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The novel “War and Peace” is a great work of Russian and world literature, a grandiose epic, the hero of which is the Russian people, who showed unprecedented heroism and patriotism in the struggle for the freedom and independence of their homeland in the War of 1812. The enormous vital material of this novel is united by a single concept: “I tried to write the history of the people,” says Tolstoy. The people, according to Tolstoy, are not only peasants, but also nobles, those people who are worried about the fate of the country, who are in the whirlpool of great events. A colossal wave of anger arose among the people after the French attack. All Russian people, with the exception of a small handful of court aristocrats, could not imagine how they could live under the rule of the French. Every Russian acted as he found possible for himself. Some joined the active army, some went to partisan detachments. People like Pierre Bezukhov gave part of their money to equip the militia. Many, like the Smolensk merchant Ferapontov, burned shops and their property so that nothing would be left for the enemies. And many simply packed up and left their homes, destroying everything after them. Tolstoy notes in the Russian people a simple, sometimes unreflective feeling of patriotism, which was expressed not in loud phrases about love for the fatherland, but in decisive actions. Residents of Moscow left the ancient capital without any call. Tolstoy emphasizes that for Muscovites there could be no question of what would be good or bad under French rule in Moscow. It was simply impossible to live like that, as it was the worst of all. The same thing is happening in other cities and villages of the Russian land. In the territory where the enemy had already entered, he saw hatred and genuine indignation of the people. The peasants refused to sell food and hay to the French. A partisan movement arose spontaneously, without any order from above. In Tolstoy’s figurative expression, “the partisans picked up fallen leaves that fell from the common tree of the French army, and sometimes shook this tree.” Not only the common people, but also the advanced layers of the nobility and intelligentsia became imbued with bitterness towards the enemy. It’s not for nothing that Prince Andrei says that they destroyed his house, and now they are going to ruin Moscow, insulting it every second.” And therefore, according to his concepts, they are not only enemies, but also criminals. Prince Andrei honestly fulfills his duty, joining the active army at the very beginning of the war, although before that he decided that he would never be a military man again. He did not stay at headquarters, as he was offered, but goes to the forefront of events. The heroism and genuine love of Russians for their homeland was especially clearly demonstrated in the Battle of Borodino. On the eve of the battles, Andrei Bolkonsky says: “the battle will be won by the one who firmly decided to win it... and who will fight harder... Tomorrow, no matter what, we will win the battle.” Defending their home, their family, their homeland, the right to life, the Russian people showed amazing fortitude and self-sacrifice, and showed miracles of courage. They aroused first surprise and then fear in the hitherto invincible Napoleon. One cannot help but be proud of the Russian people. And there is no doubt that such a people have a great future.

The novel “War and Peace” is a historical epic of the valor and courage of the Russian people - the winner of the War of 1812. Main character novel - the Russian people. As in " Sevastopol stories”, so in this novel Tolstoy realistically depicts the war in “blood, in suffering, in death.” Tolstoy tells us about the severity of the war, about its horrors, grief (the departure of the population from Smolensk and Moscow, hunger), death (Andrei Bolkonsky dies after being wounded, Petya Rostov dies). War requires everyone to exert the utmost moral and physical strength. Russia during the Patriotic War, during the period of robbery, violence and atrocities committed by the invaders, suffered enormous material sacrifices. This is the burning and devastation of cities.

Of great importance during military events is general mood soldiers, partisans and other defenders of the Motherland. War 1905-1907 was conducted outside Russia and was alien to the Russian people. When the French invaded the territory of Russia, the entire Russian people, young and old, rose to defend their Fatherland.

In the novel “War and Peace,” Tolstoy divides people according to moral principles, especially highlighting their attitude to patriotic duty. The writer depicts true patriotism and false patriotism, which cannot even be called patriotism. True patriotism is, first of all, the patriotism of duty, action in the name of the Fatherland, the ability to rise above the personal at a decisive moment for the Motherland, to be imbued with a sense of responsibility for the fate of the people. According to Tolstoy, the Russian people are deeply patriotic. When the French occupied Smolensk, peasants burned hay so as not to sell it to their enemies. Each in his own way tried to hurt the enemy so that they would feel the hatred of the true owners of the earth. The merchant Ferapontov burned down his own shop so that it would not fall to the French. The residents of Moscow are shown as true patriots, who, leaving hometown, leave their homes because they consider it impossible to remain under the rule of impostors.

