War and Peace Volume 4 short epilogue. The main characters of the novel "War and Peace". Meeting of Nikolai Rostov with Princess Marya

« War and Peace"is an epic novel by Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, describing Russian society during the era of the wars against Napoleon in 1805-1812.
This is the last part of the novel - the fourth volume. In addition, there is an epilogue, a summary of which you can find on this page.

WAR AND PEACE. Volume 4.

Listen to Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" volume 4

Retelling"War and Peace" Volume 4 Tolstoy L. N.

WAR AND PEACE. Volume 4. Summary

PART ONE

Calm, luxurious life in St. Petersburg goes on as before: “due to the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to be aware of the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue.”

On the day of the Battle of Borodino, Anna Pavlovna Sherer had an evening, the flower of which was the reading of the patriarch’s letter by Prince Vasily. Prince Vasily was famous for the art of reading: he randomly lowered or raised his voice, closed his eyes and howled. The reading of the letter had political significance: the evening was attended by several important persons who had to be shamed for their trips to the French theater and inspired to a patriotic mood. The news of the day in St. Petersburg was the illness of Countess Bezukhova. “Everyone knew very well that this illness came from the inconvenience of marrying two husbands at once and that the Italian’s treatment consisted in eliminating this inconvenience.”
The next day, news of the victory of Russian troops near Borodino spreads. Prince Vasily proudly says that he was always confident that Kutuzov was the only person capable of defeating Napoleon. A few days later, news arrives of the surrender of Moscow to the French. Now everyone calls Kutuzov a traitor, and Prince Vasily says that “one could not expect anything else from a blind, depraved old man.”

Helen commits suicide with a large dose of drugs. Officially, the community says that she died from a terrible attack of chest sore throat.

It seems to us, contemporaries, that while half of Russia was conquered, all people, young and old, were busy only with sacrificing themselves, saving the fatherland or crying over its death. In reality, this was not the case. Most people of that time did not pay any attention to the general course of affairs, but were guided only by the personal interests of the present. And these people were the most useful figures of that time. “Only unconscious activity bears fruit.

And the person who plays a role in a historical event never understands its significance.” “In the army that was retreating beyond Moscow, they almost didn’t talk or think about Moscow, and, looking at its conflagration, no one swore revenge on the French, but thought about the next third of their salary, about the next stop, about the Matryoshka doll and the like.” .

Nikolai Rostov is one of these people. A few days before the Battle of Borodino, he goes to Voronezh to buy horses for the regiment. The city is buzzing with the arrival of many wealthy families from Moscow. Nikolai creates a sensation among the young ladies with his relaxed manner of dancing and tries to pursue a married blonde. At the ball, Rostov meets with Princess Marya's aunt, who invites him to her place. Princess Marya lives with her aunt. When thinking about the princess, Nikolai experiences a feeling of shyness, even fear. He tells the governor’s wife about his heartfelt thoughts. Rostov says that he really likes Princess Marya, that he more than once perceived the circumstances of their meeting as a sign of fate, but he is bound by a promise to his cousin Sophia. The governor's wife believes that Nikolai's situation is not hopeless and promises to help.

Rostov comes to Princess Marya. The princess, seeing Nikolai, dear to her heart, was immediately transformed. For the first time, new, feminine, chesty notes sounded in her voice; “her suffering, the desire for good, humility, love, self-sacrifice - all this now shone in those radiant eyes, in a subtle smile, in every feature of her tender face.” Rostov “felt that the creature that was in front of him was completely different, better than all those he had met so far, and better, most importantly, than himself.”

After the meeting with the princess, all previous pleasures for Nicholas lost their charm.

Nikolai meets Princess Marya in the church and sees “a touching expression of sadness, prayer and hope” on her face. “That's exactly the angel! - He spoke to himself. “Why am I not free, why did I hurry up with Sonya?” And involuntarily he imagined a comparison between the two: poverty in one and wealth in the other of those spiritual gifts that Nicholas did not have and which therefore he valued so highly.” “Dreams about Sonya had something fun and toy-like about them. But thinking about Princess Marya was always difficult and a little scary. “How she prayed! - he remembered. “It was clear that her whole soul was in prayer. Yes, this is the prayer that moves mountains, and I am sure that its prayer will be fulfilled, Why don’t I pray for what I need? More mine! Get me out of this terrible, hopeless situation!” And Nikolai, with tears in his eyes, prays as he has never prayed. At this moment, Lavrushka brings Rostov a letter from Sonya, in which she refuses Nikolai’s promises and gives him complete freedom. Sonya did not immediately decide to take this step. Countess Rostova was obsessed with the desire to marry her son to Princess Marya, but Sonya was an obstacle to this. The Countess makes Sonya's life difficult in every possible way, but, seeing that it is to no avail, she tearfully asks the girl to sacrifice herself and break her ties with Nikolai. In this way, Sonya would repay all the good deeds that the Rostov family did for her. But Sonya cannot give up the meaning of her life - and decides to forever associate herself with Nikolai. The girl sees that Prince Andrei and Natasha love each other and, if the prince recovers, they will get married. And then, due to the relationship that will exist between them, Nicholas will not be able to marry Princess Marya. Prince Andrey gets better, and Sonya writes a letter to Nikolai.

Pierre is kept with other suspicious prisoners. The French are holding a kind of trial, the main purpose of which is to accuse them of arson. Pierre feels like an insignificant “sliver of wood caught in the wheels of a machine unknown to him, but functioning correctly.” Bezukhov is brought before the cruel French General Davout. Davout accuses Pierre of espionage, and Pierre realizes that his life hangs by a thread. He says his name, speaks of his innocence. Davout and Pierre look at each other for a few seconds, and this look

Saves Pierre: they realized that they are both children of humanity, that they are brothers. But then Davout is distracted by an adjutant, and Pierre, along with other prisoners, is taken to execution. Bezukhov understands that it was not people who sentenced him to execution, it was all due to the circumstances. The prisoners are taken two by two to the pit, shot, and then buried. The prisoners do not understand what is happening and do not believe what will happen. “They could not believe, because they alone knew what life was for them, and therefore did not understand and did not believe that it could be taken away.” The French burying the executed are pale and frightened, their hands are shaking. Pierre must go together with the factory worker, but he is led alone. Bezukhov cannot understand that he was saved, that he and everyone else were brought here only to be present at the execution. Pierre watches the execution of the factory worker until the end, without turning away, as he did before. He sees how the factory worker himself adjusts the knot at the back of his head when he is blindfolded. After the shots, Bezukhov approaches the pit and sees how the shoulder of the shot man convulsively lowered and rose, but “already shovels of earth were falling down on the whole body.” After the execution, one young French rifleman does not return to his company, but “staggers like a drunk, taking several steps back and forth to support his falling body.” In Pierre’s soul, after what he saw, “it was as if the spring on which everything was held and seemed alive had been pulled out, and everything fell into a heap of meaningless rubbish. His faith in the goodness of the world, in humanity, in his soul, and in God was destroyed.”

