May 01 2010

The novel in verse, by virtue of the peculiarities of the genre and language, opens up wide possibilities for the creation of human types, and to a much lesser extent it allows the creation of characters that require especially detailed, thorough psychological and other motivations. The central character of the novel, Onegin, is already a social type of historical significance. This young landowner is shown by Pushkin as having a very complex and contradictory character. The tone of Pushkin's story about Onegin is ironic almost to the very end of the novel. does not hide his shortcomings, and does not try to justify them. Already in the epigraph to the novel, Pushkin expresses doubts about the validity of the feeling of superiority with which Onegin treats others. In the first chapter, Pushkin sneers at his "scholarship", the depth of his economic knowledge, directly talks about how Onegin cynically prepared "and yawned in advance, preparing slyly for the sake of money for deception." This tone was preserved, as already mentioned, almost to the end of the novel.

And at the same time, we learn in the first chapter that Pushkin himself became friends with Onegin, that the poet “liked his features”, that he spent nights with Onegin on the Neva embankment, recalling his youth, former love, listening to the singing of rowers from a boat that floated along the river ... Citing in the eighth chapter sharply unfriendly responses about Onegin of some of his secular acquaintances, the poet resolutely stands up for his hero: he speaks of his ardent and careless soul, his mind, his difference from the surrounding mediocrity and almost identifies him with himself :

But it's sad to think that in vain
We were given youth
What cheated on her all the time,
That she deceived us.

Such inconsistency in the characterization of Onegin makes him far from schematism, vital: Onegin is not a "positive hero", but not a "negative" either. And this forces us more actively, without the author's prompting - and therefore more attentively and deeper - to understand the nature of the novel and evaluate its actions ourselves.
In the end, one must also keep in mind that Onegin's character does not remain unchanged. Under the influence of the events described in the novel, a significant evolution takes place in him, and in the eighth, last chapter of the novel, Onegin is no longer the same as we saw him in the first six chapters.

The social position and upbringing determined the main character traits of Onegin. He is the son of a wealthy nobleman, "the heir to all his relatives", also rich noblemen. He did not have to work for a piece of bread, he did not know how and did not want to work. Pushkin emphasizes this, bluntly speaking about his hero, that persistent work was boring for him. The poet tells in detail in the first chapter about the monotonous, inactive, meaningless life of this smart and noble young man in St. Petersburg: meeting friends in a restaurant, visiting the theater, points, courting women. This inactive and empty life in the village is discussed in the fourth chapter: bathing, horseback riding and walking, kissing serf girls, reading a “bad magazine” ... No serious interests, no work. Only when he arrived in the village did Onegin first try to take care of the household, greatly alleviate the situation of his serfs - he replaced the yoke of corvée with quitrent, but this did not take him long, and Onegin did this, as Pushkin said, only from idleness - "just to spend time."
The upbringing received by Onegin was disastrous in itself. He grew up without a mother: his father, a frivolous St. Petersburg nobleman-official, did not pay any attention to him, entrusting him to hired "worthless" tutors and governesses. They taught the boy almost nothing, did not educate him in any way, and only slightly scolded him for pranks.
The inconsistency in Onegin's character, the combination in him, of course, positive traits with sharply negative ones are described throughout the entire novel.

Onegin is a very smart, subtle and observant person. Seeing Tatyana for the first time, without talking to her, without even hearing her voice, he, nevertheless, immediately felt a poetic soul in her.

About his thoughts Tatyana, even when she showers him with cruel reproaches in her last bitter answer: How can it be with your heart and mind To be a small slave of sensations?
Having met with Lensky, who received his higher education at the then best university in Germany, Onegin could argue with him on serious political, historical and philosophical topics, as an equal with an equal. Onegin, both in his views and in the requirements for life, stands incomparably higher than not only his rural neighbors-nobles, but also representatives of the St. Petersburg high society.

