Tikhon is a gap-toothed, most useful and brave man. Tikhon is a chipped image and characterization in the novel War and Peace of a thick essay. A characteristic feature of the appearance of Tikhon Shcherbaty, occupation
One of the most important problems in the novel "War and Peace" is the problem of the national character. In the fire of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Russian people showed, according to Tolstoy, all their most important features. The main of them, the writer considered the "hidden warmth of patriotism", which led to the rallying of the entire nation in the fight against the French invaders. The "club of the people's war", which captured not only the army, but also raised the widest strata of the people, united in partisan detachments, revealed in the Russian person the features of a bright, active, active character, ready to take revenge on the enemies to the end. Such a hero is Tikhon Shcherbaty. This is the "most useful and brave" partisan man in Denisov's detachment. He is characterized by ingenuity and daring, resourcefulness and determination. With an ax in his hands, he goes to the enemy, because the natural patriotic feeling leads him, like thousands of other ordinary Russian peasants, to the fight against the invaders. In the words of his comrades in the detachment one can feel admiration and respect: “Well, clever”, “What a beast”. He is really all in motion, in a rush to action: “quickly and easily jumped up”, “ran further”. He also has a kind of rude humor, which allows him to maintain cheerfulness and optimism, so inherent in the national character, in the most difficult conditions. As they said about Tikhon, he was "the jester of all Cossacks, hussars, and he himself willingly succumbed to this rank."
But there are features in Tikhon Shcherbat that disturb us. After all, in his revenge on his enemies, he sometimes becomes cruel, inhuman. So he kills the captured Frenchman because he was "completely wrong". At the same time, Tolstoy makes a characteristic remark that Petya Rostov is embarrassed to listen to Tikhon, who, during this conversation, "his whole face stretched into a beaming stupid smile."
And yet Tolstoy believes that the war did not destroy the best, humane foundations of the people's character. The people as a whole are a huge family, in which there are people like Tikhon and people like Platon Karataev. This is “the personification of the spirit of simplicity and truth,” as Pierre Bezukhov, who was captured together with Plato, says about him. It is he who becomes for Pierre for a long time a moral guide. Like Tikhon, Plato is hardworking, hardy, sociable, but at the same time he is opposite in character to the people's avenger. If Tikhon is active and relies on himself in everything, then Plato reflects the faith and submission to fate living among the people. No wonder he so often uses proverbs and aphorisms: "Not by our mind, but by God's judgment", "To endure an hour, but to live a century." Tikhon is rude and extremely cruel, while Plato is handsome and kind to everyone: to his comrades who were captured, to a lost dog, and even to the French who captured and then shot him. If Tikhon is a “man of war”, then Plato brings peace with him even in wartime. Not without reason, and outwardly, he is “round”, similar to a “drop”, but he speaks with a “gentle-melodious caress”. It was in him that Tolstoy's idea of the swarm principle as the basis of folk life was embodied. It is close to the spirit of the peasant community, but Tolstoy raises it to the level of a special philosophy of life. It was this Karataev philosophy that allowed Pierre Bezukhov to get out of the spiritual crisis and find his own path in life. But in general, the idea of rallying - “They want to pile on all the people!” - and there is that unifying principle that allowed Russia to win the war, combining all the best that was in the Russian people.
The greatest novel of all time. An immortal epic, where the fates of different people intertwined against the backdrop of the tragic events of the war between Russia and Napoleon. The main events revolve around Natalia Rostova, Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, but other characters are no less interesting in terms of their significance and role in the novel. The image and characterization of Tikhon Shcherbaty in the novel "War and Peace" is quite vivid, despite the minority of the character. Tolstoy invested exclusively positive qualities in his hero. A real Russian hero capable of throwing himself at the enemy at any moment, defending his homeland.
Appearance
Tikhon's appearance was impressive. A real Russian man. Healthy, strong. The demeanor left much to be desired. Rough and brash. He could easily get nasty to a stranger, but only for the cause.
Tikhon got his nickname for the absence of a tooth. Since then, no one has addressed him except Shcherbaty. It firmly stuck to him, but he was not offended and soon got used to the fact that no one called by name.
