Eugene Onegin · Chapter
VII explained
The narrator reflects on Onegin's superficial education and his disdain for poetry, contrasting it with his interest in economics, particularly Adam Smith.
What happens
The narrator reflects on Onegin's superficial education and his disdain for poetry, contrasting it with his interest in economics, particularly Adam Smith. The chapter highlights the generational and intellectual gap between Onegin and his father, who fails to understand his son's modern views and ends up mortgaging his lands.
Themes in this chapter
The Role of Literature and Art
Onegin's rejection of poetry in favor of economics underscores the tension between artistic and practical pursuits in society.
Social Class and Convention
The generational conflict between Onegin and his father highlights the changing economic and social norms within the landed gentry.
Characters to notice
- Eugene Onegin
Onegin is portrayed as a skeptic of poetry and a follower of Adam Smith, showing his pragmatic and modern mindset.
Key passages
“For empty sound the rascal swore he Existence would not make a curse, Knew not an iamb from a choree, Although we read him heaps of verse.”
Onegin swore he would not curse his existence for empty sound, and he could not distinguish an iamb from a choree, even though we read him piles of poetry.
This illustrates Onegin's disdain for poetry and his lack of interest in literary form.
“Homer, Theocritus, he jeered, But Adam Smith to read appeared, And at economy was great;”
He mocked Homer and Theocritus, but he seemed to read Adam Smith and was great at economics.
Onegin's preference for the economist Adam Smith over classical poets highlights his rational, modern outlook.
“The father scarcely understands His son and mortgages his lands.”
The father barely understands his son and ends up mortgaging his lands.
This reflects the generational divide and the financial strain caused by Onegin's unconventional views.