Zhukovsky and Pushkin are two big names in the history of Russian literature, two geniuses, two great people. Such different fates, different characters, and such a warm friendship for many years! What were close Zhukovsky and Pushkin, is briefly described in many sources. Let's try to look deeper.
Background
Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky - born in 1783 the illegitimate son of the landowner Athanasius Bunin. To give his son the opportunity to get an education and a certain position in society, Bunin gave the boy for adoption to the impoverished nobleman Andrei Zhukovsky. This made it possible to arrange a gifted child in a good guesthouse, where his literary talent began to appear.
Fifteen years later, in 1799, the future genius of Russian literature, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, was born in a poor, but noble noble family. At 13, he was enrolled in the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where he was distinguished by a cheerful disposition, a tendency to leprosy and rebellion, an absolute dislike for mathematical sciences and the ability to create poetic masterpieces.
Acquaintance
At the age of 17, Alexander met Vasily Andreyevich, who often traveled to Tsarskoye Selo, was on friendly terms with the Pushkin family and visited the most famous literary drawing rooms of the capital.
During this period, Alexander Pushkin was already famous for several poems, while Zhukovsky’s work is at the peak of popularity: he is recognized, read out in the evenings, poetic lines and translations are taught by heart. Vasily Andreyevich is already close to the royal family and is spinning in the highest circles.
What brought together seemingly different people like Zhukovsky and Pushkin, different in age, social status, and occupation? Probably, first of all, love for literature and sensitivity to the poetic syllable. Pushkin was read by Zhukovsky, was his loyal fan, and Vasily Andreevich was able to immediately discern the poetic gift of his young and mischievous comrade. He predicted a great future for him.
Common interests
The love of literature contributed to the development of common interests and topics for conversation. Pushkin, along with Zhukovsky and his parents, began to visit the drawing rooms of Karamzin, Batyushkov and other famous writers. Together with his elder friend, he became a member of the Arzamas circle, where they studied poetry, wrote and recited poems, and competed in literary skills. Relations between Zhukovsky and Pushkin became more and more warm and trusting. The age difference did not interfere with this friendship: the wisdom and life experience of one always often helped to cool the youthful fervor of the other.
Creative duel
Zhukovsky’s work is known to us largely thanks to his tales. Pushkin considered himself a student of Vasily Andreyevich, because it was his tales that inspired young Alexander to create his own masterpieces.
In 1831, after being exiled to Mikhailovskoye, Pushkin presented his friend "The Tale of the Priest and His Worker Balda" and several other sketches. Zhukovsky praised the work and offered to enter into a comic competition. The dispute between Zhukovsky and Pushkin concerned writing fairy tales in a folk style. So there were the famous "Tale of Tsar Saltan and his son Gvidon ..." and "The Tale of the Dead Princess ..." Pushkin, as well as Zhukovsky's tale "On Tsar Berendey" and "On the Sleeping Princess". A comparison of Pushkin and Zhukovsky during this period leads to the idea that Vasily Andreyevich adheres to the Western style (after all, the tales are based on the works of European authors and their romantic motifs), while Alexander Sergeyevich brings a truly Russian character to his creations, and his tales are very remind folk.
After some time, Pushkin will bring to the judgment of his wise friend the poem Ruslan and Lyudmila. And he will receive a gift in return - a portrait of V. A. Zhukovsky with the inscription "To the winner of the student from the defeated teacher." On this, Zhukovsky and Pushkin end their literary duel.
It is impossible not to notice that in the poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila" young Pushkin allowed himself a parody of his teacher and some rather sharp phrases, which he regretted very much in his mature years.
True friendship
All the years after they met and until Pushkin’s death, Zhukovsky was for his young friend a kind of savior (or savior?). Temperamental, quick-tempered and straightforward Alexander from time to time fell into various troubles, and the wise and diplomatic Vasily Andreevich was able to find a way out of any situation for him.
When, in 1820, for preparing lines of poems and sharp epigrams that were not pleasing to the Tsar, they were planning to send Pushkin to Siberia, Zhukovsky, Karamzin and other influential people managed to ensure that such a terrible measure was replaced by a transfer to the south of the country. Thanks to this, Alexander managed to maintain his service and social position.
Zhukovsky was also nearby in the difficult year of 1824, when a major quarrel with his father threatened the poet with legal proceedings, and this would further aggravate his already not very advantageous position. Thanks to diplomatic art, Alexander Sergeyevich again saw the favor of the tsar and returned to high society.
In 1825, thanks to his influence at the court, Vasily Andreevich helped justify Pushkin, who was accused of involvement in the Decembrist uprising.
It was Zhukovsky who, among the few most faithful friends, did not leave Pushkin during his exile to Mikhailovskoye. And in any difficult situations, he knew how to support, at least in writing.
Zhukovsky - a friend of Pushkin, who remained close during the years of joy and in the years of disasters, did not leave in illness and even on his deathbed.
Pushkin about Zhukovsky
Alexander Sergeevich idolized his wise friend from the Lyceum years. Despite their not-so-serious rivalry, Pushkin always saw Zhukovsky as a teacher and mentor. The line of one of the poems became a textbook:
His poems captivating sweetness
Centuries will pass enviously far ...
“Heavenly soul,” Alexander so warmly and affectionately called his beloved friend, and in letters he often addressed him only as a “guardian angel”.
Zhukovsky about Pushkin
In relation to Vasily Andreevich to his young friend, there was never even a note of indulgence, despite the difference in age and social status. We can safely say that age did not play any role in these relationships - these two people turned out to be so spiritually close. Zhukovsky highly appreciated both the personal qualities of Alexander and his poetic gift. Even from school, he predicted his fame, inspired, guided, prompted - until the moment when he was convinced that the student exceeded his teacher.
Death of poet
The years 1936-1937 were very difficult for Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. The appearance of Georges Dantes, the frivolous behavior of his wife Natalia, the intrigues of high society, slander and humiliating epigrams against the Pushkin family, attempts to defend the honor of his wife ... The situation grew tense every day.
It was clear that the goal was the same - to provoke a hot-tempered poet to a duel. It was Zhukovsky who persuaded Alexander with long persuasion not to send an insulting letter to his foe, because then a duel would have been inevitable. It Zhukovsky begged him to maintain prudence and not succumb to provocations.
It was Zhukovsky who, several days later, brought the mortally wounded poet into the apartment on the Moika (temperament and a desire to protect her beloved woman still prevailed over prudence).
Fate played a cruel joke: the birthday of V.A. Zhukovsky, January 29, was the day of the death of his faithful and beloved friend ...
Vasily Andreyevich was very worried about the death of his student and friend, even then he understood that not only a wonderful man, but also a great poet had passed away.
And after the death of the poet, like a guardian angel, Zhukovsky again came to the aid of a deceased friend: having received the order to review and deliver to the emperor all the letters of Pushkin, he disobeyed for the first time and secretly delivered them to his wife - Natalya Nikolaevna.
Zhukovsky and Pushkin - the embodiment of spiritual friendship, relationships devoid of self-interest, built on common interests, love of literature and the desire to help each other in difficult situations.