SECOND SOCIETY IN THE PICTURE OF LN TOLSTOY. Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" was created during the rapid social development of Russia. The revolutionary democrats became widely known and attracted the attention of the entire progressive intelligentsia. In Russia, a struggle broke out between the liberal nobles and the revolutionary democrats. Leo Tolstoy was not a member of the society of revolutionaries, but he always defended the position of the patriarchal peasantry, forever breaking with the noble class. The great writer had reasons for this - mainly, it seems to me, of a moral nature. For a long life in a noble nest and an equally long observation of the life of the common people, the great writer was still able to determine for himself the environment where true human values can exist - the people. After such a choice, these inert, degenerate, satiated people in brilliant clothes no longer mattered to the writer. He focused his attention on people of spirit. But the noble society has always been the subject of his stinging criticism.
In the novel, the writer reflected his innermost thoughts about the noble society, especially sharply opposed the metropolitan nobility, the so-called secular society.
At the very beginning of the novel, the author introduces the reader to a typical representative of the high society Anna Pavlovna Sherer. This is a cunning and dexterous woman who has formed a circle of high society, “in which there is nothing truthful, simple and natural. Everything is saturated through and through with lies, falsehood, heartlessness and hypocrisy. "
The closest person to Anna Pavlovna is Prince Vasily Kuragin. He is the head of the family of the famous Kuragin family and one of the most successful businessmen of that time. It should be noted that the writer had a special dislike and contempt for people like Kuragin.
So, Prince Vasily is a secular person, a careerist and an egoist. He aspires to become the heir of a dying rich nobleman - Count Bezukhov. But this dream did not come true. All inheritance of the old count by will passed to his illegitimate son - Pierre Bezukhov. Prince Vasily immediately realized that by marrying Pierre to his daughter Helene, he would become a rich father-in-law. Having arranged this wedding, he dreams of another. He fired up with the dream of finding a place for his son Anatole. In his concept, this means it is beneficial to marry him. The kuragin go to Prince Bolkonsky to ask for the hand of his daughter. But the old Bolkonsky quickly figured out the selfish plans of Prince Vasily and refused to Anatol, who did not care. Anatole does not have firm moral principles, as his father and sister Helen do not have.
Helen's only virtue is beauty. When she walks through the hall, the dazzling whiteness of her shoulders attracts the glances of all the surrounding men. Helene began to shine especially brightly with her splendor and beauty in the light after marriage. She did not miss a single ball and was a welcome guest everywhere. Pierre was her complete opposite in character and felt an increasing dislike for his wife. Naturally, he was indifferent to Helen's behavior, he was not even jealous of her. He well defined its essence: "Where you are, there is debauchery."
But back to the Kuragin. I must say that in order to achieve their goals, they did not stop at anything. This is Anatol. Not loving Natasha Rostova, he does everything possible to get her hand. For this, Anatol decided to play a performance of ardent love and take her away secretly from his parents' house, so to speak, in the best romantic traditions.
But the play fails. Seeing that the girl understood his intentions, he leaves for the active army in order to avoid the stinging talk of the world.
Exactly the same rake and veil is the second son of Prince Vasily - Ippolit. But to the characteristic features of Hippolytus, one must also add his mental limitations, which makes his actions especially absurd.
Using the Kuragin family as an example, Tolstoy portrayed typical representatives of the world, for whom personal interests have always been paramount.
Both Boris Drubetskoy and Berg belong to the world. The goal of their life is to be in the spotlight of the world all the time, to be able to get a "warm place", have a rich wife, create a brilliant career and get to the "top".
The writer also makes it clear that the main representatives of the world are the king himself, his retinue, the military and civil administration. The emperor grants all possible privileges in rights to the nobles. I want to complete this series of secular society Arakcheev - a serviceable, cruel, executive guardian of order, or rather, the well-being of secular society.
In Tolstoy's novel, secular society exists as a background against which the events of the present, high, tragic and wonderful life of the Russian people and the best representatives of the nobility unfold.
The acquaintance of readers with high society occurs already on the first pages of Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace", when we find ourselves in the salon of A.P. Scherer. We cannot fail to notice the author's ironic attitude to the insincerity, ostentatious stiffness, mannerism of the guests of this grand lady. Secular lioness Anna Pavlovna, as was customary in the world, very strictly approached the selection of guests for her magnificent evening: “How a good head waiter serves as something supernaturally beautiful that piece of beef that you don't want to eat if you see it in a dirty kitchen, so this evening Anna Pavlovna served to her guests first the viscount, then the abbot, as something supernaturally refined. "
The choice of guests is not explained by their human qualities or the level of intelligence, but by nobility and wealth. The viscount and the abbot are some kind of dessert at this secular evening and serve to give it significance, splendor, weight, just as exotic overseas fruits are used to decorate the table.
