The path of ideological quest of Pierre Bezukhov diagram. The life path of Pierre Bezukhov’s spiritual quest in the novel “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy

The quest of Pierre Bezukhov (based on the novel by L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”)

I. Introduction

1. It is impossible to retell Pierre’s entire biography in an essay, so key moments in his development are selected.

2. The main directions of Pierre’s quest: the desire to be internally satisfied with oneself, the desire to connect with people and serve them, liberation from false feelings and concepts (see plan on the topic “True and false in L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” ").

II. main part

1. At the beginning of the novel, Pierre is a young, undecided person who, in essence, does not know real life. However, already here Tolstoy notes his sympathy for the ideas French Revolution and subconscious rejection secular society.

2. The period from Helen’s declaration of love to the duel with Dolokhov. Pierre is completely captured by false feelings and concepts: sensual attraction to Helen, jealousy, secular rules and so on.

3. The duel with Dolokhov shocked Pierre. The consciousness that he could kill a person (and almost did) because of vain and false feelings leads him to reconsider everything he has lived until now, and Pierre realizes this life as a monstrous delusion in what happened, Pierre does not blame anyone but himself - this is a very important trait for Tolstoy. During this period, Pierre completely loses the meaning of life.

4. Meeting with Bazdeev and passion for Freemasonry. Pierre is attracted to Freemasonry by two main goals: to strive for moral self-improvement and to do good to people. This is what he is always looking for.

5. Pierre’s desire to follow the principles of Freemasonry, attempts to improve the lives of peasants, etc. Pierre begins to doubt both Freemasonry, seeing that many are attracted to the lodge by self-interest, and not by love for people, and in himself.

6. Pierre on the Borodino field. His real involvement with the people and the emergence of a feeling true patriotism. Further actions Pierre (the intention to kill Napoleon is a consequence of false heroic aspirations and vanity, but instead the rescue of a girl from a burning house, etc.).

7. Pierre in captivity. Deep shock from the execution of prisoners. For the second time, Pierre feels that “everything has fallen into a heap of meaningless rubbish,” and the meaning of life has been completely lost.

8. Pierre and Platon Karataev. Karataev seems to Pierre “the personification of the spirit of simplicity and truth,” the embodiment of everything “Russian, kind, round.” Pierre joins the instinctive folk truth, the essence of which is unity with people and the rejection of all individualism.

9. Through hardship and physical suffering In captivity, Pierre comes to an understanding of true freedom, the joy of life is revealed to him, he comprehends its meaning. He throws away everything superfluous, unnecessary, that he previously considered important, and from this he becomes truly happy for the first time.

10. Pierre in the epilogue. Tolstoy portrays him as slightly changed. The influence of Platon Karataev and the meaning of life that was revealed to him in captivity remain with him, but he is looking for his own path in life. In the epilogue, Pierre is a member secret society, probably a future Decembrist who wants not only to passively accept life, but also to actively fight evil and injustice. He is on the next step of the endless ladder moral development And ideological quest.

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

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

Petersburg adventures

The young count's first appearance in society took place at Anna Scherrer's party, with a description of which begins epic work Lev Tolstoy. The angular guy, who resembled a bear, was not dexterous in court etiquette, and indulged in behavior that was somewhat discourteous 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 a river, and children of wealthy members of the nobility hang out in noisy company. There are rarely cases of shortage of money, few people 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 activity. The revelry eats up time, the days seem busy and fun. But one day the company, in a drunken stupor, tied a guard to the back of a trained bear. They released the beast into the Neva and laughed, looking at the screaming law enforcement officer.

Society's patience came to an end, the instigators of hooliganism were demoted in rank, and the erring young man was sent to his father.

Fight for inheritance

Arriving in Moscow, Pierre learns that Kirill Bezukhov is ill. The old nobleman had many children, all illegitimate with no right to inheritance. Anticipating a fierce struggle for the wealth left by him after his death, the father asks Emperor Alexander I to recognize Pierre as his legitimate son and heir.

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

Having lost his father, the young man becomes depressed. Loneliness makes him withdrawn; he is not happy with his wealth and the title of count, which fell unexpectedly. Demonstrating concern for the inexperienced heir, Prince Kuragin arranges for him a prestigious position in the diplomatic corps.

Falling in love and marriage

Helen was a beauty, seductive, able to make eyes. The girl knew what men liked and how to attract attention. Catch the slow one in your net young man it wasn't particularly difficult.

