The images of Napoleon and Kutuzov are key. Composition on the topic “Images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel “War and Peace”

The author of the novel speaks openly about his rejection of Napoleon, his aggressive policy, thereby belittling the dignity and merits of this commander. The writer's sympathies are on the side of Kutuzov, a truly popular commander, who was not perceived by high society, who condemned his tactics of warfare. Simplicity, kindness, modesty, closeness to a simple soldier - these are the feelings that Tolstoy highlights in Kutuzov. That is why the field marshal does not correspond to the ideas of the world about the commander of the Russian army.

Kutuzov and Napoleon are antipodes in the novel. The attitude of the writer towards them is also different.

Napoleon is the idol of his time, they bowed before him, imitated him, saw him as a genius and a great man. His fame spread all over the world. But Tolstoy did not idealize this universal idol; gradually, in the novel, he is debunked as a commander and as a great personality. This is how Tolstoy describes Napoleon's "great army": "It was a crowd of marauders, each of whom was carrying or carrying a bunch of things that seemed valuable and necessary to him." The man who imagined himself the ruler of the world was very far from a simple soldier and his army, thanks to which he reached the heights of greatness. This is an egoist who thinks only about himself and his desires, subordinating everything only to his whims. “Everything that was outside of him did not matter, because everything in the world, as it seemed to him, depended only on his will.” Tolstoy shows that all this is just a whim, self-deception. Along with arrogance, Bonaparte is characterized by hypocrisy, posturing, and falsehood: “With the ability of Italians to change arbitrarily facial expressions, he approached the portrait and pretended to be thoughtful tenderness.” Even in front of the portrait of his son, he plays a role.

Napoleon is cruel and treacherous. He is indifferent to the fate of the army. He indifferently looks at the death of the lancers crossing the river, he is indifferent to the death of ordinary soldiers, since they are only a tool for achieving their goals. He is flattered by the love of the people, but at the same time, Bonaparte does not feel a drop of gratitude, everyone was obliged to unquestioningly obey his will: “Millions of people killed and tortured each other, because Napoleon was power-hungry».

Most striking is the attitude of the French emperor towards this war, which has as its goal the enslavement of Europe, Russia, and the whole world. He treats war as something natural in human history: “War is a game, people are pawns that should be correctly placed and moved”, “Chess is set; the game will start tomorrow.”

The author expresses his attitude to Napoleon through portrait sketches, which are distinguished by their realism and irony: “A little man in a gray frock coat ... He was in a blue uniform, open over a white waistcoat, descending on a round stomach, in white leggings, fitting fat thighs of short legs.”

A completely different attitude of Tolstoy towards Kutuzov. Here is love, and respect, and understanding, and compassion, and delight, and admiration. With each new meeting, the author more and more reveals the image of the people's commander. From the first minutes of our acquaintance, we begin to respect this person, just like the author himself. He is close to the people, true patriotism is inherent in him, he is devoid of any panache. We see his modesty and simplicity, a simple soldier is close and dear to him. We feel how Kutuzov suffers, seeing Russian soldiers fleeing from the battlefield. He is one of the few who understood the absurdity, uselessness and cruelty of this war. The great commander lives one life with ordinary soldiers, their thoughts. He is modest and simple in everyday life. Kutuzov has military wisdom, he is laconic, does not shout and does not try to prove his case, he always waits. He is loved and honored by ordinary soldiers. The commander and his army are united, this is exactly what the author showed in his work.

Napoleon and Kutuzov appear to us so different in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace". With the help of these images, the writer wanted to show his attitude to great personalities and their role in history.

Composition on the topic “Images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel “War and Peace” updated: June 28, 2019 by: Scientific Articles.Ru

Napoleon's desire for European dominance resulted in a series of wars. The Russian Emperor Alexander I sent an army to help the losing Prussian king. After several battles, none of which turned the tide of the war, on June 2, 1807, the Battle of Friedland took place. The battle ended with the defeat of the Russian troops and the conclusion of the Tilsit peace. The unfavorable treaty for Russia led to the Patriotic War of 1812, the causes, course and results of which have been discussed for two centuries.

Prerequisites for the emergence of a conflict

The agreement, concluded on June 25, 1807, was called "shameful" among the Russian nobility. The main condition was the obligation of Russia to join the continental blockade against Great Britain, the enemy of Napoleon. The Russian emperor, who did not want to spoil relations with a long-time partner, continued to trade using the help of intermediaries. Alexander's actions and the increase in customs duties on French goods angered Napoleon.

