In the work of A. S. Pushkin, The Bronze Horseman, Eugene is one of the central characters. This hero is a kind of generalization, a product of the "St. Petersburg" era in Russian history. He can be called a "little man" - because the vital meanings of Eugene are simple human happiness. He wants to find a cozy home, family, prosperity.
Generalized image
In preparing the characterization of Eugene from The Bronze Horseman, it can be emphasized that A. S. Pushkin, in his work The Bronze Horseman, specifically refuses to assign any last name to Eugene. By this, the poet seeks to show that absolutely anyone can take his place. The image of this character reflected the lives of many then Petersburgers.
The meaning of this generalization is that Eugene in the poem is the personification of the masses, the embodiment of those who were miserable and destitute due to the fault of the government. At the time of the outbreak of rebellion, Eugene, even for a second, is equalized with the emperor. His elevation occurs at a time when he, being among the raging waves, sits "on top of a marble beast." In this position, Eugene equalizes in scale with the giant.
Opposition to Peter
Continuing to characterize Eugene from The Bronze Horseman, it is worth noting the opposition of the hero to the emperor. In the flood scene, the reader sees Eugene sitting behind the Bronze Horseman. He folded his arms crosswise (here the poet draws a parallel with Napoleon), but he does not have a hat. Eugene and the rider are looking in the same direction. But their thoughts are occupied with completely different things. Peter peers into history - he is not interested in the lives of individual people. And Eugene’s gaze is fixed on his lover’s house.
In the characterization of Eugene from The Bronze Horseman, one can indicate that in the person of Peter and Eugene the great Russian poet personified two principles - unlimited human weakness and exactly the same unlimited power. In this argument, Pushkin himself takes the side of Eugene. After all, the rebellion of the "little man" against interference in his life is quite legitimate. And it is in this rebellion that the reader sees the spiritual awakening of the protagonist. Riot is what makes Eugene see. The guilt of the “idol” in front of such people is tragic and cannot be redeemed. After all, he encroached on the most valuable thing - freedom.
Who is closer to the reader?
In this contrast of the two heroes, the reader sees their main difference, which will also complement the characterization of Eugene from The Bronze Horseman. The hero is endowed with a living heart, he knows how to worry about another person. He can grieve and rejoice, be embarrassed and tremble. Despite the fact that the Bronze Horseman appears to us preoccupied with thoughts about people's lives, about their beautification (here the poet also refers to Eugene himself as the future inhabitant of the city), this “little man”, and not “the idol”, causes great reading sympathy ".
Dreams of Eugene
His poverty is not a vice. It can be dealt with if you work hard; then it will become a temporary phenomenon. The health and youth of the protagonist is a hint of the poet that so far, Eugene can offer nothing else to society. He is employed in a bureaucracy. He does not really like such a life, but he hopes for the best and is ready to work long and hard to achieve prosperity. Similarly, things are with the apartment, which is rented by Eugene in one of the distant areas. The protagonist hopes that she will be replaced by a better option.
In the characterization of Eugene in the poem "The Bronze Horseman" you can mention his lover. Girl Eugene named Parasha - to match him. She is not rich and lives with her mother on the outskirts of the city. Eugene loves a girl, thinks of his future only with Parasha, connecting with her all the best dreams. But the events that happened later destroyed the plans of the "little man." The river flooded the house of Parasha and her mother, took their lives. Because of this, Eugene was touched by the mind. His suffering was immeasurable. He wandered around the city alone, eating for two weeks only those handouts that the poor gave him.
The death of Eugene
The weary consciousness of the character paints him delusional pictures - the poem "The Bronze Horseman" continues. The characterization of Peter and Eugene may contain a description of the moment of anger of the "little man" facing the emperor. Eugene begins to accuse the Bronze Horseman of having founded a city in such a place. Indeed, if Peter chose a different region for the city, then Parasha's life could have turned out differently. And the accusations of the "little man" are so full of abuse that his imagination does not stand up and enlivens the monument to Peter. He chases Eugene all night. He falls asleep in the morning, exhausted from this pursuit. Soon the main character dies of grief.
"Little man" or a hero?
The flood, which turned into a personal tragedy for Eugene, turns him from a simple man into the Hero of the poem "The Bronze Horseman". A brief description of Eugene may contain his description at the beginning of the poem and the transformation as events unfold.
At first, quiet and inconspicuous, he becomes a truly romantic character. He has the courage to risk his own life, to go in a boat through the "terrible waves" to a small house located near the Gulf of Finland, where his beloved lived. In the poem, he loses his mind, and madness, as you know, often accompanies romantic heroes.
Characteristic of Eugene in the poem "The Bronze Horseman": character ambivalence
This Pushkin character is ambivalent - on the one hand, he is small and faceless; on the other, Eugene is the only hero of the poet’s works, which has a number of human virtues. He arouses compassion in the reader, and at some point - even admiration. Despite the fact that Eugene is a simple layman, he is distinguished by high moral qualities. This poor official knows how to love, be faithful and humane.
The characterization of the hero Eugene in the poem "The Bronze Horseman" was curious to many researchers of Pushkin's literary heritage. Some of them, for example, Yu. Borev, see in Eugene no less a secret than in the image of the emperor. Yes, he is a "small" person, a private person. However, the character claims to be worthless. In his dreams are many high points. His madness can be called "high", because in him the hero goes far beyond the ordinary consciousness.
With the help of many tricks, the great Russian poet achieves the compatibility of two opposing images - the emperor and the petty official. Indeed, for Pushkin the worlds of these heroes are equivalent.