Comparison of Eugene Onegin and Pechorin. Comparative characteristics of Onegin and Pechorin (Advanced people of the 19th century)

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF ONEGIN AND PECHORIN
(Advanced people XIX century)
My life, where are you going from and where are you going?
Why is my path so unclear and secret to me?
Why do I not know the purpose of labor?
Why am I not the master of my desires?
Pesso

Pushkin worked on the novel “Eugene Onegin” for many years; it was his favorite work. Belinsky called this work “an encyclopedia of Russian life” in his article “Eugene Onegin.” Indeed, this novel gives a picture of all layers of Russian life: both high society and petty landed nobility, and the people - Pushkin studied well the life of all layers of society early XIX century. During the years of writing the novel, Pushkin had to go through a lot, lose many friends, and experience the bitterness of death the best people Russia. For the poet, the novel was, in his words, the fruit of “a mind of cold observations and a heart of sorrowful observations.” Against a broad background of Russian paintings of life, life is shown dramatic fate the best people, the advanced noble intelligentsia of the Decembrist era.

Without Onegin, Lermontov's "Hero of Our Time" would have been impossible, because the realistic novel created by Pushkin opened the first page in the history of the great Russian novel XIX century.

Pushkin embodied in the image of Onegin many of those traits that were later developed in individual characters of Lermontov, Turgenev, Herzen, Goncharov. Evgeny Onegin and Pechorin are very similar in character, both of them are from a secular environment, received a good upbringing, they are at a higher stage of development, hence their melancholy, melancholy and dissatisfaction. All this is characteristic of more subtle and more developed souls. Pushkin writes about Onegin: “Handra was waiting for him on guard, and she ran after him like a shadow or a faithful wife.” The secular society in which Onegin and later Pechorin moved spoiled them. It did not require knowledge, superficial education was enough, knowledge was more important French And good manners. Evgeniy, like everyone else, “danced the mazurka easily and bowed at ease.” Their best years he spends, like most people in his circle, on balls, theaters and love interests. Pechorin leads the same lifestyle. Very soon both begin to understand that this life is empty, that behind the “external tinsel” there is nothing worth it, boredom, slander, envy reign in the world, people spend internal forces souls to gossip and anger. Petty vanity, empty conversations of “necessary fools”, spiritual emptiness make the life of these people monotonous, outwardly dazzling, but devoid of internal “content.” Idleness and lack of high interests vulgarize their existence. Day is like a day, there is no need to work, there are few impressions, therefore the smartest and the best ones fall ill with nostalgia. They essentially do not know their homeland and people. Onegin “wanted to write, but he was sick of hard work...”, he also did not find the answer to his questions. , but the lack of need for work is the reason that he does not find something to his liking. This is what he suffers from, realizing that the upper layer of society lives off the slave labor of serfs. Serfdom it was a shame Tsarist Russia. In the village, Onegin tried to alleviate the situation of his serfs ("...he replaced the old corvée with a light quitrent..."), for which he was condemned by his neighbors, who considered him an eccentric and a dangerous "freethinker." Many people also do not understand Pechorin. In order to further reveal the character of his hero, Lermontov places him in a variety of social spheres, encounters a wide variety of people. When a separate edition of “A Hero of Our Time” was published, it became clear that before Lermontov the Russian realistic novel did not have. Belinsky pointed out that “Princess Mary” is one of the main stories in the novel. In this story, Pechorin talks about himself, reveals his soul. Here the features of “A Hero of Our Time” were most clearly manifested as psychological novel. In Pechorin's diary we find his sincere confession, in which he reveals his thoughts and feelings, mercilessly castigating his inherent weaknesses and vices: Here is a clue to his character and an explanation of his actions. Pechorin is a victim of his difficult times. Pechorin's character is complex and contradictory. He talks about himself; "There are two people in me: one lives in in every sense of this word, - another thinks and judges him." In the image of Pechorin, the character traits of the author himself are visible, but Lermontov was broader and deeper than his hero. Pechorin is closely associated with advanced social thought, but he considers himself among the pitiful descendants who wander the earth without convictions and pride. “We are not capable of greater sacrifices either for the good of humanity or for our own happiness,” says Pechorin. He lost faith in people, his lack of faith in ideas, skepticism and undoubted selfishness are the result of the era that came after December 14. , the era of moral decay, cowardice and vulgarity of the secular society in which Pechorin moved. The main task that Lermontov set for himself was to sketch the image of his contemporary. young man. Lermontov poses the problem strong personality, so unlike the noble society of the 30s.