Russian soldiers are true patriots. We see the true patriotism and heroism of the people in the depiction of classical scenes near Shengraben, Austerlitz, Smolensk, Borodin. It was in the Battle of Borodino that the extraordinary fortitude and courage of Russian soldiers was particularly demonstrated. battle of Borodino is a moral victory for Russian soldiers. The feeling of patriotism is a truly national feeling. It covers all soldiers without exception. The soldiers calmly, simply, confidently do their job without saying loud words. Tolstoy talks about the battles near Smolensk. Despite the courage and tenacity of the Russian army, it is forced to retreat.

Outwardly unremarkable people become heroes and true patriots in Tolstoy. This is Captain Tushin, who finds himself in a comical position without boots in front of his superiors, embarrassed, stumbling, and at the same time doing exactly that at the most critical moment. what is needed. Force folk spirit will give birth to outstanding commanders. Such as Mikhail Kutuzov. He lives only by the feelings, thoughts, interests of the soldiers, perfectly understands their mood, and takes care of them like a father. He firmly believes that the outcome of the battle is determined by “an elusive force called the spirit of the army” and strives with all his might to support this hidden warmth of patriotism in the army.

For Kutuzov, to whom all the false, far-fetched, meaningless rantings of Bennigsen at the military council in Fili about the defense of the sacred ancient capital of Moscow are deeply alien. For a Russian person, a true patriot, it is clear what Moscow is. But the question of its fate, of the fate of Russia, was decided by Kutuzov in purely military terms.

The writer attaches great importance to the partisan movement. This is how Tolstoy describes its spontaneous growth: “Before guerrilla warfare was officially adopted by our government, thousands of people of the enemy army - backward marauders, foragers - had already been exterminated by the Cossacks and peasants, who beat these people as unconsciously as dogs unconsciously kill a rabid dog.” Tolstoy draws the partisan detachments of Dolokhov and Denisov, talks about the peasant Tikhon Shcherbat, who was an irreplaceable person in the detachment and took part in the most risky operations. Thanks to the huge mass patriotic movement of the Russian people against the French invaders, the enemy was defeated and driven out.

Tolstoy shows that patriotic feelings cover people of different political views: the progressive intelligentsia (Pierre, Andrey), the confrontational old Prince Bolkonsky, the conservative Nikolai Rostov, the meek Princess Marya. The patriotic impulse penetrates into the hearts of people seemingly far from wars-Petit, Natasha Rostov. But it only seemed so. Real man according to Tolstoy, one cannot help but be a patriot of his Fatherland. All these people are united by a feeling that exists in the soul of every Russian person. (The Rostov family, leaving the city, gives all the carts to the wounded, thereby losing their property. After the death of her father, Maria Bolkonskaya leaves the estate, not wanting to live in the territory occupied by enemies. Pierre Bezukhov thinks about killing Napoleon, knowing full well how this could end.)

Gathering in the Slobodsky Palace, merchants and nobles sacrifice their property to protect Russia. “Having learned that Count Mamontov was donating the regiment, Bezukhov immediately announced that he was giving up a thousand people and their contents.”

Tolstoy contrasts the true patriotism of the bulk of the Russian people with the false patriotism of the highest noble society. These are fake people, whose patriotic words and deeds become a means of achieving base goals. Tolstoy mercilessly tears off the mask of patriotism from German and half-German generals in Russian service, “golden youth” like Anatoly Kuragin, careerists like Boris Drubetsky. Tolstoy angrily denounces that part of the senior staff officers who did not take part in the battles, but tried to get a job at headquarters and receive awards for nothing.

In the midst of the war, A. Scherer is busy choosing a worthy groom. In her salon they charge a fine for every French word spoken. Of course, these people, far from the people, are alien to the original Russian patriotic feeling. Tolstoy convinces us that only those nobles who comprehend the spirit of the people, for whom there can be no happiness outside the peace and prosperity of their country, can be true patriots.

By uniting people on a moral principle, emphasizing the special importance in assessing a person of the truth of his patriotic feeling, Tolstoy brings together people who are very different in their social status. They turn out to be close in spirit, rising to the greatness of national patriotism. And it is not without reason that in a difficult period of his life, Pierre Bezukhov, finding himself on the Borodino field, comes to the conviction that true happiness is merging with the common people. (“Be a soldier, just a soldier. Enter this common life with the whole being.")

