Poem Analysis - Cigarette Pedlars

Introduction: A Glimpse of Despair and Delusion

Sergei Yesenin's "Cigarette Pedlars" paints a stark and melancholic portrait of impoverished youth in a harsh urban landscape. The poem's tone is initially grim, highlighting the bleak reality of the children's lives, then shifts to a slightly manic, almost desperate, fantasizing. The poem offers a commentary on poverty and escapism, showcasing the children's yearning for a better life as a coping mechanism. The final return to the image of the children in the frost underscores the cyclical nature of their despair.

Themes of Poverty and Exploitation

One of the central themes is undoubtedly poverty and its crushing effects on these young lives. The poem repeatedly emphasizes the "wretched" avenues and the "bitter frost," creating a visceral sense of the children's hardship. Phrases like "desperate little urchins" and "wandering dirty avenues" reinforce their vulnerability and lack of opportunity. The fact that they are forced to sell cigarettes, a product often associated with adult vices, highlights their exploitation. Their youth is stolen, replaced by the burden of survival in a merciless environment.

Escapism and the Allure of the West

Another significant theme is escapism, manifested in the children's dreams of America. The repeated mentions of "New York" and "San Frantsisk" represent a fantasy world far removed from their grim reality. This escapism is fueled by popular culture, specifically "Pinkerton" (likely referring to dime novels or detective stories), which they read aloud in barrooms. The beer, though "bitter," provides a temporary respite, a means of numbing the pain of their existence. Their dreams are an understandable, albeit unrealistic, attempt to transcend their circumstances, to imagine a future where they are not defined by poverty and exploitation.

The Bitter Irony of Hope

The poem also explores a subtle theme of bitter irony. The children are "jolly thieves," suggesting a forced cheerfulness or a resilience born of necessity. However, this jollity is undercut by the underlying desperation of their situation. The act of stealing and dreaming of America are not signs of true happiness or freedom, but rather desperate attempts to cope with their powerlessness. They are stealing to survive, and dreaming to escape a reality that offers them nothing. This juxtaposition of apparent joy and underlying despair highlights the tragic nature of their existence.

Symbolism of the Frost and the Cigarettes

The recurring image of the "frost" serves as a powerful symbol of the harsh and unforgiving environment that surrounds the children. It represents not only the physical cold, but also the emotional and social coldness of their situation. The "cigarettes" themselves could be interpreted as a symbol of addiction and a means of numbing the pain, both for the children and for those who purchase them. They also represent a cyclical nature of poverty; they are selling something that ultimately contributes to ill-health, perpetuating a cycle of hardship and dependence.

Concluding Thoughts: A Cycle of Despair

"Cigarette Pedlars" is a poignant depiction of the lives of impoverished children trapped in a cycle of poverty and exploitation. The poem's stark imagery, coupled with the children's dreams of escape, creates a powerful sense of despair and longing. Yesenin’s poem serves as a reminder of the human cost of social inequality, and the enduring power of hope, however fragile, in the face of adversity. The poem ultimately leaves the reader pondering the systemic issues that perpetuate such circumstances, and wondering whether these children's dreams of a better life will ever be realized.