Nikolai Bolkonsky.
Nikolai Bolkonsky is a nobleman and an important nobleman who leads the life of a hermit, voluntarily withdrawing from society.
Thanks to his colossal willpower and fortitude, he rose to the highest army leadership position. But his unbending character played with Nikolai cruel joke: it allowed him to be a noble citizen, benefiting society, but on the other hand, he made him a difficult, harsh person, which not everyone can stand. Apparently because of his insolence, which offended one of the higher officials, the prince was exiled to an estate in Bald Mountains, where he drilled his children, as soldiers are drilled, and broke their characters.
Nikolai strives to subjugate everything to himself: a strict routine reigns on his estate, the violation of which threatens the household children and servants with severe punishment (what is the cost of saying goodbye to a son going to war, in accordance with his father’s schedule).
The lives of his daughter Marya and son Andrei are also under his control. We do not see the childhood of Andrei and Marya in the novel, but looking at the upbringing of his grandson Nikolai, it becomes clear that the prince did not allow his offspring to be children and do everything that children should. They grew up in a harsh atmosphere, close to the army, when the whole day was scheduled to the minute. Their emotions and manifestations of character were suppressed; their father always treated them as adults, demanding that they behave “as befits the children of Nikolai Bolkonsky.”
Let us remember how the old man already called his infant grandson “little prince Nikolai.” “Little” here is not an affectionate prefix, but a sign that there is also Prince Nikolai “big”. That is, Nikolenka is not little, but simply younger, and this does not prevent him from being called a prince from the cradle.
Nikolai Bolkonsky, who knows how to suppress his own weaknesses, does not tolerate the weaknesses of others. He loves his children and wishes them happiness, but because of his harshness, he cannot realize that children need to be raised with affection and even pampered a little, without suppressing their characters by aggressively imposing his vision of the world. Children must discover wisdom on their own; along the way, they may encounter troubles, but these troubles will make them stronger. And those greenhouse conditions that their father created for them are ruining them - they do not have their own experience of communicating with the external environment and rely only on the experience of their father. But someone else's experience is not your own. They have nothing to rely on, which is why encounters with life are so difficult for Marya and Andrei.
Nikolai Bolkonsky tries to protect children from life’s challenges, but at the same time he suppresses their own “I”. He prefers to see his daughter Marya as an unmarried old maid, who is alien to the stupidity and immorality that reigns in high society. But is Marya herself happy? Her father suppressed her character so much that she passes off his desires as her own: she had already come to terms with the role of an old maid and accepted it, unable to resist her father’s opinion. The only outlet for Marya in this harsh, soldier’s world, created by her father and not suitable for a woman’s life, is religion and correspondence with her friend Julie. But even these intimate, personal things the father seeks to control. If Marya does not find the strength to resist reading her personal correspondence, then she clung to religion like a drowning man at a straw: take away her last outlet - and she will suffocate.
It is unknown when and under what circumstances Nikolai Bolkonsky lost his wife, but it becomes clear that he raised Marya and Andrei on his own. If their mother were alive, she would, thanks to her natural feminine instincts, raise them as expected. But the mother was not there and the father, a ossified, stern soldier, did it as best he could, not understanding that children need to be raised, and not drilled, that the son needs to be given freedom to some extent, and not break his character, and the daughter’s destiny is not geometry and imprisonment, but marriage and motherhood.
He is an aristocrat to the core, placing the question of origin above all else. He boasts of his noble origin (remember the family tree on the entire wall of the dining room), his essence is filled with prejudice and hostility towards people of lower origin. He puts the dissolute, vile Frenchwoman Mlle Bourrienne and Countess Natasha Rostova on the same level, despite the fact that Bourien is a prodigal girl, and Natasha is a deep, philosophical person. But both of them are lower in origin, both are from a different circle, and that is the only reason why the prince identifies them.
For some reason, the prince seeks to show that nothing human is alien to him, and he strives for equality and brotherhood: he seats a peasant architect at the same table with his family.