Bezukhov was told that he had been forgiven and was now entering the barracks of prisoners of war. In the barracks next to Pierre lives a little man who immediately interests Bezukhov. Pierre felt “something pleasant, soothing and round in these controversial movements, in this comfortable household in the corner”, “in the singing voice of this man there was an expression of affection and simplicity.” This soldier’s name is Platon Karataev, he treats Pierre to potatoes and asks about his family. Plato is sincerely saddened by the news that Bezukhov has no parents and no children. Karataev also tells his story: “how he went to someone else’s grove behind the forest and was caught by a watchman, how he was flogged, tried and made a soldier.” But Plato is not upset, but rejoices at this event, because his brother, who has five children, was supposed to become a soldier, but Plato has no children. Pierre, after communicating with Karataev, feels “that a previously destroyed world with new beauty, on some new and unshakable foundations, was being erected in his soul.” “Platon Karataev forever remained in Pierre’s soul as the strongest and dearest memory and the personification of everything Russian, kind and round. Plato's whole figure was round, his head was completely round, he had a pleasant smile and large brown gentle eyes were round. He was always busy with something: cooking, sewing, planing, making boots, and only at night he allowed himself to talk and sing. Plato's speech is peppered with sayings full of deep wisdom. Karataev “loved and lived lovingly with everything that life brought him to, and especially with a person - not with some famous person, but with those people who were before his eyes. He loved his mongrel, he loved his comrades, the French, he loved Pierre, who was his neighbor; but Pierre felt that Karataev would not be upset for a minute at being separated from him. And Pierre began to experience the same feeling towards Karataev.”

Having learned about her brother’s serious wound, Princess Marya goes to him, despite the dangers on the road, and brings him her son. The princess comes to the Rostovs and, seeing Natasha, understands that this is “her sincere companion in grief, her friend.” In Natasha’s face, Princess Marya saw “an expression of boundless love for everything that was close to a loved one, an expression of pity, effort for others and a passionate desire to give all of oneself in order to help them.” Both Natasha and Princess Marya understand that Prince Andrei will soon die. He is alienated from the earthly world, and is completely turned to “the eternal, unknown and distant, the presence of which he always felt.” If earlier the prince was afraid of death, now he understands that “love is God, and to die means for me, a particle of love, to return to the common and eternal source.” Princess Marya and Natasha understand the significance of what is happening to Prince Andrei and, after his death, they cry not from their personal grief, but “from the reverent tenderness that gripped their souls before the consciousness of the simple and solemn mystery of death that had taken place before them.”

PART TWO

Historians recognize the movement of the Russian army from the Ryazan to the Kaluga road and to the Tarutino camp as one of the most important events of the war of 1812. They attribute the glory of this ingenious feat to various people. But this movement was not planned by anyone, but happened by itself, because The Russian army, not seeing persecution behind them, naturally moved in the direction where it was attracted by the abundance of food.

Kutuzov alone understood that the “beast” near Borodin had been knocked out; all that remained was to find out whether he was strong or weak. Therefore, Kutuzov used all his strength to keep the Russian army from useless battles. But the need for an offensive by the Russian army was expressed in countless signs: the abundance of provisions in Tarutino, information about the inaction of the French, good weather, long rest for Russian soldiers, etc.

By chance, the Cossacks discover that the left flank of the French army is not protected, and Kutuzov, realizing that he cannot prevent a “useless battle,” “blesses the accomplished fact.” The Cossacks attack the left flank of the French and put them to flight. If they had continued to pursue the French, they “would have taken Marat and everything that was there. But it was impossible to move the Cossacks when they got to the booty and prisoners. Nobody listened to the commands.” The French, meanwhile, come to their senses and begin to shoot. “The whole battle consisted only in what the Cossacks of Orlov-Denisov did; the rest of the troops only lost several hundred people in vain.” But the main result of the battle was the following: “a transition was made from retreat to offensive, the weakness of the French was exposed and the impetus that Napoleon’s army was waiting for to begin their flight was given.”

Napoleon, neither by rewards nor by tightening discipline, could prevent the death and disintegration of his army. Having learned about the Battle of Tarutino, the French decided to punish the Russians, and Napoleon gave the order to march. “The rustle of the Tarutino battle scared the beast, he rushed forward to the shot, ran to the hunter, came back, forward again, back again and, finally, like any animal, he ran back, along the most unfavorable, but along the familiar old trail.”

Pierre has already been in captivity for four weeks, his life is full of hardships, but he joyfully endures his situation. All his life Pierre sought harmony with himself - he sought this in Freemasonry, in the dispersion of social life, in the heroic feat of self-sacrifice, in romantic love for Natasha; he sought this through thought, and all these searches and attempts deceived him. “And he himself, without thinking about it, received this peace and this agreement with himself only through the horror of death, through deprivation and through what he understood in Karataev.” Bezukhov now considered the highest human consent to be the absence of suffering, satisfaction of needs, freedom of choice of activities. Only here, in captivity, did Pierre appreciate the pleasure of eating when he was hungry, drinking when he was thirsty, talking with a person when he wanted to talk.

The French troops begin to march, the prisoners are treated very poorly, the laggards were ordered to be shot. During the overnight stay, Pierre is not allowed to see the prisoners and he laughs, looking at the starry sky: “And all this is mine, and all this is in me, and all this is me!” And they caught all this and put it in a booth fenced off with boards! They are holding my immortal soul captive! Ha, ha, ha!

Kutuzov, like all old people, slept little at night. He thinks about “whether the beast is mortally wounded or not.” Having learned about the “mad, convulsive throwing of Napoleon’s troops,” Kutuzov cries and says in a trembling voice: “Lord, my creator! You heeded our prayer... Russia was saved. Thank you, Lord!

French troops are fleeing, their closest goal is Smolensk. Nothing can stop them, Kutuzov understands this perfectly and strives with all his might to counter the offensive of the Russian troops. Still, the highest ranks of the army wanted to distinguish themselves, and therefore they tried to cut off and overthrow the French and ultimately lost thousands of people. The French army continued its disastrous path to Smolensk.

PART THREE

After the Battle of Borodino, the French army ceased to exist. This proved that the power that decides the fate of nations lies not in battles, not in armies, but in the spirit of the army. “The club of the people’s war rose with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes or rules, with stupid simplicity, but with expediency, without considering anything, it rose, fell and nailed the French until the entire invasion was destroyed.”

Guerrilla warfare begins. Denis Davydov establishes the first partisan detachment. There were hundreds of partisan detachments of various sizes, they “destroyed the Great Army piece by piece.” Denisov decides, together with Dolokhov’s detachment, to attack a French transport with a large load of cavalry items and Russian prisoners. Denisov sends a man who was in his party, Tikhon Shcherbatov, to take the tongue (i.e., a man from the enemy column). An officer arrives at the detachment with a package from the general, and Denisov, with surprise and joy, recognizes him as Petya Rostov. Petya asks Denisov to stay in his squad.

At this time, Tikhon Shcherbaty returns, the partisans see him running away from the French, who are firing at him with all their guns. It turns out that Tikhon captured the prisoner yesterday, but since... he turned out to be “faulty and even swore”; Tikhon delivered him alive to the camp. Tikhon tries to get another “tongue”, but he is discovered. The partisans laugh at Shcherbaty, “yes, his face shines with self-satisfied merriment.” Tikhon is the most useful and brave man in the party. He is a simple man, does the hardest work, “no one else opened it in case of an attack, no one else took it and beat the French.”
Petya is in a happily excited state of joy, he feels great, he considers Denisova and Tikhon to be heroes and wants to go into action with them. While dining with the partisans, Petya worries about the captive boy Vincent, whom the Russians call Vesentiy, and asks to be fed.

