Eugene Onegin · Chapter
XXVII explained
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of life and expresses a lingering fondness for dancing, despite having wasted many hours in vain amusements.
What happens
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of life and expresses a lingering fondness for dancing, despite having wasted many hours in vain amusements. He describes the joy of the ballroom—the crowd, the lights, the ladies' dresses, and especially their feet—and confesses that he still cannot forget a particular pair of feet that haunt his memory and dreams.
Themes in this chapter
Rural vs. Urban Life
The narrator contrasts his past urban amusements (dancing, balls) with his current rural solitude, hinting at the tension between city and country life.
Characters to notice
- Alexander Pushkin
The narrator (Pushkin) speaks in first person, reminiscing about his love of dancing and a memorable pair of feet.
Key passages
“Alas! life’s hours which swiftly fly I’ve wasted in amusements vain, But were it not immoral I Should dearly like a dance again.”
I regret wasting my quickly passing life on frivolous pleasures, but if it weren't improper, I would love to go dancing once more.
The narrator expresses regret over past frivolity yet still yearns for the joy of dancing.
“I love its furious delight, The crowd and merriment and light, The ladies, their fantastic dress, Also their feet—yet ne’ertheless Scarcely in Russia can ye find Three pairs of handsome female feet;”
I adore the wild excitement of the ballroom—the crowd, the fun, the lights, the ladies' extravagant clothing, and especially their feet—though in all of Russia you can hardly find three pairs of beautiful women's feet.
The narrator praises the sensual pleasures of the ball, with a particular focus on women's feet as objects of beauty.
“Ah! I still struggle to forget A pair; though desolate my mind, Their memory lingers still and seems To agitate me in my dreams.”
I still find it hard to forget one particular pair of feet; even though my mind is lonely, the memory of them persists and disturbs my dreams.
A specific memory of a woman's feet continues to haunt the narrator, stirring his emotions even in sleep.