Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin’s the Queen of Spades opened many doors for Russian writing. The Queen of Spades is a Romantic short story, but it contains many Enlightenment aspects as well. The Queen of Spades is associated with gambling and insanity, both very Romantic ideals. To go along with the Romantic ideal it also includes a lot of common sense and obsession. These are quite the opposite of how romantics thought and very much how the people of the Enlightenment thought. Pushkin stepped out of the box and not only wrote in his own language, but brought two eras together, Romanticism and the Enlightenment, to create a spectacular work.
“Pushkin established himself as one of Russia’s greatest writers” (Troyat 1773). “He revolutionized the Russian language,” (Rudholm) without Pushkin, there might not be any Russian writings today. Before Pushkin, the Russian’s were ashamed to write in their own language (Rudholm). Pushkin opened the door for many Russian writers; the people of Russia worshipped him for this (Rudholm).
Pushkin grew up in an odd situation, he was born in the Romantic era, but his tutors were from the end of the Enlightenment period. This is reflected immensely in his writings, especially in the Queen of Spades. He has a lot of Romantic aspects in the story, but the ideas from the Enlightenment period really shine through as well. This part reflects how much of an impact of those who tutored him had on his writings.
In the Queen of Spades, I feel that gambling is the major central metaphor in the book. “Gambling provides not only the chief male activity but the central metaphor of the story” (Troyat 1774). In Romanticism, they really enjoyed gambling and partying as is portrayed in the book (R...
... middle of paper ...
..., they would rather just take the risk and see where the cards fall. Another Enlightenment aspect is the obsession Hermann has. The Romantics did not obsess over things; they had a really go with the flow attitude. Hermann becomes so completely obsessed with finding the three winning cards, that it caused him to kill the countess and drove him to insanity. I feel his obsession was the cause of all his problems and hurt him more than anything else in the long run.
I feel the Queen of Spades can teach the reader a lot about life. It shows the reader that they need to see where life takes them; they do not need to cheat or gamble their way through life. It also shows if you choose to gamble you way through life that the consequences could be life changing and dangerous. By Pushkin bringing to opposite eras together we get to see how what both sides believed.
...ls of the romantic revolution, the nobility of spirit and individuality must be preserved, and intellect, whether you had it or not, was part of this, because part of being individual was coming up with some of your own ideas, possessing uniqueness of thought. Once again, this evokes a certain emotional response from the person who interprets this pseudo intellectualism, and the feeling the reader has about it is an integral part in the establishment of an identity with the characters.
Breen even goes on to call this form of gambling a “ritual” amongst the colony and closely represents their own planting lifestyle as well The men who would often bet had the chance of losing all of their own material goods and also possibly their own reputation. Gambling was such an addiction to them, they went as far as risking their own reputation amongst society just for the chance of having more than they needed. Again, this cannot stress more on the concept of materialism as the author has stated and their competitive nature. It is evident that these traits that they have built over time through their independence led into their competitive gambling, and therefore the act of gambling then too represented who they truly were.
First symbol, the bingo wheel, we've all wanted to win the jackpot on the big wheel in Las Vegas or spin the carnival wheel to see what free gift you had landed on. It was in ancient literature that the whole idea to a wheel spun by the “goddess of Fate.” The wheel would be able to tell the fate of any human being. In todays modern world, “The Wheel of Fortune determines whether you win a brand-new car or a trip to Hawaii ”(Shmoop). The point is, spinning wheels are symbolically linked to fate. We observe that, “He felt vaguely that his whole life was determined by the bingo wheel; not only that which would happen now that he was at last before it, but all that had gone before, since his birth and his mother's birth and the birth of his father” (32). The main character quickly blames the bingo wheel for all the cruelty he has experienced in his life (and that his ancestors have experienced). This fits in with the bingo wheel as the wheel of fortune. As you read the story, shows how the main character's yearning is not for money, although he needs it to save his wife, the main character's only meaning in life is to save his wife. “Having the wheel stop at the correct number, as a result, is a matter of life or death for him, and once he begins pressing the wheel, he believes that he has control over life and death”(Symbols/King of the Bingo Game).
During Russia’s transition to communism in the early 20th century, conflict and unease permeated every part of life. Nothing was stable and very little of what the Bolsheviks had fought for had come to fruition by the time the USSR disbanded in 1991. The “classless society”, which was to work together for the prosperity of everyone, never became a reality. In the end, the majority of Russia’s 20th century was an utter failure on a grand scale. However, there were many amazing products of the system do to the great importance of education in Russian culture. Priceless novels were written, timeless movies were made, and great scientific endeavors were realized despite the rigid control placed upon Russian persons by the government. In fact, some of the most memorable written works of the time were written protests to the creativity-stifling situation many writers found themselves in. Because of the danger to their lives should the wrong people be upset by their writings, Yevgeny Zamyatin and Mikhail Bulgakov wrote their most popular, Soviet-life condemning novels under the guise of satire. Even though they’re satirizing the same subject, in both We and The Master and Margarita respectively, they take very different paths to do so.
