L Tolstoy the role of personality in history. Tolstoy's assessment of the role of personality in history. As assessed by L.N. Tolstoy's role of personality in history? What importance does he attach to the private and social life of a person? Tutorials and thematic links for schoolchildren, students and everyone

Essay based on the novel “War and Peace.” Tolstoy's main idea is that a historical event is something that develops spontaneously, it is an unforeseen result of the conscious activity of all people, ordinary participants in history. Is a person free in his choice?

The writer claims that a person consciously lives for himself, but serves as an unconscious tool for achieving historical universal goals. A person is always determined by many factors: society, nationality, family, level of intelligence, etc. But in

Within this framework, he is free in his choice. And it is precisely a certain sum of identical “choices” that determines the type of event, its consequences, etc.

Tolstoy notes about the participants in the war: “They were afraid, rejoiced, became indignant, reflected, believing that they knew what they were doing and what they were doing for themselves, but still they were an involuntary instrument of history: they did something hidden from them, but understandable to them.” us work. Such is the unchangeable fate of all practical figures. Providence forced all these people, who were trying to achieve their goal, to assist in the accomplishment of one huge result, which not a single person - not Napoleon, not Alexander, much less any of the participants in the war - even hoped for.”

According to Tolstoy, a great man carries within himself the moral foundations of the people and feels his moral obligation to people. Therefore, Napoleon’s ambitious claims reveal him as a person who does not understand the significance of the events that are taking place. Considering himself to be the ruler of the world, Napoleon is deprived of that inner spiritual freedom, which consists in recognizing necessity. “There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth,” Tolstoy proclaims such a verdict on Napoleon.

Tolstoy emphasizes the moral greatness of Kutuzov and calls him a great man, since he set the interests of the entire people as the goal of his activities. Understanding the historical event was the result of Kutuzov’s renunciation of “everything personal”, the subordination of his actions to a common goal. It expresses the people's soul and patriotism.

According to Tolstoy, the will of one person is worth nothing. Yes, Napoleon, believing in the power of his will, considers himself the creator of history, but in reality he is a plaything of fate,” “an insignificant instrument of history.” Tolstoy showed the internal lack of freedom of individualistic consciousness, embodied in the personality of Napoleon, since real freedom is always associated with the implementation of laws, with the voluntary submission of the will to a “high goal.” Kutuzov is free from the captivity of vanity and ambition, and therefore understands the general laws of life.

Napoleon sees only himself, and therefore does not understand the essence of events. So Tolstoy objects to the claims of one person to a special role in history.

The life path of the main characters of “War and Peace”, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Count Pierre Bezukhov, is a painful search, together with Russia, for a way out of personal and social discord to “peace”, to the intelligent and harmonious life of people. Andrei and Pierre are not satisfied with the petty, selfish interests of the “higher world”, idle talk in secular salons. Their soul is open to the whole world.

They cannot live without thinking, without planning, without deciding for themselves and for people the main questions about the meaning of life, about the purpose of human existence. This makes them related and is the basis of their friendship.

Andrei Bolkonsky is an extraordinary personality, a strong nature, who thinks logically and does not look for beaten easy paths in life. He tries to live for others, but separates himself from them. Pierre is an emotional person.

Sincere, spontaneous, sometimes naive, but immensely kind. Character traits of Prince Andrei: firmness, authority, cold mind, ardent patriotism. A clearly formed view of the life of Prince Andrei.

He strives for his “throne”, glory, power. The ideal for Prince Andrei was the French Emperor Napoleon. In an effort to put his officer rank to the test, he joins the army.

The feat of Andrei Bolkonsky during the Battle of Austerlitz. Disappointment in one's ideals, previous ordeals and confinement in the home circle. The beginning of the renewal of Prince Andrei: the transfer of Bogucharovsky peasants to free farmers, participation in the work of the Speransky committee, love for Natasha.

Pierre's life is a path of discoveries and disappointments. His life and searches convey that great phenomenon in Russian history that is called the Decembrist movement. Pierre's character traits are intelligence, prone to dreamy philosophical considerations, confusion, weak will, lack of initiative, inability to do anything practically, exceptional kindness.

The ability to awaken others to life with your sincerity and friendly sympathy. Friendship with Prince Andrey, deep, sincere love for Natasha.

