How Pechorin appears at the beginning of the novel. The character of Grigory Pechorin in the novel “Hero of Our Time”: positive and negative traits, pros and cons

In Russian classical literature The “golden” and “silver” centuries highlight characters who deserve the honorary title - “heroes of our time.” The image of Pechorin, masterfully depicted by M. Yu. Lermontov, is worthily included among them.

Heroes of time, who are they?

National cultural tradition was the creation within a certain historical era of a character expressing the most advanced thoughts and aspirations floating in society. Only the most insightful talents, who caught the sprouts of something new in the midst of everyday life, could portray such a thinking person, aimed at the future. The first creator of such an image was A.S. Pushkin. His Eugene Onegin is an aristocrat tired of social life, gradually transforms from a “man of society” into real personality. In contrast, Lermontov’s hero, warrant officer Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin, appears already at the beginning of the novel as an established personality. And the entire content of the book comes down to a painful (throughout the entire narrative) search for one’s path in life.

The uniqueness of Pechorin's image

The characters of Pushkin and Lermontov, in their inner essence, are an expression of the self-awareness of the most advanced part of Russian society - the educated aristocracy. They are undoubtedly heroes of their time - early XIX century. The image of Pechorin is much broader than what Lermontov himself put into him. He became the first protagonist of a psychological novel in Russian literature. Moreover creative method, first tested by Lermontov, found its continuation in next generations writers. F. M. Dostoevsky called the author of “A Hero of Our Time” his teacher.

Many images of Pechorin literary critics correlated with the image of Lermontov himself. It is in this aspect that it is discussed in this article.

Autobiographical features invested by Lermontov in the main character of the novel

Indeed, there are common biographical features between the author and the character: military service, participation in hostilities. By the way, colleagues spoke of Mikhail Yuryevich as a decisive and brave man in battle. In the battle on the Valerik River, which is located 30 km from the modern city of Grozny, he and the first ranks of brave men stormed the battle formation of Naib Akhberdil Muhammad. Like him literary hero, Lermontov participated in the Caucasian War not of his own free will, but because of disgrace. Like Pechorin's, the death of the great Russian poet turned out to be absurd, accidental and untimely.

Why did Mikhail Yuryevich claim that it was the image of Pechorin that is the hero of our time? The answer is obvious. Hereby thinking individuals it was uncomfortable during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, famous for suppressing the Decembrist uprising, curtailing all freedoms and achieving the omnipotence of the gendarmerie apparatus. What else was going on in those days?

Logical order of the novel's chapters

This was the tragedy of an entire generation of young people who wanted to “dedicate their souls to their Fatherland with wonderful impulses.” Russia during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I lost its ideals. Painfully and intensely on the pages of the novel, a young man yearning for freedom searches for his relevance and does not find it. This is exactly how the image of Pechorin appears before the reader. “A Hero of Our Time” is a novel that consistently reveals the evolution of the soul of the main character.

The work consists of five parts, interconnected by no means in chronological order. Each chapter is a separate story. Lermontov does not stoop to a banal statement; his task is an order of magnitude more complex: he tells about the changes in the hero’s inner world.

Chronologically, the sequence of events in which the image of Pechorin created by the classic is involved should be briefly outlined, starting with his military service in the Caucasus in a combat detachment.

Then the hero, being wounded, undergoes treatment in Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk. Here his duel with Grushnitsky takes place, ending in the death of the latter.

As punishment, the disgraced officer is sent to serve in the fortress, where he meets an acquaintance from his service in the combat detachment, Staff Captain Maxim Maksimovich. From the fortress Pechorin, on business, first finds himself in a Cossack village. Then he's on a short time travels to St. Petersburg, after which he goes to Persia through the Caucasus.

Returning to Russia from an overseas trip, main character the work perishes.

The composition of the novel is such that the reader first gets acquainted with Pechorin from the story of Maxim Maksimovich, who reveres him, and then from the diary of Grigory Alexandrovich himself.

Lermontov filled the image of Pechorin with the utmost force with the problems of his time. Briefly, his “mad race for life,” his attempts to change his fate can be expressed by Shakespeare’s “to be or not to be.” After all, Pechorin is extremely sincere in his quest and is ready to sacrifice everything to achieve his goal.

The story "Bela". Pechorin's egocentrism

The logic of the evolution of Pechorin’s soul determined chronological order sequence of parts included in the work. The novel begins with the story "Bela". The image of Pechorin appears in him as youthfully ardent, a real maximalist. “A Hero of Our Time” presents the reader with an officer who despises secular conventions and wants to find true happiness in love with the free mountain woman Bela.

However, unfortunately, what happened was just a burst of passion. Soon the young man gets tired of Bela. He doesn't know how to be responsible for other people. He wants to realize himself as a person only himself, but he treats the people he meets on the path of life with a consumerist attitude, considering only his own interest to be the absolute dominant.

Therefore, having abandoned the bored mountain girl, he did not even think about the mortal danger that threatened the girl, according to the laws of those places, from the cruel Kazbich. Also, Lermontov’s hero did not burden himself with thoughts about the fate of the beauty’s brother, Azamate, who had previously helped him steal Bela, and then was forced to leave his family and become an outcast.

