(!LANG: Description of Anna Scherer's salon war and peace. A.P. Scherer's salon in "War and Peace. Group work with artistic detail

"War and Peace" is recognized as a classic example of Russian literature. This work combines the depth of meaning, the elegance of narration, the beauty of the Russian language and a huge number of characters. The book describes the social themes and features of society in the 19th century. It raises issues, the relevance of which is not lost over time. The characters of the work help answer questions from different areas, highlighting the point of view of the representatives of that era.

The first heroine who accompanies the reader throughout the story is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the owner of the salon, in which guests from high society gather. The main themes in the salon are the situation in the country and actions.

History of creation

"War and Peace" is a sought-after novel that was a success immediately after publication. An excerpt from the work was published in 1865 in the Russky Vestnik magazine, and in 1866 readers got acquainted with the three subsequent parts of the novel. Two more episodes were later published.


Leo Tolstoy writes "War and Peace"

The characterization of the work as an epic novel is not accidental. The intention of the author is truly ambitious. The book describes the biographies of the characters, among which there are real personalities and fictional images. Tolstoy described the characters with his characteristic psychological authenticity, and literary critics have always sought to find the prototypes he used in creating literary portraits.

The researchers of "War and Peace" argue that, while working through the images of heroes, Tolstoy started from descriptions of business abilities, behavior in romantic relationships, and tastes. In the future, the characters were distributed by families, becoming Rostovs, Kuragins or Bolkonskys. The character of each hero was prescribed separately, being adjusted in relation to the reliability of the era, the psychology of the society of that time and historical reality.


Literary critics observe the binding of some images to real people. An aristocrat, the owner of the St. Petersburg salon Anna Scherer is one of these heroes. In the book, her offspring is an anti-patriotic creation. Here, at receptions, the hypocrisy of her guests is manifested. Anna Scherer appears as a model of deceit and falsehood, demonstrating stiffness and character traits that correspond to the environment that she forms in the salon.

It is curious that at first Tolstoy assigned a different role to the heroine. Working through the image of the heroine, he wanted to call her Annette D. and make her a friendly, pretty lady from high society. Contemporaries found in the final version of the portrait of Scherer a resemblance to the maid of honor Alexandra Andreevna Tolstaya, a relative of the writer, whom he loved. The final version of the character has undergone major changes and has become the exact opposite of the prototype.

"War and Peace"


Anna Pavlovna Scherer, according to Tolstoy, was a lady-in-waiting to the Empress. She kept a salon for representatives of high society, where it was customary to discuss political and social issues. In the evening, in her institution, the story begins. Scherer's age is close to forty years, appearance has lost its former freshness, nature is distinguished by dexterity and tact. Anna Pavlovna has influence and is not averse to participating in court intrigues. She builds relationships with people based on current considerations. Tolstoy made the heroine close to the Kuragin family.

A woman is constantly driven by liveliness and impulse, which was explained by her position in society. In the Scherer salon, the most topical topics were discussed, and a curious person was “presented” for dessert. In keeping with the fashion of the early 19th century, her circle is filled with patriotism, with war and Napoleon being the most discussed topics. Anna Pavlovna supported the general sentiments and undertakings of the emperor.


The insincerity of the heroine showed through in her actions and words, although she skillfully managed the hypocrisy and falsehood inherent in a secular lioness. She created a comfortable image for herself, presenting herself to the guests who she was not in reality. The meaning of Scherer's life was the existence and relevance of her circle. She perceived the salon as a job and reveled in her success. The sharp mind, sense of humor and courtesy of the woman did their job, helping to charm any guest.

There were unspoken laws in the salon that everyone who wanted to participate in put up with. Many visited it to keep abreast of the latest city news and see with their own eyes how intrigues are being built among representatives of high society. There was no place for real feelings and objective opinion, and Anna Pavlovna made sure that no one spoke out for the limits of what was permitted in the salon.


The appearance in the circle caused dissatisfaction on the part of the hostess, since Pierre was not a secular person and was distinguished by his natural behavior. His behavior was perceived by the guests as a bad tone. The evening was saved by the visitor's departure.