Despite the heaviness, Tikhon's gait can be called light. The legs are long, as are the arms, constantly dangling from side to side. The movements are jerky and jerky.
Tikhon's face cannot be called pretty. Pockmarks, coupled with deep wrinkles, did not color him. And why should a man be handsome, tea is not a woman.
The eyes are small, like slits.
Pitted with smallpox and wrinkles, his face with small narrow eyes shone with self-satisfied amusement.
The facial expression is roguish and at the same time good-natured.
Of the clothes, the hat and bast shoes became invariable attributes. "A man in a jacket, bast shoes and a Kazan hat, with a gun over his shoulder and an ax in his belt."
Characteristic
Tikhon was born in the Smolensk region in the village of Pokrovskoye. He was from the people, from a family of simple hard workers, accustomed to making a living with their own hump. During World War II, he joined the partisans, getting into the detachment to Denisov. Sitting at home, lying on the stove, when people are dying all around - this is not about him. For courage and dexterity he was appointed to the Cossack scouts. He was given the most difficult tasks, and not by chance. Everyone in the detachment knew that Tikhon would definitely cope and not let you down. He was respected and loved, admired sincerely, from the heart.
He soon became indispensable.
«... was one of the most needed people in the party».
He preferred to move exclusively on foot, passing a huge distance. Another would be in his place already falling down from fatigue, and he would at least henna. After walking 50 km, he could go further without showing that he was tired.
He instantly became the soul of the company. He knew how to make anyone laugh and cheer up. He himself never lost heart and did not allow others to become discouraged. Life optimist.
Industrious. He took on any job, doing it from the heart and conscience. Growing up in the village, he was used to plowing from morning to night. Everything in his hands was arguing and burning. The guy has golden hands, so they say about such people.
Tikhon's favorite business is military. The ax in his hands is both a tool and a formidable weapon. The enemy will not be greeted if he gets caught by Shcherbaty on a narrow path.
Military life made him cruel but only towards the enemy. He hated those who encroached on the sacred. The feeling of true patriotism was too developed in him. His cruelty did not reflect on his friends. With them, he remained the same kind and sympathetic.
Tikhon is the personification of the strength and power of the entire Russian people rolled into one. With people like him, no enemies are scary. His fearlessness and willingness to sacrifice in the name of victory is a worthy example to follow.
A complete picture of life in the novel
Among the representatives of the nobility, the image of Platon Karataev in Tolstoy's "War and Peace" stands out especially brightly and convexly. Creating his work, the writer sought to most fully reflect the picture of his contemporary era. Numerous faces, diverse characters pass before us in the novel. We get acquainted with the emperors, the field marshal, the generals. We study the life of secular society, the life of the local nobility. An equally important role for understanding the ideological content of the work is played by heroes from the common people. Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, who knew well the living conditions of people of the lower class, skillfully displays it in his novel. The memorable images of Platon Karataev, Tikhon Shcherbaty, Anisya, the hunter Danila were created by the writer with a particularly warm feeling. Thanks to this, we have a realistic and objective picture of the life of people in the first half of the nineteenth century.
The soft face of Plato
The most significant character from the common people, of course, is Platon Karataev. It is in his mouth that the author's concept of common life and the meaning of human existence on earth is put. The reader sees Plato through the eyes of Pierre Bezukhov, who was captured by the French. It is there that they meet. Under the influence of this simple man, the educated Pierre changes his worldview and finds the right path in life. With the help of a description of appearance and speech characteristics, the author manages to create a unique image. The round and soft appearance of the hero, unhurried but dexterous movements, affectionate and friendly facial expressions radiate wisdom and kindness. Plato treats his comrades in misfortune, his enemies and a stray dog with equal concern and love. He is the personification of the best qualities of the Russian people: peace, kindness, sincerity. The speech of the hero, saturated with sayings, sayings, aphorisms, flows measuredly and smoothly. He slowly tells about his simple fate, tells fairy tales, sings songs. Wise expressions easily, like birds, fly from his tongue: “To endure an hour, but to live a century”, “Where the court is, there is untruth”, “Not by our mind, but by God's judgment”.