Dolokhov arrives in the detachment, and Petya volunteers to go with him to the enemy camp. They change into French dress. Dolokhov behaves boldly and fearlessly, directly asking the French about their number, the whereabouts of officers, etc. Everything goes well, Petya kisses Dolokhov in delight. The next day, the partisans attack the French. Denisov asks Petya not to stick his head out anywhere, but in the excitement of the attack he forgets about this and jumps in front of the bullets. Petya falls - the bullet pierced his head. Denisov, seeing the murdered Petya, recalls his words: “I’m used to eating something sweet. Excellent raisins, take them all.” “And the Cossacks looked back in surprise at the sounds similar to the barking of a dog, with which Denisov quickly turned away, walked up to the fence and grabbed it.”

Among the Russian prisoners recaptured by Denisov and Dolokhov was Pierre Bezukhov.

Pierre spent a lot of time in captivity, the attitude of the French towards the prisoners became worse and worse, because they themselves had nothing to eat. Bezukhov learns that there is nothing terrible in the world. He learned that just as there is no situation in which a person would be happy and completely free, there is no situation in which he would be unhappy and not free. Karataev weakens every day, and he is killed. “The dog howled from behind, from the place where Karataev was sitting.”

Pierre comes to the conclusion that life is God, and therefore one must love this life as it is, with all the suffering and deprivation. Life is a continuous movement; when dying, a person merges with God.

The partisans free the prisoners. “The hussars and Cossacks surrounded the prisoners and hurriedly offered some dresses, some boots, some bread. Pierre sobbed, sitting among them, and could not utter a word; he hugged the first soldier who approached him and, crying, kissed him.”

From the beginning of the frosts, the flight of the French took on a tragic character, with people freezing and exhausted to death by the fires.

Having burst into Smolensk, they killed each other for food, robbed their stores and, when everything was looted, they ran on. Everyone thinks about their own salvation.

PART FOUR
After the death of Prince Andrei, Princess Marya and Natasha did not dare to face life. They were completely absorbed in their pure sadness, recognizing the possibility of the future seemed to them an insult to the memory of the prince.

Princess Marya was the first to be called to life, because she needed to take care of her nephew and understand the reports. Natasha began to avoid everyone, sat in the corner of the sofa all day long and “looked where he had gone, to the other side of life.”

The news of Petya's death came to the Rostovs' house. This mental wound brought Natasha back to life and made her forget about her personal grief.

The Countess is on the verge of insanity, and Natasha lived with her mother for three weeks, because only her gentle, affectionate voice calmed the Countess. “A month after the news of Petya’s death, the countess left her room half-dead and not taking part in life - an old woman.” Natasha’s spiritual wound brought her to life. “Suddenly, love for her mother showed her that the essence of her life - love - was still alive in her. Love has awakened and life has awakened.”

A passionate and tender friendship was established between Natasha and Princess Marya. They spend all their time together, saying tender words to each other. Friendship mutually enriched both: Natasha understood and fell in love with a virtue previously incomprehensible to her, while Princess Marya discovered faith in life, in the pleasures of life.

At the end of January, Princess Marya and Natasha go to Moscow.

The Russian army is exhausted by long marches, and Kutuzov understands that he only needs to follow the French at some distance and not fight, because... the enemy is already defeated.

The Russian command wants to distinguish itself, and therefore they give battles and take prisoners. Kutuzov is accused of mistakes, the sovereign is not happy with him. This is “the fate of those rare, always lonely people who, comprehending the will of Providence, subordinate their personal will to it. The hatred and contempt of the crowd punishes these people for their insight into the higher laws.” “The source of this extraordinary power of insight in the sense of occurring phenomena lay in the national feeling that he carried within himself.” And the people, understanding this feeling, chose Kutuzov, against the will of the tsar, as a representative of the people's war. “And only this feeling brought him to that highest human height from which he, the commander-in-chief, directed all his strength not to kill and exterminate people, but to save and take pity on them.”

Kutuzov, a representative of the Russian people, feels that his role in the salvation and glory of Russia has been played. Kutuzov does not understand why it is necessary to continue the war in Europe, and Alexander the First takes his place. “The representative of the people's war has nothing left but death. And he died."

After his release, Pierre is filled with a joyful feeling of freedom. If earlier he was looking for the meaning of life, now he realized that it does not exist and cannot exist. Bezukhov, thanks to Platon Karataev, gained faith in a living, always felt God. “Now he learned to see the great, the eternal and the infinite in everything and joyfully contemplated around him the ever-changing, ever-great, incomprehensible and endless life.”

Those around him immediately noticed changes in Pierre. “Before, he talked a lot, got excited and listened little; Now he rarely got carried away in conversation and knew how to listen so that people willingly told him their most intimate secrets.” What endeared people to Pierre was his new trait: “recognition of the ability of each person to think, feel and look at things in his own way; recognition of the impossibility of words to dissuade a person.” Practical matters no longer terrified Pierre; a judge appeared in him, deciding what should and should not be done.

Moscow, meanwhile, is filled with returning residents, and construction begins. Pierre also comes to Moscow, and, having learned that Princess Marya is in the city, he goes to see her. A lady in black is sitting next to Princess Marya, and Bezukhov thinks that this is her companion. Imagine Pierre’s surprise and embarrassment when Princess Marya says that the lady in black is Natasha. “He blushed joyfully and painfully,” Pierre smelled of long-forgotten happiness, and he understands that he loves Natasha. Princess Marya and Natasha talk about the last days of Prince Andrey, about their experiences. They never talked to anyone, not even each other, about it. Pierre is happy from the knowledge that Prince Andrei softened before his death and saw Natasha.

Bezukhov, in turn, tells the women about his adventures and his new thoughts. “He talked about it in a way that he had never talked about it with anyone before, in a way that he had never talked about it with himself before.” “Now, when he told all this to Natasha, he experienced the rare pleasure that women give when listening to a man - not smart women who try to remember the story in order to enrich their minds; but the pleasure that real women give, gifted with the ability to select and absorb into themselves all the best that is in the manifestations of a man,”

After Pierre leaves, Princess Marya and Natasha discuss the conversation that took place. They agree that Prince Andrei and Pierre are special men, and that is why they were so friendly and loved each other so much. Natasha, with a playful smile that Princess Marya had not seen on his face for a long time, notices that Pierre “has become somehow clean, fresh, as if from a bathhouse - morally from a bathhouse.”

After the conversation, Pierre cannot fall asleep for a long time and decides that he will do everything to ensure that Natasha becomes his wife. The next day, Bezukhov goes to have dinner with Princess Marya and sees that Natasha has become the same as he knew her almost as a child and then as the bride of Prince Andrei. “A cheerful, questioning gleam shone in her eyes; there was a gentle, strangely playful expression on his face.” Pierre spent the entire next evening in the princess's house, because... felt like he couldn't leave. Left alone with Princess Marya, Bezukhov tells her about his love for Natasha, that he cannot imagine his life without her, and asks for help. Princess Marya speaks of her confidence that Natasha will love Pierre, promises to arrange everything, and in the meantime advises Bezukhov to go to St. Petersburg. For the entire next period, Pierre lives in a state of happy madness, love fills his heart, and he loves all people.

Princess Marya, seeing the change in Natasha, was at first upset: “Did she really love her brother so little that she could forget him so soon?” But then she realizes that the power of life that has awakened in Natasha is unstoppable, unexpected even for the girl herself, and therefore there is nothing to reproach her for.

