Mosalsky: Good folk! Maria Godunov and her son Feodor have poisoned themselves. We have seen their dead bodies. [The People are silent with horror.] Why are ye silent? Cry, Long live the Tsar Dimitry Ivanovich! [The People are speechless.]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Pushkin reports the death of Maria Godunov and her son, urging the crowd to react emotionally despite their silence.
- In plain terms
- He calls out the people's silence after a tragic death.
- What can you take from it?
- Public grief may be suppressed by fear or control.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do people stay silent in the face of tragedy?
- How can art provoke public response?
Another view
The excerpt lacks broader context of the event.
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