Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon. Salon A.P
Evening in the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer (July 1805) (vol. 1, part 1, chapters I-IV)
Why does the novel begin in July 1805? Having gone through 15 options for the beginning of his work, L. N. Tolstoy settled on July 1805 and the salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer (a famous lady-in-waiting and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna), where the highest strata of metropolitan society gather in St. Petersburg: the conversations in her salon well convey the complex political atmosphere of that time.
Why does the first scene of the novel depict an evening in Scherer's salon? Tolstoy believed that to begin a novel, such a situation should be found so that from it, “like from a fountain, the action would splash into different places where different persons would play a role.” Such a “fountain” turned out to be an evening in the court salon, in which, according to the author’s later definition, like nowhere else, “the degree of the political thermometer on which the mood of ... society stood was expressed so clearly and firmly.”
Who's gathered in Scherer's living room? The novel "War and Peace" opens with an image of a great secular society, gathered in the living room of the forty-year-old maid of honor of the imperial court, A.P. Scherer. This is the minister Prince Vasily Kuragin, his children (the soulless beauty Helen, the “restless fool” Anatole and the “calm fool” Hippolyte), Princess Liza Bolkonskaya - “the highest nobility of St. Petersburg, people of the most diverse ages and characters, but identical in society, in which everyone lived. . . "(Chapter II).
Who is Anna Pavlovna Sherer? Anna Pavlovna is a cunning and dexterous woman, tactful, influential at court, and prone to intrigue. Her attitude towards any person or event is always dictated by the latest political, courtly or secular considerations. She is constantly “full of animation and impulse”, “being an enthusiast has become her social status"(Chapter I), and in her salon, in addition to discussing the latest court and political news, she always “treats” the guests to some new product or celebrity.
What is the significance of the episode from Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s evening? He opens the novel and introduces the reader to the main political and moral opponents in the system of images. The main historical content of the first five chapters is artistic information about political events in Europe in the summer of 1805 and about the upcoming war of Russia in alliance with Austria against Napoleon.
What conflict arises among the nobility during the discussion of Russia's war with Napoleon? The reactionary majority of the nobles in the Cheret salon saw Napoleon as a usurper of legitimate royal power, a political adventurer, a criminal and even the Antichrist, while Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolklinsky evaluate Bonaparte as a brilliant commander and politician.
Question to control assimilation Give examples of quotes from chapters I-IV of the novel, showing the different attitudes of the nobles towards Napoleon.
What is the result of the conversation about Napoleon? The guests of the maid of honor Scherer are talking about political news, about Napoleon’s military actions, due to which Russia, as an ally of Austria, will have to go to war with France. But talking about events of national importance interests no one and is empty chatter, either in Russian or in French, behind which lies complete indifference to what awaits the Russian army during its campaign abroad.
Why do visitors to A.P. Scherer’s salon speak mostly French? Article "Role French in L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”
“The role of the French language in L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” The historical originality of the characters’ speech is ensured by the names of the realities of the time and the abundant use of the French language, moreover, a diverse use: often French phrases are given as directly depicted, sometimes (with the caveat that the conversation is in French, or without it, if the French speak) they are immediately replaced by the Russian equivalent, and sometimes the phrase more or less conventionally combines the Russian and French parts, conveying the struggle between falsehood and naturalness in the souls of the heroes. French phrases not only help to recreate the spirit of the era and express the French way of thinking, but they immediately become a weapon of hypocrisy, describing lies or evil.
“The role of the French language in L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” The French language is the norm of a secular society; Tolstoy emphasizes the characters’ ignorance of their native language, their separation from the people, i.e. the French language is a means of characterizing the nobility with its anti-national orientation. The heroes of the novel, who speak French, are far from the popular truth. Most of what is said with posture, afterthought, and self-admiration is said in French. French words, like fake banknotes launched by Napoleon, try to claim the value of real banknotes. Russians and French words mix, collide in people's speech, maiming and disfiguring each other, like Russian and French soldiers at Borodino.
“The role of the French language in L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” By the simple use of either Russian or French, Tolstoy shows his attitude to what is happening. The words of Pierre Bezukhov, although he undoubtedly speaks excellent French and is more accustomed to it abroad, the author gives only in Russian. Replies by Andrei Bolkonsky (and he, as Tolstoy notes, out of habit often switches to French and speaks it like a Frenchman, even pronouncing the word “Kutuzov” with an emphasis on the last syllable) are also given, mostly in Russian, with the exception of two cases: Prince Andrei, upon entering the salon, answers Anna Pavlovna’s question in French, asked in French, and quotes Napoleon in French. Bezukhov and Bolkonsky are gradually getting rid of the French language as if it were a bad inclination.