Neglect of friendship. The story "Maxim Maximovich"

No further difference warmth image of Pechorin. “A Hero of Our Time” tells in the next part of the novel - “Maxim Maksimovich”, how frivolous and fixated on his problems Pechorin offends a former colleague who is friendly towards him with inattention.

Their meeting, despite a preliminary agreement, to the deepest disappointment of the latter, did not take place. The image of Pechorin in this part of the story is distinguished by its optionality and frivolity in relation to other people.

"Taman". Romance of investigation

In the third part of the work, entitled “Taman,” the author introduces the reader to a different, matured protagonist.

His activity is purposeful and obvious. In the system of male images of Lermontov’s work, Pechorin undoubtedly stands out among the officers. Despite average height, he is strong, dexterous, energetic. There is charisma and a thirst for activity in him. He quickly navigates and accepts right decisions. Lermontov's hero, by the will of fate, settles in the house of the smugglers' accomplices and soon reveals the scheme of their simple trade. However, the investigation does not bring him internal satisfaction.

Moreover, he sympathizes with the smugglers who engage in this illegal trade just to have a source of livelihood. The sailor Danko is charismatic, going to sea for goods on a fragile boat, and his loving young girlfriend is desperate. And yet this couple shows generosity, providing everything necessary for life to a blind boy and a helpless old woman. Frightened by the prospect of criminal liability, criminals swim away. The reader does not understand how the boy and the old woman will live next.

Gregory later even calls them honest smugglers and regrets that he voluntarily got involved in this private investigation.

"Princess Mary". Lermontov's utmost frankness

Acquired life experience and Pechorin is distinguished by his charismatic character in the system of male images of the story “Princess Mary”. He finally establishes a friendly relationship with Dr. Werner. They were brought together by common personality traits: insight and skepticism, similar established views on the selfishness of those around them, occupied primarily with their own personal interests.
In friendship, according to Gregory, both comrades should be equal and avoid dominance.

At first, the hero became close to the cadet Grushnitsky, who later received an officer rank. Their communication, however, did not develop into friendship. On the contrary, it ended in tragedy. Why did this happen? Let's try to answer.

Psychological self-portrait of Lermontov

Pechorin occupies a special place in the system of images created by Lermontov. Moreover, the author confesses to the whole world through the lips of this hero. If we discard the legend (life story) invented by the author, we get a subtle psychological self-portrait of Mikhail Yuryevich. The poet, according to the recollections of his contemporaries, was truly soulful only in a narrow circle of like-minded people. Therefore, his hero, like the classic himself, is sincerely disappointed by the falsehood and deceit of the majority of those around him. At first it seems to the reader that the cadet Grushnitsky is also not satisfied with the order prevailing in society. As a matter of fact, it was on the basis of discussions about this annoying circumstance that the young man met Pechorin. However, soon the insightful hero realizes that this life position young man- a complete pose that this officer is mentally empty and false. Gregory becomes offended; he does not accept hypocrisy and lies.

He decides to click Grushnitsky on the nose. His idea, however, is not entirely harmless. The hero, taking advantage of the cadet's predisposition to Princess Ligovskaya, gets acquainted with her and takes the girl away from her. former comrade. True, at the same time, Pechorin himself goes to moral costs in relation to Princess Mary, because he makes her fall in love with him, not wanting further development relationships.

Could Pechorin have foreseen that Grushnitsky, an obedient slave of the puppet concepts of honor that reign in high society, will challenge him to a duel? Grigory did not want such an outcome of events. Moreover, he gave his counterpart the right to fire the first shot, thereby offering him an alternative to stop this madness. However, Grushnitsky fired. Pechorin had no options left but to shoot seriously. As a result, the cadet was killed.

Is Lermontov a hostage to the plot of his book?

How is the image of the hero he invented related to the fate of the author of the work? Pechorin can safely be compared with Lermontov, because in this episode he seemed to anticipate the tragic death of his creator himself. The fatal duel in Pyatigorsk began with the poet teasing Martynov. Like his most beloved literary character created earlier, Mikhail Yuryevich could not tolerate falsehood. He himself showed courage in battle, but he could not stand Nikolai Solomonovich Martynov, who falsely portrayed himself as a hero on vacation in the company of ladies. Lermontov began to egg on the retired major... As is known, their duel ended in the death of the poet.

Let us return, however, to the story “Princess Mary”. In building its composition, Lermontov generously endowed the image of Pechorin with traits of his own personality. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky wrote that it was in this work that for the first time in Russian literature a painful, soul-grabbing psychologism was heard.

Perhaps this is why the author wrote the story in the form of diary entries of the hero, who is undergoing treatment “on the waters”.

Why does the story "The Fatalist" end the novel?

Disgraced after a fatal duel, the main character follows to Persia. On the way, he finds himself in a Cossack village, where he spends his leisure time in the officer’s company over cards and wine. The military communicate with each other, recalling combat episodes. Ensign Pechorin, deeply disappointed in Russian society, but believing in fate, is hard to surprise with anything. However, such a case still happens.

