The novel Eugene Onegin as a realistic work. Essay on the topic “Realism of the novel Eugene Onegin

In the novel “Eugene Onegin” by A.S. Pushkin paints a picture of the life of different groups of noble society in Russia in the 19th century, their way of life and customs, the life of the peasantry.

In this novel, as in an encyclopedia, you can learn everything about the era: how they dressed, what was in fashion (“wide bolivar” by Onegin, Tatiana’s crimson beret), menus of prestigious restaurants (“bloody steak”), what was on in the theater (Didelot's ballets). Throughout the action of the novel and in lyrical digressions, the poet shows all layers of Russian society of that time: the high society of St. Petersburg, noble Moscow, the local nobility and the peasantry. This allows us to talk about “Eugene Onegin” as a truly folk work.

Petersburg at that time was the habitat of the best people in Russia - the Decembrists, writers. The author knew and loved St. Petersburg well, he is accurate in his descriptions, not forgetting either about the “salt of secular anger”, or about “necessary fools”, “starched impudents” and the like.

Describing the Moscow nobility, Pushkin is often sarcastic: in the living rooms he notices “incoherent vulgar nonsense.” But at the same time, she loves Moscow, the heart of Russia: “Moscow... how much has merged in this sound for the Russian heart.” He is proud of Moscow in 1812: “In vain did Napoleon, intoxicated with his last happiness, wait for Moscow on its knees with the keys of the old Kremlin.”

For the poet, modern Russia is rural, and he emphasizes this with a play on words in the epigraph to the second chapter. This is probably why the gallery of characters from the local nobility is the most representative.

Handsome Lensky - a romantic of the German type, a “fan of Kant”, if he had not died in a duel, he could have become a great poet.

The story of Tatyana’s mother is tragic: “without asking for advice, the girl was taken to the crown.” She “torn and cried at first,” but replaced happiness with habit: “I picked mushrooms for the winter, kept track of expenses, shaved my foreheads.”

The life of the peasantry in the novel is shown sparingly, but succinctly and figuratively: the nanny’s simple story about her marriage and the scene of picking berries in the master’s garden.

The tenth chapter of “Eugene Onegin” is entirely devoted to the Decembrists.

The appearance of the novel by A.S. Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin” had a huge influence on the further development of Russian literature.

Truthfulness is one of the main qualities of the novel “Eugene Onegin”. In it A.S. Pushkin reflected the reality of the 19th century: people’s habits, their actions, secular society itself. That is why “Eugene Onegin” is an invaluable work in historical and literary terms.

The great critic Belinsky called this novel “an encyclopedia of Russian life.” And indeed it is. It is in this work by A.S. Pushkin was one of the first poets to decide to depict society to readers as it was in the 19th century. Secular society in “Eugene Onegin” is not shown from the best side. In this society, it was enough to dress smartly and do your hair. And then everyone began to consider you a secular person. This happened with the main character of the novel, Onegin. He was bored with social life, and the society that surrounded him oppressed the hero. This life killed all feelings in the main character, and it was impossible for him to escape anywhere from the mood that was in his soul. Onegin is opposed to the majority of people of this era, and secular society does not accept him. Evgeniy is forced to leave. He arrives in the village. From this moment we are transported to a completely different environment, where everything was much calmer than in the city. The main character was not accepted here either, since he was sharply different from the majority of the village population. But here, too, Onegin managed to find people who understood him. Here he found a devoted friend Lensky, the true love of Tatyana Larina. Tatyana grew up as a reserved girl, but with a huge imagination, her soul was constantly full of many different feelings:

One wanders with a dangerous book,

She searches and finds in her

Your secret heat, your dreams...

Having given her heart to Onegin, Tatyana could no longer trust her secret to anyone, not even her closest relatives. And not only because she was a secretive girl, but also because the society around her would never be able to understand her. This situation occurs quite often nowadays. The surrounding society does not allow a person to develop individually: it either adjusts it in its own way or rejects it. The person becomes withdrawn and is afraid to trust anyone.

This work has great historical significance. Studying “Eugene Onegin”, the reader learns what the life of people was like, their activities, habits, holidays; Pushkin describes in detail the festive atmosphere of Tatyana Larina’s name day, guests who seemed to her completely boring people, dances:

Monotonous and crazy

Like a young whirlwind of life,

A noisy whirlwind swirls around the waltz;

Couple flashes after couple.