What personal life events worry salon visitors? At the same time, the beginning of the novel reveals mainly that, according to Tolstoy, “ real life"(vol. 2, part 3, chapter I), which is associated with everyday, personal, family interests, concerns, hopes, aspirations, plans of people: this is Prince Andrey’s awareness of the irreparable mistake associated with marrying Lisa, the ambiguous position in the society of Pierre as the illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, the plans of Prince Vasily Kuragin, who wants to better arrange his sons: the “calm fool” Hippolyte and the “restless fool” Anatole; Anna Mikhailovna’s efforts to transfer Borenka to the guard.
How does Tolstoy treat visitors to the salon? All these scenes are colored by a certain author’s intonation, in which the moral assessment of each of the participants in the action is visible: subtle irony in relation to Prince Vasily with his secular ability to disguise his true goals under the guise of indifference, fatigue or fleeting interest; an almost open mockery of Anna Pavlovna’s social “enthusiasm” and her panicky fear of everything that goes beyond the prim “talking workshop”, a kind smile towards Pierre Bezukhov, who “cannot live”; obvious sympathy for Prince Andrei. This moral distinction is based on sympathy for sincere, selfless heroes who live by spiritual interests, and explicit or hidden condemnation of narcissism, selfishness, prudence, hypocrisy, and the spiritual emptiness of people who have lost their natural human qualities in a secular environment.
The technique of “tearing off all and every mask” To expose the falsehood and unnaturalness of people of high society, Tolstoy uses the method of “tearing off all and every mask” (“Avant tout dites moi, commtnt vous allez, chere amie? (First of all, tell me, how is your health, dear friend?) Reassure me,” he (Prince Vasily Kuragin) said, without changing his voice and in a tone in which, due to decency and sympathy, indifference and even mockery shone through” - Chapter I).
What does Tolstoy compare the evening in Scherer’s salon to? Tolstoy very successfully compares this salon to a spinning workshop, where the guests do not usually speak, but hum monotonously, like spindles: “Anna Pavlovna’s evening was over. The spindles made noise evenly and incessantly from different sides” (Chapter III). For the writer, the world of light is mechanical, machine-like.
What role does the salon owner play? A.P. Scherer, as the owner of a spinning workshop, monitors the sounds of the spindles, “holds back or lets it go in the proper direction.” And if one of the guests breaks this monotony of conversations (especially when the offender belongs to “the people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon”, like Pierre), then the hostess “went up to the circle that had fallen silent or was talking too much and with one word or movement again started a uniform , a decent talking machine” (Chapter II).
What metaphors that convey the author’s irony are included in this comparison? “Anna Pavlovna’s evening was started” (and not opened and not started); The hostess did not introduce her fashionable guests to her acquaintances, as others do, but, “just as a good head waiter serves something supernaturally beautiful that piece of beef that you won’t want to eat if you see it in a dirty kitchen, so this evening Anna Pavlovna served her guests first the Viscount, then the Abbot, like something supernaturally refined” (Chapter III), that is, she tried to serve it to the guests like a good dish, on a luxurious plate and with an exquisite sauce.
What evaluative epithets and comparisons does Tolstoy use in his descriptions of heroes? “the bright expression of the flat face” of Vasily Kuragin, “... the prince said, out of habit, like a wound clock, saying things that he did not want to be believed,” “Prince Vasily always spoke lazily, like an actor speaking the role of an old play” (chap. . I) - the comparison with a wound clock is extremely successful in conveying the automatism of social life. Here they take a role for themselves in advance and follow it despite their own desire.
What kind of author's attitude permeates the details? portrait characteristics heroes? Clumsiness and good nature, shyness, and most importantly, the truthfulness of Pierre, unusual in the salon and frightening to the hostess; Anna Pavlovna’s enthusiastic, seemingly glued-on smile; Helen’s “unchanging smile” (chap. III); “a grimace that spoiled the handsome face” (Chapter III) of Prince Andrei, which in a different situation took on a childish and sweet expression; mustache on the short upper lip of the little princess Lisa Bolkonskaya.
What author's assessments accompany the characterization of Ippolit Kuragin? Tolstoy writes that his “face was clouded with idiocy and invariably expressed self-confident grumpiness, and his body was thin and weak. The eyes, nose, mouth - everything seemed to shrink into one vague grimace, and the arms and legs always took an unnatural position” (Chapter III). He “spoke Russian with the accent that the French speak when they have been in Russia for a year” (Chapter IV).
