Alexander Blok was unanimously recognized by critics as one of the best Russian poets not only of the twentieth century, but throughout the
history of Russian literature. The king of the
artistic image and allegorical, the master, who with one motive was able to reveal to the reader the meaning of the work. No wonder many literary experts note the closeness of his poems with music, and in particular with the poet's favorite genre - romance.
The theme of Russia in the lyrics of the Bloc is prevailing. This was repeatedly said by the poet himself. Skillfully combining mysticism and ephemeral principle with a difficult life and harsh reality, the great poet was sincerely worried in his works for the fate of his country.
The theme of the motherland in the lyrics of the Bloc was chosen by him at the very beginning of his career and passed the leitmotif through his entire creative life. In the very first published verses, “Gamayun, the bird of things,” the question of the path of Russia is raised, the tragic moments of history are recalled. Often, Blok’s homeland appears as a woman: the bride in the poem “New America”. And the very feeling of true patriotism, according to the poet, is akin to the purest love experiences.
We can say that the theme of Russia in the lyrics of the Bloc was very personal. In many ways, it is similar in mood to Lermontov’s “Homeland”. Both poets clearly deny the value of official patriotism, ostentatious pathos, worship of the flag or other attributes of power. For them, the homeland is a common people. For Blok, as for Lermontov, far more important is peasant poverty, cast aside by the revolution even further into the margins of life; millions of destinies of ordinary people, spinning in a whirlwind of revolution.
Despite bitter experiences and a pronounced exaltation in everything related to the motherland, Blok sincerely hopes that the fate of Russia will be great. It is this Nekrasov’s faith in the common people and historical optimism that best describes the post-revolutionary period of his work and is still relevant today.
The image of Russia appears both mysterious and tragic: a great country with an incomprehensible spirit and its own unique destiny. This point of view is very related to him with Tyutchev, who wrote the famous lines: “you cannot understand Russia with your mind ... ”.
Despite the poet’s urban life style, the image of Russia in Blok’s lyrics refers the reader precisely to rural aesthetics: the wilderness, the road, the coachmen, gray peasant huts.
The poet often touches on the topic of self-identification of Russia, the definition of its own unique path. The revolution is accepted by the Bloc as a necessity and an important stage, without which it was impossible to do.
The theme of Russia in Blok's lyrics invariably coexists with the theme of the doom of his own generation. In the description of himself and his peers invariably shows the motive of Remark's “lost generation”:
I believe: a new century will come
Among all the unhappy generations.
This also implies the realization of their importance, the need to be steadfast for the sake of their own people.
Summing up, it should be noted that the theme of Russia in the lyrics of the Bloc was for the great poet both foundation and inspiration.