Princess Marya tells the girl about the conversation with Pierre, Natasha says that she loves him. Princess Marya is crying: she is happy for Natasha.

War and Peace EPILOGUE

War and Peace EPILOGUE summary.

Part 1

7 years have passed since the War of 1812. Natasha married Pierre in 13. That same year, Count Ilya Andreevich died: too many blows fell on his head. With his death, the old family fell apart. The Rostovs' financial affairs are completely upset, there are twice as many debts as there are estates. But Nikolai does not refuse the inheritance, because... sees in this an expression of reproach to the sacred memory of his father. The estate was auctioned off at half price, but half of the debts still remained unpaid. In order not to be put into debt, Rostov enters military service in St. Petersburg and lives with his mother and Sonya in a small apartment. Nikolai values Sonya very much, feels an unpaid debt to her, but understands that “there is little in her that would make him fall in love with her.” Nikolai's situation is getting worse and worse. But the thought of marrying a rich heiress as a way out of this situation was disgusting to him.

Princess Marya comes to visit the Rostovs, Nikolai greets her with “an expression of coldness, dryness and pride,” showing with all his appearance that he does not need anything from the princess. The princess feels in an uncertain position after this meeting; she needs to find out what Nikolai is covering up with his cold tone.

Nikolai, under the influence of his mother, makes a return visit to the princess. The conversation turns out to be dry and strained, but Princess Marya understands that this is only an outer shell, but Rostov’s soul is still beautiful.

It becomes clear to the princess that he behaves this way out of pride: “he is now poor, and I am rich.” “For several seconds they silently looked into each other’s eyes, and the distant, impossible suddenly became close, possible and inevitable.”

Autumn 1814 Nikolai married Princess Marya and with his wife, mother and Sonya moved to live in Bald Mountains. Nikolai devoted himself entirely to the farm, the main thing in which was the peasant worker. “He learned from the peasants both techniques, and speeches, and judgments about what is good and what is bad,” only by becoming close to them, he begins to boldly manage the farm, which brings brilliant results. Men from other estates come to ask Nikolai to buy them, and even after his death, the people long preserve the devout memory of his management: “The owner was... first the peasant’s, and then his own. But he didn’t give me any encouragement either. One word - master." Nikolai became closer and closer to his wife, discovering new spiritual treasures in her every day.

Sonya lives in Nikolai's house, Countess Marya cannot get rid of her evil feelings towards her. Natasha somehow explains to Countess Marya why Sonya has such a fate: something is missing in her, she is a “barren flower,” and therefore “everything has been taken away from her.”

The Rostovs have three children, Countess Marya is expecting another child. Natasha and her four children are visiting her brother; everyone is awaiting the return of Pierre, who left for St. Petersburg two months ago. Natasha has gained weight, expanded, and now it is difficult to recognize her as the old Natasha Rostova. “Her facial features now had an expression of calm softness and clarity. Now only her face and body were often visible, but her soul was not visible at all. One strong, beautiful and fertile female was visible. Very rarely now the old fire was lit in her,” Everyone who knew Natasha before her marriage is surprised at the change that has occurred in her. “One old countess, who understood with her motherly instinct that all of Natasha’s impulses began only with the need to have a family, to have a husband,” wonders why the rest do not understand this. Natasha does not take care of herself, does not monitor her manners, the main thing for her is serving her husband, children, and home. Natasha is very jealous and demanding of her husband, Pierre completely submits to his wife’s demands. In exchange for this, he can have his entire family at his disposal; Natasha not only fulfills, but also guesses her husband’s wishes. Natasha always adheres to her husband’s way of thinking. Pierre saw himself reflected in his wife and feels happy in his marriage.

Natasha can no longer stand the separation from her husband, and finally he arrives.

Pierre tells Nikolai about the latest political news, says that the sovereign does not delve into any matters, that the situation in the state is heating up, that

everything is ready for a revolution. Pierre assures that it is necessary to organize a society, maybe even an illegal one, in order to be useful. Nikolai does not agree with this, reminds him that he took an oath: “Tell me now Arakcheev to go at you with a squadron and cut down - I won’t think for a second and I’ll go.”

Nikolai discusses the conversation with his wife. He considers Pierre a dreamer, but Rostov does not care that Arakcheev is not good, he has enough of his own pressing problems. Countess Marya feels some of her husband's limitations, knows that he will never understand everything that she understands, and that is why she loves him even more, with a tinge of passionate tenderness. Nikolai admires his wife’s constant desire for the infinite, eternal and perfect.

Pierre talks to his wife about important government affairs awaiting him. But Platon Karataev, according to Bezukhov, would approve not of his career, but of his family life, because “I wanted to see beauty, happiness and tranquility in everything.”

Nikolenka Bolkonsky was present during Nikolai’s conversation with Pierre, and this made a strong impression on him. Nikolenka adores Pierre, idolizes him, but he imagines his father not in the guise of a specific person, but considers him a kind of deity. And the boy has a dream. She and Uncle Pierre walked ahead of a huge army and joyfully approached their goal. But suddenly Uncle Nikolai appears in front of them in a menacing pose, ready to kill the first one to move forward. Nikolenka turns around and sees that it is no longer Uncle Pierre standing next to him, but his father, Prince Andrei, who is caressing him. The boy interprets this dream this way: “My father was with me and caressed me. He approved of me, he approved of Uncle Pierre. I know they want me to study. And I will study. But someday I will stop; and then I will do it. Everyone will know, everyone will love me, everyone will admire me. Yes, I will do something that would make even him happy..."

Part 2

Tolstoy once again talks about the historical process, about the fact that it is not the individual who makes history, but the masses of the people, guided by common interests, who make it. A person is important in history only to the extent that he understands and accepts these interests.

The epilogue of War and Peace is Tolstoy's hymn to the spiritual foundations of nepotism as the highest form of unity between people. In a family, it is as if the opposites between spouses are removed, and in communication between them the limitations of loving souls are complemented. Such is the family of Marya Volkonskaya and Nikolai Rostov, where the opposite principles of the Rostovs and Bolkonskys are united in a higher synthesis. The feeling of Nikolai’s proud love for Countess Marya is wonderful, based on surprise at her sincerity, at the sublime, moral world, almost inaccessible to him, in which his wife always lived. And Marya’s submissive, tender love for this man, who will never understand everything that she understands, is touching, and as if this made her love him even more, with a touch of passionate tenderness.

In the epilogue of War and Peace, a new family gathers under the roof of the Lysogorsk house, uniting the heterogeneous Rostov, Bolkon, and, through Pierre Bezukhov, Karataev origins in the past. As in every real family,” writes Tolstoy, “several completely different worlds lived together in the Lysogorsk house, which, each maintaining its own peculiarity and making concessions to one another, merged into one harmonious whole. Every event that happened in the house was equally important - joyful or sad - for all these worlds; but each world (*136) had its own reasons, independent of others, to rejoice or be sad about some event.

‹This new family did not arise by chance. It was the result of a national unity of people born of the Patriotic War. This is how the epilogue reaffirms the connection between the general course of history and individual, intimate relationships between people.

The year 1812, which gave Russia a new, higher level of human communication, which removed many class barriers and restrictions, led to the emergence of more complex and broader family worlds. Karataev's acceptance of life in all its diversity and complexity, Karataev's ability to live in peace and harmony with everyone is present in the finale of the epic novel.