Both of them begin to understand and realize that the separation of people, the loss of spirituality is the main reason for the troubles and suffering of people. This is war. Peace is agreement between people, agreement of a person with himself. The War of 1812 awakens Prince Andrey to active activity.

Perceiving the French attack as a personal disaster. Andrei joins the active army and refuses the offer to become Kutuzov’s adjutant. Andrey's courageous behavior on the Borodino field.

Fatal wound.

The Battle of Borodino is the culmination of the life of Prince Andrei. His dying sufferings helped him understand the new Christian love. Empathy, love for brothers, for those who love us, for those who hate us, love for the enemy, which God preached on earth and which Andrei did not understand.

Deeply “civilian” Pierre Bezukhov at war. Pierre, being an ardent patriot of the Motherland, gives his funds to form an encirclement regiment, dreams of killing Napoleon, for which he remains in Moscow. Pierre's captivity and purification through physical and moral suffering, and his meeting with Platon Karataev helped Pierre's spiritual rebirth.

He becomes convinced of the need to restructure the state and after the war becomes one of the organizers and leaders of the Decembrists.

Prince Andrei and Pierre Bezukhov - people with such different characters become friends precisely because they both think about and try to understand their purpose in life. Everyone is constantly searching for the truth and meaning of life. That is why they are close to each other.

Noble, equal, highly moral people. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Count Pierre Bezukhov are the best people in Russia.

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What role does personality play in history? L.N. Tolstoy invites the modern reader to think about this question.

The fact is that, when assessing the significance of an individual, the author of War and Peace proceeds from his own understanding of historical development, which he perceives as a spontaneous process. The writer talks about the predetermination of existence, which cannot be changed by the desire of an individual.

And although L.N. Tolstoy explained the futility of individual intervention in the historical process, nevertheless, he does not give up the idea that all participants in certain events are cogs and levers that move the colossus of history. But can all people perform this function? Far from it. The author believes that only the possession of certain qualities gives a chance for this, and therefore emphasizes the moral greatness of Kutuzov, sincerely considering him a great man who lived for the interests of the people.

Understanding the historical event was the result of Kutuzov’s renunciation of “everything personal”, the subordination of his actions to a common goal. Based on the personal characteristics of the commander, one can see that he is capable of making history.

And therefore Napoleon, who vainly considered himself the creator of history, but in fact was only a toy in her hands, was doomed to failure in advance.

Kutuzov understands the laws of existence and follows them, Napoleon is blind in his far-fetched greatness, and therefore, in the clash of armies led by these commanders, the result is known in advance.

But still, these people are nothing compared to the huge human mass, which consists entirely of no less significant cogs, each of which has its own will and considerable significance.

All that matters are the motives that drive these cogs. If this is not personal selfish interests, but empathy, love for brothers, for those who love, for those who hate us, love for the enemy, which God preached on earth, then the cog turns in the right direction, setting the course of the whole machine. This is exactly how Andrei Bolkonsky appears, realizing the popular meaning of the war, refusing the offer to become Kutuzov’s adjutant, and entering, albeit a small, but sparkling, into the tablets of history.

Another thing is Berg. Who will remember him? Who cares about a petty person who is only interested in a profitable purchase of furniture during a time of general grief? This is not a person or a cog, this person cannot create history.

Thus, the role of the individual in history is both great and insignificant at the same time. Existence is predetermined, but who remains in it depends only on the moral qualities of a person. One thing is clear: it is not people who create history, but history that creates people.

The meaning of the historical process. The role of personality in history.

Exercise. Underline the thesis of the article, prepare an answer to the questions:

—What is the meaning of the historical process, according to Tolstoy?

What are Tolstoy's views on the causes of the War of 1812 and his attitude towards the war?

—What is the role of personality in history?

—What does a person’s personal and swarm life mean? What is the ideal human existence? Which heroes are characterized by this ideal existence?

