War & Peace

11 Pages 2809 Words

forward shouting ‘Hurrah!’” Tolstoy described individual

soldiers as well as fearless raids of an entire army. Nikolai Rostov, a young count –

Natasha’s brother, who found himself in a battle for the very first time was anxious not to

stain his reputation. When through an unfortunate accident Rostov lost his horse and

missed an opportunity to go into an attack, his reaction was “It’s all over … and I am a

coward.” Tolstoy himself had been a soldier “ … and cherished an involuntary respect

for bravery and heroic deeds in battle …” The prospect of a battle aroused feelings of

excitement and patriotism. ‘It has begun! Here it is! Awesome and joyous!’ The face of

every officer and soldier seemed to say.”

The patriotism in Tolstoy is reflected in his novel. “Very much a Russian and of

the old stamp, he instinctively distrusted all liberal innovations, and the constitutional

ideas which came from the West…” This can be seen in the novel through Tolstoy’s

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