Andrey Bolkonsky

Andrey Bolkonsky
Andrei Bolkonsky performed by Vyacheslav Tikhonov
Creator:	L. N. Tolstoy
Works:	"War and Peace"
Floor:	male
Nationality:	Russian
Age:	32 years
Date of Birth:	January 25, 1777
Date of death:	1812
Family:	Father - Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky; sister - Princess Marya Bolkonskaya
Children:	Nikolai Bolkonsky.
Role played by:	Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Alessio Boni, Mel Ferrer

Andrey Nikolaevich Bolkonsky- hero of Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”. Son of Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky.

Biography of the main character

Appearance: “Prince Bolkonsky was small in stature, a very handsome young man with definite and dry features. Everything about his figure, from his tired, bored look to his quiet, measured step, presented the sharpest contrast with his little, lively wife. He, apparently, not only knew everyone in the living room, but was so tired of him that looking at them and listening to them was very boring for him. Of all the faces that bored him, the face of his pretty wife seemed to bore him the most. With a grimace marring his handsome face, he turned away from her...”

The reader first meets this hero in St. Petersburg in the living room of Anna Pavlovna Sherer with her pregnant wife Lisa. After the dinner party, he goes to his father in the village. He leaves his wife there in the care of his father and younger sister Marya. Sent to the War of 1805 against Napoleon as Kutuzov's adjutant. Participates in the Battle of Austerlitz, in which he was wounded in the head. Upon arriving home, Andrei finds his wife Lisa giving birth.

Having given birth to her son Nikolenka, Lisa dies. Prince Andrei blames himself for being cold with his wife and not paying her due attention. After a long depression, Bolkonsky falls in love with Natasha Rostova. He offers her his hand and heart, but at the insistence of his father postpones their marriage for a year and leaves abroad. Shortly before his return, Prince Andrei receives a letter of refusal from his bride. The reason for the refusal is Natasha's affair with Anatoly Kuragin. This turn of events becomes a heavy blow for Bolkonsky. He dreams of challenging Kuragin to a duel. To drown out the pain of disappointment in the woman he loves, Prince Andrei devotes himself entirely to service.

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• Characters in alphabetical order
• War and Peace
• Leo Tolstoy characters
• Fictional Russians
• Fictional military
• Fictional nobles

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See what “Andrei Bolkonsky” is in other dictionaries: The hero of L.N. Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” (1863 1869). Unlike many of the characters in the novel, who had easily recognizable prototypes among the people of 1810-1820 or Tolstoy’s contemporaries, as well as his relatives, A.B. it wasn't obvious...

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Vyacheslav Tikhonov as Andrei Bolkonsky Andrei Nikolaevich (Andre) Bolkonsky is the hero of Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”. Son of Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky. Biography of the main character Prince Andrei was the son of the old prince Nikolai Andreevich... ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see War and Peace (meanings). War and Peace ... Wikipedia

War and Peace ... Wikipedia

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“War and Peace” is the epic of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, which raises many topics and describes many characters and vivid images. One of the important minor characters is Nikolai Bolkonsky, who is the father of the two central characters of the novel. It is he, being not just a parent, but a true father, who instills in Andrei and Marya the necessary and correct human values.

The old prince looks very pedantic, which conveys the main trait of his character. He is short and always wears a powdered wig and an old-fashioned caftan. A characteristic feature of Nikolai Balkonsky’s appearance is his gray drooping eyebrows. His hands are withered by age, but there is still a youthful sparkle in his eyes. An important feature of the hero’s appearance is his manner of movement. His movements seem to run counter to time, which on his estate drags on long and slowly. He walks quickly and swiftly, expressing his entire worldview in sharp, cheerful, dashing movements.

The character of Nikolai Bolkonsky

The main distinguishing feature of the prince is pedantry. He is a rather difficult person to perceive, sometimes even overly proud. Nikolai Andreevich cannot tolerate idle pastime; he is very active, constantly striving to be busy with useful work. Everything in his house lives according to a strict schedule, from which he does not allow deviations. Stupidity, superstition, and loss of time are for him some of the most terrible human vices. Despite his integrity and some heaviness of character, Bolkonsky is a kind person who follows high moral principles. Family honor, dignity, and prudence are important to him. He never goes against his principles. Despite the fact that the prince has isolated himself from public life, he still carefully monitors what is happening in the country and in society.