Constantly busy with useful work, Plato does not get bored, does not talk about life, does not make plans. He lives today, relying in everything on the will of God. Having met this man, Pierre understood a simple and wise truth: “His life, as he himself looked at it, did not make sense as a separate life. It made sense as a particle of the whole, which he constantly felt.
Platon Karataev and Tikhon Shcherbaty. Comparative characteristics
The worldview and lifestyle of Platon Karataev are the closest and dearest to the writer, but in order to be objective and honest in depicting reality, he uses a comparison of Platon Karataev and Tikhon Shcherbaty in the novel.
We meet Tikhon Shcherbaty in the partisan detachment of Vasily Denisov. This man from the people is opposed in his qualities to Platon Karataev. Unlike the peace-loving and all-forgiving Plato, the hero is full of hatred for the enemy. A man does not rely on God and fate, but prefers to act. An active, savvy partisan is a general favorite in the detachment. When necessary, he is cruel and merciless and rarely leaves the enemy alive. The idea of "non-resistance to evil by violence" is alien and incomprehensible to Shcherbaty. He is "the most useful and brave man in the squad".
Giving a description of Platon Karataev and Tikhon Shcherbaty, Tolstoy compares their external features, character traits and life position. Tikhon is hardworking and cheerful in a peasant way. He never loses heart. His rough speech is filled with jokes and jokes. Strength, dexterity, self-confidence distinguishes him from the soft and unhurried Plato. Both characters are well remembered, thanks to a detailed description. Platon Karataev is fresh, neat, without gray hair. Tikhon Shcherbaty highlights the lack of a tooth, which is why his nickname went.
Tikhon Shcherbaty is a character in which the image of the Russian people is personified - a hero who defended his Fatherland. The fearlessness, strength and cruelty of such partisans struck terror into the hearts of the enemy. Thanks to such heroes, the Russian people managed to win. Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy understands the need for such behavior of his hero and partially justifies it in our eyes.
Platon Karataev is a representative of the other half of the Russian people who believe in God, who knows how to endure, love and forgive. They, like halves of one whole, are necessary for a complete picture of the character of the Russian peasant.
The image of Plato dear to the author
The sympathies of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, of course, are on the side of Platon Karataev. The humanist writer all his conscious life opposes war, the most inhuman and cruel, in his opinion, event in the life of society. With his work, he preaches the ideas of morality, peace, love, mercy, and war brings death and misfortune to people. Terrible pictures of the Battle of Borodino, the death of young Petya, the painful death of Andrei Bolkonsky make the reader shudder with horror and pain that any war entails. Therefore, the importance of the image of Plato in the novel "War and Peace" can hardly be overestimated. This person is the embodiment of the author's main idea of a harmonious life in harmony with oneself. The writer sympathizes with people like Platon Karataev. The author, for example, approves of Petit's deed, pitying the French captive boy, understands the feelings of Vasily Denisov, who does not want to shoot the captured French. Tolstoy does not accept the heartlessness of Dolokhov and the excessive cruelty of Tikhon Shcherbaty, believing that evil begets evil. Realizing that war is impossible without blood and violence, the writer believes in the victory of reason and humanity.
The main characters of Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace" are representatives of the nobility. However, the author seeks to paint a picture of Russian life in its entirety, therefore characters from the common people appear in the narrative - Tikhon Shcherbaty and Platon Karataev. Both heroes, as Russian national types and exponents of the spiritual essence of the Russian character, are dear to Tolstoy, each in his own way.
In the image of Shcherbaty, the active beginning of the Russian spirit is expressed, the ability of the people to fearlessly fight against the invaders is shown. Tikhon is the embodiment of a heroic people who rose to defend the Fatherland.
Karataev, on the other hand, embodies the idea close to the writer of "non-resistance to evil by violence." The writer appreciates in this hero the manifestation of “everything Russian, good and round”, all those qualities that, according to Tolstoy, constituted the moral basis of the Russian people, the Russian peasantry. Patriarchy, gentleness, humility and religiosity are features without which, according to Tolstoy, the spiritual warehouse of the Russian peasant is unthinkable.