Nikolai Bolkonsky wishes his children happiness, but he makes a big mistake that will break the fate of his son and make his daughter unhappy. He encourages you to notice only the positive, good, sublime part of life, and teaches you to ignore the bad, negative, but inseparable from the good.
But this is impossible: good and bad, sublime and ordinary are one whole, like light and shadow, day and night. So the aristocracy is inseparable from the peasantry, and love is inseparable from everyday problems.
Even the novel itself is called “War and Peace”, and not “War or Peace” - Tolstoy strives to show that there is no absolute, ideal purity in the world, just as there is no absolute dirt. Idealizing the world is a utopia.
Prince Andrei will never understand this and, dying, will think: “There was something in this life that I did not understand and do not understand.” Of course, he tried to notice only one, majestic side of life, and did not accept the ordinary, prosaic side, while both one and the other side represent complete picture. Because of this, we can say that Andrei did not know the essence of life because he forbade himself to accept it as it is.
Because of this misunderstanding, his incomprehensibility of the meaning of life, Andrei broke more than one fate.
One of the images in the novel “War and Peace” by L.N. Tolstoy, which evokes the author’s sympathy, is the image of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky. This is a general-in-chief, a prince who was dismissed during the reign of Paul I, exiled to his village of Bald Mountains and lived there forever. The prototype of the image of Nikolai Andreevich was Tolstoy’s maternal grandfather, Prince N.S. Volkonsky, for whom the author had deep respect.
The writer also treats his hero with warmth. He paints a person with a difficult character, but intelligent, who knows how to feel deeply. He raises his children - Princess Marya and Prince Andrei - in accordance with his moral principles.
Prince Bolkonsky lives in the village, but he has no time to be bored - he is too careful with his time, unable to tolerate idleness and idleness.
He values order in everything above all. All his days are busy with classes with Marya, working in the garden, and writing memoirs.
Nikolai Andreevich loves his children, but due to his restraint, he does not show it. On the contrary, he is unnecessarily finding fault with Princess Marya, but only because he does not want her to be like cutesy young ladies who are only interested in intrigue and gossip.
Prince Bolkonsky is stern towards children, valuing his family honor, he tells his son: “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!” Sending Prince Andrei to war, he does not hug his son, does not say parting words, only silently looks at him.
“The old man’s quick eyes were directly fixed on his son’s eyes. Something trembled in the lower part of the old prince’s face.
Goodbye... go! - he suddenly said. - Go! - he shouted in an angry and loud voice, opening the office door.” Behind this anger lies a deep feeling of love for his son and concern for him. After the door closed behind Andrei, “from the office one could hear, like gunshots, the often repeated angry sounds of an old man blowing his nose.” And in these sounds we hear the whole gamut of the old prince’s unspoken feelings that he feels towards his son, but which he considers unnecessary to say out loud.
The external characteristics of the character are simple. Nikolai Andreevich “walked in the old-fashioned way, in a caftan and powder”; the hero 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 youthful sparkling eyes.” . The character of the hero is distinguished by his demands and harshness, but by his fairness and integrity. Prince Bolkonsky is smart, proud and reserved. The old prince is interested in both political and military events taking place in the country. The prince, as the head of the Bolkonsky generation described in the novel, himself has a sense of duty and patriotism, decency, nobility and cultivates these qualities in his children. The Bolkonsky family has sharp differences compared to other families high society. The Bolkonskys are characterized by hard work and a thirst for activity. The old prince is firmly convinced that “... only two virtues - activity and intelligence” are the main ones in the world. And he wants to instill these virtues in his daughter Princess Marya, which is why he teaches her mathematics and other sciences.
During the French campaign against Moscow, Prince Bolkonsky serves as commander-in-chief of the militia. Nikolai Andreevich does not dare to refuse this position, because he is guided by a sense of patriotism, duty and love for the Motherland.
Continuing the characterization of the hero, one cannot help but mention one more positive trait the entire Bolkonsky family and Nikolai Andreevich in particular. This is closeness to the people, the desire to delve into their problems and understanding them. The old prince treats his farm with care, without oppressing the peasants.
