Character Description and Analysis - Essay Example

due: Appolon Appolonovich Character and Analysis Andrei Bely in his novel, Petersburg, bases a set of linguistic properties to illuminate character. The novel is a masterpiece of the 20th century and Andrei receives much praise for his efforts to explain Russian Orthodoxy. Bely believed that he could use his talent to integrate his ability to manipulate symbolic forms in literary context to explain the birth and triumph of Petersburg City.Apollon Apollonovich Ableukhov, Senator of the city, had strong rule in the region.

Radicals, however, plotted an assassination to overturn his rule. Bely depicts a strong leader in his character and one who had no favor in the eyes of rebels. The city was constantly being infringed through ‘tunnels’ by those who were defying the rule of their senator. At some point, the efforts of the revolutionists were carried out by the senator’s son, Nikolai, who tries to kill him with a time bomb concealed as a sardines’ can but turning fruitless and ends up blowing his father’s library.

Although the attempt at patricide turned futile, the ending of the story turns around with Nikolai becoming the new ruler, and his father beheaded.Throughout the context, certain excerpts elaborate the senator’s state of mind; “the shadow arose by chance in the consciousness of Senator Ableukhov and acquired its ephemeral being there” (Bely, John & Maguire, 17). Apollon is seen constantly interacting with stranger “idle shadow”. Being an illustration, he is simply brought forward as a nonexistent companion of the senator.

Bely asserts this in relation to Apollon’s state of mind. He constantly has hallucinatory dreams and illusions throughout his life, thus symbolizing his unstable state of mental wellbeing.As the revolt strengthened and approached Apollon more, he grew suspicious of his son’s involvement in the plot to eliminate him. He had ‘shadows watch over him hoping to get to the bottom of this. He still continued to keep a close relationship with his son. Bely uses the association between Apollon and his son to bring out his character as a considerate leader.

No wonder he shows his inclination towards Apollon’s rule and seems to oppose the revolutionist’s decry.The use of metaphors in this book is vastly in use. Bely uses Cosmos’ presence in Apollon’s dreams a works of non-space to represent ‘omnipresence’ or ‘everywhereness’. Cosmos are viewed in this book as stars, the sun and the moon. This particular metaphorical representation depicts untimeliness in Bely’s masterpiece.“Apollon was like a Bat”. The bat is a special mammal species, capable of sustained and true flight.

It has large wings that cover a wide area allowing this. The author uses this simile to illustrate Apollonovich’s power and supremacy over Petersburg.Apollonovich’s reign did not last to the end of the novel. He was beheaded by the hands of his rival Khan, giving way to his son’s succession. This event is a way of Bely showing that no matter how powerful Apollonovich was, there would still come a time when his reign would end due to the inevitability of death. Another event in relevance to his character is such like the departure of his wife.

Apollonovich must have been difficult to live with, which forced his wife to leave him for a musician.Bely, through his masterpiece Petersburg, has been able to use an integration of similes, metaphors, events and associations to bring out the character of Apollon Apollonovich. He uses these literal linguistic forms of writing in his novel and has evidently brought out his character. On reading through Petersburg, only then does one get the evidence for its praise as a 20th century masterpiece.

Works citedBely, Andrei, Malmstad, John & Maguire , Robert. Petersburg. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1978. Pp. 17. Press