To control Alexander, Napoleon threatened to restore Poland within the boundaries outlined before the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw as a vassal to him, which would deprive Russia of part of the territories. Napoleon's pressure irritated the Russian emperor.

Political disagreements and the double refusal of the Russian emperor to Napoleon, who wanted to enter into a monarchical marriage with one of Alexander's sisters, led to the final deterioration of Russian-French relations.

The course of the war

On June 12, 1812, battle-hardened, trained French troops crossed the Neman River and invaded Russia. Napoleon planned to defeat the Russian troops in parts and capture Moscow. The Russian command was faced with the task of uniting the main forces under the leadership of M. B. Barclay de Tolly and P. Bagration. The meeting took place on July 22, 1812 near Smolensk. M. I. Kutuzov was entrusted with the command of the combined forces.

A brilliant strategist, M. I. Kutuzov, decided to give the French a battle, which began on August 26, 1812, 100 km from Moscow, near the town of Borodino. Opinions on who won the Battle of Borodino differ: the losses on both sides amounted to 50 thousand people. None of the military leaders solved the tasks assigned to them: Kutuzov could not defend Moscow, Napoleon did not advance further. The moral victory of the Russian troops, who defended their positions at the cost of shed blood, became indisputable.

On September 1, 1812, the military council decided to leave Moscow. When the French entered the city abandoned by the inhabitants and troops, fires began. Russian troops set up camp near the village of Tarutino, blocking the French way to the southern provinces. The people, entering the partisan movement, fiercely resisted. Napoleon left Moscow and sent a not very combat-ready army south to Kaluga. The Battle of Maloyaroslavets broke his plans. The French turned back. The battle near Vyazma turned the retreat into flight. The battle near the Berezina River forced the Great Army to forget its conquest plans and leave Russian lands. December 25, 1812 issued a manifesto of Alexander 1 about the end of the war.

Reasons for the victory of the Russian Empire

The victory in the Patriotic War of 1812, the course and results of which changed the fate of Russia, would not have happened without the active participation of representatives of all social strata.

The partisan movement that unfolded in the occupied territories inflicted significant damage on the Great Army;
A general patriotic upsurge rallied the people;
The selflessness of the participants in the hostilities was manifested.

Even if we consider briefly the results of the Patriotic War of 1812, one cannot fail to mention its participants. The names of the officers who showed heroism in the defense of their native land are forever inscribed in Russian history:

cavalry general N. N. Raevsky, who distinguished himself in battles near Saltanovka and Smolensk;
General of Infantry P. I. Bagration, under whose command the left wing of the army repelled all French attacks in the Battle of Borodino;
Field Marshal General M. B. Barclay de Tolly, who in the battle of Borodino commanded the center and the right wing of the Russian army;
General of Infantry A.P. Yermolov, who personally led the soldiers to the dominant height at the critical moment of the Battle of Borodino;
General Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov, who put the offensive of the Great Army to flight and was called by the people the savior of the Fatherland.

A significant role was played by the high level of Russian commanders and the economic potential for creating a combat-ready army.

The final defeat of the French as one of the results of the war of 1812

The liberation of the Russian land did not promise protection from the French emperor's repeated conquest attempt. Alexander decided on the further movement of the army. Russian troops entered European lands at the beginning of 1813; Prussia and Austria joined them. In the battle of Leipzig, called the "battle of the peoples", the Napoleonic troops were defeated. At the beginning of 1814, allied troops entered France. Napoleon signed his abdication.

In March 1815, Napoleon managed to regain power for a short time. The Allies crushed his army at the Battle of Waterloo (June 1815).

Representatives of the allied countries gathered in Vienna in September 1815 (Congress of Vienna) to discuss the future of Europe and resolve controversial issues. At the suggestion of the Russian emperor, the European monarchies united in the “Holy Alliance”. The main positions in it were occupied by Russia, Prussia and Austria, who played a major role in the fall of Bonaparte. The territorial division of Europe was revised: France was deprived of the conquered lands. almost entirely went to Russia, which also applies to the results of the war of 1812.

