Eugene Onegin

Throughout Eugene Onegin, the narrator references the changing of the seasons. Spring turns into summer, fall turns into winter, and the cycle keeps going even amid the tragedies and revelations that the characters encounter. Of the four seasons, the most frequently referenced are winter and spring. For the narrator, the Russian winter—and particularly the winter in the rural areas—symbolizes pain and struggle. There is an inherent bleakness and stillness to the snow-covered scenery that hinders progress, whether in terms of a blocked road or a stunted character development. Facing a crossroads in her future, for example, Tatyana explores the wintry countryside. Her youthful view of love is as desolate as the trees around her. She does not know what she believes any longer and is struggling to grow.

However, winter cannot last forever. As Tatyana reflects on Onegin’s words to her and the future that lies ahead, she accepts that she must move on. Winter becomes spring, and the snows begin to melt away, along with Tatyana’s fear and reluctance. Tatyana accepts that she must look toward a future that is not defined by her naive views of love or romance. The melting of the snow and the arrival of spring open up new opportunities: She travels with her mother to Moscow, where she meets and then marries an older man.