In a conversation with Natasha, Pierre notes that Karataev, if he were alive now, would approve of their family life. /p› As in any family, in the large Lysogorsk family conflicts and disputes sometimes arise. But they are peaceful in nature and only strengthen the strength of family foundations. The guardians of the family foundations are women - Natasha and Marya. There is a strong spiritual union between them. Marie, this is so lovely! – says Natasha. “How she knows how to understand children.” It’s as if she only sees their soul. Yes, I know,” Countess Marya interrupts Nikolai’s story about Pierre’s Decembrist hobbies. “Natasha told me.” When a dispute arises between Nikolai and Pierre, almost turning into a quarrel, it is the women who extinguish it, turn it into a peaceful channel. “And I behaved badly today,” Nikolai Rostov shares what happened. “We argued with Pierre, and I got excited.” “In my opinion, you’re absolutely right.” That's what I told Natasha. Pierre says that everyone suffers, is tormented, is corrupted, and that it is our duty to help our neighbors. Of course, he is right,” said Countess Marya, “but he forgets that we have other responsibilities, closer ones, which God himself showed us, and that we can risk ourselves, but not our children.” “Nikolenka has this weakness: if something is not accepted by everyone, he will never agree,” Natasha reassures Pierre. Thus, women's hearts, protecting the harmony of family life, reason with heated men and soften domestic conflicts. Initially, Tolstoy even wanted to call his novel All's Well That Ends Well. The epilogue seems to confirm the writer’s thought about the happy outcome of the heroes’ lives in a new, prosperous family. However, upon reflection, Tolstoy nevertheless came to another name - War and Peace. The fact is that inside the (*137) happy family Tolstoy discovered the seeds of such contradictions that called into question the harmonious world that arose during the war of 1812 with folk moral traditions at its core. At the end of the fourth volume, having gone through trials, accepting Karataev’s view, Pierre finds peace of mind and harmony: Previously, the terrible question that destroyed all his mental structures: why? – now did not exist for him. But in the epilogue we see something different: the need for thought, analysis, doubt has returned to Pierre again. He says: When I am occupied with thought, then everything else is fun. Moreover, Pierre is busy with political struggle. He criticizes the government and is obsessed with the idea of organizing a secret society from among the free-thinking people of his circle. His plans were lofty and ambitious: It seemed to him at that moment that he was called to give a new direction to the entire Russian society and the whole world. And when Natasha asks Pierre whether Platon Karataev would approve of him, she hears the answer: No, he would not approve. Pierre's political passions - and Natasha and Marya feel this - call into question the tranquility of the newly created family. Irritated by an argument with Pierre, Nikolai Rostov utters prophetic words: I’ll tell you what... I can’t prove it to you. You say that everything is bad with us and that there will be a revolution; I don't see it; but you say that the oath is a conditional matter, and to this I will tell you: that you are my best friend, you know this, but if you form a secret society, if you begin to oppose the government, whatever it may be, I know that it is my duty obey him. 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. And although this dispute has not yet led to dramatic consequences, there is a premonition of future social upheavals. It is no coincidence that at the end of War and Peace the memory of Prince Andrei is revived. His son, Nikolenka Bolkonsky, turns out to be an unwitting witness to Uncle Nikolai's quarrel with Pierre. The boy idolizes Pierre, loves Natasha and is alienated from Nikolai Rostov. When everyone got up for dinner, Nikolenka Bolkonsky approached Pierre, pale, with shiny, radiant eyes. Uncle Pierre... you... no... If dad were alive... would he agree with you? - he asked... I think so, - Pierre answered. And then Nikolenka has a dream, which completes the great book. In this dream, the boy sees himself and Pierre (*138) in helmets, walking at the head of a huge army. And ahead of them is glory. Suddenly Uncle Nikolai appears in front of them in a menacing and stern pose. I loved you, but Arakcheev ordered me, and I will kill the first one who moves forward. - Nikolenka looked back at Pierre, but Pierre was no longer there. Pierre was a father - Prince Andrei... Father! Father! Yes, I will do something that even he would be happy with... Everything that was removed and debunked by life during the War of 1812 - proud dreams of glory, and the high Bolkonsky sky, and painful introspection in search of truth - all this returns again at the end of the epic novel, things are back to normal. Pierre Bezukhov, who discovered the universal meaning of Karataev's folk truth in the trials of the Patriotic War, leaves him for proud dreams, doubts and anxieties. Glory again calls to itself young Bolkonsky, who dreams of following in his father’s footsteps. And only Natasha Rostova, true to herself, remains the custodian of those values of people’s life that Platon Karataev would certainly have approved and which, before the time comes, again went into peaceful life, so that in an era of new upheavals, they would burst into flames and illuminate great deeds.

In 1869, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy completed his work “War and Peace.” The epilogue, a summary of which we will describe in this article, is divided into two parts.

First part

The first part tells about the following events. 7 years have passed since the War of 1812, described in the work "War and Peace". The heroes of the novel have changed both externally and internally. We will talk about this when analyzing the epilogue. In 13, Natasha married Pierre Bezukhov. Ilya Andreevich, count, died at the same time. The old family fell apart with his death. The Rostovs' financial affairs are completely upset. However, Nikolai does not refuse the inheritance, since he sees this as an expression of reproach to his father’s memory.

Ruin of Rostov

The ruin of the Rostovs is described at the end of the work "War and Peace" (epilogue). A summary of the events that make up this episode is as follows. The estate was sold under the hammer for half the price, which covered only half of the debts. Rostov, in order not to end up in a debt hole, enters military service in St. Petersburg. He lives here in a small apartment with Sonya and his mother. Nikolai values Sonya very much, believes that he owes her an unpaid debt, but understands that he could not love this girl. Nikolai's situation is getting worse. However, he is disgusted by the thought of marrying a rich woman.

Meeting of Nikolai Rostov with Princess Marya

Princess Marya comes to visit the Rostovs. Nikolai greets her coldly, showing with all his appearance that he doesn’t need anything from her. After this meeting, the princess feels in an uncertain position. She wants to understand what Nikolai is covering up with such a tone.

He makes a return visit to the princess under the influence of his mother. Their conversation turns out to be tense and dry, but Marya feels that this is only the outer shell. The soul of Rostov is still beautiful.

Nikolai's marriage, estate management

The princess finds out that he behaves this way out of pride, since he is poor and Marya is rich. In the fall of 1814, Nikolai married the princess and, together with her, Sonya and his mother, went to live on the Bald Mountains estate. He devoted himself entirely to the farm, in which the main thing is the peasant worker. Having become close to the peasants, Nikolai begins to skillfully manage the farm, which brings brilliant results. Men come from other estates asking to buy them. Even after the death of Nicholas, the people long preserve the memory of his leadership. Rostov is getting closer and closer to his wife, discovering new treasures of her soul every day.

Sonya is in Nikolai's house. For some reason Marya cannot suppress her evil feelings towards this girl. Somehow Natasha explains to her why Sonya’s fate is this: she is an “empty flower”, something is missing in her.

How has Natasha Rostova changed?

The work "War and Peace" (epilogue) continues. A summary of his further events is as follows. There are three children in the Rostov house, and Marya is expecting another addition. Natasha is visiting her brother with four children. The return of Bezukhov, who left for St. Petersburg two months ago, is expected. Natasha has gained weight, and now it’s hard to recognize her as the old girl.