The impact of the war on the Russian economy

Speaking briefly about the results of the War of 1812, Russia paid a high price for the victory - the Russian economy suffered significant losses: agriculture and infrastructure were destroyed. The part of Russia that Napoleon's troops had crossed had to be completely restored. The damage amounted to about a billion rubles, a lot of money for the Russian budget.

And the culture of Russia

Even if we briefly describe the results of the war of 1812, this topic cannot be ignored. The French emperor wrote to Alexander after the capture of Moscow: "The beautiful, magnificent city of Moscow no longer exists." This state of affairs did not last long. Burnt chaotic buildings were replaced by new ones, old narrow streets replaced wide boulevards, theater buildings arose. The Russian diplomat and writer A. S. Griboedov wrote about the renewed Moscow: "The fire contributed to its decoration a lot." The decision to build in honor of the victory of the Russian troops the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on Sparrow Hills in Moscow, Alexander I took immediately after the end of hostilities.

The themes of war and love for the Fatherland became the main ones in his work for decades. Artists, writers, musicians, theater directors raised it in their work. The world-famous novel by L. N. Tolstoy "War and Peace", the overture of P. I. Tchaikovsky "1812", the Alexander Column on the Palace Square in St. Petersburg are dedicated to the victory of the Russian people. The rejection of the foreign and the glorification of the domestic has become fashionable. The French language, which had taken the first place in Russian noble society before the war, gave way to the Russian language, which by the middle of the 19th century had become firmly established in everyday life.

Development of freethinking

The liberation war united Russian society and evoked patriotic sentiments. Representatives of all social strata gave their lives, offered money and food, for the deployment of troops - courtyards and estates. The publicist V. G. Belinsky called 1812 the year of a great era in the life of Russia, which awakened previously dormant forces.

The rank and file, who reached Paris, saw a life alien to the usual way of life. Returning home, the rank and file participants in the war believed that by resignedly enduring difficulties and heroism, they deserved gratitude and waited for the abolition of serfdom. Not wanting to endure the power of the nobility any longer, they staged riots.

The aspirations of the people did not bring results, the victory did not lead to socio-economic reforms. The sovereign, called in Europe the "liberator", did nothing to liberate his people.

Doubts about the state structure resulted in the development of a social movement that aimed at the accomplishment of tsarism. Faced with the European order, the enlightened part of society, the nobility, felt the difference between the appearance of a great empire and the outdated foundations of society. The advanced part of the Russian nobility united in secret societies, the first of which was the "Order of Russian Knights", created in 1815. The Decembrists called themselves "children of 1812", their first organization, the "Union of Salvation", was formed under the leadership of Colonel of the General Staff A.M. Muravyov in 1816. The ruling circles, on the contrary, became stronger in their assessment of the existing system as a stable and even advanced state system.

The changes caused by the results of the Patriotic War of 1812 can be briefly called a complete breaking of stereotypes and the beginning of the transformation of Russian society.

Significance for Russian domestic politics

Due to the annexation of new territories, the Russian Empire increased, the composition of the population grew. Because of the struggle of the Polish people for sovereignty, Poland became a problem for the next hundred years. Serfdom spread to new territories, which aggravated the situation.

Importance of war for foreign policy

The causes, course and results of the war of 1812 showed Russia's tough position in protecting its own interests and helped it to take its rightful place in European politics. The international prestige of Russia, which had seriously fallen after the conclusion of the Tilsit Peace, grew noticeably, and for the next 10 years the country occupied an important place in world politics.

Formed at the suggestion of Alexander 1, the "Holy Union" assumed the interaction of European monarchs and became the forerunner of the European Parliament. The Vienna system lasted for four decades; during this period, Europe was able to refrain from serious military conflicts.

In short, the outcome of the war of 1812 for Europe was the end of the era of the Napoleonic wars and the establishment of a new European order.

Images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

An important feature of L.N. Tolstoy is the technique of contrasting juxtapositions. The writer's lie is opposed to the truth, the beautiful is opposed to the ugly. The principle of antithesis underlies the composition of the epic novel "War and Peace". Tolstoy here contrasts war and peace, false and true life values, Kutuzov and Napoleon, two heroes representing the two polar points of the novel.