This topic in the novel is first discussed in detail in a historical and philosophical discussion about the causes of the War of 1812 (the beginning of the second and the beginning of the third parts of the third volume). This reasoning is polemically directed against the traditional concepts of historians, which Tolstoy considers a stereotype that requires rethinking. According to Tolstoy, the outbreak of war cannot be explained by someone’s individual will (for example, the will of Napoleon). Napoleon was objectively involved in this event, just like any corporal going to war on that day. The war was inevitable, it began according to the invisible historical will, which consists of “billions of wills.” The role of personality in history is practically negligible. The more people are connected to others, the more they serve “necessity”, i.e. their will becomes intertwined with other wills and becomes less free. Therefore, public and government figures are less subjectively free. "The king is a slave of history." (How does this idea of Tolstoy manifest itself in the depiction of Alexander?) Napoleon is mistaken when he thinks that he can influence the course of events. “...The course of world events is predetermined from above, depends on the coincidence of all the arbitrariness of the people participating in these events, and... the influence of Napoleons on the course of these events is only external and fictitious” (vol. 3, part 2, ch.XXVII). Kutuzov is right in that he prefers to strictly follow the objective process, rather than impose his line, “not interfere” with what is about to happen. The novel ends with the formula of historical fatalism: “...it is necessary to renounce non-existent freedom and recognize the dependence we do not feel.”

Attitude to war. The war turns out to be not a duel between Napoleon and Alexander or with Kutuzov, it is a duel of two principles (aggressive, destructive and harmonious, creative), which are embodied not only in Napoleon and Kutuzov, but also in characters appearing at other levels of the plot (Natasha, Platon Karataev and etc.). On the one hand, war is an event that is contrary to everything human, on the other hand, it is an objective reality, meaning personal experience for the heroes. Tolstoy's moral attitude towards war is negative.

In peaceful life, a kind of “war” also occurs. Heroes representing secular society, careerists - a kind of “little Napoleons” (Boris, Berg), as well as those for whom war is a place for realizing aggressive impulses (nobleman Dolokhov, peasant Tikhon Shcherbaty) are condemned. These heroes belong to the sphere of “war”; they embody the Napoleonic principle.

“Personal” and “swarm” life of a person. It may seem that such a vision of the world is deeply pessimistic: the concept of freedom is denied, but then human life loses its meaning. Actually this is not true. Tolstoy separates the subjective and objective levels of human life: a person is in the small circle of his biography (microcosm, “personal” life) and in the large circle of universal history (macrocosm, “swarm” life). A person is subjectively aware of his “personal” life, but cannot see what his “swarm” life consists of.

At the “personal” level, a person is endowed with sufficient freedom of choice and is able to be responsible for his actions. A person lives a “swarm” life unconsciously. At this level, he himself cannot decide anything; his role will forever remain the one that history has assigned to him. The ethical principle arising from the novel is the following: a person should not consciously relate to his “swarm” life, or put himself in any relationship with history. Any person who tries to consciously participate in the general historical process and influence it is mistaken. The novel discredits Napoleon, who mistakenly believed that the fate of the war depended on him - in fact, he was a toy in the hands of an inexorable historical necessity. In reality, he turned out to be only a victim of a process started, as he thought, by himself. All the heroes of the novel who tried to be Napoleons sooner or later give up this dream or end badly. One example: Prince Andrei overcomes the illusions associated with state activities in Speransky’s office (and this is correct, no matter how “progressive” Speransky is).

People fulfill the law of historical necessity unknown to themselves, blindly, knowing nothing except their private goals, and only truly (and not in the “Napoleonic” sense) great people are able to renounce the personal, to be imbued with the goals of historical necessity, and this is the only way to become a conscious conductor of the higher will (example - Kutuzov).

Ideal being is a state of harmony, agreement (with the world, that is, a state of “peace” (in the sense: not war). For this, personal life must be reasonably consistent with the laws of “swarm” life. Wrong being is hostility with these laws, the state of “war”, when the hero opposes himself to people, tries to impose his will on the world (this is the path of Napoleon).

Positive examples in the novel are Natasha Rostova and her brother Nikolai (harmonious life, taste for it, understanding of its beauty), Kutuzov (the ability to react sensitively to the course of the historical process and take his reasonable place in it), Platon Karataev (this hero has a personal life practically dissolves into the “swarm”, it seems that he does not have his own individual “I”, but only a collective, national, universal “We”).

