Pechorin's first appearance in the novel. To the image of Pechorin: I

“A Hero of Our Time” is read in one sitting. The life of an officer in the tsarist army, Grigory Pechorin, is captivating with events flavored mental anguish character. The author created the image " extra person"in a society that does not know in what direction to direct energy and vitality.

History of creation

The unusual thing about the novel “A Hero of Our Time” is that it opened a list psychological works in Russian literature. Mikhail Lermontov spent three years on the work - the story about a representative of a new generation was born from 1838 to 1940.

The idea arose from the writer in Caucasian exile. The time of Nikolaev reaction reigned when, after the suppressed Decembrist uprising, intelligent youth were lost in search of the meaning of life, purpose, and ways to use their abilities for the benefit of the Fatherland. Hence the title of the novel. Plus, Lermontov was an officer in the Russian army, walked the military paths of the Caucasus and managed to become closely acquainted with the life and customs of the local population. The restless character of Grigory Pechorin was revealed far from his homeland, surrounded by Chechens, Ossetians and Circassians.

The work was sent to the reader in the form of separate chapters in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski. Seeing the popularity of his literary work, Mikhail Yuryevich decided to combine the parts into a whole novel, which was published in two volumes in 1840.

Five stories with their own titles make up a composition where chronological order. First, Pechorin is introduced to the readers by an officer of the tsarist army, close friend and boss Maxim Maksimych, and only then does the opportunity arise to “personally” get to know the emotional experiences of the protagonist through his diaries.

According to writers, when creating the image of the character, Lermontov relied on famous hero his idol - . Last name great poet borrowed from the calm Onega River, and Mikhail Yuryevich named the hero in honor of the stormy mountain Pechora. And in general, it is believed that Pechorin is an “extended” version of Onegin. In their search for prototypes, the writers also came across a typo in Lermontov’s manuscript - in one place the author mistakenly called his character Evgeniy.

Biography and plot

Grigory Pechorin was born and raised in St. Petersburg. In his youth, he quickly abandoned the tedious study of science and plunged into social life with carousing and women. However, this quickly became boring. Then the hero decided to repay his debt to the Fatherland by going to serve in the army. For participating in a duel young man punished with real service, sent to the Caucasus to join the active troops - this is the starting point of the narrative of the work.

In the first chapter, entitled “Bela,” Maxim Maksimych tells an unknown listener a story that happened to Pechorin and revealed the nature of an egoist in him. The young officer managed to get bored even during the war - he got used to the whistling of bullets, and the remote village in the mountains made him sad. With the help of the Circassian prince, the selfish and unbalanced Azamat, he stole first a horse, and then the daughter of the local prince Bela. Feelings for the young lady quickly cooled, giving way to indifference. The thoughtless actions of the Russian officer led to a series of dramatic events, including the murder of a girl and her father.

The chapter “Taman” takes the reader to pre-army events, when Pechorin meets with a group of smugglers, falsely mistaking its members for people acting in the name of something great and valuable. But the hero was disappointed. In addition, Grigory comes to the conclusion that he brings nothing but misfortune to those around him, and goes to Pyatigorsk to the healing waters.

Here Pechorin intersects with his past lover Vera, who still has tender feelings for him, his friend Junker Grushnitsky and Princess Mary Ligovskaya. Quiet life again it didn’t work out: Grigory won the princess’s heart, but refused the girl, and then, because of a quarrel, fought a duel with Grushnitsky. For the murder of a cadet, the young man again found himself in exile, but now he was assigned to serve in the fortress, where he met Maxim Maksimych.

IN last chapter novel "Fatalist" Lermontov placed the hero in Cossack village, where a conversation about fate and predestination begins between the participants while playing cards. Men are divided into two camps - some believe in the predestination of life events, others deny this theory. In a dispute with Lieutenant Vulich, Pechorin stated that he saw a print near death on your opponent's face. He tried to prove his invulnerability using Russian roulette, and indeed, the gun misfired. However, that same evening Vulich died at the hands of an over-drinking Cossack.

Image

The hero of his time is unable to find a sphere of application for his boundless young energy. Energy is wasted on insignificant trifles and heart dramas; society does not benefit from either one. The tragedy of an individual who is doomed to inertia and loneliness is the ideological core of Lermontov’s novel. The author explains:

“... exactly a portrait, but not of one person: it is a portrait made up of the vices of our entire generation, in their full development.”