Belinsky wrote that “Pechorin is the Onegin of our time.” The novel “A Hero of Our Time” is a bitter reflection on the “history of the human soul,” a soul destroyed by the “brilliance of the deceptive capital,” seeking and not finding friendship, love, and happiness. Pechorin is a suffering egoist. Belinsky wrote about Onegin: “The power of this rich nature were left without application: life without meaning, and the novel without end." The same can be said about Pechorin. Comparing the two heroes, he wrote: "... There is a difference in the roads, but the result is the same." Despite all the difference appearance and differences in characters and Onegin; both Pechorin and Chatsky belong to the gallery of “superfluous people for whom there was neither place nor work in the surrounding society. The desire to find one’s place in life, to understand the “great purpose” is the main meaning of the novel of Lermontov’s lyrics. Isn’t it these thoughts that occupy Pechorin , lead him to a painful answer to the question: “Why did I live?” This question can be answered with the words of Lermontov: “Perhaps, with heavenly thought and the power of spirit, I am convinced that I would give the world a wonderful gift, and for that it would give me immortality... "In Lermontov's lyrics and Pechorin's thoughts we encounter a sad recognition that people are skinny fruits, ripened before their time. How Pechorin's words that he despises life and Lermontov's words, “but I despise fate and the world,” echo in “A Hero of Our Time” we so clearly hear the voice of the poet, the breath of his time. Did Pushkin and Lermontov portray the fate of their heroes, typical of their generation?

Evgeny Onegin and Pechorin - heroes different works two famous classics of Russian literature - Pushkin and Lermontov. The first worked on the novel for more than seven years. Pushkin himself called his work a “feat” - of all his works, only “Boris Godunov” was awarded such an epithet. Famous novel Lermontov's "Hero of Our Time" was written over two years and first published in St. Petersburg. Further in the article a comparison of Onegin and Pechorin will be made, the features that connect and distinguish them will be shown.

Pushkin's work. Short description

Alexander Sergeevich began work on the novel in Chisinau, in 1823. Pushkin was in exile at that time. As the narrative progresses, one can notice that the author abandoned the use of romanticism as the main creative method.

"Eugene Onegin" is a realistic novel in verse. It was assumed that the work would initially include 9 chapters. However, Pushkin subsequently reworked the structure of the novel somewhat, leaving only eight in it. The chapter about the protagonist's journey was excluded - it became an appendix to the main narrative. In addition, the description of Onegin’s vision near the Odessa pier and rather sharply expressed judgments and remarks were removed from the structure of the novel. Leaving this chapter for Pushkin was quite dangerous - he could have been arrested for these revolutionary views.

"Hero of our time". Short description

Lermontov began work on the work in 1838. His novel includes several parts. While reading, you can see that the chronology in the story is broken. This artistic technique The author used it for several reasons. Mainly, this structure of the work shows the main character - Pechorin - first through the eyes of Maxim Maksimych. Then the character is introduced to the reader through the entries in his diary.

Brief Onegin and Pechorina

Both characters are representatives of the capital's aristocracy. The heroes received an excellent level of intelligence that is higher than the average level of the people around them. The characters are separated by ten years, but each of them is a representative of their era. Onegin's life takes place in the twenties, the action of Lermontov's novel takes place in the 30s of the 19th century. The first is influenced by freedom-loving ideas in the context of the flourishing of advanced social movement. Pechorin lives in a period of brutal political reactions to the activities of the Decembrists. And if the first one could still join the rebels and find a goal, thus giving meaning to his own existence, then the second hero no longer had such an opportunity. This already speaks of the greater tragedy of Lermontov’s character.

The main features of the character in the novel "A Hero of Our Time"

The image of Grigory Pechorin was one of Lermontov’s artistic discoveries. This hero is epoch-making mainly because his depiction expressed the features of that post-Decembrist era. Outwardly, this period is characterized only by losses and violent reactions. Inside, active, continuous, muffled and silent work was taking place.

It must be said that Pechorin is a rather extraordinary person; everything about him is debatable. For example, a hero can complain about a draft, and after a while jump at the enemy with a saber drawn. Maxim Maksimych speaks of him as a person capable of enduring difficulties nomadic life, climate change. Gregory was slender, his height was average, his physique was strong with a thin waist and broad shoulders. According to Maxim Maksimych, the essence of Pechorin was not defeated either by the debauchery of the life of the capital, or by mental torment.

What do the characters have in common?

A comparison of Onegin and Pechorin should begin with an analysis of the character traits of the heroes. Both characters are very critical of people and life. Realizing the emptiness and monotony of their existence, they show dissatisfaction with themselves. They are oppressed by the surrounding situation and people mired in slander, malice, and envy.