Probably the most striking example of people’s insensitivity, their disrespect for others, was the death of Lensky. Lensky was an unusual, sincere person, but who, unfortunately, was not really noticed during his life, and after his death they forgot about him:

But now... the monument is sad

Forgotten. There's a familiar trail to him

I stalled. There is no wreath on the branch;

One under him, gray-haired and frail,

The shepherd is still singing...

Apparently, Lensky was born too early, because society would never have been able to rise to his level.

Moscow!.. Tatyana turned from a provincial girl into a noble lady by marrying a general. And in appearance she was no different from other women. She was able to achieve this without much effort. Her life changed dramatically... But was she happy?..

The novel “Eugene Onegin” is of great importance for Russian people. And as Belinsky said: “To evaluate such a work is to evaluate the poet himself in the entire scope of his creative activity.” And although two centuries have passed, the themes raised in “Eugene Onegin” remain relevant today.

The novel “Eugene Onegin” occupies the main place in Pushkin’s work. There is no doubt that this is his best work. The appearance of the novel had a huge impact on the development of Russian literature. The novel in verse “Eugene Onegin” was completed in 1831. It took Pushkin eight years to write it. The novel covers events from 1819 to 1825: from the campaigns of the Russian army after the defeat of Napoleon to the Decembrist uprising. These were the years of development of Russian society during the reign of Tsar Alexander I. History and contemporary events for the poet are intertwined in the novel.

“Eugene Onegin” is the first Russian realistic novel that truthfully and broadly shows Russian life in the 19th century. What makes it unique is the breadth of its coverage of reality, its description of the era and its distinctive features. That is why Belinsky called “Eugene Onegin” “an encyclopedia of Russian life.”

One of the issues raised on the pages of the novel was the question of the Russian nobility. In his novel, Pushkin truthfully showed the way of life, life, and interests of the nobility and gave an accurate description of the representatives of this society.

The life of the landowner families proceeded in peace and quiet. They were like a “good family” with their neighbors. They could laugh and slander, but this is not at all like the intrigues of the capital.

In the families of the nobles, they “preserved the lives of the peaceful habits of dear old times.” They observed traditional folk and holiday rituals. They loved songs and round dances.

They passed away quietly, without fuss. For example, Dmitry Larin “was a kind fellow, belated in the last century.” He did not read books, did not delve into the household, raising children, “ate and drank in his dressing gown” and “died an hour before dinner.”

The poet very figuratively showed us the Larins’ guests who had gathered for Tatiana’s name day. Here are “fat Pustyakov”, and “Gvozdin, an excellent owner, owner of poor peasants”, and “retired adviser Flyanov, a heavy gossip, an old rogue, a glutton, a bribe-taker and a buffoon.”

The landowners lived in the old fashioned way, did nothing, led an empty lifestyle. They cared only about their well-being, had “a whole line of drinks” and, having gathered together, talked “about haymaking, about wine, about the kennel, about their relatives.” They weren't interested in anything else. Unless they talk about new people who have appeared in their society, about whom a lot of fables have been written. The landowners dreamed of marrying off their daughters profitably and literally caught suitors for them. So it was with Lensky: “All their daughters were destined for their half-Russian neighbor.”

The life of the peasantry in the novel is shown rather sparingly. Pushkin gives an accurate and complete description of the cruelty of the landowners in only a few words. So, Larina “shaved the foreheads” of the guilty peasants, “she beat the maids in anger.” She was greedy and forced the girls to sing while picking berries, “so that wicked lips would not secretly eat the master’s berries.”

When Evgeniy, having arrived in the village, “replaced the yoke... of the old corvée with a light quitrent,” then “his calculating neighbor sulked in his corner, seeing in this a terrible harm.”

The work depicts the life of the capital's aristocratic society. In the novel, as in an encyclopedia, you can learn everything about the era, how they dressed, what was in fashion, the menus of prestigious restaurants. We can also find out what was on in the theaters of that era.

The life of the nobles is a continuous holiday. Their main occupation is empty chatter, blind imitation of everything foreign, gossip that spreads with instant speed. They did not want to work, because “they were sick of persistent work.” Pushkin writes that a person’s fame depends on his financial situation. The author shows the monotony of metropolitan society, empty interests, and mental limitations. The color of the capital is “necessary borders”, “angry gentlemen”, “dictators”, “seemingly evil ladies” and “unsmiling girls”.

Everything about them is so pale and indifferent;

They slander even boringly;

In the barren dryness of speech,

Questions, gossip and news

No thoughts will flash for a whole day,

Even by chance, even at random...

The characterization of the nobles given by the poet shows that they had only one goal - to achieve fame and rank. Pushkin condemns such people. He makes fun of their way of life.