Pierre was inspired, the nymph seemed so fantastic to him, unattainable, secretly desired. He wanted to possess her so much that he did not have the strength to voice his feelings. Having developed passion and confusion in the gentleman’s soul, Prince Kuragin with effort organized and announced Bezukhov’s engagement to his daughter.
Their marriage was a disappointment for the man. In vain he looked for signs feminine wisdom in your chosen one. They had absolutely nothing to talk about. The wife did not know anything about what her husband was interested in. On the contrary, everything that Helen wanted or dreamed of 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 and spent a lot of time together. The Count challenges Dolokhov to a duel, offended by the painful situation. Having wounded his opponent, the man remained completely unharmed.

Having finally realized that he has connected his life not with a chaste, modest woman, but with a cynical and depraved woman, the count goes to the capital. Hatred tormented his heart, devastation filled his soul with pain. The collapse of hopes for a calm 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 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 lives of the peasants, but nothing works out for him; bringing the desired order to the estates is more difficult than he thought. 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. Wife loved social life, turned men's heads at balls. Pierre was accustomed to consider her his punishment from God and patiently bore his burden.

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

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

Once again disappointed in his human purpose, Bezukhov leads a chaotic lifestyle. 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 mental pain.

War changes worldview

Bezukhov volunteered to go to the front when the French army approached Moscow. battle of Borodino became significant date in Pierre's life. The patriot Bezukhov will never forget the sea of blood, the field covered with the bodies of soldiers.

Four weeks of captivity became a turning point for the hero. Everything that previously seemed important looked 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 Helen's death. Remaining a widower, Bezukhov renewed his friendship with Natasha, who was grieving over the death of Andrei Bolkonsky. This was a different Pierre, the war cleansed his soul.

In 1813, he married Natasha Rostova in the hope of finding his happiness. Three daughters and a son made up the meaning of the life of the 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, with his aversion to war, true humanism and friendly attitude towards the whole world.

Pierre Bezukhov was illegitimate son one of richest people in Russia. In society he was perceived as an eccentric, everyone laughed at his beliefs, aspirations and statements. No one considered his opinion or took him seriously. But when Pierre received a huge inheritance, everyone began to fawn on him, he became a desired groom for many social coquettes...

While living in France, he became imbued with the ideas of Freemasonry; it seemed to Pierre that he had found like-minded people, that with their help he could change the world for the better. But soon he became disillusioned with Freemasonry, although his desire for equality among people and justice in everything was ineradicable.

Pierre Bezukhov is still very young and inexperienced, he is looking for the purpose of his life and existence in general, but, unfortunately, he comes to the conclusion that nothing can be changed in this world and falls under the bad influence of Kuragin and Dolokhov. Pierre simply begins to “waste his life”, spending his time on balls and social evenings. Kuragin marries him to Helen.

Bezukhov was inspired by passion for Helen Kuragina, the very first secular beauty, he rejoiced at the happiness of marrying her. But after some time, Pierre noticed that Helen was just a beautiful doll with icy heart, a painted smile and a cruel hypocritical disposition. Marriage to Helen Kuragina brought Pierre Bezukhov only pain and disappointment in the female sex.

Charter of wild life and inaction, Pierre's soul is eager to work. He begins to carry out reforms in his lands, tries to give freedom to the serfs, but what is very unfortunate is that people do not understand him, they are so accustomed to slavery that they cannot even imagine how they can live without it. People decide that Pierre has “quirks.”

When the War of 1812 began, Pierre Bezukhov, although not a military man, went to the front to see how people fought for their Fatherland. While on the fourth bastion, Pierre saw real war, he saw how people suffer because of Napoleon. Bezukhov was struck and inspired by the patriotism, zeal and self-sacrifice of ordinary soldiers, he felt pain along with them, Pierre was filled with fierce hatred of Bonaparte, he wanted to kill him personally. Unfortunately, he failed and was captured instead.

Bezukhov spent a month in prison. There he met a simple “soldier” Platon Karataev. This acquaintance and being in captivity played a significant role in Pierre's life quest. He finally understood and realized the truth that he had been looking for for a long time: that every person has the right to happiness and should be happy. Pierre Bezukhov saw the true price of life.

Pierre found his happiness in marriage with Natasha Rostova, she was for him not only his wife, the mother of his children and his beloved woman, she was more - she was a friend who supported him in everything.

Bezukhov, like all the Decembrists, fought for truth, for the freedom of the people, for honor; it was these goals that served as the reason for his joining their ranks.

A long path of wandering, sometimes erroneous, sometimes funny and absurd, nevertheless led Pierre Bezukhov to the truth, which he had to understand after going through difficult trials of fate. We can say that, no matter what, the end life's quest Pierre is good, because he achieved the goal that he initially pursued. He tried to change this world for the better. And each of us must also strive for this goal, because the house consists of small bricks, and they are made of small grains of sand, and the grains of sand are our good and fair deeds.