Attitude towards children

The prince is sometimes too strict with his children, but all this is only out of great love. He strives to educate them as real people, for whom such words as honor, dignity and patriotism are not empty. He is not prone to sensitivity and almost never shows his feelings. Even when seeing off his son to war, he did not hug him, but only looked intently, giving wise parting words. He is too picky and strict towards Princess Marya, but this is not because the old prince does not love his daughter, but because he wants to cultivate the best qualities in her, to raise a worthy person and a real girl.

The external and internal characteristics of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky always help to understand the hero and study the motives of his actions. He is a true prince who is able to preserve the honor of his family and raise children according to their status and position. Bolkonsky remains true to his title until his death. Despite the fact that social life presupposes an idle existence, the prince shows by his example that rank and status can only be confirmed by deeds and action. This is exactly how the character’s son, the main character of the novel “War and Peace” Andrei Bolkonsky, grows up.

After reading L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” readers encounter some images of heroes who are morally strong and set a life example for us. We see heroes who go through a difficult path to find their truth in life. This is how the image of Andrei Bolkonsky is presented in the novel “War and Peace”. The image is multifaceted, ambiguous, complex, but understandable to the reader.

Portrait of Andrei Bolkonsky

We meet Bolkonsky at the evening of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. L.N. Tolstoy gives him the following description: “...short stature, a very handsome young man with certain dry features.” We see that the prince’s presence at the evening is very passive. He came there because it was supposed to: his wife Lisa was at the evening, and he had to be next to her. But Bolkonsky is clearly bored, the author shows this in everything “... from a tired, bored look to a quiet, measured step.”

In the image of Bolkonsky in the novel “War and Peace,” Tolstoy shows an educated, intelligent, noble secular man who knows how to think rationally and be worthy of his title. Andrei loved his family very much, respected his father, the old Prince Bolkonsky, called him “You, father...” As Tolstoy writes, “... cheerfully endured his father’s ridicule of new people and with visible joy called his father to a conversation and listened to him.”

He was kind and caring, although he may not seem like that to us.

Heroes of the novel about Andrei Bolkonsky

Lisa, the wife of Prince Andrei, was somewhat afraid of her strict husband. Before leaving for the war, she told him: “...Andrey, you have changed so much, you have changed so much...”

Pierre Bezukhov “...considered Prince Andrei an example of all perfections...” His attitude towards Bolkonsky was sincerely kind and gentle. Their friendship remained faithful to the end.

Marya Bolkonskaya, Andrei’s sister, said: “You are good to everyone, Andre, but you have some kind of pride in thought.” By this she emphasized her brother’s special dignity, his nobility, intelligence, and high ideals.

Old Prince Bolkonsky had high hopes for his son, but he loved him like a father. “Remember one thing, if they kill you, it will hurt me, an old man... And if I find out that you did not behave like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I will be... ashamed!” - the father said goodbye.

Kutuzov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, treated Bolkonsky in a fatherly manner. He received him cordially and made him his adjutant. “I need good officers myself...” said Kutuzov when Andrei asked to be released into Bagration’s detachment.

Prince Bolkonsky and the war

In a conversation with Pierre Bezukhov, Bolkonsky expressed the thought: “Drawing rooms, gossip, balls, vanity, insignificance - this is a vicious circle from which I cannot get out. Now I’m going to war, to the greatest war that has ever happened, but I don’t know anything and I’m no good.”

But Andrei’s craving for fame, for his greatest destiny was strong, he was heading towards “his Toulon” - here he is, the hero of Tolstoy’s novel. “...we are officers who serve our Tsar and Fatherland...” Bolkonsky said with true patriotism.

At the request of his father, Andrei ended up at Kutuzov’s headquarters. In the army, Andrei had two reputations, very different from each other. Some “listened to him, admired him and imitated him,” others “considered him a pompous, cold and unpleasant person.” But he made them love and respect him, some were even afraid of him.

Bolkonsky considered Napoleon Bonaparte a “great commander.” He recognized his genius and admired his talent for warfare. When Bolkonsky was assigned the mission to report to the Austrian Emperor Franz about the successful battle of Krems, Bolkonsky was proud and glad that he was the one going. He felt like a hero. But having arrived in Brunne, he learned that Vienna was occupied by the French, that there was “the Prussian Union, betrayal of Austria, a new triumph of Bonaparte...” and no longer thought about his glory. He thought about how to save the Russian army.