In the same company as him is Lieutenant Vulich, who doesn’t believe in anything at all. Pechorin, having experience in combat, with some inner instinct determines that this officer will soon face death. Vulich does not believe this and, trying to prove it, plays one round of “hussar roulette” with himself. A loaded pistol brought to your temple misfires. However, when all the officers disperse to their quarters, the returning Vulich is completely senselessly killed with a saber by a drunken Cossack.

Is it by chance that the image of Pechorin in the novel is presented as a broadcaster? Contemporaries of the book's author noted the latter's deep mysticism. They mention the heavy gaze of the classic: if Lermontov looked at a person’s back, he would certainly turn around. He amused himself with this property of his. For this, society ladies hated him. It is a known fact: Mikhail Yuryevich, during his only meeting with Belinsky, influenced the critic so much that he, who had hitherto treated him ironically, began to support him everywhere and unconditionally. Psychics would call it trance.

Mikhail was the last in the Lermontov family. All of his closest ancestors died untimely, and the death of the classic finally cut off the family tree. The poet’s contemporaries also recalled the unusual storm that broke out in a calm sky after Martynov’s fatal shot in Pyatigorsk. And 166 years later (in numerology this is the number of the universe), in the spring of 2007, lightning from another storm split and burned a pine tree growing at the site of the duel.

Psychologists note the ambivalence of Lermontov’s personality (the paradoxical connection between angelic and demonic principles). His ideal is the former monk Mtsyri, who abandoned humility and defeated the leopard. His Pushkin dies with a thirst for revenge and being in pride (“hanging his proud head”), while the real one departs with humility, having accepted Christian vows.

Grigory Pechorin, like Lermontov himself, is obsessed with pride. Although he did not pass the tests of either love or friendship, he achieved something that prevails over human feelings. He couldn't change the world, but he changed himself. Fate was revealed to him. Further life search is meaningless, and accordingly, the development of the novel’s plot is predictable: the main character suddenly and illogically dies. Did Lermontov himself strive for such a fate? Who knows. They write that before the fatal duel he was surprisingly calm...

Conclusion

Mikhail Yuryevich in the novel “Hero of Our Time” created a controversial and vivid psychological image of Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin. The classic endowed his beloved hero with his own creative mentality, restlessness, nihilism, and rejection of lies and hypocrisy. Thanks to this author’s plan, Russian literature appeared new genre- psychological novel.

The peculiarity of all classics is that their works often turn out to be deeper than their original intentions. Perhaps this is why more and more heroes of our time are trying to understand and comprehend the image of Pechorin.

Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin, the main character of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time,” is a controversial figure and very interesting for analysis. A person who destroys other people's destinies, but enjoys respect and love, cannot help but interest people. The hero cannot be called unambiguously positive or negative; it seems that he is literally woven from contradictions.

Grigory Pechorin, a young man of over twenty years old, immediately attracts attention with his appearance - neat, handsome, fit, he makes a very favorable impression on the people around him and almost immediately inspires deep trust. Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin was also famous for his developed physical abilities and could easily spend almost the whole day hunting and practically not get tired, but he often preferred to do it alone, not being dependent on the need to be in human society.

If we talk about Pechorin’s moral qualities and directly about his character, then you can see how amazingly both white and black are combined in one person. On the one hand, he is certainly a deep and wise person, rational and judicious. But on the other hand, it does absolutely nothing to develop the data strong qualities– Grigory Pechorin is biased towards education, believing that it is essentially meaningless. Among other things, Grigory Alexandrovich is a brave and independent person, capable of making difficult decisions and defending his opinion, but these positive aspects of his personality also have reverse side– selfishness and tendency to narcissism. It seems that Pechorin is incapable of selfless love, to self-sacrifice, he simply strives to get from life what he wants in this moment without thinking about the consequences.

However, Grigory Pechorin is not alone in the specifics of his image. It is not for nothing that they say that his image can be called cumulative, reflecting an entire generation of people with broken destinies. Forced to adapt to conventions and submit to the whims of other people, their personalities seemed to be divided into two parts - natural, given by nature, and artificial, the one created by social foundations. Perhaps this is the reason for Grigory Alexandrovich’s internal contradiction.

I believe that in the work “Hero of Our Time” Lermontov sought to show his readers how terrible it is to become a person crippled morally. In fact, in Pechorin, in a mild form, one can observe what we would now call a split personality, and this is, of course, a serious personality disorder that one cannot cope with on one’s own. Therefore, the life of Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is similar to the life of a certain creature who rushes about in search of a home or shelter, but cannot find it, just as Pechorin cannot find harmony in his own soul. This is the problem with the main character of the work. This is the problem of an entire generation, and if you think about it, not just one.

Option 2

The main character of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” M.Yu. Lermontov - Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin. According to the author himself, Pechorin - collective image representative of the generation of the 30s of the 19th century.

Pechorin is an officer. He is a gifted person, tries to act in order to find an area of ​​application for his talents, but he fails. Pechorin constantly asks himself the question of why he lived, for what purpose he was born.