What is Tolstoy’s attitude towards Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya? About Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, who energetically works for her son and seems to come to life at the same time, L. N. Tolstoy remarks with ridicule that she “... is one of those women, especially mothers, who, once having taken something into their heads, They won’t leave until their wishes are fulfilled, but otherwise they are ready for daily, every minute harassment and even scenes.” It was “this last consideration that shook him” (Prince Vasily), and he promised to “do the impossible” (vol. 1, part 1, chapter IV).
Consider the illustration by Andrei Nikolaev “The Salon of Anna Pavlovna Scherer”. How cold! Pearl-gray tones of dresses, walls, mirrors - a deathly, frozen light. The blue of the chairs, the green of the shadows - in all this there is a feeling of some kind of swamp coldness: before us is a ball of the dead, a meeting of ghosts. And in the depths of this balanced kingdom - in contrast - like a flash of vital energy, like a stroke of blood - the red collar of Prince Andrei, beaten off by the whiteness of his uniform - a drop of fire in this swamp.
What is unnatural in the life of a secular society? St. Petersburg salon life is an example of unnatural formal existence. Everything here is unnatural and stiff. One of the abnormalities of secular life is the complete confusion in it of moral ideas and assessments. In the world they do not know what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, what is smart and what is stupid.
What are the interests and values of people from a secular society? Intrigues, court gossip, career, wealth, privileges, everyday self-affirmation - these are the interests of the people of this society, in which there is nothing truthful, simple and natural. Everything is saturated through and through with lies, falsehood, callousness, hypocrisy and acting. The speeches, gestures and actions of these people are determined conditional rules secular behavior.
What is Tolstoy's attitude towards high society society? Negative attitude Tolstoy’s attitude towards these heroes was manifested in the fact that the author shows how false everything about them is, it comes not from a pure heart, but from the need to maintain decency. Tolstoy denies the norms of life of high society and, behind its external decency, grace, and secular tact, reveals the emptiness, selfishness, greed and careerism of the “cream” of society.
Why has the life of salon visitors become dead long ago? In his depiction of the salon, L.N. Tolstoy notes the unnatural mechanical flow of life of people who have long forgotten that it is possible to be outside of falsehood and vulgar games. It would be strange to expect sincerity of feelings here. Naturalness is the most undesirable thing for this circle.
A smile is a means of psychological characterization. Favorite techniques in the portrait of Tolstoy’s hero appear already in autobiographical trilogy: this is a look, a smile, hands. “It seems to me that in one smile lies what is called the beauty of the face: if a smile adds charm to the face, then the face is beautiful; if she does not change it, then it is ordinary; if she spoils it, then it is bad,” says the second chapter of the story “Childhood.”
Questions to control learning Match the metaphors of smiles with the characters who bear them. How do the characters characterize their manner of smiling?
Relate the metaphors of smiles with the characters who bear them. A smile is a screen, a pretense. Count Pierre Bezukhov A smile is a coquette’s weapon. A.P. Sherer and Prince Vasily Kuragin A smile is an anti-smile, the smile of an idiot. Helen Kuragina Smile - unchanging Little Princess Lisa mask Prince Hippolyte Kuragin Smile - grimace, grin. Princess Drubetskaya Smile is the soul, the smile of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky of a child. A smile – a squirrel smile, a smile with antennae.
Questions to test perception Compare your first impressions of the characters with the interpretation of the director and actors. Pay attention to the first phrase of A.P. Scherer in French and to the narrator’s speech behind the scenes. It contains such author’s techniques as metaphor, comparisons: “the degree of the political thermometer at which the mood of St. Petersburg society stood” (this metaphor carries associations with mechanisms, measuring instruments); “the color of the intellectual essence of society” (the author’s irony); “the intellectual elite of society” (irony again). How did the guests of the maid of honor smile? Why are there almost no smiles from the guests in S. Bondarchuk’s production in the salon? Which image (cinematic or verbal) did you find more complete? Why?
Ideological and thematic foundations of the composition The main compositional unit in the novel is a relatively complete episode in plot, which includes two streams of life: historical and universal. Conflicts among the heroes of the novel arise even before the outbreak of military events and the differentiation characters based both on an assessment of their attitude to the historical changes in that era, and on the moral ideals of Tolstoy.
Artistic Features narration in the novel Tolstoy’s favorite artistic means of moral assessment of characters is the author’s unusually diverse intonation, richness of shades of narration, humor, irony, and wit, which make reading unusually exciting.