Onegin was spoiled enough by life to truly appreciate Tatyana. But he himself was incapable of loving her. As she grows older, Tatiana tries to unravel Onegin's riddle:

A sad and dangerous eccentric,
Creation of the hell of heaven
This angel, this arrogant demon,
What is he? Is it an imitation
insignificant ghost

This is just a question, not an answer to a question. But there is one absolute truth in it. It is difficult to say anything affirmative about Onegin, since there is no core in him, there is no moral basis, which is so characteristic of Tatiana.

In the last chapter, Onegin appears to us differently: he changed his mind and felt a lot; he is dissatisfied with himself, consumed by an unexpectedly burning love. He met Tatyana again and now thinks only of her. He writes a letter to her - and in this letter is the whole truth: feelings, words.

So, before Onegin was easy to live, and he seemed to us superficial and not very serious. Now he knew what suffering is and what love is. We deeply sympathize with such Onegin, whom he became at the end of the novel.
Belinsky defined Onegin as a "suffering egoist." Onegin has always been an egoist. As a hero, suffering and tragic, he appears before us on the last pages of the novel.

1. Genre, history of creation, main content.
2. The main character is an enlightened man of his time.
3. Eugene Onegin through the eyes of critics.
4. Onegin - Mitrofanushka of his time?

"Eugene Onegin" is the program work of A. S. Pushkin, which is the first realistic novel in the history of Russian literature. It was started in 1823 and completed in 1831. The author himself noted his release with the following words: "This is my best creation." V. G. Belinsky called the novel "an encyclopedia of Russian life." For the first time, the literary heritage was enriched by a work in which the historical and lyrical beginnings were so harmoniously merged.

The genre itself is also unusual. The author defined it as a "novel in verse" and "free novel", however, the researchers attribute "Eugene Onegin" to a variety of social, social, psychological and moral-philosophical novel.

The main problem of the work is the problem of a person who has managed to break with the conservatism of his class, but who has not been able to find other life values ​​and does not know how to change the world and his position in it. Onegin, the protagonist of the work, is the first representative of a generation widely described in the literature of the 19th century - a generation of unnecessary, superfluous people.

How early he could be hypocritical.

Hold hope, be jealous

disbelieve, make believe

To seem gloomy, to languish,

Be proud and obedient

Attentive and humble!

How languidly he was silent,

How eloquently eloquent

How careless in heartfelt letters!

One breathing, one loving,

How could he forget himself!

How swift and gentle his gaze was,

Shameful and impudent, and sometimes

Shone with an obedient tear!

This irony is intensified even more when describing Onegin's egoism, his dependence on high society. The author does not hide the negative traits of the hero, does not try to somehow justify his wrong. But he cannot but tell the reader about the positive aspects of the hero - his scholarship, subtle vision of the world, wisdom and grace. There is also in him "a direct nobility of the soul", "an involuntary devotion to dreams." He is in conflict with high society, negatively colored in the eyes of the author. Often Pushkin calls him "dear friend", "my Eugene", and the very fact of such "friendship" between the author and his hero says a lot - about the commonality and similarity of views, habits, feelings.

The complex attitude of the writer to Onegin, in many respects critical, but at the same time compassionate, sympathetic, blurs the line between them, merging them into something generalized, averaged.

Onegin is the best man of his time, with advanced ideas and a brilliant education. He has a "sharp, chilled mind" and brilliant and erudition (Onegin's range of interests is wide - from Rousseau's philosophy and Bichot's medicine to Fontenel's astronomy and the history of Gibbon). The young man is interested in questions of faith, philosophy, morality and poetic inspiration. He is trying to do something useful to the best of his ability, even “he replaced the corvée with an old quitrent with a yoke”, but all his efforts are in vain, and non-standard views on things are increasingly alienating him from high society, in which he loved so much in his life. time to shine. The rejection of secular society as a specific, individual form of protest testifies to the great potential of this personality. But the aristocratic environment of Russian reality, which formed and nurtured this type of personality in its depths, does not allow him to realize his hidden potential. As a result, there is an acute conflict between the individual and society. And the “open” ending of the novel allows only one to guess about the further fate of Onegin, about the results of this conflict. The reader decides for himself who won in this struggle - the hero or society.

