The Theme of Power in Pushkin’s Works (Reading ‘The Captain’s Daughter’ Again)

Abstract

In the article, the author considers “The Captain’s Daughter” not just as a historical novel, but as an attempt by a brilliant poet to understand what Russia is. The novel depicts the real Pugachev rebellion, the “Russian rebellion,” the clashes between the bearer of the concept of honor, the young nobleman Grinev, and the spokesman for the idea of tyranny, the leader of the rebellion, Yemelyan Pugachev. The author also tells how the content of the concept of honor (honor as personal dignity) changed in the history of Russia from the era of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” (honor as booty) to the era of Peter the Great, which has come down to our time from Peter. The author ends his article with an episode important for Pushkin, the courage of the hero’s chosen one, who got from the wilderness to the capital, where she managed to achieve justice and freedom for her fi ancé from the empress. The ending of the novel is not accidental for Pushkin’s understanding of Russia: Pushkin was convinced of the strength and selfl essness of Russian women.