Valery Bryusov is a prominent representative of the Symbolists and is considered the founder of this literary movement in Russia. Many poets who worked in the late XIX - early XX centuries, resorted to symbolism, which expressed protest against dogma, moralizing and traditions. An analysis of Bryusov’s poem “To the Young Poet” shows that the author wanted to give parting words to future writers, to leave behind followers who would continue the work he had begun.
The content of the poem
In 1896, Bryusov wrote to The Young Poet. An analysis of the poem suggests that the author dreamed of a new generation of symbolists who, no matter what, would serve art. Valery Yakovlevich urged young people to be ruthless to society, selfish and to have only one goal in life - to show their writing talent. Symbolists put spiritual in the first place and despise the material, so the followers of this trend should be deprived of earthliness and deny their connection with the current time.
An analysis of Bryusov’s poem “To the Young Poet” shows that the author encourages writers to abstract from the outside world, to dream of beauty and to transmit their dreams in poems. Each symbolist poet must become a demigod, a self-sufficient person who will be respected by the layman. Valery Yakovlevich demanded to love himself, to understand his own originality and to clearly go to the intended goal, without losing his way. A real poet, in spite of everything, should devote his whole life to the muse.
The hidden meaning of the poem
At the end of the 19th century, popular unrest began to occur more and more, revolutionary ideas began to circulate in society, the enemy of which was Bryusov. “To the Young Poet” is a poem calling for spiritual development and renunciation of all material things. According to the Symbolists, materialism cannot rule the world, Valery Yakovlevich himself always believed that only time can judge who was right and who was not. As a result , Bryusov's work became a classic of Russian literature, and revolutionary ideas showed their bankruptcy and utopianism.
When a poet requires followers to love themselves, he does not mean narcissism, but comprehension of personal uniqueness, which will help to develop good qualities in oneself, not to be dependent on the opinions of others. An analysis of Bryusov’s poem “To the Young Poet” suggests that the author believes that no one is able to appreciate the spiritual world of a person, except himself. Narcissism helps the poet to better know his inner world and open up in poetry.
The reader may be shocked by the author’s appeal not to sympathize with anyone, but the analysis of Bryusov’s poem “The Young Poet” shows that he means an attempt to protect himself from everything material and to engage only in spiritual searches. If a writer begins to be interested in other people's problems, then he will simply wallow in them, there will be no time for creativity at all. In addition, poetry must be light, sublime and have nothing to do with earthly life, and for this the poet needs to protect himself from society.