Correct chronological order of chapters of a hero of our time
Features of the novel's plot
Any literary work has its own system of events, which reveals not only the characters of the characters, but also the attitude of the author himself to the phenomena and events he depicts - that is, the plot. In the novel “A Hero of Our Time,” the plot is determined by the plan of the entire system of stories, and this plan is to “unfold” step by step the history of the “human soul,” “especially when it is a consequence of observations of a mature mind over itself.”
How exactly does the author construct the plot? Let us listen to the opinion of the Russian critic V. Belinsky: “Mr. Lermontov’s novel is imbued with unity of thought, and therefore... it cannot be read in a manner other than the order in which the author himself arranged it: otherwise you will read two excellent stories and several excellent short stories, but not a novel you will know. There is not a page, not a word, not a line that was thrown by chance; here everything comes out of one main idea and everything returns to it.” That is why the chronological series of events described in the novel is disrupted - chronology is not important for the embodiment of the idea.
First, we learn about Pechorin in the story “Bela,” following the conversation of temporary fellow travelers, and then - the story told by Maxim Maksimych about a young Circassian woman and the role of the main character in her fate. We form the following idea about Pechorin by directly observing how Grigory behaves, how his character manifests itself externally - the narrator describes this in detail in the second chapter of the novel. And finally, from the journal written by the hero himself, we comprehend inner world Pechorin: his thoughts, feelings, aspirations.
With each subsequent story of “A Hero of Our Time,” our interest in the character of the main actor is increasing, because it is unlikely that Lermontov called a hero of the time a person with a vicious attitude towards people and a complete lack of attractive human qualities. Gradually you understand that it was in this order that the author placed the chapters of the work, and was able to consistently reveal the character of the hero in all its complexity, inconsistency and unpredictability. The plot of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” is subordinated to this idea.
The relationship between the plot and plot of “A Hero of Our Time”
Reading page by page, we can immediately notice: the temporal sequence of events in the novel differs from the order of the stories that Lermontov determined. “I’m going to the active detachment for official reasons,” Pechorin writes in his magazine in Taman, and chronologically it is this part that opens the story about the main character. It is followed by a story about Gregory’s stay on the waters and the morning after the duel, who received “an order from the highest authorities to go to fortress N.” Pechorin “happened” to leave “this boring fortress” and “live for two weeks in a Cossack village”; here he decides for himself the question of whether the fate of any person is predetermined. Continuing to serve in the fortress, Gregory kidnaps Bela. We trace Pechorin’s last movements by watching his meeting with the staff captain (“I’m going to Persia and beyond”) and reading the narrator’s preface to “Pechorin’s Journal” (“I recently learned that Pechorin died on his way back from Persia”).
Let's compare the chronological and authorial series of stories
In the plot, the stories are arranged in the following sequence: “Bela” - “Maxim Maksimovich” - Preface to “Pechorin’s Journal” - “Taman” - Princess Mary - “Fatalist”.
The plot requires a temporal order: “Taman” - “Princess Mary” - “Fatalist” - “Bela” - “Maxim Maksimovich” - Preface to “Pechorin’s Journal”.
The plot and plot of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” thus do not coincide. Chronology, according to Lermontov, does not guide us towards understanding the character of the main character, and that is why it is not needed. And the construction of the plot not only makes it possible to understand the character of the main character, but at the same time encourages each reader to look into the depths of his own soul. Let us agree with A.N. Tolstoy: “Lermontov... in five stories connected by a single internal plot - the disclosure of the image of Pechorin, the hero of the time, the product of the era, reveals to us the perfection of real, wise... art. You read and feel: everything is here - no more and no less than what is needed and how can be said.”
Work test
1. Chronological sequence of events.
2. Mixing genres.
3. The meaning of the violation of chronology in the novel.
Accept the collection of motley heads,
Half funny, half sad,
She is simple relatives, ideal,
The careless fruit of my amusements,
Insomnia, light inspirations,
Immature and faded years,
Crazy cold observations
And hearts of sorrowful notes.
A. S. Pushkin
M. Yu. Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time” consists of five chapter stories. These chapters, in turn, are combined into two parts in accordance with the person on whose behalf the story is being told. In the first part, the narration is told from the perspective of the author and Maxim Maksimych. The second part is the diary of Pechorin himself, that is, a first-person story.
