In this article we will introduce you to the main characters of Leo Tolstoy's work "War and Peace." Characteristics of the characters include the main features of the exterior and inner world. All characters of the work are very curious. Very large in volume is the novel "War and Peace." Characteristics of the characters are given only briefly, but meanwhile, for each of them you can write a separate work. We begin our analysis with a description of the Rostov family.
Ilya Andreevich Rostov
The Rostov family in the work are typical Moscow representatives of the nobility. Its head, Ilya Andreyevich, is known for generosity and hospitality. This is the count, the father of Petit, Vera, Nikolai and Natasha Rostovs, a rich man and a Moscow gentleman. He is motive, good-natured, loves to live. In general, speaking of the Rostov family, it should be noted that sincerity, friendliness, lively contact and ease of communication were characteristic of all its representatives.
Some episodes from the life of the writer’s grandfather were used by him when creating the image of Rostov. The fate of this man is weighed down by the realization of ruin, which he does not immediately understand and cannot stop. In its appearance there are also some similarities with the prototype. This technique was used by the author not only in relation to Ilya Andreevich. Some internal and external features of relatives and friends of Leo Tolstoy are guessed in other characters, which confirms the characteristics of the characters. "War and Peace" is a large-scale work with a huge number of characters.
Nikolay Rostov
Nikolai Rostov - the son of Ilya Andreyevich, brother of Petit, Natasha and Vera, hussar, officer. At the end of the novel, he appears as the husband of Marya Bolkonskaya, Princess. In the guise of this man was seen "enthusiasm" and "swiftness." It reflected some features of N.I. Tolstoy, the father of the writer, who participated in the war of 1812. This hero is distinguished by such features as gaiety, openness, goodwill and self-sacrifice. Convinced that he was neither a diplomat nor an official, Nikolai left the university at the beginning of the novel and entered the hussar regiment. Here he participates in the Patriotic War of 1812, in military campaigns. Nicholas receives the first baptism of fire when the crossing of the Ens passes. In the battle of Shengraben, he was wounded in the arm. After passing the test, this man becomes a real hussar, a brave officer.
Petya Rostov
Petya Rostov is the youngest child in the Rostov family, the brother of Natasha, Nikolai and Vera. He appears at the beginning of the work as a little boy. Petya, like all Rostovs, is cheerful and kind, musical. He wants to imitate his brother and also wants to join the army. After Nikolay’s departure, Petya becomes the mother’s main concern, which at that time only realizes the depth of his love for this child. During the war, he accidentally enters Denisov’s detachment with an assignment, where he remains, as he wants to take part in the case. Petya dies by coincidence, showing the best features of the Rostovs in relations with their comrades before his death.
Countess Rostova
Rostov is a heroine, in creating the image of which the author used character traits, as well as some life circumstances of L.A. Bers, mother-in-law of Lev Nikolaevich, as well as P.N. Tolstoy, the writer's grandmother by father. The countess is accustomed to living in an atmosphere of kindness and love, in luxury. She is proud of the trust and friendship of her children, pampers them, worries about their fate. Despite the external weakness, even some self-will, this heroine makes reasonable and balanced decisions regarding her children. Dictated by the love of children and her desire at any cost to marry Nicholas to a wealthy bride, as well as nitpicking to Sonya.
Natasha Rostova
Natasha Rostova is one of the main characters of the work. She is the daughter of Rostov, the sister of Petit, Vera and Nikolai. At the end of the novel, he becomes the wife of Pierre Bezukhov. This girl is presented as "ugly, but alive," with a large mouth, black-eyed. The prototype for this image was Tolstoy’s wife, and her sister Bers T.A. Natasha is very sensitive and emotional, she can intuitively guess the characters of people, sometimes selfish in the manifestations of feelings, but more often she is capable of self-sacrifice and self-forgetfulness. We see this, for example, when the wounded were taken out of Moscow, as well as in the episode of nursing a mother after Petya died.
One of the main advantages of Natasha is her musicality, beautiful voice. By her singing she can awaken all the best that is in a person. This is what saves Nicholas from despair after he lost a large sum.
Natasha, constantly carried away, lives in an atmosphere of happiness and love. After meeting with Prince Andrei, a change occurs in her fate. The insult inflicted by Bolkonsky (the old prince) pushes this heroine to the fascination of Kuragin and to the refusal of Prince Andrei. Having felt and experienced a lot, she realizes her guilt before Bolkonsky. But this girl has real love only for Pierre, whose wife she becomes at the end of the novel.
Sonia
Sonya is a pupil and niece of Count Rostov, who grew up in his family. At the beginning of the work she is 15 years old. This girl fully fits into the Rostov family, she is unusually friendly and close to Natasha, in love with Nikolai since childhood. Sonya is silent, restrained, cautious, judicious, and the ability to sacrifice herself is highly developed in her. She attracts attention with moral purity and beauty, but she does not have the charm and spontaneity that Natasha possesses.
