One of the main characters of the epic “Warrior and Peace” is Pierre Bezukhov. The characterization of the character of the work is revealed through his actions. And also through thoughts, spiritual searches 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 human life.
Introducing the reader to Pierre
Briefly describing and understanding the image of Pierre Bezukhov is very difficult. The reader needs to go with the hero all his life's journey.
Acquaintance with Pierre is attributed in the novel to 1805. He appears at a social gathering with Anna Pavlovna Scherer, a Moscow senior lady. By that time, the young man did not represent anything interesting to the secular public. He was the illegitimate son of a Moscow nobleman. He received a good education abroad, but after returning to Russia, he did not find any use for himself. An idle lifestyle, revelry, idleness, dubious companies led to the fact that Pierre was expelled from the capital. With this vital baggage, he appears in Moscow. In turn, the upper world does not attract a young man either. He does not share the pettiness of interests, selfishness, the hypocrisy of his representatives. “Life is something deeper, significant, but unknown to him,” reflects Pierre Bezukhov. The “war and peace” of 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 actions constantly haunt him. Unbeknownst to himself, he is captured by an idle secular life with its temptations, feasts and revelry.
After the death of Count Bezukhov, Pierre becomes the heir to the title and the entire state of his father. The attitude of society towards a young person is changing dramatically. The eminent Moscow nobleman, Vasily Kuragin, in pursuit of the state of the young count gives his beautiful daughter Helen to marry him. This marriage did not portend a happy family life. Very soon Pierre understands the insidiousness, the lying of his wife, her debauchery becomes apparent to him. Thoughts of scolded honor haunt him. In a state of rage, he commits an act that could prove fatal. Fortunately, the duel with Dolokhov ended in injury to the offender, and Pierre’s life was in danger.
The quest path of Pierre Bezukhov
After the tragic events, the young count more and more thinks about how he spends the days of his life. Everything around is confused, disgusting and pointless. He understands that all secular rules and norms of behavior are insignificant in comparison with something great, mysterious, unknown to him. But Pierre does not have sufficient fortitude and knowledge to discover this great, to find the true destiny of human life. 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 Helene and giving her a large share of the 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 a brotherhood of Masons. Only they know the true path, the laws of being are subject to them. For Pierre's tormented soul and consciousness, this meeting, as he believed, was salvation.
Arriving in the capital, he, without hesitation, takes the rite and becomes a member of the Masonic lodge. The rules of another world, its symbolism, outlook on life carry Pierre. He unconditionally believes everything that he hears at meetings, although much of his new life seems gloomy and incomprehensible to him. The search path of Pierre Bezukhov continues. The soul is still tossing and finding peace.
How to make people's life easier
New experiences and the search for the meaning of life lead Pierre Bezukhov to the understanding that the life of an individual cannot be happy when there are many destitute people deprived of any right.
He decides to take actions aimed at improving the life of peasants in his estates. Many do not understand Pierre. Even among the peasants, for whose sake all this was conceived, there is a misunderstanding, rejection of a new way of life. This discourages Bezukhov, he is depressed, disappointed.
The disappointment was final when Pierre Bezukhov (whose characterization describes him as a gentle, gullible man) realized that he was brutally deceived by the managers, funds and efforts were sent upwind.
Napoleon
The alarming events taking place in France at that time occupied the minds of all high society. The rise to power of Napoleon excited the minds of young people and the elderly. For many young people, the image of the great emperor has become an ideal. Pierre Bezukhov admired his successes, victories, he idolized the personality of Napoleon. I did not understand people who decided to resist the talented commander, the 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. The exploits and achievements for the glory of the French Revolution remained only dreams.
And the events of 1812 will destroy all ideals. Adoration of Napoleon’s personality will be replaced in Pierre’s soul with contempt and hatred. There will be an irresistible desire to kill the tyrant, avenging all the troubles that he brought to his native land. Pierre was simply obsessed with the idea of reprisal with Napoleon, he believed that this was the designation, the mission of his life.
battle of Borodino
The Patriotic War of 1812 broke the prevailing foundations, becoming a real test for the country and its citizens. This tragic event directly affected Pierre. An aimless life in wealth, convenience was left without hesitation by the Count for the sake of serving the fatherland.
It was in the war that Pierre Bezukhov, whose characterization was still not flattering, begins to look at life differently, to understand what was unknown. Rapprochement with soldiers, representatives of the common people, helps to overestimate 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 falsity and pretense, readiness to give his life without hesitation for the sake of his homeland.
Destruction, blood, fear, death and related experiences give rise to the spiritual rebirth of the hero. Suddenly, unexpectedly for himself, Pierre begins to find answers to questions that tormented him for so many years. Everything becomes extremely clear and simple. He begins to live not formally, but with his whole heart, experiencing a feeling unfamiliar to him, which he still cannot give an explanation for at this moment.
Captivity
Further events unfold so that the trials that befell Pierre should temper, finally shape his views.
Once in captivity, he undergoes an interrogation procedure, after which he remains alive, but before his eyes, the execution of several Russian soldiers is carried out, together with him who fell to the French. The spectacle of 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 in his soul a harmonious beginning. Being in a cramped hut, experiencing physical pain and suffering, the hero begins to feel like a truly happy person. 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 to life and look for his place in it more than once.
Fate orders that Platon Karataev, who gave Pierre an understanding of life, was killed by the French, as he fell ill and could not move. The death of Karataev brings the hero new suffering. Pierre himself was released from captivity by partisans.
Relatives
Freed from captivity, Pierre, one by one, receives news from his relatives, about whom for a long time he did not know anything. He becomes aware of the death of his wife Helen. Best friend, Andrei Bolkonsky, seriously injured.
Karataev’s death, disturbing news from relatives again excite the hero’s soul. He begins to think that all the misfortunes that occurred were due to his fault. He is the cause of death of his relatives.
And suddenly Pierre catches himself thinking that in difficult moments of emotional experience, the image of Natasha Rostova suddenly comes. She instills calm in him, gives strength and confidence.
Natasha Rostova
In subsequent meetings with her, he realizes that he had a feeling for this sincere, intelligent, spiritually rich woman. Natasha's response to Pierre flares up. In 1813 they got married.
Rostova is capable of sincere love, she is ready to live in the interests of her husband, to understand, feel him - this is the main advantage of a woman. Tolstoy showed the family as a way to maintain the balance of mind of a person. Family is a small model of the world. The state of the whole society depends on the health of this cell.
Life goes on
The hero gained an understanding of life, happiness, harmony within himself. But the path to this was very difficult. The work of the internal development of the soul all his life accompanied the hero, and she gave her 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 informs his wife that he intends to become a member of a secret society.