Option 1 (Plan)

I. Origin. Childhood and youth.

II. Portrait. Its significance for understanding the character of the hero.

III. Pierre's quest, his delusions and disappointments. peculiarity of his nature.

1. Freethinking, independence of Pierre's judgments; the contradiction of his views with the views of representatives of the world:

a) Pierre's spiritual wealth, his emotionality (good nature, cordiality, naturalness, sincerity, simplicity, generosity),

b) distraction, a tendency to "dreamy philosophizing."

2. Life mistakes of Pierre in his youth (sprees, marriage to Helen):

a) lack of will

b) dissatisfaction with oneself, striving for moral balance. Internal monologue as a means of realistic depiction of the hero's feelings.

3. Fascination with Freemasonry, attempts to reorganize the activities of the Masonic order. Antiserfdom transformations in the estates:

a) striving for useful activities for the people;

b) impractical.

4. Disappointment, moral crisis. Reviews of actors as a means of characterizing the hero.

5. Pierre's activities during Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Rapprochement with the common people; willpower, calmness, self-confidence.

6. The organization of a secret society is the result of Pierre's activities as a representative of the advanced nobility.

Option 2 (Thesis plan with quotes)

The path of moral quest of Pierre Bezukhov

I. Monsieur Pierre is the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov.

1) Pierre in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer (naive, timid, natural; he does not “fit” into a secular salon and causes the hostess “anxiety and fear, similar to that which is expressed at the sight of something too huge and unusual for a place”, but Pierre is interested here!).

2) Friendship with Prince Bolkonsky.

3) In the company of Dolokhov and Kuragin (a tribute to the passion for sensual pleasures, a struggle with oneself, dissatisfaction with oneself).

4) Deportation to St. Petersburg "for riot".

II. The rich man and Count Pierre Bezukhov.

1) The changed attitude towards Pierre of relatives and acquaintances. Princess Mary was right when she was worried about Pierre: “So young to be burdened with such a huge fortune - how many temptations he will have to go through!”).

2) Marriage to Helen Kuragina - the first temptation that Pierre could not stand; he betrayed himself and will pay bitterly for it.

3) Bezukhov's quarrel with Dolokhov. Duel. Break with his wife, departure to Petersburg. (Pierre blames not others, but himself for his misfortunes, painfully looking for his own guilt: “But what am I to blame for?). Severe spiritual crisis: “... that main screw, on which his whole life rested, curled up in his head”

III. In the lodge of Masons.

1) Meeting at the station in Torzhok with freemason Osip Alekseevich Bazdeev. He revealed to Pierre the idea of ​​inner purification and self-improvement: "Cleanse yourself, and as you cleanse, you will learn wisdom." Pierre felt like a new person. “There was no trace of the old doubts in his soul. He firmly believed in the possibility of a brotherhood of people united for the purpose of supporting each other on the path of virtue.”

2) The first doubts in the Masons during the rite of initiation into the Masons (he acutely feels unnaturalness).

3) An active member of the lodge of Masons (strive to embark on the path of renewal and an active virtuous life ..., to resist evil).

4) Pierre’s attempts to improve the life of his serfs in Kiev estates, but “Pierre did not know that where they brought him bread and salt and built a chapel of Peter and Paul ... the chapel was already being built by the rich peasants of the village, and that nine-tenths of this village were in the greatest ruin…” (naively believes that “so much good can be done” with so little effort).

5) Disappointment in Russian Freemasonry, a trip abroad in order to get acquainted with the activities of the Freemasons there (the reasons for Pierre's disappointment: he sees in the Masonic lodge the same lies and the same hypocrisy as in the world; self-interest and personal gain rule here too, “the desire to do good” remains only in words.

6) Pierre's unsuccessful attempt to give a new character to the work of the Russian lodge after returning from abroad; Pierre's exit from the lodge of Masons.

IV. Clever eccentric, retired chamberlain Pierre in the brilliant secular salon of his wife Helen Kuragina.

1) Reconciliation with his wife; search for oblivion and tranquility.

2) Love for Natasha Rostova, which is stronger than pride and pride. Departure to Moscow.

3) The final break with all the Kuragins.

V. War of 1812 in the fate of Pierre Bezukhov.

1) The noble patriotism of Muscovites and the mood of Pierre, who was dissolved in mass patriotism. Pierre felt the strength in himself that could benefit Russia.

2) Departure of Pierre to the troops near Borodino. On the Raevsky battery, Pierre understood the whole meaning and significance of the Battle of Borodino; admired the courage of ordinary soldiers, felt the "hidden warmth of patriotism", realized that war is madness, an unnatural state for a person.

3) At the inn in Mozhaisk. Thought about the possibility of human relations between him and the soldiers. “To be a soldier, just a soldier! To enter this common life with the whole being, to be imbued with what makes them so.

4) Pierre in Moscow after the Battle of Borodino. He returns to the decision to kill Napoleon, “in order to either perish or end the misfortunes of all Europe.”

5) In Bazdeev's house. A burst of frankness in a conversation with the French officer Rambal.

6) On the streets of burning Moscow. Rescue of the girl; protection of an Armenian woman, from whom the necklace is torn off. Here Pierre "felt freed from the thoughts that weighed on him." Pierre's detention.

