Despite the fact that Valery Bryusov was directly related to symbolism, nevertheless one of his ingenious creations relates to Russian classicism. The poem "Dagger" was written in 1903, it is dedicated to Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov and Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin - two great writers who devoted their lives to the struggle against the autocracy, who raised in their works issues of freedom, as well as the role of the poet in society.
Analysis of Bryusov’s
poem “Dagger” allows us to draw a parallel with the work of the same name by Lermontov. Valery Yakovlevich used only one metaphor in his work, comparing the blade with a poetic gift. In his opinion, everyone should perfectly master the sharp instrument of retaliation. Bryusov believes that the word has a very great influence, the only question is whether the poet himself wants to hone his skills and convey to the society the hidden meaning of poetry so that they are understandable and clear.
An analysis of Bryusov’s poem “Dagger” allows you to see the differences between the worldview of the author and his predecessors - Pushkin and Lermontov. Alexander Sergeyevich and Mikhail Yuryevich believed that the poet should write poetry for people, not paying attention to barriers and misunderstanding. But Valery Yakovlevich thinks that it is pointless to talk about high matters if the people are in captivity. A poet cannot change anything until people themselves try to get rid of the burden. The writer must obey the public opinion, and not vice versa.
Valery Yakovlevich understands that he alone can not do anything. Analysis of Bryusov’s poem “Dagger” shows that the author assigns the poet the role of an outside observer and reduces to zero any significance of literature. The writer should be included in the struggle when the unrest begins. Valery Bryusov “Dagger” wrote with faith in a change in the political situation in the country. Many believe that he possessed the gift of foresight, because two years after writing the poem, a revolution took place.
Valery Yakovlevich predicted a change in public information, he clearly decided for himself which side he would take. An analysis of Bryusov’s poem “Dagger” allows us to understand that the author admires the works of Lermontov and Pushkin, realizing that their works were more significant for society than his work. Valery Yakovlevich chooses the side of the people, but he himself cannot explain why he does it. Mikhail Yuryevich and Alexander Sergeyevich were once the connecting link between different layers of society, but Bryusov himself is not like that.
The poet is not proud of his work, because he is not able to change anything. The works do not hear a call to action, the tsarist regime does not pay any attention to them. Bryusov’s verse “Dagger” once again emphasizes that he is a “songwriter of the struggle”, while the poet realizes that he lacks Lermontov’s free-thinking and Pushkin’s audacity. Valery Yakovlevich is not able to lead the crowd, to become its ideological leader, his fate is to accept the will of the public and dissolve into the gray mass.