Pechorin and the “water society” in the novel by M.Yu. Lermontov "Hero of Our Time".

Pyatigorsk, Elisavetinsky spring, where the “water society” gathers. Walking along the boulevard, Pechorin meets “most of the family of steppe landowners,” who followed him with their gazes “with tender curiosity,” but “on recognizing the army epaulettes ... they turned away indignantly.” Local ladies are more favorable, they “are accustomed in the Caucasus to meet an ardent heart under a numbered button and an educated mind under a white cap. These ladies are very nice; and have been nice for a long time!”

Pechorin overtakes a crowd of men who “form a special class of people among those who are waiting for the movement of water. They drink - but not water, they walk a little, they dangle only in passing; they play and complain about boredom. They are dandies: lowering their braided glass into a well of sour sulfur water, they take academic poses..."

Lermontov described these snobs extremely accurately and sarcastically. And it was no coincidence that he assembled a real “hospital” on the waters: Mary is being treated for something, Grushnitsky and Werner are lame, the smuggler girl behaves like crazy, the boy is blind, Vera is terminally ill... Among With them, Pechorin becomes a “moral cripple”, devoid of ordinary human feelings.

Criticism greeted the new work ambiguously: a heated controversy ensued. Along with the stormy enthusiasm of Belinsky, who called Lermontov’s novel a work of “a completely new world of art”, who saw in it “a deep knowledge of the human heart and modern society”, “richness of content and originality”, the voices of critics were heard in the press who absolutely did not accept the novel. One of Lermontov’s most ardent opponents, a certain A.S. Burachok argued that the image of the main character of the novel is “aesthetic and psychological absurdity”, and in the work itself there is “no trace of philosophy, Russian folk religiosity.” But no matter how we evaluate the novel, one cannot fail to note the skill with which Lermontov wrote his main character. Throughout the entire work, the author strives to reveal the inner world of Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin as fully as possible. The compositional complexity of the novel is inextricably linked with the psychological complexity of the image of the main character, and the panopticon of the “water society” helps to reveal this image more deeply.

The hero's inner world is revealed most fully and deeply in the chapter "Princess Mary". The plot here is Pechorin’s meeting with Grushnitsky, a familiar cadet. And then Pechorin’s next “experiment” begins. The hero’s whole life is a chain of experiments on himself and other people. Its goal is to comprehend the truth, human nature, evil, good, love. This is exactly what happens in the case of Grushnitsky. Why is the young cadet so unpleasant to Pechorin? As we see, Grushnitsky is by no means a villain worth fighting. This is the most ordinary young man, dreaming of love and stars on his uniform. He is mediocre, but he has one weakness that is quite forgivable at his age - “draping himself into extraordinary feelings”, “passion to recite”. He strives to play the role of the Byronic disappointed hero, fashionable among young men, “a creature doomed to some kind of secret suffering.” Of course, the reader understands that this is a parody of Pechorin! That is why Pechorin hates him so much. Grushnitsky, as a narrow-minded person, does not understand Pechorin’s attitude towards him, does not suspect that he has already started a kind of game. At first, Pechorin even evokes a certain condescending feeling in Grushnitsky, since this young man is self-confident and seems to himself to be a very insightful and significant person: “I feel sorry for you, Pechorin,” this is how he speaks at the beginning of the novel. But events develop the way Pechorin wants it; Mary falls in love with him, forgetting about Grushnitsky. Overwhelmed by jealousy, indignation, and then hatred, the cadet suddenly reveals himself to us from a completely different side. He turns out to be not so harmless. He becomes vindictive, and then dishonest. , vile One who recently dressed up as nobility is today capable of shooting at an unarmed person. Pechorin’s experiment was a success.” Here, the “demonic” property of his nature “to sow evil” with the greatest skill manifested itself with full force. During the duel, Pechorin again tests fate, calmly standing face facing death Then he offers Grushnitsky reconciliation. But the situation is already irreversible, and Grushnitsky dies, having drunk the cup of shame, repentance and hatred to the end.

“A Hero of Our Time” is a socio-psychological novel in which the author set himself the task of revealing the inner world of the hero, “exploring the human soul.”
Lermontov is a romantic, therefore the problem of personality is the central problem of romanticism in the poet’s work. However, the innovation of “A Hero of Our Time” lies in the fact that the conflict between the individual and the surrounding world is resolved using a variety of means, both romantic and realistic.
Pechorin, the main character of the novel, is a social type.