The arrangement of chapters in the novel does not coincide with the chronological sequence of events in the hero's life. It is obvious that events developed this way. On the way to his destination in the Caucasus, Pechorin passed through Taman (chapter “Taman”). Some time later, after participating in a military expedition, Pechorin goes to Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk, where his duel with Grushnitsky takes place (chapter “Princess Mary”). Subsequently, by order of his superiors, Pechorin arrives at the fortress beyond the Terek under the command of Maxim Maksimych (head of Bel). Apparently, Pechorin was sent to the “line” for a duel. The bet with Vulich (chapter “Fatalist”) takes place in the Cossack village, where Pechorin spent two weeks after leaving the fortress. After five years, Pechorin, who retired and is now idly traveling around the world, travels to Persia and in Vladikavkaz meets Maxim Maksimych (chapter “Maksim Maksimych”). Here the author of the novel had the opportunity to personally see the hero of his work. Returning from Persia to Russia, Pechorin dies (Preface to Pechorin's Journal).
It should also be noted that Lermontov’s novel is a complex fusion of elements from various genres. In “A Hero of Our Time” one can find the features of a novel describing morals, an adventure novel, a confessional novel, as well as features travel essay, bivouac story, secular story and Caucasian short story. But let's return to the composition of the novel. Why did the author need such a bizarre game with time, when the events in the story do not follow each other the way they happened in real life? Time and its perception by the characters of a work in most cases are significant categories for understanding the author’s intention, the characters’ characters and their characteristics. life path. Lermontov's novel is no exception. On the one hand, the image of Pechorin embodied a number of typical features generations. Many situations described in the novel are also characteristic of a certain time, in particular the war in the Caucasus. But on the other hand, many of Pechorin’s deep experiences do not depend on the time in which this person lives. Boredom and thirst for activity, the desire to be loved, the thirst for power over others, admiration for the beauty of nature or the creation of a talented writer, impartial introspection - all this is timeless. And Lermontov sought not only to talk about the events that happened in Pechorin’s life, but also to show the features of his character, the movements of his soul, often invisible to others: “The history of the human soul, even the smallest soul, is almost more curious and not more useful than history a whole people..."
First, Lermontov shows his hero from the outside the way we all see the people around us. Maxim Maksimych communicated with Pechorin for quite a long time, knows about many of his oddities, while treating him with friendly affection. But, despite his sincere goodwill towards Pechorin, Maxim Maksimych does not understand him very well. This is not surprising - between them a big difference aged and social status, and most importantly, in worldview. The image of Maxim Maksimych is quite typical for his time and environment. This is an honest, executive officer, warm-hearted, a kind person, however, his range of interests is quite limited. In the eyes of Maxim Maksimych, Pechorin, a representative of secular society, adventurous and fickle in his hobbies, is a strange, mysterious person.
The complexity of the novel's composition was already evident in the first chapter of "Bela", which is built on the principle of a story within a story. This chapter-story plays the role of plotting: from it we learn about the main character of the novel. This is where it develops romantic story the love of an officer and the daughter of a Circassian prince, in which Pechorin’s character is clearly manifested: while there were obstacles on his way, his energy and ingenuity knew no rest, but as soon as Bela fell in love with him, he soon lost interest in her.
Maxim Maksimych narrates the external events of Pechorin’s life, which he witnessed; however, the staff captain does not understand the actions of his friend. Numerous questions that creep into the story “Bela” remain unanswered.
The author observed Pechorin for a much shorter time than Maxim Maksimych, and did not even communicate with him personally. However, Lermontov's view of his hero psychologically turns out to be deeper. The author not only knows a number of details of Pechorin’s life. He better than Maxim Maksimych represents secular society, in which the hero of the novel revolved, so it is easier for him to understand the reasons why Pechorin’s character was formed in this particular way and not otherwise. The story “Maksim Maksimych” not only makes it possible to look at the hero through the eyes of a person who does not know him personally, and therefore free from any likes or dislikes, but also explains how the author of the novel got hold of Pechorin’s diary. In addition, this story clearly demonstrates Pechorin’s indifferent attitude towards the people around him, which he, however, does not deny in his notes.
The chapter “Taman” is a kind of mini-novel inside great work, romantic story about robbers, imbued with the spirit of an ominous and attractive mystery. This chapter covers driving forces Pechorin's character is his thirst for activity, determination and courage, which force him to interfere in the lives of others simply out of curiosity.