7) Pierre in captivity:

a) interrogation by Marshal Davout (Pierre realized that “a person is a chip that has fallen into the wheel of an unknown to him, but correctly operating machine”

b) the execution of five prisoners in front of Pierre (the shock led to a severe crisis: he felt that his faith in the improvement of the world had collapsed;

c) 4 weeks in a barracks for prisoners of war: Pierre has never been so unfree;

G) meeting with Platon Karataev; Pierre is attracted to him by kindness, the ability to endure life's difficulties, naturalness, truthfulness, simplicity, but Plato resigned himself to the surrounding evil - and evil killed him;

e) the discovery that Pierre made from captivity: a person can become stronger than the surrounding cruelty, he can be internally free, no matter how humiliated and insulted by external circumstances (“Caught me, locked me up. They hold me captive. Who? Me? Me - my immortal soul!”);

f) the release of Pierre from captivity by the partisans.

VI. New spiritual life of Pierre after captivity.

1) “He became some kind of clean, smooth, fresh; just from the bath; - morally from the bath” (Natasha about Pierre); but after a moral upsurge, Pierre experienced and felt spiritual emptiness, felt that he could not understand the joys and sorrows of other people.

2) The inner work accomplished in captivity brought a new sensation: “a smile of the joy of life,” which Pierre now appreciated; “his eyes shone with concern for people…”, he “experienced a feeling of joy, freedom, life”.

3) Love and marriage to Natasha Rostova. For Pierre, “the whole world, the whole meaning of life was love”

4) Member of a secret society. “…take hand in hand, those who love goodness…”.

Option 3

The path of moral quest of Pierre Bezukhov

The illegitimate son of the famous Catherine's grandee, Pierre Bezukhov from the first pages of the novel attracts the attention of readers. He spent his childhood and youth (from 9 to 20 years old) abroad. Then he returned to Russia and lived in St. Petersburg, choosing a career. He revolves in a circle of secular people, but stands out sharply among them.

He was “a fat young man with a cropped head, glasses, light trousers in the fashion of the time, with a high frill and a brown tailcoat” (vol. I, part I, ch. II). Pierre was “clumsy”, taller than usual, broad, with huge red hands” (vol. I, part I, ch. V).

It conquers the expression of "good nature, simplicity and modesty", sincerity and lack of posture. His good-natured wide smile seemed to say: “See what a kind and nice fellow I am. It has something of a child in it. This childishness is already noticeable in the very portrait of the hero. So Pierre's smile differed from the smiles of other people, "merging with an unsmile." “On the contrary, when a smile came, his serious and even somewhat gloomy face suddenly disappeared and another appeared - childish, kind, even stupid, and as if asking for forgiveness.”

Scherer Pierre was distinguished from everyone in the living room by his "intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural" look. He does not know how to get in and out of the salon, he allows a number of impoliteness from the point of view of secular etiquette: he does not listen to his aunt, delays the hostess when she needs to go to another guest, keeps someone else's hat in his ruach due to his absent-mindedness. But this is not the most important thing.

He does not share the views of the guests of the Scherer salon. Pierre is characterized by free-thinking and independence of judgment. His views are sharply opposed to those of representatives of the world. A man of incorruptible honesty, he boldly expresses admiration for the French Revolution and he does not want to serve in the Horse Guards because he does not want to fight against France “If it were a war for freedom, I would understand, I would be the first to enter military service” (vol. I, part I, ch.V) - he says.

Weak-willed, distracted, impractical, prone to "dreamy philosophizing", he cannot make the right choice and often easily succumbs to the temptations of high society, making difficult life mistakes. He revels with golden youth, despite his promise to Prince Andrei not to visit Anatole Kuragin anymore and not to take part in his revels.

Trusting and simple-hearted, Pierre does not know life and does not know how to use his powers. He becomes a victim of cunning, greedy and flattering people. Prince Vasily, the manager, and many secular people, whose flattery he takes for a sincere expression of love and admiration, take advantage of his kindness and ignorance of life.

Pierre marries Helen Kuragina. This marriage caused a deep moral crisis. Pierre is more and more aware that he does not have a real family, that his wife is an immoral woman. Dissatisfaction grows in him, but not with others, but with himself. This is exactly what happens to truly moral people. For their disorder, they consider it possible to execute only themselves. The explosion occurs at a dinner in honor of Bagration. Pierre challenges Dolokhov, who insulted him, to a duel. But during the duel, seeing the enemy wounded by him lying on the snow, Pierre grabbed his head and, turning back, went into the forest, walking entirely in the snow and aloud saying incomprehensible words: “Stupid ... stupid! Death… lie…” he kept repeating, grimacing. Stupid and false - this again applies only to himself. In a secular circle, Pierre feels unhappy and lonely. Shutting himself in, he talks a lot on abstract philosophical topics about good and evil, about the essence and purpose of life, but does not find an answer to the questions that tormented him.

These painful thoughts of Pierre, the secret movements of the soul and thoughts that the hero cannot express aloud, Tolstoy reveals by means of an internal monologue: “What is bad? What well? What to love, what to hate? What is life for and what am I? What is life, what is death? What power governs everything? (vol. II, part II, ch. I).

Trying to find a way out of these contradictions, Pierre was influenced by Freemasonry. At the moment of spiritual discord that Pierre was experiencing, the freemason Bazdeev appears to him just the person he needs. Pierre is offered the path of moral improvement, and he accepts this path, because what he needs most now is to improve his life and himself. Pierre is attracted not by the mystical, but by the moral side of Freemasonry, the opportunity to "correct the human race" and "with all his might to resist the evil that reigns in the world." In "the pleasure of doing good" he sought satisfaction.

