What is the meaning of the epilogue war and peace. The artistic role of the epilogue in War and Peace
The epilogue is the final part of the work, which finally clarifies the denouement of the plot, the fate of the heroes, formulates the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe work. The epilogue is the summary of the novel. In Leo Tolstoy's work, the role of the epilogue is extremely great. Firstly, the epilogue logically completes the plot of the work, and secondly, the epilogue contains the author's philosophical and life position, an assessment of plot events and characters.
The first part of the epilogue contains only a description of facts that emphasize Tolstoy's position, and the author skillfully inserted numerous of his leading thoughts into the description of these facts. So, Tolstoy shows us his heroes after the events of the war of 1812 (the epilogue takes place in 1821). Tolstoy proves to us that “people are like rivers” are constantly changing, looking for something, striving for something, and this striving for harmony, for truth makes them “quite good”.
Talking about the fate of the heroes in the first part of the epilogue, Tolstoy achieves that any attentive reader comes to mind the very conclusions that the author wants to get from him, despite the fact that the author himself does not formulate these conclusions. Tolstoy poses a more global problem: “What drives the world, its history? "And gives the answer to it:" The laws of necessity. " His position is fatalism. Tolstoy assigns a person a certain role: in his opinion, a person is only a pawn in a difficult game, the outcome of which is predetermined, and the pawn's goal is to understand the rules of the game and follow them (and in this case be among the righteous winners), otherwise the pawn will be punished by fate, resistance to which is useless.
A gigantic illustration of such a position is the pictures of war, where everyone, including kings and great commanders, is powerless before fate, where the winner is the one who better understands the laws of necessity and does not oppose them (Kutuzov).
In the second part of the epilogue, Tolstoy does not use the plot material of his work, but uses newly invented arguments. Of particular note is the extraordinary innovation of Tolstoy, who turned the epilogue from a small appendage or just the last chapter into an independent work, the role of which is comparable to that of the main part of War and Peace.
Thus, we see that the epilogue plays a huge role in the work, completing the storyline and showing the philosophical concept of the author. In addition, in War and Peace, the second part of the epilogue serves as a proof of Tolstoy's philosophical concept, and its significance is comparable to that of the main part of the novel.
The epilogue is the final part of the work, which finally clarifies the denouement of the plot, the fate of the heroes, formulates the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe work. The epilogue is the summary of the novel.
In the works of L.N. Tolstoy and F.M.Dostoevsky, the role of the epilogue is extremely great. Firstly, the epilogue logically completes the plot of the work, and secondly, the epilogue contains the author's philosophical and life position, an assessment of plot events and characters. Consider how the authors of the novels War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, achieve these goals.
In Tolstoy's novel, two independent parts of the epilogue correspond to the above two goals. Tolstoy's philosophical position is so remote from the plot of the work that it could exist independently, as a philosophical treatise. The plot denouement (the first part of the epilogue) occupies a substantially smaller part of the epilogue.
Dostoevsky constructs his epilogue in Crime and Punishment in exactly the opposite way, the factual description of the life of the heroes is closely, literally inseparably connected with his philosophical concept. So, for example, the real description of Raskolnikov's dream in hard labor about trichines (terrible viruses of pride and ambition) that destroyed all of humanity is at the same time a display of Dostoevsky's humanistic convictions, Raskolnikov's repentance in his crime, in disbelief in God reflects Dostoevsky's own desire for God, the established relationship of Sonya and Rodion proclaim Dostoevsky's ideal of philanthropy.