Prince Andrei and Pierre Bezukhov, at different stages of their life path, alternately become like Napoleon, thinking that they can influence the historical process with their personal will (Bolkonsky’s ambitious plans; Pierre’s passion first for Freemasonry and then for secret societies; Pierre’s intention to kill Napoleon and become the savior of Russia) , then they acquire a correct view of the world after deep crises, mental turmoil, and disappointments. Prince Andrei, after being wounded in the Battle of Borodino, died, having experienced a state of harmonious unity with the world. A similar state of enlightenment came to Pierre in captivity (note that in both cases, the heroes, along with simple, empirical experience, also receive mystical experience through a dream or vision). (Find this in the text.) However, it can be assumed that with ambitious plans to return to Pierre again, he will become interested in secret societies, although Platon Karataev might not have liked this (see Pierre’s conversation with Natasha in the epilogue).

In connection with the idea of “personal” and “swarm” life, Nikolai Rostov’s dispute with Pierre about secret societies is indicative. Pierre sympathizes with their activities (“Tugendbund is a union of virtue, love, mutual assistance; this is what Christ preached on the cross”), and Nikolai believes that “a secret society - therefore hostile and harmful, which can only give rise to evil,<…>If you form a secret society, if you begin to oppose the government, whatever it may be, I know that it is my duty to obey it. And Arakcheev told me now to go at you with a squadron and cut down - I won’t think for a second and I’ll go. And then judge as you wish.” This dispute does not receive an unambiguous assessment in the novel; it remains open. We can talk about “two truths” - Nikolai Rostov and Pierre. We can sympathize with Pierre along with Nikolenka Bolkonsky.

The epilogue ends with Nikolenka’s symbolic dream on the topic of this conversation. Intuitive sympathy for Pierre's cause is combined with dreams of the hero's glory. This is reminiscent of Prince Andrei’s youthful dreams of “his Toulon,” which were once debunked. Thus, in Nikolenka’s dreams there is a “Napoleonic” element that Tolstoy found undesirable; it is also present in Pierre’s political ideas. In this regard, the dialogue between Natasha and Pierre in Chapter. XVI of the first part of the epilogue, where Pierre is forced to admit that Platon Karataev (the person with whom the main moral criteria are associated for Pierre) “would not approve” of his political activities, but would approve of “family life.”

"Napoleon's Way"

The conversation about Napoleon begins in the very first pages of the novel. Pierre Bezukhov, aware that he was shocking the society gathered in Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s salon, solemnly, “with desperation,” “more and more animated,” asserts that “Napoleon is great,” “that the people saw him as a great man.” Smoothing out the “sacrilegious” meaning of his speeches (“The revolution was a great thing,” continued Monsieur Pierre, showing his great youth with this desperate and defiant introductory sentence...”), Andrei Bolkonsky admits that “In the actions of a statesman it is necessary to distinguish between the actions of a private person, a commander or an emperor”, also believing that Napoleon was “great” in embodying these latter qualities.

Pierre Bezukhov's conviction is so deep that he does not want to participate in the “war against Napoleon,” since this would be a fight with “the greatest man in the world” (vol. 1, part 1, chapter 5). A sharp change in his views, which occurred in connection with the internal and external events of his life, leads to the fact that in 1812 he sees in Napoleon the Antichrist, the embodiment of evil. He feels the “necessity and inevitability” to kill his former idol, to die, or to stop the misfortune of all of Europe, which, according to Pierre, came from Napoleon alone” (vol. 3, part 3, chapter 27).

For Andrei Bolkonsky, Napoleon is an example of the implementation of ambitious plans that form the basis of his spiritual life. In the upcoming military campaign, he thinks in categories “no worse” than Napoleonic ones (vol. 1, part 2, chapter 23). All his father’s objections, “arguments” about mistakes,” which, in his opinion, “Bonaparte made in all wars and even in state affairs,” cannot shake the hero’s confidence that he “is still a great commander” (t .1, part 1, chapter 24). In addition, he is full of hopes, following the example of Napoleon, to begin his own “path to glory” (“As soon as he found out that the Russian army was in such a hopeless situation, it occurred to him that ... here he is, that Toulon ..." - t. 1, part 2, chapter 12). However, having accomplished the intended feat (“Here it is!” - Prince Andrei, grabbing the flagpole and hearing with pleasure the whistle of bullets, obviously aimed specifically at him” - part 3, chapter 16) and having received the praise of his “hero”, he “not only “was not interested” in Napoleon’s words, but “did not notice or immediately forgot them” (vol. 1, part 3, chapter 19). He seems to Prince Andrey insignificant, petty, self-satisfied in comparison with the high meaning of life that has revealed to him. In the war of 1812, Bolkonsky was one of the first to take the side of the “common truth.”