The writer reveals these moods in episodes of anti-serfdom transformations in the countryside. Tolstoy shows abstract humanism, ignorance of life and isolation of Peter from the people. Pierre failed to make life easier for the peasants.

The generous and disinterested Pierre took up charitable work and conceived a broad plan for anti-serfdom transformations in the estates. He decided to free the peasants in the southern estates from serfdom, free women with children from work, organize medical assistance to the peasants, abolish corporal punishment and establish hospitals, shelters and schools in every village.

But his good intentions did not materialize. Pierre's chief manager considers all the master's undertakings an eccentricity, an absurd whim. And he acts in his own way, preserving the former order on Bezukhov's estates. And he puts on a performance of an enthusiastic reception from the peasants for Pru. driving through the estates, Pierre saw the buildings of schools, hospitals and shelters everywhere. He was met by women with babies in their arms, thanking him for getting rid of hard work, and the children, whom the priests taught to read and write, offered him bread and salt. But he did not know that the buildings were empty, and the peasants continued to give with money and work everything that they had given before, and as a result, their fate became even more difficult: “women-children” did backbreaking work, children were redeemed from priests for money, because it was necessary to work, the peasants were in the greatest ruin, the construction of buildings only increased the corvée, reduced only on paper.

Just as fruitless is the idea of ​​personal self-improvement. Despite the fact that Pierre sincerely strives to eradicate personal vices, his life goes on as before, “with the same hobbies and licentiousness”, he cannot resist the “amusements of single societies”, although he considers them “immoral and humiliating”.

The inconsistency of the Masonic teaching is also exposed by Tolstoy in the depiction of the behavior of the "brothers" who visit the lodge. Pierre notes that most members of the lodge in life are “weak and insignificant people”, many become Freemasons “because of the possibility of rapprochement with rich, noble, influential persons”, others are only interested in the external, ritual side of the doctrine.

Returning from abroad, Pierre offers the "brothers" his program of socially useful activities. However, the Freemasons do not accept Pierre's proposals. And he is finally disappointed in the "brotherhood of free masons."

Having broken with the Freemasons, the hero experiences a deep internal crisis, a mental catastrophe. He loses faith in the very possibility of socially useful activity. Outwardly, Pierre returns to his former activities: benefit performances, bad pictures, statues, charitable societies, gypsies, revels - nothing is refused. That period of Bezukhov's life begins, when he gradually begins to turn into the usual "retired good-natured chamberlain living his life in Moscow, of which there were hundreds." Despising and hating his life, he lives in Moscow as “a rich husband of an unfaithful wife, a retired chamberlain who loves to eat, drink and scold the government a little ...” (vol. II, part V, ch. I).

Pierre's love for Natasha and the terrible events of the military war of 1812 lead him out of this impasse in life. This is a period of restoration of spiritual integrity, Pierre's familiarization with the "general", the affirmation in his soul of his "sense of the expediency of being." An important role here was played by Pierre's visit to the Rayevsky battery during the Battle of Borodino and his stay in French captivity.

Being on the Borodino field, among the endless roar of cannons, the smoke of shells, the screech of bullets, the hero experiences a feeling of horror, mortal fear. The soldiers seem to him strong and courageous, they have no fear, no fear for their lives. The very patriotism of these people, seemingly unconscious, comes from the very essence of nature, their behavior is simple and natural. And Pierre wants to become "just a soldier", to free himself from the "burden of the external person", from everything artificial, superficial. Faced with the people's milieu for the first time, he keenly feels the falsity and insignificance of the secular world, feels the fallacy of his former views and attitudes.

Returning to Moscow, Pierre is imbued with the idea of ​​​​killing Napoleon. However, his intention was not given to come true - instead of the grandiose "picture murder of the French emperor", he performs a simple, human feat, rescuing a child from a fire and protecting a beautiful Armenian woman from French soldiers. In this very opposition of ideas and reality, Tolstoy's favorite thought about the "external forms" of genuine heroism is guessed.

And for Pierre, the difficult days of captivity come, when he is forced to endure the ridicule of those around him, the interrogations of French officers, the cruelty of a military court. He feels like "an insignificant chip that has fallen into the wheels of an unknown car." This order instituted by the French kills, destroys, deprives him of his life, "with all his memories, aspirations, hopes, thoughts." after the execution of five prisoners, and Pierre was sixth in a row, it was as if in his soul they pulled out "the spring on which everything was held." “In him ... faith was destroyed in the improvement of the world, and in the human, and in his soul, and in God ... Before, when such doubts were found on Pierre, these doubts had their own source of guilt. And in the very depths of his soul, Pierre then felt that from that despair and those doubts there was salvation in himself. But now he felt that it was not his fault that the world collapsed in his eyes ... He felt that it was not in his power to return to faith in life. These feelings for Bezukhov are tantamount to suicide.

Meeting with Platon Karataev helps Pierre survive, gain a new view of the world and himself. The main thing for Karataev is good looks, acceptance of life as it is. Just in case, he has a saying, in his movements Pierre seems to have something “soothing and round”. Platon Karataev treats everyone around him equally evenly and affectionately, while not having any attachments, love, friendship. “He loved his mongrel, loved his comrades, the French, loved Pierre, who was his neighbor; but Pierre felt that Karataev, despite all his affectionate tenderness for him, ... would not be upset for a minute by parting with him.

