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Why does Pierre Bezukhov join the Freemasons in War and Peace?
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Leo Tolstoy
Russian writer Leo Tolstoy is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest novelists. His masterpieces are War and Peace (1865–69) and Anna Karenina (1875–77).
In Leo Tolstoy’s novel War and Peace, the character Pierre Bezukhov is depicted as a young idealist who constantly seeks meaning and purpose in his life. His decision to join the Freemasons is driven by this internal quest for moral improvement and a desire to change the world for the better.
As a "superfluous man," Pierre often engages in well-intentioned but misguided attempts to find his place in society. By joining the fraternal order, he hopes to align himself with a group dedicated to moral discipline, charity, and the pursuit of higher truths, reflecting his broader struggle to reconcile his personal values with the complexities of the world around him.12