About love for Napoleon and patriotism
The secular state of that time was associated with the culture of France. Even in conversations, French words were often used. Many military men admired Napoleon. The Frenchman and his thoughts were not important for long for the Russian people. Exactly before the start of the Patriotic War. During this period, Russians stood up to defend their homeland. No one was going to give up and give up.
A. Bolkonsky, for whom Napoleon was a hero, changed his views after the bloody battle. During the French attack, he grabbed the banner and firmly went to the enemy with weapons. He was wounded, and at that second Andrei saw the delightful sky of Austerlitz. himself was moving nearby and admired his action . However, the man ignored the idol's attention. At that moment, Bolkonsky was indifferent to everything. Everything except the beautiful sky. Later, only Natasha could appreciate his heroism, since Pierre Bezukhov looked at the situation differently.
How the heroes fought
There have always been citizens who fought for life, as well as those who did not care. The author argues that patriotism is considered an important part of the Russian soul . The patriot perceives Russia’s misfortune as a personal tragedy.
In 1812, all the hidden motives and plans of every person come to light. The battle begins. Here it immediately becomes clear who is ready to fight for their native land and who is not. Most of the people showed a selfless patriotic spirit. The burning of Moscow is considered an argument on the topic of patriotism.
All Russian citizens spent a long time thinking about how to make Napoleon regret his attack on Russia. The aristocracy and the common people fought for freedom and independent life. No one wanted to adapt to the Frenchman, no matter how beautifully he painted the future under his leadership.
The soldiers fought until their death, not wanting to give up. Ordinary citizens quickly left cities that the enemy was about to penetrate. The merchants, together with Ferapont, handed over all the provisions to the military and destroyed everything around. The people did everything to annoy the French army as much as possible. The French often noted the positive qualities of Russian soldiers, or rather:
- strength;
- steadfastness;
- understanding the situation;
- confidence.
Napoleon could not forget Bolkonsky's feat. He was convinced that the prince had died, and called what happened a wonderful death, it was patriotism, arguments were not needed.
Sample 4
The famous novel “War and Peace” is imbued with the theme of patriotism. The secular society of that time was associated with French culture. Even in conversations one could notice a French motif. Some military personnel admired Napoleon.
It is noteworthy that Napoleon and his ideas were not relevant and interesting to Russian military personnel for long. Exactly until the moment the Patriotic War began. At this moment, Russian soldiers stood up to defend their Fatherland. No one was going to surrender to the French hero and conqueror.
Andrei Bolkonsky, for whom Napoleon was an idol, changed his views after a serious battle. When the French attacked, the hero took the banner and firmly went to the enemy with weapons. He was wounded and at that moment Andrei saw the beautiful sky of Austerlitz. Napoleon himself walked nearby and admired the soldier’s feat. However, the prince did not react in any way to the appearance and praise of the idol. At that moment, the hero was indifferent to everything. Everything except the beautiful sky.
At all times, there were people who experienced all the events that happened close to their hearts, as well as those who were absolutely indifferent to everything. The author claims that patriotism is an inseparable part of the Russian soul. A person who cares about what is happening. The patriot perceives the country’s misfortune as his own tragedy.
In 1812, all the hidden motives and plans of every citizen are revealed. The war begins. Here it immediately becomes clear who cares about the future of the country and who is ready to bend to the French.
The majority of the people showed selfless patriotism. The burning of Moscow is direct confirmation of this. All Russian people thought for a long time about how to make the Frenchman regret invading Russian territory. The aristocracy and the common people fought for freedom and independence. No one wanted to go under the yoke of the Frenchman, no matter how beautifully he described the prospects of life under his protection.
The soldiers fought to the last, thousands gave their lives on the battlefield. All this was done only in order to preserve our land and independence. The common people urgently evacuated from the cities where the enemy was about to come. In addition, the merchants distributed all the provisions to the military personnel and destroyed everything around. Everything was done in order to annoy the Frenchman as much as possible.
The French repeatedly note the patriotism, strength, resilience and confidence of Russian fighters. At certain moments, the enemies were afraid of our men and asked for mercy. Napoleon could not ignore Andrei's feat. He was convinced that the prince had died and called what happened a beautiful death. The commander saw that no one was going to give up and this land could not be easily captured.
Who can be considered a patriot?
It is impossible to talk about patriotism in War and Peace without mentioning the important participants in the battle, generals and ordinary military personnel. It is their example that shows love for the homeland:
- First of all, the image of Kutuzov stands out. The military leader has a simple appearance “with a stooped back”, “with a white eye” - this is how Tolstoy describes the commander. The writer notes that this man combined physical weakness and spiritual strength. It was his soul that helped him pull off a wonderful scheme - to leave Moscow to save the soldiers and his homeland.
- Images of other characters are also highlighted. These are real people: generals Raevsky, Dokhturov, Bagration. And invented heroes, including A. Timokhin, N. Rostov and so on. Warmth immediately appears in your soul when you think about their actions.
- The author also considers partisans to be true patriots. They did not participate in mass battles, but destroyed the enemy by other available means. Shcherbaty, Vasilisa and Davydov. It was their actions that inspired young Petya Rostov, who joined the partisan detachment. These are the main examples of patriotism in the literature of that time. Thanks to the work “War and Peace” one can understand that the Russian people never give up and always fight for their homeland to the last.
Not everyone can be called a hero. The author contrasts real patriots with false ones, who do not care about the situation in the country. Thus, the clients of the Scherer salon live a quiet life and do not think about problems. She receives people even on the day of the great battle. The patriotism of the owner of a popular salon is manifested only in the fact that she scolds those who visit the French theater.