In captivity, Pierre learned to find joy and happiness in life, despite the vicissitudes of life. “He sought this in philanthropy, in Freemasonry, in the dispersion of secular life, in wine, in the heroic feat of self-sacrifice” - but all these searches deceived him. Pierre had to go through the horror of death, through deprivation, through what he understood in Karataev, in order to come to terms with oneself. Having learned to appreciate simple everyday things: good food, cleanliness, fresh air, freedom, the beauty of nature, Pierre experiences a hitherto unknown sense of joy and strength of life. In Karataev, Pierre admired the independence of his moral state from the external conditions of life, the ability to maintain a joyful perception of life, love for the world, peace of mind, despite any blows of fate. The discovery that Pierre made from captivity: a person can become stronger than the surrounding cruelty, he can be internally free, no matter how humiliated and insulted by external circumstances (“Caught me, locked me up. immortal soul!");

According to Tolstoy, Karataev’s influence on Pierre was so great that Karataev “remained forever in Pierre’s soul the most precious and powerful memory”, “the personification of the spirit of simplicity and truth” (vol. IV, part I, ch. XIII).

Released from captivity, he retained in his moral character those features that he acquired under the influence of closeness to the people and the deprivation of life. He became more attentive to people, tolerant of the thoughts and feelings of other people. “He became some kind of clean, smooth, fresh; just from the bath; - morally from the bath” (Natasha about Pierre).

However, having experienced the influence of Karataev's philosophy, Pierre, having returned from captivity, did not become a Karataev, knowing the truth of Karataev, Pierre in the epilogue of the novel is already going his own way. A happy family life (married to Natasha Rostova) does not take Pierre away from public interests. He becomes a member of a secret society. His dispute with Nikolai Rostov proves that Bezukhov faces the problem of the moral renewal of society. Pierre speaks with indignation about the reaction that has come in Russia, about Arakcheevism, theft. At the same time, he understands the strength of the people and believes in them. With all this, the hero strongly opposes violence. "Active virtue", according to Pierre, can lead the country out of the crisis. “It seemed to him at that moment that he was called to give a new direction to the whole of Russian society and the whole world.” It is necessary to unite honest people. And the search begins again:

Intense intellectual search, the ability to selfless deeds, high spiritual impulses, nobility and devotion in love (relationship with Natasha), true patriotism, the desire to make society more just and humane, truthfulness and naturalness, the desire for self-improvement make Pierre one of the best people of his time . “In order to live honestly, one must tear, get confused, fight, make mistakes, start and quit, and start again and quit again, and always struggle and lose. And calmness is spiritual meanness ”- these are the words of L.N. Tolstoy is explained both by the worldview, and the fate, and the life principles of his favorite heroes.

One of the favorite heroes of L.N. Tolstoy is Pierre Bezukhov. His life is a difficult path, full of discoveries and disappointments. This path becomes all the more difficult when we learn that Pierre is an emotional person. He is smart, dreamy, exceptionally kind, distinguished by a philosophical mindset, but at the same time he is absent-minded, weak-willed and lacking initiative. The hero seeks solace for his restless soul, wants to come into agreement with himself, to come to harmony in life.

Our first meeting with Pierre takes place in Anna Pavlovna's salon. The author describes his character in detail. We see a massive, fat young man and pay attention to his intelligent and at the same time timid, natural and observant look, which distinguishes him from everyone present in the living room.

There is one constant portrait feature in Bezukhov's appearance: the author repeats that Pierre has a massive, thick figure.

Depending on the circumstances, details are added to it: either the figure becomes clumsy, or powerful, or absent-minded, then it expresses anger, then kindness, and sometimes even rage. Pierre's smile is also not the same as the others. As soon as it appears on the face, a serious, thoughtful face disappears somewhere, and instead a childish and kind one appears. The spiritual and sensual beginning, the inner, moral life of the hero come into conflict with the way of life of the hero.

Pierre is trying to find himself, spiritual quest leads him to the war of 1812. A non-military man, he participates in the battle of Borodino, which causes a huge patriotic upsurge in him. Bezukhov's thoughts and feelings are consonant with the landscape of the Borodino field.

Nature before the start of the battle is majestic. The sun is shining brightly, through the fog and smoke of shots one can see distant forests and copses, golden fields. This picture evokes elation in Pierre, a sense of the extraordinary and greatness of what is happening. Tolstoy conveys through his hero an understanding of the events that became decisive in national and historical life.

Bezukhov, shocked by the fearless behavior of the soldiers, behaves courageously himself, he is ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of the fatherland. But, looking at the hero from the outside, we cannot help but see the naivety of the hero: he decided to beat Napoleon.

Pierre also does truly noble deeds: he rushes to save a girl from a burning house, tries to protect civilians who are being plundered by French marauders. The attitude of the hero to ordinary people and to nature testifies to his unity with nature and the people. The author expressed his moral and aesthetic ideal in the image of Pierre.

A very important role was played for Pierre by a meeting with Platon Karataev, a former peasant, now, by the will of fate, a soldier. Platon Karataev personifies the masses in the novel. For Bezukhov, this meeting became an introduction to the people, knowledge of folk wisdom and brought him even closer to ordinary people.