While working on the novel, the writer was amazed that Napoleon aroused the constant interest and even admiration of some Russian historians, while Kutuzov was considered by them as an ordinary, unremarkable person. “Meanwhile, it is difficult to imagine a historical person whose activity would be so invariably and constantly directed towards the same goal. It is difficult to imagine a goal more worthy and more in line with the will of the whole people,” the writer notes. Tolstoy, with his inherent great insight of the artist, correctly guessed and perfectly captured some of the character traits of the great commander: his deep patriotic feelings, love for the Russian people and hatred for the enemy, sensitive attitude towards the soldier. Contrary to the opinion of official historiography, the writer shows Kutuzov at the head of a just people's war.

Kutuzov is depicted by Tolstoy as an experienced commander, a wise, straightforward and courageous person who sincerely cares for the fate of the Fatherland. At the same time, his appearance is ordinary, in a certain sense “mundane”. The writer emphasizes characteristic details in the portrait: “fat neck”, “chubby old hands”, “stooped back”, “leaky white eye”. However, this character is very attractive to readers. His appearance is opposed to the spiritual strength and mind of the commander. “The source of this extraordinary power of insight in the sense of occurring phenomena lay in that popular feeling, which he carried in himself in all its purity and strength. Only the recognition of this feeling in him made the people, in such strange ways, choose him, an old man in disfavor, against the will of the tsar to be representatives of the people's war, ”notes L.N. Tolstoy.

In the novel, Kutuzov first appears before us as the commander of one of the armies in the military campaign of 1805-1807. And already here the writer outlines the character of the hero. Kutuzov loves Russia, takes care of the soldiers, is easy to deal with them. He seeks to save the army, opposes senseless military operations.

This is a sincere, straightforward, courageous person. Before the battle of Austerlitz, having heard from the sovereign the demand for an immediate performance, Kutuzov was not afraid to hint at the tsar's love for ostentatious reviews and parades. “After all, we are not in the Tsaritsyn Meadow,” Mikhail Illarionovich noted. He understood the doom of the battle of Austerlitz. And the scene at the military council while reading the disposition of Weyrother (Kutuzov dozed off at this military council) also has its own explanation. Kutuzov did not agree with this plan, but he understood that the plan had already been approved by the sovereign and the battle could not be avoided.

In the difficult time of the attack on Russia by the Napoleonic army, the people choose the commander "against the will of the tsar as representatives of the people's war." And the writer explains what is happening in this way: “While Russia was healthy, a stranger could serve it, and there was a wonderful minister; but as soon as she is in danger, she needs her own, dear person. And Kutuzov becomes such a person. In this war, the best qualities of an outstanding commander are revealed: patriotism, wisdom, patience, insight and insight, closeness to the people.

On the Borodino field, the hero is depicted in the concentration of all moral and physical strength, as a person who cares, first of all, about maintaining the fighting spirit of the troops. Upon learning of the capture of the French marshal, Kutuzov conveys this message to the troops. And vice versa, he tries to prevent unfavorable news from leaking into the mass of soldiers. The hero closely follows everything that happens, being in firm confidence in victory over the enemy. “With a long military experience, he knew and understood with an senile mind that it was impossible for one person to lead hundreds of thousands of people fighting death, and he knew that the fate of the battle was decided not by the orders of the commander in chief, not by the place on which the troops stood, not by the number of guns and killed people , and 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, ”writes Tolstoy. Kutuzov attaches great importance to the Battle of Borodino, since it is this battle that becomes the moral victory of the Russian troops. Assessing the commander, Andrei Bolkonsky thinks about him: “He will not have anything of his own. He will not invent anything, will not undertake anything, but he will listen to everything, remember everything 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 significance and, in view of this significance, knows how to renounce participation in these events, from his personal will aimed at another."

The image of Napoleon and Kutuzov in Tolstoy is contrasting. Napoleon always counts on the audience, he is effective in his speeches and actions, he strives to appear before others in the form of a great conqueror. Kutuzov, on the contrary, is far from our traditional ideas about the great commander. He is easy to communicate, his behavior is natural. And the writer emphasizes this idea, depicting him at the military council in Fili, before the surrender of Moscow. Russian generals, together with the commander-in-chief, gather in a simple peasant hut, and the peasant girl Malasha sees them. Kutuzov here decides to leave Moscow without a fight. He surrenders Moscow to Napoleon in order to save Russia. When he then learns that Napoleon left Moscow, he cannot restrain his feelings and cries for joy, realizing that Russia has been saved.

