The theme of the poet and poetry is one of the main topics in Pushkin's poems. In his youthful years, he realized how great the influence of a creative, talented person and art in general on public consciousness is, how powerful a raising weapon it can be. The poet, from his point of view, is a prophet, herald of age-old truths, morality and conscience of the people, society. However, in order to meet such a high purpose, the creative person herself must meet the high ideals of Good and Freedom, carry them through all life's trials.
Pushkin and the Decembrists
About how Alexander Sergeyevich was faithful to the proclaimed ideas, his poems speak. In particular, those of them that are dedicated to disgraced Decembrist friends. For example, Arion. Pushkin wrote it on July 13, 1827, on the next tragic anniversary of the execution of 5 conspiracy organizers. With the Decembrists, the poet was connected a lot. He was well acquainted and had close contact with members of the first organization, the Union of Salvation. Then, still a young lyceum student, Alexander enthusiastically listened to fiery speeches about the struggle against slavery, freedom and equality of all people who were delivered at secret meetings by the Turgenev brothers, Muravyov and his other friends. He is included in the "Union of Welfare", "The Green Lamp", learns a lot from Chaadaev, whom he considers his ideological inspirer. And later, being in the southern exile, the poet often attends meetings of the Southern Society, more than once meets with Pestel. When
the Decembrist uprising takes place
, Alexander Sergeyevich lives in Mikhailovsky under secret police supervision. However, he bluntly stated to
Nicholas I that if he had been in Petersburg at that moment, he would surely have gone out with friends and like-minded people to
Senate Square. About the same and his poem "Arion". Pushkin, whose work has always been anti-government in nature, in his most diverse works paid tribute to memory, respect and devotion to the Decembrists.
"In the depths of Siberian ores ...", "Pushchino", "Arion"
Three poems of the poet are directly devoted to the theme of memory of the Decembrist movement. These are the famous messages “Pushchino” (“My first friend ...”), “To Siberia” and “Arion”. Pushkin wrote the first two at the end of 1826 - the beginning of 1827 and handed over to exiled comrades with Princess Muravyova, who was going to her husband. In them, he wrote with deep sympathy and sincere admiration about the greatness of the feat and the high tragedy of the fate of the rebels, expressed faith that their act would ignite people's hearts for inspired exploits in the name of the Fatherland and the people. The poem “Arion” occupies a special place. Pushkin in it directly calls itself the heir and successor of the ideas of Decembrism.
Two arion
The poem is built as a detailed allegory. It turns us to the famous ancient Greek myths, in particular the myth of Arion. According to him, the famous singer and storyteller swam to the shores of his homeland. However, greedy shipbuilders decided to throw him into the abyss of the sea to take possession of the property. Arion begged for their last grace - to sing before his death, and then he threw himself into the waves.
Touched by his skill and talent, the sea god Poseidon sent a dolphin who saved the singer and brought him to the shores of Corinth on his back. Based on this legend, Alexander Sergeyevich turned out to be a slightly different “Arion”. Pushkin builds his poem on a completely different ideological foundation. If omnipotent art is glorified in myth, its reviving and life-affirming role, then the figure of the main character occupies a central place in Pushkin. And the life circumstances that changed the fate of the characters of both works are radically different.
Poem Analysis
What motives does Arion combine in itself? Pushkin builds a poem based on real events. The ship’s team is not a gang of bandits, but a friendly, close-knit team, managed by the wise “helmsman”. In it, everyone is busy with his own business, fulfilling his mission. The author means the Decembrist movement, secret organizations and the work that its members performed in society. The team also includes the "mysterious singer", full of "careless faith." Belief in what?
An analysis of Pushkin’s poem "Arion" makes it possible to suggest that in beautiful dreams, inspired speeches, ideas about the overthrow of the autocracy. The poet does not speak openly about this. But his contemporaries and readers of subsequent generations perfectly understood the meaning of veiled images. What did faith encounter, and did the singer remain so careless? In the following lines, the author paints a picture of a brutal storm, which sank like a chip, shuttles and destroyed the whole team. “Both the feeder and the swimmer died,” he writes bitterly. Only one inspired performer was saved. What are its divine sounds about now? The answer is unequivocal: "I sing the old hymns ..."
Theme, idea of ​​the work
The lines quoted above can rightfully be considered the ideological center of the work. If the theme of Pushkin’s poem “Arion” is an image of the Decembrist uprising, an expression of the continuity of his ideas in the poet’s work, then the key words, semantic essence are contained in this short phrase. Alexander Sergeevich never refused friends, did not betray the ideals of youth. He is faithful to them in mature summers. Of course, like any thinking person, and even more so of this magnitude, the poet became wise over the years. Over time, Pushkin was able to understand the utopianism of the plans and actions of the conspirators. But indeed, if he had the opportunity, at any moment he would go out in their ranks to a historical barrier.