Eugene Onegin, Part XXII summary
Part XXII of 368 · 1 min to read the part
In XXII, Eugene fears society’s criticism and spends three hours each day before a mirror, treating dress with extreme care. The narrator presents his concern for appearance as submission to custom and compares his emergence to Venus attending a masquerade in men’s clothing.
What happens
- The narrator argues that even industrious people may carefully tend their nails, since custom overcomes resistance.
- Eugene fears hostile social remarks and pays exacting attention to dress.
- He spends three hours daily at his mirror and emerges like Venus dressed as a man for a masquerade.
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In this part
What to notice
The question suggests that resisting prevailing habits is pointless. It frames Eugene’s elaborate grooming as obedience to social expectations.
Quick check
How much time does Eugene spend before his mirror each day?
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