Tolstoy compares Anna Pavlovna Sherer to “the owner of the spinning workshop” who methodically seated his “workers in their workplaces”, where everyone performs his task, and he himself walks around the workshop, keeping order. Tolstoy writes: "... so Anna Pavlovna, walking around her living room, approached a circle that had stopped talking or talked too much and, with one word or movement, again started a uniform, decent talking machine."
Everything here is luxurious, prim, somehow unnatural. Therefore, Scherer scares the new guest - “massive, fat” Pierre Bezukhov, “the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine’s nobleman.” Fat, big, a little awkward, so inelegant and unaristocratic, he does not know secular manners at all and does not know how to behave in society. Anna Pavlovna also fears “an intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural gaze that distinguished him from everyone else in this living room.” This is what scares people moving in secular circles: a real, lively mind, spontaneity, simplicity.
And Pierre is still very naive. This is such a kind person that he does not even have a thought about bad people. He cannot admit that in a secular society there can be people like the cold, calculating Prince Kuragin and his daughter Helen. Or unprincipled and vile Anatol, who, without hesitation, destroys a person's life. Or Bergam with their cynical life formula: “you can and should always have acquaintances of people who are higher than you, because then only there is a pleasantness from acquaintances” and so that there would be no more children, because “you have to live for society”.
The naive Pierre still sincerely believes that truly intelligent people gathered at this evening, "and his eyes ran like a child in a toy shop": "he was still afraid to miss clever conversations that he might hear." Pierre is looking forward to "something particularly clever."
Time will pass, and on the fateful day for Russia - the day of the Battle of Borodino - high society will also gather here to have a good time, demonstrate new outfits in public and express loud declarations of love for Russia. On a terrible day for Russia, the guests of Scherer did not have enough tact not to arrange a magnificent evening out of respect for those people who now, where blood is shed, are heard the groans and cries of the dying. But Tolstoy writes: "At Anna Pavlovna's August 26th, on the very day of the Battle of Borodino, there was an evening, the flower of which should have been the reading of a letter from the Right Reverend, written when sending the emperor to the image of St. Sergius."
To read this letter was entrusted to Prince Vasily, who became famous for "his art of reading." Reading this letter "was of political importance." And these people, drowning in luxury, still had the conscience to condemn Kutuzov! Receiving alarming news about the state of affairs of the war with the French, representatives of the secular nobility sighed and said: "What is the position of the sovereign!" Now they no longer "did not extol it, like the day before yesterday, but ... condemned Kutuzov, who was the cause of the sovereign's anxiety." Meanwhile, the whole patriotism of these people boils down to the fact that they refuse to speak French for some time and fined those who violated this rule in favor of the needs of the Russian army.
Representatives of high society consider marriage between people, first of all, as a mutually beneficial, social union. Here we, together with Natasha Rostova, rejoice at her first ball, her first great love, her success. And here Peronskaya comments: “This is a millionaire - a bride. And here are the suitors. " Among the suitors is Boris Drubetskoy. All fans of an ugly girl want only a profitable marriage, despite the lack of at least some kind of sympathy for the girl.
Prince Vasily, deciding to marry Helene to the rich Pierre, arranges this marriage, which is destined to become unhappy. He behaves like a subtle psychologist, strategist. Prince Vasily forgets that a family union of two people is also a spiritual union, mutual understanding.
Unfortunately, such marriages take place even in the wonderful Rostov family! Even in this family, where comfort, complete mutual understanding, sincere, ardent affection for each other reign. Nikolenka and Sonya have been in love with each other since childhood, they swore fidelity. But miracles happen only in a fairy tale. Sonya lives in the Rostov family, does not need anything, she is a full member of this friendly family. But all the same, she is a dowry, who has nothing. The affairs of the Rostovs are not in very good condition, and this marriage can ruin them altogether.
The Rostovs need money. The Count and Countess protest against Nikolenka's marriage to Sonya, and he marries Marya Bolkonskaya. Of course, Marya turned out to be a wonderful girl. Marya and Nikolai truly fell in love with each other, created a good family, but the fact remains: unprofitable marriages are unacceptable in high society.