The image of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky is described by the author as the embodiment of the entire generation of Russian patriots, highly moral people. But this is not the passing generation. His son, Andrei Nikolaevich, was like his father. Such people will always be at the forefront of the Russian people as long as their descendants are alive. This is evidenced by another little hero novel - Nikolenka Bolkonsky.
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One of the most striking and impressive on the reader minor characters Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy's novel War and Peace is Nikolai Bolkonsky, a prince and retired general living on an estate called Bald Mountains. This character is distinguished by a number of contradictory qualities and plays a special role in the work. The prototype of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky is Leo Tolstoy’s maternal grandfather - Nikolai Sergeevich Volkonsky, an infantry general of the Volkonsky family.
Family of Nikolai Bolkonsky
Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky is the father of two central characters the novel "War and Peace" - Prince Andrei and Princess Maria. He treats his children differently, although they are both brought up in strictness. Accustomed to living according to a schedule, Prince Nikolai, who did not like to spend his time idly, demands the same punctuality and efficiency from his children, whom he loves very much.
Attitude towards daughter
Paying particular attention to the training and upbringing of his daughter, Prince Nikolai shows excessive severity towards her, getting irritated by superstitions, finding fault with every little detail, as they say, “going too far.”
Of course, he understands that he is not doing exactly the right thing, but he cannot do anything with his difficult character, which manifests itself with every, in his opinion, wrong deed and actions of Mary.
The reason for unnecessary prohibitions and nagging towards a girl is the desire to raise her daughter well.
The prince does not want her to be like cutesy young ladies who are only interested in gossip and intrigue. .
Despite the constant nagging of Prince Nicholas, the God-fearing girl endures all insults and humiliation with humility and meekness. She loves her father, trying to live according to God's commandments.
Attitude towards son
Diligently raising a real man in his son, the prince, nevertheless, did not want to allow his advancement in career ladder, and Andrei is forced to achieve everything through his own efforts. But this is precisely what did not break his son, but taught him to defend his point of view.
Dear readers! We suggest you familiarize yourself with the chapters
Prince Nikolai showed particular persistence when Andrei announced his desire to marry Natalya Rostova. After listening to his son, the irritated father ordered the wedding to be postponed for a year, and it was impossible to reverse this decision. “I ask you, postpone the matter for a year, go abroad, get treatment, find, as you want, a German for Prince Nicholas, and then, if love, passion, stubbornness, whatever you want, are so great, then get married. And this is my last word, you know, my last...” he asserted.
When Andrei Bolkonsky goes to war, the father does not hug his son, no parting words come from his lips, he only silently looks at him. “The old man’s quick eyes were directly fixed on his son’s eyes. Something trembled in the lower part of the old prince’s face.” Valuing his family honor, Nikolai Bolkonsky tells his son: “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!”
Appearance of Nikolai Bolkonsky
Leo Tolstoy pays considerable attention to the appearance of his hero, Nikolai Bolkonsky. He has “small dry hands, gray drooping eyebrows, intelligent sparkling eyes.” The prince is short, walks in the old-fashioned way, in a caftan and a powdered wig. Nikolai Bolkonsky moves as if against the measured order established on his estate, cheerfully and quickly.
The character of Nikolai Bolkonsky
Although Nikolai Bolkonsky is a strange, difficult and proud person, along with these qualities, kindness is still observed in him, because he raises children, relying on moral principles.
Distinctive features Nikolai Bolkonsky is punctual and strict. He never wastes his precious time. In the house, everyone lives by the rules he has established and adheres to a strict routine.
In addition, the prince is very hardworking, loves to work in the garden and write memoirs. Although Nikolai Andreevich does not take part in public life, but is always interested in events taking place in Russia. During the war with the French, he serves as commander-in-chief of the militia.
This hero has a sense of duty to the Motherland, of which he is a true patriot. He is decent and noble, and is also distinguished by his extraordinary intelligence, ingenuity and originality. “...With his enormous mind...” - those around him say. He is very insightful and sees right through people. Among all the qualities of character, the prince considers intelligence and hard work to be the most valuable, and considers balls and unnecessary conversations a waste of time. Nikolai Andreevich is quite stingy, although he is very rich.
