The theme of the poet and poetry is one of the main poems in Pushkin's poetry. He realized in his youthful years how great the influence of a creative, talented personality and art in general is on public consciousness, what a powerful upbringing weapon it can be. The poet, from his point of view, is a prophet, the herald of secular truths, the morality and conscience of the people and society. However, in order to meet such a high purpose, the creative personality itself must meet the high ideals of Goodness and Freedom, carry them through all life tests.
Pushkin and the Decembrists
About how Alexander Sergeevich was true to the proclaimed ideas, his poems are spoken. In particular, those of them dedicated to the disgraced friends of the Decembrists. For example, "Arion". Pushkin wrote it July 13, 1827, the next tragic anniversary of the execution of 5 organizers of the plot. With the Decembrists, the poet connected a lot. He was well acquainted and closely communicated with the members of the first organization - the "Union of Salvation". Then a young lyceum student, Alexander, enthusiastically listened to fiery speeches about the struggle against slavery, freedom and equality of all people pronounced at secret meetings by the brothers Turgenev, Muravyov and his other friends. He also belongs to the "Union of Prosperity", "Green Lamp", he studies a lot from Chaadaev, whom he considers to be his ideological inspirer. And later, being in the southern exile, the poet often happens at meetings of the "Southern Society", he often meets with Pestel. When there is an uprising of the Decembrists, Alexander Sergeyevich lives in Mikhailovskoye under a secret police supervision. However, he directly told Nicholas I that, at that time in St. Petersburg, he would have gone out with friends and like-minded people to the Senate Square. About this and his poem "Arion". Pushkin, whose work was always of an anti-government character, paid tribute to his memory, respect and devotion to the Decembrists in his various works.
"In the depths of Siberian ore ...", "Pushchino", "Arion"
Three poetry poems are directly devoted to the theme of the memory of the Decembrist movement. These are the famous messages to "Pushchino" ("My first friend ..."), "To Siberia" and "Arion". Pushkin wrote the first two at the end of 1826 - early 1827 and handed the exiled comrades to Princess Muravyova, who was traveling to her husband. In them, with deep sympathy and sincere admiration, he wrote about the greatness of the feat and the high tragedy of the fate of the insurgents, expressed the belief that their act would ignite the hearts of people for inspired deeds in the name of the Motherland and the people. A special place is occupied by the poem "Arion". Pushkin in him directly calls himself the heir and successor of the ideas of Decembrism.
Two Ariona
The poem is built as an expanded allegory. It turns us to the famous ancient Greek myths, in particular the myth of Arion. According to him, the famous singer and storyteller sailed to the shores of his homeland. However, greedy ship-owners decided to throw him into the abyss of the sea to seize property. Arion begged them the last grace - to sing before his death, and then he himself rushed into the waves. Touched by his skill and talent, the sea god Poseidon sent a dolphin who saved the singer and brought him to the shores of Corinth on his back. On the basis of this legend, Alexander Sergeevich obtained a somewhat different "Arion". Pushkin built his poem on a completely different ideological foundation. If the myth celebrates the all-powerful art, its reviving and life-affirming role, then Pushkin's central role is taken by the figure of the protagonist. And the life circumstances that changed the fate of the characters of both works are radically different.
Analysis of the poem
What are the motifs of Arion? Pushkin's poem builds on the basis of real events. The crew of the ship is not a gang of bandits, but a friendly, close-knit team, ruled by a wise "helmsman." In it everyone is busy with his own business, fulfilling his mission. The author is referring to the Decembrist movement, secret organizations and the work that its members performed in society. The team also includes the "mysterious singer" himself, full of "carefree faith". Faith in what? An analysis of Pushkin's poem "Arion" makes it possible to assume that in beautiful dreams, inspired speeches, ideas about the overthrow of the autocracy. The poet does not speak about it openly. But his contemporaries, and readers of subsequent generations, perfectly understood the meaning of veiled images. With what did faith come across, and did the singer remain so carefree? In the following lines, the author paints a picture of a brutal storm that sank like a sliver, a canoe and destroyed the whole team. "The keeper and the swimmer both died," he writes bitterly. Only an inspired performer was saved. What do his divine sounds sound like now? The answer is unambiguous: "I sing the hymns of the old ..."
Theme, the idea of the work
The lines cited above can rightfully be considered as the ideological center of the work. If the theme of the poem "Arion" of Pushkin is an image of the Decembrist uprising, an expression of the continuity of his ideas in the poet's work, then the key words, the semantic quintessence, is contained in this short phrase. Alexander Sergeyevich never gave up friends, did not betray the ideals of youth. He is loyal to them and in mature years. Of course, like any thinking person, let alone such a scale, the poet was wise with the years. Over time, Pushkin was able to understand the utopian nature of the plans and actions of the conspirators. But really, if he had the opportunity, at any moment he would go out in their ranks to the historical barrier.