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“To be quite good” - Pierre Bezukhov is guided by this principle in life, and he strives for this ideal.

Like Prince Andrei, Pierre is not satisfied with everyday activities and does not want to follow the beaten path through life leading to ranks and titles. “An intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look” distinguished him “from everyone” in Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s living room. In Pierre's life, the leading role is played not by a clear mind and a strong will, but by feeling.

Pierre is not rich. The illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, from the age of ten he was sent abroad with a tutor, where he stayed until he was 20 years old. According to the will of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the sole heir to his father's entire fortune. The new position, wealth and honors did not change his character. He remained as responsive, good-natured and trusting as before.

Unlike Prince Andrei, he lacks insight, cannot immediately correctly assess people, often makes mistakes in them, his sincerity, gullibility, and weakness of will become the cause of many of his mistakes. This includes participation in the revelry of Kuragin and Dolokhov, this and marriage to the depraved Helen, this and a duel with Dolokhov.

After breaking up with his wife in a state of deep moral crisis, Pierre met the freemason Bazdeev on the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The Masons did not let go of the rich man. Pierre joined the religious and philosophical society. What attracted him to the Freemasons? The Masons said that their goal was to correct the members of their society, “to correct their hearts,” “to purify and enlighten their minds,” “to correct the entire human race,” and “to resist the evil that reigns in the world.” It seemed to Pierre that such activity would bring him moral satisfaction. He wanted to believe in the possibility of achieving brotherly love between people. Having joined the Masonic lodge, he strives to improve the situation of the peasants on his estates, opening schools and hospitals for them. He's even going to free them. However, there were almost no results from his activities. Clever estate managers deceived the young count. His plan to transform the Masonic order also did not materialize. Having become the head of St. Petersburg Freemasonry, he soon realized that most members of the Masonic Order were very far from correcting themselves and the entire human race - “from under Masonic aprons and signs, he saw on them the uniforms and crosses that they sought in life.” . Pierre realized that “moral peace and agreement with oneself,” which were necessary for his happiness, were unattainable in Freemasonry.

Suffering from internal discord, from the inability to resolve issues that were intertwined in a “tangled, terrible knot,” he encountered the formidable events of 1812. The fate of Russia and the position of the army worried Pierre. He gathered a militia from his peasants. During the Battle of Borodino, he found himself at the Raevsky battery and witnessed fierce fighting. Here, on the Borodino field, another world opened up to him, where people do not think about personal glory and danger. Pierre was shocked by the enormous moral strength and heroism ordinary people who stood to the death. Surrounded by soldiers, he is freed from the fear of death, he wants to become just like them.

After the Battle of Borodino, Pierre felt that he had to stay in Moscow, meet Napoleon and kill him, in order to either die or end the misfortune of all of Europe, which, as Pierre is now sure, came from Napoleon alone.

Having survived all the horrors of captivity, a military trial, the execution of Russian people, in a state of terrible moral shock and despair, exhausted mentally and physically, Pierre met with the soldier Platon Karataev in a barracks for prisoners of war. The kind, sociable Karataev found a kind word for everyone, helped people endure severe suffering in captivity, love life even in these conditions and hope for the best. Under the influence of Karataev, Pierre’s new worldview developed: “As long as there is life, there is happiness.” But Karataev’s passivity, non-resistance to evil, his religiosity and faith in fate did not become the guiding principles in later life Pierre.

Having married Natasha Rostova, Pierre feels like a happy husband and father. However, he is still interested social life. In the epilogue of the novel, we see him as a member of the secret Decembrist society, which sharply criticizes the reactionary policy of Alexander I.

One of the main characters of the epic “Warrior and Peace” is Pierre Bezukhov. The characteristics of the character in the work are revealed through his actions. And also through the thoughts and spiritual quests of the main characters. The image of Pierre Bezukhov allowed Tolstoy to convey to the reader an understanding of the meaning of the era of that time, of a person’s entire life.

Introducing the reader to Pierre

The image of Pierre Bezukhov is very difficult to briefly describe and understand. The reader needs to go with the hero throughout his entire

Acquaintance with Pierre is dated in the novel to 1805. He appears at a social reception hosted by Anna Pavlovna Scherer, a high-ranking Moscow lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting to the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of one of the Moscow nobles. Received a good education abroad, but upon returning to Russia, he did not find any use for himself. An idle lifestyle, carousing, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this life baggage he appears in Moscow. In its turn, elite also does not attract a young man. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, and hypocrisy of its representatives. “Life is something deeper, more significant, but unknown to him,” reflects Pierre Bezukhov. “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy helps the reader understand this.