However, Onegin is a mystery not only for the reader, but also for researchers of Pushkin's work. Almost immediately after the release of the novel, endless disputes arose about who Onegin was. In his articles about Pushkin, the critic V. G. Belinsky calls the hero a "suffering egoist" who is killed by "the inactivity and vulgarity of life." "Smart uselessness", an ordinary, ordinary hero, whose traits can always be found in his environment or even in himself. For A. M. Dobrolyubov in Onegin, the most important thing is the resemblance to the hero of the novel of the same name by A. A. Gencharov Oblomov, since both of these heroes are just a more meaningless product of the landowner-peasant system. D. I. Pisarev saw in Eugene Onegin "Mitrofanushka Prostakov of a new formation."

Who is Onegin, how to relate to this hero, why he was created - these are questions that only the reader himself can answer and only for himself. The only fact that remains indisputable is that the image created by Pushkin is complex and tragic; he cannot be called either a positive or a negative hero. Undoubtedly, he is a collective image of the noble society of the 19th century, "a hero of his time."

In my opinion, every opinion expressed by literary critics and critics has the right to life. But it should be noted that to call Onegin Mitrofanushka, in my opinion, is still not very correct. Mitrofanushka does not look like a brilliant secular man, which is Yevgeny. He has neither education, nor his own more or less fixed and logically formulated opinion. But even if we leave such a comparison, the main difference between the characters in the reader's attitude towards them is that Mitrofanushka evokes pity in half with disgust - not entirely poetic and lofty feelings, when, as the tragedy of Onegin's image, evokes sympathy and compassion. Doesn't this mean that Onegin is more sensual, more penetrating and nobler?

Who is Onegin and how his character can be described, the reader himself must decide, because Pushkin's skill lies in the fact that for everyone the hero appears from different sides. And, refracting through the prism of the reader's personal perception, the image of Eugene Onegin will change under the influence of the reader's worldview and life experience.

Eugene Onegin - a positive or negative character?

I read Pushkin's story "Eugene Onegin", and the main character left me with a double impression. I still can't make an unambiguous conclusion whether he is a good or a bad person. The poet himself considered Eugene Onegin the most beloved of his characters, admired his secular brilliance, cheerfulness and smartness. Art critics believe that this hero better than others reflected the personality of Alexander Sergeevich.

On the one hand, Eugene is a well-read, educated young man, a nobleman who has a concept of honor and dignity, who wants to transform his dark time and laughs at narrow-minded people. On the other hand, a dandy, sated and tired of the secular life of a rake. He is a rather selfish person who does not want to bear any responsibility and fetter himself with any attachments and obligations.

If you put his good and bad deeds on the scales, you won’t be able to figure out what kind of person he is either. To the list of his bad qualities and deeds, I can include satiety and boredom, from which he fled from St. Petersburg to the provinces. This also includes the murder of a friend, Vladimir Lensky, in a duel due to a petty misunderstanding, as well as the cruelly and unceremoniously broken dreams of Tatyana, whom he, nevertheless, did nothing wrong. The persecution of Tatyana in St. Petersburg, when she had already become a general's wife, is also difficult to attribute to good deeds.

For myself, I made a simple conclusion: in the life of Eugene Onegin, like any other person, everything is fancifully mixed up, and it is impossible to say for sure whether he is good or bad.

L. Timoshenko

Someone may say that it is pointless to argue about whether Eugene Onegin is a positive or negative hero. He is partly like that, partly like that. And why, in fact, D. Pisarev can argue with the opinion of V.G. Belinsky, but can't we argue with each other?

V.G. Belinsky admired in his critical article the image of the protagonist of the novel in the verses of A.S. Pushkin: “Secular life did not kill feelings in Onegin, but only cooled him to fruitless passions and petty entertainments. ... Onegin was neither cold, nor dry, nor callous, ... poetry lived in his soul and ... in general, he was not one of ordinary, dozen people. And one more thing: “He is not fit to be a genius, he does not climb into great people, but the inactivity and vulgarity of life stifle him; he does not even know what he needs, what he wants; but he knows, and knows very well, that he doesn’t need, that he doesn’t want what makes selfish mediocrity so content, so happy.”