Her face has an expression of calm “clarity” and “softness”. Everyone who knew Natasha before her marriage is surprised at the change that has occurred in her. Only the old countess, who understood with her mother’s instinct that all the impulses of this girl were aimed only at getting married and starting a family, wonders why others do not understand this. Natasha doesn’t take care of herself, doesn’t watch her manners. For her, the main thing is serving the home, children, and husband. This girl is very demanding of her husband and jealous. Bezukhov completely submits to his wife’s demands. He has the whole family in return. Natasha Rostova not only fulfills her husband’s wishes, but also guesses them. She always shares the way of thinking of her husband.

Conversation between Bezukhov and Nikolai Rostov

Pierre feels happy in his marriage, seeing himself reflected in his own family. Natasha misses her husband, and now he comes. Bezukhov tells Nikolai about the latest political news, says that the sovereign does not delve into any matters, the situation in the country is tense to the limit: a coup is being prepared. Pierre believes that it is necessary to organize a society, possibly illegal, in order to benefit people. Nikolai does not agree with this. He says he took an oath. In the work "War and Peace" the heroes Nikolai Rostov and Pierre Bezukhov express different opinions about the further path of development of the country.

Nikolai discusses this conversation with his wife. He considers Bezukhov a dreamer. Nikolai has enough problems of his own. Marya notices some limitations of her husband and knows that he will never understand what she understands. This makes the princess love him more, with a tinge of passionate tenderness. Rostov admires his wife’s desire for the perfect, the eternal and the infinite.

Bezukhov talks to Natasha about important matters awaiting him. According to Pierre, Platon Karataev would approve of him and not his career, since he wanted to see calm, happiness and goodness in everything.

Nikolenka Bolkonsky's dream

Nikolenka Bolkonsky was present during Pierre’s conversation with Nikolai. The conversation made a deep impression on him. The boy adores Bezukhov and idolizes him. He also considers his father to be a kind of deity. Nikolenka has a dream. He walks with Bezukhov in front of a large army and approaches the goal. Uncle Nikolai suddenly appears in front of them in a menacing pose, ready to kill anyone who moves forward. The boy turns around and notices that it is no longer Pierre who is next to him, but Prince Andrei, his father, who is caressing him. Nikolenka decides that his father was kind to him and approved of him and Pierre. They all want the boy to study, and he will do it. And one day everyone will admire him.

Second part

Once again Tolstoy discusses the historical process. Kutuzov and Napoleon ("War and Peace") are two key historical figures in the work. The author says that history is made not by the individual, but by the masses, who are subordinate to common interests. This was understood by the commander-in-chief Kutuzov described earlier in the work ("War and Peace"), who preferred the strategy of non-intervention to active actions. It was thanks to his wise command that the Russians won. In history, a person is important only to the extent that he accepts and understands the interests of the people. Therefore, Kutuzov (“War and Peace”) is a significant person in history.

The role of the epilogue in the composition of the work

In the composition of the novel, the epilogue is the most important element in ideological understanding. It is he who carries a huge semantic load in the concept of the work. Lev Nikolaevich sums it up, touching on pressing topics such as family.

Family thought

Particular expression in this part of the work was given to the idea of the spiritual foundations of the family as an external form of unification of people. As if the differences between spouses are erased in it, the limitations of souls complement each other in communication between them. The epilogue of the novel develops this idea. Such, for example, is the family of Marya and Nikolai Rostov. In it, the principles of the Bolkonskys and Rostovs are combined in a higher synthesis.

In the epilogue of the novel, a new family gathers, which combines the disparate Bolkon, Rostov, and, through Bezukhov, Karataev traits. As the author writes, several different worlds lived under one roof, which merged into a harmonious whole.

It is no coincidence that this new family arose, including such interesting and different images (“War and Peace”). It was the result of national unity born of the Patriotic War. In this part of the work, the connection between the general and the individual is reaffirmed. The year 1812 in Russian history brought a higher level of communication between people, removing many class restrictions and barriers, and led to the emergence of broader and more complex family worlds. In the Lysogorsk family, like in any other, disputes and conflicts sometimes arise. But they only strengthen relations and are peaceful. Women, Marya and Natasha, are the guardians of its foundations.

People's thought

At the end of the epilogue, the author’s philosophical reflections are presented, in which Lev Nikolaevich again discusses the historical process. In his opinion, history is made not by the individual, but by the masses of people who express common interests. Napoleon ("War and Peace") did not understand this, and therefore lost the war. Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy thinks so.

The last part of the work "War and Peace" - the epilogue - ends. We tried to make the summary concise and succinct. This part of the work sums up the entire large-scale creation of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy. "War and Peace", the characteristics of the epilogue of which we have presented, is a grandiose epic that was created by the author from 1863 to 1869.

This summary of the epilogue of “War and Peace”, broken down in parts, covers the “peaceful” events of 1819-1820. In the final chapters of the work, the author describes the life of the heroes in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Bald Mountains, and also discusses the significance of individual historical figures in the history of entire nations. The epilogue of the novel “War and Peace” is one of the most important compositional elements of the entire book. In it, the author sums up the work, bringing to the fore the idea of the importance of spiritual unity between people. The role of the epilogue of War and Peace is to show the reader how love, friendship and mutual understanding can lead people forward and overcome any difficulties.

To better convey the spirit of the work, we included important quotes in the retelling and highlighted them in gray.

Part 1

Chapter 1

The events of the first part of the epilogue of War and Peace take place seven years after the military events of 1812, which ended the fourth volume.

Tolstoy reflects on the driving forces of history, as well as the role of Alexander I and Napoleon in it. The author comes to the conclusion that it is impossible to unambiguously evaluate the activities of historical figures, since such an assessment will always be subjective.

Chapters 2-3

Tolstoy reflects on the reasons for the movement of European peoples from east to west and from west to east and the ambiguous role of Napoleon in these movements. The author writes that Bonaparte's actions were stupid and vile.

Chapter 4

Description of the role of Alexander I in the movement of the masses from east to west. After the end of the Patriotic War and with the beginning of the European War, the personality of the sovereign came to the fore.

Chapter 5

In 1813, Pierre and Natasha got married. In the same year, the old Count of Rostov died. After the death of the count, the financial situation of the Rostovs deteriorated even more, so Nikolai had to resign and enter the civil service. There were twice as many debts as there were estates, so Nikolai, Sonya and his mother settled in a modest apartment in Moscow. At this time, Pierre and Natasha live in St. Petersburg, not knowing about the difficult situation of the Rostovs.

Chapter 6

Princess Marya arrives in Moscow. Having learned about the changes in the life of the Rostov family, the princess comes to them. Nikolai met Marya solemnly and dryly (since the thought of marrying a rich bride was unpleasant to him), which greatly upset the girl. After Marya's departure, Countess Rostova persuades Nikolai to go to the princess.

Nikolai's visit to Marya Bolkonskaya. During the conversation, an explanation occurs between them: Marya understands that the reason is that he is now poor, and she is rich and is amazed at the nobility of Nikolai. Marya and Nikolai realized that now “the distant, impossible suddenly became close, possible and inevitable.”