Tolstoy's attitude to high society is ambiguous. He perfectly sees the vices of the world: insincerity, stiffness, arrogance, deceit, self-interest. But the upper world in Tolstoy is also intelligent, noble people with a subtle mental organization. These are Pierre Bezukhov, and Natasha Rostova, and Andrei Bolkonsky, and Marya Bolkonskaya, and Nikolai Rostov. These are people who know how to love, know how to forgive and truly love their Russia.
Creating his grandiose novel, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy could not help but pay attention to the secular society, which in most cases consisted of nobles.
The secular society of that period of Russia's development was divided into two types - St. Petersburg and Moscow. Tolstoy tries to give a separate description of the St. Petersburg meetings and the Moscow gatherings of the nobles.
When Tolstoy worked on the creation of his novel, St. Petersburg was one of the coldest and most inhospitable cities. Therefore, the secular society that reigned in it could not radiate other qualities. Petersburg can be safely considered the intellectual center of the country. He was seriously oriented towards Europe.
The peculiarity of St. Petersburg society was pretense and unnaturalness. The characters with whom the author introduces us are simply just playing their part, taking an example from other members of secular meetings and imitating the manners they saw. During meetings and receptions, all those present necessarily discussed the news of the world and the country. Everyone tried to seem smart, well-read, well-mannered. However, it was only an illusion that overshadowed all the characters, without exception.
Pretense is the principle that characterizes the behavior of St. Petersburg society to the utmost and clearly.
Getting acquainted with the Moscow society, the reader understands that the author himself sympathizes more with its representatives and members. Of course, the behavior of the characters is somewhat similar to each other, however, in Moscow society we meet real, living personalities. They are endowed with natural emotions and feelings. They have the right to vote. They express their emotions the way they feel, and not the way others require it.
In Moscow society, the reader often sees the presence of children. They are the ones who defuse the situation.
The Rostov family is a prominent representative of Moscow society. They are closer to the people, they are closer to the Russian traditions that existed at that time! And it seems to me that the author himself is in many ways sympathetic to the Moscow nobility.
On the pages of the novel, Tolstoy uses such a technique as "detachment". This can be clearly seen in the example of the St. Petersburg society, whose members often used French as a spoken language! Of course, this feature for the most part was a kind of alienation from the general mass of the population of Russia.
Observing the world around him, carefully peering into its inhabitants, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was able to reliably describe the secular society of that period of time. He masterfully conveyed its features and differences, informing and familiarizing each reader with them.
The secular society in the novel "War and Peace" is one of the key themes in the study of the epic. After all, it is precisely this that is an integral part of the events taking place. Against its background, the main features of the main characters, who are its representatives, are most clearly visible. And finally, it also indirectly participates in the development of the plot.
general characteristics
The secular society occupies a prominent place in the novel. And it is no coincidence that the story begins with him. The aristocratic salon of one of the heroines becomes a kind of stage. It is where the interests, opinions, ideas of the nobles collide, among which are the main characters in the work: Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. And the reader is immediately asked the question: what is this most secular society, which occupies such a prominent place in the novel?
The writer describes in great detail a gathering of people, which is usually called this concept. He shows that it consists of representatives of the highest aristocracy, who are almost all cold, arrogant, prim and preoccupied only with their own benefit. Against this background, Pierre's sincerity, directness, sociability and friendliness, the nobility and dignity of Prince Andrei are emphasized even more.
Description of behavior
An important place in the first chapters of the work is played by the secular society. War and Peace is an epic novel. And so the psychology of the protagonists unfolds against a broad background. In this case, the reader sees the central characters surrounded by typical representatives of the high nobility. The writer describes them as outwardly very well-mannered, mannered, polite and helpful people. They make a good impression and seem kind. However, the author immediately makes it clear: this is only an appearance. For example, when describing Prince Vasily, the writer emphasizes that his face looked like a mask. Thus, he immediately makes the reader understand that everything that happens in the salon is fake and unnatural.
Princess salon
Another representative of the high society, Anna Pavlovna Sherer, makes about the same impression. Although from the first time she seems very sociable and good-natured. But from the way she relates to Pierre, the reader understands: her kindness and helpfulness are feigned. In fact, this woman only cares about decency and decorum in her salon. The secular society gathered at her should behave according to a strictly established order. And she does not favor those who behave differently. Pierre allows himself to directly and frankly express his thoughts, which immediately causes her displeasure.
Nobles of Petersburg
The secular society represented in the novel lives in the two main cities of the country: St. Petersburg and Moscow. The aristocracy of the Northern capital mainly spends their time attending balls, receptions, indulging in other amusements. However, the author has an extremely negative attitude towards these people, who hide coldness, stiffness and arrogance behind the external cheerfulness and good nature. Any sincere expression of feelings among them is not welcome. On the contrary, all life proceeds according to a planned order, a departure from which is highly undesirable.