It is worth noting that the novel reveals the views of L.N. Tolstoy on history, on military art. The writer claims that "the course of world events is predetermined from above, depends on the coincidence of all the arbitrariness of the people participating in these events, and that the influence of Napoleons on the course of these events is only external and fictitious." Thus, Tolstoy denies the role of the personality of the commander in this war, his military genius. Kutuzov in the novel also underestimates the role of military science, attaching importance only to the "spirit of the army."

Commander Kutuzov is opposed in the novel by Napoleon Bonaparte. From the very beginning, the writer debunks Napoleon, highlighting everything petty and insignificant in his appearance: he is a “little man”, “with small hands” and an “unpleasantly sugary smile” on his “swollen and yellow face”. The author stubbornly emphasizes the "corporeality" of Napoleon: "fat shoulders", "thick back", "overgrown with fat chest". This "corporality" is especially emphasized in the scene of the morning toilet. Undressing his hero, the writer, as it were, removes Napoleon from his pedestal, grounds him, emphasizes his lack of spirituality.

Napoleon Tolstoy is a gambler, a narcissistic, despotic man, thirsting for fame and power. “If Kutuzov is characterized by simplicity and modesty, then Napoleon is like an actor playing the role of the ruler of the world. Theatrically false is his behavior in Tilsit during the awarding of the Russian soldier Lazarev with the French Order of the Legion of Honor. Napoleon behaves no less unnaturally before the Battle of Borodino, when ... the courtiers present him with a portrait of his son and he plays a loving father out of himself.

On the eve of the battle of Borodino, the emperor says: "Chess is set, the game will begin tomorrow." However, the "game" here turns into defeat, blood, suffering of people. On the day of the Battle of Borodino, "the terrible view of the battlefield defeated that spiritual strength in which he believed his merit and greatness." “Yellow, swollen, heavy, with cloudy eyes, a red nose and a hoarse voice, he sat on a folding chair, involuntarily listening to the sounds of firing and not raising his eyes ... He endured the suffering and death that he saw on the battlefield. The heaviness of his head and chest reminded him of the possibility of suffering and death for him too. At that moment, he did not want for himself either Moscow, or victory, or glory. “And never, however,” writes Tolstoy, “until the end of his life, he could understand neither goodness, nor beauty, nor truth, nor the meaning of his actions, which were too opposite to goodness and truth, too far from everything human ... ".

Tolstoy definitively debunks Napoleon in the scene on Poklonnaya Hill, before entering Moscow. “While waiting for a deputation from Moscow, Napoleon thinks about how he should appear before the Russians at such a magnificent moment for him. As an experienced actor, he mentally played out the whole scene of the meeting with the "boyars" and composed his generosity speech to them. Using the artistic technique of the hero's "inner" monologue, Tolstoy exposes in the French emperor the petty vanity of the player, his insignificance, his posturing. “Here it is, this capital; she lies at my feet, waiting for her fate ... And this moment is strange and majestic! “...One of my words, one movement of my hand, and this ancient capital perished... Here it lies at my feet, playing and trembling with golden domes and crosses in the rays of the sun.” The second part of this monologue contrasts sharply with the first. “When it was announced to Napoleon with due caution that Moscow was empty, he looked angrily at the one who informed about this and, turning away, continued to walk silently ... “Moscow is empty. What an incredible event!” he said to himself. He did not go to the city, but stopped at an inn in the Dorogomilovsky suburb. And here Tolstoy notes that the denouement of the theatrical performance failed - "the power that decides the fate of peoples does not lie in the conquerors." Thus, Tolstoy denounces Bonapartism as a great social evil, "contrary to human reason and all human nature."

It is characteristic that the writer strove for an objective assessment of Napoleon's military talent. So, before the Battle of Austerlitz, Bonaparte was able to correctly assess the military situation: "his assumptions turned out to be correct." But still, according to Tolstoy, “in historical events, great people are only labels that give a name to the event ...” “Napoleon,” the writer notes, “during all this time of his activity was like a child who, holding on to ribbons tied inside the carriage imagines that he rules."

Thus, the main driving force of history, according to Tolstoy, is the people. And the truly great personalities of the writer are simple, natural, they are the bearers of the “people's feeling”. Such a person in the novel appears Kutuzov. And "there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth," therefore Tolstoy's Napoleon appears as the embodiment of extreme individualism, aggression, lack of spirituality.