In the Battle of Austerlitz, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in the novel War and Peace is at the peak of his glory. Without expecting it, he grabbed the thrown banner and shouted “Guys, go ahead!” ran towards the enemy, and the whole battalion ran after him. Andrei was wounded and fell on the field, there was only the sky above him: “... there is nothing but silence, calm. And thank God!..” Andrei’s fate after the Battle of Austrelitz was unknown. Kutuzov wrote to Bolkonsky’s father: “Your son, in my eyes, with a banner in his hands, in front of the regiment, fell as a hero worthy of his father and his fatherland... it is still unknown whether he is alive or not.” But soon Andrei returned home and decided not to participate in any military operations anymore. His life acquired apparent calm and indifference. The meeting with Natasha Rostova turned his life upside down: “Suddenly such an unexpected confusion of young thoughts and hopes, contradictory to his whole life, arose in his soul...”

Bolkonsky and love

At the very beginning of the novel, in a conversation with Pierre Bezukhov, Bolkonsky said the phrase: “Never, never get married, my friend!” Andrei seemed to love his wife Lisa, but his judgments about women speak of his arrogance: “Egoism, vanity, stupidity, insignificance in everything - these are women when they show themselves as they are. If you look at them in the light, it seems like there is something, but there’s nothing, nothing, nothing!” When he first saw Rostova, she seemed to him like a joyful, eccentric girl who only knew how to run, sing, dance and have fun. But gradually a feeling of love came to him. Natasha gave him lightness, joy, a sense of life, something Bolkonsky had long forgotten. There was no more melancholy, contempt for life, disappointment, he felt a completely different, new life. Andrei told Pierre about his love and became convinced of the idea of ​​marrying Rostova.

Prince Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova were matched. Separating for a whole year was torment for Natasha, and a test of feelings for Andrei. Having been carried away by Anatoly Kuragin, Rostova did not keep her word to Bolkonsky. But by the will of fate, Anatol and Andrei ended up together on their deathbed. Bolkonsky forgave him and Natasha. After being wounded on the Borodino field, Andrei dies. Natasha spends his last days of life with him. She looks after him very carefully, understanding and guessing with her eyes what exactly Bolkonsky wants.

Andrei Bolkonsky and death

Bolkonsky was not afraid to die. He had experienced this feeling twice already. Lying under the Austerlitz sky, he thought that death had come to him. And now, next to Natasha, he was absolutely sure that he had not lived this life in vain. Prince Andrei's last thoughts were about love, about life. He died in complete peace, because he knew and understood what love is, and what he loves: “Love? What is love?... Love interferes with death. Love is life..."

But still, in the novel “War and Peace” Andrei Bolkonsky deserves special attention. That is why, after reading Tolstoy’s novel, I decided to write an essay on the topic “Andrei Bolkonsky - the hero of the novel “War and Peace.” Although there are enough worthy heroes in this work, Pierre, Natasha, and Marya.

