"Airship" Lermontov: Napoleon as the unfading myth

In the poetry of M. Lermontov, the literary scholars singled out fascination with topics related to Napoleon Bonaparte. First, it is a myth of an extraordinary person, about his accomplishments. Secondly, this is Russia's victory over Napoleon. In this cycle of seven poems includes the work "Airship".

History of creation

A fantastic ballad called "Airship" was written and published in print in 1840. Author's text is not preserved. This is a free translation of the work "The Ship of Ghosts" by the German romantic Seidlitz. The work of M. Lermontov in some parts was influenced by the translation by V. Zhukovsky in 1836 of the ballad "The Night Review" by the same poet. It is assumed that M. Lermontov wrote a poem while in prison. He got there after the duel with the French attache. The poet experienced a complex of experiences related to personal affairs and France, which betrayed her emperor.

Topic of the work

The picture of the emperor's annual appearance after his death became legendary and is reflected not only by Cedlitz, but also by G. Heine, who, like Goethe, was a fan of the all-powerful dictator. He returns to France for a brief time a fantastic airship on which there is no crew. However, it is equipped with cast-iron cannons and is ready to conquer the world. The Lermontov airship forces to sail on all sails in blue waves to pick up only one night of the emperor.

On a deserted island, he rises from under the gravestone. In a gray naval frock coat, Napoleon quickly rises to the helm and goes to a nice France, to a small son, to his own glory. He has not changed for years and is ready to repeat the battle path again. Returning, he calls his companions and marshals. No one responds to his call. Someone was buried under the sands in Africa, someone - under the snows of Russia, someone was forever in the fields of the Elbe, someone betrayed him.

The idea of a ballad

In Russia and France there was timelessness, in which there was nothing heroic. It is not without reason that during these years (1838 - 1840) Mikhail Yurievich worked on the work "Hero of Our Time". His character possessed the mind and strength to serve the fatherland, but there was nowhere to put them. So the heroic personality displayed by the "Airship" suffocates even in real France, which changes kings, but does not change the festive thoughtless life. Everyone has forgotten the former greatness and victories that brought glory to the country. Personality is not ordinary here nothing to do.

His heavy sigh is heard, even bitter tears came to his eyes. It's brightening, and the ship is waiting for him. The hero embarks on the return journey, deceived in his expectations. He feels only sorrow, that inexorable time has destroyed everything that is valuable to man in this world: the attachments of the heart and soul, took close people, destroyed the memory of the recent heroic past and the glory of the emperor worldwide. In general, the collapse of hopes and illusions. Sic transit gloria mundi (This is how earthly glory goes).

"Airship", Lermontov: analysis

The ballad is written in amphibrachium, which consists of three stops. There are 72 verses in it, which are divided into 18 stanzas. Each of them has 4 lines. The rhythm of amphibrachia creates monotony, everyday life without bursts of passion or joy. Frequent repetitions, rustling, like sea waves, create a cycle of being. The verse runs one on another like waves on the sea sand, emphasizing the constancy of the annual ritual. The path of the emperor repeats itself every year, but nevertheless he does not know what happened in the world, he looks for the past in him: he calls his soldiers and marshals, turns to his son and waits for his appearance. He does not address anyone specifically, he does not call anyone by his first name. This is the call of the lonely in the desert. Further memories become more specific, geographically accurate, but time flows from victories to defeats.

Lermontov, using exaggeration, from a small fat man makes a powerful hero (his steps are large, his hands are mighty), his homeland is not a provincial Corsica, but a great France. The author recalls the quicksand three times. A hero can not get out of him. Therefore, without calling anyone, he starts on the way back, only hopelessly waving his hand and his head on his chest.

This deep philosophical work dispels the romantic image of the hero, showing him a man with all the feelings inherent in the person.