It cannot be said that the first part of the epilogue to War and Peace does not contain the author's position. On the contrary, the first part of the epilogue is as rich in the expression of the author's position as the entire novel by Tolstoy. But, unlike the second part and in contrast to Dostoevsky's epilogue, the first part contains only a description of facts that emphasize Tolstoy's position, and the author skillfully inserted numerous of his leading thoughts into the description of these facts. So, Tolstoy shows us his heroes after the events of the war of 1812 (the epilogue takes place in 1821). Pierre became a wonderful husband, a family man, a real person, pleasant and even necessary in communication. The first life cycle that Tolstoy outlined for his hero was passed with honor. What awaits the hero next? Quiet cozy family life? The author gives a completely different answer to these questions. Pierre will face new tests. Tests related to the participation of Pierre in a political circle. (As we understand, Pierre will become a Decembrist, will take part in the uprising on Senate Square.) This is how Tolstoy proves to us that people, like rivers, are constantly changing, looking for something, striving for something, and this is the desire for harmony, to the truth makes them quite good. In the epilogue, we are surprised by the image of Natasha, who has become strong, wise, fertile. She does not at all resemble that graceful, cheerful girl that we see her at the beginning of the novel. The meaning of Natasha's life is in motherhood. And this is precisely how Tolstoy himself represents the fate and destiny of a woman. Nikolai Rostov is a completely respectable average person who is used to obeying and not doubting. Marya Bolkonskaya (now Rostova) finds her happiness in the family. The youngest Bolkonsky, Nikolenka, is just beginning to live, and we hope that he will go through his life with dignity as well as his father.
Thus, talking about the fate of the heroes in the first part of the epilogue. Tolstoy achieves that any attentive reader comes to mind the very conclusions that the author wants to get from him, despite the fact that the author himself does not formulate these conclusions.
As in War and Peace, and in Crime and Punishment, practically all expression of the philosophical concept of the authors is concentrated in the epilogue. Considering the concepts of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, it is easy to see that it is difficult to compare or contrast them. And it is not surprising that the authors consider and resolve various philosophical questions.
Dostoevsky is interested in the problems of good and evil, the essence of man, the fall and rebirth of the human soul. His position is humanism, love for a person, whoever he is. Therefore, he gives the opportunity to his sinful hero, Rodion Raskolnikov, to see the light and be horrified at what he had done, to believe in love and the rebirth of his soul. Therefore, the novel ends with the phrase But then a new story begins, the story of the gradual renewal of man, the story of his gradual degeneration, the gradual transition from one world to another, acquaintance with a new, hitherto completely unknown reality ...
Tolstoy, in contrast to Dostoevsky, poses a more global problem: What drives the world, its history? And he answers it with the Laws of Necessity. His position is fatalism.
Despite the difference in the approaches of the writers, there are philosophical questions to which they both provide answers. One of these questions is the question of the role of man in the world around him.
Both Crime and Punishment, and all other works of Dostoevsky are devoted to the study of the essence of man, and this already reveals that Dostoevsky assigns a key role to man in the universe. Examples from Crime and Punishment confirm this. Is this a human louse !? - exclaims Sonya, who expresses the author's position on this issue. All the positive heroes of Crime and Punishment stand on positions of philanthropy, and only after accepting this position is Raskolnikov able to be reborn.
In his opinion, Tolstoy assigns a completely different role to a person, a person is only a pawn in a difficult game, the outcome of which is predetermined, and the goal of the pawn is to understand the rules of the game and follow them (and in this case be among the righteous winners), otherwise the pawn will be punished by fate whose resistance is useless. A gigantic illustration of such a position is the pictures of war, where everyone, including kings and great commanders, is powerless before fate, where the winner is the one who better understands the laws of necessity and does not oppose them (Kutuzov).
Very interesting are the premises that lead great writers to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe equality of all people Dostoevsky values \u200b\u200beach person so highly that nothing can surpass this person in the eyes of the writer (therefore, all people are individual, all people are equal as divine creations). Tolstoy asserts that every person (even Napoleon) is helpless before fate, and therefore all people are equal.
The epilogues finally clarify the writers' view of God. Dostoevsky does not mention God in any way in connection with actual events, does not assert his influence on the fate of people. However, all the goodies of Crime and Punishment are devout (including the reformed Raskolnikov). And the parable of the resurrection of Lazarus runs as a leitmotif throughout the novel. Dostoevsky appreciates the Christian religion for its philanthropic commandments, which coincide with his philosophical convictions.
