In 1869, Leo Tolstoy finished 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 tell about this, analyzing the epilogue. In the 13th year, Natasha married Pierre Bezukhov. Ilya Andreevich, Count, died at the same time. The old family fell apart with his death. The financial affairs of the Rostovs are completely upset. However, Nikolai does not refuse the inheritance, since he sees the expression of reproach of his father's memory in this.
Ruin Rostov
Rostov’s ruin is described at the end of War and Peace (epilogue). A summary of the events that make up this episode is as follows. The estate was sold at half price, which covered only half of the debts. Rostov, in order not to be in a debt hole, enters the soldier's service in St. Petersburg. He lives here in a small apartment with Sonya and his mother. Nicholas highly appreciates Sonya, believes that he is in an unpaid debt to her, but understands that he could not love this girl. The situation of Nicholas is getting worse. However, he dislikes the idea of marrying a rich woman.
Meeting of Nikolai Rostov with Princess Marya
Princess Marya visits the Rostovs. Nikolai meets her coldly, showing with all the appearance that he does not need anything from her. After this meeting, the princess feels herself in an uncertain position. She wants to understand what Nikolai is covering in such a tone.
He makes a return visit to the princess under the influence of his mother. Their conversation is strained and dry, but Mary feels that this is only the outer shell. The soul of Rostov is still beautiful.
The marriage of Nicholas, estate management
The princess finds out that he behaves with pride because he is poor and Mary is rich. In the autumn of 1814, Nicholas married the princess, and together with her, Sonya and her mother went to live in the estate of Lysy Gory. He devoted himself entirely to the household, in which the main thing was a peasant worker. Akin to the peasants, Nikolai begins to skillfully manage the economy, which brings brilliant results. Men come from other estates asking to buy them. The people, even after the death of Nicholas, have long kept a memory of his management. Rostov is getting closer and closer to his wife, discovering new treasures of her soul every day.
Sonya is in Nikolay’s house. Mary cannot somehow suppress the evil feelings for this girl. Somehow, Natasha explains to her why Sonya’s fate is this: she’s a "hollow", something is missing from her.
How has Natasha Rostova changed?
The work "War and Peace" (epilogue) continues. A summary of his subsequent events is as follows. Three children are in the Rostovs' house, and Mary is still waiting for the addition. Natasha is visiting with her four children with her brother. The return of Bezukhov, who left for Petersburg two months ago, is expected. Natasha grew stout, it is now not easy to recognize the former girl.
Her face has an expression of calm "clarity" and "gentleness." Everyone who knew Natasha before marriage was surprised at the change that had occurred in her. Only the old countess, who understood with her motherly instinct that all the impulses of this girl had the goal of only marrying, creating a family, wonders why others do not understand this. Natasha does not look after herself, does not follow her manners. For her, the main thing is serving the house, children, husband. Very demanding of her husband, this girl is jealous. Bezukhov completely submits to the requirements of his wife. He disposes in return the whole family. Natasha Rostova not only fulfills her husband's wishes, but also guesses them. She always shares her husband’s mindset.
Conversation of Bezukhov with Nikolai Rostov
Pierre feels happy in marriage, seeing a reflection of himself in his own family. Natasha misses her husband, and here he comes. Bezukhov talks about the latest political news to Nikolai, says that the sovereign does not go into any business, the situation in the country is extremely tense: a coup is being prepared. Pierre believes that it is necessary to organize a society, possibly illegal, in order to benefit people. Nikolay does not agree with this. He says he took the oath. Different opinions express on the further path of development of the country in the work "War and Peace" by the heroes Nikolai Rostov and Pierre Bezukhov.
This conversation is being discussed with his wife Nikolai. He considers Bezukhov a dreamer. Nikolai has enough of his problems. Mary notices a certain limitation of her husband, she knows that he will never understand what she understands. From this princess loves him more, with a touch of passionate tenderness. Rostov admires the spouse's desire for the perfect, eternal and infinite.
Bezukhov talks with Natasha that important things await him. According to Pierre, Plato Karataev would approve of his family life, and not his career, because he wanted to see calm, happiness and goodness in everything.
Dream of Nikolenka Bolkonsky
In the conversation between Pierre and Nikolai, Nikolenka Bolkonsky was present. The conversation made a deep impression on him. The boy adores Bezukhov, worships him. He also considers his father a kind of deity. Nikolenka is dreaming. He goes with Bezukhov in front of a large army and approaches the goal. Uncle Nikolai suddenly appears in front of them in a formidable pose, who is ready to kill anyone who has moved forward. The boy turns around and notices that next to him is no longer Pierre, but Prince Andrew, the father who caresses him. Nikolenka decides that his father was affectionate with him, 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 it is not a person who makes history, but the masses of people who submit to common interests. This was understood by the Commander-in-Chief Kutuzov described earlier in the work (War and Peace), who preferred active intervention to a strategy of non-interference in the historical process. It was thanks to his wise command that the Russians won. In history, a person is important only to the extent that it accepts and understands popular interests. 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 an essential element in ideological understanding. It is he who carries a huge semantic load in the design of the work. Lev Nikolaevich summarizes, touching upon pressing topics, such as the role of the individual in history, the family.
Family Thought
The idea of the spiritual foundations of the family as an external form of association of people received particular expression in this part of the work. As if the differences between the spouses are erased in it, the limited 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, in the highest synthesis, the beginnings of the Bolkonsky and Rostovs are combined.
In the Lysy Gory, in the epilogue of the novel, a new family gathers, which combines the heterogeneous in the past Bolkonian, Rostov, and through Bezukhov also Karataev features. According to the author, 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 nationwide unity born of the Patriotic War. In this part of the work, the connection between the general and the individual is affirmed. The year 1812 in the history of Russia brought a higher level of communication between people, removing many class restrictions and barriers, and led to the appearance of wider and more complex family worlds. In the Lysogorsk family, as in any other, sometimes disputes and conflicts arise. But they only strengthen relations, have a peaceful character. Women, Marya and Natasha, are the guardians of his foundations.
The idea of the people
At the end of the epilogue, the philosophical reflections of the author are presented, in which Lev Nikolaevich again discusses the historical process. In his opinion, the history is made not by a person, but by the masses who express common interests. Napoleon (War and Peace) did not understand this, and therefore lost the war. So Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy considers.
The last part of the work “War and Peace” ends - the epilogue. We tried to make a brief summary of it concise and capacious. This part of the work sums up the entire large-scale creation of Leo Tolstoy. "War and Peace", the characteristic of the epilogue which we presented, is a grandiose epic, which was created by the author from 1863 to 1869.