Disillusioned with society, the heroes fall into melancholy and begin to get bored. Onegin tries to start writing to satisfy his spiritual needs. But he quickly gets tired of "hard work." Reading also fascinates him for a short time.

Pechorin also quickly gets tired of any business he starts. However, once in the Caucasus, Grigory still hopes that there will be no room for boredom under the bullets. But he also gets used to military action very quickly. We got bored with Lermontov's character and love adventures. This can be seen in Bel. Having achieved love, Gregory quickly loses interest in the ladies.

What other similarities do Pechorin and Onegin have? Both heroes are selfish by nature. They do not consider the feelings or opinions of other people.

Relationships between characters and others

Not wanting to be deprived of his freedom, Onegin rejects Tatyana’s feelings. Feeling superior to people in general, he accepts Lensky's challenge and kills his friend in a duel. Pechorin brings misfortune to almost everyone who surrounds or meets him. So, he kills Grushnitsky, saddens Maxim Maksimych to the depths of his soul, destroys the lives of Vera, Mary, Bela. Gregory achieves the affection and love of women, following solely the desire to entertain himself. Having dispelled boredom, he quickly loses interest in them. Pechorin is quite cruel. This quality of his is manifested even in relation to the sick Mary: he tells her that he never loved her, but only laughed at her.

The most striking features of the characters

Comparative characteristics Onegin and Pechorin would be incomplete without mentioning the self-criticism of the heroes. The first is tormented by remorse after the duel with Lensky. Onegin is unable to stay in the places where the tragedy occurred, he gives up everything and begins to wander around the world.

The hero of Lermontov's novel admits that he has caused quite a lot of grief to people throughout his life. But, despite this understanding, Pechorin is not going to change himself and his behavior. And Gregory’s self-criticism does not bring relief to anyone - neither himself nor those around him. This attitude towards life, himself, and people portrays him as a “moral cripple.”

Despite the differences between Pechorin and Onegin, they both have a lot common features. Each of them has a particularly pronounced ability to understand people well. Both heroes are good psychologists. So, Onegin singled out Tatyana immediately, at the first meeting. Of all the representatives of the local nobility, Eugene became friends only with Lensky.

Lermontov's hero also correctly judges the people who meet him on the way. Pechorin gives quite accurate and accurate characteristics to those around him. In addition, Gregory has an excellent knowledge of female psychology, can easily predict the actions of the ladies and, taking advantage of this, wins their love.

A comparative description of Onegin and Pechorin allows you to see the true state inner worlds characters. In particular, despite all the misfortunes that each of them caused to people, both of them are capable of bright feelings.

Love in the lives of heroes

Realizing his love for Tatyana, Onegin is ready to do anything just to see her. Lermontov's hero immediately rushes after the departed Vera. Pechorin, not having caught up with his beloved, falls in the middle of the path and cries like a child. Pushkin's hero is noble. Onegin is honest with Tatyana and does not think of taking advantage of her inexperience. In this, Lermontov's hero is the direct opposite. Pechorin appears as an immoral person, a man for whom the people around him are just toys.

Ideals and values

The comparative characteristics of Onegin and Pechorin are mainly a comparison of the inner world of each character. Analysis of their behavior allows us to understand the motivation of certain actions. For example, the heroes have different attitudes towards a duel. Onegin is fast asleep the night before. He doesn't take the duel seriously. However, after Lensky's death, Evgeniy is overcome with horror and remorse.

Lermontov's hero, on the contrary, does not sleep the whole night before the duel with Grushnitsky. Gregory is deep in thought, he thinks about the purpose of his existence. At the same time, Pechorin will kill Grushnitsky quite cold-bloodedly. He will calmly leave the dueling area, bowing politely.

Why are Pechorin and Onegin “superfluous people”?

Society had a rather negative attitude towards heroes. People around could not understand the behavior of the characters. The point of view, views and opinions of Pechorin and Onegin did not coincide with the generally accepted ones, and therefore were perceived with hostility. Both characters feel their loneliness in the world, among the crowd, which feels the superiority of these young people. In the images of Pechorin and Onegin, the authors protested against the vileness and mustiness of that time, depriving people of purpose, forcing them to waste their strength, not finding use for either their abilities or skills.

(387 words, table at the end of the article) The “extra person” type is quite popular in Russian literature. Our writers abound in presenting us with heroes who are disappointed in life and have not found their destiny. These people can be completely different: ardent intellectuals, like Chatsky, or bored and tired of life, sensualists, like Onegin and Pechorin. The last two form one type of person, because there are few differences between them. If you make a comparative description, you will notice that one of the heroes is new version another, it’s not for nothing that Belinsky calls Pechorin “Onegin of our time.”