The poet shows us various pictures of Russian life, depicts before us the fates of different people, draws typical types of representatives of noble society for the era - in a word, depicts reality as it really is.

V.G. Belinsky wrote that “Eugene Onegin” can be called “an encyclopedia of Russian life and an eminently folk work.” “Eugene Onegin” was written over several years, and therefore the poet himself grew up with him, and each new chapter of the novel was more interesting and mature.

A.S. Pushkin was the first to poetically reproduce the picture of Russian society, taken at one of the most interesting moments of its development. V.G. Belinsky said that “Eugene Onegin” is a historical work that describes the customs, mores and way of life of Russian society. The author can rightfully be called a national poet: he writes about his heroes, about nature, about the beauty of cities and villages with love and patriotism. Pushkin condemns secular society, which he considered hypocritical, flattering, unreal, changeable, because people who sympathized with a person today could turn away from him tomorrow, even if he did nothing wrong. This means having eyes, not seeing anything. Onegin was very close to the author, and through his actions the poet showed that society was not yet ready to change and accept such an advanced person as Eugene Onegin into its circle. Pushkin blames society for Lensky’s death, because for fear of becoming the cause of gossip, laughter and condemnation, Onegin decides to accept the challenge:

The old duelist intervened;

He is angry, he is a gossip, he is loud...

Of course there must be contempt

At the cost of his funny words,

But the whispers, the laughter of fools...

Pushkin shows not only vices, but also true virtue and the ideal of a Russian woman in the image of Tatyana Larina. Tatyana, like Onegin, is an exceptional creature. She also understood that she was born before her time, but at the same time she believed in a happy future:

Tatyana believed the legends

Of common folk antiquity,

And dreams, and card fortune-telling,

And the predictions of the moon.

Tatyana had a cold attitude towards secular society, without regret she would exchange it for life in the village, where she could merge with nature:

Tatiana (Russian soul,

Without knowing why)

With her cold beauty

I loved Russian winter...

Pushkin reflected in detail and truthfully in the novel the life of landowners in the village, their way of life, traditions:

They kept life peaceful

Habits of a dear old man;

At their Shrovetide

There were Russian pancakes;

But maybe this kind

Pictures will not attract you:

All this is low nature;

There's not much that's elegant here.

A.S. Pushkin reflected the life of most Russian families in which a woman did not have the right to vote, but habit replaced grief, and, having learned to manage her husband, the wife could get everything she wanted:

I tore and cried at first,

I almost divorced my husband;

Then I took up housekeeping,

I got used to it and was satisfied.

This habit has been given to us from above:

She is a substitute for happiness.

Reading a novel in verse by A.S. Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin”, you understand how detailed and truthfully he described the life of peasants and landowners, the behavior and upbringing of children in the family, the life of secular society. Reading “Eugene Onegin”, you can feel that the author lives in this world, he condemns some things, and is touched by others. I believe that Belinsky, calling the novel “an encyclopedia of Russian life,” acted wisely, because it reflects all aspects of life of that time.

“Onegin” is a poetically true picture of Russian society in a certain era.

V.G. Belinsky

Roman A.S. Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin,” created in the twenties of the nineteenth century, during the era of the birth and subsequent defeat of Decembrism, became the first realistic novel in Russian literature. The uniqueness of this work lies not only in the fact that the novel was written in verse, but also in the breadth of coverage of the reality of that time, in the multiple plots of the novel, in the description of the features of the era in which A.S. lived. Pushkin.

“Eugene Onegin” is a work in which “the century and modern man are reflected.” A.S. Pushkin in his novel tries to portray his heroes in real life, without much exaggeration.

He truly and deeply showed a person in diverse connections with the society that surrounded him. And now, almost two centuries later, we can say with confidence that A.S. Pushkin really succeeded. It is not for nothing that his novel was rightly named V.G. Belinsky “encyclopedia of Russian life”. In fact, after reading this novel, as in the encyclopedia, one could learn almost everything about the era in which many famous poets and writers lived and worked. I learned about how people dressed, how they spent their time, how they interacted in secular society, and much more.

Reading this unique work and turning page by page, I was able to get acquainted with all layers of Russian society of that time: with the high society of St. Petersburg, and with noble Moscow, and with the life of peasants, that is, with the entire Russian people. This once again demonstrates that Pushkin was able to reflect in his novel the society surrounding him in everyday life from all sides. With particular impression, the author talks about the life and fate of the Decembrists, many of whom were his close friends. He likes the features of his Onegin, which, in his opinion, provide a true description of the Decembrist society, which allowed us, the readers, to become more deeply acquainted with the Russian people of the early nineteenth century.