The second appearance of Anna Pavlovna on the pages of the novel takes place during the Battle of Borodino. She still manages the salon and maintains false patriotic sentiments. The topic of the day was the reading of the Patriarch's letter, and the position of Russia and the battle were discussed. Tolstoy twice specifically describes the evenings in the Scherer salon, demonstrating that, despite the change in political situation, there are no changes in the circle. Secular speeches are not replaced by actions even during a real threat to Moscow. Thanks to such a presentation, it becomes clear that the victory over the French was won exclusively by the strength of the common people.


In view of Mrs. Scherer's close relationship with the Kuragin family, the obvious conclusion is why Anna Scherer is also childless. The choice of women is independent and voluntary. They were more attracted to activity in society than the fulfillment of family duty. Both were interested in the prospect of shining in the world, and not in the opportunity to pass for an exemplary wife and mother of the family. The antipode of Scherer in this sense was Countess Rostova.

Screen adaptations

The novel is often chosen for film adaptation by Soviet, Russian and foreign directors, seeing in it an example of an imperishable classic, a springboard for visualizing images and revealing multifaceted characters.

The first three films based on the plot of Tolstoy's work were silent: two of them belonged to director Pyotr Chardynin. After a long period of time, director King Vidor shot the first color tape with sound. In the film "War and Peace" she played. The image of Anna Scherer, as in previous tapes, was not fully disclosed.

In the 1959 film “People Too”, the director did not have such a character.

In the film "War and Peace", for the first time, the image of Anna Scherer received the deserved attention thanks to Anna Stepanova, who embodied the heroine on the screen. Barbara Young played the Empress's lady-in-waiting in a 1972 British TV series directed by John Davies.


Angelina Stepanova and Gillian Anderson as Anna Pavlovna Sherer

In the 2007 series, directed by Robert Dornhelm and Brendan Donnison, the image of Anna Scherer was absent, and instead of the salon, the corresponding action took place in the Rostovs' house.

The Tom Harper series, released in 2016, presented the image of Anna Scherer in full glory.

One of the secondary characters of the work is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, presented by the writer in the image of the owner of a fashionable St. Petersburg salon in high society circles.

Anna Pavlovna is described in the novel as a lady-in-waiting close to the imperial court, a woman aged forty, distinguished by a good education and fluent in French. Despite this, Anna Scherer does not have a brilliant mind and is prone, like all ladies of the court, to intrigues and all sorts of gossip, but to some extent she is dexterous, sweet, distinguished by superficial logic and a secular sense of humor.

Salon Scherer is one of the most visited establishments in the capital, where political news in the country is discussed, as well as various interesting events of secular society. Thanks to the natural tact and hospitality of Anna Pavlovna, the guests of the salon respect the lovely hostess and tend to visit her establishment more often.

Scherer is characterized by the writer as a cynical, hypocritical woman who does not have her own views and follows only a tribute to the momentary fashion. Anna Pavlovna considers visitors to her salon as another interesting “dish”, demonstrating superficial, simulated feelings and the absence of a lively sincere natural conversation. Having created in the eyes of others the idea of ​​himself as a true patriot of the motherland, Scherer deftly and with great enthusiasm manipulates the guests of his salon.

During the period of military battles on the Borodino field, pseudo-patriotic conversations are conducted in the Scherer salon, in which the main gossips of the capital take part. Anna Pavlovna, as the hostess of the salon, disguises dirty news under the guise of decent words, trying to look like an ideal of tact and good education, demonstrating ostentatious loyalty and devotion to the country and the emperor. Participating in salon conversations, Scherer is distinguished by secular chatter, hypocritical words about love for his native land, expressed using elegant French, which clearly indicates that in the event of the victory of the French army and the capture of Moscow, no changes are expected in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer , except for the topics of conversations, which are already tuned in a completely different way.