Tikhon Shcherbaty personifies in the romance that "club of the people's war", which rose up and "nailed the French with terrible force until the whole invasion died." "Non-resistance" Platon Karataev is another type of national character, the other side of the "people's thought".
Tikhon is "the most useful and brave man" in Denisov's partisan detachment: "No one else discovered cases of attacks, no one else took him and beat the French." Shcherbaty occupied a special, exceptional place in Denisov's detachment: "When it was necessary to do something especially difficult ... everyone pointed, laughing, at Tikhon." At night, he left the detachment and got everything that was necessary for his comrades, for a common cause: weapons, clothes, and when he was ordered, he delivered prisoners. Tikhon was not afraid of any work. He wielded an ax well (“like a wolf owns teeth”), deftly, with all his might, split logs. If necessary, the ax in his hands turned into a formidable weapon. This character embodies the heroic forces of the people, their resourcefulness, camaraderie, and prowess.
An important feature of Tikhon is the ability not to lose heart, not to lose heart under any circumstances, an indestructible sense of humor. This feature makes Shcherbatov a universal favorite in the detachment: "... he was the jester of all Cossacks, hussars", and "he himself willingly succumbed to this chip." Probably, some features of Tikhon (for example, his cruelty) could be condemned by the writer if it was a question of peaceful
time. But at a critical moment in history, when the question of the future of Russia, the fate of all Russian people (the Patriotic War of 1812) is being decided, the activities of people like Shcherbaty are saving both for the country and for the people.
Each of the heroes of Tolstoy will give a vivid portrait and speech characteristics. From the whole appearance of Tikhon vests dexterity, confidence, strength. A funny and expressive feature of his appearance is the lack of a tooth (for this Tikhon was nicknamed Shcherbaty). His language is riddled with humor, a rude joke. Plato's appearance is also peculiar. He is over fifty years old, but everything in his appearance was preserved intact: not a single gray hair was in his beard and hair, everything was round - both his face, and his shoulders, and his back, and his stomach. Everything had the appearance of some kind of drowsiness, softness.
If Tikhon is merciless to the enemy, then Karataev loves all people, including the French. Other important features in Karataev are the spirit of truth-seeking, spiritual clarity, love of work: "He knew how to do everything, not very well, but not bad either."
Plato is a vivid exponent of the philosophy of patience, characteristic of the Russian peasantry and conditioned by the uniqueness of Russian history and culture. This philosophy of life was also reflected in the proverbial wisdom that often sounds in Plato's melodious speech: "Rock is looking for the head", "An hour to endure, but a century to live." Sometimes, it seems that he covers up his helplessness, his inability to actively resist circumstances, with the philosophy of patience. Karataev seems to be completely devoid of individual consciousness, at any time he relies on worldview stereotypes that have developed over the centuries in the people's environment: “Where there is a court, there is a lie”, “Never refuse from the bag and prison”, “Not by our mind, but by God's court” .
Unlike Karataev, Shcherbaty does not remember God, relying only on himself - on his strength, ingenuity, mental vigor. Shcherbaty is sharp, and if circumstances so require - and cruel. In these features, he differs from Plato, who strives to see “solemn goodness” in everything. Shcherbaty, experiencing a patriotic feeling and hatred for the invaders, goes at them with an ax. Plato is ready to “suffer innocently in vain” rather than shed human blood, even if it is the blood of an enemy.
Karataev and Shcherbaty are two hypostases of a single whole. Salvation for Russia consists, according to Tolstoy, in the synthesis of these two principles - meekness, humility and peacefulness, on the one hand, and energy, will, ability to take active action, on the other. Having learned the truth of Karataev, Pierre in the epilogue of the novel goes exactly in this way.
The images of Platon Karataev and Tikhon Shcherbatov in the novel "War and Peace" (2nd version)
PLATO KARATAEV and TIKHON SHCHERBATY in L. Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace".
Lesson Objectives: expand and deepen students' understanding of the people's war; find out what significance the partisan movement played in the war of 1812; tell about the fate of the main characters (according to vol. IV).