The poet managed to depict the delights of St. Petersburg and Moscow beautifully and poetically. He loved Moscow, the heart of Russia, so in some lines of his lyrical digressions about this most wonderful city one could hear the following exclamations from the poet’s soul: “Moscow... how much has merged in this sound for the Russian heart!”

Rural Russia is closer to the poet. This is probably why special attention in the novel was paid to village life, its inhabitants and descriptions of Russian nature. Pushkin shows pictures of spring, draws beautiful autumn and winter landscapes. At the same time, as in showing people and their characters, he does not strive to describe the ideal, the extraordinary. In the poet’s novel, everything is simple and ordinary, but at the same time beautiful. This is what V.G. wrote. Belinsky in his articles about the novel: “He (Pushkin) took this life as it is, without distracting from it only its poetic moments, he took it with all the coldness, with all its prose and vulgarity.” This, in my opinion, is what makes the novel by A.S. Pushkin is still popular today.

It would seem that the plot line of the novel is simple. At first, Tatyana fell in love with Onegin and openly confessed to him about her deep and tender love, and he managed to love her only after the deep shocks that took place in his chilled soul. But, despite the fact that they loved each other, they could not unite their destiny. And their own mistakes are to blame for this. But what makes the novel especially expressive is the fact that this simple plot line of real life seems to be strung together with many pictures, descriptions, lyrical digressions; many real people are shown with their different fates, with their feelings and characters.

After reading the novel by A.S. Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin”, I realized how important it is sometimes to know the truth of life. If it weren’t for the realistic creations of many writers and poets of those times, we, today’s generation, would probably never have known about the real life of past centuries, with all its flaws and features.

The novel “Eugene Onegin” occupies a central place in the work of A.S. Pushkin. “Eugene Onegin” is a realistic work. In the words of the author himself, we can say that this is a novel in which “the century and modern man are reflected.” Called “Encyclopedia of Russian Life” by V.G. Belinsky work by A.S. Pushkin.

Indeed, in “Eugene Onegin”, as in an encyclopedia, you can learn everything about the era, about the culture of that time. From the novel you will learn how young people dressed, what was in fashion then (“wide bolivar”, tailcoat, vest). Pushkin describes restaurant menus in great detail (“bloody steak,” Strasbourg pie, Limburg cheese, champagne). During the time of Pushkin, ballerina A.I. shone on the St. Petersburg stage. Istomina. The poet also depicted her in “Eugene Onegin”:

Worth Istomin; she,

One foot touching the floor,

The other one is slowly circling...

The poet pays special attention to the St. Petersburg nobility, a typical representative of which is Eugene Onegin. Pushkin describes in detail the day of the main character. We learn that walking around St. Petersburg, lunch in a restaurant, and visiting the theater were in fashion. But the theater for Onegin was a place of love interests:

The theater is an evil legislator,

Fickle Adorer

Charming actresses...

The young man's day ends with a ball. Thus, the author of the novel, using the example of Eugene Onegin, showed the life of St. Petersburg society. Pushkin speaks about high society with irony and without sympathy. This is due to the fact that life in the capital is “monotonous and colorful.”

The novel shows all layers of Russian society of that time: noble Moscow, the high society of St. Petersburg, the peasantry. That is, the author depicted the entire Russian people.

St. Petersburg of the 19th century is the habitat of the best people in Russia. These are the Decembrists, writers, and other prominent figures. There “shone Fonvizin, a friend of freedom,” people of art - Knyazhnin, Istomina, Ozerov, Katenin. The author knew and loved St. Petersburg well, which is why he described the life of high St. Petersburg society with such accuracy.

Pushkin talks a lot about Moscow, the heart of Russia. The poet confesses his love for this extraordinarily beautiful city: “Moscow... how much has merged in this sound for the Russian heart!” Pushkin is proud of Moscow in 1812: “In vain did Napoleon, intoxicated with his last happiness, wait for Moscow on its knees with the keys of the old Kremlin.”

The local nobility is widely represented in the novel. This is Onegin’s uncle, the Larin family, guests at Tatyana’s name day, Zaretsky. Pushkin perfectly describes the provincial nobility. The names speak for themselves: Petushkov, Skotinin. The conversations of these people are limited only to topics about kennels and wine. They are not interested in anything else.

Vladimir Lensky can also be considered a nobleman. He was a romantic; Lensky did not know real life at all. Pushkin talks about his future. The poet sees two ways. Following the first, a “high level” awaited Lensky, he was born for glory. Lensky could have become a great poet. But the second way was closer to him:

Or maybe even that: a poet

The ordinary one was waiting for his destiny.

