Critique of "The Army is Soldiers"

There are several problems with renaming Tolstoy's masterpiece “The Army is Soldiers.” First, this title suggests an entirely military plot. While the military is an important part, much of the action of this novel takes place in Russian drawing rooms and is centered around intrigue in Russian high society. Also, this title seems to place a stress on the individuality of people (or the army), rather than their communality, and seems to backfire if its chosen purpose was to stress Tolstoy's focus on community. Furthermore, it seems to lack any spiritual aspect, which is a central motif of the book, especially in Pierre's struggle to discover meaning in life. Finally, “The Army is Soldiers” is an aurally awkward sounding title which detracts from Tolstoy's beautifully written prose.

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