"The club of the people's war has risen with all its
TERRIBLE... FORCE» (L. N. TOLSTOY)
During the classes:
Organizational moment.
Checking homework.
Work on the topic of the lesson.
Teacher's lecture. Platon Karataev.
One of the main characters of the novel "War and Peace" is the people. The representatives of this people are Platon Karataev and Tikhon Shcherbaty. These are two opposites.
Platon Karataev - this is a soldier of the Apsheron regiment, whom Pierre met in captivity. K. - the embodiment of "everything Russian, kind and round", patriarchal, humility, non-resistance, religiosity. All these qualities Tolstoy appreciated in the Russian peasantry. K. is a kind, gentle, affectionate, good-natured person. During the first meeting, Pierre feels a feeling of something round and calm emanating from K. His kindness, calmness, confidence, smiling round face are so attractive. Once K. tells a story about a merchant who was unfairly convicted, but reconciled himself and decided to suffer "for his own, but for people's sins." The fate of K. ends tragically. During the transitions, French escorts shoot him.. His main features are kindness and diligence, mental health. spontaneity, responsiveness - that is, all those qualities that Tolstoy so admired in the Russian peasant. Platon Karataev is the personification of everything "Russian, kind and round." His movement is soothing and neat. He knows how to do everything. Lives without thinking about anything, like a bird. Every evening says: “Lay, Lord, with a pebble, raise with a ball.” And in the morning, waking up, he says:"Lay down - curled up, got up - shaken up." He rejoices in everything, in everything he knows how to find the bright side. Platon Karataev teaches Pierre gentleness, forgiveness, patience and self-denial. Pierre Bezukhov meets Plato in captivity. (The war of 1812, after the fire in Moscow, before the battle of Borodino, in which Pierre will take part and which will be shown precisely through his eyes). Having witnessed a terrible event - the execution of prisoners, Pierre lost faith in a person, in the rationality of his actions. He is in a depressed state. And it was the meeting in the barracks with Plato that brought Count Bezukhov back to life. “Next to him sat, bent over, some small man, whose presence Pierre first noticed by the strong smell of sweat that separated from him with his every movement” . Pierre watches as Plato unwinds the strings on his feet with confident "round" movements. The count and the peasant were in the same position: they were prisoners. And in this situation it is necessary to remain a man, oneself, it is necessary to withstand and survive. It is this kind of survival that Pierre learns from Karataev. Tolstoy's Plato is a collective image, just like Tikhon Shcherbaty. It is no coincidence that, introducing himself to Pierre, he calls himself in the plural: "Soldiers of the Apsheron regiment ... Call me Plato, Karataev's nickname." Karataev feels himself not as a separate person, but as part of the whole, part of the people: ordinary soldiers, the peasantry. His wisdom is contained in well-aimed and capacious proverbs and sayings, behind each of which is an episode of the life of Platon Karataev. For example, "where there is judgment, there is untruth." He suffered from an unfair trial, and is forced to serve in the army. However, Plato takes any twists of fate for granted, he is ready to sacrifice himself for the well-being of the family: “... they thought grief, but joy! Brother would go, if not my sin. And the younger brother has himself-five guys, - and I, stroke, have one soldier left ... Rock is looking for a head. Platon Karataev loves every person, every living being, the whole world. It is no coincidence that he is affectionate with an ordinary stray dog, according to his philosophy, not only people, but "it is necessary to feel sorry for the cattle."
Plato was brought up on Christian traditions, and religion calls us to patience and obedience, live "not by our mind, but by God's judgment." Therefore, he never experienced evil and resentment towards people. Since this is how fate turned out, you need to fulfill your military duty with honor, to defend your homeland: “Moscow is the mother of all cities.” Plato is a patriot, Russia for him is his own mother, and for her sake one can part with one's life. However, he does not hate enemies. After all, wars are waged by politicians, emperors, what does a simple soldier have to do with it? And it is equally difficult for the prisoners, no matter which of the warring parties they represent. Plato sews shirts for the French with pleasure and admires his work. After meeting Karataev, Pierre begins to take a different attitude to life, to everything that happened to him. Plato for him is an ideal to follow. It is no coincidence that Pierre associates it with something “round”. Round means complete, formed, not taking on faith other principles, "the eternal personification of the spirit of simplicity and truth." “But his life, as he himself looked at it, had no meaning as a separate life. It made sense only as a part of the whole, which he constantly felt.