Thus, true patriotism and heroism in Tolstoy’s understanding is the highest manifestation moral strength and the spirit of the people. People's patriotism is an invincible force in the fight against enemies. The winner is the Russian people. True heroes are ordinary Russian people who accomplished a great deed - they defeated the “invincible Napoleon.”

Municipal educational institution Lovetskaya secondary school

Essay

on literature.

Topic: “The idea of ​​patriotism in Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”

Completed by: 11th grade student Anna Davydova.

Head: Simakova L.G.

Reviewer: Krotova E.N.

2007

Plan:

1. Introduction.

2. True and false patriotism in the novel.

3. The significance of Kutuzov as the leader of the Russian army.

4. True heroes of 1812.

5. Conclusion.

Introduction.

The novel "War and Peace" was created from 1863 to 1869. It contains more than 600 characters. The destinies of the heroes are traced over 15 years in peacetime and war.

In all of world literature there are not many books that, in terms of richness of content and artistic power, could be compared with Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Historical events of enormous significance, the deepest foundations of the national life of Russia, its nature, the fate of its best people, the masses set in motion by the course of history, the richness of our beautiful language - all this was embodied on the pages of the great epic. Tolstoy himself said: “Without false modesty, this is like the Iliad,” that is, he compared his book with the greatest creation of the ancient Greek epic.

"War and Peace" is one of the most fascinating and exciting novels in world literature. Its action takes place either in the glow of the Moscow fire, which floods countless crowds of people with tragic light, or in wax candles in high society salons, in the living rooms and offices of the Rostovs, Bezukhovs, Bolkonskys, Kuragins, now by the light of a torch in a peasant hut, now by the reflection of a partisan fire in winter forest, then in the light of the sun, illuminating village huts and mansions, battlefields and crop fields, cities, forests, villages, roads of Russia.

The horizon of a huge book is vast, where peace and life overcome death and war, where with such depth, with such insight, the history of the human soul is traced - that “mysterious Russian soul” with its passions and delusions, with a frantic thirst for justice and patient faith in goodness, oh which was written so much all over the world both before and after Tolstoy, but after - with references to him, with quotes from the book. “War and Peace” is an extremely emotional book, hot, full of ridicule, polemics and love. It was created by the “mind of the heart,” which Tolstoy valued so highly in people and in art. In this regard, “War and Peace” is fundamentally different from “objective” historical prose and represents an unprecedented phenomenon in the genre of historical novel.

This is a great book of life, where the story about individual people, about the deepest movements of their souls, hidden from external view, is combined, “paired” with narration and reflection on the destinies of generations, peoples, the whole world. Tolstoy strove for a holistic reflection of history and life; he considered truth to be his only goal, for “low truth alone is dearer to us than the darkness of elevating deceptions.” Sholokhov once said that writing the truth is not easy, but the purpose of writing is not limited to this - it is more difficult to write the truth. The truth lies in the deep comprehension of the people's character.

Tolstoy wrote the war without embellishment, and in the same way, in his characteristic manner, he described people's patriotism. It was the love for the Motherland, the ability to sacrifice everything most valuable for it, including life, that the author so vividly revealed in his novel. In “War and Peace” we can see real heroes, true defenders of the Russian land.

Many of the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” can be called role models, and this is especially important now, when the younger generation simply needs new moral ideals. At one time, Soviet ideology with its spiritual values ​​was broken, and a new one, unfortunately, was never created.

Deprived of moral guidelines, young people have taken a different path of development and now they have different values, such as money, influence, prestige. Many people don’t even think about patriotism now. If previously service to the Fatherland was the sacred duty of every citizen, today guys go into the army only if they fail to “slop off.”

Yes, the views on patriotism among today's teenagers are radically different from those in Soviet times. But this can and should be changed! And there is no better assistant in this matter than classical Russian literature. At all times, literary works have had a great influence on the minds of young people, and I believe that this is the most effective way to “reach out” to teenagers. It is time-tested books that help us form our own value system, introduce the first ideas about good and evil, and instill moral and spiritual ideals.

The novel War and Peace is ideal for these purposes. Against the backdrop of the current immorality and lack of spirituality, this book remains a real monument of people's patriotism.

True and false patriotism in the novel.

The Patriotic War of 1812 on the part of Russia was a liberation war, Russia defended its independence, the Russian people defended their Fatherland. Naturally, therefore, the author touches on the problem of patriotism in his novel, but views it ambiguously.