Using the image of Anna Pavlovna Scherer in the epic novel, among other numerous heroes of the work, the writer, using the example of a high society lioness, depicts the moral face of the true representatives of the aristocratic nobility of the early nineteenth century.

Option 2

In the work "War and Peace" Leo Tolstoy created a wonderful original world of characters, each of which is the personification of something from our life, and Anna Pavlovna Sherer was no exception.

Anna Pavlovna is an aged woman who loves to hold aristocratic receptions and meet new people. She often spends time in a noble company in order to make good connections for herself, which in the future may help her in one way or another. In general, in her image, notes of an aristocratic personality of the old type are clearly visible, which is known for the fact that for people of this type there is nothing more important than what people think of them, in what light they appear.

Anna Pavlovna is from such a category of people. At her parties, she often discusses topics with guests from the most primitive to the sublime, although she absolutely understands nothing about them, which makes one think about the hypocritical side of her personality. You can also see how at first she says one thing to one person, and then to the next she says something completely opposite in meaning to what was said earlier. She used to deceive people for her own selfish goals, achieving them in every possible way.

I believe that Leo Tolstoy made her, as it were, the personification of the manifestation of the aristocracy of the nineteenth century. In it, he revealed all those sinful things that destroy a person and his personality as a whole. This is clearly visible, both in the image of the character, and in the whole work as a whole. Tolstoy clearly emphasized precisely this.

Also in her image, the author revealed other topics that relate to our simple human everyday life. Such themes as patriotism, the meaning of life, the theme of love and devotion, all these themes found their place in the image of Anna Pavlovna Sherer. The same theme of patriotism is revealed in it from a completely different angle. Although she makes fiery speeches glorifying the sovereign at her receptions, all this is covered hypocrisy, since in fact she fundamentally disagrees with him and his principles and actions. The theme of love is revealed in her as not exciting at all, since she is used to being alone. And the theme of the meaning of life is revealed throughout the work. For her, the meaning is to build her own life, which she wants to make the most simple and easy for herself.

Composition about Anna Pavlovna Sherer

In the novel by L.N. Tolstoy, the threads and destinies of people of various characters, morals, and social status are intertwined. But all the characters require a closer look and detailed analysis for the most complete picture of the entire work.

In this essay, we will talk about one of the secondary heroines of the novel - Anna Pavlovna Sherer. Her name catches our eye from the very first pages of the novel. Anna Pavlovna is the mistress of a secular salon. Not all people could visit her salon. In addition, the woman was close to the Empress Maria Feodorovna. Initially, it seems to the reader that Anna Pavlovna sincerely and genuinely experiences emotions, it seems that she is the most devoted maid of honor of the Empress. Her speeches are filled with patriotism, faith in justice and admiration.

But later it turns out that this is just a well-created image. Existence was very important for her, his activity really brought her great pleasure. Yes, and she herself fit very well into the role of his mistress. She possessed a sense of tact, a sense of humor characteristic of the higher strata, a lively mind and other necessary qualities.

The inconsistency of her character is evidenced by her behavior at the moment when Pierre Bezukhov came to the salon and became interested in the events taking place with genuine interest, which alarmed the woman very much. Only at the moment when Pierre left the salon, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Also in Tolstoy's novel, Anna Pavlovna appears on the day the Battle of Borodino begins. Scherer enthusiastically told the guests about the latest gossip.

Anna Pavlovna Sherer is a rather hypocritical and insincere woman, she does not have her own points of view, authorities, all this is determined only by those who are talking to her at the moment, what they want to hear directly, the interlocutor. She discusses each of her guests with other guests, all her fiery speeches about love for the motherland, about patriotism are false. This is evidenced at least by the fact that at a time when there was almost no threat to Russia and at the end of the Battle of Borodino, she speaks all the same invariable patriotic speeches.

L. N. Tolstoy draws the Russian aristocracy in the person of Anna Pavlovna. The main role in the victory over the French belongs to the common people. Thanks to his genuine interest in the fate of the people, Russia was able to withstand and defeat the French.

