Why did Aleksandr Pushkin write the four Little Tragedies in 1830?

Aleksandr Pushkin wrote the four "Little Tragedies" (The Covetous Knight, Mozart and Salieri, The Stone Guest, and Feast in Time of the Plague) during the autumn of 1830 while staying at his family’s estate in Boldino.1

These works were not written for a specific external commission but were part of a remarkably productive period in his career. The tragedies are primarily concerned with the analysis of "evil passions" and the exploration of philosophical problems. For instance, Mozart and Salieri meditates on the nature of creativity and introduces the theme of metaphysical rebellion against God. Through these works, Pushkin demonstrated his "universal sensibility" and his ability to re-create the spirit of different historical epochs and cultures while maintaining his own artistic individuality.12