Eugene Onegin
Ratings35
Average rating4
15
Ratings35
Average rating4
Eugene Onegin (Russian: Евге́ний Оне́гин, BGN/PCGN: Yevgeniy Onegin) is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin.
It is a classic of Russian literature, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of Russian literary heroes (so-called superfluous men). It was published in serial form between 1825 and 1832. The first complete edition was published in 1833, and the currently accepted version is based on the 1837 publication.
Almost the entire work is made up of 389 stanzas of iambic tetrameter with the unusual rhyme scheme "AbAbCCddEffEgg", where the uppercase letters represent feminine rhymes while the lowercase letters represent masculine rhymes. This form has come to be known as the "Onegin stanza" or the "Pushkin sonnet."
The rhythm, innovative rhyme scheme, the natural tone and diction, and the economical transparency of presentation all demonstrate the virtuosity which has been instrumental in proclaiming Pushkin as the undisputed master of Russian poetry.
The story is told by a narrator (a lightly fictionalized version of Pushkin's public image), whose tone is educated, worldly, and intimate. The narrator digresses at times, usually to expand on aspects of this social and intellectual world. This allows for a development of the characters and emphasises the drama of the plot despite its relative simplicity.
The book is admired for the artfulness of its verse narrative as well as for its exploration of life, death, love, ennui, convention and passion. It influenced Vikram Seth's Golden Gate.
Reviews with the most likes.
I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did and I think that the novel being written in verse really added to how much I truly liked reading this. Once you get into it you fly through and the passages are so beautiful it's honestly hard to grasp at times. The way he spoke about the seasons and ageing and youth really struck a chord in me. And of course the way he portrays yearning is on a different level entirely.
It's a little hard to understand at times that even the (very) extensive notes can't address, but maybe I just need to expand my vocabulary. Would recommend to anyone who is willing to use a dictionary while reading.
The novel also gets bonus points for getting me into opera, the Eugene Onegin Opera by Tchaikovsky goes hard to this.
“How sad that youth, with all its power,Was given us in vain, to burn;That we betrayed it every hour;And were deceived by it in turn;That all our finest aspirations,Our brightest dreams and inspirations,Have withered with each passing dayLike leaves dank autumn rots away.It's hard to face a long successionOf dinners stretching out of sight,To look at life as at a rite,And trail the seemly crowd's procession—Indifferent to the views they hold,And to their passions ever cold.”
(Chapter 8, XI)
Well... rather uneven. It's an epic poem, which means it can be rather difficult to take in, though I didn't find it difficult. I think the choice made it harder for Alexander to express certain things. He had to stay in verse and rhyme :-D
Also, the... mood, nature, style of the work varied a lot. It is a bit difficult to define, like Romeo and Juliet. It is satirical, and I laughed out loud several times, but in the end it is rather sad. Another unhappy Russian woman.
It is ridiculous when one remembers that Eugene and Tatiana aren't even 25 when the book happens. I think Eugene was 26 at the very end, and when he refused Tatiana he was just a little older than 20 :-D And she was something like 17. Yet so big and strong emotions. She reminds me so much of Natascha. :-D I don't know if I was more or less mature to my age, but at 17, emotions weren't the end of the world and life. Life hadn't even really began yet. Yet, Eugene's life is at end at 26 because Tatiana got married. Come on, she got married to a soldier! He could easily die. Soldiers' widows were plenty in that time. Let's say in 10 years they meet and get married and live happily ever after.
(Also, how quick she got married :-D So ridiculous!)
Nevertheless, Eugene was a twat.
