"Pechorin - the hero of his time": an essay on a theme

Respect is the aspiration of writers and poets to create a work about their generation. So written "Eugene Onegin", "Doctor Zhivago", "Quiet Flows the Don". Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov also managed to convey to the descendants that it was his Pechorin - the hero of his time. The writing of this novel was started by the 24-year-old poet, and finished when he was 26 years old. How little time did he need to become a classic! Lermontov saw the publication of his creation. He had a year of life before the fateful duel in Pyatigorsk ...

Lermontov continued the tradition of "heroes of the time"

This novel summed up the life searches and disappointments of the gifted poet, his result was the loser Pechorin. "Heroes of his time" - an essay that became traditional for Russian literature after the Pushkin "Onegin". However, a reasonable question arises: "Why do these characters so easily allow life's circumstances to drive themselves into a corner, make people superfluous in society?"

Why the character Pechorin conflicts with the society

Unhappy love, heavy character, broken personality ... For Pechorin (and hence for Lermontov) there were no halftones, he perceived reality either in white or in black. The last is evidenced by the memoirs of Prince AI Vasilchikov, who told that Lermontov with most people was "arrogant and fervent" and only with a very narrow circle of closest friends - sincere.

However, after going through a life-path similar to the hero of his novel , Mikhail Yurievich was sure: Grigory Pechorin is a hero of his time. The composition of the plot of the work illustrates this.

Chronological logic of the novel

In it, the author departs from the real chronology of events, which, according to the logic of time, should look like this:

The order of events in the novel

In order to understand the character orientation of Lermontov's character, we first formulate a well-known oriental idiom, which, it seems to us, is the key to its understanding: "If I became aware of who I really am, I would not live the way that I Perceive as myself. "

That's his problem! He can not understand how to come into a state of harmony with the surrounding world and with people. Mutated in life, the restless Pechorin is the hero of his time. Lermontov's work therefore rejects the usual course of events and follows his inner logic - the evolution of the personality of Grigory Alexandrovich. The sequence of the parts of the novel naturally changes dramatically:

The real nature of Pechorin

Lermontov is trying to show that really a cynic and selfish Pechorin is a hero of his time. The poet's composition proves to us: Gregory himself does not know what he is doing. Indulging in their desires and playing with people like a cat with a mouse, it rushes through life like a ball on an inclined plane, gaining critical acceleration and knocking everything in its path. So what is the reason for the tragedy of this person? Could Pechorin stop, stopping his ruinous path?

Obviously, yes! The problem is that he, understanding the perniciousness of his egoistic aspirations, does not try to limit them in any way. The result is obvious - degradation. He introduces to the readers first a maverick, who wants happiness (Bela), then - confused and depressed from his delusions (Maxim Maximovich), then he becomes convinced that he is not aware of the fact that he is bringing trouble to people (Taman) Then he turns into a monster, bringing evil to people ("Princess Mary"), and finally, he is emasculated from the passions and internally ready to accept, as a gift, a meaningless death ("Fatalist").

And where is the wisdom?

Speaking frankly, it is unlikely that Pechorin is the hero of his time. Lermontov's composition simply follows the life path and the course of his thoughts. (Even in the times of the Nicholas reaction there were many more people in harmony with society.)

And the poet ended his life's way extremely ridiculous ...

For a long time, without restraining himself, he exasperated the former cavalryman Martynov with evil and offensive witticisms (the testimonies of the witnesses of this matter are unanimous). In Mikhail Yurievich like a demon. Paradoxically, Lermontov himself actually became the initiator of this fateful duel in Pyatigorsk.

Is not it, smacks of metaphysics? A year before his death, the poet "kills" the protagonist of his work, and "decommissioned" from himself! It remains only to ask the question: "Is there a chance storm that broke out over Pyatigorsk at the moment when Lermontov emitted a spirit?" (The latter is documented in the police protocol).

Conclusion

Can we say that Pechorin is a hero of transitional time? The writing of Lermontov of this novel in itself refutes this idea. He - just one of many types that occur in Russia in the first half of the XIX century. After all, apart from him, there is a sensitive and human Maxim Maximovich, there is a noble and enthusiastic Princess Mary, there are people engaged in illegal fishing, but still quite humane smugglers. Grigory Alexandrovich as an image in the novel is not typical of them!

In addition, the hero of Lermontov, despite his keen mind, is "empty from within." There is no spiritual feedback mechanism harmonizing his relations with people and society. For the Christian country, which was and is Russia, it is simple: humility and repentance. The logic here is clear. Repent sincerely Pechorin after the stupidities he committed in the story "Bela", and the novel would turn into a single story, ending with a "happy end".

But no ... Starting to "step on the mop", Pechorin steps on it until she breaks his head ...

Well, what else can I say? "Fools and roads…"