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images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel War and Peace
the image of Napoleon and Kutuzov in the novel War and Peace
image of Kutuzov and Napoleon

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Depiction of historical figures in works of art Images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace"

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Purpose To determine the features of the image of historical figures (Kutuzov and Napoleon) in a work of art Tasks To consider the images of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the interpretation of L.N. Tolstoy Find the distinctive features of Tolstoy's interpretation of images Draw conclusions

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Tolstoy's views on the role of personality in history The historical process is an element. Personality plays only a leading role in history. A great personality can only be when it obeys the general course of history. The course of history is decided by the masses. All historical events are predetermined from above.

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Kutuzov Kutuzov, like Suvorov, was one of the remarkable Russian people. Having an extensive education, he possessed eloquence and the ability to dominate minds. “Even Ribas will not deceive him,” Suvorov said about his favorite, Kutuzov. Always cheerful, sociable, he was distinguished by amazing composure in the most difficult situations. Strict calculation and endurance were his hallmarks.

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He knew how to speak with a soldier and, like Suvorov, knowing that ceremonial tinsel and outward brilliance were not to the heart of the Russian commoner, he, being already commander-in-chief, appeared before the troops on a small Cossack horse, in an old frock coat without an epaulette, in a cap and with a whip through shoulder.

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In the novel "War and Peace" he is presented as the inspirer and organizer of the victories of the Russian people. Kutuzov is a truly national hero, He is guided in his actions by the national spirit. Kutuzov appears in the novel as a simple Russian man, alien to pretense, and at the same time as a wise historical figure and commander.

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The main thing in Kutuzov is his blood connection with the people, "that people's feeling that he carries in himself in all its purity and strength." He correctly assessed the significance of the Battle of Borodino, declaring that it was a victory.

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Tolstoy put him above Napoleon because he understood the course of history and accepted it. It was such a commander that was needed to wage the Patriotic War of 1812.

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Tolstoy emphasizes that after the transfer of the war to Europe, the Russian army needed another commander-in-chief: “There was nothing left for the representative of the people's war but death. And he died."

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Features of the image of Kutuzov Tolstoy deliberately distorts the image of Kutuzov. In the image of Tolstoy, Kutuzov is a living face. Tolstoy gives this image in the perception of various persons, delving into psychological analysis. Kutuzov “knew that it was not the orders of the commander-in-chief, not the place on which the troops stood, not the number of guns and killed people, but that elusive force called the spirit of war, that decide the fate of the battle, and he followed this force and led it, as far as it was in his authority."

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Inconsistency of the image of Kutuzov Kutuzov appears in the novel as a commander, with all his passivity, accurately assessing the course of military events and unmistakably directing them. That is, Kutuzov acts as an active figure, hiding a huge volitional tension behind external calmness.

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Napoleon Napoleon worked extremely hard and read books in various fields of knowledge: travel, geography, history, strategy, tactics, artillery, philosophy. In addition, he achieved tremendous success in mathematics.

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Bonaparte himself determined the order of his first two functions when he declared: “There are only two powerful forces in the world: the saber and the spirit. Ultimately, the spirit defeats the saber.”

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Napoleon appears in the novel as the arrogant ruler of France, blinded by glory, considering himself the driving force behind the historical process. He assumes acting poses, utters pompous phrases. Napoleon Tolstoy is a "superman", for whom "only what happened in his soul" is of interest. And "everything that was outside of him did not matter to him, because everything in the world, as it seemed to him, depended only on his will."

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Tolstoy believed that Napoleon was like "a child who, holding on to ribbons tied inside the carriage, imagines that he rules." Napoleon in the war with Russia turned out to be weaker than his opponent - "the strongest in spirit."

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The writer depicts this famous commander and outstanding figure as a "little man" with an "unpleasantly feigned smile" on his face, with "fat chest", "round belly" and "fat thighs of short legs".

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Features of the image of Napoleon Napoleon in the novel is the antipode of Kutuzov. Tolstoy opposed the cult of Napoleon. Napoleon is an aggressor who attacked Russia, an ambitious man striving for world domination. Napoleon "has already made sure that intelligence, constancy and consistency are not needed for success." In the actions of Napoleon, except for a whim, there was no point, but "he believed in himself, and the whole world believed in him."

