring to look at them and listen to them.” From the first words of the author, we understand that the environment in which Prince Andrei was brought up and lived was very tired of him. There are no real, thinking people in it, no good interlocutors: the whole society is petty and insignificant. In a conversation with Pierre, a man whom Andrei sincerely loved, he says that he wants to break out of this sphere, he wants and is going to go to war. But there are other, secret reasons that Prince Andrei does not tell anyone about: he dreams of glory similar to Napoleonic.
When Andrei arrives in the army, he sees all the unpreparedness of the Russian troops. Bolkonsky changes greatly under these conditions. There is no “in the expression of his face, in his movements, in his gait of the former pretense, fatigue and laziness,” he was doing something decent and interesting to him. Many here do not like Prince Andrei, they consider him a cold and unpleasant person, while others, although a minority, love him and recognize him as an ideal. Once he learns that the army is in a hopeless situation, he decides to save it. He imagined himself to be a man “who would lead him out of the ranks of unknown officers and open for him the first path to glory!”
The ideal for Bolkonsky was Napoleon and his glory. He wanted to be the same. And here is the Field of Austerlitz. There is a battle going on. People fall and die. The French kill Russians, the Russians kill French. And for what? And Prince Andrei does not understand this.
Is it really necessary to risk tens of thousands and my, my life because of court and personal considerations? - he thought. So disappointment has come, Bolkonsky begins to doubt his thoughts and deeds. Complete insight comes to him on the field of Austerlitz. He runs with a banner in his hands for his glory, So what? He's wounded. And then, waking up, he sees a small and insignificant person - his ideal. He raises his eyes and... The blue, high sky is in front of him.
How quiet, calm and solemn...the clouds are crawling across this high, endless sky...not at all like that...Yes! everything is empty, everything is deception, except this endless sky... there is nothing but silence, calm. And thank God!.. Prince Andrei realized that the sky of Austerlitz had revealed to him the life of nature and man, that his ambitious dreams, the glory of Napoleon were already nothing.
Nothing, nothing is true, except the insignificance of everything that is clear to me, and the greatness of something incomprehensible, but most important! - Prince Andrey confirms the new thoughts.
After being wounded, Bolkonsky returns home. But here, too, new challenges await him. The wife dies, but a son is born. Disappointed in his previous aspirations and ideals, having experienced grief and repentance, he comes to the conclusion that he needs to live for himself and his loved ones. Previously, when he said: “Death, wounds, loss of family, nothing scares me.” And no matter how dear or dear many people are to me - father, sister... I will give them all now for a moment of glory, triumph over people..! "- he had an insignificant, but goal in life. Now Andrei is looking for his place in life, but for now, not yet finding it, he devotes himself entirely to his family. He became a caring and loving father, brother, and son. he keeps telling himself: “Life for myself, for my loved ones, is the only thing that remains for me.”
After the Austerlitz Company, Prince Andrei firmly decided never to serve in the army. He took up government affairs - helping his father. Fate threw him into Otradnoye, the estate of Count Rostov. On the way there and back, Bolkonsky pays attention to the oak tree. Oak is a mighty tree, the personification of a future and full life. Andrei was struck by his beauty, he began to mentally compare him with himself. He was deeply moved by the charm of the fabulous night in Otradnoye, merging with Natasha’s poetry. And Natasha herself amazed him, that girl who, not knowing him, his life, simply and cheerfully laughs and runs around; she doesn't care about anyone. This hurt Andrey. He again plunges into his thoughts, searches and finds a way out for himself - this is to live. All this finally returned Bolkonsky to a new and wonderful life. “No, life is not over at thirty-one,” Prince Andrei suddenly decided, finally and without fail. - Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary for everyone to know it: both Pierre and this girl who wanted to fly into the sky, it is necessary for everyone to know me, so that my life does not go on for me alone so that they don’t live like this girl, regardless of my life, so that it affects everyone and so that they all live with me!”
