Eugene Onegin

Eugene Onegin is a creature of society. In his youth, Eugene is admired for his social graces, despite having no real depth to his education. Eugene masters the art of seducing women, which he practices without any real feeling or emotion. He is caught up in passion and believes that it is "love." He sees how fickle human emotions are. Soon, though, Eugene tires of this completely superficial life.

Eugene, while disillusioned with the artificiality inherent in high society, cannot see anything meaningful and natural beneath the external artifices. He falls into depression because he is disconnected from reality. The only world he knows is the unnatural world of society and social graces. He cannot connect with the natural world or the realities of the human condition.

Eugene's inability to see real meaning below the superficial existence of human beings is represented by Eugene's distaste for the...