Peter the Great, also known as Peter the First, was the ruler of Russia from 1682 until his death in 1725. Renowned for his immense stature, formidable talents, and notorious temper, he was determined to elevate Russia to the status of a European power through sheer determination and imperial edict. Peter's transformative reforms permeated all levels of government, including military, administrative, and fiscal sectors, and extended to every facet of society and culture. These sweeping changes disrupted centuries-old customs, compelling people to abandon traditional dress and manners in favor of Western styles, which incited some to view him as an impostor, or even the Antichrist.

The poem "The Bronze Horseman" opens with Peter contemplating the creation of St. Petersburg in 1703, a new capital symbolizing the monumental shifts he brought to Russia. He envisioned a strategic fortress and an elegant city, a "window hacked through to Europe," despite the Neva River's marshy delta being unfit for human habitation and claiming countless lives during its construction. A century later, the Bronze Horseman statue, crafted by French sculptor Falconet and commissioned by Catherine the Great, stands as a tribute to Peter. It serves as both a symbol of Peter's enduring legacy and as a looming figure of authority, seemingly reacting only when the frenzied Evgeny threatens it, appearing to pursue him through the empty streets for an entire, harrowing night.

Evgeny is the protagonist of Pushkin's poem, a humble clerk within the bureaucratic system established by Peter the Great. His last name is never revealed, underscoring his anonymity within the vast imperial machinery. Evgeny's lineage can be traced to a noble family whose prominence has long since faded, partially due to Peter's own reforms. Despite this heritage, Evgeny harbors no bitterness or soaring ambitions. Instead, he yearns for modest dreams of financial stability and family life with his cherished Parasha. However, these aspirations are tragically obliterated by the catastrophic flood of 1824.

Escaping the deluge with his life, Evgeny is left shattered by Parasha's presumed death, descending into madness. In his delirium, he holds Peter accountable for the loss, confronting the Bronze Horseman as if it were the embodiment of his suffering. His act of defiance is short-lived, as his mental state deteriorates, leading to his lifeless body being discovered at the threshold of Parasha’s ruined home, washed ashore on the island where it once stood.

The Bronze Horseman, an imposing statue representing Peter the Great astride a horse, plays a pivotal role in the poem. It is depicted as a majestic and almost animate presence, evoking grandeur and authority. Commissioned by Catherine the Great as a homage to Peter, the statue is mounted on a singular piece of Finnish granite, artistically shaped to resemble a wave. Within the narrative, the statue becomes a symbol of Peter’s enduring influence, a constant reminder of the ambitions that shaped St. Petersburg and the lives swept away in its wake.

When Evgeny, driven to insanity by grief, confronts the statue, it assumes a menacing aspect in his imagination. To him, the statue embodies the force responsible for his personal tragedy, and in his delirium, he perceives the horseman pursuing him relentlessly through the abandoned streets, underscoring the omnipotent power that Peter's legacy holds over the city's inhabitants.

Parasha, Evgeny's fiancée, embodies his hopes and dreams for a future together. She and her mother reside in a modest dwelling on one of the Neva’s islands, home to many of the city's less fortunate residents. Though Parasha remains a silent presence in the poem, her impact is profound, symbolizing the countless souls who perished in the natural disaster. Her untimely disappearance in the flood catalyzes Evgeny's descent into grief-stricken madness, accentuating the theme of loss and the inexorable power of nature over human aspirations.