Nikolai Nekrasov is a person whose importance is difficult to underestimate. Russian literature and social thought look completely different if you look at them from two time points that determine the dates of its arrival and departure from them. Analysis of the poem "Muse" gives us the key to a deeper understanding of the work of this author.
Poet and citizen
The work of Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov opened a new era in the development of Russian literature of the nineteenth century. Nekrasov outlined a number of semantic directions, which before him simply did not exist. The poet was one of the first who was able to draw the attention of his reader in the direction of a simple Russian worker. His poetry is imbued with a vivid civic feeling. For a deeper understanding of the poet’s creative method, it is best to analyze some of his works, which are considered to be key. Such, of course, is Nekrasov’s verse "Muse", dated 1852. In a sense, it is software. In this early work for the first time the images and meanings that will go through all the subsequent work of the poet are indicated.
Analysis of Nekrasov’s poem "Muse"
In this lengthy text, the poet reflects on the sources of inspiration and creativity. Here, two opposite principles are clearly indicated, to which the poet's inspiration gravitates - striving for sky-high heights and compassion for simple modest people who are far from the heavenly spheres. And the lyrical hero of the poem on behalf of the poet makes his final choice in favor of those who need his songs on earth. The image of Nekrasov’s Muse appears in his poem in the form of "... an eternally crying and incomprehensible virgin." The poet inspired by her completely dives into the whirlpool and boiling of earthly passions. He finds his calling in the first place to be heard by earthly people, and not by transcendental angels. A look through this allegory of the poet’s subsequent work fully confirms his choice in his youth.
Through years of labors
The demanding analysis of Nekrasov’s poem “Muse” allows us to conclude that this work was quite traditional in form and overly pretentious in content. But such a conclusion will be unfounded. Despite the naivete of his poetic declarations, Nekrasov carried loyalty to them through his whole life. And it was very difficult. The path to prosperity and fame lay through many years of hard work and existence on the verge of poverty. For many years, the poet did not stand out from the background of those people to whom his poems were addressed. Actually, this whole earthly whirlwind was portrayed in his early poem "Muse" by Nekrasov. An analysis of the text of this work makes it possible to understand from what sources he drew his inspiration. The poet recognizes the power of only one muse - "The sad companion of the sad poor, born for labor, suffering and fetters." It should be understood that such a choice was quite unusual and even challenging. He contradicted the generally accepted opinion of the elite purpose of poetry.
Stylistic features of the new poetry
An analysis of Nekrasov’s poem "The Muse" testifies to the moral and aesthetic choice made by the poet. Already in this work the circle of images is clearly indicated and to which the author intends to devote all his future creativity. Moreover, the poem itself is written in a fairly traditional language. But the point here is that further movement in the chosen direction required new expressive possibilities. It was pointless to write about serfs in the language of salon poetry. And Nikolai Nekrasov was at the height of the chosen mission. He introduced into Russian literature entire lexical strata, which before him in literary Russian were almost nonexistent. The figurative poetic system of Nikolai Nekrasov turned out to be brightly individual. His unique style spawned many followers and imitators.
Singer of the working people
The poet Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov in his work brought out such a gallery of images, the appearance of which until recently it was impossible to imagine. If serfs appeared on the pages of literary works, it was only in the form of characters of the second and third plan. For many, this turned out to be a surprise, but on the forefront of Russian literature were simple workers, farmers, peasants "from the plow." Enlightened aristocratic public became acquainted with the world of Russian common people. It was, without exaggeration, a poetic discovery. He was committed to being faithful to his aesthetic principles, once designated in the poem "Muse", Nekrasov. An analysis of the subsequent literary process shows that his view of the world turned out to be the main one for Russian art. The poet created a whole direction. Not only a literary school that faces the everyday existence of the common people, but also a new direction in social thought and journalism.
Path to freedom
An analysis of Nekrasov’s poem "Muse" after his writing testified only to the direction chosen by the poet in the development of his work. But he could not even imagine the public resonance that could provoke poetic creativity. With his poetry, Nikolai Nekrasov awakened in society forces that, like himself, were not comfortable with the existing order of things. Of course, he was not alone in his aspirations. The powerful upsurge of the Russian social movement has led to radical changes in the centuries-old foundations of Russian society. Under heavy pressure from below in 1861, such a medieval relic as serfdom was canceled . This was a grand event in Russian history, but, according to the testimony of the poet himself, did not bring the people the expected happiness and universal prosperity. But the whole subsequent movement of social thought was inspired, among other things, by the poetry of Nekrasov and his followers. Almost all Russian revolutionaries and progressive public figures were devoted fans and readers of the poet.