The portrait of Pechorin, painted by the author himself, plays a major role. How sharp is the contrast between the appearance of the main character and his eyes (and after all, the eyes are the mirror of the soul)! If Pechorin’s whole appearance still retains a childish freshness, then his eyes betray an experienced, sober, but... unhappy person. They don't laugh when their owner laughs; Isn't this a sign of the inner tragedy of loneliness?..

Pechorin’s soulless attitude towards Maxim Maksimych, who became attached to him with all his soul, once again convinces us of the protagonist’s inability to experience real human feelings.

Pechorin's diary is not just a statement of daily events, but a deep psychological analysis. Reading these notes, we, oddly enough, think that Pechorin has the right to be indifferent to others, because he is indifferent...to himself. Indeed, our hero is characterized by a strange split personality: one lives a normal life, the other judges this first and everyone around him.

Perhaps, fuller image The main character is revealed in the story “Princess Mary”. It is here that Pechorin expresses his views on love, friendship, the meaning of life; here he explains each of his actions, and not biasedly, but objectively. “My soul is spoiled by light,” says Pechorin. This is the explanation of the character of the “hero of our time” as a “superfluous person.” Doctor Werner is not a friend to Pechorin, but a friend - because they have a lot in common; both are burdened by the light, both have non-standard views on life. But Grushnitsky cannot even be a friend to our hero - he is very ordinary. The duel of the heroes is also inevitable - the legitimate finale of the clash between philistine romanticism in the person of Grushnitsky and the extraordinary character of Pechorin. Pechorin states that he “despises women so as not to love them,” but this is a lie. They are playing big role in his life, take at least the fact that he cried from powerlessness and inability to help Vera (after a letter to her), or his confession to Princess Mary: he “let” her into his soul so deeply, as he did not let anyone in, explaining the reason and the essence of your actions. But it was a trick: he aroused compassion in the girl’s soul, and through this, love. What for?! Boredom! He didn't love her. Pechorin brings misfortune to everyone: Bela dies, Grushnitsky is killed, Mary and Vera suffer, smugglers leave their home. But at the same time he himself suffers.

Pechorin is a strong, bright and at the same time tragic personality. The author is completely confident that such a person is too extraordinary to live in a common “grave.” Therefore, Lermontov had no choice but to “kill” Pechorin.

Essay 3

Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov - a blinding star in the sky Russian literature. His works raise problems of the meaning of life, loneliness and love. The novel “A Hero of Our Time” is no exception. main character which Pechorin with amazing accuracy reflects the author's philosophical thoughts about life. But what sticks most in the reader’s soul after reading the novel? I will answer this question in my essay.

Pechorin is a character who combines all the vices of society of the Nicholas era. He is ruthless, indifferent, spiteful and sarcastic. But why does the reader develop warm emotional sympathy for Grigory Alexandrovich? Everything, oddly enough, is simple. Each of us sees a piece of ourselves in Pechorin, which is why the clearly negative character is seen by readers to some extent even as a hero. His decisions from an objective point of view are so ridiculous that they evoke approval from the reading public, at least his attitude towards Vera.

Loving her and having the opportunity to be with her, Pechorin loses the only thing he was not indifferent to. Why? This question can be answered in two ways: the motive of eternal loneliness and spiritual emptiness are the main motives of Lermontov’s work, but look into the very depths of the work? Pechorin cannot be with Vera for the reason that he is a real egoist. It is the egoist, and with his selfishness and cold attitude towards her, he causes her pain, and his decision not to be with her is Noble act, because he could always call her, and she would come - that’s what Vera herself said.

But at the same time, Pechorin loves faith. How can this happen? This is an obvious contradiction. But the book reflects life, and life is full of duality and contradictions, both internal and external, and since Lermontov was able to reflect this lousy, but at the same time wonderful essence of the world, then he is rightfully considered a classic!

Every page of the novel shocked me, unimaginably deep knowledge human soul is captured on every page of the work, and the closer to the end of the book, the more one can admire the image that Lermontov created.

Essay Image of Pechorin

Mikhail Yurjevich Lermontov - brightest star Russian poetry of the 19th century, his works are filled with such motifs as loneliness, fate and unrequited love. Lermontov's works reflected the spirit of the times very well. One of these is the novel “A Hero of Our Time,” the key character of which is a collection of the main, prominent people of the Nicholas era.

Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is a young officer traveling around Russian Empire on duty. For the first time, he appears before the reader as the hero of a story by Maxim Maksimovich, and then from his own notes about his life’s path. Lermontov endowed Pechorin with an irresistibly strong indifference to life and coldness to everything that happened around him. One of his main life beliefs is fatalism. This is especially evident in Pechorin’s decision to go to war in Persia and in his consent to deliberately commit unfair duel with Grushnitsky.