Prince Andrei was in one of the most advantageous positions in society. He was a widower, a very rich man. Society accepted him because “he had a reputation for intelligence and great erudition.” Bolkonsky has changed a lot. He began to appear in various circles, attending all kinds of balls and evenings. After Austerlitz, after Otradnoye, Prince Andrei began to truly live. But he did not stop in his moral quest, he was still searching. He seemed to have everything, but at the same time, something was missing. He thought a lot at this time. Prince Andrei, like all people who grew up in the world, loved to meet there things that did not have a general secular imprint on them. At one of the balls he meets Natasha. - He realized that he had found what he was looking for,
And that was Natasha, with her surprise, joy, and timidity, and even mistakes in the French language,
After the ball, Bolkonsky began to visit the Rostovs often: he wanted to see Natasha. “Prince Andrei felt in Natasha the presence of a completely alien to him, special world, filled with some unknown joys, that alien world that even then, in the Otradnensky alley and on the window on a moonlit night, teased him so much. Now this world no longer teased him, was no longer an alien world; but he himself, having entered into it, found in it a new pleasure for himself.” Bolkonsky and Rostova are different people: he is balanced, she is playful, cheerful, but they have one thing that brings them together - this is spiritual and moral beauty, the poetry of nature. Natasha fell in love with Prince Andrei, he responds to her feelings, therefore, he is not yet deprived of the ability to love.
I have never experienced anything like this, I am in love, he thought. - I would never believe it, but this feeling is stronger than me. Yesterday I suffered, I suffered, but I also suffered from this torment
I won’t give it up for anything in the world. - I haven’t lived before. Now only I live, but I cannot live without her. Love raised Andrey even higher. He became more confident in his thoughts and judgments. But a year passed and fate did its job. Natasha refused... Prince Andrey outwardly accepted this news with indifference, but his soul was restless. He became sad and gloomy, thought a lot about Natasha and said to himself and Pierre: “... I said that a fallen woman must be forgiven, but I did not say that I can forgive. I can't…"
1812 The Patriotic War began. Andrei, at the behest of his heart, returns to the army. He is now fighting not only for himself, for his family and friends, but also for the unfortunate, suffering Motherland. Andrei refuses Kutuzov's offer to serve at the headquarters; he remained the regimental commander. To this, Kutuzov, who loves and respects Andrei, says: “...your road is the road of honor. I'm happy for you." He was entirely devoted to the affairs of his regiment, cared about his people and officers, and was affectionate with them. “In the regiment they called him our prince, they were proud of him and loved him.”
The Battle of Borodino is a turning point in the life and worldview of Andrei Bolkonsky. Andrei suffers a stupid death: he was not in position, but was wounded.
Is this really death? I can’t, I don’t want to die, I love life, I love this grass, earth, air... At the dressing station, Andrei comprehends a new truth for himself.
Suffering, love for brothers, for those who love, love for those who hate us, love for enemies - yes, that love that God preached on earth, and which I did not understand; That’s why I felt sorry for life, that’s what was still left for me if I were alive. But now it's too late. I know it! Yes, a new happiness, inalienable from a person, was revealed to him. A person who has achieved this is a real person. We live in a world where there is a lot of evil and injustice, and therefore we ourselves must fight for good. As L.N. Tolstoy himself wrote: “There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth,” - this is how it should be. A real person must have these three qualities. And they were in Andrei Bolkonsky.
The whole point of the ideological and moral evolution of Andrei Bolkonsky is the gradual overcoming of individualistic self-affirmation and turning to self-denial, complete and unconditional, already in the last hours and minutes of life. Passionate attachment to life is replaced by indifference to it and to one’s self. He regards the approaching death as a merger with the general, the transpersonal. While still alive, he is already pondering “the new beginning of eternal love that has been revealed to him,” which is so different from the flat selectivity of love. Explaining the dying state of Prince Andrei, Tolstoy writes: “Loving everyone, always sacrificing oneself for love, meant not loving anyone, meant not living this earthly life. And the more he was imbued with this principle of love, the more he renounced life ... "
Bolkonsky’s whole life was a kind of preparation for such a “merger.” The life of Prince Andrei passed under the sign of overcoming everything personal: “That formidable, eternal, unknown and distant, the presence of which he never ceased to feel throughout his entire life, is now close to him and... almost understandable and felt...”
Tolstoy, through his work, affirms those norms of morality and justice that have been developed over centuries. The idea of fraternal unity between man and man lies at the heart of the writer’s works.
Love? What is love? Love prevents death. Love is life. Everything, everything I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists only because I love. Everything is connected
Composition. L.N. Tolstoy. The meaning of Andrei Bolkonsky’s quest in the novel “War and Peace”
The novel “War and Peace” is a book for all times, and one of the most read in the world. It carries unforgettable moral lessons and gives the mind food for thought. In terms of the enormous scope of events, the number of characters, and artistic power, this work has no equal in world literature.
