The image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin: comparison

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

There are many examples in Russian literature when artists were inspired by historical events and personalities and wrote their works about them. Moreover, it often happens that several authors write about one person. So it happened with the uprising, which was expressed through the image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin. An essay-comparison on this topic is often asked to write to schoolchildren.

Genres of works about Pugachev by Pushkin and Yesenin

Two great poets, Pushkin and Yesenin, each at one time undertook the task of consecrating the Pugachev uprising. It would seem that the view of the same events should be the same, but they turned out to be quite a few differences. Among other things, the use of various tools for this purpose.

Pushkin used the image of Pugachev in the work "The Captain's Daughter". It is a historical novel, i.e. the book describes a specific historical era. The author from the side watches the development of actions.

Yesenin chose the genre of a dramatic poem for his narrative. He deeply felt the spirit of that uprising and the personality of Pugachev, admired him.

It can be said that the image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin acquires a difference already from the genres of their works, which is surprising, because both studied almost the same historical evidence.

Pugachev in Pushkin's work

Pugachev in "The Captain's Daughter" by Pushkin appears more like the leader of a gang of robbers than the leader of the uprising. He wants to be like Grishka Otrepiev, a cruel adventurer. Ready to kill innocent people who stand in his way. He is fully aware that the rebellion is doomed to failure, and therefore behaves like a hunted animal.

Nevertheless, even Pushkin cannot deny that there is generosity and kindness in Pugachev. So, for example, he could not harm Grinev, who once helped the leader of the uprising. This is a mature, experienced person whom people are ready to listen to and who they are ready to follow. It is the versatility of the image that gives life to the hero. This is how Pushkin saw Pugacheva, studying historical documents.

Pugachev in Yesenin's work

Yesenin also studied historical documents, but his Pugachev turned out to be much more attractive. Yesenin endows his hero with such a trait as daydreaming, Pugachev really wants to be free in the Kazakh steppes. The leader of the poet's rebellion now has a romantic soul. He is very kind and forgives even his traitorous friends, who hand him over to the authorities.

Slightly spoils the image ofYesenin Pugachev's self-confidence. He believes that everyone is always happy for him. The poem also says that people love him for his rampage, but obviously it is fair, otherwise everyone would simply be afraid of him.

Comparison of the image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin

An essay on this topic should begin with a review of the images separately, which we did above. Then, based on ready-made descriptions, it will be very easy to make a comparative description.

The image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin is similar in some character traits. So, they have in common cruelty to the guilty and the innocent, as well as sometimes manifested kindness. Both poets find that Pugachev is a strong, extraordinary personality, but in Yesenin he is almost a genius. The authors endow Pugachev with the gift of foresight, the hero knows for sure that his attempts to create an uprising and free the peasants will fail.

Note that the image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin has quite strong differences. The most important of them is to understand the role of the Pugachev uprising. Pushkin did not understand and believed that this was only an isolated case, that the uprising could not have ended differently. Yesenin, on the other hand, saw in Pugachev all Russians, the peasantry, and felt kinship with them, it was precisely a popular uprising. No wonder the author describes nature so much, as if connecting the uprising and Pugachev with it. In Yesenin, he is endowed with a poetic soul, while in Pushkin he is simply smart, but not too deep.man.

Reasons for such different opinions

There are several reasons why the image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin turned out differently.

Firstly, Pushkin belonged to the highest, nobility. He looked at this uprising as a threat, a mistake on the part of the indignant and did not understand the purpose for which this was done. He calls this rebellion - "senseless and merciless." Yesenin, on the other hand, grew up in the village, among the peasants, so we can say that he is from the lower class, from which the rebels came. That is why both the goal and the means are close and understandable to him. This explains why the image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin came out so negative, while in Yesenin it is much more pleasant.

Second, great poets lived a hundred years apart. During this time, the political situation changed, serfdom and tsarist power were abolished. At this time, there was a revision of all historical events, including the Pugachev uprising. His cause was ex alted and glorified, many works were created on this topic.

Pugachev in history

The image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin and Yesenin would be incomplete without a historical review. It is quite possible to end an essay on this topic with a brief historical background.

Emelyan Ivanovich Pugachev was born in the Don region and had all the features of a real Cossack. He always had the special qualities of a leader, andalso ingenuity. After going through two wars, Pugachev went to the Yaik River and there declared himself killed by Peter III. The place was chosen with intent, because shortly before this, there were violent clashes between the peasants and the ruling elite in this place. It can be said that Pugachev only led this uprising. He was able to assemble a solid army, more than once, but the organization of the army was clearly not enough. As a result, the 9,000th army of the rebels was defeated by only 3,000 regular troops. Pugachev himself was extradited to the authorities by his own associates. He was executed in 1775 in Moscow.

The image of Pugachev in the works of Pushkin, Yesenin can help to better understand the essence of the uprising and the character of the leader when studying the historical aspect of the topic. In general, such works allow you to look at events from a different, human side.