Traditionally, following Onegin, he is placed in the gallery of “extra people.”
The images of Pechorin and Onegin have a lot in common, from details, character traits, to the situations in which they find themselves. However, the conflict between the individual and society in “A Hero of Our Time” is more acute than in “Eugene Onegin,” since Pechorin “frantically chases after life,” but receives nothing from it, and Onegin simply “goes with the flow.”
The composition of the novel is subordinated to the main task that the author set for himself - solving the problem of personality. In Pechorin’s journal, the central story is “Princess Mary,” in which the character of the hero is revealed from the inside, that is, Lermontov uses such an artistic device as confession. All artistic means - portrait, landscape, dialogue, details - are psychological in nature. In the story, with the help of an expanded figurative system, the secret of the hero’s character is revealed.
Lermontov, like many romantics, contrasts personality and society, and he places his hero in different environments, pitting him against different people. We can see this in the stories “Bela”, “Taman” and “Princess Mary”.
In the psychological story “Princess Mary,” Pechorin’s personality is contrasted with the “water society,” and the hero’s attitude towards this society and society in general is shown. “Water Society” is a collective image of representatives of the local and metropolitan nobility, in whose behavior and life the features of the described era can be traced. The conflict between the individual and society is embodied not only in revealing the character of the main character, but also in the depiction of the “water society”, their life, interests, and entertainment.
Pechorin notes with slight contempt the carefully hidden envy of each other, the love of gossip and intrigue. The life and customs of visitors to the Caucasian mineral waters, which both the author himself and the main character are ironic about, are determined by history and traditions. The image of the “water society” is also given in parallel with the image of the secular society, which Pechorin mentions and which has more than once been the object of study in the works of Griboedov and Pushkin.
In general, the entire “water society” is opposed to Pechorin. However, it is still possible to identify heroes who are not only opposed to Pechorin, but also compared with him.
Grushnitsky is a kind of parody of Pechorin. What for Pechorin constitutes the essence of character, for Grushnitsky it is a pose designed to produce an effect, an impression on others. Grushnitsky is an anti-romantic hero. His penchant for romanticization is carried to the point of caricature. He shows off and often behaves inappropriately to the situation. In everyday life he looks for romantic circumstances, but in truly romantic situations he gets lost. Grushnitsky's participation in the duel is ignoble and vile, but he cannot refuse it, since he is very proud. There are many external details in his image (overcoat, crutch, limp, ring with the date of his acquaintance with Mary). Obviously, the image of Grushnitsky was created not without the influence of Lensky: both are romantics, both were killed in a duel, both are younger than their friend-enemy.
Werner is the only male image that is compared with Pechorin, and not opposed. Their similarities are manifested in their relationships with society, skepticism, and wit. But along with common features, there are many differences in their characters. Pechorin is “madly chasing after life,” while Werner is passive. Werner is a less deep and complex nature than Pechorin. Before the duel, Pechorin admires nature, and Werner asks if he wrote his will. Werner's appearance shows romantic traits, but he is a contradictory person.
All female images presented in the novel are also subordinated to the main task - revealing the image of Pechorin and showing his relationship to love. Of all the female characters, Princess Mary is depicted most fully. Like Grushnitsky, she is passionate about romanticism, she is young, smart, witty. The princess's purity and naivety makes Pechorin's selfishness even more obvious. The story of Mary's seduction is the reason for deep introspection and extensive internal monologues in Pechorin's diary. In a conversation with Mary, Pechorin talks about his fate (relationships with society, inclinations, quirks of character).
Faith is the most obscure image, incompletely outlined, and given only by hints. This is the only female image that is compared with Pechorin. It is in his relationship with Vera that the tragedy of Pechorin’s situation is most fully felt, his inability to deeply and truly love: he doesn’t even need Vera. This emphasizes the hero’s loneliness, his inability to truly feel, and reveals the hero’s internal conflict. Romantic irony illuminates the relationship between Pechorin and Vera: Pechorin drives his horse, trying to catch up with Vera, and then falls asleep to Napoleon at Waterloo.
In addition, Lermontov pays attention to a large number of other, less noticeable, but also very important for creating a more complete picture of society, heroes who, without exception, are subject to the principle of typification, which indicates the realism of the novel. At the same time, the author proceeds from traditional types, relying on the creative experience of his predecessors, Griboyedov and Pushkin.
As soon as Pechorin arrives in Pyatigorsk, he becomes acquainted with the customs of the families of the steppe landowners: “... the St. Petersburg cut of the frock coat misled them, but, soon recognizing the army epaulettes, they turned away indignantly.”
Here we learn about the wives of local bosses, “mistresses of the waters”: “... they pay less attention to the uniform, they are accustomed in the Caucasus to meet an ardent heart under a numbered button and an educated mind under a white cap.”
A special class in the “water society” is made up of men, civilians and military (Captain Dragunsky, who with his participation in the duel resembles Zaretsky). The “water youth” stands out separately. In general, it is difficult to imagine anything new that has not yet been depicted in the works of Griboyedov and Pushkin. The same passion for rank, sycophancy, the same balls, gossip, idle pastime, emptiness, which dominate not as the vices of society, but as the elements of social life. Everything is the same, only with the difference that there we saw a secular society, and here a provincial one, which is trying with all its might to resemble the capital. Against the background of all this, it is impossible not to note with what irony not only specific images are drawn, but also the entire atmosphere.
Thus, the “water society” is not an accidental theme in the novel. The problem of the individual, her relationships with others are the main task of Lermontov’s entire work. At the same time, he is a continuator of the traditions of Russian literature of the 19th century.

