Guests of Anna Scherrer
The novel begins with a description of a popular St. Petersburg salon, where high-ranking courtiers of His Majesty Alexander I gather. The topical conversation about Napoleon loses its sharpness and meaning in notes of pathos. A living thought that bursts into a conversation is drowned in hypocritical oohs and aahs.
Beneath the apparent brilliance of Prince Kuragin lies self-interest. The official calculates each visit from the point of view of personal gain. The old nobleman appears only in those circles where it is possible to make the necessary acquaintance. Prince Vasily considers his children a burden.
Maids of honor and nobles play the role of conscientious citizens and intelligent interlocutors. In social conversation one is accustomed to putting on the mask of decency required by court etiquette. According to the author, the St. Petersburg nobility goes to parties to weave state intrigues and implement insidious plans for personal enrichment.
Officials meet in a relaxed atmosphere to beg for a warm place for their unsettled sons and to find a party with a dowry. Leo Tolstoy sarcastically refers to the masquerade of decency, pointing out that there is “eternal inhuman enmity, a struggle for mortal blessings.”
Essay: Society in the novel “War and Peace” (L.N. Tolstoy)
(496 words) The depiction of secular society in L. N. Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” is in deep contradiction with the moral ideal of the author. The very atmosphere of light and such typical representatives as Anna Pavlovna Sherer, Prince Vasily, Helen, Ippolit, show the special life of the highest nobility, isolated from Russia.
The author's negative attitude towards high society is evident from the first chapter. Describing an evening at Scherer’s, Tolstoy writes:
". .. Anna Pavlovna's evening is over. The spindles made noise evenly and incessantly from different sides...”
In describing the salon, the author uses the technique of ironic comparison. The salon is compared to a spinning workshop, which is a symbol of the mechanical, machine-like life of society. The author treats social life with great sarcasm and satirically portrays its representatives, especially the Kuragin family. One of the aspects of secular life, as Tolstoy understands it, is a complete displacement of values in it - a distortion of moral ideas and assessments. In the world they do not know what is truly good and what is bad; what is stupid and what is smart. For example, when Pierre Bezukhov, a young and independent-minded man, enters Scherer’s salon, it turns out that this quality of his has a price only for the author, but not for those present in the salon. Anna Pavlovna is horrified when Pierre decides to directly express what he thinks about Napoleon, but she is delighted with the half-idiot Hippolyte and is grateful to him for his stupid and not at all funny anecdote. Moral concepts in society turn out to be not only inverted, but also very unstable: the mind here is recognized as dangerous, stupidity is revered as social courtesy, good is considered bad, and bad is considered good. So, everyone admires Helen’s intelligence, although in fact we have before us a rather ignorant woman who only sensitively grasps fashion trends and adapts to them.
Throughout the entire narrative, these characters do not change. Their life flows smoothly and calmly. There is no internal struggle going on within them, no search for the meaning of life. For example, Prince Vasily Kuragin, who does not have his own opinion, does not change at all, so he constantly brings it into line with the situation. For people like him, reasoning exists solely as a form, indifferent to spiritual needs. That is why these thoughts are quickly forgotten and easily confused. Prince Vasily is an actor playing his own feelings and experiences. There's nothing real about him.
Another striking example is Helen. She is always equally beautiful. Even the smile on her face is always the same. For Tolstoy, this is a sign of spiritual stinginess and limitation. The author compares Helen with her brother Hippolyte:
“His facial features were the same as his sister’s, but with her everything was illuminated by a cheerful, self-satisfied, young, unchanging smile of life and the extraordinary antique beauty of her body; my brother, on the contrary, had the same face clouded with idiocy.”
And these people are titled representatives of the highest nobility! Secular society is described in such a negative light by Tolstoy because he does not like life if it is spiritually dead, if it is devoid of genuine human qualities. The true task of the Russian intelligentsia is to develop and lead the masses, to bring the country to an advanced level. But people like Kuragin, Bergi, Scherer are not able to look at their affairs in full and give them an objective assessment. They are divorced from the interests and culture of Russia, so in the image of high society we see all the signs of degeneration. This is a dead-end branch of the development of the Russian people, which has no future.
