Mikhail Lermontov's A Hero Of Our Time
“A Hero of Our Time… is indeed a portrait but not of a single individual; it is a portrait composed of all the vices of our generation (Nabokov 16). Mikhail Lermontov’s A Hero of Our Time concentrates on Pechorin, an arrogant and manipulative military officer, who Lermontov considers typical for his generation. The novel takes place in 19th century Russia when Tsar Nicholas I reined. Literature at this time was constricted to the portrayal of life only approved by the Tsar. Lermontov’s superfluous man, therefore, was revolutionary and sparked a lot of controversy as people were “offended that such an immoral person as the Hero of Our Time should be set as a model to them.” In the authors preface Lermontov criticizes readers who only see his
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Pechorin makes it seem that he is ready for a relationship and an emotional connection with someone. However, at the end of “Princess Mary” he contradicts himself when he explains, “however much I may love a woman, if she only lets me feel that I must marry her – farewell to love” (Nabokov 137). This contradiction shows he feels desire but not love and he possesses the common trait of chasing a girl he does not have and then getting bored of her. He follows his admiration of beauty blindly, leaving behind those he discards. Pechorin even admits “[his] love brought happiness to no one, because [he] never gave up anything for the sake of those whom [he] loved. [He] loved for [himself], for [his] pleasure" (Nabokov 145). These pleasures cause the downfall of those in his life, and in the last novella readers see the effects of his loneliness. Pechorin begins to question whether his life is a result of predestination or his decisions. After Vulich tests fate Pechorin follows suit, risking his life to capture a drunk Cossack. He then questions “How can one escape becoming a fatalist? But then how can a man know for certain whether or not his is really convinced of anything?” (Nabokov 173). Pechorin reveals his uncertain nature and discloses to the reader his unreliable character which accounts for his actions throughout the
Pechorin makes it seem that he is ready for a relationship and an emotional connection with someone. However, at the end of “Princess Mary” he contradicts himself when he explains, “however much I may love a woman, if she only lets me feel that I must marry her – farewell to love” (Nabokov 137). This contradiction shows he feels desire but not love and he possesses the common trait of chasing a girl he does not have and then getting bored of her. He follows his admiration of beauty blindly, leaving behind those he discards. Pechorin even admits “[his] love brought happiness to no one, because [he] never gave up anything for the sake of those whom [he] loved. [He] loved for [himself], for [his] pleasure" (Nabokov 145). These pleasures cause the downfall of those in his life, and in the last novella readers see the effects of his loneliness. Pechorin begins to question whether his life is a result of predestination or his decisions. After Vulich tests fate Pechorin follows suit, risking his life to capture a drunk Cossack. He then questions “How can one escape becoming a fatalist? But then how can a man know for certain whether or not his is really convinced of anything?” (Nabokov 173). Pechorin reveals his uncertain nature and discloses to the reader his unreliable character which accounts for his actions throughout the