Tolstoy's relationship to God is much more complicated. This is the denial of the generally accepted God, on the one hand, and at the same time, the approval of faith in God as a supreme providence (which is also the laws of necessity). An example of the approval of such a faith is the image of Pierre Bezukhov, who after long wanderings and trials came to God.
As can be seen from the above, in the epilogues of both works, the authors resolve many of the most important philosophical questions that would be problematic to resolve in the course of the work.
Of course, the epilogue of War and Peace presents a broader philosophical position than the epilogue of Crime and Punishment. The difference between Tolstoy's epilogue is that to confirm his position in the second part of the epilogue, he does not use the plot material of his work, but uses newly invented arguments. Of particular note is the extraordinary innovation of Tolstoy, who turned the epilogue from a small appendage or just the last chapter into an independent work, the role of which is comparable to that of the main part of War and Peace.
Thus, we see that in both works, epilogues play a huge role, completing the storyline and showing the philosophical concept of the authors. In addition, in War and Peace, the second part of the epilogue serves as a proof of Tolstoy's philosophical concept, and its significance is comparable to that of the main part of the novel.
EXAMINATIONTicket 19
This summary of the epilogue "War and Peace", broken down into parts, covers the "peaceful" events in the years 1819-1820. In the final chapters of the work, the author describes the life of the heroes in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Bald Mountains, and also discusses the significance of individual historical figures in the history of entire nations. The epilogue of War and Peace is one of the most important compositional elements of the entire book. In it, the author sums up the work, bringing to the fore the idea of \u200b\u200bthe importance of spiritual unity between people. The role of the epilogue to War and Peace is to show the reader how love, friendship and mutual understanding are capable of leading people forward and overcoming any difficulties.
To better convey the spirit of the work, we have included important quotes in the retelling and highlighted them in gray.
Part 1
Chapter 1
The events of the first part of the epilogue "War and Peace" take place seven years after the military events of 1812, which ended the fourth volume.
Tolstoy reflects on the driving forces of history, as well as the role of Alexander I and Napoleon in it. The author concludes that it is impossible to unequivocally assess the activities of historical figures, since such an assessment will always be subjective.
Chapters 2-3
Tolstoy reflects on the reasons for the movement of European peoples from east to west and from west to east and the ambiguous role of Napoleon in these movements. The author writes that Bonaparte's actions were stupid and vile.
Chapter 4
Description of the role of Alexander I in the movement of the masses from east to west. After the end of the Patriotic War and with the beginning of the European, the personality of the sovereign comes to the fore.
Chapter 5
In 1813 Pierre and Natasha got married. In the same year, the old Count Rostov died. After the death of the count, the financial situation of the Rostovs deteriorated even more, so Nikolai had to resign and enter the civil service. Dolgov turned out to be twice as many as the estates, so Nikolai, Sonya and his mother live in a modest apartment in Moscow. At this time, Pierre and Natasha live in Petersburg, not knowing about the difficult situation of the Rostovs.
Chapter 6
Princess Marya arrives in Moscow. Having learned about the changes in the life of the Rostov family, the princess comes to them. Nikolai greeted Marya solemnly and dryly (since the thought of marrying a rich bride is unpleasant for him), which greatly upset the girl. After Marya's departure, Countess Rostov persuades Nicholas to go to the princess.
Nikolay's visit to Marya Bolkonskaya. During a conversation between them, an explanation occurs: Marya understands that the reason is that he is now poor, and she is rich and is amazed at the nobility of Nicholas. Marya and Nikolai realized that now "the distant, the impossible suddenly became close, possible and inevitable."
Chapter 7
Marya and Nikolai got married, settling with the mother of Nikolai and Sonya (former lover of Nikolai, a relative of the Rostovs) in Lysyh Gory. Rostov turned out to be an excellent owner and in three years he was able to pay off all debts, continuing to increase his property.