We invite you to read L. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”
The image of Nikolai Bolkonsky is described by Lev Nikolaevich as the embodiment of all Russian patriots of that time. Andrei Bolkonsky was like his father, a courageous, purposeful man. Such people, as long as their descendants are alive, stand in the vanguard of the Russian people. This is evidenced by another hero of the novel - the grandson of Prince Nikolai, named after him - Nikolenka Bolkonsky.
Prince Andrei's departure to war
LEARNING FROM STUDENTS
Maria Belomestnykh,
10th grade,
Gymnasium No. 1514, Moscow
(teacher - A.N. Kiseleva)
Prince Andrei's departure to war
Analysis of a chapter from the novel by L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace” (chapter XXV, part 1, volume 1)
The essay was written during the transfer exam (4 hours) on a topic taken from the List of Topics for 11th Grade
In the novel “War and Peace” Tolstoy explores his contemporary society, the basis of which is the family, therefore “family thought” occupies one of the most important places in the work. The novel describes in detail three families (Bolkonsky, Rostov and Kuragin), which are very different in their internal structure.
The chapter depicts the Bolkonsky family. People in this family are connected by sincere family relationships based on respect for each other, love and mutual understanding, they are able to feel what is happening in the heart of another: “My brother wanted to take the icon, but she stopped him. Andrei understood, crossed himself and kissed the icon,” “...he looked into his son’s face with his quick eyes, which seemed to see right through the person... The son sighed, admitting with this sigh that his father understood him.” Such mutual understanding shows real, spiritual closeness between father and son. In addition, they really loved each other, which is clearly visible in the farewell scene: “They stood silently against each other. The old man's quick eyes were directly fixed on his son's eyes. Something trembled in the lower part of the old prince’s face.” This is all confirmed by his angry and somewhat funny appearance (“he frightened with an angry voice”, “the figure of an old man screaming in an angry voice..”,” he said, looking angrily”) and his often breaking voice, turning into a scream (“he... suddenly he continued in a shrill voice,” “he squealed”).
The Bolkonsky family belongs to an ancient noble family, therefore aristocracy and pride are the fundamental qualities and principles of both Nikolai Andreevich and Andrei Bolkonsky. “Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky’s son will not serve anyone out of mercy,” says the father, accompanying his son to the army and giving him a letter to Kutuzov. In general, the fact that the old prince writes personally to the commander-in-chief and asks him to convey that he “remembers and loves” him, as well as “two Turkish pistols and a saber - a gift from his father, brought from Ochakov,” which we see among the things of Prince Andrei - all this testifies about the military past of Nikolai Andreevich. Therefore, it is not surprising that he praises and thanks his son when he goes to the army: “Service comes first. Thank you, thank you!”
Here we hear the old prince’s opinion regarding the position of adjutant, which is shared by Tolstoy: “... I am writing that he [Kutuzov] employ you in good places and do not keep you as an adjutant for a long time: a bad position!” Such a negative assessment is important for understanding Tolstoy’s attitude towards the heroes occupying this position, as well as for revealing the idea that will be formulated in further chapters, when Tolstoy, reflecting on the historical destinies of peoples, wars and battles, comes to the idea that everything is decided in battle not from above and that the main role is played not by the commanders with their huge headquarters, but by ordinary soldiers who honestly fulfill their duty and get the job done. Andrei Bolkonsky, as one of Tolstoy’s favorite heroes, will also come to this idea and become a regimental commander.
One of the key moments of this chapter is the instruction that the old prince gives to his son: “Remember one thing, Prince Andrei: if they kill you, it will hurt me, the old man. And if I find out that you did not behave like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I will be ashamed!” Motive father's covenant is repeated many times in Russian literature, starting with Pushkin’s “The Captain’s Daughter,” and everywhere it is very important for revealing the image of the hero, because it becomes, as it were, the core of his character. From here we see that the basis of the character of Prince Andrei is honor, which in the Bolkonsky value system is higher than life, and that it is honor and pride that are the most important traits not only of Andrei, but also of all members of the Bolkonsky family.