Chapter 7

Marya and Nikolai got married, settling with Nikolai’s mother and Sonya (Nicholai’s former lover, a relative of the Rostovs) in Bald Mountains. Rostov turned out to be an excellent host and in three years was able to pay off all debts, continuing to increase his property.

Chapter 8

Contrary to her husband’s requests, Marya fails to fall in love with Sonya, who lives with them. Once, when Marya and Natasha were talking about Sonya, Natasha compared Sonya to a barren flower: “Sometimes I feel sorry for her, and sometimes I think that she doesn’t feel it the way we would.”

Living with the Rostovs, “it seemed that Sonya was not burdened by her position.” “She, like a cat, has taken root not with people, but with the house.”

Chapter 9

Bald Mountains, the eve of winter Nikolai's day, 1820. Quarrel between Nikolai and Marya: the woman thinks that her husband does not love her, but he assures that he cannot find a place for himself without Marya. The woman thinks that she would never have believed that it was possible to be so happy.

Chapters 10-11

After marriage, Natasha changed a lot. Completely immersed in caring for her husband and family (she had three daughters and a son), she completely stopped taking care of herself, while being jealous of Pierre even of the governess or Sonya. The most important thing in their family relationship was Pierre’s desires, which the woman tried to instantly guess and fulfill. “After seven years of marriage, Pierre saw himself reflected in his wife.”

Chapters 12-13

December 1820. The Bezukhovs are visiting the Rostovs. In Bald Mountains, everyone loved Pierre, especially Nikolenka, Andrei’s son.

The old Countess Rostova was already over 60. After everything she had suffered, “she felt like a creature accidentally forgotten in this world, without any purpose or meaning.” The children understood her condition and took care of her in every possible way.

Chapter 14

Conversation between Nikolai, Pierre and Denisov (who was also visiting the Rostovs) about the state of affairs in Russia. Pierre says that the country is perishing, and the sovereign is not trying to do anything. He is confident that there will be a revolution. Bezukhov admits that he is a member of a secret society and believes that the activities of this society are the way to improve the state of affairs in Russia. Nikolai Rostov sharply objects to Bezukhov, as he believes that there will be no coup.

Chapter 15

Marya and Nikolai discuss the fact of Pierre's entry into the secret society. They are afraid for their children, and especially for Nikolenka, who was very excited when he heard Bezukhov’s words about the secret society. Marya asks her husband to take Nikolenka out into society.

Chapter 16

Description of the warm relationship between Pierre and Natasha. They understand each other perfectly, can talk on any topic and always feel each other’s mood.

Nikolenka Bolkonsky's dream. He dreamed that he and Pierre, wearing helmets, as in Plutarch’s book, walked ahead of a huge army to glory. But then they were stopped by Nikolai Rostov, who threatened to kill the first one to move forward. Turning around, Nikolenka saw that Pierre had become his father, Andrei. Nikolenka felt love for his father, but Nikolai was approaching them and the boy woke up in horror. Sitting in bed, Nikolenka thought about his father and that in the future he would achieve everything that even his father would be happy with.

Part 2

Chapter 1

The second part of the epilogue of “War and Peace” begins with the author’s reflections on how historians study the life of peoples and individuals. Tolstoy condemns historians who believe that “peoples are led by individual people” and that “there is a known goal towards which peoples and humanity are moving.”

Chapters 2-3

Chapters 4-5

The author's thoughts on the purpose of power, its consideration as the totality of the will of the masses. Tolstoy writes that the life of an entire people cannot fit into the biography of a few individual individuals, and the power of these individuals cannot become the cause of historical events.

Chapter 6

Tolstoy's thoughts on how orders influence historical events. The author provides an illustration of the distribution of orders in the military hierarchy, in which “those who order take the least part in the event itself,” since their activity is limited exclusively to “ordering.”

Chapter 7 Chapters 8-10

Chapter 11

Tolstoy argues with historians, saying that history should stop looking for specific causes of events, focusing on the search for a general law that drives the history of mankind.

Chapter 12

Tolstoy's thoughts on the struggle between the old and new views of history. The author believes that when considering historical events, “it is necessary to abandon the non-existent freedom [of the will of a historical figure] and recognize the dependence that we do not feel.”

End

Results and conclusions

In the epilogue of his novel, Leo Tolstoy depicted not only the end of a huge story woven from the intricate interweaving of human destinies, but also presented his own historical and philosophical reflections on the law of endless mutual influences and interconnections of human life. It is this irrational law, elusive to reason, that, in the author’s opinion, determines the fate of nations and individuals. We recommend not only reading the retelling of the epilogue of the novel “War and Peace,” but also appreciating the great work in its entirety.

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“Seven years have passed since 12th year. The troubled historical sea of Europe has settled into its shores. It seemed quiet; but the mysterious forces moving humanity continued to operate.”

Tolstoy argues that many accidents and coincidences made it possible for Napoleon to come to power.

Natasha married Bezukhov in 1813. This “was the last joyful event in the old Rostov family. That same year, Count Ilya Andreevich died, and, as always happens, with his death the old family fell apart.”

Before his death, the count, “sobbing, asked for forgiveness from his wife and in absentia from his son for the ruin of his estate - the main guilt that he felt for himself.”

“Nicholas was with the Russian troops in Paris when news of his father’s death came to him. He immediately resigned and, without waiting for it, took a vacation and came to Moscow. The state of financial affairs a month after the count's death became completely clear, surprising everyone with the enormity of the amount of various small debts, the existence of which no one suspected. There were twice as many debts as estates.

Relatives and friends advised Nikolai to refuse the inheritance. But Nikolai saw the refusal of the inheritance as an expression of reproach to the sacred memory of his father and therefore did not want to hear about the refusal and accepted the inheritance with the obligation to pay debts.

The creditors, who had been silent for so long, being bound during the count’s lifetime by the vague but powerful influence that his licentious kindness had on them, suddenly filed for collection.”

“Nicholas was given neither time nor rest, and those who, apparently, pitied the old man who was responsible for their loss, now mercilessly attacked the young heir, who was obviously innocent before them, who voluntarily took upon himself to pay.

None of Nikolai's proposed turns succeeded; the estate was auctioned off at half price, but half of the debts still remained unpaid. Nikolai took the thirty thousand offered to him by his son-in-law Bezukhov to pay that part of the debts that he recognized as monetary, real debts. And in order not to be thrown into a hole for the remaining debts, which the creditors threatened him with, he again entered the service.

It was impossible to go to the army, where he was in the first vacancy of a regimental commander, because the mother was now holding on to her son as the last bait of life; and therefore, despite the reluctance to remain in Moscow in the circle of people who knew him before, despite his aversion to civil service, he took a position in the civil service in Moscow and, taking off his beloved uniform, settled with his mother and Sonya in a small apartment, on Sivtsev Vrazhek.

Natasha and Pierre lived at this time in St. Petersburg, without a clear idea of Nicholas' situation. Nikolai, having borrowed money from his son-in-law, tried to hide his plight from him. Nikolai's position was especially bad because with his one thousand two hundred rubles salary he not only had to support himself, Sonya and his mother, but he had to support his mother so that she would not notice that they were poor. The countess could not understand the possibility of life without the conditions of luxury familiar to her from childhood and constantly, not understanding how difficult it was for her son, she demanded either a carriage, which they did not have, in order to send for a friend, or expensive food for herself and wine for son, then money to give a surprise gift to Natasha, Sonya and the same Nikolai.