Tolstoy thought about writing a work about the Decembrists. Therefore, this theme is also reflected in War and Peace. Tolstoy wanted to trace how, under what circumstances in life, that conscience and that high understanding of honor and duty were awakened in a person from an aristocratic environment in the era of wars of 1805-1812, which led him to deny the environment where he was born, and then to a complete break with her. Tolstoy solves the problem of revealing the appearance of such a person with the images of Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. But the author allows only Pierre to stay alive after the war. Bolkonsky dies in the novel.
For the first time we meet Pierre in the brilliant salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer, where the cream of high society gathered. Pierre has just returned from Paris. The author describes him as a fat, clumsy, huge man with red hands, but with an intelligent and observant look. Feeling this look, Anna Pavlovna feels anxiety and fear. Despite the fact that Pierre is invited to the salon, they treat him condescendingly there. They greet him only by tilting his head, as if thereby showing that he is on the lowest level among the rest. This is not surprising, Pierre is the illegitimate son of the old Count Bezukhov. In a society where gold and title were valued, Pierre could not be put on a par with himself. Looking ahead, I will say that in the future Pierre will become the legal heir of the old count and the owner of thousands of souls and millions. After that, the attitude towards him will immediately change. He will become a welcome guest of all salons and houses. In the meantime, back to Anna Scherer's salon. Pierre is distinguished here not only by his appearance. He violates the established order. According to the rules, guests should go up to the old aunt and kiss her hand, not because everyone respects her, but because it is customary. Even conversations here are conducted only on certain topics. Pierre, on the other hand, breaks the harmonious rhythm of the “talking machine”, breaking out into a chaotic speech in response to the welcoming words of a stiff aunt. He tries to defend the idea of ​​the French Revolution, admires Napoleon, which was typical of young people at that time. Pierre is well acquainted with Andrei Bolkonsky. They are old buddies who enjoy talking to each other. But Pierre in this period is just beginning to look for himself. So far, he spends most of his time in the company of Anatole Kuragin, leading the most wild life in the circle of the metropolitan aristocratic youth, notorious in this respect. The struggle of the spiritual with the sensual is one of the components of the process of Pierre's internal development. Tolstoy shows this struggle as the development of contradictions between the vicious morals that reigned in the highest noble society and the moral forces of the hero. But so far, Pierre has no contradictions in his views on life with this society. Revelry, drinking and extravagant entertainment were considered almost the norm. In addition, Pierre's character went to his father, a former favorite of Catherine, "a nobleman in the event", who amassed his wealth and title, becoming famous not so much for military as for amorous feats.
The sensual beginning takes over, and Pierre marries the brilliant St. Petersburg beauty Helen Kuragina. Her beauty is the beauty of a statue, inside she is cold and empty. Pierre understands this, but loses his head. Helen herself played a big role in the marriage. Pierre had no choice but to play a role written for him in advance. Unwillingly, Pierre utters the fatal words: "I love you." And it's over. Pierre very soon realizes that behind the external beauty in his wife lies emptiness and satiety. Pierre rushes about, the duel with Dolokhov only intensifies his torment by internal contradictions. The moral shock experienced by Pierre in a collision with Dolokhov awakens remorse in him and further aggravates the internal struggle. Thinking about the meaning of life, Pierre comes to Freemasonry. At first, he is fascinated by the atmosphere of mystery surrounding the Masons, but above all, he is looking for answers to the questions: “What is wrong? What well? What should you love, what should you hate? Why live, and what am I...” For some time here he finds the illusion of peace of mind and tries to implement his idea of ​​helping his neighbor in practical life. He sincerely seeks to alleviate the situation of his peasants, up to their liberation from serfdom. Here, for the first time, Pierre comes into contact with the people's environment, but this contact is superficial. All his good intentions remain misunderstood by the peasants. Moreover, Pierre is deceived by his own manager, "playing him like a toy." Here is how Tolstoy describes what came out of Pierre's innovations: “... he did not know that due to the fact that, on his orders, they stopped sending children - women with babies to corvée, these same children carried the most difficult work in their half. He did not know that the priest, who met him with a cross, weighed down the peasants with his requisitions and that the disciples gathered to him with tears were given to him and were bought off by their parents for big money. He did not know that the stone buildings, according to the plan, were erected by their workers and increased the corvée of the peasants, reduced only on paper ... And therefore Pierre was delighted with his journey through the estates and completely returned to the philanthropic mood in which he left Petersburg " . Pierre soon becomes disillusioned with Freemasonry, discovering that most Freemasons seek only profitable acquaintances in the organization, striving for personal gain. Dissatisfaction, the search for his "I" prepared his spiritual revival in the days of the war of 1812. Pierre is not a military man, but he cannot stand aside when his homeland is in danger. He sells his estate and uses these funds to form a regiment, which he takes for his own support. He himself remains in Moscow. Having seen the true face of Napoleon, having understood his aggressive goal, he no longer looks at him as a "liberator of peoples." Pierre wants to kill Napoleon, seeing in him the culprit of all the people's troubles. Left in Moscow, Pierre suffers and lives in poverty along with ordinary Muscovites. Here the true character of Pierre is revealed, his kindness, ability for self-sacrifice, patriotism. He protects a woman, stands up for a lunatic, saves a child from a burning house.
Having gone through fire, blood, tears, having touched human grief, having seen the war as it really is, Pierre begins to realize the falsity of his previous conclusions. Another truth is revealed to him, he comes to the ideal of folk life: “In captivity, in a booth, Pierre learned not with his mind, but with his whole being, with his life, that a person was created for happiness, that happiness is in himself, in satisfying natural human needs, that all misfortune comes not from lack, but from excess. The rich count, who, along with everyone else, ate horse meat, suffered from lice, trampled his feet in blood, he learned to appreciate and understand life. In captivity, Pierre meets a soldier of the Apsheron regiment, Platon Karataev, who becomes a real teacher for him. From Karataev, Pierre acquired the ability to obey the natural course of events and learned those folk truths, which he later followed. Tolstoy describes how, after returning from captivity, Pierre meets with soldiers who have settled down for a halt. He drinks tea with them, and then thinks that before he would have paid the soldiers for refreshments, but now he won’t. Here, it turns out, is what is needed in order to be understood by the people. To do this, it is necessary to fight together with him for common interests.
Count Bezukhov remained a fat, clumsy and absent-minded man. However, his inner life became different.
In the capital, his wife dies, and he marries Natasha. Seven years later, Pierre is a prominent public figure, the father of a family. She and Natasha love each other and are happy together. Once, when they were alone, Natasha said: “Do you know what I'm thinking about? - about Platon Karataev. How is he? Would you approve now?" The period of formation and search for Pierre is over. The time has come for true spiritual maturity.