Sample 4

In his work, Tolstoy writes about many topics that, one way or another, are reflected in our lives. Without a doubt, such a great work, one way or another, can be interpreted in different ways, passing from person to person, but one thing is clear for sure - the work carries more meaning and depth than it might seem at first glance. It contains a huge number of characters who in one way or another reveal some problem, most often the problem of the time about which the work is written. One of these characters and their images is the character Anna Scherer.

From the work we learn that Anna Scherer is one of the close associates of the Empress, who, in turn, treats her well. This is understandable, because Anna Scherer is a rather cunning intriguer whose purpose in life is only to achieve her own selfish goals, the methods of achieving which are not important. Scherer's character is two-faced, and, as a rule, she changes her character from case to case, thereby rubbing herself into the trust of any person whom she deems necessary for her purposes. Since she more often appreciates the position of a person in society, and its material component, she most often prefers to use her kind deceitful character, which allows her to easily ingratiate herself with trust. For people who do not meet her, no doubt, overestimated requirements, he treats coldly, even slightly contemptuously, which rejects people she does not need, doing this, by the way, in a very rude form.

In the work, Anna Scherer rather plays a character who personifies all the venality, greed, and lack of conscience in the society of that time. It is, as it were, a collective image of the aristocracy of that time. Thus, the author conveys to his reader the idea that it is necessary to stop the harmful effects of this type of people in your life, by letting them get too close to your personal space, because they can betray you at any moment, and further use it for personal purposes. . Anna Scherer is the finest example of this, because, as we see from the work, this woman will not give up even the most sophisticated and disgusting ways in order to achieve her goal, no matter what needs to be done. Even to betray even the best and most pleasant person to her, because such people often do not have a feeling of attachment to anyone, which is seen in the work.

Revenge is a kind of lynching, which a person embittered by some act commits evil to another. At the same time, they consider this evil a kind of retribution and feel a sense of justice.

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  • The action of Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" begins in July 1805 in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer. This scene introduces us to representatives of the court aristocracy: Princess Elizaveta Bolkonskaya, Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children - the soulless beauty Helen, the favorite of women, the "restless fool" Anatole and the "calm fool" Ippolit, the hostess of the evening - Anna Pavlovna. In the image of many of the heroes present at this evening, the author uses the technique of "tearing off all and sundry masks." The author shows how false everything is in these heroes, insincere - this is where the negative attitude towards them is manifested. Everything that is done or said in the world is not from a pure heart, but is dictated by the need to observe decency. For example, Anna Pavlovna, “despite her forty years, was full of animation and impulses.

    Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna's face, although it did not go to her obsolete features, expressed, like in spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her sweet shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.

    L. N. Tolstoy denies the norms of life of high society. Behind his external decency, secular tact, grace, emptiness, selfishness, self-interest are hidden. For example, in the phrase of Prince Vasily: “First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend? Calm me down, ”- because of the tone of participation and decency, indifference and even mockery come through.

    When describing the reception, the author uses details, evaluative epithets, comparisons in the description of the characters, which speak of the falsity of this society. For example, the face of the hostess of the evening, every time she mentioned the empress in a conversation, took on "a deep and sincere expression of devotion and respect, combined with sadness." Prince Vasily, speaking of his own children, smiles "more unnaturally and animatedly than usual, and at the same time, especially sharply showing something unexpectedly coarse and unpleasant in the wrinkles that have developed around his mouth." “All the guests performed the ceremony of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and unnecessary aunt.” Princess Helen, “when the story made an impression, looked back at Anna Pavlovna and immediately assumed the same expression that was on the face of the maid of honor, and then again calmed down in a beaming smile.”

    “... This evening, Anna Pavlovna served her guests first the viscount, then the abbot, as something supernaturally refined.” The owner of the salon is compared by the author with the owner of a spinning factory, who, “having put the workers in their places, walks around the establishment, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking, too loud sound of the spindle, hurriedly walks, restrains or starts it in the proper course...”