Since his youth, Grigory has existed “for the sake of curiosity” and admits: “I have long lived not with my heart, but with my head.” “Cold mind” pushes the character to actions that only make everyone feel bad. He interferes in the affairs of smugglers, plays with the feelings of Bela and Vera, and takes revenge. All this brings complete disappointment and spiritual devastation. He despises high society, in which he was born and raised, but it is his idol that becomes after winning a duel over Grushevsky. And this turn of events depresses Gregory even more.

The characteristics of Pechorin’s appearance convey his inner qualities. Mikhail Yurievich painted an aristocrat with pale skin and thin fingers. When walking, the hero does not swing his arms, which speaks of a withdrawn nature, and when laughing, his eyes lack a cheerful sparkle - with this the author tried to convey a character prone to analysis and drama. Moreover, even Grigory Alexandrovich’s age is not clear: he looks 26, but in fact the hero celebrated his 30th birthday.

Film adaptations

The star of “A Hero of Our Time” lit up in cinema in 1927 - director Vladimir Barsky shot a trilogy of black-and-white silent films, where actor Nikolai Prozorovsky played the role of Pechorin.

Once again we remembered Lermontov’s work in 1955: Isidor Annensky presented the audience with the film “Princess Mary”, in which Anatoly Verbitsky got used to the image of a restless young man.

10 years later he appeared in the image of Pechorin. All these films did not receive recognition from critics, who felt that the directors did not sufficiently reveal the character of Lermontov’s character.

And the following film adaptations turned out to be successful. This is the 1975 teleplay “Pechorin’s Journal Page” (in leading role) and the 2006 TV series “Hero of Our Time” ().

Grigory Pechorin also appears in Lermontov’s unfinished novel “Princess Ligovskaya,” but here the hero is not a St. Petersburger, but a Muscovite.

The script for the series, released on television in 2006, was written by Irakli Kvirikadze. The work is close to the textbook source, but the main difference is that the chronology of actions is observed. That is, the chapters have been rearranged. The picture begins with the events described by the classic of literature in the part “Taman”, followed by the chapter “Princess Mary”.

Quotes

“Of two friends, one is always the slave of the other, although often neither of them admits it to himself. I was created stupidly: I don’t forget anything - nothing!”

“Women only love those they don’t know.”

“What began in an extraordinary way must end in the same way.”

“We must give justice to women: they have an instinct for spiritual beauty.”

“To be the cause of suffering and joy for someone, without having any positive right to do so - isn’t this the sweetest food of our pride? What is happiness? Intense pride."

“This has been my lot since childhood. Everyone read on my face signs of bad feelings that were not there; but they were anticipated - and they were born. I was modest - I was accused of guile: I became secretive. I felt good and evil deeply; no one caressed me, everyone insulted me: I became vindictive; I was gloomy, - other children were cheerful and talkative; I felt superior to them - they put me lower. I became envious. I was ready to love the whole world, but no one understood me: and I learned to hate. My colorless youth passed in a struggle with myself and the light.”

“My love did not bring happiness to anyone, because I did not sacrifice anything for those I loved.”

“Tomorrow she will want to reward me. I already know all this by heart - that’s what’s boring!”

Speaking about the characterization of Grigory Pechorin, first of all it should be noted that the author of the work, Mikhail Lermontov, clearly showed his attitude towards the hero Grigory Pechorin. Pechorin does not fit into society, he seems to “fall out” of it, and the point is not at all in his appearance. Indeed, Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is a handsome officer, has a sharp mind, a lively and ebullient nature, and has an explosive character. However, Mikhail Lermontov himself, mentioning the characterization of Grigory Pechorin, notes: “This is a portrait made up of the vices of our entire generation, in their full development.”

Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is, of course, a put together image of the people of that time, namely the 30s of the 19th century.

So, Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is, of course, a put together image of the people of that time, namely the 30s of the 19th century. What interesting things can be said about the characterization of Grigory Pechorin?

He leads a rather boring lifestyle, he is lonely, and it’s hard to keep himself busy. Although at one time Pechorin moves in the best circles of society, he gets tired of everything: courting ladies, and social fun.

On the one hand, Grigory is afraid that society will negatively affect him, so internally he shuns its influence, but on the other hand, Pechorin does not worry about the welfare and well-being of others. Not only does he not appreciate true love and friendship, and among other things, Lermontov’s main character does not worry about the fact that with his behavior he is ruining the fates of those close to him. This fact, of course, significantly overshadows the characterization of Grigory Pechorin.

