Issues

The poem “Arion” is a detailed autobiographical metaphor, depicting Russia’s intellectual elite as the crew of a ship steered by a “wise helmsman.” The poem’s metaphorical meaning is entirely clear: the “loud whirlwind” is the tragic events of late 1825 and early 1826; the singer is Pushkin himself, his fate, and so on. What is unclear is whom the author portrayed as the very important figure of the helmsman directing the vessel’s course. Conjectures have been most varied: Ryleyev, Pestel, Alexander I, or the view that the figure is “indecipherable.” The author of this article believes that the Helmsman is meant to be Nikolay Karamzin. To confirm this hypothesis, the article examines the relationship between Pushkin and Karamzin, and Karamzin’s significance in the society of the 1820s. The historian’s sudden death (“the helmsman perished, too”) coincided with the tragic events of 1825–1826: the death of Alexander I, the Decembrist revolt, executions, and exiles. Our interpretation is also supported by textual connections between “Arion” and other poems by Karamzin and Pushkin. At the end of the article, “Arion” is considered as the final poem of a cycle of four texts, the audience of which successively widens: “Stanzas,” “To My Friends,” “In the Depths of Siberian Mines,” “Arion.” In the first, the author praises the newly ascended emperor. In the second, he explains his views to those nearest to him — “friends.” In the third, he expresses hope for the Decembrists’ quick release and return to active public life. In the fourth, he formulates his credo, addressing a wide audience of readers.