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May 07 2015

Pechorin and the “water society” in M. Yu. Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time.” M. Yu. Lermontov’s “Hero of Our Time” is one of the best works of Russian literature. This novel is on a par with such masterpieces as “Woe from Wit”, “Eugene Onegin”, “The Inspector General”. The novel was written in the era following the December uprising.

At the center of the novel is a man who, in his development, is superior to the society around him, but who does not know how to find use for his abilities. definitely brought out the young man, whose personification he became in the work. This is a smart, well-educated young officer who serves in the Caucasus. He was tired of the social life that spoiled him. The hero suffers from his restlessness, in despair he asks himself the question: “Why did I live? For what purpose was I born? Pechorin is a typical hero of the time, the best representative of his era, but the price for this is his loneliness.

In the first chapter of the novel, we see Pechorin through the eyes of Maksim Maksimych, an old officer: “He was a nice guy, just a little strange.” Maxim Maksimych himself is unable to understand the complex character whom he loves and considers his friend. In “Bela” the hero’s inconsistency is manifested.

His character is complex. The hero himself says about himself: “There are two people in me: one lives in the literal sense of the word, and the other thinks and judges him...” In his words, he hides the essence of his character: his soul is “spoiled by light.” By nature, Pechorin is an egoist, we learn about this from the first story of the novel. This quality is manifested in love for Bela, as well as in the relationship with Mary. In the story “Maksim Maksimych” the author gives a portrait of Pechorin.

Describing the hero's appearance, the author emphasizes his aristocratic origin. Pechorin is a representative of secular society and lives by its laws. If in the first story Pechorin is described by Maxim Maksimych, then here the narrator changes. “The wandering officer: a subtle and observant person, draws a psychological portrait of the hero, notes the main thing in him: he is entirely woven from contradictions and contrasts.

“His figure and broad shoulders proved his strong build,” and there was something childish in his smile, some kind of nervous weakness”; “despite the white color of his hair, his mustache and eyebrows were black.” Particular attention is paid to the description of the hero's eyes: ...they did not laugh when he laughed! Because of their half-lowered eyelashes, they shone with some kind of phosphorescent shine: it was a shine similar to the shine of smooth steel, dazzling, but cold.” In “Princess Mary” we meet a person capable of introspection.

Here Pechorin characterizes himself, he explains how his bad qualities were formed: ... this has been my fate since childhood! Everyone read on my face signs of bad qualities that were not there; but they were expected - and they were born... I became secretive...

I became vindictive... I became envious, I learned to hate, I began to deceive, I became a moral cripple. He realizes that he has lived an empty and aimless life: “Why did I live? For what purpose was I born?

