Final Paper Partial Rough Draft

Introduction

The military is an instition that allows governments to use force and intimidation for peace keeping or war. From the oldest militaries to the modern military, leadership have been at the core at running these institutions. With a very clear hierachal order, military leaders must be effective in order to accomplish their objectives. In War and Peace, Tolstoy uses Napoleon and Kutuzov to demonstrate how different leadership styles affect their prospective military campagins. These two generals are very different from one another, and I will attempt to distinguish the two real-life characters through their leadership methods in a time of war. Furthermore, I will discuss what it really means to be a leader on a battlefield, since Tolstoy seems to have strong opinions on both characters. My final goal is to write a takeaway from the novel and the historical figures. I will explore some lessons learned from Tolstoy’s commentaries and historical accounts regarding both Napoleon and Kutuzov.

A Difference in Leadership

Tolstoy’s national allegiance to Russia may have clouded his judgements on Napoleon throughout the novel, but it is clear that he believes the French general never deserved the fame and acclaim that he received.