Josh Bazuin
The Praise and Criticism of the Soviet Communist Government in Yevgeny Yevtushenko's Poetry
"Irreconcilable," written by Yevtushenko in 1956, begins with a review of the poet's amicable relationship with his government. He believes that the literary career that the Communists have allowed him is a fair trade for his friendship, as illustrated in the following: "I'll offer life my friendship / ... into the bargain." Yevtushenko also acknowledges that this arrangement has brought him economic stability and the full ability to express himself artistically without economic concerns getting in the way: "Since I have no petty worries." (5) Furthermore, Yevtushenkosays that he is "indebted to the future" (6) and must someday pay the government back. However, Yevtushenko ends this section of praise for the Communist government with that thought; later sections of the poem criticize the government of Russia.
"Irreconcilable" is not a poem which glorifies the Communist system.
Even in the pro-Communist beginning, there are already negative overtones.
The poet states, "I offer life my friendship and my hostility into the
bargain" (3,4). The hostility that Yevtushenko is referring to becomes
clear later in the poem, where he does not directly attack the government,
but his remarks acknowledge the consequences he will face if he should
break its rules. He will not compromise in any form, even in the face
of death:
I disagree with a lot
of things
and cannot possibly agree
with them.
It will go hard for me
at times
And they will say:
"He'd better hold his tongue!" (7-10)
Yevtushenko wishes to make a difference over matters of extreme importance:
"I wish to quarrel in big way, / not over trifles" (12, 13). He does not
care about the consequences of his political actions, and the rest of
the poem illustrates that he would sacrifice ruin his career in his battle
against the injustices of the Communist system:
And to grow yet stronger
I don't conceal my weakest
spots.
And picking a road unsuited
to the making of a career,
a road drenched in misfortune.
I stride on,
plain-speaking,
irreconcilable. (17-24)
Yevtushenko uses this poem to tell the world and his government that
he would like to see changes in the way Russia is governed. However, that
zealous spirit is lost in Yevtushenko's next poem, "I Don't UnderStand."
"I Don't Understand" was also written in 1956, but it is strikingly different
than "Irreconcilable." "Irreconcilable" reveals a poet who is opinionated
and brash. However, Yevtushenko presents himself as an unsure, insecure,
and worried recluse in "I Don't Understand":
I don't understand
what's come over me.
Perhaps's I'm weary--
weary perhaps.
I'm so easily worried, upset,
and blush without cause
to blush. (1-7)
The cause of this change, coming so soon after the writing of "Irreconcilable,"
comes from a movie.
Yevtushenko's abrupt change in attitude came from the release of a movie
called The Walls of Malapaga in which artists were murdered and
their art was destroyed by the state. This movie shocked many of Russia's
leading artists at the time, includingYevtushenko (Reavey 269). He obviously
took the predicament of the main character, Peer Gynt, to heart:
The visions of Malapaga,
those
of Peer Gynt,
seem, all of them, now
to
apply to me. (34-37)
As a result of this movie, Yevtushenko disassociates himself with all
things artistic, as is seen in the following: "I retire into my shell,
/ fear art like fire" (32,33) He believes that people think he and his
work are no good:
But people insist ...
that I'm no good,
have
so few ties with life (39-41)
However, Yevtushenko is not only angry with and afraid of the Russian
public for its perceived rejection of its artists, but he experiences
those emotions when he writes about the government as well.
Yevtushenko believes that the government wants to kill him. He uses the
GUM, the state store in Moscow, (Reavey 263) to personify Russia, with
the government as a saleswoman. He says that the government is measuring
the inches of his neck to get a noose with which to hang him:
It was in the GUM not long
ago it happened,
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
a saleswoman with straggly
curls
with inept but darling hands
measured the inches
of my neck. (8-13)
Yevtushenko reacts this perceived personal attack by criticizing the government.
He says that the Communists have "inept but darling hands" (12). This
is interpreted to mean that while the ideal of Communism was very attractive,
the government has handled Russia's affairs ineffectively and incompetently.
Yevtushenko uses "I Don't Understand" not only as a personal struggle
for artistic freedom and another criticism of the government, but also
as an appeal to Russia's people to save their artists.
"The Heirs of Stalin" (1962) is a completely different poem than either
"Irreconcilable" or "I Don't Understand". While both of the former poems
are about Yevtushenko and his interactions with the government of Russia,
"The Heirs of Stalin" is a direct attack on Stalin and his successors
and their legacy. Yevtushenko charges Stalin with
the neglect
of the people's good,
false charges,
and the jailing of innocent men. (40-43)
He criticizes Stalin for deceiving the people with stories of brilliant
World War II victories even though the people were starving to death.
He accuses Stalin of fearing his subjects and committing terrible atrocities
to gain their allegiance. Yevtushenko concludes with condemnation of the
heirs that Stalin left behind. He says that they hide themselves until
the day that they can return and restore a Stalin-like regime. This poem
reveals that the poet is so enraged by Stalin and his actions that he
appealed to the government to
treble the sentries guarding
this slab,
and stop Stalin from
ever rising again,
and, with Stalin,
the past. (31-34)
Yevtushenko is so deathly afraid of Stalin and his effects on Russia that
he attacked Stalin's legacy in this poem.
Yevtushenko has created poems that both laud and rebuke the Communist government of Russia. The poems "Irreconcilable", "I Don't Understand", and "The Heirs of Stalin" are the experiences, both good and bad, that Yevtushenko and his country have had with their government. As he praises the government in his poetry, he also criticizes it. Yevtushenko's motives for writing these early poems are clear: he wishes to see changes occur in Russia. He hopes to preserve the good of his society through his praise, and to alter its evil and adverse aspects through his criticism. Yevtushenko's goal for his prose is honourable, and, therefore, so is he.
Works Cited
Reavey, George. Notes in Early Poems by Y. Yevtushenko. New York:
Marion Boyars, 1989.
Yevtushenko, Yevgeny. "The Heirs of Stalin." Early Poems. Trans.
and Ed. George Reavey. New York: Marion Boyars, 1989. 161-
165.
Yevtushenko, Yevgeny. "I Don't Understand." Early Poems. Trans.
and Ed. George Reavey. New York: Marion Boyars, 1989. 45-47.
Yevtushenko, Yevgeny. "Irreconcilable." Early Poems. Trans. and
Ed. George Reavey. New York: Marion Boyars, 1989. 17.
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