Author: Sofia Lovtsova
The hunt for Prince Bezukhov
Pierre, standing at the bedside of his sick father, felt lonely and useless to anyone. Two opposing parties were formed, Prince Vasily and Drubetskoy, who entered into a battle for inheritance. The dying Prince Bezukhov managed to send a personal request to the emperor asking that Pierre be recognized as the only heir and son. Overnight, the young master received the title of count and a huge fortune.
Intrigue began around the rich groom. Prince Vasily, under the guise of caring for the young man, appropriates his income for himself, sends his treacherous daughter Helen to him in order to marry the sluggish rich man. The coquette instantly charms Pierre, ignites passion in the man’s body, and brings him to the state of his only desire - to possess the girl.
Common sense kept Bezukhov from proposing marriage, but the quick father already announced his engagement. Smart and decent Pierre Bezukhov regretted his ill-considered marriage many times. Leo Tolstoy had the courage to condemn the hypocrisy and callousness of the royal court.
About Secular Society
The author uses the technique of opposition. The epic novel has the self-explanatory title “War and Peace.” War includes battles, battles, the life and everyday life of military personnel, descriptions of heroes and ambitious figures. The world symbolizes the everyday life of the upper strata of society; the reader will become acquainted with the common people much later. At the center of the work is the life and existence of the nobility, their behavior and views.
First of all, the reader finds himself in Anna Scherer's salon. Initially, the author wants to introduce the reader to the life of the great and cold St. Petersburg. The city is distinguished by its beauty and splendor; there are many beautiful buildings and structures. What kind of society is here? Unfortunately, communication among St. Petersburg residents leaves much to be desired. Coming to the ball, everyone pursues some goals. All conversations are absolutely meaningless and smack of emptiness. None of the aristocrats are actually interested in the opinions and views of their interlocutor. They behave as expected. The communication of the natives of St. Petersburg is filled with lies, hypocrisy and sycophancy. Some want to get married, others want to get a promotion or build a career. It is at Anna Pavlovna’s meeting that you can meet influential people.
Andrei Bolkonsky cannot stand these meetings. He is sick of being among this lie and pretense. Pierre Bezukhov looks ridiculous against the backdrop of the nobility. He says what he really thinks. Pierre is real, unlike the others. The behavior of the St. Petersburg nobility is greatly exposed when Pierre receives a rich inheritance. Before this, he was considered a fool and was treated accordingly. As soon as he became a count, everything changed instantly. Everyone respected Count Bezukhov and began to bow in front of him.
Moscow society is contrasted with St. Petersburg. There is another to know here. A completely different atmosphere reigns in the Rostov family. The people here are open, responsive and hospitable. At balls there is fun, simplicity and joy. There are also intrigues and bad things here, but in general everything is different here. Aristocrats are open to people. They truly listen to what others have to say and want to understand the people around them. In the Moscow nobility there is less selfishness and narcissism, not the same corruption that is present in St. Petersburgers.
Aristocratic society is characterized by pretense, hypocrisy and emptiness. To our great joy, not all of society is rotten. Many vices are characteristic only of individual categories. There have always been good and bad people at all times.
Golden youth of St. Petersburg
Young people, accustomed to a luxurious life, know no prohibitions, are not afraid to break the law and drive society to despair. Drunkenness, duels and debauchery are their main entertainments. In a drunken state, the company of Dolokhov and Kuragin pestered passers-by with a trained bear.
The guard came running to the noise and tried to calm the hussar down. The brawlers entered into courage, tied up the guard, secured him on the back of the beast and let him swim into the river. There was such chaos and shouting on the street that they had to call for help.
Rostov family
Leo Tolstoy loves Moscow, sees it as a hospitable city like the house of Count Rostov. Relationships based on sincerity and trust reign here. There is no doubt about the love of the spouses. When they got married, society considered Natalya’s choice a misalliance.
The author contrasts the Rostovs' name day with St. Petersburg morals and customs. The mother of the family is a kind and sensitive woman who dedicated her life to children. Her sons will defend their Motherland with arms in hand in the Patriotic War of 1812. They speak Russian here, unlike in the salon of the maid of honor Scherer, although everyone speaks French. The atmosphere of the holiday is decorated with the ringing laughter of children who communicate amicably and cheerfully.