Ideological meaning episode The formulation of the problem “man and history, the transitory and the eternal in people’s lives” gives Tolstoy’s plan a scale of view of the world previously unknown in world literature. The clear and direct ideological position of the writer evokes in the reader a special emotional mood of moral superiority over people entangled in a web of secular conventions, calculations, intrigues, over all the falseness of the environment, divorced from natural, normal life.
N. G. Dolinina spoke beautifully about the role of this episode: “In the first chapters, Tolstoy, it would seem, calmly and leisurely describes a social evening that has no direct relation to everything that happens next. But here - unbeknownst to us - all the threads are tied. Here Pierre for the first time looks at the beautiful Helen with “almost frightened, enthusiastic eyes”; here they decide to marry Anatole to Princess Marya; Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya comes here to place her son in a warm place in the guard; here Pierre makes one discourtesy after another and, leaving, is going to put on the general’s cocked hat instead of his hat. . . Here it becomes clear that Prince Andrei does not love his wife and did not know yet true love, - she can come to him at her own hour; much later, when he finds and appreciates Natasha, “with her surprise, joy, and timidity, and even mistakes in the French language,” - Natasha, who had no secular imprint on her, - when we remember the evening at Sherer’s and Andrey’s little wife princess, with her unnatural charm"
Salon A.P. Scherer in "War and Peace"
L. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” begins with a description of a party in Anna Pavlovna Sherer’s salon. And this is to some extent symbolic, because the salon acts as a miniature copy of the society to which all the main characters of the work belong, without exception. As if under a microscope, the writer closely examines regular and casual visitors to the salon. He listens to their statements, assesses their mood, guesses their thoughts and feelings, watches their movements, gestures, and facial expressions.
Invited guests are courtiers, aristocrats, military and bureaucratic nobility. They all know each other well and for a long time. They gather, talk peacefully and exchange news. But gradually the conviction develops that external goodwill and thoughtful conversations are all false and pretense. Before us are “decently pulled masks” of calculating, selfish, politically limited, morally unclean, empty and insignificant, and sometimes simply stupid and rude people.
The salon has its own unwritten rules of conduct. The tone and general direction of empty and useless conversations is set by the hostess herself - “the famous Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna.” In the manners, the conversation, the pretended participation in the fate of each of the guests, the imaginary sensitivity of Anna Pavlovna, falsehood and pretense are most visible. L. Tolstoy notes that she “was filled with excitement and impulses,” that “being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want it, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna’s face, although it did not match her outdated features, expressed, like spoiled children, the constant consciousness of her dear shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.”
As if imitating the owner of the salon, her guests behave and behave in exactly the same way. They speak because something needs to be said; they smile because otherwise they will be considered impolite; they show false feelings because they don't want to appear indifferent and selfish.
But we soon begin to understand that the real essence of salon visitors is precisely the opposite characteristic. In fact, some of them come here to show off in public in their outfits, others - to listen to social gossip, others (like Princess Drubetskaya) - to successfully place their son in the service, and fourth - to make the necessary acquaintances for moving up the career ladder. After all, “influence in the world is capital that must be protected so that it does not disappear.”
Anna Pavlovna “very seriously led each new guest to a little old lady in high bows who floated out from another room,” whom she called ma tante - my aunt, called by name, “slowly moving her eyes from the guest to ma tante, and then walked away.” Paying tribute to the hypocrisy of secular society, “all the guests performed the ritual of greeting an aunt unknown to no one, interesting to anyone and unnecessary. Anna Pavlovna watched their greetings with sad, solemn sympathy, silently approving them. Ma tante spoke to everyone in the same terms about his health, about her health and about the health of Her Majesty, which was now, thank God, better. All those who approached, out of decency, without showing haste, with a feeling of relief at the fulfillment of a difficult duty, walked away from the old woman, so as not to approach her once all evening.”
The assembled society “split into three circles. In one, more masculine, the center was the abbot; in the other, young one, there is the beautiful Princess Helen, the daughter of Prince Vasily, and the pretty, rosy-cheeked, too plump for her youth, little Princess Bolkonskaya. In the third - Mortemar and Anna Pavlovna.” Anna Pavlovna, “like the owner of a spinning workshop, having seated the workers in their places, walks around the establishment, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking sound of the spindle, hurriedly walks, restrains it or puts it into proper motion.”
It is no coincidence that L. Tolstoy compares the Scherer salon with a spinning workshop. This comparison very accurately conveys the true atmosphere of a “properly ordered” society. The workshop is about mechanisms. And the property of mechanisms is to perform a certain, initially specified function. Mechanisms cannot think or feel. They are just soulless executors of someone else's will. A significant portion of the salon's guests have the same mechanisms.
