Works of Pushkin, Gogol & Lermontov

This study will discuss the works of Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol, and Mikhail Lermontov, focusing on the optimism or pessimism of the authors as they express their views in their art.

In his verse novel Eugene Onegin, Pushkin paints a generally pessimistic view about Russian prospects, if we are to take the fop protagonist as a meaningful and representative product of that society. Pushkin certainly offers critical comments on the Russian aristocratic society of his time, but his criticism is far from stinging. He actually seems to be very fond of the society he mildly chastises, and he is certainly fond of the wastrel Onegin. It would seem that Pushkin wants us to see Onegin as an innate dandy, born to the part as much as shaped to it by a superficial and passionless society. The novel itself is painful to read not only because of its leaden style, but also because the poet indulges these boring aristocrats far beyond the point of amusement. There is a satirical quality to the views and writing of Pushkin which prevent this reader from having any emotional connection to the work: "Eugene was free, and as a dresser/ made London's dandy his professor./ His hair was fashionably curled,/ and now at last he saw the World." Pushkin paints a society which is indeed repressive, artificial and passionless, but he seems to be right at home as he paints.

He strains and yearns for passion between Onegin and Tanya, but it is entirely unconvincing: "Love's frantic torments went on

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e Isaiah, with the task of awakening others to Him. Nevertheless, it is at least impassioned enough to attract the reader's emotions, which cannot be said for Eugene Onegin. We must conclude, in light of the fiery religious and nature poetry, that Pushkin is an optimist about Russian prospects---as long as Russia remains close to the land and God, it will prosper, but if it follows its artificial and pompous aristocratic impulses, it will perish. If Pushkin's philosophy is conditionally optimistic, Mikhail Lermontov's philosophy is unconditionally pessimistic. In such poems as "A Foreboding," "The Poet's Death," "Meditation," and "Farewell to Russia," Lermontov rails against society and its corrupted people. In "A Foreboding," Lermontov writes of a society whose people receive their due justice for corrupt behavior. "Little children and blameless wives" will suffer and perish along with those who "know your heritage of lust and death." Lermontov brings in a Satanic figure who finds "sport" in the anguish of the people. It is clear that Lermontov sees this hellish scenario as something the corrupt and lusting people deserve. In "The Poet's Death," Lermontov equates the tortured and mocked poet with Christ: "They put a laurel w

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