DI. Pisarev, in turn, analyzing the work of A.S. Pushkin, in his critical article, states: “Onegin overate everything, and he is sick of everything. If not all secular people feel sick like Onegin, then this is only because not everyone manages to overeat. And further: “If a person, weary of pleasure, does not even know how to get into the school of reflection and worldly struggle, then we can directly say here that this embryo will never become a thinking being and, therefore, will never have a legitimate reason to look from contempt for the passive mass.

We are with a teacher of Russian language and literature K.A. Molchanova decided to hold a debate in the 9th grade B before "Eugene Onegin" will be considered in detail in the classroom, in order to interest the children in the plot, the hero, to show them how carefully they should be treated to the text in order to really understand what it is about.

After reading the novel in verse, everyone was asked in advance to answer the following questions in writing:

1. Try to list the positive and negative character traits and actions of Eugene Onegin. Which ones do you think are more?

2. How do the characters of the novel in verse relate to Eugene Onegin: as a positive or negative character? Does the author's attitude towards him differ?

3. Why A.S. Pushkin called his work "Eugene Onegin" and not "Tatyana Larina"?

4. Do you think Eugene Onegin is a positive or negative hero?

Most of the ninth graders, judging by the answers, decided that it was impossible to clearly define: a positive or negative hero - Eugene Onegin. Several people ranked him among the goodies, giving contradictory reasons for their answer.

Two students from the class resolutely sharply condemned Onegin. The arguments are harsh. For example:

In general, there are grounds for dispute. It turned out that two people - for the fact that Onegin is rather a negative than a positive hero, three - for the fact that he is rather positive than negative, the rest were of the opinion that it is difficult to determine.

The first question when considering the characterization of the protagonist, which gave rise to controversy, was the question of Onegin's education: was he really an educated person? They argued until a supporter of a negative attitude towards Onegin took the floor, stating that there was no difference in whether Onegin had a good education or not, even if there were at least two universities behind his back, but since he acts like an immoral person, then the presence of education does not change things.

They argued a lot about whether Onegin can be considered a noble person. On the one hand, he did not take advantage of Tatyana's inexperience, on the other hand, ecoism and fear of gossip led Onegin to the inevitability of a duel with Lensky. Some at the dispute said that he was not to blame, he was brought up that way, that was how his contemporary life was arranged. Others answered that with all this, Onegin could at least shoot into the air, and not be the first to shoot. Moreover, he kept saying all the time that he was tired of everything, why was he so afraid of his life?

By the way, about the nobility: and who, as a result, ended up with Tatiana's letter in their hands? How could Onegin give it to someone?

The party adhering to a neutral attitude towards the hero began to be determined in its opinion (at least several people) at the moment when Onegin's ability to be friends was discussed. So it seemed to me. Because condemning opinions were expressed: "he allowed himself to be friends", "thought only of himself", "turned out to be petty and vindictive."

The party justifying the hero did not accept any "denigrating" arguments. She stood her ground: it’s not his fault, he was raised that way. Although everyone proved to them that any criminal can be justified in this way.

I had to often refer to the text of the novel in order to make convincing arguments. For example, in order to understand: has Onegin changed after his journey? Can you believe that his love for Tatyana was sincere and real?

In short, as a result of the dispute, five people from the initially undecided side changed their minds. The rest remained unconvinced.

Ahead of the ninth graders is waiting for a deeper immersion in the novel AS. Pushkin at the lessons of literature. We hope that participation in the dispute will not pass without a trace.

In the novel by A. S. Pushkin, we meet with Eugene Onegin - a young man with a very complex and controversial character. Despite the fact that throughout the entire work the author speaks of him in an ironic tone, this hero is not negative. But not positive either. The poet does not hide the shortcomings of Eugene, but does not justify them either. However, with the whole content of the novel, the author makes us understand what influenced the formation of such a complex character, reveals the social reasons for the inconsistency and tragedy of the image of his hero.

