Let's consider the image of Platon Karataev from the work "War and Peace". This novel can be called a broad historical canvas. Its main character is the people. The composition of the novel is quite complex. It has many different storylines that often intertwine and intersect. The photo of the author of the work, Leo Tolstoy, is presented below.
The image of the Russian people in the work of L. Tolstoy
Tolstoy traces the fate of families and individual heroes. The characters of the work are connected by love, friendship, family relations. They are often separated by hostility, mutual hostility. Lev Nikolayevich created a historically truthful image of the people - the hero of the war. In the scenes with the participation of soldiers, in the actions of ordinary people, in the replicas of some characters, one can see, first of all, a manifestation of the "warmth of patriotism" that inspires all fighters: soldiers, generals, best officers, partisans.
Who is Platon Karataev
Platon Karataev shown inthe work of a Russian soldier. He was met in a booth for prisoners by Pierre Bezukhov and lived next to him for 4 weeks. According to the writer, Karataev in Pierre's soul will forever remain the dearest and strongest memory, the personification of all that is good, Russian.
In the novel, the image of Platon Karataev is one of the key ones, reflecting the philosophy of life of the people. This is a peasant, torn off by the war from his usual way of life and placed in new, unusual conditions for him (French captivity, army), in which his spirituality manifested itself especially clearly.
This is the image of Platon Karataev, briefly described. Let's consider it in more detail. The image of Platon Karataev in the novel is largely revealed due to the acquaintance of this character with Pierre Bezukhov and the influence he had on this hero. What did it consist of? Let's find out.
How Platon Karataev influenced Pierre Bezukhov
After Pierre witnesses a terrible event - the execution of prisoners, he loses faith in a person, that his actions are reasonable. Bezukhov is then in a depressed state. It is the meeting with Plato in the barrack that brings him back to life. Tolstoy, describing her, notes that Karataev, a small man, was sitting bent over next to Pierre. Bezukhov first noticed his presence by the strong smell of sweat that separated from him with any of his movements. The peasant and the count found themselves in the same conditions: they were prisoners. In such a situation, it is necessary, first of all, to remain human, to survive and survive. Pierre studiedsuch survival in Karataev. The meaning of the image of Platon Karataev lies, among other things, in the internal rebirth of Pierre Bezukhov. This character is known to be undergoing a deep inner transformation, as are some of the other characters in the story.
Platon Karataev - a collective image
Platon Karataev can be called a collective image, like Tikhon Shcherbaty. Introducing himself to Bezukhov, it is not by chance that he calls himself in the plural. He says: "Soldiers of the Apsheron regiment." However, Plato is the exact opposite of Shcherbaty. If the latter is merciless to the enemy, then Karataev loves all people, not excluding the French. If Tikhon can be called rude, and his humor is often combined with cruelty, then Plato wants to see "solemn goodness" in everything. Karataev does not feel himself as a separate person, but as part of the people, part of the whole: the peasantry, ordinary soldiers. The wisdom of this character consists in capacious and well-aimed sayings and proverbs, behind which episodes from his life are hidden. The image of Platon Karataev, a brief description of which we are compiling, is marked by one important detail. Plato suffered because of an unfair trial against him, and he had to serve in the army. But Karataev takes for granted any twists and turns in his fate. For the well-being of his own family, he is ready to sacrifice himself.
Love and kindness of Platon Karataev
Love for everyone is an important feature that characterizes the image of Platon Karataev in the novel "War and Peace". This heroloves everyone, every living being, man, the whole world. It is no coincidence that he is affectionate with a stray dog. According to the philosophy of this character, it is necessary to feel sorry not only for people, but also for animals. Karataev acts according to the Christian commandment, which says: "Love your neighbor." Plato lived lovingly with everyone, with his comrades, the French, Pierre. Surrounding warmed such an attitude. Karataev "treated" with a word, comforted people. He treated them kindly, sympathetically, in the voice of this hero there was simplicity, affection. The first words he said to Pierre were words of support: "To endure an hour, but to live a century!"
Philosophy of Platon Karataev
We see in Platon Karataev the harmony of inner life, won by the boundless faith that everything that happens on Earth is the will of God, that sooner or later justice and goodness will win, so there is no need to resist evil with violence. You have to accept everything that happens. Karataev, thus, preached the philosophy of obedience to fate, patience, which was formed over the centuries. His willingness to suffer for the people is an echo of the philosophy he held. Karataev was brought up on Christian ideals, and religion, first of all, calls us to obedience and patience. Therefore, Karataev never experienced resentment and evil towards others.
Echoes of the Christian religion in the behavior of Plato
Platon does not share the pessimistic view of Bezukhov, who was exhausted by physicalsuffering. He preaches faith in the best, in the infinite kingdom of God. After meeting this character, Pierre begins to take a different attitude to life, to the events that have occurred in it. For him, Karataev is an example to follow. Plato helped Bezukhov restore in his soul a sense of the stability of the world order, which is based on mutual understanding and love, helped him get rid of the terrible question that tormented Pierre: "Why?" After talking with him, Bezukhov felt the joy of liberation from the endless search for the meaning and purpose of life, since only they prevented him from feeling that life itself is its meaning. He is everywhere and in everything. God is next to people, and he loves everyone. Without his will, not a single hair will fall from a person's head. It is in captivity, because of the meeting with Karataev and the hardships and trials experienced, that Pierre regains faith in God, learns to appreciate life. Karataev's philosophy is Christian. Any person, in whatever difficult conditions he finds himself, religion helps to live.
The importance of people like Karataev to defeat the French
Supplementing the image of Platon Karataev, we note that, perhaps, Plato is weak as a soldier. After all, a real fighter must, like Tikhon Shcherbaty, hate his enemy. But Plato is certainly a patriot. He is very courageous and strong as a person. The significance of the image of Platon Karataev in the work is truly great, as in the reality of that time, people like him. If there were no such people in the Russian army, ready not only to beat the enemy, but also to be philosophic alto various difficulties in life, to find the strength to overcome them, perhaps Kutuzov could not defeat Napoleon.
This is the image of Platon Karataev in the novel "War and Peace", one of the brightest heroes of the work. Lev Nikolaevich wrote his novel from 1863 to 1869.
