(337 words) Lermontov is one of the key figures in Russian literature. An amazing lyricist, the successor of Pushkin's traditions, he created a world of magnificent poetic images, which embodied the best features of the Russian poet and the rebellious spirit of a true genius. His lyrics are thematically diverse. Imitating in poems Byron and Pushkin in the early stages of his work, the author was passionate about romantic ideas. Motives of loneliness, freedom and rebellion become central in many of his poems.
Loneliness according to Lermontov is inevitability, the natural state of a person striving for absolute freedom. The lyrical hero of Lermontov is always alone in his rebellion, but in a constant struggle with the rest of the world he finds the true "I", rushing to meet difficulties: "But he, the rebel, asks for the storm, As if there is peace in the storms!" Alienation from the external world, the desire to hide from reality in the world of romantic freedom become the reason for the hero’s estrangement: “It’s boring and sad, and there’s no one to give a hand to In the moment of spiritual adversity ...”.
The bifurcation of human nature, the desire to find peace in the world of illusions give rise to another theme of Lermontov’s lyrics - the theme of bondage. So, the struggle for freedom becomes the central motive of the poem “Mtsyri”. A lonely soul, rebelling against the conventional framework of reality, inevitably reaches out to nature, because it sees in it a reflection of its overwhelming feelings. The theme of nature in Lermontov’s lyrics is an integral part of his poetic creations. The surrounding landscapes often coincide with the internal state of the hero:
Crushed, crushed, the night wave,
And froth irrigate Brega in the foggy mist.
I am here, standing near the sea on a rock;
I stand, thoughtful nourishing.
Lermontov draws before the reader delightful landscapes that become the main inspiration for the poet. By love, whether it be love of the Motherland, nature or woman, many of his poems are pervaded, acquiring, however, a pessimistic, elegiac character. Lermontov’s love lyrics are always full of sadness and awareness of the upcoming breakup, awareness of the fragility of happiness: “I’m sad because I love you ...”.
The motives of Lermontov’s poetry are diverse, but at the same time, they are closely intertwined: philosophical reflections on love, loneliness and freedom, continuous spiritual search - all this is directly connected with a whole range of other, equally important themes of his lyrics - themes of poet and poetry, person and society, morality and citizenship.
The creative heritage of the great poet is truly limitless. Amazing poetic images of Lermontov entered the golden fund of Russian literature, continuing to surprise and amaze the imagination of readers.