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Conclusions Kutuzov expresses the interests of the people - Napoleon thinks about his own glory. Comparing two great commanders. Tolstoy concludes: "There is no and cannot be greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth." Therefore, it is Kutuzov who is truly great - the people's commander, thinking about the glory and freedom of the Fatherland.

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Questions and tasks Compare the behavior of Kutuzov and Napoleon before the battle of Austerlitz Compare the behavior of Kutuzov and Napoleon before the battle of Borodino Compare the portraits of Kutuzov and Napoleon given in the novel Give a comparative description of the images of Kutuzov and Napoleon.

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Biographical information about Kutuzov Chronology September 5 (16), 1745 - was born in St. Petersburg; 1759 - graduated with honors from the Noble Artillery School; 1764–1765 - took part in hostilities in Poland; 1768–1774 - took part in the Russian-Turkish war; 1774 - near Alushta received a bullet wound in the temple, lost his right eye; 1801 - military governor of St. Petersburg; 1805 - commander in chief of the Russian army at Austerlitz; 1806–1807 - was appointed military governor of Kyiv; 1808 - commander of the corps of the Moldavian army; March 7 (19), 1811 - Commander-in-Chief of the Moldavian Army; August 8 (20), 1812 - commander-in-chief of the Russian army; August 26 (September 7), 1812 - the battle of Borodino, then the surrender of Moscow followed; Winter 1812-1813 - the Russian army under the command of Kutuzov pursued the French and inflicted a decisive defeat on the Berezina River; April 16 (28), 1813 - before the start of the Foreign campaign, Kutuzov fell ill and died in the German town of Bunzlau (Silesia) on April 16 (28), 1813.

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The noble family of the Golenishchev-Kutuzovs traces its origins to a certain Gabriel, who settled in the Novgorod lands during the time of Alexander Nevsky (mid-13th century). Among his descendants in the 15th century was Fedor, nicknamed Kutuz, whose nephew was called Vasily, nicknamed Shaft. His sons began to be called Golenishchev-Kutuzov and were in the royal service. Grandfather M.I. Kutuzov rose only to the rank of captain, his father already to lieutenant general, and Mikhail Illarionovich earned hereditary princely dignity. Children: Praskovya, Anna, Elizabeth, Ekaterina, Daria. Two of them (Liza and Katya) had their first husbands killed fighting under the command of Kutuzov. Since the field marshal left no offspring in the male line, the name Golenishchev-Kutuzov in 1859 was transferred to his grandson, Major General P.M. Tolstoy, son of Praskovya.

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Contemporaries about Kutuzov "Only the recognition of this feeling in him made the people, in such strange ways, choose him, in disfavor, to be an old man, against the will of the tsar, as representatives of the people's war." L. N. Tolstoy “All the best, priceless features of the Russian national character distinguish the nature of this extraordinary personality, up to the rare ability to humanely, even compassionately treat the defeated enemy, recognize and respect the enemy’s courage and other military qualities.” Tarle

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Biographical information about Napoleon Chronology August 15, 1769 - Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the island of Corsica. 1793 Organization of the successful siege of Toulon, which rebelled against the Revolution. 1796-1797 - Successful conduct of the Italian campaign. 1798-1799 - Conducting the Egyptian campaign and campaign against Syria. June 14, 1800 - The defeat of the Austrian troops at Marengo. December 2, 1805 - The destruction of the Russian-Austrian army at Austerlitz. July 8, 1807 - Conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit with Russia. 1808 - Conquest of Spain. June 1812 - Beginning of the war with Russia. September 7, 1812 - Battle of Borodino. October 16-19, 1813 - Defeat near Leipzig in the "Battle of the Nations". April 11, 1814 - First abdication of Napoleon. February 1815 - Flight of Napoleon from Elba. March 20, 1815 - Entry into Paris, the beginning of the "100 days" of government. June 18, 1815 - Defeat in the battle with the troops of the anti-French coalition at Waterloo. October 15, 1815 - Napoleon arrives at Saint Helena. May 5, 1821 - Death of the former Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte.

The victory of the army depends on the experience and skill of the commander. Leo Tolstoy bows before Kutuzov's military prowess. At the cost of burning Moscow, the great commander managed to save the army, and therefore preserve the statehood of the country. A comparative description of Kutuzov and Napoleon in the novel "War and Peace" makes it possible to analyze the reasons for the defeat of the Russian army in the first half of the Patriotic War of 1812 and its victory during the second half of the military campaign.