Article menu:

Pierre Bezukhov is the character that evokes a feeling of admiration and pity at the same time. The uncommon appearance of a young man is definitely repulsive - Pierre looks flabby and ugly, but in contrast to this he is handsome in soul, and this is the special tragedy of this character. Tolstoy repeatedly leads the reader to the idea that it is good to love a beautiful, attractive person, while it is difficult to love an outwardly unpleasant person.

Childhood and youth of Pierre Bezukhov

Pierre Bezukhov was the illegitimate heir of Count Kirill Bezukhov. Despite everything, Count Cyril gave his son a decent education and upbringing - for ten years Pierre has been living abroad with his tutor, where he is studying.

At the age of 20, Pierre returns to Russia. At this point, Count Cyril was seriously ill and was on the verge of life and death. Despite the fact that the old count did not actually take a personal part in Pierre's upbringing and was a stranger and stranger to the young man, Pierre sincerely pities his father and worries about him.

Returning to Russia, Pierre was confused for some time - in view of his age, peculiarities of upbringing and sensitivity of nature, he draws for himself a life full of bright colors, disinterestedness and striving for the eternal and beautiful, but does not know where to start.

Dear readers! We bring to your attention the novel by L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace" chapter by chapter.

Pierre often appears in company with Anatole Kuragin, and also maintains friendly relations with Andrei Bolkonsky. At first glance, it seems that Pierre, in view of his naivety, is trying to be good for everyone, but in fact this is not so - the young man communicates with people of different characters and moral values ​​in order to determine what suits him.

Count Kirill Bezukhov soon dies, leaving all his countless wealth to Pierre. Since then, the young man has become the most desired guest in all homes and a promising groom. Prince Vasily Kuragin helps Pierre settle down in a new world for him - he contributes to the enrollment of Pierre in the diplomatic corps and the assignment of the rank of chamber junker to Bezukhov.
Soon, Prince Vasily managed to win over Pierre to himself and even marry him to his daughter.

Marriage to Elena

Elena Kuragina was not a typical "Russian woman". There was no shyness, no meekness of character, no wisdom in her. However, Elena, of course, possessed one of the most powerful weapons - beauty, charm and affectation. Many young people dreamed of having this girl, so Pierre, who, because of his appearance, was not the favorite of the fair sex, was captivated by Elena and quickly proposed to the girl.

Elena arouses passion in Pierre, carnal desire, which Bezukhov is ashamed of - in his concept these are low feelings. Pierre is convinced that the family is something sublime, based on harmony.

No matter how strong Pierre's passion is, he still has the ability to assess the situation - Pierre understands that Elena is stupid, but just cannot refuse her. While the young man was wondering if he needed Elena, Prince Vasily successfully arranged the situation so that Pierre became Elena's unofficial fiance. It was difficult for the mild-mannered Bezukhov to go against public opinion, and he proposed to Elena, although he realized that this was not the woman who suits him.

Disappointment in family life was not long in coming - Elena did not hide her disgust and directly stated that she did not intend to have children from a person like Bezukhov.

Dear readers! We propose to follow in the novel by L. N. Tolstoy "War and Peace".

At this point, Pierre begins to realize that his concept of family and family life was a utopia. Bezukhov slowly sinks into the blues and becomes absolutely unhappy in family life.
Elena did not become discouraged by family life and, using her husband's money, took the path of a socialite. Soon, the elite of society began to gather in the house of the Bezukhovs. Pierre himself did not take part in his wife's events and successfully retired from her life. Elena takes lovers, and soon the whole city begins to talk about her love affairs. The only person who was in the dark was Pierre Bezukhov, he still considered his wife honest and pious.

The news of his wife's infidelity for Pierre became an unpleasant event. An angry Bezukhov shows character for the first time - in a quarrel with his wife, he does not behave as usual - a shy mumble - anger and anger break out. Pierre ceases to live with his wife, but does not cease to sponsor her, which could not but please Elena.

Over time, Pierre again draws closer to his wife, but still it is not possible to live a full-fledged family. Elena is also cheating on her husband. That it is true that Bezukhov receives something like moral compensation for such behavior of his wife - a promotion, which, however, he is ashamed of. As a result, young people completely exhaust themselves within the framework of a joint marriage - Elena accepts Catholicism in order to divorce her husband, but does not have time to fulfill her plan - the woman dies. Thus, the marriage of Pierre Bezukhov with the beautiful Elena Kuragina lasted 6 years.

