Eugene Onegin

In a novel filled with contrasts, the introduction of Eugene Onegin reveals a key character trait using juxtaposition—a technique in which two contrasting images or ideas are placed in close vicinity of one another to emphasize their differences. During the opening verses of Eugene Onegin, the narrator creates a clear juxtaposition between the public and the private personas of the titular protagonist. The story begins with Onegin complaining about his uncle’s refusal to die. This selfish complaint made in private contrasts with the public image of Onegin as charming and charismatic. Onegin’s public persona is that of a popular man who flits between social events out of a sheer lust for life, while his private persona states that he is bored of these parties and bored of the social scene. The juxtaposition between Onegin’s public and private personas creates the sense of a man out of place. He is not a simple, honest character but someone who contains hidden—and not necessarily refined—multitudes. As such, juxtaposition demonstrates that Onegin’s role in the novel is to explore the society that he seemingly hates, as a form of satire.

The satirical use of juxtaposition occurs again after Onegin leaves Saint Petersburg.