Comparison of the appearance of two heroes

The main feature of the face Kutuzov is a smile and a lone tear against the background of a one-eyed facial expression (the Russian field marshal lost an eye due to a wound received in a battle with a Turkish landing in 1774). The hero met the Patriotic War of 1812 as a deep old man in his seventies, went through it with a heavy step. The plump, bright face of Mikhail Illarionovich was adorned with a wise expression of a lonely eye socket, he was obese and stooped due to his advanced age, but this did not prevent the prince from skillfully leading the army.

Napoleon he was forty years old when he attacked Russia, his prominent belly looked ridiculous with his small stature. Bonaparte carefully monitored his appearance. The emperor's hands stood out with an aristocratic whiteness, and the body was enveloped in the aroma of exquisite cologne. The excessive fullness of the legs was given out by tight white leggings, and the blue collar of the military jacket emphasized the fat neck.

Character traits of Kutuzov and Napoleon

Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov became famous among the soldiers for his kindness, often showed concern for the rank and file, for ordinary people. The prince was attentive, noticed individual details of what was happening around. His Excellency was not embarrassed by the complexity of any situation, he remained calm and unruffled under any circumstances. The field marshal moved slowly, sleepily shifting from foot to foot.

Kutuzov expressed his thoughts clearly, concisely, with special charm and paternal intonation. Leo Tolstoy emphasizes the simplicity of the commander, closeness with the people. Neither the posture nor the manner of behavior the hero plays any specific role, but remains an ordinary person. It is common for an old man to be interested in beautiful women, to joke in his circle with his subordinates.

Contemporaries noted Kutuzov's habit of treating officers and soldiers affectionately. Bolkonsky knows that the boss is weak in tears, able to sincerely express sympathy, a person who believes to the depths of his soul. The heroes of the novel speak of the field marshal as a wise commander who recognizes that at some points in the war it is better not to intervene, giving history the opportunity to develop arbitrarily.

Napoleon On the contrary, they have a high opinion of their actions. The egocentrism of the emperor of France makes him think that his own decisions are the only correct ones. Tolstoy paints a portrait of a narcissistic little man. To provoke the murder of millions of soldiers is baseness, insignificance and intellectual limitation, dictated by the whim of unlimited power.

Table of comparative characteristics of Kutuzov and Napoleon

Kutuzov:

The field marshal smiled sincerely with the corners of his lips, thus decorating his disfigured face.
Unpretentiousness to the conditions of field life, could be accommodated in any hut.
He considers it his mission to save Russia from enslavement by the enemy army.
Fatherly attitude towards the soldiers, parting words before the battle are short and sensible. For example: "Sleep!"
He personally takes part in the main battles of the military campaign of 1812.
He understands that the outcome of the war depends on many factors, including the morale of ordinary soldiers.
As a religious person, he recognizes his small significance in the historical process.

Napoleon:

The imperial smile was false, while the eyes remained blank.
Gravitation towards luxury, the courtyard is striking in splendor.
He wants to conquer the whole world in order to impose his cultural values and enrich himself at the expense of other states.
He believes that the army wins only thanks to his craft to wage war, known for pathos of long speeches before battles.
Tries to keep a distance from the line of fire.
He thinks that everything in life depends solely on his will.
He believes that the world revolves around him, his role in everything that happens is key, he is destined to change the picture of Europe.

Leo Tolstoy repeatedly reminds: Kutuzov kept his soldiers from bloody battles, tried in every possible way to avoid the death of the army, even at the cost of surrendering Moscow. For the commander-in-chief, war is a nationwide disaster, his fate is to help the people survive, to free themselves from the fate of enduring a foreign conqueror on their land.

Napoleon obsessed with war, sees himself as a key figure in history that has changed the map of the world in the truest sense of these words. Looking around the Borodino field, littered with the corpses of soldiers of both armies, the emperor admires the deadly appearance of the wounded Bolkonsky.

The reason for Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 lies in the unity of the state and the people. Each person, be it a peasant or a nobleman, Leo Tolstoy shows an insignificant grain of sand in society. As soon as people unite in a single historical process, their strength increases many times, turns into a victorious wave, sweeping away any campaign launched by an evil genius in its path. Kutuzov loved his people and valued their patriotic might and natural will to freedom.