Chapter 8
Contrary to her husband's requests, Marya cannot fall in love with Sonya living with them. Once, when Marya and Natasha were talking about Sonya, Natasha compared Sonya with a barren flower: "Sometimes I feel sorry for her, and sometimes I think that she does not feel it the way we would feel."
Living with the Rostovs, "it seemed that Sonya was not burdened by her position." "She, like a cat, has taken root not to people, but to home."
Chapter 9
Bald Gory, the eve of winter Nikolina's day in 1820. Nicholas and Marya quarrel: the woman thinks that her husband does not love her, but he assures me that he cannot find a place for herself without Marya. The woman thinks that she would never have believed that it is possible to be so happy.
Chapters 10-11
After marriage, Natasha has changed a lot. Having completely immersed herself in caring for her husband and family (she had three daughters and a son), she completely stopped taking care of herself, while being jealous of Pierre even of the governess or Sonya. The most important thing in their family relationship was Pierre's desires, which the woman tried to instantly guess and fulfill. "After seven years of marriage, Pierre saw himself reflected in his wife."
Chapters 12-13
December 1820. The Bezukhovs are visiting the Rostovs. Everyone in Bald Hills loved Pierre, especially Nikolenka, Andrey's son.
The old Countess Rostova was already over 60. After all that she had endured, "she felt like an accidentally forgotten creature in this world, having no purpose and meaning." The children understood her condition and took care of her in every possible way.
Chapter 14
Conversation between Nikolai, Pierre and Denisov (who also visited the Rostovs) about the state of affairs in Russia. Pierre says that the country is dying, and the sovereign is not trying to do anything. He is confident that there will be a coup. Bezukhov admits that he is a member of a secret society and believes that the activities of this society are the way to improve the state of affairs in Russia. Nikolai Rostov sharply objects to Bezukhov, as he believes that there will be no coup.
Chapter 15
Marya and Nikolai discuss the fact of Pierre's entry into the secret community. They fear for their children, and especially for Nikolenka, who was very excited to hear Bezukhov's words about the secret society. Marya asks her husband to take Nikolenka out into society.
Chapter 16
Description of the warm relationship between Pierre and Natasha. They understand each other perfectly, can talk on any topic and always feel each other's mood.
The dream of Nikolenka Bolkonsky. He dreamed that he and Pierre, in helmets, as in the book of Plutarch, marched ahead of a huge army to glory. But then they were stopped by Nikolai Rostov, who threatened to kill the first who moves forward. Turning around, Nikolenka saw that Pierre had become his father, Andrei. Nikolenka felt love for his father, but Nikolai approached them and the boy woke up in horror. Sitting in bed, Nikolenka thought about his father and that in the future he would achieve everything that even his father would be pleased with.
Part 2
Chapter 1
The second part of the epilogue "War and Peace" begins with the author's reflections on how historians study the life of peoples and the individual. Tolstoy condemns historians who believe that "peoples are led by individual people" and that "there is a certain goal towards which peoples and mankind are moving."
Chapters 2-3
Chapters 4-5
The author's reflections on the appointment of power, its consideration as the totality of the will of the masses. Tolstoy writes that the life of an entire people cannot fit into the biography of several individuals, and the power of these individuals cannot cause historical events.
Chapter 6
Tolstoy's thoughts on how orders affect historical events. The author provides an illustration of the spread of orders in the military hierarchy, in which "the ordering parties take the least part in the event itself", since their activities are limited exclusively to "ordering".
Chapter 7
Chapters 8-10
Chapter 11
Tolstoy argues with historians, saying that history should stop looking for the particular causes of events, focusing on the search for a general law that drives the history of mankind.
Chapter 12
Tolstoy's thoughts on the struggle between the old and the new view of history. The author believes that when examining historical events "it is necessary to abandon the non-existent freedom [of the will of the historical person] and recognize the dependence we do not perceive."
the end
Results and conclusions
In the epilogue of his novel, Leo Tolstoy depicted not only the end of a huge story woven from the cunning interweaving of human destinies, but also presented his own historical and philosophical reflections on the law of endless mutual influences and interconnections of human life. It is this irrational law, elusive by reason, that determines, in the author's opinion, the fate of peoples and individuals. We recommend not only to read the retelling of the epilogue of the novel "War and Peace", but also to appreciate the great work in full.
