Onegin

Eugene Onegin is a novel in verse by the Russian author Alexander Pushkin. First published in 1833, it is regarded as a landmark of Russian literature and a foundational work of realism, notable for its psychological depth, social observation, and its blend of irony with lyricism. The poem is written in the Onegin stanza, a distinctive rhymed iambic form that supports narrative movement, dialogue, and introspective passages.

Set in provincial Russia during the 1810s and 1820s, the story follows Eugene Onegin, a cultivated but disenchanted aristocrat who moves between city salons and country estates. He befriends the young poet Lensky and becomes involved with the Larina family. Tatiana Larina falls in love with Onegin and confesses her feelings in a heartfelt letter. He rejects her proposal, dismissing romance as impractical. At a festive gathering, Onegin provokes Lensky to a duel, and Lensky is killed, an event that alters the trajectory of all involved.

Years later, Tatiana, now married to Prince Gremin, remains steadfast and dignified. Onegin, having grown weary of life and haunted by past choices, finds himself drawn to Tatiana yet discovers her bound to her husband. She refuses him, choosing duty and fidelity over renewed passion. The narrative concludes with Onegin contemplating his loneliness and the consequences of pride and indifference, leaving readers with a meditation on love, memory, and social constraints.

Impact and adaptations: Eugene Onegin influenced later Russian literature and is widely studied for its stylistic innovations and psychological realism. It inspired Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin, among other adaptations in theatre and film. The work remains a central reference point for discussions of 19th-century Russian society and literary form.