In July 1805, Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna, met the guests. One of the first to arrive for the evening was the “important and official” Prince Vasily. He walked up to Anna Pavlovna, kissed her hand, offering her his perfumed and shining bald head, and sat down calmly on the sofa.
Prince Vasily always spoke lazily, like an actor speaking the role of an old play. Anna Pavlovna Sherer, on the contrary, despite her forty years, was filled with animation and impulses.
Being an enthusiast became her social position, and sometimes, when she didn’t even want to, she, in order not to deceive the expectations of people who knew her, became an enthusiast. The restrained smile that constantly played on Anna Pavlovna’s face, although it did not match her outdated features, expressed, like spoiled children, a constant awareness of her dear shortcoming, from which she does not want, cannot and does not find it necessary to correct herself.
Having discussed government problems, Anna Pavlovna started talking to Prince Vasily about his son Anatol - spoiled young man whose behavior causes a lot of trouble to parents and others. Anna Pavlovna suggested that the prince marry his son to her relative, Princess Bolkonskaya, the daughter of the famous Prince Bolkonsky, a rich and stingy man with a difficult character. Prince Vasily happily agreed to the proposal and asked Anna Pavlovna to arrange this matter.
Meanwhile, other guests continued to gather for the evening. Anna Pavlovna greeted each of the new arrivals and brought them to say hello to her aunt - “a little old lady in high bows who floated out from another room.”
Anna Pavlovna's living room began to gradually fill up. The highest nobility of St. Petersburg arrived, people of the most diverse ages and characters, but identical in the society in which they all lived; Prince Vasily's daughter, the beautiful Helen, arrived, picking up her father to go with him to the envoy's holiday. She was wearing a cipher and a ball gown. The famous... young, little princess Bolkonskaya also arrived, who got married last winter and now did not go out into the big world because of her pregnancy, but still went to small evenings. Prince Hippolyte, the son of Prince Vasily, arrived with Mortemar, whom he introduced; Abbot Moriot and many others also arrived.
The young Princess Bolkonskaya arrived with her work in an embroidered gold velvet bag. Her pretty upper lip, with a slightly blackened mustache, was short in teeth, but it opened even more sweetly and sometimes stretched even more sweetly and fell onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her flaw—short lips and half-open mouth—seemed special to her, her actual beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty expectant mother, full of health and vivacity, bearing her situation so easily...
Soon after the little princess, a massive, fat young man with a cropped head, glasses, light trousers in the fashion of that time, a high frill and a brown tailcoat entered. This fat young man was the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine’s nobleman, Count Bezukhy, who was now dying in Moscow. He had not served anywhere yet, he had just arrived from abroad, where he was brought up, and was for the first time in society. Anna Pavlovna greeted him with a bow that belonged to people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon. But, despite this low-grade greeting, at the sight of Pierre entering, Anna Pavlovna’s face showed concern and fear, similar to that expressed at the sight of something too huge and unusual for the place...
Just as the owner of a spinning workshop, having seated the workers in their places, walks around the establishment, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking, too loud sound of the spindle “...” - so Anna Pavlovna, walking around her living room, approached a mug that had fallen silent or was talking too much and with one word or movement she again started up a smooth, decent conversational machine...
But amid these worries, a special fear for Pierre was still visible in her. She looked at him caringly while he came up to listen to what was being said around Mortemart and went to another circle where the abbot was speaking. For Pierre, who was brought up abroad, this evening of Anna Pavlovna was the first he saw in Russia. He knew that the entire intelligentsia of St. Petersburg was gathered here, and his eyes widened, like a child in a toy store. He was afraid to miss everything smart conversations that he can hear. Looking at the confident and graceful expressions of the faces gathered here, he kept expecting something especially smart. Finally, he approached Morioh. The conversation seemed interesting to him, and he stopped, waiting for an opportunity to express his thoughts, as young people like to do.
The evening in Anna Pavlovna Scherer's salon continued. Pierre struck up a conversation with the abbot on a political topic. They talked heatedly and animatedly, which displeased Anna Pavlovna. At this time, a new guest entered the living room - the young Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, the husband of the little princess.
"War and Peace" recognized classic example Russian literature. This work combines depth of meaning, elegance of storytelling, the charm of the Russian language and a huge number of characters. The book describes social themes and features of society in the 19th century. It raises problems whose relevance does not lose over time. The characters in the work help answer questions from different areas, illuminating the point of view of representatives of that era.
The first heroine who accompanies the reader throughout the narrative is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, the owner of a salon where guests from high society gather. The main topics in the salon are the situation in the country and actions.