Moscow life

The change of residence did not affect the image of Pierre Bezukhov. By nature he is a very gentle person, easily falls under the influence of others, doubts about the correctness of his actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he finds himself in captivity of the idle with her temptations, feasts and revelry.

After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and his father's entire fortune. Society's attitude towards young people is changing dramatically. A famous Moscow nobleman, in pursuit of the young count's fortune, marries his beautiful daughter Helen to him. This marriage did not foretell a happy family life. Very soon Pierre understands his wife’s deceit and deceit; her debauchery becomes obvious to him. Thoughts about his violated honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could prove fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended with the offender wounded, and Pierre’s life was out of danger.

The path of quest of Pierre Bezukhov

After the tragic events, the young count thinks more and more about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confusing, disgusting and meaningless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant compared to something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have sufficient fortitude and knowledge to discover this great thing, to find his true purpose. human life. The thoughts did not leave the young man, making his life unbearable. a brief description of Pierre Bezukhov gives the right to say that he was a deep, thinking person.

Passion for Freemasonry

Having parted with Helen and given her a large share of his fortune, Pierre decides to return to the capital. On the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg, during a short stop, he meets a man who talks about the existence of the Masonic brotherhood. Only they know the true path, they are subject to the laws of existence. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.

Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, accepts the ritual and becomes a member Masonic lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, and views on life captivate Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything he hears at meetings, although much of his new life seems gloomy and incomprehensible to him. The journey of Pierre Bezukhov's quest continues. The soul still rushes about and finds no peace.

How to make life easier for people

New experiences and searches for the meaning of life lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many disadvantaged people around, deprived of any rights.

He decides to take action aimed at improving the lives of the peasants on his estates. Many people don't understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was started, there is misunderstanding and rejection of the new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed and disappointed.

The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose description describes him as a soft, trusting person) realized that he had been cruelly deceived by the manager, his funds and efforts had been wasted.

Napoleon

The alarming events taking place in France at that time occupied the minds of the entire high society. excited the consciousness of young and old. For many young people, the image of the great emperor became an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes and victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I didn’t understand the people who decided to resist the talented commander, great revolution. There was a moment in Pierre's life when he was ready to swear allegiance to Napoleon and defend the gains of the revolution. But this was not destined to happen. Feats and achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.

And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. The adoration of Napoleon's personality will be replaced in Pierre's soul by contempt and hatred. An irresistible desire will appear to kill the tyrant, taking revenge for all the troubles that he brought to the world. native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of reprisal against Napoleon; he believed that this was destiny, the mission of his life.

battle of Borodino

The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the established foundation, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. The aimless life of wealth and comfort was abandoned by the count without hesitation for the sake of serving the fatherland.

It was during the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization had not yet been flattering, began to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Getting closer to soldiers, representatives common people, helps to reevaluate life.

The great Battle of Borodino played a special role in this. Pierre Bezukhov, being in the same ranks with the soldiers, saw their true patriotism without falsehood and pretense, their willingness to give their lives without hesitation for the sake of their homeland.

Destruction, blood, and related experiences give rise to spiritual rebirth hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to the questions that have tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with all his heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, an explanation for which at this moment he cannot yet give.

Captivity

Further events unfold in such a way that the trials that befell Pierre should harden and finally shape his views.

Finding himself in captivity, he undergoes an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but before his eyes, several Russian soldiers, who were captured by the French with him, are executed. The spectacle of the execution does not leave Pierre's imagination, bringing him to the brink of madness.

And only a meeting and conversations with Platon Karataev again awaken a harmonious beginning in his soul. Being in a cramped barracks, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel truly himself. The life path of Pierre Bezukhov helps to understand that being on earth is a great happiness.

However, the hero will have to reconsider his attitude towards life more than once and look for his place in it.

Fate decrees that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French because he fell ill and could not move. Karataev's death brings new suffering to the hero. Pierre himself was released from captivity by the partisans.

Native

Freed from captivity, Pierre receives news one after another from his relatives, about whom for a long time he didn't know anything. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helen. Best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, seriously wounded.

Karataev's death and disturbing news from relatives again excite the hero's soul. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that happened were his fault. He is the cause of the death of people close to him.

And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments emotional experiences, the image of Natasha Rostova suddenly appears. She instills calm in him, gives him strength and confidence.

Natasha Rostova

During subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he has developed a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha has a reciprocal feeling for Pierre. In 1813 they got married.

Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, to feel him - this is the main dignity of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to preserve a person. The family is a small model of the world. The health of this cell determines the state of the entire society.

Life goes on

The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, and harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of internal development of the soul accompanied the hero all his life, and it gave its results.

But life does not stop, and Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization as a seeker is given here, is again ready to move forward. In 1820, he informed his wife that he intended to become a member of a secret society.