Pierre Bezukhov
Pierre Bezukhov in the novel is one of the main characters. Therefore, without it, the characterization of the heroes (War and Peace) would be incomplete. Briefly describe Pierre Bezukhov. He is the illegitimate son of the count, the famous nobleman, who became the heir to a huge fortune and title. The work depicts a fat, massive young man with glasses. This hero is distinguished by a timid, intelligent, natural and observant look. He was brought up abroad, appeared in Russia shortly before the campaign of 1805 and the death of his father. Pierre is prone to philosophical reflection, smart, kind-hearted and gentle, compassionate to others. It is also impractical, sometimes prone to passions. Andrei Bolkonsky, his closest friend, characterizes this hero as the only "living person" among all representatives of the world.
Anatole Kuragin
Anatole Kuragin is an officer, brother of Hippolytus and Helen, son of Prince Vasily. Unlike Hippolytus, the “calm fool”, his father looks at Anatole as a “restless” fool who must always be rescued from various troubles. This hero is stupid, arrogant, dapper, in conversations not eloquent, depraved, not resourceful, but has confidence. He looks at life as a constant amusement and pleasure.
Andrey Bolkonsky
Andrei Bolkonsky - one of the main characters in the work, the prince, brother of Princess Mary, son of N. A. Bolkonsky. Described as a "very handsome" young man of "short stature". He is proud, intelligent, seeks in life a great spiritual and intellectual content. Andrey is educated, restrained, practical, has a strong will. His idol at the beginning of the novel is Napoleon, who will also introduce to readers just below our description of heroes (War and Peace). Andrey Balkonsky wants to imitate him. After participating in the war, he lives in a village, raises a son, and is engaged in farming. Then he returns to the army, dies in the battle of Borodino.
Platon Karataev
Imagine this hero of the work "War and Peace." Plato Karataev - a soldier who was captured in captivity by Pierre Bezukhov. In service, he is nicknamed Sokolik. Note that the original version of the work did not have this character. His appearance was caused by the finalization in the philosophical concept of "War and Peace" the image of Pierre.
At the first meeting with this good-natured affectionate man, Pierre was struck by the feeling of something calm, emanating from him. This character attracts others with its calmness, kindness, confidence, and also smiling. After the death of Karataev, thanks to his wisdom, popular philosophy, expressed unconsciously in his behavior, Pierre Bezukhov understands the meaning of life.
But not only fictional characters are portrayed in War and Peace. Characteristics of the characters include real historical figures. The main ones are Kutuzov and Napoleon. Their images are described in sufficient detail in the work "War and Peace." Characteristics of the heroes that we mentioned are listed below.
Kutuzov
Kutuzov in the novel, as in reality, is the commander in chief of the Russian army. It is described as a person with a puffy face, a mutilated wound, with an eagle nose. He steps hard, full, gray-haired. For the first time on the pages of the novel appears in an episode when a view of troops near Branau is depicted. Impresses everyone with knowledge of the matter, as well as the attention that is hidden behind the external absent-mindedness. Kutuzov is able to be diplomatic, he is pretty cunning. Before the battle of Shengraben, he blesses Bagration with tears in his eyes. Favorite combat officers and soldiers. He believes that winning the campaign against Napoleon requires time and patience, that it is not knowledge, intelligence, or plans that can solve the matter, but something else that is not dependent on them, that a person is not able to really influence the course of history . Kutuzov more contemplates the course of events than intervenes in them. However, he knows how to remember, listen, see, not interfere with anything useful and not allow the harmful. This is a modest, simple and therefore majestic figure.
Napoleon
Napoleon is a real historical person, the French emperor. On the eve of the main events of the novel is the idol of Andrei Bolkonsky. Before the greatness of this man bowed even Pierre Bezukhov. His confidence and complacency are expressed in the opinion that his presence plunges people into self-forgetfulness and delight, that in the world everything depends only on his will.
This is a brief description of the characters in the novel "War and Peace." It can serve as the basis for a more detailed analysis. Turning to the work, you can supplement it if you need a detailed description of the characters. "War and Peace" (Volume 1 - the presentation of the main characters, the subsequent - the development of characters) describes in detail each of these characters. The inner world of many of them changes over time. Therefore, Leo Tolstoy presents in dynamics the characteristics of heroes (War and Peace). Volume 2, for example, reflects their life between 1806 and 1812. The next two volumes describe further events, their reflection in the fate of the characters.
Of great importance for understanding such a creation of Leo Tolstoy, as the work "War and Peace," the characteristics of the heroes. Through them, the philosophy of the novel is reflected, author's ideas and thoughts are transmitted.