This motive of the clan, “breed” appears in the novel in connection with all three families (Denisov tells Rostov “your Dug’atskaya weather is R’Ostovskaya”, and Pierre Bezukhov speaks about the “mean breed” of the Kuragins).
In the same chapter, Tolstoy describes the relationship of Prince Andrei with his sister. He treats Princess Marya with love and tenderness, but somewhat condescendingly: “Prince Andrei said mockingly, but affectionately,” “Prince Andrei smiled, looking at his sister, as we smile when listening to people whom we think we see right through.” , “his face was at the same time tender (he was touched) and mocking.”
Prince Andrei ridicules the religious feelings of the princess, which he will only be able to understand at the end of his life. In general, Princess Marya shows an amazing example of humility and Christian love for one’s neighbor. She treats everyone with kindness and condescension: “She is a perfect child, so small, cheerful child. I fell in love with her so much” (about Liza Bolkonskaya). “She is very sweet and kind, and most importantly, she is a pitiful girl” (about the Frenchwoman Bourienne). Prince Andrei, on the contrary, is harsh in his judgments and strict towards people: “Bitterness suddenly appeared on the prince’s face. He said nothing to her, but looked at her forehead and hair, without looking into her eyes, so contemptuously that the Frenchwoman blushed.” At the same time, Prince Andrei often turns out to be more right and understands people better (the case with Mlle Bourienne), but in him, as the princess says, “there is some kind of pride of thought.” She, on the contrary, devotes her entire life to her father and spends it in the village: “I don’t wish for another life, and I cannot wish for it, because I don’t know any other life...”
For psychological portrait Tolstoy is characterized by stable, often repeated details in the image of the hero. In the portrait of Princess Marya these are the eyes: “From big eyes She was shone with rays of kind and even light. These eyes illuminated the entire lifeless and thin face and made it beautiful...”, “...Princess Marya with tear-stained beautiful eyes...” Eyes are a reflection of a person’s inner world, so we can immediately say that inner world Princess Marya is wonderful. External beauty, according to Tolstoy, as a rule, on the contrary, hides emptiness and insignificance (Helen, Vera, Anatole), therefore the fact that Princess Marya is ugly only emphasizes her inner virtues.
Prince Andrei, unlike his sister, does not love his wife, he is unhappy with her and he himself admits this to his father and sister: “...am I happy? No. Is she happy? No. Why is this? I don’t know...” He despises her social habits, talkativeness, the same St. Petersburg stories and gossip: “Prince Andrei has heard exactly the same phrase about Countess Zubova and the same laughter five times in front of strangers.”
Tolstoy, however, treats Lisa Bolkonskaya with sympathy and sympathy, because she is pregnant, which means she is going to become a mother and give a new life.
Andrei asks his father to keep his son if he (Andrei) is killed. He doesn't want his son to value secular society, which Prince Andrei himself so despises. But, despite the fact that Andrei Bolkonsky does not love his wife, he behaves with dignity and nobility: “I cannot reproach myself for anything, I have not reproached and will never reproach my wife, and I myself cannot reproach myself for anything in relation to her, and it will always be so, no matter what my circumstances.”
We can conclude that the Bolkonsky family is a real family in which people are connected not only by blood ties, but also by spiritual kinship and common moral values.
In the novel “War and Peace,” Tolstoy explores the problem of true and false and comes to the idea that the ideal is to renounce everything individual and acquire the swarm principle. For Tolstoy, the family is a symbol of the swarm principle, which is why the “family thought” is so important to him. The Bolkonsky family, of course, is not ideal, but when at the end of the work the Rostov and Bolkonsky families unite, then perhaps not fully, but to some extent the ideal is still achieved, and therefore peace and happiness are achieved.
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 his 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 first and foremost 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 fading into 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 with his father in appearance and views, although there are also plenty of differences when it comes to 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 universal love and the unity of man with nature. Andrey begins to understand those Christian motives, which 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. Representative younger generation Andrei Bolkonsky, one of Tolstoy's favorite heroes, is shown. And finally, his son Nikolinka. It is he who will have to not only preserve the traditions of the family, but also continue them.