“The hero does not see the meaning of life. This understanding of one’s purpose in life a few hours before possible death is the culmination of not only the story “Princess Mary”, but the entire novel. Pechorin is a brave man, which was demonstrated in the duel.

The positive features of the hero include his ability to understand and feel people. Pechorin is an honest, decent person. Despite the unpleasant story of Princess Mary, Pechorin decides to tell the truth, although it was not easy. And in this episode his willpower was revealed. V. G. Belinsky compared Pechorin’s soul to heat-dried earth, which, after blessed rains, could give birth to beautiful flowers.

The novel by M. Yu. Lermontov poses one of the problems - the inability of the people of this time to act, generated by their own environment. Pechorin is a hero of his time. I think this is an honorary “title”, because the very word “hero” implies unusualness, exclusivity. In his novel he managed to show not only the image of the hero, but also reveal the history of the human soul.” The novel by M. Yu. Lermontov “The hero of our time is a whole, all parts of which are united by one hero, and his character is revealed from part to part gradually, revealed from external to internal, from effect to cause, from epic - through psychological - to philosophical.

The novel was immediately ranked among the masterpieces of Russian literature.

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“” is a novel in which socio-psychological problems are clearly revealed. In the content of the novel, the author tries with all his might to convey and describe the inner world of the main character, who was the image of the younger generation of those times. M.Yu. Lermontov creates different life scenes and episodes in which he shows the conflict between the main character and the society around him.

In one of the stories of the novel “Princess Mary”, Pechorin’s personality is directly opposed to the participants in the water society. What kind of society is this? This is a circle of people - local and metropolitan nobility, who convey the main character traits and behavior of people of that era. What dominates in such a society is hypocrisy, feigned emotions, feelings of envy of each other, petty affairs and dirty gossip. The “water society” is compared to a secular circle of people.

Spending time in such a society, he opposes almost all of its members. But there are also similar images. For example, it can be attributed to a parody character who tried to imitate Pechorin in everything. He tried to feign feelings of joy and happiness, although in reality he felt neither one nor the other. He tries to create a romantic relationship, but as soon as he gets into it, he is immediately lost. He tries to impress others, and it reaches the point of caricature. Grushnitsky's act in the duel is low and vile. He deprives him of his masculine nobility and honor. His pride overshadows all other emotions.

The image of Werner can be compared with the image of Pechorin. They are both witty, they both have the same views on society. But the inner world of the protagonist rushes forward to meet life. And Werner’s insides are filled with calm and passivity.

Several bright female images were created by the author in order to reveal the character of the main character as deeply as possible. The description is most detailed. The relationship with the princess prompts Pechorin to create deep diary entries in which he writes about their conversations, in which the hero shares his attitude towards others.

Given incompletely. But it is precisely the relationship with this woman that shows the reader the true fact that Pechorin did not know how to truly love and did not understand the feelings of female love at all.

After Grigory Alexandrovich’s arrival in Pyatigorsk, we can get acquainted with the description of family relationships of that time. A separate class consists of civilian and military men. Particularly passionate speech is made about the youth of the “water society”. It tells about their unknown passion for evening balls, for celebrations at which dirty gossip is constantly being waged. This provincial society was so much like a secular gathering of the same hypocritical and empty people.

Therefore, the topic of “water society” was not in vain touched upon by M.Yu. Lermontov. He tried to reveal and show the essence of the relationship between an individual and the whole society of that time and era.

2.6 Pechorin and the “water society”

In addition to Doctor Werner, there is another character in “Princess Mary” whose importance cannot be underestimated. This is Vera - the only woman whom Pechorin loved and who, by his own admission, understands him. Vera’s farewell letter, where she reveals her perception of Pechorin’s personality, cannot be ignored when characterizing the hero of the work.

Pechorin, “the hero of our time,” is first and foremost a destroyer. This is his main feature, emphasized in all the stories, with the exception of the story “Fatalist”. The hero is incapable of creation, like the people of his generation. Pechorin destroys not only the destinies of others, but also his own soul. The “damned questions” that he asks himself remain unanswered, because distrust of people and his feelings makes Pechorin a prisoner of his own “I.” Individualism turns his soul into a cold desert, leaving him alone with painful and unanswerable questions.

Lermontov novel character Pechorin

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