Vladimir Lensky would have become a landowner, like Dmitry Larin or Onegin’s uncle. The reason for this is that in the society in which he lived, he was considered an eccentric.

Pushkin writes about the local nobility with more sympathy than about the St. Petersburg nobility. The local nobles were closer to the people. This is manifested in the fact that they observed Russian customs and traditions:

They kept life peaceful

Habits of a dear old man.

Pushkin perfectly described the life of the common people. The poet saw a future Russia without slavery, without serfdom. Throughout the novel, one feels pain for the Russian people. Pushkin showed in “Eugene Onegin” the suffering of ordinary people.

In his novel in verse A.S. Pushkin reflected the life of Russia in the first half of the 19th century.

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Realism of the novel by A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin".

The novel “Eugene Onegin” occupies the main place in Pushkin’s work. There is no doubt that this is his best work. The appearance of the novel had a huge impact on the development of Russian literature. The novel in verse “Eugene Onegin” was completed in 1831. It took Pushkin eight years to write it. The novel covers events from 1819 to 1825: from the campaigns of the Russian army after the defeat of Napoleon to the Decembrist uprising. These were the years of development of Russian society during the reign of Tsar Alexander I. History and contemporary events for the poet are intertwined in the novel.

“Eugene Onegin” is the first Russian realistic novel that truthfully and broadly shows Russian life in the 19th century. What makes it unique is the breadth of its coverage of reality, its description of the era and its distinctive features. That is why Belinsky called “Eugene Onegin” “an encyclopedia of Russian life.”

One of the issues raised on the pages of the novel was the question of the Russian nobility. In his novel, Pushkin truthfully showed the way of life, life, and interests of the nobility and gave an accurate description of the representatives of this society.

The life of the landowner families proceeded in peace and quiet. They were like a “good family” with their neighbors. They could laugh and slander, but this is not at all like the intrigues of the capital.

In the families of the nobles, they “preserved the lives of the peaceful habits of dear old times.” They observed traditional folk and holiday rituals. They loved songs and round dances.

They passed away quietly, without fuss. For example, Dmitry Larin “was a kind fellow, belated in the last century.” He did not read books, did not delve into the household, raising children, “ate and drank in his dressing gown” and “died an hour before dinner.”

The poet very figuratively showed us the Larins’ guests who had gathered for Tatiana’s name day. Here are “fat Pustyakov”, and “Gvozdin, an excellent owner, owner of poor peasants”, and “retired adviser Flyanov, a heavy gossip, an old rogue, a glutton, a bribe-taker and a buffoon.”

The landowners lived in the old fashioned way, did nothing, led an empty lifestyle. They cared only about their well-being, had “a whole line of drinks” and, having gathered together, talked “about haymaking, about wine, about the kennel, about their relatives.” They weren't interested in anything else. Unless they talk about new people who have appeared in their society, about whom a lot of fables have been written. The landowners dreamed of marrying off their daughters profitably and literally caught suitors for them. So it was with Lensky: “All their daughters were destined for their half-Russian neighbor.”

The life of the peasantry in the novel is shown rather sparingly. Pushkin gives an accurate and complete description of the cruelty of the landowners in only a few words. So, Larina “shaved the foreheads” of the guilty peasants, “she beat the maids in anger.” She was greedy and forced the girls to sing while picking berries, “so that wicked lips would not secretly eat the master’s berries.”

When Evgeniy, having arrived in the village, “replaced the yoke... of the old corvée with a light quitrent,” then “his calculating neighbor sulked in his corner, seeing in this a terrible harm.”

The work depicts the life of the capital's aristocratic society. In the novel, as in an encyclopedia, you can learn everything about the era, how they dressed, what was in fashion, the menus of prestigious restaurants. We can also find out what was on in the theaters of that era.

The life of the nobles is a continuous holiday. Their main occupation is empty chatter, blind imitation of everything foreign, gossip that spreads with instant speed. They did not want to work, because “they were sick of persistent work.” Pushkin writes that a person’s fame depends on his financial situation. The author shows the monotony of metropolitan society, empty interests, and mental limitations. The color of the capital is “necessary borders”, “angry gentlemen”, “dictators”, “seemingly evil ladies” and “unsmiling girls”.

Everything about them is so pale and indifferent;

They slander even boringly;

In the barren dryness of speech,

Questions, gossip and news

No thoughts will flash for a whole day,

Even by chance, even at random...

