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  • Essay / "The Bronze Horseman: Exploring the Image of Peter the Great

    The story of “The Bronze Horseman: A Petersburg Tale” by Alexander Pushkin illustrates the power of Tsar Peter the Great, who brings his glorious city to full fruition. The city, however, continues to prosper, but not without suffering obvious mistreatment of its citizens. Soon, St. Petersburg begins to eclipse its older sister, Moscow. Seemingly untouchable, greater St. Petersburg and its citizens are thrown into chaos by a flash flood. This highlights that although the Tsar is considered "all-powerful" in Russia, "The Bronze Horseman" explores how nature is what it truly is. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'? Get the original essay It was nature's bounty that gave Peter the Great the canvas on which to create his extravagant city in Russia. He imagined a landscape so grand that he built his city there and where “here, at the behest of nature, we will break a window to the west.” In other words, he considered the construction of his city as a will of nature; this nature was in agreement with his royal designs. After the war with the Finns and the Swedes, Peter decided to build a city that would be the “jewel and wonder of the North”. The city became a flourishing city of its time. One with “bustling banks” and “well-ordered ranks, palaces and towers; ". Pushkin continues to describe how St. Petersburg grew to eclipse ancient Moscow. The city seemed so brilliantly bright that the narrator can “read and write without a lamp” in his room at dusk. He goes on to tell St. Petersburg to prosper and “flaunt its beauty.” Despite having been sent into exile by Alexander I, even Pushkin can appreciate how glorious the city had become. However, he warns the city to “Test… Until floods and storms free themselves from their irritating duty, May at last return to peace with thee.” That is, the city should continue to thrive until nature sees fit to demolish both the city and its untouchable legacy. This is seen as a foreshadowing of events later in the story. Despite the magnificence of the city, Eugene, in his broken state, chastises Peter the Great because, by his will, “the city by the sea was planted.” As picturesque as this site was for a powerful city, its dangers were very clear; just like the unpredictability of nature's will. In the same way, there is a clear inequality of power between the Russian people and the nobility, just like Peter the Great and nature. The lifestyles of St. Petersburg residents contrast in shocking ways. Although he is not a serf, Eugene is still part of the emerging modest class of civil servants who have not yet found their place in the Russian hierarchy. In the phrase “I am young and strong, happy to work hard and long,” we see that Yevgeny recognizes and is satisfied with his place in Russian society. The tsars and the ruling class lead completely different lives, more privileged and more comfortable. This can be seen in the simple fact that Peter the Great simply chose a place to build the city of his dreams and still lives there today. Notably, Pushkin uses Eugene and the Bronze Horseman statue not only as class symbols for the city's residents, but also for the city itself. Impressive public spaces, such as palaces and statues, also shared the city with many overcrowded and poverty-stricken cottages. Moreover, Pushkin's method of introduction for.