Napoleon is the embodiment of voluntarism and extreme individualism. He seeks to impose his will on the world (i.e., the vast masses of people), but this is impossible. The war began in accordance with the objective course of the historical process, but Napoleon thinks that he started the war. Having lost the war, he feels despair and confusion. Tolstoy's image of Napoleon is not without grotesque and satirical shades. Napoleon is characterized by theatrical behavior (see, for example, the scene with the “Roman king” in Chapter XXVI of the second part of the third volume), narcissism, and vanity. The scene of Napoleon’s meeting with Lavrushka, wittily “conjectured” by Tolstoy based on historical materials, is expressive.

Napoleon is the main emblem of the voluntaristic path, but many other heroes follow this path in the novel. They can also be likened to Napoleon (cf. “little Napoleons” - an expression from the novel). Vanity and self-confidence are characteristic of Bennigsen and other military leaders, the authors of all kinds of “dispositions” who accused Kutuzov of inaction. Many people in secular society are also spiritually similar to Napoleon, because they always live as if in a state of “war” (secular intrigue, careerism, the desire to subordinate other people to their own interests, etc.). First of all, this applies to the Kuragin family. All members of this family aggressively interfere in the lives of other people, try to impose their will, and use others to fulfill their own desires.

Some researchers have pointed out the symbolic connection of the love plot (the invasion of the treacherous Anatole into Natasha’s world) with the historical one (Napoleon’s invasion of Russia), especially since the episode on Poklonnaya Hill uses an erotic metaphor (“And from this point of view, he [Napoleon] looked at lying in front of him, an eastern beauty [Moscow] that he had never seen before,<…>the certainty of possession excited and terrified him” - ch. XIX of the third part of the third volume).

Its embodiment and antithesis to Napoleon in the novel is Kutuzov. A conversation about him also arises in the very first chapter with the fact that Prince Andrei is his adjutant. Kutuzov is the commander-in-chief of the Russian army opposing Napoleon. However, his concerns are not aimed at victorious battles, but at preserving the “undressed, exhausted” troops (vol. 1, part 2, chapters 1-9). Not believing in victory, he, an old military general, experiences “despair” (“The wound is not here, but here!” said Kutuzov, pressing a handkerchief to his wounded cheek and pointing at the fleeing” - vol. 1, part 3, chapter 16 ). For those around him, the slowness and spontaneity of his behavior

The true meaning of life. The final phrase in the novel provokes the reader to make a pessimistic conclusion about the meaninglessness of life. However, the internal logic of the plot of “War and Peace” (in which it is no coincidence that the entire diversity of human life experience is recreated: as A.D. Sinyavsky said, “the whole war and the whole world at once”) suggests the opposite.

How does Tolstoy solve the question of the role of personality in history? ("War and Peace") and received the best answer

Answer from GALINA[guru]
Tolstoy had his own view on the role of personality
in history.
Every person has two lives: personal and spontaneous.
Tolstoy said that a person lives consciously
for himself, but serves as an unconscious tool
to achieve universal human goals.
The role of personality in history is negligible.
Even the most brilliant person cannot
their desire to direct the movement of history.
It is created by the masses, the people, and not by an individual,
elevated above the people.
But Tolstoy believed that he deserved the name of a genius
one of the people who is gifted with the ability to penetrate
in the course of historical events, to comprehend their common
meaning.
The writer considers Kutuzov to be such people.
He is an exponent of the patriotic spirit
and the moral strength of the Russian army.
This is a talented commander.
Tolstoy emphasizes that Kutuzov is a folk hero.
In the novel he appears as a truly Russian man,
free from pretense, a wise historical figure.
Napoleon, who is opposed to Kutuzov,
exposed to devastating exposure,
because he chose for himself the role of “executioner of nations”;
Kutuzov is exalted as a commander,
able to subordinate all his thoughts and actions
popular feeling.

Answer from 3 answers[guru]

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