Alexander Pushkin\'s Eugene Onegin Russian Literature

Eugene Onegin is the classic literary work by Alexander Pushkin. Some have argued that Tatyana is the central character of the novel. This essay will seek to explain how the narrator describes and develops her character. We will also discuss the moments of growth seen in her life as depicted by the novel.

Tatyana is described by the narrator as the daughter of Larina, a landowner in a farming village. Tatyana is young and full of optimism and anticipation. Her family is very hospitable and her upbringing is quite different from Eugene's, who lived in a mansion. Eugene is depicted as being very experienced with women and love, Pushkin writes,

From lovely beauties he already felt distant, But dragged after them for routine's sake. A refusal - he was consoled in an instant, A betrayal - he was glad his thirst to slake. He sought them all with no sign of rapture, and, without regret, evaded capture, Scarcely remembering their love or hate" (Pushkin, Book IV, Stanza X)

On the other hand Tatyana was young and innocent, the narrator describes that "Tatyana implicitly believed the tales of the simple country folk of old;." (Pushkin, Book V)

Tatyana seemed rather enchanted with the things of nature and loved the wintertime and Russia. Her thoughts were not evil or destructive like Eugene's. In short Tatyana was a teenager who had very little understanding of men and relationships and the games that men and women play with one another.

Olga is Tatyana's sister and is in love with a boy named Lensky. Lensky is Onegin's best friend and asks Lensky to take him to meet Olga. When they arrive Tatyana finds that she is very attracted to Eugene. Eventually she writes Onegin a letter, which confesses her love for him, but he rejects her.

One evening, while a ball is being held at Larina's house, Onegin dances with Olga, this act enrages Lensky. Lensky then writes Eugene and challenges him to a dual.

Onegin and Lensky fight and Onegin kills Lensky. The death of Lensky saddens Onegin and he becomes a wanderer and vows to make amends for the death of Lensky. Tatyana is also saddened by the death of Lensky and grieves for her sister. Tatyana decides that she is no longer in love with Onegin and eventually marries another man. Olga ultimately gets over the loss of Lensky and falls in love again and marries.

Years later Eugene returns to find that Tatyana has become a princess who is very respected in her society. Pushkin writes, "She loves the pomp and circumstance, The chat of the aristocratic mighty, The frigid politeness of the haughty And the mix of age with precedence." (Pushkin Book VIII, Stanza VII)

When Eugene appears in the crowd of royalty, people are shocked to see him because his had been gone for so long. The people in the crowd murmur and wonder if Eugene has changed since the death of his friend Lensky.

Ultimately, Eugene confesses to Tatyana that he really does love her and that his rejection of her was a mistake. But this time Tatyana rejects Onegin and he finds that she has moved on with her life and is no longer in love with him.

The narrator's illustrates the growth of the character of Tatyana in several ways. In the beginning of the novel Tatyana is simply a lovesick teenager who has a crush on a boy. Tatyana has little experience with relationships and is somewhat naive in the ways of the world. When she meets Eugene she is exposed to the feeling of love for the first time.

This experience proves to be difficult for her because Eugene rejects her advances.

In the middle of the novel Tatyana is forced to mature when the man that she loves kills her sisters' boyfriend. At this point in the novel Tatyana begins to look past the superficiality of Eugene and looks at his heart. Tatyana finds that the boy that she thought she loved is nothing more than an immature killer. I believe that it is at this point in her life that she matures the most. She learns valuable lessons about integrity, grief and real love. Her decision to abandon the love that she felt for Eugene was essential to her growth as a human being.

Finally, by the end of the novel Tatyana is a mature woman who has evolved into a princess. The princess knows her place in the world and she is comfortable with her royal status.

In addition Tatyana is confronted with her past and realizes that she made the right decision; she has no regrets. At this point in the novel the story of Eugene Onegin comes full circle.