The chapter “Princess Mary” is built on the principle diary entries— Pechorin indicated the date to which certain events and reflections related. In this chapter, a significant place is given to the hero’s introspection. We not only become witnesses to events, but learn what prompted Pechorin to take certain actions, what he thinks on various issues, and even how he evaluates his own personality, his character, his purpose and the real state of affairs. The motive of Pechorin’s influence on those around him and on their destinies sounds even stronger. Close interaction with him forces people to reveal their true essence, but does not make anyone happier; on the contrary, it often becomes the cause of suffering.
The chapter “Fatalist” raises the problem of fate: is there predestination, can a person choose his own fate? Man’s opposition to fate, the motive of playing with fate and death have been repeatedly heard in literature. The theme of fate is undoubtedly not accidental in Lermontov's novel. Pechorin believes that he had a high purpose, but what is it? He never manages to find the answer to this question. At the end of the chapter "Fatalist" Pechorin returns to the fortress and tries to discuss the problem of predestination with Maxim
Maksimych, however, does not even understand the essence of the question. The narrative closes in a circle. The fortress to which Pechorin returns also appeared in the story “Bela”, with which the novel begins. The ring composition of the novel reflects the vicious circle of Pechorin’s search for the meaning of life.
At the same time, such a composition seems to make the hero immortal - the message about his death was lost somewhere in the middle of the novel, but after the long adventures narrated in Pechorin’s diary, the idea that this man had already died is relegated to the background .
The remarkable Russian writer of the 20th century V.V. very clearly builds the chronology of the novel and Pechorin’s path. Nabokov.
1. Around 1830, officer Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin received an appointment to the Caucasus in an active military unit. On the way from St. Petersburg, he stops in the small Crimean town of Taman. What happened to him became the plot of the chapter “Taman”. This is the third chapter of the novel.
2. Pechorin takes part in military operations against the highlanders, and “forays” - that’s what they were called then. After a certain period of service, he was entitled to leave, and on May 10, 1832, he came to rest “on the waters.” There, “on the waters,” in Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk, out of boredom, he tries to start an affair, and after an overheard conversation, he participates in the tragically unfolding events. They ended in a duel, and on June 17, 1832, he killed Grushnitsky in a duel. These events are described in the fourth chapter of “Princess Mary.”
3. In the fall of 1832, Pechorin arrives at a fortress located in Chechnya. He was transferred there on June 19. In the fortress, Pechorin meets staff captain Maxim Maksimych.
4. In December 1832, while serving in the fortress, Pechorin left for two weeks Cossack village. The story that happened there and which is the key to the theme of fate is described in the fifth, last story- “Fatalist.”
5. In the spring of 1833, Pechorin kidnaps a Circassian girl, hoping that this adventure will awaken in him an interest in life. Four and a half months later, the girl is killed by the highlander Kazbich. In December 1833, Pechorin left for Georgia, and then to St. Petersburg. These events take place in "Bel", in the chapter that opens the novel.
6. In the autumn of 1837, the narrator-traveler and Maxim Maksimych, heading north, make a stop in Vladikavkaz. By chance they meet Pechorin there, who is on his way to Persia. A touching scene takes place, which is described in the second chapter of “Maksim Maksimych”.
7. A year later, returning from Persia, Pechorin dies. The narrator-traveler posthumously publishes his journal, received from Maxim Maksimych. He mentions Pechorin's death in his preface (1841) to "Pechorin's Journal", which includes "Taman", "Princess Mary" and "Fatalist".
By breaking the chronology of events, the author realizes his creative plan - to reveal the history of Pechorin’s soul. He strives to emphasize the mystery of his hero, as well as to describe him comprehensively. It seems that the novel is finally completed: but note that Pechorin dies only according to rumors, and this remark leaves the ending of the novel partly open. Pechorin, even after his confession, even after stories from different points of view, remains a mystery to the reader. Features of the composition and ending help create such a performance.
Why in the novel by M.Yu. Lermontov's “Hero of Our Time”, are the events depicted not in chronological order?
Work by M.Yu. Lermontov's “Hero of Our Time” (1841) is a socio-psychological novel.
The main character of the work, Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin, on the one hand, is a specific person with bright actions and strong feelings. On the other hand, Pechorin embodies generalized traits younger generation 1830-1840s, the tragedy of which consisted in insufficient social activity and low demand in society.
Pechorin is an officer, an aristocrat, he is one of those who are considered to be the darling of fate. His life is extremely hectic. She is filled with a desperate search for something unusual, special, going beyond the usual impressions. His strong feelings are akin to passions, but the fact of the matter is that his cold rationality and tendency to analyze what is happening around balance the ardor of his nature.