The characterization of the nobles given by the poet shows that they had only one goal - to achieve fame and rank. Pushkin condemns such people. He makes fun of their way of life.

The poet shows us various pictures of Russian life, depicts before us the fates of different people, draws typical types of representatives of noble society for the era - in a word, depicts reality as it really is.

The novel "Eugene Onegin" is a comprehensive implementation of realistic principles. Pushkin’s realism is realized in all aspects of his poetic creativity: in the realism of characters, and in the realism of the plot (Pushkin based the relationships between characters on the life conflicts that life itself gave him), and in the realism of language, and, finally, in the realism of verse. in the sense that Pushkin builds verse on intonation that corresponds to experiences of a certain nature.


The main problem of “Eugene Onegin” is the problem of the crisis of noble culture, a reflection of the historical contradictions that faced noble society during the era of serfdom.


The plot of "Eugene Onegin" is the story of the collision
the best characters created by noble culture, with the society that gave birth to these characters.
The defining moment in the development of the plot is the impact on the heroes of social conditions and conventions characteristic of the noble environment, leading to the collapse of their personal destiny. The offended Lensky unconsciously obeys them, challenging Onegin to a duel; Onegin consciously submits to them, accepting this challenge and contradicting himself (“Having overthrown the burden of the conditions of light...”, Onegin, however, could not overcome “false shame”); Tatyana consciously obeys them when she gets married (“for poor Tanya, all the lots were equal”) and at the last meeting with Onegin, etc.


The plot of "Eugene Onegin" is limited to a love conflict, but the reasons for the social order - the conflict of the individual with the environment, with society - are felt in the very fate of the heroes.
Thus, when selecting events to characterize Tatyana, Pushkin was bound by the fact that the woman during this period did not have any opportunities to demonstrate her social activity, and in this sense, a love conflict was already a form of expression of public protest. For example, Tatyana’s letter is a violation on her part of the usual norms of social behavior. It is no coincidence that Pushkin, in several stanzas, motivates Tatyana’s action and justifies it. Suffice it to remember that even at such a moment of social upsurge as the Decembrist uprising, a woman’s social activity could only be revealed in the fact that she shared the fate of her husband, and this very fact (the departure of Trubetskoy, Volkonskaya, etc.) had a huge public resonance.


The composition of “Eugene Onegin”, understood as the principle of development of action and characters, is distinguished by the typical features of a realistic composition. In the composition “Eugene Onegin” the following points can be noted:


1) the naturalness of the life process itself, the development of characters in their natural everyday and social environment (as opposed to “romantic” poems, where there is a conventionality of the life situation in which the character develops);
2) logical sequence of action and character development;
3) typicality and regularity of life circumstances and motivation of actions.


In Eugene Onegin, realistic principles in the field of plot are fully realized. For the heroes, their characteristic type of life has been found, and those circumstances have been found in which they are most fully revealed. Thus, Onegin is given in the circle of such life circumstances in which the type of a refined, weak-willed person who was losing the ability for real practical activity was actually created.


The following main points are noticeable in Onegin's character: a typical noble upbringing, social life, impending ruin, receiving an inheritance, arrival in the village, casual friendship with Lensky, acquaintance with the Larins, a duel, travel, return to St. Petersburg, love for Tatyana when she becomes " the unapproachable goddess of the luxurious, royal Neva,” that is, a return to the same social life from which he left - this is the main chain of events in which Onegin’s character is realized. The same principle can be established in the depiction of Lensky and Tatyana (rural silence, closeness to nature, affection for the nanny, etc.)


The principle of realism is also found in the sequence of events, in their internal motivation. One event follows from another and determines the next one. Onegin's arrival in the village, rapprochement with Lensky, Tatyana's meeting with Onegin, her letter, Onegin's quarrel with Lensky, the duel and its consequences, etc. - all this is given in a consistent logical connection insofar as it is inextricably linked with the very growth of characters .
The broader and more multifaceted the characters are revealed in the novel, the deeper the contradictions of the surrounding social reality are revealed. The absurd death of Lensky, the fading of Onegin in the “inactivity of leisure”, the insignificant role of Tatyana as a “legislator of the hall”, the dramatic finale of her life (“but I was given to another ...”) and the life of the nobility itself, as it is given in the novel - all this, taken together, leads to the conclusion about Pushkin’s deep awareness of the “imperfection of the world”, in which its best representatives perish.