Tolstoy does not detail the description of the recreated effect on Pierre with this piece of news. Elena's death occurs during Pierre's stay in captivity and, as a result, his acquaintance with Karataev. Based on the general situation, it can be assumed that he experienced considerable relief, since the death of Elena allowed him to regain freedom and inner balance.

freemasonry

Difficult relationships in marriage and a sense of disharmony of oneself as a person contribute to the desire to find oneself in this world, to feel needed and useful.

Pierre was far from religion - he did not believe in God, therefore, even in a difficult period of his life, he does not feel the need to seek solace in the bosom of religion. By chance, Bezukhov meets Joseph Alekseevich Bazdeev, who was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

The ideas of this society soon captivate the young man - he sees this as an opportunity to find happiness. Freemasons gladly accept Pierre into their ranks. The reason for this cordiality lies in the state of Bezukhov - Pierre can make significant sums as a donation. Proceeding from this position, Pierre's disappointment in Freemasonry was not long in coming. In 1808, Pierre unexpectedly became the head of St. Petersburg Freemasonry.

The death of Bazdeev became unpleasant news in the life of Bezukhov - Pierre loses all interest in social activities and self-development. In the same period, Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky are betrothed - Pierre, of course, has friendly feelings towards Prince Andrei, but cannot be happy for him - his sympathy for Natasha does not allow him to do this. As a result, Bezukhov begins to live like a real rake - he could often be seen in carousing and drinking with Anatole Kuragin.

Pierre at war

In 1812, life is preparing another unpleasant surprise for Bezukhov - the war with Napoleon. This event for Pierre becomes doubly unpleasant. On the one hand, the very process of military events is unpleasant for Pierre - by nature he is a peace-loving person. On the other hand, Bezukhov has always admired the image of Napoleon both as a political person and as a commander, but after Bonaparte has a desire to seize Russia, Pierre's admiration for this person disappears, and his place is taken by deep disappointment and even anger.

Pierre decides to serve the Motherland - he goes to the front. Due to his condition, Bezukhov provides materially for the regiment - Bezukhov cannot personally take part in hostilities, and in general, he is not a military man.

When, nevertheless, Pierre appears on the battlefields, everyone around notes that Bezukhov's concept of war is very spatial - his figure in white trousers and an excellent suit looks very comical against the backdrop of the whole massacre.

Pierre perceives everything with some kind of enthusiasm and solemnity. He notes that the faces of the officers from Kutuzov's entourage were imprinted with "warmth of feelings." Ordinary soldiers, on the other hand, do not perceive Bezukhov so cordially - anger and bewilderment are read on their faces. They do not understand what this gentleman in an exquisite hat is doing here. No matter how flattered Pierre is by the military smoke, he nevertheless notices such an attitude of the soldiers towards himself and he becomes embarrassed. Pierre loses this sense of unity with the military, which arose at the very beginning, he understands that he is superfluous here.

However, this trend did not last long - the soldiers noticed that Pierre was walking “under bullets as if on a boulevard”, not being afraid of either shells or death, and were imbued with sympathy for this eccentric stranger. Soon Pierre became a favorite at all. When the euphoria has passed, Pierre plunges into a spleen - of course, he had understood and realized before that the war does not happen without victims, but the sight of the dead soldiers, who just a minute ago laughed and joked, had an extremely depressing effect on him.

Under the general influence, Pierre decides to accomplish a feat - to kill Napoleon, who was so dearly beloved by him. However, Bezukhov's plan fails. Pierre is captured. Being in French captivity opened Pierre's eyes to many things. Thanks to Platon Karataev, Bezukhov begins to realize life values ​​and rethink them. Finally, Pierre embarks on a path that gives him hope for happiness and harmony.

Marriage to Natasha Rostova

The events of the war with Napoleon became significant in the lives of many people. So, Natasha Rostova nevertheless realized her affection for Prince Andrei, but she was not destined to find happiness with this man - Bolkonsky was seriously injured and soon died. During the period of moral exhaustion of Natalia, Pierre Bezukhov appears in her life, but not as a good friend and friend, but as a fiancé.

This time, Pierre was not mistaken in choosing his wife - the calm and meek Natalia became the embodiment of his youthful ideal of a wife. Natasha was not interested in social life, she was rarely in public and was reluctant to receive guests at her place.

In the marriage of Rostova and Bezukhov, three daughters and a son are born. Natalia devoted herself completely to family life.

Pierre and the secret society

The social activities of Pierre Bezukhov do not end with the beginning of family life. in the last chapters of the novel, Tolstoy repeatedly makes hints that Pierre belongs to some kind of secret organization. According to researchers, these hints mean activities in the organization of the Decembrists - Pierre's youthful desire to change the world for the better does not leave him.

Summarize: Pierre Bezukhov is to some extent the forerunner of a new era - humanism and humane changes in society. Despite all the difficulties, Pierre does not remain in the abyss of social life, his desire to help others, to make the world a better place turns out to be stronger than alcohol, balls and the beauty of women. Bezukhov's moral dissatisfaction spurs him on to find new ways to realize himself in society. The path of his quest is definitely not the easiest - many disappointments become a real test for a young man. At the end of the novel, Pierre receives a worthy reward - a happy family and the opportunity to help others.

