(422 words) Boris Drubetskoy is one of the secondary heroes of the novel “War and Peace,” which, nevertheless, receives great attention in the text. By his example, the author showed how secular society spoils people, how service becomes "service" and finds only one goal - wealth, titles and orders. Unlike the main characters of the book, Boris does not develop, but degrades.
Boris came from an impoverished noble family that previously had extensive connections, but lost them due to a lack of money for outings. The hero lost his father early, and his mother was content with a meager boarding house and small amounts that she managed to get everywhere at the cost of cunning and mournful tone. Relying on the past merits of her noble father, Anna Mikhailovna received new appointments and privileges for her son. At the very beginning of the novel, Boris is unpleasant of these efforts, and he is reluctant to travel with her to distinguished guests and reluctantly participates in requests. He does this for his mother, because he cannot bear her grief. She sees in her son hope for the future and puts all her strength into it. In a conversation with a friend, Anna Mikhailovna even notes that she does not need anything for herself, and this is true: all that she asks for concerns only her son. Boris grew up in the greenhouse conditions of his mother’s care and learned all her tricks: not by merit, but by female cunning and insight, Boris achieved success.
Gradually, through the efforts of his mother, the hero comprehends the secrets of high society and tastes his luxury. Envy and thirst for wealth awakens in him. Seeing the conditions of service at headquarters, he is imbued with the dream of serving with significant individuals. He sees a written hierarchy when even generals bow before staff officers. He uses the patronage of Bolkonsky and receives an appointment to the headquarters, where he is served in order to receive career privileges. Thanks to his proximity to the headquarters, Boris knows many of the secrets of politics and willingly shows it to the world. Gradually, he becomes a significant person, capable of much. But the more privileges he receives, the less cordiality and sincerity remains in him. So, Rostov, counting on his help, leaves with nothing, and it was his family who sponsored the formation of Drubetskoy for a long time.
One was missing Boris: money. He was still a beggar by the standards of the upper world and lived on a salary. Therefore, he declared a hunt for a rich heiress and diligently courted the old maiden Julie. Fate put him before a choice: either love for poor Natasha, or marriage of convenience. He chose the second, because he could not miss the profitable jackpot and in his heart already considered it his own.
In the final, Boris turns into a hypocritical and prudent official, of which there are hundreds. Its author equated to drones, which only use the fruits of labor, but do nothing themselves. From a sincere and kind young man, he turned into an insignificant careerist.
Florville and Courval