History of creation
“War and Peace” is a sought-after novel that gained success immediately after its publication. An excerpt of the work was published in 1865 in the magazine “Russian Messenger”, and in 1866 readers became acquainted with the three subsequent parts of the novel. Two more episodes were later published.
Leo Tolstoy writes "War and Peace" The characterization of the work as an epic novel is not accidental. The author's plan is truly ambitious. The book describes the biographies of characters, among whom there are real personalities and fictional images. Tolstoy described heroes with his characteristic psychological authenticity, and literary scholars have always sought to find the prototypes he used in creating literary portraits.
Researchers of “War and Peace” argue that, when developing the images of the heroes, Tolstoy started from descriptions of business abilities, behavior in romantic relationships, and tastes. Subsequently, the characters were distributed among families, becoming Rostovs, Kuragins or Bolkonskys. The character of each hero was written separately, subject to adjustment in relation to the reliability of the era, the psychology of society of that time and historical reality.
Literary scholars observe the connection of some images to real people. The aristocrat, owner of a St. Petersburg salon, Anna Scherer, is one of these heroes. In the book, her brainchild is an anti-patriotic creation. Here at the receptions the hypocrisy of her guests is revealed. Anna Scherer appears as a model of deceit and falsehood, demonstrating primness and character traits that correspond to the environment that she creates in the salon.
It is curious that at first Tolstoy assigned a different role to the heroine. While working on the image of the heroine, he wanted to call her Annette D. and make her an affable, pretty lady from high society. Contemporaries found in the final version of Scherer's portrait similarities with the maid of honor Alexandra Andreevna Tolstoy, a relative of the writer whom he loved. The final version of the character underwent major changes and became the complete opposite of the prototype.
"War and Peace"
Anna Pavlovna Sherer, according to Tolstoy, was a maid of honor to the Empress. She kept a salon for representatives of high society, where it was customary to discuss political and social issues. In the evening, at her establishment, the story begins. Scherer's age is close to forty years, her appearance has lost its former freshness, her nature is distinguished by dexterity and tact. Anna Pavlovna has influence and is not averse to participating in court intrigues. She builds relationships with people based on current considerations. Tolstoy made the heroine close to the Kuragin family.
The woman is constantly driven by liveliness and impulse, which was explained by her position in society. In Scherer’s salon, the most current topics were discussed, and for dessert a curious person was “presented”. In keeping with the fashion of the early 19th century, her circle is full of patriotism, and the most discussed topics are war and Napoleon. Anna Pavlovna supported the general sentiments and initiatives of the emperor.
The heroine's insincerity was evident in her actions and words, although she skillfully dealt with the hypocrisy and falsehood inherent in socialite. She created an image that was comfortable for herself, appearing to the guests as someone she was not in reality. The meaning of Scherer's life lay in the existence and relevance of her circle. She saw the salon as a job and reveled in her success. The woman’s sharp mind, sense of humor and politeness did their job, helping to charm any guest.
There were unwritten laws in the salon that everyone who wanted to participate in it put up with. Many visited it to keep abreast of the latest city news and see with their own eyes how intrigues were built among representatives of high society. There was no place for real feelings and objective opinions, and Anna Pavlovna made sure that no one stood up for the boundaries of what was permitted in the salon.
The appearance in the circle caused dissatisfaction on the part of the hostess, since Pierre was not socialite and was distinguished by natural behavior. His behavior was perceived by the guests as bad manners. The evening was saved by the departure of the visitor.
The second appearance of Anna Pavlovna on the pages of the novel occurs during the Battle of Borodino. She still runs the salon and supports false patriotic sentiments. The topic of the day was the reading of the patriarch's letter, and the situation in Russia and the battle were discussed. Tolstoy specifically describes the evenings in Scherer’s salon twice, demonstrating that, despite the change in political situation, no changes occur in the circle. Secular speeches do not give way to actions even during a real threat to Moscow. Thanks to such a presentation, it becomes clear that the victory over the French was achieved solely by the strength of the common people.
In view of Mrs. Scherer’s close relationship with the Kuragin family, the conclusion is obvious as to why Anna Scherer is childless. The choice of women is independent and voluntary. They were more attracted to activity in society than to fulfilling family duty. Both were interested in the prospect of shining in the world, and not in the opportunity to be known as an exemplary wife and mother of the family. The antipode of Scherer in this sense was Countess Rostova.
Film adaptations
The novel is often chosen for film adaptation by Soviet, Russian and foreign directors, seeing in it an example of an imperishable classic, a springboard for visualizing images and revealing multifaceted characters.
