The poet attributes much trouble and torment to youth. Vladimir Lensky is young, and therefore he is overtaken with naive romantic feelings. Eugene Onegin, in his youth, is obsessed with the art of love and seduction, but he is quickly disillusioned. Even Zaretsky's interference, which leads to Vladimir's death, is put down to the follies of youth. Youth is a time of passion and turmoil, but youth is also only a passing phase.