Traitors were also noticed among staff officers who forgot about showing patriotism. Among them is B. Drubetskoy, who, thanks to his cunning, was able to survive.
Schoolchildren in grades 10-11 should write an essay about patriotism in the novel “War and Peace,” because then it will be easier for them to pass the Unified State Exam, in which they will be able to answer the question of why the heroes of the work behaved so selflessly.
Patriotic theme in L. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”
Patriotism, no matter whose it is,
is proven not by word, but by deed...
V. Belinsky
L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” is rightfully considered one of the most outstanding works of Russian literature. Showing historical events and the lives of people over a long period of time, the author solves many problems of a universal human nature in the novel. The problem of war and peace is central here. According to Tolstoy, war is a crime, “an event contrary to human reason and all human nature.” But Tolstoy makes an “exception” for the people’s war of 1812, because it was waged in the name of the liberation of the Motherland. In this regard, the writer poses in the novel the problem of true and false patriotism. True patriotism, according to the author, is a selfless feeling. It manifests itself in action, not in phrase. Some heroes of the novel shout about love for the Motherland and in words are ready to do everything for it, while others simply honestly fulfill their duty, proving their love for the Fatherland with deeds, not words.
In the novel, secular nobles become false patriots, and Anna Scherer’s salon is the place where beautiful words are loved. The same atmosphere of imaginary patriotism reigns in Ellen Bezukhova and in other fashion houses. In a difficult time of war for the country, people are being tested. War does not change anything in secular salons. Life here goes on as before. Luxurious balls are still given, the public comes out to show themselves in society. These people are far from the interests of the people. They did not want and could not even “recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves.” No matter how beautiful phrases Prince Vasily or Anna Pavlovna Scherer hide behind, it soon becomes clear that for them the war is just a fashionable topic for discussion. Even in difficult moments for Russia, everyone here strives to solve their problems: advance in their careers, enter into a profitable marriage.
There are quite a few false patriots in the novel. This is, for example, Count Rastopchin. He puts up “posters” around Moscow, in which he urges residents not to leave the city, and then, fleeing the people’s anger, he sends the merchant’s son Vereshchagin to death. No better than Rastopchina Berg. When danger loomed over Moscow, he thought about buying a “wardrobe” and a toilet “with an English secret” for Vera. The son of Princess Drubetskaya, Boris, is only concerned with thoughts of awards and promotion. War for him is a way to quickly make a career.
All these people are just pretending to be patriotic. They utter pompous phrases about debt and Russia, but in reality they are only concerned with their own well-being.
Truly patriotic is shown in the novel People's Russia. These are ordinary Russian men who now had to become soldiers. This is Captain Tushin, who fights without cover and does not think that he can be killed. And Timokhin and his company rush at the enemy “with one skewer” so decisively and fearlessly that the enemy flees. All these people are fighting for their homeland, and not just saying beautiful words about their love for it.
The merchant Ferapontov also appears to be a patriot. When Russian troops leave Smolensk, he sets fire to his house and gives his property to Russian soldiers so that only the French will not get anything.
Pierre Bezukhov easily parts with money when he needs to equip his regiment. It is love for his homeland and concern for its fate that brings him, far from a military man, to the Borodino field.
The Rostovs also appear as true patriots in the novel. So, Petya rushes to the front, because “the Fatherland is in danger,” and Natasha gives carts to the wounded, although she now remains homeless due to the fact that she did not take out valuable things. For these heroes, money is not the measure of all values in life, especially when it comes to the fate of the Motherland.
One of the striking episodes in the novel is the “rebellion” of Princess Marya: “So that Prince Andrei finds out that she is in the power of the French! So that she, the daughter of Prince Nikolai Andreich Bolkonsky, asks Mr. General Rameau to provide her with patronage and enjoy his benefits!” This thought terrified her.
Kutuzov is depicted in the novel as an exponent of the patriotic spirit and a genuine commander. He never talks about his exploits, but he sincerely loves his homeland and knows how to feel the mood of the masses.
The patriotic upsurge among the people is expressed in the words of one militia member: “They want to attack all the people, one word: Moscow.”
Thus, for Tolstoy, in his understanding of patriotism, it does not matter whether a person is an aristocrat, a peasant or a soldier. The main thing is that these are people who are ready to give everything to their homeland and not expect anything in return. Therefore, in his novel, the bearers of truly patriotic feelings are representatives of various walks of life. These are ordinary people, such as Captain Tushin and Timokhin, this is the Rostov family with its strong moral foundations, this is the old Prince Bolkonsky, who, having forgotten his previous grievances, led the militia. We, of course, include Andrei Bolkonsky, who died for his Motherland, and Pierre Bezukhov, who suffered a lot for it, as true patriots.
Deeply, with all their hearts, Russian people understand the meaning of what is happening in Russia. Tolstoy shows the process of growth of the partisan movement: partisan detachments of Denisov and Dolokhov are created, peasants under the leadership of the elder Vasilisa and the nameless sexton destroy Napoleon’s army with pitchforks and axes. Also noticeable in the novel is Tikhon Shcherbaty, who “was the most useful and brave man” in Denisov’s detachment.
Thus, in a terrible time for Russia, people are being tested. We clearly see two Russias in the novel: a popular, patriotic Russia, united by common feelings and aspirations, and a Russia of “court drones”, absorbed in their careers and having lost all interest in the fate of the Motherland. Tolstoy attributes the main role in the victory over Napoleon to the people, those Karps and Vlass, because they “did not bring hay to Moscow for the good money that was offered to them, but burned it.” The army and people, united in their love for their native country, won a decisive victory over the army, which inspired terror throughout Europe.
