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The Russian Shakespeare

© Gail Giordano

Alexander Puskin, Russia's greatest poet of all times, was born Alexander Sergeyevitch Pushkin on June 6, 1799 in Moscow. He died at a young age in St. Petersburg on February 11, 1837 from a mortal wound received in a duel. Alexander grew up in an aristocratic, but not well off family; his mother was of African heritage. In Russian society race is not a big issue, but social status and place in the class structure is. Alexander received a very well balanced education. His parents provided an education through tutors, in which he learned the French Culture. Alexander became aware of and learned Russian Folklore by his elderly nurse. He went and obtained a degree from the University but shortly after graduating he was banished to Southern Russia (1817). He was banished for his "liberal views." The trip to Southern Russia served as a great tool and place where he obtained information for future literary works.

In 1825, Nicholas the First pardoned Alexander and allowed him to return to the main part of Russia. Upon his return he started writing and became the literary lion of his day. Alexander is considered the first Russian writer to compose Russian Tragedies. Pushkin's greatest work is Eugene Onegin, a novel told in verse. His literary career does not start with this masterpiece but before that. Alexander admired Lord Byron and in his earlier works does a lot of things with romanticism. Some would say that Alexander followed Lord Byron in is style of writing, while others say that it was the other way around. The first work appeared in 1820, with the release or Ruslan and Ludmila, a fairy tale told in verse. In this piece of work Alexander is being to get a grip on the colloquial speech and theme of Russian folklore. He had 3 pieces that are said to follow closely the Byronic style. The Prisoner of Caucasus which was written and released in 1822, and The Robber Brothers written in 1827. His masterpiece Eugene Onegin was also written in Byronic theme but contains tragedy. The main theme of Onegin is the relentless passage of time and the irrevocable nature of past actions.

Alexander's mature works reflect his deep regard to compatriots, a deep interest in history, and a distinct distaste for the rigid class structure of his time. IN 1829, Alexander released a Wasteland Sower of True Freedom. This work is considered a political tract that depicts the situation between the aristocrats and the serfs. In 1831, he released the Russian drama Boris Godunov, Poltava was released in 1829, and the final drama he wrote was released in 1837 called the Bronze Horseman. The Bronze Horseman talks about Peter the Great. The three dramas that Alexander wrote are very historical in nature.

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