These chapters are a caricature of Napoleon. Tolstoy depicts him as a fool who is so carried away by his own importance that he is blind to reality. This fact, however, does not deny Bonaparte's qualities as a great personality, and Tolstoy provides instances of this charisma by citing the suicidal adoration of the Uhlan colonel and his men. The scene is almost a comedy, as if it is part of a puppet play, where Napoleon believes himself to be the puppeteer. Tolstoy's purpose is to show Bonaparte's illusions of free will; rather than being the puppet master, however, the"little corporal" is just another character playing out a role in history without, of course, being aware of it. Lacking this insight, Napoleon treats human beings as creatures whose purpose is either to live or die for him. This is the attitude he conveys to Balashov, who is astounded at being treated as an already devoted supporter. By depicting Napoleon's self-conceits as ridiculous, Tolstoy shows us a"great man" who, believing in his own free will, cannot recognize himself as a tool of historical necessity.
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