Work test

The time period of Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” is one of the most significant eras in Russian history. But this specific historical theme does not stand alone in the novel; it is raised to the level of universal human significance. "War and Peace" begins with scenes depicting the highest noble society. Tolstoy reproduces its appearance and historical development over the course of three generations. Recreating without embellishment the “beautiful beginning of Alexander’s days,” Tolstoy could not help but touch on the previous Catherine’s era. These two eras are represented by two generations of people. These are old people: Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky and Count Kirill Bezukhov and their children, who are successors to their fathers. Relationships between generations are primarily family relationships. After all, in the family, according to Tolstoy, the spiritual principles of the individual and moral concepts are laid. Let's look at the son and father of the Bolkonskys and their relationship with each other.
Prince Nikolai Andreevich is a representative of the patrimonial Russian aristocracy, a man of Catherine’s era. This era is becoming a thing of the past, however, causing the respect that its representative, old Bolkonsky, rightfully enjoys among the neighboring landowners. Nikolai Andreevich is certainly an extraordinary person. He belongs to the generation that at one time built a powerful Russian statehood. Prince Bolkonsky occupied a special place at court. He was a close associate of Catherine II, but achieved his position not through sycophancy, like many in his time, but through personal business qualities and talents. The very fact that under Paul he received resignation and exile indicates that he served the fatherland, and not the kings. His appearance reflected the features of a noble and wealthy maternal grandfather - a military general. A family legend is associated with the name of this man: a proud man and an atheist, he refused to marry the Tsar’s mistress, for which he was exiled first to the distant northern Trumant, and then to his estate near Tula. Both old Bolkonsky and Prince Andrei are proud of the ancient family and its services to the fatherland. Andrei Bolkonsky inherited from his father a high concept of honor, nobility, pride and independence, as well as a sharp mind and sober judgment about people. Both father and son despise upstarts and careerists such as Kuragin. Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky did not make friends in his time with such people who, for the sake of their career, were ready to sacrifice the honor and duty of a citizen and a person. Old Bolkonsky, however, appreciates and loves Count Kirill Bezukhov. Bezukhov was Catherine’s favorite; he was once known as a handsome man and enjoyed success with women. But Count Kirill’s original philosophy of enjoying life has undergone changes over the years, perhaps that’s why he has now become closer and more understandable to old Bolkonsky.
Andrei has a lot in common in appearance and views with his father, although there are also plenty of disagreements regarding the latter. The old prince went through a harsh school of life and judges people from the position of the benefit that they bring both to the fatherland and to other people. He amazingly combines the morals of an imperious nobleman, before whom everyone at home trembles, an aristocrat proud of his pedigree, and the traits of a man of great intelligence and life experience. He raised his son and daughter in strictness and was accustomed to managing their lives. Old Bolkonsky could not understand his son’s feelings for Natasha Rostova. Not believing in the sincerity of their love, he does everything he can to prevent their relationship. Something similar happened in the case of Lisa. Marriage, according to the old Bolkonsky’s concepts, exists only to give the family a legitimate heir. Therefore, when Andrei and Lisa had friction, the father consoled his son with the fact that “they are all like that.” Andrei had a lot of sophistication, a desire for a higher ideal, perhaps that’s why he felt constant dissatisfaction with himself, which old Bolkonsky could not understand. But if he still took Andrei into account, even then listened to his opinion, then his relationship with his daughter was much more complex. Madly in love with Marya, he made exorbitant demands on her education, character, and talents. He also interferes in his daughter’s personal life, or rather completely deprives her of the right to this life. Because of his selfish motives, he does not want to marry off his daughter. And yet, at the end of his life, the old prince reconsiders his attitude towards children. He has great respect for his son’s views and looks at his daughter in a new way. If earlier Marya’s religiosity was the subject of ridicule from her father, then before his death he admits that she was right. He asks forgiveness for his crippled life from his daughter and, in absentia, from his son.
Old Bolkonsky believed in the progress and future greatness of his homeland, so he served it with all his might. Even while ill, he did not choose the position of an outside observer in the War of 1812. Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky created his own militia detachment from volunteer peasants.
Andrei’s views on the subject of glory and service to the homeland differ from his father’s. Prince Andrey is skeptical about the state and power in general. He has the same attitude towards people who are placed by fate at the highest level of power. He condemns Emperor Alexander for entrusting power to foreign generals. Prince Andrei eventually revised his views on Napoleon. If at the beginning of the novel he perceives Napoleon as the ruler of the world, now he sees in him an ordinary invader who has replaced service to his homeland with the desire for personal glory. The lofty idea of ​​serving the fatherland, which inspired his father, grows with Prince Andrei into the idea of ​​serving the world, the unity of all people, the idea of ​​universal love and the unity of man with nature. Andrei begins to understand the Christian motives that guided his sister’s life and which he
I couldn't understand it before. Now Andrei curses the war, not dividing it into just and unjust. War is murder, and murder is incompatible with human nature. Maybe that’s why Prince Andrei dies without having time to fire a single shot.
We must remember one more similarity between both Bolkonskys. Both of them are comprehensively educated, gifted people who are close to the ideas of humanism and enlightenment. Therefore, with all their external severity, they treat their peasants humanely. The Bolkonsky peasants are prosperous; Prince Nikolai Andreevich always takes into account the needs of the peasants first. He takes care of them even when leaving the estate due to an enemy invasion. Prince Andrei adopted this attitude towards the peasants from his father. Let us remember that, having returned home after Austerlitz and taken up farming, he does a lot to improve the lives of his serfs.
At the end of the novel we see another Bolkonsky. This is Nikolinka Bolkonsky - Andrei's son. The boy hardly knew his father. When his son was little, Andrei first fought in two wars, then stayed abroad for a long time due to illness. Bolkonsky died when his son was 14 years old. But Tolstoy makes Nikolinka Bolkonsky the successor and continuer of his father’s ideas. After the death of Prince Andrei, the younger Bolkonsky has a dream in which his father comes to him, and the boy vows to live in such a way that “everyone will recognize him, everyone will love him, everyone will admire” him.
Thus, in the novel Tolstoy introduced us to several generations of Bolkonskys. First, a military general - the grandfather of old Prince Nicholas. We do not meet him on the pages of War and Peace, but he is mentioned in the novel. Then the old prince Nikolai Bolkonsky, whom Tolstoy described very fully. Andrei Bolkonsky, one of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, is shown as a representative of the younger generation. And finally, his son Nikolinka. It is he who will have to not only preserve the traditions of the family, but also continue them.

