Family Rostov. "War and Peace," Leo Tolstoy: Characteristics of the Natasha Rostov Family

In his most famous novel Tolstoy describes the life and fate of several noble families, among whom the family of Rostovs occupies the main place. "War and Peace" - a work that embraced a huge era in the life of Russia. And the writer expressed this era mainly through the description of the patriarchal way of life and the way of life of the old noble families.

In this article, we turn to the characteristics of the family Rostov and give a description of each member of this family.

Family of Rostov: characteristic

Here are the main qualities that describe this family: simplicity, sensory perception of the world, breadth and generosity of the soul. Rostov is not inherent in intellectuality, pedantry and rationality. However, for the writer himself, this was not a drawback, since the qualities inherent in this family outweighed any other possible virtues.

The Rostov family (War and Peace) is described to the reader almost from ideal positions. These people are not only complacent and responsive to each other, but also ready to help others. So, in their family Sonia, the niece of the count, is brought up by Boris Drubetskaya, a distant relative of the Rostovs. In their huge house guests are always welcome, warmth, love, mutual understanding prevail here.

Graph

Consider the image of the head of this family - the old Count Ilya Andreevich. It is a carefree, good-natured, eccentric and already fairly old man. He is the personification of that openness that the family of the Rostovs bears in him. "War and Peace" conveys not only the spirit of the age, but defines the main moral values for the people living in it. That is why Tolstoy with such love describes the adoration that the count feels for his household. The author describes the ideal relationship of the father to children, for example using Ilya Andreyevich. He does not resist Peter's desire to go into the army, genuinely worried about Natasha's health after parting with Bolkonsky, saves Nikolai, who falls into a bad story with Dolohov. Never once did the old Count turn from his children and condemn them.

However, the trustfulness and good nature of Ilya Andreevich lead the family to ruin. And the graph is not able to change this. However, Tolstoy presents this extravagance and mismanagement quite differently. When the war begins, Count Rostov easily renounces his property, giving the carts to the wounded. Thus, showing that the material has no real value in this world, only virtue and the willingness to help one's neighbors are important.

Countess

Another remarkable way can boast of the Rostov family ("War and Peace"). This is the Countess Natalya, the mother of the family. It was a woman with an "eastern type of face", exhausted by the care of children. Her gait was very slow due to weakness, but she gave her mind extra importance and impressiveness. At the time of the beginning of the novel she turned 45 years old.

The Countess is a real mother, endowed with the incredible gift of a teacher. With the children, she has a very trusting, intimate relationship - they all run for advice to her in any situation. The countess reasonably argues that if you swear at children and shout, they will not tell anything, but they do not know what they can do on the sly. And so she knows everything that her children are doing, all of their thoughts are open to her.

Despite the difficult financial situation of the family, the countess remains generous and helps to get money for the outfit of the son of Princess Anna Drubetskaya. In relation to money, she is very similar to her husband.

Children of Rostov

The Rostov family in the novel "War and Peace" is a role model. Love, warmth and understanding, which are peculiar to parents, were transmitted to children. They spend hours chatting with each other. Their affection for each other is imbued with true spiritual intimacy and affection. So, Natasha openly shares her secrets with Nicholas and Sonya, not seeing any reason to hide anything from her brother and sister.

Now let's take a closer look at the images of the younger Rostovs.

Vera of Rostov

However, the Rostov family, whose characteristic we are primarily interested in, is not all so simple and open. Vera, the eldest daughter, is very different from her family members. She is cold, calm, beautiful and constantly makes comments to others, which makes everyone immediately uncomfortable.

There is no simplicity and cordiality in Vera, she should not offend Sonya or start reading to the children of moralizing. Although the brothers and sisters treated her cordially. That's why Vera was the unloved child of the Countess. Despite her beauty, her face, which became very unnatural at the time of the conversation, caused dislike among those around her. At all, it produced an "annoying effect."

Despite her education and progress in her studies, Vera was a limited girl. She tried to be reasonable and strict, did not break the rules and considered herself higher than her brothers and sisters.

Nikolay Rostov

The family of Rostov in the novel "War and Peace" is also represented by interesting male images. Nicholas very much cherishes the atmosphere that reigns in his family. For him to be in the circle of domestic - "the best pleasure." Tolstoy describes this hero as: "Daring and limited."

Nikolai is simple and simple, he has nobility, honesty, directness, generosity and responsiveness. So, he forgives Drubetskiy debt, since they have long been friendly with the Rostovs. However, the character is completely devoid of creativity. All his interests are reduced to family and au pair. He is an adherent of the old way, and Pierre's thoughts about the changes are incomprehensible to him and seem seditious.

Natasha Rostova

Natasha is the soul of the Rostov family. Moreover, this image is central to the whole novel. The heroine is the living embodiment of human unity. So, for example, it is through Natasha that for a while the family of the Rostovs and Bolkonsky joins together. The other heroes of the novel can be judged by how much they are spiritually close to Natasha.

However, the heroine is not without egoism, which is natural for every person and is necessary for happiness and fulfilling life. This "natural" selfishness of Natalia is contrasted in the novel with the cold and indifferent egoism of the Faith and Helen Kuragina, as it is not suitable for a full life.

Natasha Rostova's family admires and sincerely loves her. Only Vera remains cold to her younger sister.

Petya and Sonia

Another two characters include Tolstoy in this group. The Rostov family took Sonya to herself, despite the fact that she was only the niece of the count. The girl was always considered the beloved of Nicholas. However, her fate was not very good - she still stayed with the Rostovs, but her family did not get. And when Natasha married Pierre, she helped with the children.

Petya, the youngest son of the Rostovs, died at a fairly young age. At the age of 15, the boy decided to go to war, where he ended his life. His death greatly undermined the health of the Count and Countess.

Conclusion

Very often in literary criticism, the family of the Rostovs and Bolkonskie are compared. Since these two noble families represent absolutely opposite qualities - emotions and cold discretion.

The Rostov family is emotional, poetic and musical. It does not have that coldness and edification that reigns, for example, in the relationship of Prince Bolkonsky to his children. This is an idyllic world where every member of the family will always find support and understanding. And any grief will help to overcome the love and warmth of others.