The upbringing received by young Onegin from hired madams and monsieurs was the most disastrous. Governesses and tutors did not teach the boy anything serious, but only slightly scolded him for pranks. As a result, Eugene grew up as a selfish person, capable of offending, hurting, sometimes without even noticing it. The son of a wealthy landowner, the only heir, he does not know how and does not want to work: "Hard work was sickening to him." He leads a boring, empty life in Petersburg. Then he is just as bored in the village. If he is fond of something, then for a short time and only in order to "just spend time." Onegin also treats love feignedly, in the spirit of learned secular “truths”, striving only to enchant and seduce, to seem in love, and not really be one.

How early could he be hypocritical,

Hold hope, be jealous

disbelieve, make believe

To seem gloomy, to languish...

This is how we meet Eugene Onegin on the first pages of the novel. On the other hand, we see that he is quite smart, noble and tactful:

He is a cool word

I tried to keep in my mouth

And I thought: it's stupid to disturb me

His momentary bliss...

He was able to immediately appreciate Tatyana Larina, the wealth and poetry of her soul. This suggests that Onegin is a subtle and observant person, and Tatyana herself notes the positive aspects of Yevgeny's character:

How is it with your heart and mind

To be the feelings of a petty slave?

The extraordinary mind of the hero is also evidenced by the fact that he recognizes himself as an extra person in a worthless high-society society. To him

It's hard to see in front of you

One dinner is a long row,

Look at life as a rite

And following the orderly crowd

Go without sharing with her

No common opinions, no passions...

Despite the scarcity of his education, Onegin tries to deepen his knowledge. He reads very serious literature and is not inferior in dispute to Lensky, who received a prestigious higher education. It is friendship with Lensky that reveals the benevolence and sensitivity laid down in the depths of Yevgeny's soul, and contributes to the manifestation of his best qualities.

And yet the positive inclinations of the hero are constantly suppressed by the environment and improper upbringing. The selfish side of his character often takes precedence over kindness and compassion. So, having received Tatyana’s letter and deciding to immediately explain everything to her so as not to leave vain hopes in her soul, he, however, cannot resist the usual “coquetry”:

I love you brother love -

And maybe even softer.

This hint has the opposite effect, instills hope in the girl's heart. He behaves in a similar way later, at Tatyana's birthday party. Seeing what a strong impression his appearance made on her and the fact that she was unable to hide her excitement,

He bowed silently to her;

But somehow the look of his eyes

He was wonderfully gentle.

Onegin's selfishness manifests itself, and when, wanting to take revenge on Lensky for persuading him to come to a provincial feast, he begins to court his bride. Eugene does not realize that by doing so he causes suffering to the innocent Tatiana. He is passive and indifferent to everything except his own calmness.

The noble mind of Eugene constantly comes into conflict with social conditions. Accepting a challenge to a duel, he realizes that he was wrong, he realizes that there are no serious reasons for a duel. Eugene is aware that it is not too late to fix everything. However, having grown up under the influence of secular prejudices, he is afraid of the gossip of his neighbors, the ridicule of Zaretsky, who can spread rumors about his cowardice. We also see Onegin's deep repentance after the murder of Lensky. This event turned his whole life upside down. Eugene suffers a lot. He lost his composure. He is not even able to be in those places where everything reminds him of what happened.

Onegin has changed a lot, now he can no longer ignore people's feelings and think only about himself. By the end of the novel, his feelings for Tatyana also change. However, here too, he is disappointed. Tatyana says that she loves him, but is "given to another" and will be faithful to her husband.

Contradictions in the character of the hero are revealed throughout the novel. The bright impulses of his soul all the time collide with the habitual rules of behavior inspired by the secular environment. His mind does not allow him to follow the usual path available to a young nobleman, but the circumstances of life do not give him the opportunity to recover from proud inattention to others, boredom and selfishness. Of course, Eugene Onegin is an egoist, but not self-satisfied, not in love with himself, but, as V. G. Belinsky rightly noted, "a suffering egoist." Nevertheless, the collapse of his hopes, his personal misfortune - this is a fair result, retribution for his whole aimlessly lived life.