Vladimir Mayakovsky. "Ode to the Revolution"

The greatest event in the history of Russia in the twentieth century, radically changing its existence, could not but find its reflection in the works of any significant artists who lived in this crucial era. But for some of them, this topic has become dominant.

Singer Revolution

Many cultural figures have their own established image in the public consciousness. According to the tradition that was formed during the Soviet period of history, the name of the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky is inextricably linked with the image of the Russian revolution. And for such a relationship there are very good reasons. The author of the poem "Ode to the Revolution" gave her chanting all conscious life. He did it furiously and selflessly. And unlike many of his colleagues in the literary shop, Mayakovsky did not bend his heart. The creations that came out from under his pen came from a pure heart. It was written in a talented way, like everything that Mayakovsky created. "Ode to the Revolution" is one of his early works. But it is by no means student, the poet showed himself in it as an already formed master. He has his own style, his own imagery and his own expression.

What did Mayakovsky see ? "Ode to the revolution" - horror or delight?

This poem was written in 1918 in the hot pursuit of revolutionary events. And only at first glance it seems uniquely enthusiastic. Yes, the poet takes with all his heart the revolution that has been accomplished. Its inevitability, he felt and predicted in the very first of his literary experiments. But even a superficial analysis of Mayakovsky's poem "Ode to the Revolution" does not allow ignoring the screaming contradictions that the author sees in the whirlwind of ongoing events. The grandiosity of the world's reorganization is only emphasized by seemingly completely inappropriate adjectives, which Mayakovsky rewards the ongoing revolution - "bestial", "childish", "cheap", but at the same time, without a doubt, "great." Delight before the process of the birth of a new world does not in any way cancel the horrors and abominations that occur in this case. Reading Mayakovsky, it is difficult not to recall the well-known dictum of the leader of the world proletariat that "revolutions are not made in white gloves." Lenin knew what he was talking about. And the poet knew what he was writing about. His images he drew not from romantic dreams, but from the surrounding reality.

Vladimir Mayakovsky, "Ode to the Revolution." Analysis of stylistic features

The first thing that this work draws attention to is a ragged poetic rhythm and, it seems, a chaotic stream of images. But only in such compositional constructions there is neither chaos, nor chance. Everything that passes before the mind's eye harmoniously submits to the poetic logic. This poem is a good illustration of what the early Mayakovsky became famous for. "Ode to the Revolution" is one of his program works. It is generally accepted that many characteristic stylistic devices Mayakovsky borrowed from European futurist poets of the beginning of the century. But even if you agree with this statement, you can not give him credit for the virtuosic brilliance of this set of borrowed features used in Russian poetry. Before the appearance of Mayakovsky in it, such a synthesis seemed simply impossible.

From Futurism to Socialist Realism

Is it only about the events of 1917 that Mayakovsky wrote in his work? "Ode to the Revolution" gives us grounds for a broader interpretation of this poem. It also has an obvious philosophical meaning. It tells about changes in society and the price of these changes. Reading the works of this poet, it is quite easy to notice the simple fact that so far no one has written to him. In Russian literature, Vladimir Mayakovsky is an innovative poet and poet-revolutionary. His figurative system, poetic thinking and expressive means opened the main path of development not only for Russian poetry of the twentieth century, but also for many aesthetic spheres directly not associated with it. The influence of Mayakovsky's creativity is easy to trace and to find in many works of art, from painting and graphics to cinematography inclusive. Even when in the thirties the Soviet government was burning out all that deviates from the general line of the party, including Futurism and all other "isms," nobody could question the significance of Mayakovsky's creative heritage. He was credited with the classics of socialist realism. The poet could not object to this because of his absence in this world.

The death of the poet

Many times it is said that "the revolution devours its children." This is what happened to Mayakovsky. It's hard to find another creator who devoted himself so selflessly to a single topic, "stepping on his throat to his own song." The "Ode to the Revolution" was by no means the poet's only work about it. But after the victory of the uprising, Mayakovsky was completely inappropriate and unclaimed by the new government. He summed up his life with one bullet.