Why are the events not depicted in chronological order in the novel “A Hero of Our Time”?
First of all, because this method creates a feeling of some mystery, understatement in the characterization of the hero himself, which in spirit brings the novel closer to the Byronic movement in literature. In addition, the reader is indifferent to the chronology of the events described. He is interested in Pechorin’s life itself, the intrigue and intricacy of the collisions and situations that arise here and there on his life’s path.
And from the main point of view artistic idea This is exactly how the novel is structured, with a violation of the chronology of events, for one important reason. The reader traces Pechorin's life sequentially, from simple to complex, recognizing the personality of this man, comprehending the originality of his nature.
In the chapter “Bela,” the reader gets acquainted with the image of Pechorin through Maxim Maksimych’s story about him and becomes convinced of how decisive, daring and unpredictable this young man is in his actions. But these are only indirect ideas about the hero, which are destined to be replenished in the further content of the novel. In the chapter “Maksim Maksimych” the reader sees Pechorin live and forms his own opinion about him. The appearance of the main character testifies to both the romantic inclinations of his character and his strong-willed qualities. But at the same time, the coldness and indifference of the “wandering officer”, shown by him towards the humane and wise Maxim Maksimych, unpleasantly surprises the reader.
In the chapters “Taman” and “Princess Mary” Pechorin is depicted through entries in his own diary very fully, in detail and in many ways. His diary is the hero's story about himself, a confession in which the motives of his actions are explained and an assessment is given to them.
We learn that at the center of the hero’s life interests is his own personality, his “ego.” The remaining heroes of the novel are “others” who, by chance, find themselves on his path in life.
Pechorin admits to himself that there are two people in him: one commits actions, the other impartially evaluates them. He brings a lot of suffering to other people; through his fault, Bela and Grushnitsky die. However, Pechorin is inclined to think that objectively he is not to blame for the misfortunes of these “others”. But in his subconscious lurks the thought that no - he’s to blame!
For this reason, he “laughed” after Bela’s funeral, and Maxim Maksimych “got a chill running through his body.” Pechorin has enough intelligence and compassion to say sincere words to Maxim Maksimych, who was offended by him during parting. Realizing how guilty he is, he is ready to throw himself at the feet of Princess Mary, whose heart is broken, and cries on the road to Pyatigorsk near a fallen horse.
The heart of the main character yearns for an unprecedented response to his feelings. He himself unsuccessfully strives to live up to his “high purpose” and to fruitfully spend his “immense forces”, which, he is sure, are given to him by nature. But his goals remain unfulfilled; he did not find a great field in which he could succeed as an outstanding personality. Therefore, the critic Belinsky called him a “suffering egoist.”
And finally, the chapter “Fatalist” completes the characterization of Pechorin, where the issue of inevitable, divinely predetermined turns in a person’s fate is resolved on a serious philosophical level. Thus, deeply thought out by the author from an ideological and artistic perspective, the life story of Pechorin, the “hero” of Russian reality of the 1830-1840s, appears before us.
M. Yu. Lermontov worked on the novel “A Hero of Our Time” in 1838-1840. The idea to write a novel was born during the writer’s exile in the Caucasus in 1838. The first parts of the novel were published within one year in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski. They aroused interest from readers. Lermontov, seeing the popularity of these works, combined them into one big novel.
In the title, the author sought to justify the relevance of his creation for his contemporaries. The 1841 edition also included a preface by the writer in connection with the questions that arose among readers. We bring to your attention a summary of “A Hero of Our Time” chapter by chapter.
Main characters
Pechorin Grigory Alexandrovich- the central character of the entire story, an officer in the tsarist army, a sensitive and sublime nature, but selfish. Handsome, superbly built, charming and intelligent. He is burdened by his arrogance and individualism, but does not want to overcome either one or the other.
Bela- daughter of a Circassian prince. Treacherously kidnapped by her brother Azamat, she becomes Pechorin's lover. Bela is beautiful and smart, pure and straightforward. She dies from the dagger of the Circassian Kazbich, who is in love with her.
Mary(Princess Ligovskaya) is a noble girl whom Pechorin met by chance and did his best to make her fall in love with him. Educated and smart, proud and generous. The break with Pechorin becomes a deep tragedy for her.
Maxim Maksimych- officer of the tsarist army (with the rank of staff captain). Kind and fair man, Pechorin’s boss and close friend, an involuntary witness to his love affairs and life conflicts.
