Onegin and Lensky: a comparative characteristic of the images

AS Pushkin - the greatest writer and poet of the XIX century. Out of his pen came a lot of wonderful works. The main work of Pushkin is "Eugene Onegin". The work reflects the features of life of the noble youth of the XIX century.

Brief description of the work

"Eugene Onegin" is a novel in verse, striking with its artistic perfection of style and form, lightness and beauty of the language. It reveals the variety of problems that worried Russian society at the beginning of the XIX century. In the portrayal of all noble groups, Pushkin reflects the two most common problems of the time: an idealistic departure from reality and disappointment.

The main characters of the work

Onegin and Lensky in the novel are among the "best people of the era." In their images, Pushkin reflected the very problems that were most relevant at the time. Heroes did not suit either the shine of secular life, which they considered cold and empty, nor the squalid appearance and primitiveness of rural everyday life. Both characters are trying to find meaning in life, something high and bright. Eugene Onegin and Lensky stand out from the usual aristocratic environment. Both are educated, intelligent, noble. Heroes are united by the breadth of interests and views. It was this that brought them closer and marked the beginning of the friendship between them. Despite the differences in character, their mutual sympathy increased in the course of the narrative, and the communication became deeper. The conversations of the rural landlords differed significantly from the conversations that Onegin and Lensky conducted. An analysis of their behavior, aspirations and views makes it possible to understand that both heroes possessed an inquisitive mind, sought to know the meaning of life and to touch all spheres of human existence. The author emphasizes that character disputes affect the philosophical, moral, political problems that worried the advanced people of that era. Why, in spite of their similarities, did the duel of Lensky and Onegin happen? About this later in the article.

Onegin and Lensky. Comparative characteristics

These two heroes are the central figures in the work. They are completely different, but they have a certain similarity. Their images are two paths along which the best representatives of the landowner intelligentsia of the early 19th century walked. The development of the relations of the protagonists reflects a huge difference between them, emphasizing not only the opposite of their features, but also the attitude to reality and to the people around them. End these two ways could be either a dead end, or someone's death.

Vladimir

In Lenskoye there was a poetic talent that opened up romantic moods in it. He sees the ideal even in the "empty" pretty Olga. Friendship with Onegin means a lot for Lensky. In the depiction of Vladimir's image, there is a clear connection with the Decembrist tendencies, which gives reason to suppose the likelihood of his rapprochement with the leading noble intelligentsia who was preparing the 1825 uprising, which gives him the chance to become the poetic voice of the people. Faith in friendship, freedom, love was the goal of life and the essence of Lensky.

Eugene Onegin

This hero received a classic aristocratic education. He was taught everything to joke, but, notwithstanding this, Onegin received the knowledge he needed. For mental development, it is much higher than peers. Eugene is a bit familiar with the works of Byron, he has an idea of the works of Smith. But all his hobbies do not raise a burning and romantic feelings in his soul. Onegin spends his best years, like many young people of his time: in theaters, balls, in love adventures. But soon an understanding comes to him that all this life is empty, there is envy, boredom and slander in the world, and people are foolishly burning their time, spending their internal forces on an imaginary shine. As a result, Onegin loses interest in life, falling into a deep melancholy because his sharp and cold mind is fed up with secular pleasures.

The questions of good and evil in the relationship of the main characters

Among the intelligentsia of that time was a treatise Rousseau (writer and French philosopher) "Public contract" was very popular. It dealt with the most important social problems. The most topical issue was the state system. The problem of the relationship between the authorities and the people, which had the right to overthrow the government, violated the agreement between the state union and the community of citizens. The existing serfdom created in Russia both political and economic difficulties. Progressively thinking representatives of the nobility tried to find a solution to the existing problems by improving and introducing methods of farming, the use of machinery. Onegin and Lensky, whose comparative characteristics would not be complete without indicating their activities, also pondered over this issue. The first was the owner of water and plants, and the second - a rich landowner. Ethical issues, questions of good and evil, often found themselves in the focus of attention of young people. Moral theoretical principles, refracted in character characters, determine their views and their actions.

The tragedy of the relationship of the central characters

Onegin and Lensky, whose comparative characteristics can not do without mentioning their personal qualities, were of different ages. Vladimir - younger, his passionate soul is not spoiled by life yet. He is looking for beauty everywhere. Onegin, long past through everything, listened to Lensky's ardent speeches with a smile, trying to contain his irony. For Vladimir friendship was an urgent need. Onegin also "was friends for the sake of boredom." But Evgeny has a special affection for Vladimir. Analyzing the duel of Lensky and Onegin, one can not but note the priorities that are clearly traced in each of them. So, the more experienced protagonist, despite his contempt for the light, valued his opinion, was afraid of reproaches and ridicule. Perhaps, it was because of this false sense of honor that Onegin accepted Lensky's challenge. Vladimir, however, defended the purity of his romantic ideas from the friend's skepticism. Having perceived Onegin's unsuccessful joke as betrayal and treason, Lensky summoned him to a duel.

The death of Vladimir

Onegin and Lensky, the comparative characteristics of which show the essence of the differences in their views, along the course of the development of the plot of the best friends turned into enemies. The first, having received a challenge and understanding the senselessness of the fight itself and its wrong, accepts it. The murder of Vladimir turns Evgenia's whole life. He is no longer able to be in the places where the tragedy occurred. Tormented with remorse, Onegin begins to rush around the world. However, as we can see later, changes occur in his soul: he becomes more sensitive and sympathetic to people, his heart opens for love. However, here he is disappointed. Comparing all the events, it can be concluded that all his misfortunes are a payment for life without purpose.

conclusions

One can say with certainty that Lensky's death is symbolic. Involuntarily, it leads to the idea that a romanticist, a dreamer, an idealist - a person who has not known the reality, must inevitably perish when confronted with it. At the same time, such skeptics as Onegin remain alive. They can not be reproached for ignorance of reality or idealism. Onegin knows life very well, knows how to understand people well. However, what gave him this knowledge? In addition to disappointment and spleen, unfortunately, nothing. Consciousness of his superiority over others puts a person on a rather dangerous path, which eventually leads to disunity with the world and selfish loneliness. The survivor Onegin is of little use to society and does not become happy.

Conclusion

In his novel Pushkin showed reality as it was at that time. His work warns that in a society rotting from within, only mediocre people, whose interests are small and very limited, can find happiness. "Superfluous people" - Eugene Onegin and Lensky (an essay on this subject is included in the school course of literature) - are unhappy in this life. They either perish, or continue to live devastated and disappointed. Even high position and education do not give them happiness, they do not facilitate their path. Awareness of their own mistakes comes to them too late. However, it is difficult to blame the heroes themselves. Their life proceeds in the conditions of light, which dictates their own rules and puts them in certain conditions. Their characters are formed from birth under the influence of what is happening around them. As Pushkin himself says, exclusively the environment made Onegin and Lensky, essentially noble, intelligent people, unhappy and disappointed.