PLATON KARATAEV: STORY ABOUT THE MERCHANT (EXTRACT)
This story was about an old merchant who lived decently and God-fearing with his family and who once went with a friend, a wealthy merchant, to Macarius.
Stopping at the inn, both merchants fell asleep, and the next day the merchant's friend was found stabbed to death and robbed. The bloodied knife was found under the old merchant's pillow. The merchant was tried, punished with a whip, and, pulling out his nostrils, - as follows in order, Karataev said, - they were exiled to hard labor.
And so, my brother (at this place Pierre found Karataev’s story), the case has been going on for ten years or more. The old man lives in hard labor. As it should, he submits, he does no harm. He only asks God for death. - Fine. And they get together, night work, hard labor, just like you and me, and the old man with them. And the conversation went, who for what
suffering, for which God is to blame. They began to say that he ruined the soul, that two, that set it on fire, that fugitive, so for nothing. They began to ask the old man: why, they say, grandfather, are you suffering? I, my dear brothers, say, I suffer for my own and for human sins. And I didn’t destroy souls, I didn’t take someone else’s, except that I clothed the poor brethren. I, my dear brothers, are a merchant; and had great wealth. So and so, he says. And he told them, then, how the whole thing was, in order. I, he says, do not grieve about myself. Me, that means. God found. One thing, he says, I feel sorry for my old woman and children. And so the old man cried. If the same person happened in their company, it means that the merchant was killed. Where, says grandfather, was it? When, what month? asked everyone. His heart ached. Suitable in this manner to the old man - clap at the feet. For me, you, he says, old man, disappear. The truth is true; innocently in vain, he says, guys, this man is tormented. I, he says, did the same thing and put a knife under your sleepy head. Forgive me, says grandfather, you are me for the sake of Christ.
Karataev fell silent, smiling joyfully, looking at the fire, and straightened the logs.
The old man says: God, they say, will forgive you, and we all, he says, are sinners to God, I suffer for my sins. He burst into tears himself. What do you think, falcon, - Karataev said, beaming brighter and brighter with an enthusiastic smile, as if what he had now to tell contained the main charm and the whole meaning of the story, - what do you think, falcon, this killer showed up most according to his superiors . I, he says, ruined six souls (there was a big villain), but all I feel sorry for this old man. Let him not cry at me. Showed up: written off, sent the paper, as it should. The place is far away, while the court and the case, while all the papers have been written off as they should, according to the authorities, that means. It came to the king. So far, the royal decree has come: to release the merchant, to give him rewards, how many were awarded there. The paper came, they began to look for the old man. Where is such an innocent old man
suffered in vain? The paper came out from the king. They began to search. - Karataev's lower jaw trembled. - And God forgave him - he died. So, falcon, - finished Karataev and for a long time, silently smiling, looked in front of him. Not the story itself, but its mysterious meaning, that enthusiastic joy that shone in Karataev’s face at this story, the mysterious meaning of this joy, it was now vaguely and joyfully filling Pierre’s soul.
5. TIKHON SHERBATY
A man who joined Denisov's partisan detachment. T. was distinguished by good health, great physical strength and endurance. In the fight against the French, he shows dexterity, courage and fearlessness. This hero personifies the image of the "club of the people's war", which attacked the enemy with all its might. After being wounded, T. begins unnecessarily killing French prisoners, saying that they were "bad". For this, they do not like him in the detachment.