Narrator- a passing officer who became a casual acquaintance of Maxim Maksimovich and listened and wrote down his story about Pechorin.
Other characters
Azamat- Circassian prince, an unbalanced and selfish young man, Bela’s brother.
Kazbich- a young Circassian who fell in love with Bela and became her killer.
Grushnitsky- a young cadet, a proud and unrestrained man. Pechorin's rival, killed by him in a duel.
Faith- Pechorin's former lover, appears in the novel as a reminder of his past in St. Petersburg.
Undine- a nameless smuggler who amazed Pechorin with her appearance (“undine” is one of the names of mermaids; the reader will never know the girl’s real name).
Yanko- smuggler, friend of Ondine.
Werner- doctor, smart and educated person, an acquaintance of Pechorin.
Vulich- officer, Serb by nationality, young and gambler, an acquaintance of Pechorin.
Preface
In the preface, the author addresses the readers. He says that readers were struck by the negative traits of the main character of his work and blame the author for this. However, Lermontov points out that his hero is the embodiment of the vices of his time, therefore he is modern. The author also believes that readers cannot be fed sweet stories and fairy tales all the time; they must see and understand life as it is.
The action of the work takes place in the Caucasus in early XIX century. Partially in this area Russian Empire are underway combat operations against the highlanders.
Part one
I. Bela
This part begins with the fact that the narrator-officer meets on his way to the Caucasus the middle-aged staff captain Maxim Maksimych, who makes a positive impression on him. The narrator and the staff captain become friends. Finding themselves in a snowstorm, the heroes begin to remember the events of their lives, and the staff captain talks about a young officer whom he knew about four and a half years ago.
This officer's name was Grigory Pechorin. He was handsome in face, stately and intelligent. However, he had a strange character: he either complained about trifles, like a girl, or fearlessly rode a horse over the rocks. Maxim Maksimych at that time was the commandant of the military fortress, in which this mysterious young officer served under his command.
Soon the sensitive captain noticed that his new subordinate began to feel sad in the wilderness. Being a kind man, he decided to help his officer unwind. At that time he was just invited to a wedding eldest daughter Circassian prince, who lived not far from the fortress and sought to establish a good relationship with the royal officers.
At the wedding Pechorin liked youngest daughter the prince - the beautiful and graceful Bela.
Escaping from the stuffiness in the room, Maxim Maksimych went outside and became an involuntary witness to the conversation that took place between Kazbich, a Circassian with the appearance of a robber, and Bela’s brother Azamat. The latter offered Kazbich any price for his magnificent horse, proving that he was even ready to steal his sister for him for the horse. Azamat knew that Kazbich was not indifferent to Bela, but the proud Circassian Kazbich only brushed off the annoying young man.
Maxim Maksimych, having listened to this conversation, inadvertently retold it to Pechorin, not knowing what his young colleague was up to.
It turned out that Pechorin later invited Azamat to steal Bela for him, promising in return that Kazbich’s horse would become his.
Azamat fulfilled the agreement and took his beautiful sister to the fortress to Pechorin. When Kazbich drove the sheep into the fortress, Pechorin distracted him, and at that time Azamat stole his faithful horse Karagez. Kazbich vowed to take revenge on the offender.
Later, news came to the fortress that Kazbich had killed the Circassian prince - own father Bela and Azamat, suspecting him of complicity in the kidnapping of his horse.
Meanwhile, Bela began to live in Pechorin’s fortress. He treated her with unusual care, without offending her either in word or deed. Pechorin hired a Circassian woman who began to serve Bela. Pechorin himself, with affection and pleasant treatment, won the heart of the proud beauty. The girl fell in love with her kidnapper. However, having achieved the beauty’s favor, Pechorin lost interest in her. Bela felt a cooling on the part of her lover and began to be greatly burdened by this.
Maxim Maksimych, having fallen in love with a girl, how my own daughter, tried with all his might to console her. One day, when Pechorin left the fortress, the staff captain invited Bela to take a walk with him outside the walls. From a distance they saw Kazbich riding Bela's father's horse. The girl became afraid for her life.
Some more time passed. Pechorin communicated with Bela less and less, she began to feel sad. One day Maxim Maksimych and Pechorin were not in the fortress, when they returned, they noticed from afar the prince’s horse and Kazbich in the saddle, who was carrying some kind of bag on it. When the officers chased after Kazbich, the Circassian opened the bag and raised a dagger over it. It became clear that he was holding Bela in the bag. Kazbich abandoned his prey and quickly galloped away.