Characteristics of Grigory Pechorin in the chapter "Bela"

As you read the book and analyze Lermontov's hero Pechorin, it becomes clear that Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin indulges in recklessness simply because he is bored. But when the passion of adventure takes possession of him, he is calculating and ready to do anything - sacrifice friendship, hurt someone's feelings, break something inside himself. For example, in the chapter “Bela” Pechorin burns with passion for the girl Bela, and does everything possible to achieve her favor. It seems that Grigory Pechorin loves Bela, but how can one explain the fact that he mercilessly destroys her family, forcibly kidnaps the girl, pushes Bela’s brother Azamat to madness, and then puts on a guise and tries to evoke sympathy and pity for himself? It is unlikely that such actions can be explained by true love.

Reflecting on the characterization of Grigory Pechorin after reading this chapter, it is clear that in fact Lermontov’s hero Pechorin did not need Bela, she became a fleeting quenching of boredom and for a time, while he was seeking her, dispersed his melancholy.

True, Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is not devoid of compassion. Realizing that he doesn’t need Bela, but he won her heart, Pechorin continues to deceive her, only now his deception lies in the fact that he supposedly loves her dearly.

Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin indulges in recklessness simply because he is bored. But when the passion for adventure takes hold of him, he is calculating and ready to do anything.

Conclusions about the characteristics of Grigory Pechorin

Speaking in simple language about Lermontov's hero Pechorin, let's say that Pechorin is a bad person who combines the vices of his generation and modern society. But still, from his actions and way of thinking, one can draw important conclusions about the morality of people in general, and look at oneself through the prism of the vicious character of Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin.

The novel “Hero of Our Time” by M. Yu. Lermontov can be attributed to the first socio-psychological and philosophical work in prose. IN this novel the author tried to display the vices of an entire generation in one person, to create a multifaceted portrait.

Pechorin is a complex and contradictory person. The novel includes several stories, and in each of them the hero reveals himself to the reader from a new side.

The image of Pechorin in the chapter “Bela”

In the chapter “Bela” it opens to the reader from the words of another hero of the novel - Maxim Maksimych. This chapter describes life circumstances Pechorin, his upbringing and education. Here the portrait of the main character is also revealed for the first time.

Reading the first chapter, we can conclude that Grigory Alexandrovich is a young officer, has an attractive appearance, at first glance pleasant in any respect, he has good taste and a brilliant mind, excellent education. He is an aristocrat, an esthete, one might say, a star of secular society.

Pechorin is a hero of our time, according to Maxim Maksimych

The elderly staff captain Maxim Maksimych is a gentle and good-natured man. He describes Pechorin as quite strange, unpredictable, and unlike other people. From the first words of the staff captain, one can notice the internal contradictions of the protagonist. He can be in the rain all day and feel great, and another time he can freeze from a warm breeze, he can be frightened by the slam of window shutters, but he is not afraid to go to the wild boar one on one, he can be silent for a long time, and at some point a lot talk and joke.

The characterization of Pechorin in the chapter “Bela” has practically no psychological analysis. The narrator does not analyze, evaluate or even condemn Gregory, he simply conveys many facts from his life.

The tragic story of Bel

When Maxim Maksimych tells the traveling officer sad story which happened before his eyes, the reader becomes acquainted with the incredible cruel egoism of Grigory Pechorin. Due to his whim, the main character steals the girl Bela from her home, without thinking about her later life, about the time when he will finally get tired of her. Later, Bela suffers because of Gregory’s emerging coldness, but cannot do anything about it. Noticing how Bela is suffering, the staff captain tries to talk to Pechorin, but Grigory’s answer causes only misunderstanding in Maxim Maksimych. He can’t wrap his head around how a young man, for whom everything is going very well, can still complain about life. It all ends with the girl's death. The unfortunate woman is killed by Kazbich, who previously killed her father. Having fallen in love with Bela as his own daughter, Maxim Maksimych is amazed at the coldness and indifference with which Pechorin suffered this death.

Pechorin through the eyes of a traveling officer

The characterization of Pechorin in the chapter “Bela” differs significantly from the same image in other chapters. In the chapter “Maksim Maksimych” Pechorin is described through the eyes of a traveling officer who was able to notice and appreciate the complexity of the protagonist’s character. Behavior and appearance Pechorin is already attracting attention. For example, his gait was lazy and careless, but at the same time he walked without swinging his arms, which is a sign of a certain secrecy in his character.