Sincere expression of feelings, free expression of one's opinion also meets criticism. Inner, spiritual beauty is not appreciated here. But, on the contrary, ostentatious gloss is of great importance. A striking example is the image of Helen Bezukhova. Outwardly, she is very beautiful and effective, but in fact she is not a person in the moral sense of the word. It is not surprising that Pierre quickly breaks with her: being sincere by nature, he was never able to come to terms with his wife's hypocrisy.
Aristocracy of Moscow
The author described the secular society of the capital of Russia with greater sympathy and warmth. Attention is drawn to the following curious fact. At first glance, these people are very similar to the metropolitan nobility. However, very soon it turns out that they are more sincere, good-natured, honest and sociable. In general, they make a very good impression, despite the fact that the writer notes their shortcomings.
A description of the secular society in Moscow should begin with an overview of the Rostov family. Its members are open, hospitable, friendly, sociable. They are more open and direct in the manifestation of their thoughts and feelings, in contrast to other aristocracy. So, the old count is very cheerful and friendly. He goes into all the details of the upcoming holiday, discovering in communication the features of a very good-natured and spontaneous person. With this, he immediately wins the sympathy of readers who feel the difference between him and his guests, Princess Anna Scherer and her salon, where everyone is prim and busy only with the formalities.
The Bolkonsky family as the best representatives of the nobility
The characterization of secular society in the epic novel under consideration should be supplemented by an overview of the families of the protagonists. Since it was in their characters that the author embodied those features that he considered the best among the high society. For example, the Bolkonskys lead a rather secluded life. And only Prince Andrey periodically appears in the light. But the reader immediately understands that he is doing this solely to comply with the necessary formalities.
In fact, he is so clearly a stranger, although he is accepted everywhere as a representative of a rich and noble family. Nevertheless, the prince does not like the people around him, because he feels falsity and hypocrisy in their communication. Therefore, he is so eager to go to war in order to escape from his annoying existence, which was filled with senseless visits, balls and receptions. This immediately distinguishes the prince from the rest of the nobility of St. Petersburg.
Princess Marya, his sister, led a very secluded life. And she retained her best qualities of a moral person. That is why she is attracted to Nikolai Rostov, who, in the end, marries her, and not Sonia, whom he has been in love with since childhood. Prince Nikolai Andreevich was an old nobleman who, despite all his severity, retained the nobility, honesty and openness of a nobleman. Perhaps that is why he did not fit into the capital's aristocratic circles in any way and sat desperately in his estate, not leaving anywhere.
The Rostov family
These people are also the best representatives of the nobility of the time in question. They are very different from the Bolkonskiys both in character and in lifestyle. However, they are united by honest and decent behavior, openness, kindness, sincerity. The former are more reserved, others are open, sociable, friendly. However, neither one nor the other does not fit into the usual concept of a secular society.
The Rostovs enjoy universal respect and love. And this is indicative in the sense that not all the upper strata were stiff and cold, like the guests in the salon of Princess Scherer. The images of the old count, his wife, Sonya, young Natasha, her brothers - Nikolai and Peter - are very pretty and attractive. They immediately have openness and spontaneity to themselves. At the same time, the writer, striving for the maximum realistic depiction of reality, also describes the shortcomings of these people, showing that they also tend to make mistakes. For example, Nikolai Rostov loses a large sum and generally leads a riotous lifestyle. And yet, these people have more positive qualities than negative ones. Therefore, the author considers them, along with the Bolkonskys, to be the best representatives of the nobility.
A few words in conclusion
So, the image of the nobility and their way of life is presented in the novel in sufficient detail, expressively, and most importantly - realistic. In this case, one recalls what the princess says about secular society: in her opinion, it is a kind of backbone of the then public life. Therefore, when referring to a work, you should pay a lot of attention to this topic.
1. "War and Peace" is an epic novel.
2. Concept and history of the appearance of the work.
3. Petersburgers and Muscovites in the novel.
4. The value of the work for understanding the society of the XIX century.
What is passion? - because sooner or later their sweet affliction
Disappear at the word of reason; And life, as you look around with cold attention -
Such an empty and stupid joke ...
M.Yu.Lermontov
"War and Peace" by L. N. Tolstoy is one of the greatest works that has entered the world classics of literature. A long and painstaking work was carried out on the novel. The writer began it in 1863, and finished it only six years later - in 1869. During this time, the novel underwent multiple corrections and was rewritten several times, practically from scratch.