The officers drove up to the mortally wounded girl, carefully lifted her and took her to the fortress. Bela was able to live two more days. In her delirium, she remembered Pechorin, talked about her love for him and regretted that she and Grigory Alexandrovich were in different faiths, therefore, in her opinion, they would not be able to meet in heaven.
When Bela was buried, Maxim Maksimych no longer spoke about her with Pechorin. Then the elderly staff captain came to the conclusion that Bela’s death was the best way out of the current situation. After all, Pechorin would eventually leave her, and she would not be able to survive such a betrayal.
After serving in the fortress under the command of Maxim Maksimych, Pechorin left to continue it in Georgia. He gave no news about himself.
This is where the staff captain's story ended.
II. Maxim Maksimych
The narrator and Maxim Maksimych parted, each went about his own business, but soon they unexpectedly met again. Maxim Maksimych excitedly said that he had met Pechorin completely unexpectedly again. He learned that he had now retired and decided to go to Persia. The elderly staff captain wanted to communicate with an old friend whom he had not seen for about five years, but Pechorin did not at all strive for such communication, which greatly offended the old officer.
Maxim Maksimych could not sleep all night, but in the morning he decided to talk to Pechorin again. But he showed coldness and ostentatious indifference. The staff captain was greatly saddened.
The narrator, having seen Pechorin in person, decided to convey to the readers his impressions of his appearance and demeanor. He was a man of average height with a beautiful and expressive face, which women always liked. He knew how to behave in society and speak. Pechorin dressed well and without provocation, his suit emphasized the slenderness of his body. However, what was striking about his entire appearance was his eyes, which looked at his interlocutor coldly, heavily and penetratingly. Pechorin practically did not use gestures in communication, which was a sign of secrecy and distrust.
He left quickly, leaving only vivid memories of himself.
The narrator informed the readers that Maxim Maksimych, seeing his interest in Pechorin’s personality, gave him his journal, that is, his diary. For some time the diary lay idle with the narrator, but after Pechorin’s death (he died suddenly at the age of twenty-eight: having unexpectedly fallen ill on the way to Persia), the narrator decided to publish some parts of it.
The narrator, addressing the readers, asked them for leniency towards Pechorin’s personality, because he, despite his vices, was at least sincere in his detailed description their.
Pechorin's Journal
I. Taman
In this part, Pechorin talked about what he thought was a funny adventure that happened to him in Taman.
Arriving at this little-known place, he, due to his characteristic suspicion and insight, realized that the blind boy with whom he was staying for the night was hiding something from those around him. Following him, he saw that the blind man was meeting with beautiful girl, which Pechorin himself calls Undine (“mermaid”). The girl and boy were waiting for the man they called Yanko. Yanko soon appeared with some bags.
The next morning, Pechorin, spurred by curiosity, tried to find out from the blind man what kind of bundles his strange friend had brought. The blind boy was silent, pretending that he did not understand his guest. Pechorin met with Ondine, who tried to flirt with him. Pechorin pretended to succumb to her charms.
In the evening, together with a Cossack he knew, he went on a date with a girl on the pier, ordering the Cossack to be on the alert and, if something unexpected happened, to rush to his aid.
Together with Ondine, Pechorin boarded the boat. However, their romantic journey was soon cut short when the girl tried to push her companion into the water, despite the fact that Pechorin did not know how to swim. The motives for Ondine's behavior are understandable. She guessed that Pechorin understood what Yanko, the blind boy and she were doing, and therefore he could inform the police about the smugglers. However, Pechorin managed to defeat the girl and throw her into the water. Ondine knew how to swim quite well, she rushed into the water and swam towards Yanko. He took her aboard his boat, and soon they disappeared into the darkness.
Returning after such a dangerous voyage, Pechorin realized that the blind boy had stolen his things. The adventures of the past day entertained the bored hero, but he was unpleasantly annoyed that he could have died in the waves.
In the morning the hero left Taman forever.
Part two
(end of Pechorin's journal)
II. Princess Mary
Pechorin spoke in his journal about life in the city of Pyatigorsk. He was bored with provincial society. The hero was looking for entertainment and found it.
He met the young cadet Grushnitsky, a hot and ardent young man in love with the beautiful Princess Mary Ligovskaya. Pechorin was amused by the feeling young man. In the presence of Grushnitsky, he began to talk about Mary as if she were not a girl, but a racehorse, with its own advantages and disadvantages.
