War & Peace

11 Pages 2809 Words

“All’s fair in love and war” said Francis Edward Smedley. Such could be the

summarization of – according to critics – the greatest classic of our time, L.N. Tolstoy’s

War and Peace. Themes of dedication to one’s homeland, war strategies, fate, bravery,

rebirth, religion and love are portrayed in the novel as seen both through the eyes of the

aristocracy and the peasantry.

The theme that carries throughout the entire novel is the coming together of the

classes to protect their motherland. “There were some that adopted all the army

procedures and had infantry, artillery, a staff, and the conveniences of life; some

consisted only of Cossack cavalry; others were scratch groups of foot and horse, of

landowners and peasants, and remained unknown. A deacon commanded such a band,

which captured several hundreds prisoners in the course of a month. There was also

Vasilisa, the wife of a village elder, who slew hundreds of the French.” All mingled, rich

and poor, those who were armed and those who were not properly equipped fought with

equal fervor.

A rising of the nation in such a manner, a merging into an indivisible strength and

will in war strongly contrasted the division of classes in peace. At war, “the gulf between

the ‘two nations’, the gentry and the peasantry, and between the patriotic and unpatriotic

elements of the gentry was greatly narrowed.” Tolstoy revered this idea because he

believed in patriotism, brotherhood, and spreading of wealth.

Tolstoy overthrows the idea of war strategies and leaves everything to fate and

spirit, “ … the strength of an army depends on its spirit.” The spirit does not recognize

boundaries of classes, but sweeps the entire nation and creates a mass of fighting peasants

and counts, women and children. Tolstoy tenaciously held on to his belief that “the

common people, wo...