Tolstoy depicts the uniquely peculiar features of each person. Watching the heroes of the novel, we penetrate into their inner world, learn their secret thoughts, love or despise them. And such diligence in the depiction is by no means accidental, because the philosophical basis of the novel is human life in all the diversity of its manifestations. All fundamental life situations found their vivid embodiment in the novel: birth and death, various eras of spiritual development of the individual - childhood, adolescence, youth, maturity, family and love. And every historical event in the novel is seen through the eyes of the main characters, it passed through their soul and heart.
Tolstoy's favorite heroes are looking for answers to eternal questions: what to do? What should I devote my life to? One of the main characters of the novel, Andrei Bolkonsky, asks himself the same questions. He dreams of glory similar to the glory of Napoleon, and wants to escape from the sphere of secular and family life that has bored him. The dream of a feat especially excites Bolkonsky near Austerlitz. In this unfavorable battle for Russia, Andrei Bolkonsky, deciding to achieve victory even at the cost of his own life, shows dedication and heroism. Having picked up the banner at a moment of general confusion, he drags the confused soldiers along with him. And suddenly the rapid movement ends abruptly. Prince Andrei falls, wounded in the head. And at this moment, in the minds of the seriously wounded Prince Andrei, “displaced” ideas about glory fall into place, faith in the power of Napoleon is debunked, and the futility of his own ambitious aspirations becomes clear. But the shocks for Prince Andrei did not end there. Further events - the appearance of a child, the death of his wife - shook Andrei Bolkonsky to the depths of his soul. Disappointed in his previous aspirations and ideals, having experienced grief and repentance, he comes to the conclusion that living for himself and for his loved ones is the only thing he can do in life. A meeting with his friend Pierre, a conversation with him, and his words: “You have to live, you have to love, you have to believe” - sank deeply into the soul of Prince Andrei and confirmed his own conclusions. A meeting with Natasha Rostova, a moonlit spring night in Otradnoye - all this prepared Andrei’s final return to life. It seems to him that it was in love that he found true happiness. But the trials again strive to unsettle Bolkonsky’s life, and precisely at the moment when they seemed to end. The happiness turned out to be short-lived, and the brighter it was, the more tragic he felt about the break with Natasha. But his personal grief, by force of circumstances, receded into the background. Now the defense of his homeland becomes the highest goal of his life, and Prince Andrei returns to the army. The horror of war, its inhuman essence and unnaturalness again appear before him, and this becomes more and more depressing for Andrei due to the participation and death of teenagers, almost children, on the battlefield. The feeling of hatred for war also involuntarily intensifies in the reader, and reaches the extreme point when one of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, Andrei Bolkonsky, dies in the war. This is also sad because only before death the main character finds answers to all his questions and understands the meaning of life. No matter what, to live, helping and sympathizing with people, no matter what to understand them, no matter what to merge your life with theirs - this is the new ideal that awakened in the soul of Andrei Bolkonsky.
The world of ideas in “War and Peace” is complex and diverse. Using the example of Andrei Bolkonsky, the reader goes through the school of morality and patriotism, humanism and spirituality, learns to dispassionately pose pressing questions and not become complacent in search of an answer to them. Under any circumstances, I want to remember the heroes of “War and Peace” and immediately stop being afraid of being decisive, patriotic and being an infinitely kind person. And your own example will be a wonderful example for younger people.
Reviews
I liked the essay: short in scope, but quite deep in content. In the problems of war and peace, as well as in the problem of the infinity of the Universe, there are no boundaries. I, a former military man, was simply amazingly impressed by Prince Andrei’s monologue about war: “...War is not a courtesy, and we must understand this and not play at war... (and further, every word is THE TRUTH ABOUT WAR). Not before, I haven’t read anything more accurate about the war since...
With sincere respect and gratitude,
Thank you, Erich!
Eh, if only the teacher knew that the essay was very good, it would be absolutely wonderful! But the good news is that I didn’t find fault too much.
The life quest of Andrei Bolkonsky
Andrei Bolkonsky is burdened by the routine, hypocrisy and lies that reign in secular society. These low, meaningless goals that it pursues.
Bolkonsky’s ideal is Napoleon; Andrei wants, like him, to achieve fame and recognition by saving others. This desire is his secret reason why he goes to the war of 1805-1807.
During the Battle of Austerlitz, Prince Andrei decides that the hour of his glory has come and rushes headlong into the bullets, although the impetus for this was not only ambitious intentions, but also shame for his army, which began to flee. Bolkonsky was wounded in the head. When he woke up, he began to be aware of the world around him differently, he finally noticed the beauty of nature. He comes to the conclusion that wars, victories, defeats and glory are nothing, emptiness, vanity of vanities.
