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¶ … hero of our time is the most famous novel written by Russian writer and poet Mikhail Lermontov. It's a novel about life of young officer Grigoriy Pechorin, selfish and arrogant man, who represented vices of 19th century aristocracy and at the same time stood against its hypocritical morals. From the other side it's a novel about a person tragedy of an outstanding energetic person with brilliant mind, who was left unwanted in society of snobbism. "A hero of our time" is a bright description of Russia's society of the 19th century, its ethics, moral principles and characters. On the example of Pechorin, Mikhail Lermontov showed the way of moral degradation and alienation of an eager young nobleman. The similar features used by Lermontov are also typical for works of Pushkin (especially his "Evgeniy Onegin") and their prototype in English literature: G.G. Byron's Child Harold.
The main idea of the novel, according to Lermontov, was not only to tell the story of Pechorin's life, but also to let the reader feel the unique state of an intelligent nobleman of being unnecessary.
With the help of the stories of Maksim Maksimich (Pechorin's friend) and personal diaries of Pechorin, the author makes a clear picture of hero's life. Pechorin had a rich life experience like majority of aristocrats; his young years were full of joys and were spent in luxury. Pretty soon such life became very dull for his ambitious nature and he ended in army, fighting against highlanders of Caucasus. He was indifferent to death, he was not afraid of being shot either by highlanders or by some arrogant officer on duel. He never experienced love to any of his women. His death was a logical final of his fatalist life: Pechorin perished during military campaign to Persia.
Pechorin's life describes pursuits and deprivations of the best people of 19th century epoch, as most of them remained unwanted in society of declining aristocratic tradition.
Reference:
Lermontov, M.Y. A Hero of Our Time Penguin Classics, 1966 hero of our time
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