The fact that Pechorin experienced mental storms is evidenced by his appearance. Gregory looked older than his years. The portrait of the main character contains ambiguity and inconsistency; he has soft skin, a childish smile, and at the same time deep. He has light blond hair, but a black mustache and eyebrows. But the complexity of the hero’s nature is most emphasized by his eyes, which never laugh and seem to scream about some hidden tragedy of the soul.

Diary

Pechorin appears by itself after the reader encounters the thoughts of the hero himself, which he wrote down in his personal diary. In the chapter “Princess Mary,” Grigory, having a cold calculation, makes the young princess fall in love with him. As events unfold, he destroys Grushnitsky, first morally, and then physically. Pechorin writes all this in his diary, every step, every thought, accurately and truly assessing himself.

Pechorin in the chapter “Princess Mary”

The characterization of Pechorin in the chapter “Bela” and in the chapter “Princess Mary” is striking in its contrast, since in the second mentioned chapter Vera appears, who became the only woman who managed to truly understand Pechorin. It was her that Pechorin fell in love with. His feeling for her was unusually reverent and tender. But in the end, Gregory loses this woman too.

It is at the moment when he realizes the loss of his chosen one that the new Pechorin. The characterization of the hero at this stage is despair, he no longer makes plans, is ready for stupid ones and, having failed to save his lost happiness, Grigory Alexandrovich cries like a child.

Final chapter

In the chapter “Fatalist,” Pechorin reveals one more side. Main character doesn't value his life. Pechorin is not stopped even by the possibility of death; he perceives it as a game that helps to cope with boredom. Grigory risks his life in search of himself. He is brave and courageous, he has strong nerves, and in a difficult situation he is capable of heroism. You might think that this character was capable of great things with such a will and such abilities, but in reality it all came down to " thrills", to the game between life and death. As a result, the strong, restless, rebellious nature of the protagonist brings people only misfortune. This thought gradually arises and develops in the mind of Pechorin himself.

Pechorin is a hero of our time, a hero of his own, and of any time. This is a person who knows habits, weaknesses and, to some extent, he is an egoist, because he thinks only about himself and does not show concern for others. But in any case, this hero is romantic, he is opposed to the world around him. There is no place for him in this world, his life is wasted, and the way out of this situation is death, which overtook our hero on the way to Persia.

The image of a “Hero of Our Time”, Grigory Pechorin is the image of an “extra” person in society. Outwardly, Pechorin is a healthy, physically developed, attractive man, an officer, and also sharp mind and well educated. This strong personality: active, purposeful, passionate, brave and courageous. Pechorin is a strong-willed nature, inner world in which work and continuous development are constantly taking place. And yet Mikhail Lermontov himself, in the preface to the novel, called Pechorin so bad person that it is difficult to believe in the existence of such a thing: “The hero of our time, gentlemen, is definitely a portrait, but not of one person: it is a portrait made up of the vices of our entire generation, in their full development.”

Analysis of the image of Pechorin suggests that the main character flaw of the hero is his constant feeling of boredom. For this reason, he does not value life, neither his own nor that of others. The hero, in constant search for new experiences that would dispel his boredom, found him a place in the world. He finds them, but not for long, and again seeks to “tempt fate.” He tests her in war, seeks refuge in the love of the mountain woman Bela, “tickles her nerves” in a duel, and tracks down smugglers.

In between times, in search of thrills, Pechorin breaks human hearts and fate. The women in love with him suffer, Grushnitsky dies, Bela’s family is destroyed, and she herself dies.

The image of Pechorin in "Bel"

In the chapter “Bela” the author shows the hero during the period love story. Pechorin appears before us as an ardent and passionate man, because in order to take possession of Bela, he takes enormous risks. At the same time, this lover is very cunning and ruthless; in pursuit of Bela, he does not consider the means. He skillfully manipulates the boy Azamat, organizing the violent abduction of Bela, and brutally destroys her family. Pechorin is not inclined to force a woman by force, but one cannot refuse him prudence. To win her heart over to him, he uses all means, and ultimately evokes pity for himself. In moments of happiness, the hero even sincerely believes that he has found consolation, salvation from melancholy and boredom for the rest of his life.

But when the goal is achieved, Pechorin becomes bored again, Bela ceases to interest him. At the same time, he is a real man, brave, courageous: “I will give my life for her...” and the worst tormentor, because inside this man there is cold. When the goal is achieved, the conquest is complete, Pechorin has nowhere to put his energy. Bela was just a goal for him.