Before the Beckettian "waiting" there was the continuous "waiting" of the three sisters who never lived in Moscow. Chekhov developed an aesthetic principle, according to which tragic and comic are not separated by an impassable wall but represent two sides of the same phenomenon of life, which can be viewed both in terms of tragedy and in terms of comedy. Thesis statement Gurov embodies the power of change that true love can have even on the most cynical characters. He is an island of hope in an ocean of turmoil represented by revolutionary Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. The following paper will focus on one of the most characteristic types of work for Chekhov: “The Lady and the Pet Dog”.
Ferguson, Carol. "LECTURE: THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE ROMANTIC ERA." The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. .
It lets children and young adults go into a fantasy world that involves around wizards, witches, and magic. This series gets children to start to read at a young age. I believe this series is deeply more because it can show what morally side path you want to go down life. This series of books show how the morally good people would act in a crisis and not in crisis. For example, Mrs. Weasley in books and movies series her character was the loving mother who loved everyone basically. But at the end of the books and movies, when she in a crisis situation with Bellatrix Lestrange, who is trying to kill her daughter. Mrs. Weasley puts down that friendly loving look and goes after Bellatrix. They battled until Bellatrix’s death. It was the first time we saw this character not in loving, happily mood. Her morals changed when she saw that her daughter was in danger. This series also teaches us how to break the rules. Even though breaking the rules is morally wrong, but in some cases breaking the rules is good for people. Its shows how even fictional characters are not perfect in a make-up world. But it does show heroic and virtuous character moments that don’t need a perfect character. This imagination by J.K. Rowling is truly impressive because she appeals to our heads and our hearts with her writing according to Philosopher Martha Nussbaum. She means that the way she wrote some of her characters and the scenes they are in they touches our self in different place like our head and hearts. This book also gives young children and adults to explore their imagination that could lead us to the next Harry Potter
Dickens is often held to be among the greatest writers of the Victorian Age. Nonetheless, why are his works still relevant nearly two centuries later? One reason for this is clearly shown in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. In the novel, he uses imagery to sway the readers’ sympathies. He may kindle empathy for the revolutionary peasants one moment and inspire feeling for the imprisoned aristocrats the next, making the book a more multi-sided work. Dickens uses imagery throughout the novel to manipulate the reader’s compassion in the peasants’ favor, in the nobles defense, and even for the book’s main villainess, Madame Defarge.
Herman is so determined to find his holy grail of gambling that he does not consider that the Countess may be serious when she swears that the story “was a joke” (Pushkin 80). In Douglas Clayton’s essay, “The Queen of Spades: a seriously intended joke,” Clayton points out that, at the time of her debt, the story “was a joke at her husband’s expense” and a “story told to [her husband] to disguise the truth” of how she actually paid off the debt (Clayton 12). Clayton goes on to suggest that, in order to pay her debt, the Countess may have slept with Saint-Germain in order to repay her funds, discounting any real mysticism in the story. However, Herman is far past his former rationality that he believes she is just withholding the secret from him. There is not other explanation for her silence. He reasons with her, begs her, and eventually threatens her, resulting in her death. Herman’s actions are based off of a rumor he heard when he was drinking with his friends, which he takes at face value. Even when he hears that the story was a joke, he cannot believe it because he has allowed so much irrational change to transform him. If he were to accept that the story was not true, he would have irrationally obsessed over nothing. In order for him to maintain his internal façade of rationality, the only thing he can do is
The preceding Enlightenment period had depended upon reason, logic and science to give us knowledge, success, and a better society. The Romantics contested that idea and changed the formula...
Originating in Europe in the late 18th century, the Romanticism Era characterized an interest in nature and emphasized the individuals emotion and imagination. The sudden change in attitudes formed an age of classicism and rebellion against established social rules and conventions. Praising imagination over reason, emotions over logic and intuition over science, this made way for a vast body of literature of great sensibility and passion. The variety of this impressive romanticism literature can be focused on by specific authors, works of literature, and how romanticism influenced their writing.
A. The Epic of Russian Literature. New York: Oxford University Press, 1950. 309-346. Tolstoy, Leo. "
Pushkin was followed by Zhukovsky and Gogol. They and their successors have managed to carry Russian art through to our modern times. As one can see art and religion together have come to shape much of what Russia has become. Through the voices of the metropolitanates and the art and literature of its writers and artists such as Pushkin, the image of what we now know as Russia has largely been created. Art and Religion have helped form the past and they will no doubt continue to influence Russian culture through the 21st century and beyond.
Dostoevsky’s noteworthy literary works each contain similarities in theme, character development, and purpose when analyzed beyond face value. Dostoevsky’s early life and ideals, intertwined with life-changing events that shifted his ideologies, and critiques of fellow Russian writers during his time period lay the groundwork for Dostoevsky’s recurring arguments for the way which Russian society would be best-off, as well as ways in which the people of Russia would be suited to live the most fulfilling, non-corrupt lives.
Throughout The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton uses many themes and motifs; gambling being a dominant one. Lily Bart is constantly testing her luck with her need to feel as if she has the upper hand in many situations. Lily always seems to throw out winning cards because she thinks that a better hand will come to her in the next round. Many readers might think that Lily is merely a careless, self-centered, and money-hungry tease. She very well may be all of those things; however, I believe it is all due to her addiction to gambling. Gambling gives Lily the rush that she craves in her boring upper class life, which has taught her to be cool, calm, and collected—the perfect poker face to disguise her addiction. Lily Bart’s incessant addiction to gambling with money, men and her own life, in due course leads to her demise.