At first, Pechorin irritated Mary. At the same time, the hero liked to anger the young beauty: either he tried to be the first to buy an expensive carpet that the princess wanted to buy, or he expressed evil hints towards her. Pechorin proved to Grushnitsky that Mary belongs to the breed of those women who will flirt with everyone and marry a worthless man, at the behest of their mother.
Meanwhile, Pechorin met Werner in the city, a local doctor, an intelligent but bilious man. The most ridiculous rumors circulated around him in the city: someone even considered him the local Mephistopheles. Werner liked this exotic fame, and he supported it with all his might. Being an insightful person, the doctor foresaw the future drama that could occur between Pechorin, Mary and the young cadet Grushnitsky. However, he did not elaborate on this topic.
Meanwhile, events took their course, adding new touches to the portrait of the main character. Arrived in Pyatigorsk socialite and a relative of Princess Mary - Vera. Readers learned that Pechorin was once passionately in love with this woman. She also retained a bright feeling for Grigory Alexandrovich in her heart. Vera and Gregory met. And here we saw a different Pechorin: not a cold and angry cynic, but a man of great passions, who had not forgotten anything and felt suffering and pain. After meeting Vera, who, being married woman, could not connect with the hero who was in love with her, Pechorin jumped into the saddle. He galloped over mountains and valleys, greatly exhausting his horse.
On an exhausted horse, Pechorin accidentally met Mary and frightened her.
Soon Grushnitsky, with ardent feeling, began to prove to Pechorin that after all his antics he would never be received in the princess’s house. Pechorin argued with his friend, proving the opposite.
Pechorin went to the ball with Princess Ligovskaya. Here he began to behave unusually courteously towards Mary: he danced with her like a fine gentleman, protected her from a tipsy officer, and helped her cope with fainting. Mother Mary began to look at Pechorin with different eyes and invited him to her house as a close friend.
Pechorin began to visit the Ligovskys. He became interested in Mary as a woman, but the hero was still attracted to Vera. On one of their rare dates, Vera told Pechorin that she was terminally ill with consumption, so she asked him to spare her reputation. Vera also added that she always understood the soul of Grigory Alexandrovich and accepted him with all his vices.
Pechorin, however, became close to Mary. The girl admitted to him that she was bored with all the fans, including Grushnitsky. Pechorin, using his charm, out of nothing to do, made the princess fall in love with him. He couldn’t even explain to himself why he needed this: either to have fun, or to annoy Grushnitsky, or perhaps to show Vera that someone needed him too and, thereby, to provoke her jealousy.
Gregory succeeded in what he wanted: Mary fell in love with him, but at first she hid her feelings.
Meanwhile, Vera began to worry about this novel. On a secret date, she asked Pechorin never to marry Mary and promised him a night meeting in return.
Pechorin began to get bored in the company of both Mary and Vera. He was tired of Grushnitsky with his passion and boyishness. Pechorin deliberately began to behave provocatively in public, which caused tears from Mary, who was in love with him. People thought he was an immoral madman. However, the young Princess Ligovskaya understood that by doing so he only bewitched her more.
Grushnitsky began to get seriously jealous. He understood that Mary’s heart was given to Pechorin. He was also amused by the fact that Grushnitsky stopped greeting him and began to turn away when he appeared.
The whole city was already talking about the fact that Pechorin would soon propose to Mary. The old princess - the girl's mother - was expecting matchmakers from Grigory Alexandrovich from day to day. But he did not want to propose to Mary, but wanted to wait until the girl herself confessed her love to him. On one of the walks, Pechorin kissed the princess on the cheek, wanting to see her reaction. The next day, Mary confessed her love to Pechorin, but in response he coldly noted that he did not have any loving feelings for her.
Mary felt deep humiliated by words loved one. She was waiting for anything, but not this. The heroine realized that Pechorin laughed at her out of boredom. She compared herself to a flower that an angry passer-by picked and threw on the dusty road.
Pechorin, describing in his diary the scene of the explanation with Mary, discussed why he acted so basely. He wrote that he did not want to get married because a fortune teller once told his mother that her son would die from an evil wife. In his notes, the hero noted that he values his own freedom above all else, and is afraid to be noble and seem funny to others. And he simply believes that he is not capable of bringing happiness to anyone.