After the death of his wife, Prince Andrei experiences a strong mental shock, he decides for himself that he will live for those closest to him, but his lively nature does not want to put up with such a boring and ordinary life, and in the end all this leads to a deep mental crisis. But meeting a friend and having a sincere conversation helps to partially overcome it. Pierre Bezukhov convinces Bolkonsky that life is not over, that we must continue to fight, no matter what.
A moonlit night in Otradnoye and a conversation with Natasha, and then a meeting with an old oak tree, bring Bolkonsky back to life, he begins to realize that he does not want to be such an “old oak tree.” Ambition, a thirst for glory and a desire to live and fight again appear in Prince Andrei, and he goes to serve in St. Petersburg. But Bolkonsky, participating in the drafting of laws, understands that this is not what the people need.
Natasha Rostova played a very important role in the spiritual formation of Prince Andrei. She showed him the purity of thoughts that must be adhered to: love for the people, the desire to live, to do something good for others. Andrei Bolkonsky passionately and tenderly fell in love with Natalya, but could not forgive the betrayal, because he decided that Natasha’s feelings were not as sincere and selfless as he previously believed.
Going to the front in 1812, Andrei Bolkonsky does not pursue ambitious intentions, he goes to defend his homeland, to defend his people. And while already in the army, he does not strive for high ranks, but fights alongside ordinary people: soldiers and officers.
The behavior of Prince Andrei in the Battle of Borodino is a feat, but a feat not in the sense as we usually understand it, but a feat before himself, before his honor, an indicator of a long path of self-improvement.
After being mortally wounded, Bolkonsky was imbued with an all-forgiving religious spirit, changed a lot, and revised his views on life in general. He gave forgiveness to Natasha and Kuragin, and died with peace in his heart.
In the novel “War and Peace” you can explore and see with your own eyes the life path and spiritual development of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky from a secular, indifferent and vain person to a wise, honest and spiritually deep person.
In addition to the essay about Andrei Bolkonsky’s life quest, see also:
- The image of Marya Bolkonskaya in the novel “War and Peace”, essay
- The image of Napoleon in the novel "War and Peace"
- The image of Kutuzov in the novel “War and Peace”
- Comparative characteristics of the Rostovs and Bolkonskys - essay
Andrei Bolkonsky, his spiritual quest, the evolution of his personality are described throughout the entire 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 about the moral health of the individual. Therefore, all the positive heroes of War and Peace go through the path of searching for the meaning of life, the dialectics of the soul, with all the disappointments, loss and gain of happiness. Tolstoy indicates the presence of a positive beginning in the character by the fact that, despite life’s troubles, the hero does not lose his dignity. These are Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. The common and main thing in their quest is that the heroes come to the idea of unity with the people. Let's consider what the spiritual quest of Prince Andrei led to.
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, the maid of honor. Before us is a short man, with somewhat dry features, and 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 gets tired of her and completely changes his attitude towards marriage. He even begs his friend Pierre Bezukhov to never marry.
Prince Bolkonsky longs for something new; for him, constant going out into society and family life is a vicious circle from which the young man strives to break out. How? Leaving for the front. This is the uniqueness of the novel “War and Peace”: Andrei Bolkonsky, as well as other characters, their dialectics of the soul, are shown within a certain historical setting.
At the beginning of Tolstoy's epic, Andrei Bolkonsky is an ardent Bonapartist who admires Napoleon's military talent and is an adherent of his idea of gaining power through military feat. Bolkonsky wants to get “his Toulon.”
Service and Austerlitz
With his arrival in 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 actions. The prince shows exceptional talent as an officer; he displays courage, valor and courage.
Even in the smallest details, Tolstoy emphasizes that Bolkonsky made the right choice: his face became different, ceased to express fatigue from everything, feigned gestures and manners disappeared. The young man did not have time to think about how to behave correctly; he became real.
Kutuzov himself notes how talented Andrei Bolkonsky is as an adjutant: the great commander writes a letter to the young man’s father, noting that the prince is making exceptional progress. Andrei takes all victories and defeats to heart: he sincerely rejoices and experiences pain in his soul. He sees Bonaparte as an 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 an exponent of the author’s attitude towards outstanding personalities; it is from his lips that the reader learns about the most important battles.