The similarity can be traced already at the level of names. Lermontov names Pechorin according to the same principle as Pushkin: based on the name of the river. Pechora - stormy, noisy mountain river Onega, on the other hand, is calm and even, which to some extent reflects the characters’ characters.

Teaching the sciences “quickly bored” Pechorin, as did Onegin, who “had no desire to rummage / in the chronological dust,” and both set off to enjoy social life to relieve boredom, but just as quickly became disillusioned with these joys. One “got bored with the noise of the world” and he “completely lost interest in life,” while the other “shies away” from society and considers himself “a small loss for the world.” Pechorin experiences this much more tragically than Onegin, due to the fact that the heroes live in different eras, but a general disappointment in themselves and the world around them is inherent in both heroes, so they quickly become cynical egoists. Those around them treat them with interest because they see them as a mystery, women love them, since both have skillfully mastered the “science of tender passion.” But, despite their cynicism, both have their only beloved, with whom they are not destined to be together. So, Onegin loses Tatiana, and Pechorin loses Vera. Friends suffer next to them: for similar reasons, Lensky and Grushnitsky die at their hands.

These are “Byronic heroes” who have lost the flair of romanticism that idealized them. Onegin is one of those young people who believed in the ideals of the revolution, while Pechorin is a man of a different time, when these ideals were not only shaken, but destroyed due to the collapse of Decembrism. The characters are similar in many ways, but the results of their similarities are different. Onegin is an idle rake, sharply fed up with life due to laziness. Pechorin is not like that at all, who is looking for himself, “chasing madly after life,” not believing in a meaningless destiny. We can say that Onegin remained in the “water society”, from which Pechorin hastened to escape.

Pushkin and Lermontov showed two typical representatives of successive decades, so the images of the heroes could not be radically different. They complemented each other, and the authors created real picture reality of that time, which changed under the influence of crisis circumstances.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

I look sadly at our generation!
His future is either empty or dark,
Meanwhile, under the burden of knowledge and doubt,
It will grow old in inactivity.
M.Yu.Lermontov