    Another important feature that characterizes the nobility gathered in the salon is the French language as the norm. L. N. Tolstoy emphasizes the ignorance of the heroes of their native language, the separation from the people. The use of either Russian or French is another means of showing how the author relates to what is happening. As a rule, French (and sometimes German) breaks into the narrative where lies and evil are described.

    Among all the guests, two people stand out: Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky. Pierre, who had just arrived from abroad and was present at such a reception for the first time, was distinguished from the rest by his "intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look." Anna Pavlovna "greeted him with a bow, referring to people of the lowest hierarchy," and throughout the evening she felt fear and anxiety, no matter how he did something that did not fit into the order established by her. But, despite all the efforts of Anna Pavlovna, Pierre nevertheless “managed” to violate the established etiquette with his statements about the execution of the Duke of Enghien, about Bonaparte. In the salon, the story of the conspiracy of the Duke of Enghien turned into a cute secular anecdote. And Pierre, uttering words in defense of Napoleon, shows his progressive attitude. And only Prince Andrei supports him, while the rest are reactionary towards the ideas of the revolution.

    It is surprising that Pierre's sincere judgments are perceived as an impolite trick, and the stupid anecdote that Ippolit Kuragin begins to tell three times is like secular courtesy.

    Prince Andrey is distinguished from the crowd by a "tired, bored look." He is not a stranger in this society, he is on an equal footing with the guests, he is respected and feared. And " all those who were in the living room ... were already tired of him so much that he was very bored looking at them and listening to them."

    Sincere feelings are depicted by the author only in the scene of the meeting of these heroes: “Pierre, who did not take his joyful, friendly eyes off him (Andrei), went up to him and took his hand. Prince Andrei, seeing Pierre's smiling face, smiled with an unexpectedly kind and pleasant smile.

    Depicting high society, L. N. Tolstoy shows its heterogeneity, the presence in it of people who are disgusted by such a life. Denying the norms of life of high society, the author begins the path of the positive characters of the novel by denying them the emptiness and falsity of secular life.

    Salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer and his guests

    1. The action of Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace begins in July 1805 in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer. This scene introduces us to representatives of the court aristocracy: Princess Elizaveta Bolkonskaya, Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children, the soulless beauty Helen, the favorite of women, the restless fool Anatole and the calm fool Ippolit, the hostess of the evening Anna Pavlovna. In the image of many of the heroes present at this evening, the author uses the technique of tearing off all and sundry masks. The author shows how everything is false in these heroes, insincere in this and a negative attitude towards them is manifested. Everything that is done or said in the world is not from a pure heart, but is dictated by the need to observe decency. For example, Anna Pavlovna, despite her forty years, was full of animation and impulses.

      Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she did not even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna's face, although it did not go to her obsolete features, expressed, like in spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her sweet shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.

      L. N. Tolstoy denies the norms of life of high society. Behind his external decency, secular tact, grace, emptiness, selfishness, self-interest are hidden. For example, in the phrase of Prince Vasily: First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend? Calm me down, because of the tone of participation and decency, indifference and even mockery come through.

      When describing the reception, the author uses details, evaluative epithets, comparisons in the description of the characters, which speak of the falsity of this society. For example, the face of the hostess of the evening, every time she mentioned the empress in a conversation, took on a deep and sincere expression of devotion and respect, combined with sadness. Prince Vasily, speaking of his own children, smiles more unnaturally and animatedly than usual, and at the same time, especially sharply showing something unexpectedly coarse and unpleasant in the wrinkles that have developed around his mouth. All the guests performed the ceremony of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and unnecessary aunt. Princess Helen, when the story made an impression, looked back at Anna Pavlovna and immediately assumed the same expression that was on the face of the maid of honor, and then again calmed down in a radiant smile.