A disregard for one's own fate is one of Pechorin's most striking vices. Pechorin also does not have access to the feeling of love: he not only cannot love someone deeply human love, but also have a long-term interest in something. Definitely experiencing positive feelings to Verochka, Pechorin cannot afford to stay with her for a long time, although it seems to the reader that Grigory Alexandrovich wants to be with Vera. But why does this happen? The thing is that Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is the undisguised personification of loneliness, it is not fate that makes him lonely, but he prefers to remain alone with his conscious decisions.

Closedness of one's own soul from outside world and there is that very part of himself that Lermontov laid in his main character. This conclusion can be drawn by reading such poems by Lermontov as “I go out alone on the road”, “Sail”, “I look at the future with fear”, “Both boring and sad”.

But who is Pechorin? Why is the novel called “A Hero of Our Time”? Lermontov, seeing the frank, undisguised vices of society, mercilessly plants them in Pechorin. It was in the era of spiritual extinction, the prosperity of selfishness and Nikolaev tyranny that the novel was born. That is why many critics assessed Pechorin positively; they saw in him not only society, but also themselves. Also, every ordinary person in our society sees himself in Pechorin, which indicates that with the growth of technology, changes in the structure of society, human relations and the person himself does not change.

Option 5

In the novel “Hero of Our Time” by Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, one of the main characters is Pechorin Grigory Alexandrovich. Studying the text, we learn that he came from St. Petersburg. All that is known about his appearance is that he has brown eyes, blond hair and a dark mustache and eyebrows. A man of average height, broad shoulders. He is attractive and women like him. Pechorin knows them especially well, which is probably already boring. Lermontov allows his hero to meet Bela and Princess Mary. His fate turns out to be quite difficult. In his journal, the character describes events and feelings at the time of his stay in the Caucasus.

Grigory Alexandrovich has both positive and negative qualities. We see that he is educated, but does not really like to read books.

In the chapter “Princess Mary” he meets his old lover. He gives in to feelings, and also, for fun, falls in love with Princess Ligovskaya. At first, he wanted to do this only because of his pride, and also, it would make his “friend” jealous. He hurt innocent Mary. The punishment for this act was Vera's departure from Pyatigorsk. Pechorin was no longer able to catch up with her. On the other hand, during the duel he gave Grushnitsky a chance to retract his words. We see that the hero is aware of the consequences.

After all the events with the Ligovskys and Grushnitsky in the chapter “Bela,” Grigory exchanges the princess for a horse. For him she is like a thing. Not only does he destroy the family, but he also values ​​her life like a horse. A person’s life is priceless, and he takes such a step. The hero loved her, although perhaps it was just love, and he soon became bored with it. He understands that nothing can be fixed and increasingly leaves her alone. The result was the tragic death of Bela. Fortunately, he gave the last glass of water to the dying heroine. This situation greatly shocked him.

Grigory Alexandrovich suffered from the fact that he brought misfortune to the people around him. He was looking for his joy, but could not find it. On the one hand, we scold him for everything that happened, but on the other, he himself understands this and suffers. In his example you can see a person who could not achieve his happiness. He was confused, tormenting himself with thoughts. In some situations his character is weak, in others he is strong. However, Gregory tried by any means to achieve his inner satisfaction. It’s just a pity that innocent girls suffered because of this. The reader can only understand him and, perhaps, forgive him.

Sample 6

The publication of the work “A Hero of Our Time” was different opinions among the reading public.

The image of Pechorin was unusual for them. The author has set himself the main goal of revealing this image. And although the stories are not arranged in a specific order in the novel, they accurately and vividly show all sorts of features of Pechorin’s character. So, in “Maksim Maksimych” Pechorin is shown in his original position, he has tried and exhausted everything. In “Bel” all the negative character traits of our hero are revealed. By placing the character in different conditions, Lermontov wants to reveal to us Pechorin’s alienation. The young man, a renegade from society, did not obey the moral principles of the circle from which he came. He craves adventure and danger, as he is full of extraordinary energy.

And yet our hero is a richly gifted nature. Evaluating his actions and the actions of others sensibly, he has the mind of an analyst. His diary is a self-exposure. Pechorin has a warm heart that is capable of loving passionately, hiding the truth under a mask of indifference. This is especially evident in the episodes of Bela’s death and meeting with Vera. Our character is still a strong-willed and active person, and he is capable of action. But all his actions are destructive. In all the short stories, Pechorin appears as a destroyer of destinies. He is responsible for the incidents that happened to many people who met on his way. But one cannot blame Pechorin for becoming such an immoral person. The people around him and the world are to blame here, where it was impossible to adequately apply the best qualities.

So, he learned to deceive, began to hide everything, and he buried his feelings in his heart long ago.

It seems to me that if Pechorin had been born in a completely different time, he would have been able to use his capabilities for the benefit of himself and the people around him. That is why this hero occupies the main place among literary characters"extra people." After all, in order for these people not to lose themselves in this world, we must try to understand them and help them.

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“Hero of Our Time” is the most famous prose work of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. It owes its popularity largely to the originality of the composition and plot and the contradictory image of the main character. We’ll try to figure out what makes Pechorin’s characterization so unique.