The writer depicts true patriotism and false patriotism. True patriotism is, first of all, a sacred duty, a feat in the name of the Fatherland, the ability to rise above the personal at a decisive moment for the Motherland, to be imbued with a sense of responsibility for the fate of the people.

False patriotism is a feeling that is repulsive with its falseness, selfishness and hypocrisy. “War and Peace” perfectly shows how empty and insignificant both the mental and moral life of the Kuragins and Karagins are. The secular nobles behave very pretentiously at the dinner in honor of Bagration: when reading poems about the war, “everyone stood up, feeling that the dinner was more important than the poetry.”

A false patriotic atmosphere reigns in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer, Helen Bezukhova and other St. Petersburg salons; “...calm, luxurious, concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life, St. Petersburg life went on as before! ; and because of the course of this life it was necessary to do great effort in order 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 courtyards, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles were efforts made to recall the difficulty of the present situation.” Indeed, the above-mentioned characters were far from understanding all-Russian problems, from understanding the great misfortune of their people.
Count Rastopchin also displays false patriotism, posting stupid “posters” around Moscow, calling on city residents not to leave the capital, and then, fleeing the people’s anger, deliberately sending the innocent son of the merchant Vereshchagin to death. Meanness and betrayal are combined with conceit and pout: “It not only seemed to him that he controlled the external actions of the inhabitants of Moscow, but it seemed to him that he controlled their mood through his proclamations and posters, written in that ironic language that in its midst despises the people and which he does not understand when he hears it from above."

Such a false patriot is Berg in the novel, who, in a moment of general confusion, is looking for an opportunity to profit and is preoccupied with buying a wardrobe and a toilet “with an English secret.” It doesn’t even occur to him that now it’s embarrassing to think about wardrobes. This is, finally, Drubetskoy, who, like other staff officers, thinks about awards and promotion, wants to “arrange for himself the best position, especially the position of adjutant to an important person, which seemed especially tempting to him in the army.”

On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, Pierre noticed animation on the faces of the officers. He understood that “the reason for the excitement expressed on some of these faces lay more in matters of personal success, and he could not get out of his head that other expression of excitement that he saw on other faces and which spoke of issues not personal, but general , matters of life and death. »

They are all false patriots. While ordinary soldiers gave their lives defending Russia, the Moscow elite ate Russian cabbage soup instead of French dishes and stopped using French words in conversation. Is it possible to compare these “sacrifices” with the sacrifices of soldiers? I think the answer is obvious.

S.P. Bychkov wrote: “According to Tolstoy, the closer the nobles are to the people, the sharper and brighter their patriotic feelings, the richer and more meaningful their spiritual life. And, on the contrary, the further they are from the people, the drier and callous their souls , the more unattractive their moral principles are."

The importance of Kutuzov as the leader of the Russian army.

Kutuzov in “War and Peace” was a real historical and artistic discovery of Tolstoy. It was he, and not Alexander I, who played an important role in the victory over the French. The Russian emperor is presented in the novel as a weak, vain man who believed the Austrians more than Kutuzov, and with his orders interfered with him a lot.

Drawing the image of Kutuzov, Tolstoy was not afraid to show his senile weakness. “In a long frock coat on a huge thick body, with a stooped back, with an open white head and with a leaky, white eye on a swollen face” - this was Kutuzov in front of Borodin. Kneeling down in front of the icon, he then “tried for a long time and could not get up from heaviness and weakness.” This physical weakness of the commander-in-chief, repeatedly emphasized by Tolstoy, only strengthens the impression of spiritual power emanating from him. “Today, before the battle, he kneels before the icon - just like the people whom he will send into battle tomorrow. “This important detail also indicates Kutuzov’s closeness to the people, his spirituality with that very “national feeling” that Tolstoy so valued.

He is always modest and simple. A winning pose and acting are alien to him. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, Kutuzov read the sentimental French novel “Knights of the Swan” by Madame Genlis. He didn't want to seem like a great man - he was.

Kutuzov is exalted in our minds as a commander who knows how to subordinate all thoughts and actions to popular feeling.