Compassion, however, lives in Pechorin’s soul, and until the very end he plays the lover, but Bela’s heart can no longer be deceived. The girl dies unhappy, feeling unloved, and Pechorin sincerely suffers. Human feelings are alive in his heart, but self-will takes over in him.

The image of Pechorin in the chapter “Taman”

In the chapter “Taman” Lermontov shows us a dreamy young man who is looking for novelty and adventure. The smuggler girl charms him. In Pechorin’s soul there lives some kind of naive, childish faith in a fairy tale, in something better, unusual, amazing. The strange beauty attracts him; she seems unique and wonderful to Pechorin. Like a child, he is attracted to everything unknown. But, having been cruelly deceived, the hero, who was robbed and almost drowned, again abruptly returns to his usual state of a person disappointed in everything. He scolds himself for breaking away from reality and believing in magic.

The image of Pechorin in “Princess Mary”

In the gleve “Princess Mary” we meet in the person of Pechorin a kind of split man. On the one hand this man of sense, perfectly aware of what he is doing and what consequences it has. On the other hand, it’s as if a demon is sitting inside him, forcing him to play a dishonest game. Using sophisticated methods, this officer achieves the love of a young girl, while making his comrade unhappy. Pechorin absolutely does not need this love, he is attracted by the game itself, the adventure itself, the achievement of the goal - so that the soul of the innocent and inexperienced Mary opens up to him. Pechorin wears masks, changing them with ease, without showing his essence to anyone. When Mary falls in love to such an extent that she is ready to connect her life with him, the hero leaves the stage - the goal has been achieved.

Pechorin uses people for temporary satisfaction. At the same time, he understands perfectly well what he is doing, condemns himself for it, considers it his curse, but continues in the same spirit. Sometimes repentance breaks out in him - such is his impulse to see Vera - the only woman who loves him, having recognized him for who he really is, without masks. But these impulses are short-lived, and the hero, absorbed in himself and his boredom, again does not show any warmth towards people.

The image of Pechorin in the chapter “Fatalist”

The last chapter of the novel reveals to us another facet of his personality: the hero does not appreciate the gift of life. Even possible death for him it’s just a game, an opportunity to relieve boredom. Pechorin tries to test himself, risking his life. He is brave, courageous, has nerves of steel, and actually shows heroism in difficult situation when you need to pacify a desperate killer. One inevitably wonders what feats, what accomplishments this man with such abilities, with such will, was capable of. But, in essence, it all came down simply to “thrills,” a game of life and death.

Lermontov in the preface to the novel called Pechorin sick. He did not mean literal physical weakness, but the soul of the hero. The meaning of Pechorin's image The fact is that the hero does not find use for his extraordinary abilities; no one needs his strength of spirit. He doesn’t know what he could do that was actually heroic, valuable, and useful. As a result, his strong, rebellious, restless nature brings people nothing but misfortune. This idea, as the novel progresses, is confirmed in the mind of the hero himself.

In the novel “Hero of Our Time” M.Yu. Lermontov created the image of his contemporary, “a portrait made up of the vices of the entire... generation.”

The main character of the novel is the nobleman Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin, an extremely complex and contradictory character, furthermore paradoxical. The inconsistency and “strangeness” of Pechorin is masterfully noted in the very portrait of the hero. “At first glance at his face, I would not have given him more than twenty-three years, although after that I was ready to give him thirty,” the narrator notes. He describes Pechorin’s strong physique and at the same time immediately notes the “nervous weakness” of his body. A strange contrast is presented by the hero’s childish smile and his cold, metallic gaze. Pechorin’s eyes “didn’t laugh when he laughed... This is a sign of either an evil disposition or deep, constant sadness,” the narrator notes. The hero's gaze seems impudent to the passing officer, producing "the unpleasant impression of an immodest question" and at the same time this gaze is "indifferently calm."

Maxim Maksimovich also mentions Pechorin’s “oddities”: “He was a nice guy, I dare to assure you; just a little strange. After all, for example, in the rain, in the cold, hunting all day; everyone will be cold and tired - but nothing to him. And another time he sits in his room, smells the wind, assures him that he has a cold; the shutter knocks, he shudders and turns pale; and with me he went to the wild boar one on one; It used to be that you wouldn’t get a word out for hours at a time, but once you started talking, you’d burst your stomach with laughter...”

What is behind this “strangeness” of the hero? What is he really like? Let's try to analyze this character.

