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Who are the main characters in Eugene Onegin?
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Aleksandr Pushkin
Aleksandr Pushkin, oil on canvas by Vasily Tropinin, 1827; in the National Pushkin Museum, St. Petersburg.
The main characters in Aleksandr Pushkinâs novel in verse, Eugene Onegin, are:
- Eugene Onegin: The protagonist and a classic example of the superfluous man. He is a disillusioned, skeptical aristocrat who often fails to take positive action, leading to tragic consequences.12
- Lensky: A romantic, freedom-loving poet who serves as a foil to Oneginâs cynicism.2
- Tatyana: The heroine of the work, described by Pushkin as a "precious ideal" and a deeply affectionate representation of Russian womanhood.2
These characters are depicted as typically Russian figures, shaped by the social and environmental forces of their time.2