The first three films based on the plot of Tolstoy’s work were silent: two of them belonged to director Pyotr Chardynin. After a long period of time, director King Vidor shot the first color film with sound. She played in the film "War and Peace". The image of Anna Scherer, as in previous films, was not fully revealed.
In the 1959 film “People Too,” the director did not have such a character.
In the film "War and Peace" for the first time, the image of Anna Scherer received well-deserved attention thanks to Anna Stepanova, who embodied the heroine on the screen. Barbara Young played the Empress's maid of honor in the British series directed by John Davies, released in 1972.
Angelina Stepanova and Gillian Anderson as Anna Pavlovna Sherer In the 2007 series, directed by Robert Dornhelm and Brendan Donnison, the character of Anna Scherer was absent, and instead of the salon, the corresponding action took place in the Rostov house.
Tom Harper's series, released in 2016, presented in full glory the image of Anna Scherer performed by.
One of minor characters The work is Anna Pavlovna Sherer, presented by the writer in the image of the owner of a St. Petersburg salon that was fashionable in high society circles.
Anna Pavlovna is described in the novel as a lady-in-waiting close to the imperial court, a woman aged forty, distinguished by a good education and a perfect knowledge of the French language. Despite this, Anna Scherer does not have a brilliant mind and, like all court ladies, is prone to intrigue and all sorts of gossip, but to some extent she is dexterous, sweet, and distinguished by superficial logic and a secular sense of humor.
The Scherer Salon is one of the most visited establishments in the capital, where political news in the country is discussed, as well as various interesting events in secular society. Thanks to Anna Pavlovna’s natural tact and hospitality, guests of the salon respect the sweet hostess and strive to visit her establishment more often.
Scherer is characterized by the writer as a cynical, hypocritical woman who does not have her own views and follows only the tribute of momentary fashion. Anna Pavlovna treats visitors to her salon as just another interesting “dish,” demonstrating superficial, feigned feelings and the absence of a lively, sincere natural conversation. Having created in the eyes of others the image of herself as a true patriot of her homeland, Scherer deftly and with great enthusiasm manipulates the guests of her salon.
During the period of military battles on the Borodino field, pseudo-patriotic conversations are held in the Scherer salon, in which the main gossips of the capital take part. Anna Pavlovna, as the owner of the salon, disguises dirty news under the guise of decent words, trying to look like the ideal of tactful and good upbringing, demonstrating ostentatious loyalty and devotion to the country and the emperor. Participating in salon conversations, Scherer is distinguished by social chatter, hypocritical words about love for native land, expressed using elegant French, which clearly indicates that in the event of the victory of the French army and the capture of Moscow, no changes are foreseen in Anna Pavlovna Scherer’s salon, except for the topics of conversations, already tuned in a completely different way.
Using the image of Anna Pavlovna Scherer in the epic novel, among other numerous heroes of the work, the writer, using the example of a high-society lioness, depicts the moral face of the true representatives of the aristocratic nobility of the early nineteenth century.
Option 2
In the work “War and Peace,” Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy created a wonderful, original world of characters, each of whom is the personification of something from our life, and Anna Pavlovna Sherer was no exception.
Anna Pavlovna is an elderly woman who loves to hold aristocratic receptions and meet new people. She often spends time in noble company in order to make good connections, which in the future may help her in this or that matter. In general, in her image there are clearly visible notes of an aristocratic personality of the old type, which is known for the fact that for people of this type there is nothing more important than what people think about them, in what light they appear.
Anna Pavlovna is precisely from this category of people. At her evenings, she often discusses topics from the most primitive to the sublime with guests, although she understands absolutely nothing about them, which makes you think about the hypocritical side of her personality. You can also see how she first says one thing to one person, and then says something completely opposite to the next person in terms of the meaning of what was said earlier. She is used to deceiving people for her own selfish goals, achieving them in every possible way.
I believe that Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy made her a kind of personification of the manifestation of the aristocracy of the nineteenth century. In it, he revealed all those sinful things that destroy a person and his personality as a whole. This is clearly visible, both in the image of the character and in the entire work as a whole. Tolstoy clearly emphasized this.
Also in her image, the author revealed other topics that relate to our simple human everyday life. Topics such as patriotism, the meaning of life, the theme of love and devotion, all these themes found their place in the image of Anna Pavlovna Scherer. The same theme of patriotism is revealed in it from a completely different side. Although she makes fiery speeches glorifying the sovereign at her receptions, all this is disguised hypocrisy, since in fact she fundamentally disagrees with him and his principles and actions. The theme of love is revealed in her as not exciting her at all, since she is used to being alone. And the theme of the meaning of life is revealed throughout the entire work. For her, the meaning is to build her own life, which she wants to make as simple and easy as possible for herself.
