Action in the novel by M.Yu. Lermontov's “Hero of our time” takes place in the 30s of the XIX century. The central character of the work is the young Russian officer Grigory Pechorin. In this image, the author reflected the fate of an outstanding person who happened to live in an era of timelessness and loss of life guidelines.
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1
In his novel, Lermontov continues the traditions of realism laid down by Pushkin. The author raised the question of determining life values in a difficult and controversial era to the center of the story. Events related to the Decembrist uprising were still fresh in the memory of the people. But even the best representatives of society were disappointed in the struggle against the autocracy and did not see a way out of the strip of social stagnation.
2
The ideas that the author wanted to convey to the reader were reflected in the image of Pechorin. The whole story is subordinate to the author of one task - to reveal the nature and value system of one of the best representatives of society. Lermontov appears here as a subtle psychologist and realist, who managed to discern in the contradictory character of the hero of his time not only an extraordinary personality, but also a person with a devastated soul.
3
The author describes Pechorin’s personality skillfully and peculiarly. The young officer has a sharp mind, a strong character and a strong will. He is fearless, sometimes even bold. Pechorin does not stop in front of life's obstacles. The hero cannot be called sentimental. In relations with other people, he is not too ceremonious. One gets the impression that the people passing through the life of the hero are just the characters of the play that he is forced to watch.
4
The composition of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” is also distinctive. In fact, several independent works, united by one main character, pass before the reader. The author does not seek to maintain the chronology of Pechorin’s life. For him, it is much more important to show the hero in a variety of life situations. Therefore, Lermontov turns to the description of several episodes characterizing the personality of the young officer from all sides.
5
The reader sees Pechorin among the starchy representatives of the upper world, daring smugglers, brave and freedom-loving mountaineers. The officer’s relations with minor characters make it possible to more fully reveal the entire contradictory nature of the protagonist of the novel. The characters and the whole cycle of events in their own way emphasize Lermontov’s main idea: if this is one of the best representatives of society, what can you expect from other people?
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Revealing the psychological characteristics of the hero for Lermontov is not an end in itself. Through this vivid image, the author seeks to highlight the main problem of his time - the lack of high ideals and life aspirations among the young generation, who had to take a direct part in the life of the country. A well-known critic V.G. Belinsky called Lermontov "the solver of the most important issues of our time."
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