The idea of the novel can be judged by the following letter addressed to A. I. Herzen and dated 1861: “I started a novel four months ago, the hero of which should be the returning Decembrist ... in 56 to Russia with his wife, son and daughter and trying on his strict and somewhat ideal view of the new Russia ... ”. However, the initial idea expanded and changed over time (Tolstoy's diary entry): “Unwittingly, I moved from the present to 1825, the era of delusions and misfortunes of my hero, and left what I had begun. But even in 1825 my hero was already a mature, family man. To understand him, I had to travel back to his youth, and his youth coincided with the glorious epoch of 1812 for Russia. Another time I gave up what I had begun and began to write from the time of 1812, of which the smell and sound are still audible and dear to us ... triumph in the struggle against Bonaparte France, without describing our failures and our shame. So, from 1856, returning to 1805, from that time on I intend to lead not one, but many of my heroines and heroes through the historical events of 1805, 1807, 1812, 1825 and 1856 ”.
In this novel, also called an epic novel, the author managed to convey the life of the Russian nobility of the first half of the 19th century with great precision, vividness and at the same time it is interesting. A significant role is also assigned to the description of a secular society, at that time divided into two very different from each other and constantly warring with each other "camps" - Moscow and St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg, which at that time was the capital city, is still distinguished by its austere and cold beauty. He is unfriendly, unapproachable and beautiful. It is on a par with European cities, as it is itself a window to Europe. The high society of St. Petersburg is a special, closed and isolated world with its own laws and orders. The morals and customs of the members of this society are oriented towards European traditions. But the first striking difference of such people is the extreme unnaturalness of thoughts, words, gestures. Representatives of this circle are too much accustomed to the fact that going out into society is a game where you have to keep your face and you cannot show sincere emotions and feelings. It is no coincidence that Prince Vasily, who has a direct relationship to this category of people, has been repeatedly compared to an actor.
The main and favorite type of intellectual pastime of St. Petersburg society is the so-called salons. They talked about everything and nothing at the same time: they discussed acquaintances, politicians and emperors, news of war and culture. Naturally, the communication was conducted "at the highest level" and an unfamiliar person might think that the things discussed by these people are very important and serious, and the people who are talking are well-read and smart. However, this is not so, because it is no coincidence that the author himself compares one of these salons of Madame Scherer with a “talking machine”. There is in these techniques something indifferent, mechanical, acting without emotions according to the program set by the operator.
Such a pastime cannot satisfy an intelligent, inquisitive and lively person - there is too little soul and really important words in him. However, the people who form the basis of this society need such entertainment. For such salon patrons, this demeanor and communication extends to family life, devoid of warmth and understanding and full of mechanical cold calculation. A typical Petersburg family is the Kuragin's "clan".
Moscow society is presented quite differently. Despite some similarities with St. Petersburg, Moscow noblemen evoke great readership. The first mention of the Moscow high society is the description of the Rostovs' house. The morning reception of guests, timed to coincide with the name day, on the one hand, resembles the gatherings at Scherer's - the same gossip, as well as empty conversations and discussion of important matters. The scope of the conversations is less, as well as the lesser amount of feigned surprise and deceit, which completely disappear from the premises with the arrival of the children. Children bring with them happiness, spontaneity, light and purity, and together with them adults begin to enjoy life.
At the reception, the main qualities of Moscow high society are fully manifested - hospitality, family, hospitality. Moscow society resembles one big family with common troubles and joys. Here, everyone knows about everyone and forgives each other minor sins, although they can publicly scold. Thus, Natasha Rostova's trick, which is natural for Moscow, in St. Petersburg society will be absolutely unacceptable. Moscow light is closer to the people, remembers and honors their traditions. The author's sympathies are on the sides of Muscovites, it is not for nothing that the Rostovs live in Moscow. And although Muscovites also have drawbacks (the same gossip), Tolstoy does not focus on them.
When portraying a secular society, the author constantly resorts to the method of "detachment", which allows him to look at the heroes from a new, not previously considered side. Likewise, the French language in the speech of the heroes is the same method of "detachment", which makes it possible to more accurately convey the thoughts and emotions of society. Speaking mainly French and German.
The epic novel was created already in the second half of the 19th century, that is, the author could not be a witness of the time period described by him and used the works of writers, historical documents. It is for this reason that the portrayal of society in a work is both traditional and revolutionary. Thanks to the skillfully created characters of the heroes and correctly described details of social life, the novel "War and Peace" became a kind of encyclopedia of the Russian nobility of the first quarter of the 19th century.