The serfdom environment destroys, devalues ​​characters who carry the best traits of humanity, and destroys people who are critical of this reality. This is the contradiction of the social reality of that time, which Pushkin reveals in Eugene Onegin. The image of a person, as depicted by Pushkin, contained such aspirations, the full implementation of which was possible only in other social conditions, and this is the realism of these images.

The novel “Eugene Onegin” occupies the main place in Pushkin’s work. There is no doubt that this is his best work. The appearance of the novel had a huge impact on the development of Russian literature. The novel in verse “Eugene Onegin” was completed in 1831. It took Pushkin eight years to write it. The novel covers events from 1819 to 1825: from the campaigns of the Russian army after the defeat of Napoleon to the Decembrist uprising. These were the years of development of Russian society during the reign of Tsar Alexander I. History and contemporary events for the poet are intertwined in the novel.
“Eugene Onegin” is the first Russian realistic novel that truthfully and broadly shows Russian life in the 19th century. What makes it unique is the breadth of its coverage of reality, its description of the era and its distinctive features. That is why Belinsky called “Eugene Onegin” “an encyclopedia of Russian life.”
One of the issues raised on the pages of the novel was the question of the Russian nobility. In his novel, Pushkin truthfully showed the way of life, life, and interests of the nobility and gave an accurate description of the representatives of this society.
The life of the landowner families proceeded in peace and quiet. They were like a “good family” with their neighbors. They could laugh and slander, but this is not at all like the intrigues of the capital.
In the families of the nobles, they “preserved the lives of the peaceful habits of dear old times.” They observed traditional folk and holiday rituals. They loved songs and round dances.
They passed away quietly, without fuss. For example, Dmitry Larin “was a kind fellow, belated in the last century.” He did not read books, did not delve into the household, raising children, “ate and drank in his dressing gown” and “died an hour before dinner.”
The poet very figuratively showed us the Larins’ guests who had gathered for Tatiana’s name day. Here are “fat Pustyakov”, and “Gvozdin, an excellent owner, owner of poor peasants”, and “retired adviser Flyanov, a heavy gossip, an old rogue, a glutton, a bribe-taker and a buffoon.”
The landowners lived in the old fashioned way, did nothing, led an empty lifestyle. They cared only about their well-being, had “a whole line of drinks” and, having gathered together, talked “about haymaking, about wine, about the kennel, about their relatives.” They weren't interested in anything else. Unless they talk about new people who have appeared in their society, about whom a lot of fables have been written. The landowners dreamed of marrying off their daughters profitably and literally caught suitors for them. So it was with Lensky: “All their daughters were destined for their half-Russian neighbor.”
The life of the peasantry in the novel is shown rather sparingly. Pushkin gives an accurate and complete description of the cruelty of the landowners in only a few words. So, Larina “shaved the foreheads” of the guilty peasants, “she beat the maids in anger.” She was greedy and forced the girls to sing while picking berries, “so that wicked lips would not secretly eat the master’s berries.”
When Evgeniy, having arrived in the village, “replaced the yoke... of the old corvée with a light quitrent,” then “his calculating neighbor sulked in his corner, seeing in this a terrible harm.”
The work depicts the life of the capital's aristocratic society. In the novel, as in an encyclopedia, you can learn everything about the era, how they dressed, what was in fashion, the menus of prestigious restaurants. We can also find out what was on in the theaters of that era.
The life of the nobles is a continuous holiday. Their main occupation is empty chatter, blind imitation of everything foreign, gossip that spreads with instant speed. They did not want to work, because “they were sick of persistent work.” Pushkin writes that a person’s fame depends on his financial situation. The author shows the monotony of metropolitan society, empty interests, mental limitations

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"Eugene Onegin" and realism. Eugene Onegin was the first Russian novel in which realistic principles were loudly announced. In it, reality is not divided into two hostile and incompatible spheres - the real and the ideal, as in romanticism, but appears as one, giving rise to the highest and most distant thoughts and containing irreconcilable contradictions. She is admirable and subject to criticism. Pushkin's heroes think, feel and act in accordance with their characters, which are determined by national and European historical life. Their lifestyle and behavior are furnished with many detailed motivations, thanks to which they fit firmly into reality. The general, characteristic of people of one environment, is manifested through the individual, special. Finally, the novel embodies one of the most amazing qualities of realism - the self-development of characters and literary types. The image created by the author is separated from the author and lives an independent life. Pushkin, for example, at the beginning of the novel did not imagine that his Tatyana would get married, and Onegin would write her a letter. However, the logic of the development of these characters turned out to be such that Pushkin was “forced” to marry Tatyana and write Onegin’s letter to her. The heroes began to act as prescribed by the logic of their characters. The author, in order to preserve the psychological truth of the type he deduced, had to follow the spiritual movements of the characters.