History of creation

The novel was not the first prose work writer. Back in 1836, Lermontov began a novel about the life of St. Petersburg high society - “Princess Ligovskaya”, where the image of Pechorin first appears. But due to the poet’s exile, the work was not completed. Already in the Caucasus, Lermontov again took up prose, leaving the same hero, but changing the location of the novel and the title. This work was called “Hero of Our Time.”

Publication of the novel begins in 1839 in separate chapters. The first to go into print are “Bela”, “Fatalist”, “Taman”. The work received many negative responses from critics. They were primarily associated with the image of Pechorin, which was perceived as slander “on an entire generation.” In response, Lermontov puts forward his own characterization of Pechorin, in which he calls the hero a collection of all the vices of the society contemporary to the author.

Genre originality

The genre of the work is a novel that reveals psychological, philosophical and social problems Nicholas times. This period, which began immediately after the defeat of the Decembrists, is characterized by the absence of significant social or philosophical ideas, which could inspire and unite the advanced society of Russia. Hence the feeling of uselessness and impossibility of finding one’s place in life, from which the younger generation suffered.

The social side of the novel is already evident in the title, which is imbued with Lermontov’s irony. Pechorin, despite his originality, does not fit the role of a hero; it is not for nothing that he is often called an anti-hero in criticism.

The psychological component of the novel lies in the enormous attention that the author pays to the character’s inner experiences. Using various artistic techniques author's description Pechorin turns into a complex psychological portrait, which reflects all the ambiguity of the character’s personality.

And the philosophical in the novel is represented by a number of eternal human questions: why does a person exist, what is he like, what is the meaning of his life, etc.

What is a romantic hero?

Romanticism as a literary movement arose in the 18th century. His hero is, first of all, an extraordinary and unique personality, who is always opposed to society. A romantic character is always lonely and cannot be understood by others. He has no place in the ordinary world. Romanticism is active, it strives for accomplishments, adventures and unusual scenery. That is why Pechorin’s characterization is replete with descriptions unusual stories and no less unusual actions of the hero.

Portrait of Pechorin

Initially, Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is an attempt to typify young people of Lermontov’s generation. How did this character turn out?

A brief description of Pechorin begins with a description of him social status. So, this is an officer who was demoted and exiled to the Caucasus because of some unpleasant story. He is from an aristocratic family, educated, cold and calculating, ironic, endowed with an extraordinary mind, prone to philosophical reasoning. But he doesn’t know where to use his abilities and often wastes his time on trifles. Pechorin is indifferent to others and himself, even if something captures him, he quickly cools down, as was the case with Bela.

But the fault is that such extraordinary personality cannot find a place for himself in the world, lies not with Pechorin, but with the whole society, since he is a typical “hero of his time.” The social situation gave birth to people like him.

Quoted description of Pechorin

Two characters speak about Pechorin in the novel: Maxim Maksimovich and the author himself. Also here we can mention the hero himself, who writes about his thoughts and experiences in his diary.

Maxim Maksimych, simple-minded and a kind person, describes Pechorin this way: “A nice fellow... just a little strange.” Pechorin is all about this strangeness. He does illogical things: he hunts in bad weather and sits in clear days Houses; goes to the wild boar alone, not valuing his life; He can be silent and gloomy, or he can become the life of the party and tell funny and very interesting stories. Maxim Maksimovich compares his behavior with the behavior of a spoiled child who is used to always getting what he wants. This characteristic reflected mental tossing, worries, and inability to cope with one’s feelings and emotions.

Author's quotation description Pechorina is very critical and even ironic: “When he sat down on the bench, his figure bent... the position of his whole body depicted some kind of nervous weakness: he sat as Balzac’s thirty-year-old coquette sits on her downy chairs... In his smile there was something childish..." Lermontov does not at all idealize his hero, seeing his shortcomings and vices.

Attitude towards love

Pechorin made Bela, Princess Mary, Vera, and the “undine” his beloved. The characterization of the hero would be incomplete without a description of his love stories.

Seeing Bela, Pechorin believes that he has finally fallen in love, and this is what will help brighten up his loneliness and save him from suffering. However, time passes, and the hero realizes that he was mistaken - the girl is only short time entertained him. Pechorin's indifference to the princess revealed all the egoism of this hero, his inability to think about others and sacrifice something for them.

The next victim of the character's troubled soul is Princess Mary. This proud girl decides to step over social inequality and is the first to confess her love. However, Pechorin is scared family life which will bring peace. The hero doesn’t need this, he craves new experiences.

A brief description of Pechorin in connection with his attitude towards love can boil down to the fact that the hero appears as a cruel person, incapable of constant and deep feelings. He only causes pain and suffering to both the girls and himself.

Duel between Pechorin and Grushnitsky

The main character appears as a contradictory, ambiguous and unpredictable personality. The characterization of Pechorin and Grushnitsky points to another striking feature of the character - the desire to have fun, to play with the destinies of other people.

The duel in the novel was Pechorin’s attempt not only to laugh at Grushnitsky, but also to conduct a kind of psychological experiment. The main character gives his opponent the opportunity to do the right thing and show his best qualities.

