Doomed to the Empire. A Vision of the Russian Historical Path in Alexander Pushkin’s The Bronze Horseman Cover Image

Skazani na imperium. Wizja rosyjskiej drogi dziejowej w Jeźdźcu miedzianym Aleksandra Puszkina
Doomed to the Empire. A Vision of the Russian Historical Path in Alexander Pushkin’s The Bronze Horseman

Author(s): Antoni Bortnowski
Subject(s): Russian Literature, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: Alexander Pushkin; The Bronze Horseman; Russian imperialism; Russian historiosophy; the sense of rebellions in Russian history;

Summary/Abstract: The article is an attempt to explore the vision of Russian history in Alexander Pushkin’s The Bronze Horseman. The key role in the poem is played by the figure of Peter I, who is shown as a despot on the one hand, and a bold visionary on the other. In The Bronze Horseman, Pushkin presents a suggestive image of the flood in St. Petersburg, referring to such problems as the clash between an ordinary man and history or the essence of rebellions and revolutions. Deciphering the meaning of individual motifs allows us to perceive Pushkin’s coherent and multidimensional historiosophical vision. The main conclusion of the article is the statement that Russian imperialism in The Bronze Horseman is shown as an organic element of Russianness, without which Russia could not have formed as a strong and modern state. Moreover, the poem can invariably be seen as a key to understanding the essence and vitality of Russian imperialism.

  • Issue Year: 2023
  • Issue No: 25
  • Page Range: 31-45
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish
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