    2. The action begins with a reception at the approximate Empress Anna Pavlovna Scherer, where we see all the high society of St. Petersburg. This technique is a kind of exposition: here we get to know many of the most important characters in the novel. On the other hand, the technique is a means of characterizing high society, comparable to the Famus society (A. S. Griboyedov Woe from Wit), immoral and deceitful. All those who come are looking for benefits for themselves in useful contacts that they can make with Scherer. So, Prince Vasily is worried about the fate of his children, whom he is trying to arrange a profitable marriage, and Drubetskaya comes in order to persuade Prince Vasily to intervene for his son. An indicative feature is the ritual of greeting an unknown and unnecessary tushka (French ma tante). None of the guests knows who she is and does not want to talk to her, but they cannot violate the unwritten laws of secular society. Against the background of Anna Scherer's guests, two characters stand out: Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. They are opposed to high society, as Chatsky is opposed to Famus society. Most of the conversation at this ball is devoted to politics and the coming war with Napoleon, who is called the Corsican monster. Despite this, most of the dialogues between the guests are in French.

    Salon A.P. Scherer in "War and Peace"

    L. Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" begins with a description of a party in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Sherer. And this is somewhat symbolic, because the salon acts as a miniature copy of the society to which all the main characters of the work belong without exception. As if under a microscope, the writer closely examines regular and casual visitors to the salon. He listens to their statements, evaluates their mood, guesses their thoughts and feelings, follows their movements, gestures, facial expressions.

    The invited guests are courtiers, aristocrats, military and bureaucratic nobility. They all know each other well and for a long time. They gather, talk peacefully and exchange news. But gradually there is a conviction that external benevolence, thoughtful conversations are all falsehood and pretense. Before us are “decency pulled together masks” of prudent, selfish, politically limited, morally unscrupulous, empty and insignificant, and sometimes simply stupid and rude people.

    The salon has its own unwritten rules of conduct. The hostess herself sets the tone and general direction of empty and useless conversations - "the famous Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna." In the manners, the conversation, the participation in the fate of each of the guests, the imaginary sensitivity of Anna Pavlovna, the falseness and pretense are most visible. L. Tolstoy notes that she “was full of animation and impulses”, that “being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna's face, although it did not go to her obsolete features, expressed, like in spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her sweet shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.

    As if imitating the hostess of the salon, her guests behave and behave in the same way. They talk because something needs to be said; they smile because otherwise they will be considered impolite; they show imaginary feelings because they do not want to appear indifferent and selfish.

    But soon we begin to understand that the real essence of the salon's visitors is just the opposite. In fact, some of them come here to show off in public in their outfits, others - to listen to secular gossip, others (like Princess Drubetskaya) - to successfully attach their son to the service, and the fourth - to make the necessary acquaintances to advance through the ranks. After all, "influence in the world is a capital that must be protected so that it does not disappear."

    Anna Pavlovna “very seriously led each new guest to a little old woman in high bows who swam out of another room,” whom she called ma tante - my aunt, called by name, “slowly shifting her eyes from the guest to ma tante, and then departed.” Paying tribute to the hypocrisy of secular society, “all the guests performed the ceremony of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and useless aunt. Anna Pavlovna followed their greetings with sad, solemn sympathy, tacitly approving them. Ma tante spoke to everyone in the same terms about his health, about her health, and about Her Majesty's health, which today, thank God, was better. All those who approached, out of decency, not showing haste, with a sense of relief from the heavy duty they had performed, departed from the old woman, so that they would never go up to her all evening.

    The assembled society “divided into three circles. In one, more masculine, the center was the abbot; in another, young one, the beautiful Princess Helen, daughter of Prince Vasily, and the pretty, ruddy, too plump for her youth, little Princess Bolkonskaya. In the third - Mortemar and Anna Pavlovna. Anna Pavlovna, “like the owner of a spinning workshop, having put the workers in their places, walks around the institution, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking, too loud sound of the spindle, hurriedly walks, restrains or starts it in the proper course” .

    It is no coincidence that L. Tolstoy compares the Scherer salon with a spinning workshop. This comparison very accurately conveys the true atmosphere of a "correctly arranged" society. The workshop is the mechanisms. And the property of mechanisms is the performance of a certain, initially set function. Mechanisms do not know how to think and feel. They are just soulless executors of someone else's will. The same mechanisms are a significant part of the guests of the salon.