The center of this stage of the prince’s life is the One who showed great heroism, seriously wounded, he lies on the battlefield and sees the bottomless sky. Then Andrey comes to the realization that he must reconsider his life priorities and turn to his wife, whom he despised and humiliated with his behavior. And his once idol, Napoleon, seems to him to be an insignificant little man. Bonaparte appreciated the young officer’s feat, but Bolkonsky didn’t 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,
The decision to live for yourself and loved ones
Fate is preparing another heavy blow for Bolkonsky. His wife, Lisa, dies in childbirth. She leaves Andrey a son. The prince did not have time to ask for forgiveness, because he arrived too late, he is tormented by guilt. Andrei Bolkonsky's life path further is caring for his loved ones.
Raising his son, building an estate, helping his father form the ranks of the militia - these are his life priorities at this stage. Andrei Bolkonsky lives in solitude, which allows him to focus on his spiritual world and search for the meaning of life.
The progressive views of the young prince are revealed: he improves the life of his serfs (replaces corvée with quitrents), gives status to three hundred people. However, he is still far from accepting a sense of unity with the common people: every now and then thoughts of disdain for the peasantry and ordinary soldiers slip into his speech .
Fateful conversation with Pierre
The life path of Andrei Bolkonsky moves into another plane during the visit of Pierre Bezukhov. The reader immediately notices the kinship of the souls of the young people. Pierre, who is in a state of elation because of the reforms carried out on his estates, infects Andrei with enthusiasm.
Young people discuss for a long time 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 the life of his peasants easier. All thanks to his active nature and practical view of the serfdom.
Nevertheless, the meeting with Pierre helped Prince Andrei to delve well into his inner world and begin moving towards transformations of the soul.
Revival to a new life
A breath of fresh air and a change in outlook on life came from meeting Natasha Rostova, the main character of the novel “War and Peace.” Andrei Bolkonsky, on matters of acquiring land, visits the Rostov estate in Otradnoye. There he notices a calm, cozy atmosphere in the family. Natasha is so pure, spontaneous, real... She met him on a starry night during the first ball in her life and immediately captured the heart of the young prince.
Andrey seems to be born again: 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 St. Petersburg to make his proposals to the military regulations.
Awareness of the meaninglessness of “state activity”
Unfortunately, Andrei did not manage to meet with the sovereign; he was sent to Arakcheev, an unprincipled and stupid man. Of course, he did not accept the young prince’s ideas. However, another meeting took place that influenced Bolkonsky’s worldview. We are talking about Speransky. He saw good potential for public service in the young man. As a result, Bolkonsky is appointed to a position related to the drafting of wartime laws. In addition, Andrei heads the commission for drafting wartime laws.
But soon Bolkonsky becomes disappointed with the service: the formal approach to work does not satisfy Andrei. He feels that he is doing unnecessary work here and that he will not provide real help to anyone. More and more often, Bolkonsky recalls life in the village, where he was truly useful.
Having initially admired Speransky, Andrei now saw pretense and unnaturalness. More and more often, Bolkonsky is visited by thoughts about the idleness of St. Petersburg life and the absence of any meaning in his service to the country.
Breakup 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 Andrei's muse. Natasha compared favorably with other girls of 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 did not just see him as a profitable match.
Bolkonsky makes a fatal mistake by postponing his wedding with Natasha for a whole year: this provoked her passion for Anatoly Kuragin. The young prince could not forgive the girl. Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky break off their engagement. The blame for everything is the prince's excessive pride and unwillingness to hear and understand Natasha. He is again as self-centered as the reader observed Andrei at the beginning of the novel.
The final turning point in consciousness - Borodino
It is with such a heavy heart that Bolkonsky enters 1812, a turning point for the Fatherland. Initially, he thirsts 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 changes once again: the impetus for this was the vision of the tragedy of the people.
Kutuzov entrusts the command of the regiment to the young officer. The prince completely devotes himself to his service - now this is his life’s work, he has become so close to the soldiers that they call him “our prince.”
Finally, the day of the apotheosis of the Patriotic War and the quest of Andrei Bolkonsky comes - 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 pointlessness of so many sacrifices for the sake of victory.
The reader sees here Bolkonsky, who has gone through a difficult life: disappointment, death of loved ones, betrayal, rapprochement with the common people. He feels that he now understands and realizes too much, one might say, foreshadows his death: “I see that I have begun to understand too much. But it is not fit for a man to eat of the tree of good and evil.”
Indeed, Bolkonsky is mortally wounded and, among other soldiers, ends up in the care of the Rostovs’ house.
The prince feels the approach of death, he thinks about Natasha for a long time, understands her, “sees her soul,” dreams of meeting his beloved and asking for forgiveness. He confesses his love to the girl and dies.
The image of Andrei Bolkonsky is an example of high honor, loyalty to duty to the Motherland and people.