During the Battle of Borodino, on the outcome of which much depended for the Russians, Kutuzov “did not make any orders, but only agreed or disagreed with what was offered to him.” This apparent passivity reveals the commander’s deep intelligence and wisdom. This is confirmed by the insightful judgments of Andrei Bolkonsky: “He will listen to everything, remember everything, put everything in its place, will not interfere with anything useful and will not allow anything harmful. He understands that there is something stronger and more significant than his will - this is the inevitable course of events, and he knows how to see them, knows how to understand their meaning and, in view of this meaning, knows how to renounce participation in these events, from his personal will, aimed at something else." Kutuzov knew that “the fate of a battle is decided not by the orders of the commander-in-chief, not by the place where the troops stand, not by the number of guns and killed people, but by that elusive force called the spirit of the army, and he followed this force and led it, as far as it was in his power." Unity with the people, unity with ordinary people make Kutuzov for the writer the ideal of a historical figure and the ideal of a person.

Kutuzov in the novel is an exponent of folk wisdom. His strength lies in the fact that he understands and knows well what worries the people, and acts in accordance with this. He doesn't think about himself. Therefore, at the council in Fili, there is one question for him: “The salvation of Russia is in the army. Is it more profitable to risk the loss of the army and Moscow by accepting a battle, or to give up Moscow without a battle? “And even knowing that he would be accused of all mortal sins, Kutuzov decided to retreat. The rightness of Kutuzov in his dispute with Bennigsen at the council in Fili is, as it were, reinforced by the fact that the sympathies of the peasant girl Malasha are on the side of “grandfather” Kutuzov.

S.P. Bychkov wrote: “Tolstoy, with his inherent great insight as an artist, correctly guessed and superbly captured the main character traits of the great Russian commander Kutuzov: his deep patriotic feelings, his love for the Russian people and hatred of the enemy, his closeness to the soldier.” . Content

1. Introduction.
2. True and false patriotism in the novel.
3. The significance of Kutuzov as the leader of the Russian army.
4. True heroes of 1812.
5. Conclusion.

The theme of patriotism in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"

In the novel “War and Peace,” Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy masterfully reveals the theme of “Patriotism in the Russian ranks.” Nobody needed the War of 1812, but circumstances developed that way, and it had its place in world history. Russian patriotism is very clearly revealed on the Borodino field. The Battle of Borodino took place on August 26, 1812. This is a Patriotic War, the entire population of the country stood up to defend the Motherland, their region, villages, and finally every centimeter of Russian land. By order of Alexander 1, militia gathered throughout the country. And the people who entered there were ordinary peasants, ordinary people. The patriotic spirit of the Russian people is very clearly felt on the Borodino field. The Battle of Borodino is a moral victory for Russian soldiers. The feeling of patriotism is a truly popular feeling. It covers all soldiers without exception. The soldiers calmly, simply, confidently do their job, without saying loud words. Many of the higher ranks understood that it was from common people, the life and prosperity of the entire country depends on soldiers. But there is also heroism in these same highest ranks. Kutuzov is the Russian commander-in-chief, one of the outstanding generals of Russia. In his heart he was worried about his Motherland, but could not show this excitement in public, since he was the “face of the army”; his mood was transmitted to the entire personnel. He lives only by the feelings, thoughts, interests of the soldiers, perfectly understands their mood, and takes care of them like a father. He bears his heavy burden with honor, and the spirit of the Russian soldiers was not broken. And also one of important episodes There is a council in Fili, where Kutuzov decides to leave Moscow. This solution is very strong-willed person. Defending Moscow would mean losing the army, and this would lead to the loss of both Moscow and Russia. Raevsky and Bagration are also patriots of the Motherland. “Raevsky’s Battery”, “BAgrationovsky flushes” - the hottest places in the Battle of Borodino, they were the ones commanded true patriots– Raevsky and Bagration. And Tolstoy also shows not patriots, these are foreign generals, Berg, Kuragin are those people who serve only to receive awards, promotion and big name. During the Patriotic War, a term such as “partisan movement” appeared. This was an innovation in the conduct of war. Tolstoy himself admired the partisans: “Before partisan warfare was officially accepted by our government, thousands of people in the enemy army had already been exterminated by the Cossacks and ordinary men.” Denis Davydov can be considered the founder of the partisan movement; it was he who first proposed the creation of a partisan detachment. The partisan movement was spontaneous and massive. Partisan detachments burned food and destroyed ammunition and weapons of the enemy. And finally they themselves fought with the few French troops. One such example is a detachment led by Denisov, which was able to attack and capture a French detachment several times larger than them. An indispensable fighter in the detachment is Tikhon Shcherbaty - the personification of the people's club, which rose and terrible force nailed the French until their entire invasion was destroyed. Tolstoy attributes to him truly heroic qualities; the seriousness does not leave his face. Thus, in the face of the mortal danger that threatened Russia, the majority of Russian people showed true heroism and patriotism, abandoning all considerations of personal gain, selfishness, sacrificing their property and lives, they committed heroic deeds that remained in the history of our state for a long time.

