The characters in War and Peace

[WildCityWoman]

Andrei's somebody I didn't like much when I started the book, but now I'm desperately in love with him (as a character, of course).

I didn't like Pierre either - but now I like him - he's a bumbling fool at times, but he is human.

I don't like The Emperor much - he gets far too much attention, that man.

Helene, I consider to be a first-class slut - no - that's not right to say that - she's a low-class slut.

I thought I was going to like her.

I like the way Natasha's character grows as the story progresses - right now, I'm exasperated with her - how she naively fell for that idiot Anatole. She was lucky to have been plucked from that one.

Dolokhov amazed me when he tried to stop Anatole from going through with it - he was actually 'thinking' about the consequences of such a thing, not just his own enjoyment.

Still, these two - along with Helene - the three - they belong to 'the bad-guys club'.

[WildCityWoman]

And of the father's - Vasily? No wonder his kids are so bad!

Old Bolkonsky? Arrrrrgh! That man! Impossible!

Ilya Rostov - silly man! He's like his daughter, Natasha - just doesn't want to face reality.

My favourite fella in the whole story (so far - I'm in the middle of Book 8) is the 'Uncle'. I think he's a marvelous man.

[Ruslan]

Exactly! this is why I didnt like any of the female characters in War and Peace ,Helene could have been an interesting character but she wasnt smart enough! even in Tolostoys Anna Karenina ,I felt that he was punishing her for leaving her husband like it was the biggest mistake any woman could make.

I read long time ago, almost 2 years back, but I remember I fell in love with Natalya. Such pure kindness, feminine type of a woman. I tend to put much weight on genuineness and emotional integrity of characters. Amazing!

[samah]

I read long time ago, almost 2 years back, but I remember I fell in love with Natalya. Such pure kindness, feminine type of a woman. I tend to put much weight on genuineness and emotional integrity of characters. Amazing!

Really? I thought she was a silly girl .

[bazarov]

Agree with Samah, Andrey really should slap her after affair with Anatol.

[Ruslan]

Agree with Samah, Andrey really should slap her after affair with Anatol.

But she is sincere and deeply regrets her momentary slip for Anatoly later. Yes she might do wrong sometimes, isn't that smart and acts naive sometimes, but she doesn't have selfish motives (i think) and that's a perfect friend and wife to have. Her character is not spoiled by money, fame, or other things. And she grows wiser with time. Are there Natasha's nowadays?

[samah]

Hello Bazarov my old friend its been a long time, How do you do? Fine I hope.
and dear Ruslan about Natasha of course she has good qualities but I still think that she is a superficial woman and doesnt deserve a man like Andrey .

[bazarov]

But she is sincere and deeply regrets her momentary slip for Anatoly later. Yes she might do wrong sometimes, isn't that smart and acts naive sometimes, but she doesn't have selfish motives (i think) and that's a perfect friend and wife to have. Her character is not spoiled by money, fame, or other things. And she grows wiser with time. Are there Natasha's nowadays?

Later is sometimes too late. She escaped (tried) with some, if that's not selfish I don't know what is; and rejected Andrey.
I hope there are no Natasha's today because I don't won't nobody to deal with what Andrey had to - luckily, he didn't care too much for some things.
If that happened to you, would her merits be enough for you to just get over it like it didn't happen?

[Ruslan]

Later is sometimes too late. She escaped (tried) with some, if that's not selfish I don't know what is; and rejected Andrey.
I hope there are no Natasha's today because I don't won't nobody to deal with what Andrey had to - luckily, he didn't care too much for some things.
If that happened to you, would her merits be enough for you to just get over it like it didn't happen?

@bazarov
Well, now that you showed Natasha from this perspective...
And to answer your question -- probably not. It would make me doubt the seriousness of commitment to me as a wife, if i were at Andrey's spot.
However, I still think Natasha is kind in her heart and not selfish. She is like David from the Bible who wasn't aware of the sin he was committed by killing Bershaba's husband. As soon as the prophet pointed out to him what he did was wrong David deeply regretted his deeds. I guess Natalya was acting on the spree of the moment, not realizing her actions were really selfish. In that respect she is not excusable because what she did was wrong, but she can't be blamed however because she was incapable to think rationally (either because of infatuation and chemistry, or the lack to think rationally as her quality).
@samah So yes, I now see that she is superficial.
(I would still like to be friends with her, but probably not have as a wife. )
Do you view her similarly?

[bazarov]

@bazarov
She is like David from the Bible who wasn't aware of the sin he was committed by killing Bershaba's husband. As soon as the prophet pointed out to him what he did was wrong David deeply regretted his deeds. I guess Natalya was acting on the spree of the moment, not realizing her actions were really selfish. In that respect she is not excusable because what she did was wrong, but she can't be blamed however because she was incapable to think rationally (either because of infatuation and chemistry, or the lack to think rationally as her quality).

As far as I remember, David was aware what was he doing; but he forgot that God sees everything so he send him Nathan. Then David started to regret for his acts, not before that.
Lack of someones possibility to think rationally doesn't allows us to say that that person is not guilty (like Raskolnikov or Mitya). We have every right to blame her, but it's your choice whether you will forgive her or not.

[victorianfan]

Now I do have an unhealthy attraction to Dolokhov

I was so mad at Sonia for picking up Nikolai instead of Dolokhov.
I loved that chapter when he almost ruined him at cards.

[victorianfan]

I also didn't like Natasha- I just can't forgive her what she has done to Andrei...

It seems that you forgot how old was Natasha when that happened!

I think the real "villain" here was actually the old Prince Bolkonsky who forbid his son to marry Natasha until a year has passed.

If you could remember, Natasha pleased Andrei not to go, she was very lonely and longing and after all love does blur after time. Beside, Anatol was handsome too, very persuasive. He wanted her and Andrei had gone, Andrei's father was unpolite to her. When she visited him he came to see her in his nighty.
So summing all of this, really, who could blame her!
Except, rightous Prince Andrei, of course.