Sonya and Nikolushka are alike in their natures. Both of them are reserved but precocious. They keep their feelings to themselves and are happy when others pay attention to them. They live in the world of their dreams and hope they would be realized one day. Sonya loves Natasha and Nikolai but tolerates the attitude of the Countess. Nikolushka admires Pierre and loves Marya but is afraid of Nikolai. He is delighted when Pierre invites him to participate in their conversation. Like Sonya, he craves for love and attention. Most of the time, they feel neglected and invoke the pity of the readers.

If Sonya and Nikolushka win the sympathy of the readers, Ellen and Anatol invoke anger for their attitude to others. The siblings of Prince Vasily are alike in their nature and temperament. They exploit their good looks to lure people into their trap. Shamelessly, they shower attention on the object of their desire and capture the feelings of such innocent people like Pierre and Natasha. They use them for pleasure and later, discard them at their will. They are least bothered about hurting the sentiments and spoiling the lives of these people. Finally, both of them are punished for their sins.

Natasha and Sonya are both vivacious youngsters who are endowed with good looks and intelligence but are vastly different in their situations and temperaments. The Rostovs pamper Natasha and encourage her in choosing her marriage partner. Sonya is taken for granted and her feelings are ignored. The Countess overlooks her sentiments and persuades Nikolai to marry an heiress, even when she is aware of SonyaÂ’s feelings for her son. Natasha is frivolous and impulsive. She likes fooling around with people and passes judgements on them easily. She believes she loves Boris but loses interest in him after awhile. She falls in love with Andrei and decides to remain devoted to him. However, when Anatol flatters her with compliments and shows his passion for her, she believes she is in love with him and cuts off her relationship with Andrei. After AndreiÂ’s death, she loses her heart to Pierre and is impatient to marry him. Natasha is impatient and restless. In contrast, Sonya is patient and composed. As a young girl, she gives her heart to Nikolai and remains faithful to him till the end. Like Natasha, she doesnÂ’t brood over her fate after she is disappointed in love and expect sympathy from others. She accepts her fate with a smile and continues with her existence.

Finally, Denisov and Dolokhov can be considered as subjects of study in contrast. Denisov likes Nikolai as a friend and a disciplined officer. Thus, he agrees to accompany him home to Otradnoe. He behaves respectfully towards the Rostovs. He wins their heart through his pleasing manners and talents. He falls in love with Natasha and proposes to her. However, when she rejects his offer, he accepts her decision and respectfully, takes leave of her. Dolokhov, on the other hand, exploits the friendship of Nikolai and causes him harm when Sonya rejects him. Dolokhov is mean and selfish in contrast to Denisov who is humble and dignified.

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