Patriotism in the novel "War and Peace".

Novel "War and Peace" - greatest work world literature.
It was created from 1863 to 1869. There are more than 600 characters in the novel.
The destinies of the heroes are traced over 15 years in peacetime and war.
And although Tolstoy peaceful life believes real life people, in the center of the story is a story about Patriotic War. Tolstoy hated wars, but this war on the part of Russia was a liberation war, Russia defended its independence, the Russian people defended their fatherland. Naturally, therefore, the author touches on the problem of patriotism in his novel, but views it ambiguously. He proves that in difficult days for Russia, the majority of Russian people showed true patriotism and courage in defending their homeland. But there were also those - they were a minority - who only played at patriotism and courage. This is hateful to Tolstoy secular society, regulars at the salons of Scherer, Kuragina, Bezukhova. Their so-called patriotism was expressed in the fact that they stopped speaking French, they did not serve French dishes on their table, and in Helene’s salon they did not refuse this and sympathized with Napoleon. There were people like Boris Trubetskoy who made their careers during the days of the suffering of their fatherland. Tolstoy contrasts this group of false patriots with the true sons of the fatherland, for whom the homeland was the main thing in times of trial. People and best part The nobility, in Tolstoy's understanding, constituted the nation. During the days of the war true love The nobles Bolkonsky, Rostov and many others came to their homeland. They equipped the militia at their own expense; Bolkonsky’s son, Andrei, went into the active army, not wanting to be an adjutant. Pierre Bezukhov remains in Moscow to kill Napoleon. But he fails to do this. At the Raevsky battery he helps the battery workers. Residents of Moscow leave and burn the city. When the old man Bolkonsky sees off his son, he says that if Andrei behaves meanly, he will be bitter and ashamed. Natasha gives carts for the wounded. Princess Bolkonskaya cannot remain on an estate captured by enemies.
Tolstoy talks about the mood that possessed the soldiers. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, the soldiers put on clean shirts because they were going to a sacred mortal battle for Russia. They refused the extra portion of vodka because they did not want to be drugged. They said: “They want to attack the whole world, they want to make one end.” The writer shows how the soldiers of Raevsky’s battery fought. Pierre was struck by the routine with which they fulfill their duty in these terrible conditions. Tolstoy believes that the Battle of Borodino was a moral victory of the Russian army. The Russians did not give in. The steadfastness and courage shown by the defenders of Moscow in the Battle of Borodino were fueled precisely by a sense of patriotism.
Pierre talks with Prince Andrei. Prince Andrei is extremely angry: “The French are your enemies and mine. They came to destroy Russia. War is an abomination, but the Russians are forced to wage this war, and Napoleon came as an invader, the enemy must be destroyed, then the war will be destroyed.”
Tolstoy depicts guerrilla warfare beautifully. He admires the fact that dozens of Karps and Vlasovs, armed with pitchforks and axes, went against the invaders. Ironic about the fact that Napoleon was outraged by the war not according to the rules. Cudgel people's war rose and nailed the French until she drove out the last invader. The partisan movement was the most striking manifestation of the patriotism of the entire people.
Kutuzov in the novel is an exponent of the idea of ​​patriotism; he was appointed commander against the will of the tsar and the royal court. Andrei explains this to Pierre this way: “While Russia was healthy, Barclay de Tolly was good... When Russia is sick, it needs its own man.”
Kutuzov was a truly people's commander, he understood the soldiers, their needs, their mood, because he loved his people.
The episode in Fili is important. Kutuzov takes upon himself the gravest responsibility and orders a retreat. This order contains the true patriotism of Kutuzov. Retreating from Moscow, Kutuzov retained an army that could not yet compare in numbers with Napoleonic's. Defending Moscow would mean losing the army, and this would lead to the loss of both Moscow and Russia.
After Napoleon was pushed beyond Russian borders, Kutuzov refuses to fight outside Russia. He believes that the Russian people have fulfilled their mission by expelling the invader, and there is no need to shed more people’s blood.