The comparative characteristics of Pechorin and Grushnitsky in this scene are not on the side of the latter. Since it was his meanness and desire to humiliate the main character that led to the tragedy. Pechorin, knowing about the conspiracy, is trying to give Grushnitsky an opportunity to justify himself and retreat from his plan.

What is the tragedy of Lermontov's hero

Historical reality dooms all Pechorin’s attempts to find himself at least some useful application. Even in love he could not find a place for himself. This hero is completely alone; it is difficult for him to get close to people, to open up to them, to let them into his life. Sucking melancholy, loneliness and the desire to find a place for oneself in the world - these are the characteristics of Pechorin. "A Hero of Our Time" became the epitome of greatest tragedy a person - the inability to find himself.

Pechorin is endowed with nobility and honor, which was demonstrated during the duel with Grushnitsky, but at the same time, selfishness and indifference dominate in him. Throughout the entire narrative, the hero remains static - he does not evolve, nothing can change him. Lermontov seems to be trying to show by this that Pechorin is practically half a corpse. His fate is sealed; he is no longer alive, although he is not completely dead yet. This is why the main character does not care about his safety; he fearlessly rushes forward because he has nothing to lose.

Pechorin's tragedy lies not only in the social situation, which did not allow him to find a use for himself, but also in his inability to simply live. Introspection and constant attempts to comprehend what is happening around us led to wandering, constant doubts and uncertainty.

Conclusion

The characterization of Pechorin is interesting, ambiguous and very contradictory. “A Hero of Our Time” became Lermontov’s iconic work precisely because of such a complex hero. Having absorbed the features of romanticism, social changes of the Nicholas era and philosophical problems, Pechorin’s personality turned out to be timeless. His thoughts and problems are close to today’s youth.

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IN real life It is rare to meet a person who has exclusively negative qualities. There may be a majority of them, but no matter what kind of person you are, it is still possible to find at least a few positive qualities. Literature has the ability to draw the most unusual plots, images and events - sometimes surreal, which would be impossible to realize in real life. Oddly enough, there are no absolutely negative or positive characters here either. Each hero is unique in his own way; he can act in the most dishonest way, but at the same time it will not be difficult to find at least one good motive in him. One of the controversial characters is the image of Grigory Pechorin in the novel by M.Yu. Lermontov "Hero of Our Time".

Pechorin's inconsistency

Grigory Pechorin in the novel is presented as the engine of trouble, his appearance in the lives of all the characters ends in some kind of tragedy, or becomes the cause of death. Most of these situations are created unintentionally. Pechorin does not plan to kill anyone or bring irreparable consequences into the lives of certain people; tragedy occurs in a random, unplanned way, due to the characters’ contradictory perception of reality, a certain amount of misunderstanding of the essence of what is happening.

Positive qualities of Pechorin

At the beginning, it seems that there should be significantly fewer positions on this matter, since Pechorin does more harm than good, but in reality everything is far from the case.

First of all, the character’s education and intelligence are striking. Pechorin received a good education, but this fact alone does not make him smart - he is inquisitive by nature, so his knowledge was never limited to dry sciences, he always wanted to get to the bottom of the truth, to comprehend the essence.

Grigory knows how to present himself in society - he has the gift of making his interlocutor interested in even the most mundane topic, he has the ability to good feeling humor, which also contributes to its communicative influence.

Pechorin not only has knowledge about the subject of various sciences, he is also well acquainted with the rules of etiquette and successfully applies this knowledge in practice - he is always polite and courteous.

One cannot help but mention his special attention to his wardrobe and the condition of his suit as a positive quality - he always looks neat and elegant.

Pechorin treats women with a certain amount of trepidation - he carefully looks after Bella, is affectionate and attentive with the princess. His care and attention become an opportunity to demonstrate his love and affection to women.

Gregory – generous man. His generosity is closely related to his lack of pity or greed. He allows his friends to take his horses for a ride, generously gives Bella gifts - he does not do this for selfish reasons. They are guided by sincere impulses of the soul.

Pechorin's next positive qualities, undoubtedly, are determination and perseverance - if he has determined a goal for himself, he will follow it and do everything to achieve it as quickly as possible.

Pechorin has unprecedented courage. This fact can also be attributed to positive aspects in his image, although his courage must be considered in the context of events, since it often borders on recklessness, which introduces a significant amount of bitterness into this characteristic.

Negative qualities of Grigory Pechorin

At its core, Pechorin is evil person, but in him this quality looks attractive - it becomes not a repulsive factor from his person, but, on the contrary, possessive.

Gregory finds special pleasure in the process of playing with people's feelings. He likes to watch their mental anguish or confusion.

Moreover, he is dishonest and hypocritical. He allows himself to have an affair with married women.

In addition, he is not alien to the feeling of selfishness, which is skillfully combined, in his case, with inflated self-esteem. This becomes the reason for Pechorin’s lack of friends. He says goodbye too easily to all his acquaintances and lovers.

The only person He kills Grushnitsky, who claimed to be Grigory's friend, in a duel. Moreover, he does it without a shadow of regret. Maxim Maksimovich, who showed interest in his person and friendly sympathy, is repelled.