In the detachment of Denisov, he stands out for his courage, dexterity, fearlessness. Leaving at night for prey, each time he brings with him a French dress and weapons. He wields an ax like "a wolf wields its teeth." There is something in him from Russian epic heroes - Tikhon can pull a horse out of a swamp by the tail, turn a wagon out of the mud with his shoulder, walk fifty miles in a day. Having enumerated all his positive qualities, Tolstoy insistently repeats: "Tikhon was the most useful and brave man in the party." And yet, the detachment commander Denisov does not call Tikhon Shcherbatov anything other than a beast or a “rogue”. At the same time, he highly appreciates the courage and dexterity of Tikhon, gives him responsible assignments. But if in Platon Karataev Tolstoy all the time emphasizes his kindness, humility, sense of dignity, then in Tikhon Shcherbat, along with his positive features, negative ones also clearly appear. It costs him nothing, looking into the eyes of the commander, to lie, but his lie is so dodgy that it is difficult to convict him of it. Tikhon is strong, quick, quick-witted and fearless. But Tolstoy does not let us pass by the fact that Tikhon killed a man, as if a wolf had bullied his father . After Tikhon was wounded, he rarely brought prisoners. But I took them often. He reasoned like this: “Who didn’t tell them to catch me twenty times” . Or about sending prisoners to the rear, he said:“You send a hundred of them, thirty will come. They will die of hunger or be beaten. So why not take them all the same?”. “Tikhon Shcherbaty was one of the most needed people in the party. He was a peasant from Pokrovsky near Gzhatia” - with such mean and precise words Tolstoy introduces this hero to us.
“Tikhon, who at first corrected the menial work of laying fires, getting water, skinning horses, etc., soon showed great willingness and ability for guerrilla warfare”, “Tikhon was the most useful and brave person in the party” - in such assessments and characteristics hidden is the author's unambiguous approval of the actions and energy of Tikhon, who drove the Napoleonic soldiers out of the Russian land. “Long dangling arms”, “small narrow eyes”, “his whole face stretched into a radiant stupid smile”, “flat legs turned out in bast shoes”, “suddenly and flexibly lay down on his belly” - these are the details of Tikhonov’s “portrait”, hardly designed to attract
this hero of readers' hearts.
“This incident,” writes Tolstoy about Tikhon’s wound, “had only the influence on Tikhon that after the wound he rarely brought prisoners.” Rarely brought. But he took, apparently, no less than before. If Tikhon knew how to reason coherently and, in addition, saw the use in reasoning, he could put forward such an approximate reason in a dispute about prisoners: “Who didn’t tell them to catch me twenty times?” Or about sending them under escort to the rear: “You send them a hundred people, and thirty will come. They will die of hunger or be beaten. So is it all the same not to take them?” The bulk of the Cossacks and hussars of Denisov, as is almost always the case in war, behave in a heap, look at things soberly, "with an estimate", revealing neither excessive vehemence nor diversity of opinions. War for them is work, inevitability, but not fun and not a spiritual passion. For this reason alone, the “special” (by his strength, zeal, expression of triumph and complacency) Tikhon is inevitably rubbed aside by the mass. Not causing delight or military envy in anyone, he is known as a universal jester (much like among the prisoners Platon Karataev, who represented another, benignly non-resistance extreme). As for his ruthlessness, here, the bulk of the detachment is separated from him by their kind attitude towards the captive drummer. In general, the line between mass and "special" is quite noticeable. But it does not at all mean their deaf isolation from the majority. No, it is not the norms of ordinary morality that apply here, but rather the laws of natural selection. Those dispassionate laws in the service of which Tikhon is and whose shares rise sharply at precisely such a time. But times are changeable, but Tikhon is constant. And, perhaps, with its constancy, it makes it difficult to forget about the changeability of times.
“No one else opened cases of attack more than him, no one else took him and beat the French; and as a result, he was the jester of all Cossacks, hussars, and he himself willingly succumbed to this rank, ”
The image of Tikhon embodies the spirit of the avenging people,
resourcefulness and daring of the Russian peasantry.
With an ax in his hands, he goes to the enemy not because someone is forcing him, but under the influence of a natural patriotic feeling and hatred for uninvited guests. These feelings are so strong that Tikhon sometimes becomes cruel, the French are not people for him, but enemies and only enemies.
6. The results of the lesson.
7. Homework.