Essay about Anna Pavlovna Sherer
In the novel L.N. Tolstoy intertwines the threads and destinies of the most different characters, morals, social statuses. But all heroes demand more stare and detailed analysis for the most complete picture of the entire work.
IN this essay We will talk about one of the minor heroines of the novel - Anna Pavlovna Sherer. Her name catches our eye from the very first pages of the novel. Anna Pavlovna is the owner of a secular salon. Not all people could visit her salon. In addition, the woman was a close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Initially, it seems to the reader that Anna Pavlovna sincerely and genuinely experiences emotions; one gets the impression that she is the empress’s most devoted maid of honor. Her speeches are filled with patriotism, faith in justice and admiration.
But later it turns out that this is just a well-created image. Existence was very important to her; its activities really brought her great pleasure. And she herself fit very well into the role of his mistress. She had a sense of tact, a sense of humor characteristic of the upper classes, a lively mind and other necessary qualities.
The inconsistency of her character is evidenced by her behavior at the moment when Pierre Bezukhov came to the salon and began to take an interest in the events taking place with genuine interest, which greatly alarmed the woman. Only at the moment when Pierre left the salon did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Also in Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Pavlovna appears on the day the Battle of Borodino began. Scherer enthusiastically told the guests about the latest gossip.
Anna Pavlovna Sherer is a rather hypocritical and insincere woman, she does not have her own points of view, authorities, all this is determined only by who is talking to her at a given second, what the interlocutor wants to hear directly. She discusses each of her guests with other guests; all her fiery speeches about love for the motherland and patriotism are false. This is evidenced by the fact that during a period when there was almost no threat to Russia and at the end of the Battle of Borodino, she still spoke the same constant patriotic speeches.
L.N. Tolstoy paints the Russian aristocracy in the person of Anna Pavlovna. The main role in the victory over the French belongs to the common people. Thanks to his genuine interest in the fate of the people, Russia was able to survive and defeat the French.
Sample 4
In his work, Tolstoy writes about many topics that, one way or another, are reflected in our lives. Without a doubt this great work, one way or another, can be interpreted differently, moving from person to person, but one thing is clear for sure - the work carries within itself more meaning and depth than may seem at first glance. It contains a huge number of characters who in one way or another reveal any problem, most often the problem of the time about which the work is written. One of these characters and their images is the character Anna Scherer.
From the work we learn that Anna Scherer is one of the empress’s close associates, who, in turn, treats her well. This is understandable, because Anna Scherer is a rather cunning intriguer, whose goal in life is only to achieve her own selfish goals, the means of achieving which are not important. Scherer is two-faced in character, and, as a rule, she changes her character from case to case, thereby ingratiating herself with any person she deems necessary for her purposes. Since she often values a person’s position in society and his material component, she most often gives preference to using her kind, deceitful character, which allows her to easily gain trust. For people who do not meet her, no doubt, inflated demands, he treats them coldly, even slightly contemptuously, which is why he rejects people she doesn’t need, doing this, by the way, in a very rude manner.
In the work, Anna Scherer rather plays a character who personifies all the corruption, greed, and lack of conscience in the society of that time. She seems to be a collective image of the aristocracy of that time. Thus, the author conveys to his reader the idea that it is necessary to suppress the harmful influence of this type of people in your life, by not letting them too close to your personal space, because they can betray you at any moment and use you in the future for personal purposes . Anna Scherer is the finest example of this, because as we see from the work, this woman will not compromise even in the most sophisticated and disgusting ways in order to achieve her goal, and no matter what needs to be done. Even if she betrays even the best and most pleasant person to her, because such people often do not have a feeling of attachment to anyone, as can be seen in the work.
Revenge is a kind of lynching, which a person embittered by some act commits evil to another. At the same time, they consider this evil to be a kind of retribution and feel a sense of justice.
“The Little Match Girl” is the famous Christmas story by H.H. Andersen. main character story - a little beggar girl forced to sell matches on the night before New Year. Her family was extremely poor
In the story “Old Woman Izergil” the author talks about people who are strong, proud, and different from others. Such is his heroine herself - old Izergil. She talks about her life, often saying that now there are fewer and fewer strong and strong-willed people
Sadko's epic tells about the Russian people. Main character ancient work by guslar Sadko. He not only plays the instrument well, but also sings wonderfully. In his area, Sadko is famous for his songs; his talent is unique.