Despite his reverent attitude towards women, Pechorin treats them rudely when his love fervor fades.

Succumbing to his whim, he steals and keeps Bella, which leads to the girl’s death, but even here he does not feel remorse.

He leaves Princess Mary rudely and cruelly - destroying her love and feeling of tenderness.

How Pechorin evaluates himself

The image of Pechorin is not without a share of self-criticism. Despite the fact that he suffers from inflated self-esteem, his characterization of his personality and analysis of the actions he has committed looks quite believable. He is able to sensibly assess the integrity and consequences of his actions.

Pechorin considers himself an evil, immoral person. He calls himself a “moral cripple,” claiming that he was not always this way.

In tradition Byronic hero and the “superfluous man” Pechorin is filled with despondency and spleen - he cannot realize his talents and creative potential and therefore remains in deep depression and does not see a way out of it. Pechorin also cannot name the reason that led to this state of his soul, although he realizes that there must be some factor. Grigory does not deny that this may well be logical explanation, such as excess education, or interference heavenly powers- God, who endowed him with an unhappy character.

Thus, Grigory Pechorin is a very controversial character who is at the crossroads of two moral eras. He clearly and clearly understands that the old traditions and principles have already become obsolete, they are alien to him and unpleasant, but he does not know what should replace them. His intuitive searches do not bring him what he wants. positive result for the character himself and become destructive and tragic for the lives of other personalities in the story.

The character of Grigory Pechorin in the novel “Hero of Our Time”: positive and negative traits, pros and cons

The image of Pechorin, depicted by Mikhail Lermontov, is, first of all, the personality of a young man who suffers from his restlessness and is constantly captivated by questions: “Why did I live? For what purpose was I born?

What kind of hero is he, the 19th century?

Pechorin is not at all like his peers; there is not an ounce of desire in him to move along the beaten path secular youth that time. The young officer serves, but does not seek to curry favor. He is not interested in music, philosophy, and does not want to go into the intricacies of studying military craft. But it immediately becomes clear to the reader that the image of Pechorin is the image of a man who is head and shoulders above the people around him. He is quite smart, educated and talented, distinguished by energy and courage. Nevertheless, Pechorin’s indifference to other people, the selfishness of his nature, and the inability to empathize, friendship and love are repulsive. The contradictory image of Pechorin is complemented by his other qualities: the thirst to live to the fullest, the ability to critically evaluate one’s actions, the desire for the best. The “pathetic actions” of the character, the senseless waste of energy, his actions that cause pain to others - all this does not show the hero in the best light. However, at the same time, the officer himself is experiencing deep suffering.

The complexity and inconsistency of the main character famous novel especially clearly represented by his words that two people live in it at the same time: one of them lives in the full sense of the word, and the second thinks and judges the actions of the first. It also talks about the reasons that laid the foundation for this “divination”: “I told the truth - they didn’t believe me: I began to deceive...” A young and hopeful young man in just a couple of years turned into a callous, vindictive, bilious and ambitious person; as he himself put it, “a moral cripple.” The image of Pechorin in the novel “A Hero of Our Time” echoes the image of Onegin created by A. S. Pushkin: he is a “reluctant egoist”, disappointed in life, prone to pessimism, experiencing constant internal conflict.

30s The 19th century did not allow Pechorin to find and reveal himself. He repeatedly makes attempts to lose himself in petty adventures, love, exposes himself to the bullets of the Chechens... However, all this does not bring him the desired relief and remains only an attempt to distract himself.

Nevertheless, the image of Pechorin is an image of a richly gifted nature. After all, he has a sharp analytical mind; he evaluates people and the actions they perform with unusual accuracy. He developed a critical attitude not only towards others, but also towards himself. In his diary, the officer exposes himself: a hot heart beats in his chest, capable of feeling deeply (the death of Bela, meeting Vera) and experiencing extremely strongly, although it is hidden under a mask of indifference. However, this indifference is nothing more than self-defense.

“Hero of Our Time,” in which the image of Pechorin is the basis of the narrative, allows you to see the same personality with completely different sides, look into different corners her soul. At the same time with all of the above, in the guise of an officer we see a strong-willed, strong and active person in whom “ vitality" He's ready to act. Unfortunately, almost all of his actions ultimately cause pain to both Pechorin himself and those around him; his activities are not creative, but destructive.

The image of Pechorin strongly resonates with Lermontov’s “Demon,” especially at the beginning of the novel, when something demonic and unsolved remains in the hero. The young man, by the will of fate, becomes the destroyer of other people's lives: it is he who is to blame for the death of Bela, for the fact that Maxim Maksimovich was completely disillusioned with friendship, for how much Vera and Mary suffered. Grushnitsky, in turn, dies at the hands of Pechorin. Pechorin played a role in how another young officer, Vulich, died, as well as in how “ honest smugglers“were forced to leave their homes.

Conclusion

Pechorin is a man who no longer has a past left and only has hope for something better in the future. In the present, he remains a perfect ghost - this is how Belinsky characterized this contradictory image.