Features ROMI.HR

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin (05.26.1799 – 02.29.1837) is an outstanding Russian poet, prose writer and playwright of the 18th century, widely known throughout the world. He was one of the most famous literary figures of his time and the founder of the modern Russian language.

By the age of nine, Pushkin was already well acquainted with his father’s library, seriously interested in literature and wrote his first poems, particularly in French. Thanks to his agility and aristocratic origin, in 1811 Alexander Sergeevich entered the Imperial Royal Lyceum. In 1817, education allowed him to receive a civil rank and work at the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. However, his career in a government position did not last long. In 1820, Pushkin was sent to the “Southern Exile” for writing caustic epigrams towards the authorities. At the time, he spent part of his time in Moldova, in the city of Chisinau and its environs.

Thanks to this period of the poet’s life, the poem “The Gypsies” (1823) was written. It took an iconic place on the shelf of cultural works dedicated to Roma. Owing to the Pushkin scholar Pavel Shcheglov, there is a legend about the birth of the poem.

In the summer of 1921, Alexander Sergevich visited his friend, Zamfir Rally, at his estate in Dolna. Rally was a wealthy landowner and owned 13 Moldavian and Roma villages near his estate. Driving around the surroundings of towns and villages, one day Pushkin decided to visit Roma who lived in the forest and were called “the Forest Roma”. There he fell in love with the daughter of Bulibashi, the leader of a Roma camp. 

According to the stories that were told at that time, the girl had captivatingly large black eyes and long curly hair. Her image enchanted with its exoticism: she wore a lambskin cap on her head, was dressed in colorful trousers, an embroidered Moldavian shirt, and always smoked a cigar. The legend also says that the neck of the young Roma shimmered with gold and silver reflections thanks to the wide necklace that adorned her. The poet was so fascinated by the beauty that he decided to stay in the Tabor, with which he ended up spending about a month. 

Pushkin's affair turned out dramatically for the writer himself. As the legend goes, the Bulibashi’s daughter showed an unsightly interest in one young Roma, which served as a reason for the poet’s jealousy. One morning, he woke up alone in the tent, and the beautiful Roma woman had disappeared from the camp. In despair, Pushkin rushed in the footsteps of his beloved to Varzaresti, however, it was too late. That was the end of this fleeting but vivid story, which formed the basis of the poem.

The storyline of the work has many similarities with the legend. The main character is Aleko, an outcast from civilization who is persecuted by the law. From the poem, we see that he was educated and rich, but his way of life was no longer pleasant to him, and he runs away.

„…You only see them as they seem,

and do not know that empty dream.

For how confining is each street,

the masses chafing at some rule,

that can’t delight in morning cool,

or vernal meadows, fresh and sweet.

Afraid of love that ends in shame,

where life’s but bargaining for gains,

and worship of a splendid name

yet begs of money and its chains.

What’s given up are giddy fads,

where crowds shout falsehoods to your face,

where prejudice or nonsense adds

its glory to a famed disgrace…”

While persecuted, he meets a young Roma named Zemfira, with whom he immediately falls in love. The girl brings him to her father in the camp and asks for a place to stay for the night. The father welcomes Aleko warmly and invites him to stay:

„...Be welcome then. I’m pleased to see

you grace our tent’s plain canopy

for this tonight, or longer stays.

I hope by your own feelings led

to share this awning and our bread

and grow accustomed to our ways

of roaming poor throughout our days.

The morrow in that cart will show

what routes together we can share.

You'll learn our songs, the crafts we know,

adopt our metal-working, go

the rounds with our performing bear...“

Aleko stays. Time passes, from time to time the man yearns for his past, but loves Roma’s fun and free life and has already forgotten what it’s like to live differently. Married to Zemfira, they have a child. But the young beauty’s feelings weaken over time, and she falls in love with someone else. Aleko's soul is tormented by suffering due to cold love. The girl's father tries to pacify him and talks about his love for Mariula, Zemfira's mother, who ran away from him to a Roma man from another camp. By his inaction towards his wife, the old man emphasizes the Roma's peacefulness and thirst for freedom in everything, and first of all, in love.

Aleko cannot come to terms with this outcome. At night, when Zemfira once again runs away to her lover, the main character follows her. Aleko kills Zemfira and her new love, unable to cope with his jealousy. The story ends with the Tabor refusing to live with Aleko since his cruelty, selfishness and courage are alien to them:

“Leave us, proud man!

We are wild; we have no laws

We do not torment, we do not execute -

We don't need blood and groans -

But we don’t want to live with a murderer...

You were not born for the wild lot,

You only want freedom for yourself;

Your voice will be terrible for us:

We are timid and kind at heart,

You are angry and brave - leave us,

Forgive us, may peace be with you."

In the epilogue of the poem, Pushkin confirms his acquaintance with a large Roma family in Moldova and his tender relationship with Mariula, one of the Roma, after whom he named the mother of Zemfira, the main character of the poem. In the final lines, the poet talks about the joyful freedom of the people, which, unfortunately, does not save Roma from the problems that they have to face.

The work “The Gypsies” became one of the very first in Russian literature entirely dedicated to Roma. Thanks to his interest in a different way of life and traditions, captivated by the brightness and mystery of the people, Pushkin revealed wandering culture to many people. He portrayed the Roma as poor but hospitable and peaceful people who see freedom in everything - in actions, place of living, dances, songs, love. The author showed this freedom as the main value, as Zemfira was ready to die just not to live unlovingly. Showing the realities of the Roma family's activities, such as performances with a bear, songs, dances and begging, Pushkin at the same time embellished the people with the flair of his own vision. As he was a world-class author, it attracted more interest in Roma culture. „The Gypsies“ was sealed in history and formed the basis for Rachmaninov’s opera “Aleko” and the Soviet film of the same name.