Eugene Onegin, Part XVI summary
Part XVI of 368 · 1 min to read the part
In XVI, the speaker addresses absent performers and asks whether he can again enjoy their chorus and the dance of Russia’s Terpsichore. He imagines instead finding a changed stage and sitting apart in boredom, with memories of early happiness replacing pleasure in the performance.
What happens
- The speaker calls to absent performers and asks whether they hear his sorrow.
- He wonders whether other women replace them without restoring his former pleasure.
- He asks whether he can hear their chorus and see Russia’s Terpsichore dance again.
- He imagines a changed stage where he watches without delight and dreams of his early life.
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What to notice
The question links changing performers with the possible loss of remembered pleasure. It frames the speaker’s uncertainty about enjoying the stage again.
Quick check
What does the speaker imagine doing if the stage no longer delights him?
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