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The epilogue is the logical conclusion of the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe novel - the thought about the purpose of man, about how to live. Tolstoy showed two main paths that a person chooses: for some, the main thing is external well-being, external values \u200b\u200b(wealth, career), for others, spiritual values \u200b\u200b(life is not only for themselves). For Prince Andrey, this is the need to express oneself, to accomplish something great; for Pierre, Princess Marya - to do good; for Natasha - to love. And to love for her means to be happy herself and to give happiness to another person. In the epilogue, we see heroes who found true happiness on this path. In the sense of deep satisfaction with my life. Pierre, after a long and difficult search, found happiness in the harmonious fusion of social activity and a happy family life. The idea of \u200b\u200ba family sounded in the epilogue of the novel. Chapter 12 - why is Pierre's arrival a joyous event for everyone? For a wife, children, old people, servants? Pierre seeks to bring joy to everyone and this joy, this warmth returns to him. Pierre and Natasha are a good family? Pierre is a family man. Princess Marya as a wife and mother. What was the main thing for Princess Marya in raising children? She does not strive for an external result, not for the children to be comfortable for her, obedient and quiet, but to grow up to be good, kind people. Mitya was naughty at the table, Nikolai ordered not to give him sweets. The boy quieted down - the external result was achieved. But the mother sees the boy's gaze and understands: with this punishment, unkind feelings entered the child's soul - envy and greed. And this is much more important to her. Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy managed to do a unique thing - to show the poetry and prose of family life in their inextricable connection. His happy families have prose, but no earthiness. The prose does not contradict the high poetry of feelings and relationships. Here Natasha meets Pierre, who stayed in St. Petersburg for longer than the agreed time, with angry, unjust reproaches. But Pierre believes that it is the fear for his son, the excitement, and not Natasha herself who speaks. Realizes that Natasha loves him. Therefore, he does not take offense at his wife. Natasha was afraid to be a hindrance to her husband in his affairs, she believed in them, with deep respect for everything related to the spiritual life of her husband. This is the main thing. And Pierre, with his characteristic tolerance and ability to understand another person, forgives Natasha outbursts of irritation and anger. This episode teaches a lot. The importance of a happy family life in the system of basic human values \u200b\u200bis emphasized by the writer with reference to Platon Karataev. Pierre says to Natasha: "He would approve of our family life." Platon Karataev, according to L. Tolstoy, is an exponent of the people's spirit, folk wisdom. The image of Nikolai Rostov. Pierre expresses the views of the Decembrists, and Nikolai objects. It is Nikolai who believes that he must obey the government. Whatever it is. Why does such a kind, generous, noble person like Nikolai Rostov take such a terrible position? He doesn't think. Why limited, why doesn't he think? Why doesn't he think? By nature, such that he cannot, or does not want, is afraid to think? Reading the episode - the war with the French in 1805-1807. There is no doubt about Nikolai's position. He doesn't want to complicate his life. A person who does not want to think, even a kind and noble person, may turn out to be an accomplice of dark forces. Not everyone can think about everything in the world? There are people who are not inclined to analysis and thought. Or a person's life may turn out in such a way that he does not have the strength and time to think. What should such a person do so as not to be a blind executor of someone else's evil will or just someone else's mistakes? Do not participate in what you do not understand. It's worthy. And this sometimes takes more courage than the most risky action. Only a courageous person, throwing away pride, can say to himself and to others: “I don't know much about this. And therefore I can’t, I don’t have the right to act ”. Nikolai? Actually, it is not known how he would have acted in reality. Perhaps, as he says, and perhaps his natural kindness would not allow it. And he would have resigned. In the epilogue, the main characters of the novel are depicted in the mature period of their lives. Showing their selfless service to people (society or just family, loved ones), Tolstoy describes them with love. The untimely interrupted life of Prince Andrei has not disappeared either - Nikolenka Bolkonsky, a worthy father, is growing. The author's attitude to Nikolai Rostov is not so unambiguous. While his terrible words are just words, he is cute. However, this image also contains a warning to all of us: from blindly following generally accepted views, from an uncritical attitude to reality. From thoughtlessness.Thought is the fruit of all the mental work of my life ...
L. Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy is an artist of great and powerful talent, a philosopher who discusses the meaning of life, the purpose of man, the enduring values \u200b\u200bof earthly existence. All this is fully reflected in his largest and most beautiful creation "War and Peace".
Throughout the novel, the author reflects a lot on topics of interest to him. In our fast-paced time, it is almost impossible to force ourselves to read slowly his colossal work, but how necessary it is for us, young people, to feel the “Russian spirit”, patriotism, true nationality, and not that noisy vanity that has been so actively propagated by various sources recently.
It is difficult to understand Tolstoy's philosophy, but it is necessary. And the epilogue of the novel "War and Peace" opens the door to the author's secret storeroom. You can agree or disagree with the writer who created in the middle of the 19th century, we - the readers of the 21st century. But a true artist, he foresaw the changes coming in time, and spoke about it brilliantly. “Just as the sun and each atom of the ether is a ball, complete in itself and at the same time only an atom of the whole inaccessible to man in its immensity, so each person carries his own goals in himself and, meanwhile, carries them in order to serve common goals inaccessible to man ...
Man can only observe the correspondence of the bee's life with other phenomena of life. The same with the goals of historical persons and peoples ”. Unfolding a huge canvas of historical events 1805-1820, Tolstoy at first unhurriedly narrates the story, including huge spaces and countless heroes in the narrative. With the main historical event, 1812, this unhurried narration ends, and in the epilogue the author specifically tells the more distant destinies of his beloved heroes: the Bezukhovs and the Rostovs. Life does not stop, no matter what happens, and the heroes obey the flow of time, but not vice versa. Life is much wiser than all the philosophers' reasoning about it.
In the epilogue, we see the ideal of a woman created by a writer. Princess Maria and Natasha Rostova, once romantic girls, become good friends of husbands, faithful mentors of children, true guardian angels of the family hearth. The raid of romance disappeared as unnecessary, but sincerity, sincerity, kindness remained. They are limited to a range of family problems, but they gradually influence married people. So, Nikolai Rostov involuntarily softens under the influence of his wife, becomes more tolerant of human weaknesses and imperfections. And when all the same "breaks down", it is Marie who helps her husband to find peace of mind.
Nona only about the values \u200b\u200bof the family Tolstoy speaks, the writer talks about the technological changes that took place in Russian society after 1812. Tolstoy intended to write a sequel to the novel, where he would show the Decembrist uprising. It can be assumed that Pierre would not have stayed away from such great events. And Natasha? She would follow her husband. But we are left with only guesses and conjectures. And in the epilogue - a specific description of the family structure of people in the first quarter of the 19th century, their thoughts, experiences, dreams and thoughts. Much has changed since then, but patriotism, a reverent attitude towards the Motherland, the enduring value of a family and raising children have remained unchanged.
Discussing the epic about important social problems and events, Tolstoy only in the epilogue comes to the ideal that he saw in the destiny of a woman - a mother and a homemaker. Without this, the image of "degraded" Natasha, her unwillingness to live in the world, would not have been understandable. LN Tolstoy, without belittling women in the least, expresses his views on the upbringing of children, love, the social role of man in the life of the country.
In an epilogue, the narrative accelerates its course, the events are concentrated and given by the author in a general way. You understand that a continuation will follow, life is not interrupted by the end of the novel. But the writer failed to continue the epic, to carry out his plans. The epilogue to the novel "War and Peace" was not so much an afterword to the work as a worthy completion of it, connecting it with life. For the heroes created by the artist's imagination continue to live in our memory.
List of references
For the preparation of this work were used materials from the site ilib.ru/
