Thread: Хозяин жизни ?

What is exactly "Хозяин жизни" ? The master of life ? Does it have an other meaning ?

Thanks !

"Хозяин жизни, он обводит взором
Свой трижды восхитительный надел,
Все, что вчера еще казалось вздором,
Что второпях он будто проглядел."

Originally Posted by wilco000

What is exactly "Хозяин жизни" ? The master of life ? Does it have an other meaning ?

Thanks !

"Хозяин жизни, он обводит взором
Свой трижды восхитительный надел,
Все, что вчера еще казалось вздором,
Что второпях он будто проглядел."

I would not translate it as "the master of life" at all. I think it's more like "the owner of life", i.e. the person who can still rejoice in it, maybe "master" implies that as well, I don't know.

Anyway, it's no common phrase or set expression. It's author's poetic language.

Originally Posted by wilco000

What is exactly "Хозяин жизни" ? The master of life ? Does it have an other meaning ?

Thanks !

"Хозяин жизни, он обводит взором
Свой трижды восхитительный надел,
Все, что вчера еще казалось вздором,
Что второпях он будто проглядел."

Хозяин жизни is a concept of a man, wealthy and powerful, who can handle nearly everything with his connecitons and/or money, not just another nouveau riche.

Would you say that it's maybe something like "Master of his own destiny" -- he's free to make his own way in life, so he's happy? Or am I completely off base there?

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Would you say that it's maybe something like "Master of his own destiny" -- he's free to make his own way in life, so he's happy? Or am I completely off base there?

Well, sort of. But still хозяин жизни has a slightly negative implication.
The concept is correct (more or less)

Also when one wants to say "Master of his own destiny", he'd used "хозяин своей судьбы", but if you want my interpretation, the most close an equivalent would be IMHO "an owner of life".

Originally Posted by Barmaley

Would you say that it's maybe something like "Master of his own destiny" -- he's free to make his own way in life, so he's happy? Or am I completely off base there?

"Хозяин жизни" implies ability and willingness to influence not only one's own destiny, but also lives of a lot of other people often not asking their opinions.

Есть перед боем час — всё выжидает:
Винтовки, кочки, мокрая трава.
И человек невольно вспоминает
Разрозненные, темные слова.
Хозяин жизни, он обводит взором
Свой трижды восхитительный надел,
Все, что вчера еще казалось вздором,
Что второпях он будто проглядел.
Как жизнь недожита! Добро какое!
Пора идти. А может, не пора!..
Еще цветут горячие левкои.
Они цвели... Вчера... Позавчера...

Originally Posted by Vesh

"Хозяин жизни" implies ability and willingness to influence not only one's own destiny, but also lives of a lot of other people often not asking their opinions.

I do not think that in this verse хозяин жизни can possibly imply that. It's about how acute one feels his life when there's risk to lose it.

I believe that here "хозяин жизни" is more like "хозяин своей жизни" It surely isn't negative in this context.

I think "Хозяин жизни" generally means a wealthy man that has nothing to do, a playboy, a nouveau riche. And this phrase has a negative meaning.