When N. Tikhonov said that Yesenin is eternal, he did not sin at all against the truth. Indeed, the lyrics of Sergei Yesenin are a unique phenomenon. It looks like a pure spring, having touched upon it, one wants to drink, without stopping, the life-giving moisture of the poet's verses.
Revolution and the peasant question
Those who know Yesenin’s biography well will probably remember his special attitude to the revolution. Peasant roots, rural origin forever tied him to his native land. And therefore, the poet considered and evaluated any transformations in the country, whether political or social, from one, but extremely important, side: what benefit will they bring to the peasantry, toilers, grain growers? Although his family was not considered poor, Sergey Alexandrovich knew very well what life is for those who barely make ends meet. And he also experienced the hardest physical labor of the peasants on himself in full. And he well understood how destructive for the agrarian country, what was tsarist Russia, the policy of ruin of the people, which was carried out by the government. He accepted the revolution with joy. The Land Decree has become the main reason for this. Yesenin earnestly hoped that the new government would support the peasantry, comprehensively help him, and prevent new ruins. That the village people will breathe more freely, eat enough of their fill, prosperity will appear in the huts.
Bitterness of disappointment
Time has shown that in his dreams the poet turned out to be an idealist. The first repressions, the civil war and the terrible famine, the pestilence that swept through the country in a hurricane - all this could not add optimism. Letters from the village, the stories of the visiting sisters painted a gloomy picture of the hopeless existence of the village. Strong masters were dispossessed, the necessary things for life were taken from the "middle peasants". And those who belonged to the poor rarely ever began to really live better. The power of the Bolsheviks clearly did not favor the peasantry too, considering it a possessive and politically backward class. In addition, the new orders destroyed that age-old way to which people are accustomed and considered the basis of their being. It became clear that the past was not just an old village - a whole layer of folk culture sunk into oblivion.
"Blessed is he who visited this world in his fateful moments ..."
To evaluate what is happening, to rethink everything that he saw with what he encountered in the "furious" world surrounding him, the poet tries in such works as "Heavenly Drummer", "Sorokoust", "Outgoing Russia", in the epic poem "Anna Snegina" . And in 1924 he wrote a very important, in fact, program poem Yesenin. “Soviet Russia” is what it is called. This is a kind of result of reflection, an attempt to reconcile and try on a new reality, a new system and worldview. And a bitter realization of the impossibility of this. And also - the deep, deeply understood kinship with the homeland, with the road and infinitely beloved Russia. In it, in the original connection of this, is the whole of Yesenin. “Soviet Russia”, each image of a poem, each line of it is a vivid confirmation of this.
Genre and composition
1924 - the last year of the poet’s life, at the beginning of the 25th he will not be. Therefore, everything that is written shortly before death is so important to us. In such works, you can catch invisible signals, warning beacons, prophecies that a genius makes in moments of divine inspiration. And who will argue that such a genius from God was Yesenin! “Soviet Russia” is of interest to us because it allows us to look at the past of our country through the eyes of a poet-prophet. According to the genre, the poem can most likely be attributed to a small poem. The epic basis is clearly expressed in it, dividing the entire text into 4 semantic parts. The main artistic device is the antithesis (contrast). The storyline represents the return of the lyrical hero to his native land after a long absence. This hero is Yesenin. "Soviet Russia" - a look at peasant Russia through the prism of perception of the native village.
Text analysis
The first part of the poetic text consists of 9 stanzas. It is permeated with pessimistic moods. The poet says that time has scattered friends, that he is lonely and does not feel like a “citizen of the village”, a full-fledged resident of his native village. In the second part (the following 4 stanzas), before our eyes passes “Soviet Russia”. Yesenin analyzes the new time, the new system, in general, the rural Bolshevik world new to him, through everyday everyday sketches. They, like separate puzzles, stacked together, give an idea of the picture as a whole. What do we see and hear? Instead of the fervent ditties, the youth sings to the harmonica the revolutionary propaganda of Demyan Poor. The villagers gathered for a gathering near the building of the volost government, but before the place of gathering, discussions of painful and just conversations "for life" was the square near the church. And they’re talking not about God, but about civil war. Yesenin’s poem “Soviet Russia” (second part) contains the conclusion: “My poetry is no longer needed here ...” Part three (stanzas 15 to 19) reflect the poet’s position in relation to the revolution. He resigns himself to everything, gives his soul to "October and May." Here are just a lyre, poetry, inspiration, a divine gift he does not want to give to anyone.
Internal conflict
So we come to the main thing - the inner conflict that makes up the nerve of the work. Continuing the analysis of Yesenin’s poem “Soviet Russia”, it is important to dwell on this moment. On the one hand, the poet resigned himself to what was happening. There is no point arguing with history. Country, people have chosen their path. And he, as a true citizen and patriot, is ready to share everything bad and good that the wind of change has prepared Russia. But poetry, the sacrament of creativity is that deeply personal, intimate, innermost that is given to man from above and makes him chosen. This gift is located above worldly vanity, momentary problems. That is how Pushkin treated his talent. Yesenin is close to such a position. In the final stanza 4, Yesenin expresses his life credo: Homeland - that’s in value and significance can be compared with a poetic gift. And only to her, her native Russia can the poet surrender herself without a trace.
Yesenin is eternal!