Nikolai Bolkonsky

Characteristics of a literary hero

Bolkonsky Nikolai Andreevich - prince, general-in-chief, was dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the village. He is the father of Andrei Bolkonsky and Princess Marya. He is a very pedantic, dry, active person who cannot stand idleness, stupidity, or superstition. In his house, everything is scheduled according to the clock; he has to be on the job all the time. The old prince did not make the slightest changes to the order and schedule.
N.A. is short, “in a powdered wig... with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows, sometimes, as he frowned, obscuring the brilliance of his intelligent and seemingly young, sparkling eyes.” The prince is very restrained in expressing his feelings. He constantly torments his daughter with nagging, although in fact he loves her very much. N.A. is a proud, intelligent person, constantly concerned about preserving family honor and dignity. He instilled in his son a sense of pride, honesty, duty, and patriotism. Despite his withdrawal from public life, the prince is constantly interested in political and military events taking place in Russia. Only before his death does he lose sight of the scale of the tragedy that happened to his homeland.

Essay on literature on the topic: Nikolai Bolkonsky (War and Peace by L. N. Tolstoy)

Other writings:

1. Bolkonsky Nikolai Andreevich - prince, general-in-chief, was dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the village. He is the father of Andrei Bolkonsky and Princess Marya. He is a very pedantic, dry, active person who cannot stand idleness, stupidity, or superstition. Everything in his house is painted Read More ......
2. Bolkonsky Nikolai Andreevich - prince, general-in-chief, dismissed from service under Paul I and exiled to the village. Father of Princess Marya and Prince Andrei. In the image of the old prince, Tolstoy restored many of the features of his maternal grandfather, Prince N.S. Volkonsky, “smart, proud Read More ......
3. Andrei Bolkonsky Characteristics of a literary hero This is one of the main characters of the novel, the son of Prince Bolkonsky, the brother of Princess Marya. At the beginning of the novel we see B. as an intelligent, proud, but rather arrogant person. He despises people of high society, is unhappy in his marriage and Read More......
4. Nikolai Rostov Characteristics of a literary hero The son of Count Rostov. “A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face.” The hero is distinguished by “impetuousness and enthusiasm,” he is cheerful, open, friendly and emotional. N. participates in military campaigns and the Patriotic War of 1812. In the Battle of Shengraben Read More ......
5. On the very first pages of the novel, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky appears before us. One of the main characters of the novel and, without a doubt, one of Leo Tolstoy’s favorite heroes. Throughout the novel, Bolkonsky is looking for his purpose in life, trying to choose a business that Read More ......
6. Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” opened to the reader a gallery of immortal images created by the hand of the writer-psychologist. Thanks to his subtle skill, we can penetrate into the complex inner world of the heroes, learning the dialectics of the human soul. One of the positive heroes of the novel is Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. Read More......
7. Rostov Nikolai - son of Count Rostov, brother of Vera, Natasha and Petya, officer, hussar; at the end of the novel, the husband of Princess Marya Bolkonskaya. “A short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face,” in whom one could see “impetuousness and enthusiasm.” The writer gave Nikolai Rostov some Read More ......
8. In Tolstoy’s artistic world there are heroes who persistently and purposefully search for the meaning of life, striving for complete harmony with the world. They are not interested in social intrigues, selfish interests, empty conversations in high society salons. These, of course, include one of the brightest Read More......

Nikolai Bolkonsky (War and Peace Tolstoy L.N.)