Pechorin is a Russian nobleman, one of those whose “youth was spent in the world.” However, he soon became disgusted with secular pleasures. Science, reading books, self-education - all these activities also very quickly revealed their meaninglessness and uselessness in life. Pechorin realized that a person’s position in society, respect and honor are not determined by his true merits - education and virtue, but depend on wealth and connections. Thus, the ideal order of the world was disrupted in his mind at the very beginning life path. This led to Pechorin's disappointment, boredom, and contempt for aristocratic society.

Disappointment gave rise to aggression in him towards others. And all yours positive traits- courage, determination, willpower, determination, energy, activity, enterprise, insight and the ability to understand people - the hero “turned into his opposite”, using them “on the path of evil.” I would especially like to dwell on one of the features of Grigory Alexandrovich.

Pechorin is very active, energetic, in his soul there are “immense forces.” However, what does he spend his energy on? Kidnaps Bela, kills Grushnitsky, starts a meaningless, cruel affair with Princess Mary.

Moreover, Pechorin is well aware that he brings suffering to other people. He is inclined to explain his behavior by his upbringing, social environment, “the uniqueness of his divine nature,” a fate that invariably led him to “the denouement of other people’s dramas” - anything but a manifestation of his personal, free will. The hero seems to be abdicating responsibility for his actions.

At the same time, he is always active, active, he consistently brings his plans to life. Critics have repeatedly noted a certain unity of Pechorin's behavior, the unity of introspection and action. And the hero himself refuses blind faith in predestination in the story “Fatalist”.

Let's try to analyze Pechorin's psychology and behavior by turning to his life philosophy. Happiness for him is only satisfied ambition, “saturated pride”, main passion- to subjugate the will of others. Life for Grigory Aleksandrovich is “boring and disgusting”; he views the feelings of others “only in relation to himself”, as food that supports him mental strength. These feelings themselves do not bother him. “What do I care about human joys and misfortunes...” - this is the leitmotif of Pechorin’s image.

The basis of the behavior of Lermontov's hero is egocentrism, which, according to D.N. Ovsyaniko-Kulikovsky, gave rise to excessive impressionability in Pechorin, an emotionally painful susceptibility to all phenomena of life and the actions of others. The researcher notices that Grigory Alexandrovich is not able to forget his past feelings, including the most bitter and joyless ones. They control his soul just as much as real feelings. Hence in Pechorin the inability to forgive, the impossibility objective assessment situations.

However, it seems that the hero’s feelings are very selectively manifested in action. According to the remark of A.I. Revyakin, “Pechorin is not devoid of good impulses.” At an evening at the Ligovskys’, he took pity on Vera. During last date with Mary he feels compassion, ready to throw himself at her feet. During a duel with Grushnitsky, he is ready to forgive his enemy if he admits to his own meanness.

However, Grigory Alexandrovich’s good impulses always remain only “impulses.” And Pechorin always carries his “atrocities” to logical conclusion: he kills Grushnitsky, destroys Bela, makes Princess Mary suffer. The hero’s impulses for good remain only his personal feelings, which never turn into actions and about which other people know virtually nothing.

The unity of thought and action is preserved in Pechorin’s behavior only in relation to his “villains” - here, apparently, the feelings of the hero are not present (Pechorin is not a villain by nature), here he acts, guided only by reason, reason. And vice versa, we observe in the hero’s mind a tragic gap between feeling and action. Where reason is not present, Pechorin is “powerless” - the sphere of feelings is closed to him. This is what determines the hero’s emotional immobility, his “fossilization.” Hence the impossibility of love for him, his failure in friendship. Hence, I think, the impossibility of repentance for Pechorin.

Belinsky believed that spiritual appearance Pechorin is mutilated social life, that he himself suffers from his unbelief, and “Pechorin’s soul is not rocky soil, but earth dried up from the heat of a fiery life: let suffering loosen it and water it with gracious rain, and it will grow from itself lush, luxurious flowers heavenly love...". However, Pechorin’s “suffering” itself is precisely impossible for him. And this is the “mental impotence” of the hero.

Of course, one of the reasons for such a depiction of the image by the writer is Lermontov’s certain loyalty to the traditions of romanticism. Pechorin - romantic hero, opposed to the surrounding world. Hence his demonism and loneliness among people. As a romantic hero, Pechorin largely reflects the worldview of the poet himself, his gloomy moods, melancholy thoughts, skepticism and sarcasm, and secretive character. It is characteristic that Pushkin’s Onegin still acquires fullness of feelings and a lively flow of life in his love for Tatyana. Pechorin dies while returning from Persia. And this is all Lermontov.