The young hero lived and studied abroad, returning to his homeland by the age of twenty. The boy suffered from the fact that he was an illegitimate child of noble birth.

The life path of Pierre Bezukhov in the novel "War and Peace" is a search for the meaning of human existence, the formation of a consciously mature member of society.

Petersburg Adventures

The first appearance of the young count took place on the soiree of Anna Scherrer, with a description of which the epic work of Leo Tolstoy begins. The angular guy, resembling a bear, was not dexterous in court etiquette, he allowed himself behavior that was somewhat impolite towards the nobles.

After ten years of strict upbringing, deprived of parental love, the guy finds himself in the company of the unlucky Prince Kuragin. A wild life begins without the restrictions of tutors, prejudices and control.

Alcohol flows like water, children of wealthy representatives of the nobility are walking in a noisy company. Rarely there are cases of lack of money, few dare to complain about the hussars.

Pierre is young, the awareness of his own personality has not yet come, there is no craving for any occupation. The revelry eats up time, the days seem eventful and cheerful. But once the company, in a drunken stupor, tied a sentry to the back of a trained bear. The beast was released into the Neva and laughed, looking at the yelling law enforcement officer.

The patience of society came to an end, the instigators of hooliganism were demoted in rank, and the stumbled young man was sent to his father.

Legacy fight

Arriving in Moscow, Pierre learns that Kirill Bezukhov is ill. The old nobleman had many children, all illegitimate and without inheritance. Anticipating a fierce struggle for the wealth left by him after his death, his father asks Emperor Alexander I to recognize Pierre as his legitimate son and heir.

Intrigues related to the redistribution of capital and real estate begin. The influential prince Vasily Kuragin enters the struggle for the Bezukhovs' inheritance, planning to marry the young count to his daughter.

After losing his father, the young man falls into depression. Loneliness makes him withdraw, he is not happy with wealth and the title of count, which fell unexpectedly. Demonstrating concern for the inexperienced heir, Prince Kuragin arranges for him a prestigious place in the diplomatic corps.

Love and marriage

Helen was beautiful, seductive, able to make eyes. The girl knew what men liked and how to attract attention. It was not difficult to catch a sluggish young man in his nets.

Pierre was inspired, the nymph seemed to him so fantastic, inaccessible, secretly desired. He wanted to possess her so much that he had no strength to voice his feelings. Having developed passion and confusion in the soul of the gentleman, Prince Kuragin with an effort organized and announced the engagement of Bezukhov with his daughter.

Their marriage was a disappointment for the man. In vain he looked for signs of female wisdom in his chosen one. They had absolutely nothing to talk about. The wife did not know anything of what the husband was interested in. On the contrary, everything that Helen wanted or dreamed about was petty, not worthy of attention.

Severance of relations and return to St. Petersburg

The connection between Countess Bezukhova and Dolokhov became known to everyone, the lovers did not hide it, they spent a lot of time together. The Count challenges Dolokhov to a duel, offended by the painful situation. Having wounded an opponent, the man remained completely unharmed.

Realizing, finally, that he connected his life not with a chaste modest woman, but with a woman, cynical and depraved, the count goes to the capital. Hatred tormented his heart, desolation filled his soul with pain. The collapse of hopes for a quiet family life plunged Pierre into despondency, existence lost all meaning.

An unsuccessful marriage brought misfortune to the count, he turned away from his religious views, becoming a member of the Masonic society. He really wanted to be needed by someone, to turn his life into a stream of virtuous deeds, to become an impeccable member of society.

Bezukhov begins to improve the life of the peasants, but he does not succeed, it is more difficult to restore the desired order in the estates than he thought. With the estate, the count becomes the head of the St. Petersburg Masonic Society.

Before the war

The reunion with Helen took place in 1809 under pressure from her father-in-law. The wife loved social life, circled the heads of men at balls. Pierre was accustomed to consider her his punishment from the Lord and patiently carried his burden.

A couple of times, through the efforts of his wife's lovers, he was promoted in the public service. This made me feel completely disgusted and embarrassed. The hero suffers, rethinks life and changes internally.

Pierre's only joy was friendship with Natasha Rostova, but after her engagement to Prince Bolkonsky, friendly visits had to be abandoned. Fate made a new zigzag.

Once again disappointed in his human purpose, Bezukhov leads a hectic life. The shocks suffered radically change the appearance of the hero. He returns to Moscow, where he finds noisy companies, champagne and nightly fun to drown out his heartache.

War changes mindset

Bezukhov goes to the front as a volunteer when the French army approaches Moscow. The battle of Borodino became a significant date in the life of Pierre. A sea of ​​blood, a field strewn with the bodies of soldiers, the patriot Bezukhov will never forget.

Four weeks of captivity became a turning point for the hero. Everything that had previously seemed important seemed insignificant in the face of enemy aggression. Now the count knew how to build his life.

Family and Children

After being released from captivity, it became known about the death of Helen. Remaining a widower, Bezukhov renewed his friendship with Natasha, who in grief experienced the death of Andrei Bolkonsky. It was another Pierre, the war cleansed his soul.

In 1813, he married Natasha Rostova in the hope of finding his own happiness. Three daughters and a son made up the meaning of the life of a hero who could not calm down his craving for the common good and virtue.

Leo Tolstoy loves his hero, who in some ways resembles the author. For example, his aversion to war, true humanism and a benevolent attitude towards the whole world.