Sonya ran the household, looked after her aunt, read aloud to her, endured her whims and hidden dislike, and helped Nikolai hide from the old countess the state of need in which they were. Nikolai felt an unpaid debt of gratitude to Sonya for everything she did for his mother, admired her patience and devotion, but tried to distance himself from her. In his soul he seemed to reproach her for the fact that she was too perfect, and for the fact that there was nothing to reproach her for. She had everything for which people are valued; but there was little that would make him love her.”

“Nikolai’s situation became worse and worse. The idea of saving from my salary turned out to be a dream. He not only did not put it off, but, while satisfying his mother’s demands, he owed little things. He didn’t see any way out of his situation.”

“In the fall of 1814, Nikolai married Princess Marya and with his wife, mother and Sonya moved to live in Bald Mountains.

At three years old, without selling his wife’s estate, he paid off the remaining debts and, having received a small inheritance from his deceased cousin, paid off the debt to Pierre.

Three years later, by 1820, Nikolai had arranged his financial affairs in such a way that he bought a small estate near Bald Mountains and negotiated the redemption of his father’s Otradny, which was his favorite dream.

Having started housekeeping out of necessity, he soon became so addicted to housekeeping that it became his favorite and almost exclusive occupation. Nikolai was a simple owner and did not like innovations.”

By 1820, Natasha “already had three daughters and a son, whom she passionately desired, and now she fed herself. She became plump and wider, so that it was difficult to recognize in this strong mother the former thin, active Natasha. Her facial features were defined and had an expression of calm softness and clarity. In her face there was not, as before, that incessantly burning fire of revival that made up her charm. Now only her face and body were often visible, but her soul was not visible at all. One strong, beautiful and fertile female was visible. Very rarely did the old fire rekindle in her now.”

“And in those rare moments when the old fire was kindled in her developed beautiful body, she was even more attractive than before.”

This woman gave herself completely to her family. “Natasha did not follow that golden rule, taught by smart people, especially the French, and which consists in the fact that a girl, when getting married, should not lower herself, should not give up her talents, should, even more than in girls, take care of her appearance, should to seduce her husband in the same way as she had previously seduced a non-husband. Natasha, on the contrary, immediately abandoned all her charms, of which she had one unusually strong one - singing. She has, as they say, sank. Natasha did not care about her manners, nor about the delicacy of speech, nor about showing herself to her husband in the most advantageous poses, nor about her toilet, nor about not embarrassing her husband with her demands. She did everything against these rules. She felt that those charms that instinct had taught her to use before would now only be ridiculous in the eyes of her husband, to whom from the first minute she gave herself entirely - that is, with all her soul, leaving not a single corner open to him. She felt that her connection with her husband was not held by those poetic feelings that attracted him to her, but was held by something else, vague, but firm, like the connection of her own soul with her body.

To fluff up her hair, put on robrons and sing romances in order to attract her husband to her would have seemed as strange to her as decorating herself in order to be pleased with herself. Decorating herself in order to please others - maybe now it would be pleasant for her - she didn’t know - but there was absolutely no time. The main reason why she did not sing, or dress, or think about her words was that she had absolutely no time to do this.”

“The subject into which Natasha was completely immersed was the family, that is, the husband, who had to be kept so that he inseparably belonged to her, the house, and the children, who had to be carried, given birth, fed, raised.

And the more she delved, not with her mind, but with her whole soul, with her whole being, into the object that occupied her, the more this object grew under her attention, and the weaker and more insignificant her powers seemed to her, so that she concentrated them all on one thing and the same thing and still didn’t have time to do everything that she thought she needed.”

“Natasha did not like society in general, but she especially valued the company of her relatives - Countess Marya, brother, mother and Sonya.

She valued the company of those people to whom she, disheveled, in a dressing gown, could walk out of the nursery with long steps with a joyful face and show a diaper with a yellow spot instead of a green one, and listen to consolation that the child was now much better.

Natasha had sunk to such an extent that her costumes, her hairstyle, her words spoken out of place, her jealousy - she was jealous of Sonya, of the governess, of every beautiful and ugly woman - were the usual subject of jokes of all her loved ones. The general opinion was that Pierre was under his wife's shoe, and indeed this was so. From the very first days of their marriage, Natasha made her demands. Pierre was very surprised by his wife’s completely new view of him, which was that every minute of his life belonged to her and his family; Pierre was surprised by his wife's demands, but was flattered by them and submitted to them.

Pierre's subordination lay in the fact that he did not dare not only to court, but did not dare to speak with a smile to another woman, did not dare to go to dinners in clubs, to dinners in order to pass the time, did not dare to spend money on a whim, did not dared to leave for long periods of time, excluding both on business, among which his wife included his studies in the sciences, in which she understood nothing, but to which she attributed great importance.

In return for this, Pierre had every right to have in his house not only himself, as he wanted, but also his entire family. Natasha in her house put herself on the foot of her husband's slave; and the whole house walked on tiptoe when Pierre was studying - reading or writing in his office. Pierre had only to show some kind of passion for what he loved to be constantly fulfilled. As soon as he expressed a desire, Natasha would jump up and run to fulfill it.

The whole house was guided only by the imaginary commands of her husband, that is, by the desires of Pierre, which Natasha tried to guess. The image, place of life, acquaintances, connections, Natasha’s activities, raising children - not only was everything done according to Pierre’s expressed will, but Natasha tried to guess what could flow from Pierre’s thoughts expressed in conversations. And she correctly guessed what the essence of Pierre’s desires was, and once, having guessed it, she already firmly adhered to the chosen one. When Pierre himself already wanted to change his desire, she fought against him with his own weapons.

Thus, during a difficult time, which Pierre will forever remember, Natasha, after the birth of her first weak child, when they had to change three nurses and Natasha fell ill from despair, Pierre once told her Rousseau’s thoughts, with which he completely agreed, about the unnaturalness and harm of wet nurses. With the next child, despite the opposition of her mother, doctors and her husband himself, who rebelled against her feeding as against something unheard of and harmful at that time, she insisted on her own and from then on she fed all the children herself.”

“After seven years of marriage, Pierre felt a joyful, firm consciousness that he was not a bad person, and he felt this because he saw himself reflected in his wife. In himself he felt all the good and bad things mixed up and overshadowing one another. But only what was truly good was reflected on his wife: everything that was not quite good was cast aside.”

After arriving from St. Petersburg, Pierre told Denisov and Nikolai the latest news. “The situation in St. Petersburg is this: the sovereign is not involved in anything. He is completely devoted to this mysticism (Pierre did not forgive anyone for mysticism now). He is only looking for peace."

“... In the courts there is theft, in the army there is only one stick: shagistika, settlements - they torture the people, they stifle education. What is young, honestly, is ruined! Everyone can see that this cannot go on like this. “Everything is too tense and will certainly burst,” said Pierre (as people always say, since the government has existed, having looked closely at the actions of any government).” “When you stand and wait for this taut string to snap; when everyone is waiting for an inevitable revolution, it is necessary to join hand in hand with as many people as possible to resist the general catastrophe. Everything young and strong is attracted there and corrupted.

One is seduced by women, another by honors, a third by vanity, money - and they move to that camp. There are no independent, free people like you and me left. I say: expand the circle of society... let there be not only virtue, but independence and activity.”

Pierre called for active work. His ideas are very close to the ideas of the Decembrists.

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summary epilogue war and peace