A famous magician has arrived in town. Everyone hurried to his performance. Only Vera and Mary were absent there. Pechorin, driven by passion for Vera, late in the evening went to the Ligovskys’ house, where she lived. In the window he saw the silhouette of Mary. Grushnitsky tracked down Pechorin, believing that he had an appointment with Mary. Despite the fact that Pechorin managed to return to his house, Grushnitsky is full of resentment and jealousy. He challenged Grigory Alexandrovich to a duel. Werner and a dragoon unfamiliar to Pechorin acted as seconds.
Before the duel, Pechorin could not calm down for a long time; he reflected on his life and realized that he had brought good to few people. Fate has prepared for him the role of executioner for many people. He killed some with his words, and others with his deeds. He loved with insatiable love only himself. He was looking for a person who could understand him and forgive him everything, but not a single woman or man could do this.
And so he received a challenge to a duel. Perhaps his rival will kill him. What will remain after him in this life? Nothing. Only empty memories.
The next morning, Werther tried to reconcile Pechorin and his opponent. However, Grushnitsky was adamant. Pechorin wanted to show generosity to his opponent, hoping for his reciprocity. But Grushnitsky was angry and offended. As a result of the duel, Pechorin killed Grushnitsky. To hide the fact of the duel, the seconds and Pechorin testified that the young officer was killed by the Circassians.
However, Vera realized that Grushnitsky died in a duel. She confessed to her husband her feelings for Pechorin. He took her out of town. In an attempt to catch up with Vera, he drove his horse to death.
Returning to the city, he learned that rumors about the duel had leaked into society, so he was assigned a new duty station. He went to say goodbye to Mary and her mother's house. The old princess offered him the hand and heart of her daughter, but Pechorin rejected her proposal.
Left alone with Mary, he humiliated this girl’s pride so much that he himself felt unpleasant.
III. Fatalist
The final part of the novel tells that Pechorin, on business, ended up in the Cossack village. One evening there was a dispute among the officers as to whether there was a fatal confluence of circumstances in a person's life. Is a person free to choose his own life or is his fate “predetermined from above”?
During a heated argument, Serb Vulich took the floor. He stated that, according to his convictions, he is a fatalist, that is, a person who believes in fate. Therefore, he was of the opinion that if it was not given to him to die from above tonight, then death would not take him, no matter how much he himself strived for it.
To prove his words, Vulich offered a bet: he would shoot himself in the temple; if he was right, he would remain alive, and if he was wrong, he would die.
None of those gathered wanted to agree to such strange and terrible conditions bet. Only Pechorin agreed.
Looking into the eyes of his interlocutor, Pechorin firmly said that he would die today. Then Vulich took a pistol and shot himself in the temple. The gun misfired. Then he fired a second shot to the side. The shot was a combat shot.
Everyone began to loudly discuss what had happened. But Pechorin insisted that Vulich would die today. Nobody understood his persistence. Disgruntled, Vulich left the meeting.
Pechorin walked home through the alleys. He saw a pig lying on the ground, cut in half by a saber. Eyewitnesses told him that one of their Cossacks, who likes to drink from a bottle, was doing such a “weird thing.”
In the morning, Pechorin was woken up by officers and told him that Vulich had been hacked to death at night by this same drunken Cossack. Pechorin felt uneasy, but he also wanted to try his luck. Together with other officers, he went to catch the Cossack.
Meanwhile, the Cossack, having sobered up and realized what he had done, was not going to surrender to the mercy of the officers. He locked himself in his hut and threatens to kill anyone who gets in there. At mortal risk, Pechorin volunteered to punish the brawler. He climbed into his hut through the window, but remained alive. The Cossack was tied up by officers who arrived in time.
After such an incident, Pechorin had to become a fatalist. However, he was in no hurry to draw conclusions, believing that everything in life is not as simple as it seems from the outside.
And the kindest Maxim Maksimych, to whom he retold this story, noticed that pistols often misfire, and what is written in one’s family will happen. The elderly staff captain also did not want to become a fatalist.
This is where the novel ends. Reading brief retelling"A Hero of Our Time", do not forget that the work itself is much more interesting than the story about its main episodes. So read this famous work M.Yu. Lermontov and enjoy what you read!
Conclusion
Lermontov’s work “Hero of Our Time” has remained relevant for readers for almost two hundred years. And this is not surprising, because the work touches on the most important life problems human existence on earth: love, personal destiny, fate, passion and faith in higher powers. This work will not leave anyone indifferent, which is why it is included in the treasury classical works Russian literature.
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