The serfs feel at home in the Rostovs under the fatherly care of the count. The manager is considered a family member and is trusted with all financial flows. The simplicity of Ilya Andreevich is expressed by a hunting incident when he was scolded by a huntsman for a mistake. The Count considered keeping silent on a fair word.
Muscovites naturally express their affection, cry out of sympathy, and care about the fate of the country. On the name day, the count dances with old lady Akhrosimova, all the servants come running to see Ilya Nikolaevich, sincerely enjoying the family holiday.
Aristocracy of Moscow
The author described the secular society of the Russian capital with greater sympathy and warmth. The following curious fact attracts attention. At first glance, these people are very similar to the capital's nobility. However, it soon becomes clear that they are more sincere, good-natured, honest and sociable. On the whole they make a very good impression, despite the fact that the writer notes their shortcomings.
The description of secular society in Moscow should begin with an overview of the Rostov family. Its members are open, hospitable, friendly, and sociable. They are more open and spontaneous in expressing their thoughts and feelings, unlike other aristocrats. So, the old count is very cheerful and friendly. He goes into all the details of the upcoming holiday, revealing in his communication the traits of a very good-natured and spontaneous person. By this, he immediately wins the sympathy of readers who feel the difference between him and his guests, Princess Anna Scherer and her salon, where everyone is prim and busy only with fulfilling formalities.
Moscow heals the soul
Prince Bolkonsky declares that Petersburg idleness oppresses him and goes to war. Pierre, finding himself in Kuragin's company, sinks and degrades until he is forcibly sent under the supervision of his father.
Natasha, having visited St. Petersburg, finds herself involved in Anatole's fatal intrigue and decides to escape, ruining her reputation. The writer transfers the bad events to the territory of the northern city, where the high society is corrupt and empty-mouthed.
Only once in Moscow do the heroes come to their senses to the ringing of numerous church bells.
Essay: The image of secular society in L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”
(383 words) L.N. Tolstoy in his epic novel “War and Peace” showed the behavior of various layers of society during a turning point in the history of the Russian Empire. Readers are presented with the life of peasants, military men, and nobles. In contrast, L.N. Tolstoy describes the secular society of two large cities - St. Petersburg and Moscow. At that time, the capital of Russia was St. Petersburg, so its residents were considered more “elite.”
The epic novel begins with a social evening in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. On the very first pages, the author denounces an artificial and hypocritical society obsessed with its own mercantile interests. People conduct conversations on “popular” topics, express not their own, but the prevailing opinion among them, trying to adhere to generally accepted opinions. I immediately remember the lines from Lermontov’s poem: “Masks pulled together with decency.” The nobles do not care about the fate of their country, they only want to look and think modernly. Therefore, when Pierre and Andrey find themselves at this evening, they stand out among the crowd. The characters express their point of view, based on their own worldview, which is unacceptable in high society. Talk about war, gossip, philosophical reflections - all this is just a shell, behind which it is impossible to find sincerity in the world.
Typical representatives of metropolitan society are the Kuragins. In their example one can see the unnaturalness, stupidity and pretense of high society. Money and fame are the source of their happiness. For example, Hippolytus, an inhabitant of luxurious drawing rooms and a “calm fool,” as his father puts it, always says things out of place that he himself does not understand, but he occupies an important post and receives a salary. Helen, “the stupidest woman,” as Pierre called her, was considered an exceptionally intelligent lady, with whom people of royal blood were in the most tender friendship. Their success exposed society itself, which chose favorites to match itself - worthless and idle talkers without an opinion.
Moscow society is acquiring more positive features than the capital's. However, it is not idealized by L.N. Tolstoy. At the Rostovs' ball you can meet all the representatives of high society. There is also gossip, magnificent outfits, and idle talk about the war. But among the reasoning there are not only generally accepted formulations, but also sincere opinions. It is clear that people truly care about the future of their country and want to make every effort to help their homeland. During the morning reception of the Rostov family, one can also encounter manifestations of “life” - children’s laughter, carefree games, childishness.
The image of secular society, like many images in L.N. Tolstoy’s epic novel, cannot be revealed unambiguously. It has both positive and negative sides. Among the crowd, “real” people stand out, who are not indifferent to the fate of their country, who sincerely worry about its future. But, unfortunately, behind the majority of the inhabitants of secular society there is only endless pretense and a vain thirst for attention.
Author: Anastasia Smetanova