“Eugene Onegin” is a work in which “the century and modern man are reflected.” A.S. Pushkin in his novel tries to portray his heroes in real life, without much exaggeration. The novel was rightly named V.G. Belinsky “encyclopedia of Russian life”. After reading it, as in the encyclopedia, one could learn almost everything about the era in which many famous poets and writers lived and worked: how people dressed, what was in fashion, the menu of prestigious restaurants, what was on in the theaters of that era how they spent their time, how they interacted in secular society and much more. Reading the work, we become acquainted with all layers of Russian society of that time: with the high society of St. Petersburg, and with noble Moscow, and with the life of the peasants, that is, with the entire Russian people. This once again demonstrates that Pushkin was able to reflect in his novel the society surrounding him in everyday life from all sides. With particular impression, the author talks about the life and fate of the Decembrists, many of whom were his close friends. He likes the features of his Onegin, which, in his opinion, give a true description of the Decembrist society, which allowed us to become more deeply acquainted with the Russian people of the early nineteenth century.


Depicting the noble society of the 1820s, Pushkin raises issues at the everyday level and writes about the spiritual and moral life of the noble high society. A wide realistic coverage of reality also occurs due to the depiction of the local nobility. The village chapters are full of details of the life and habits of the landowners. Thus, Onegin’s uncle diligently read the “calendar of the eighth year” and did not keep “a single drop of ink.” Larina’s mother, although she had read Richardson in her youth, now enjoyed doing housework. And their spiritual world of communication is conversations “about haymaking, about wine, about the kennel, about their relatives.” The epic part of the novel is also filled with pictures from folk life. Pushkin talks about hard peasant labor and very rare moments of rest. These paintings are complemented by fabulous poetic images that go back to oral folk art: this is Tatyana’s dream, reminiscent of a Russian fairy tale, and fortune telling.

Define issues“Eugene Onegin” is very difficult. The poet created, in the words of V. G. Belinsky, “an encyclopedia of Russian life.” The title after the name of the main character does not narrow his thematic plan, does not reduce the entire action to a depiction of the fate of Eugene Onegin. The core of the plot, of course, is the love theme, which is traditional for this genre, but it is solved by Pushkin in an innovative way: He does not just show the failed happiness between Onegin and Tatyana, but delves into the reasons for this. In the novel, the poet asserts a new realistic method, depicting the influence of the environment on the formation of personality and its perception of the world. This is how chapters about childhood, youth, education, and the pastime of the characters appear in the novel. Pushkin is convinced that fate not only determines the range of a person’s external circumstances, but also shapes his psychology.

The characters of the heroes were built by Pushkin, the poet of reality, as he called himself, not according to literary schemes and norms, although they are often compared with other literary heroes, but according to the laws of real life. Since living people have a variety of multifaceted characters, the characters of the heroes are complex and do not fit into unambiguous and narrow formulas. In simple and complex situations, “circumstances develop” characters from different sides. The versatility and complexity of the characters is taken into account by the author, who portrays them either satirically, with a bitter smile, or ironically, with a slight smile, or lyrically, with obvious sympathy. Pushkin's heroes, excluding only the tertiary characters mentioned, are not divided into positive and negative. But even the minor characters involved in the plot are multifaceted in the novel. For example, Onegin and the author speak about Zaretsky either satirically or ironically. However, satire and irony do not prevent Onegin and the author from recognizing Zaretsky’s merits:

He wasn't stupid; and my Evgeniy,

Not respecting the heart in him,

Loved the spirit of his judgments,

And a common sense about this and that.<…>

Pushkin in the novel is not a judge, much less a prosecutor, he does not judge or accuse the heroes, but observes and analyzes their characters as a friend, an eyewitness, an ordinary person who does not like something about the heroes, but likes something. This approach to the depiction of characters ensured the life-like truthfulness of the novel and its closeness to the realistic type of narration. The noble household and social circle that raised Onegin and the Author evoke admiration and delight in the novel. This is a world of high culture, enlightened people, heated debates, interesting conversations and conversations, a world of hobbies and passions. Freedom and independence reign here; the cream of society gathers here. Holidays, balls, masquerades, theater, salons are feasts of the soul, where sophisticated people combine both the strength of feelings and the depth of spirit. The glorification of luxurious treats leaves no doubt that Pushkin loves and appreciates secular pleasures. Theater brings special pleasures. Home life is comfortable, beautiful and pleasant.