The novels by A.S. Pushkin “Eugene Onegin” and M.Yu. Lermontov “Hero of Our Time” show the dramatic fate of typical representatives of the noble intelligentsia of the first half of the 19th century century. The main characters of these works, Evgeny Onegin and Grigory Pechorin, belong to the type of “superfluous people” in Russia who, not finding use for their abilities, became disillusioned with life and the society around them. The heroes of A.S. Pushkin and M.Yu. Lermontov are separated by only ten years, but they belong to different eras in the history of Russia. Between them stands the famous date - December fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, the Decembrist uprising.
Onegin lives in the twenties of the 19th century, during the heyday of the social movement and freedom-loving ideas. Pechorin is a man of another era. The action of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” takes place in the thirties of the 19th century. This period was marked by a brutal political reaction that followed the Decembrists' speech at Senate Square. Onegin could still have gone to the Decembrists, thus finding a purpose in life and giving meaning to his existence. Pechorin is already deprived of such an opportunity. His situation is much more tragic than that of Pushkin’s hero.
What are the similarities between Onegin and Pechorin?
Both of them are representatives of the capital's aristocracy, they received a good upbringing and education, their intellectual level is above the average level of the society around them.
Both heroes are critical of life and people. They are dissatisfied with themselves, they understand that their life is monotonous and empty, that slander, envy, and malice reign in the world. Therefore, Onegin and Pechorin begin to suffer from boredom and melancholy.
To satisfy his spiritual needs and dispel boredom, Onegin tries to write, but “he was sick of persistent work,” and reading books also does not occupy him for long.
And Pechorin quickly tires of any business he starts, it becomes boring for him. Once in the Caucasus, he hopes that “boredom does not live under Chechen bullets.” But he gets used to the whistling of bullets very quickly. Love adventures also bored Lermontov's hero. This was manifested in his attitude towards Bela and Mary. Having achieved their love, he loses interest in them.
Characteristic feature Onegin and Pechorin is their egoism. Heroes do not take into account the opinions and feelings of other people.
Onegin rejects Tatiana's love, not wanting to lose his freedom. A petty desire to annoy Lensky leads to the murder of a friend.
Pechorin brings misfortune to almost everyone he meets: he kills Grushnitsky, destroys the lives of Bela, Mary, Vera, and saddens Maxim Maksimych to the depths of his soul. He achieves the love of women solely out of a desire to entertain himself, to relieve boredom, and then grows cold towards them. Pechorin is cruel even to the seriously ill Mary, saying that he never loved her, but only laughed at the poor girl.
Both Onegin and Pechorin are self-critical of themselves. Onegin, tormented by remorse, cannot remain where the crime was committed. He is forced to leave his quiet village life and wander around the world. Pechorin admits that during his life he has caused people a lot of grief, that he plays “the role of an ax in the hands of fate.” At the same time, Pechorin is not going to change his behavior. His self-criticism does not bring relief to him or anyone else. This behavior makes Pechorin, as he described himself, “ moral cripple».
Onegin and Pechorin are observant and have a good understanding of people. They are subtle psychologists. At the very first meeting, Onegin singled out Tatyana from other women, and of all the local nobility, he became friends only with Vladimir Lensky. Pechorin also correctly judges the people he meets on his way. The characteristics given to them are accurate and to the point. He knows the psychology of women very well, can easily predict their actions and uses this to win their love.
But both heroes are capable of deep feelings. Onegin, realizing that he is in love with Tatyana, is ready to do anything to at least see her. And Pechorin, having learned about Vera’s departure, immediately rushes after her, but, not catching up, falls in the middle of the road and cries like a child.
Secular society has a negative attitude towards the heroes of A.S. Pushkin and M.Yu. Lermontov. Their behavior is incomprehensible to others, their point of view on life does not coincide with the generally accepted one, they are alone in the society around them, which feels the superiority of these “extra people”.
Despite all the similarities in character and position in society, the heroes of A.S. Pushkin and M.Yu. Lermontov have many differences.
Onegin is not devoid of nobility. He is honest with Tatyana and does not want to take advantage of her inexperience. Pechorin appears before us as an immoral man, for whom people are just toys. Perfectly aware of the consequences of his actions, Pechorin does not even try to change his behavior, cruelly destroying the destinies of other people.
The heroes also have different attitudes towards the duel.
The day before, Onegin is fast asleep, not taking the upcoming duel seriously. And after Lensky’s murder, he is overcome with horror and begins to be tormented by remorse.
Pechorin approaches the issue of a duel seriously, carefully choosing the place of the duel. Before the duel, Lermontov’s hero does not sleep and thinks about questions that sooner or later any person thinks about: “Why did I live? For what purpose was I born? Very soon Pechorin will kill Grushnitsky in cold blood and, bowing politely, will leave the dueling site.
Onegin and Pechorin are deeply disappointed in life, tired of the emptiness of secular society, and reject its ideals and values. At the same time, Onegin, suffering from his uselessness, is not able to resist the society that he condemns. Pechorin, unlike him, does not go with the flow, but is looking for his path in life, his calling and purpose. He thinks about his purpose in life, feeling “immense forces” in his soul. Unfortunately, all his energy only brings misfortune to the people he encounters. This is the tragedy of Pechorin's life.
Depicting the fates of their heroes, typical of their generation, Pushkin and Lermontov protest against a society that deprives people of a purpose in life, forces them to waste their strength, and does not allow them to find a use for their minds and abilities. This society creates “superfluous people” who are unable to find love, friendship, or happiness. The revelation of this society is historical meaning novels "Eugene Onegin" and "Hero of Our Time".

In Russian XIX literature century, the images of Eugene Onegin and Pechorin became symbols of the era. They united typical features representatives of the noble class with outstanding personal qualities, deep intellect and strength of character, which, alas, were not used in conditions of a deep moral crisis, which became the main sign of the times in the 30s and 40s. Misunderstood in their circle, superfluous, they wasted their strength in vain, unable to overcome the moral deafness of their contemporaries and the pettiness of public opinion, which was considered the main criterion human values V high society. Despite all their similarities, Onegin and Pechorin are endowed with bright individual traits, thanks to which modern readers also show interest in these literary heroes.

Pechorin - main character the novel by M. Yu. Lermontov “A Hero of Our Time”, a Russian nobleman, an officer who, due to his duty, found himself in the war zone in the Caucasus. The extraordinary personality of this literary hero caused heated controversy among critics and the ardent interest of contemporary readers.

Onegin- The main thing actor the novel in verse “Eugene Onegin”, written by A. S. Pushkin. Onegin belongs to the noble aristocracy. His biography, according to V. G. Belinsky, became an encyclopedia of Russian life in the first half of the 19th century.

What is the difference between Pechorin and Onegin?

Comparison of Pechorin and Onegin

The first chapters of “Eugene Onegin” were published by A. S. Pushkin in 1825. Readers met Pechorin in 1840. Minor difference in the time of creation of these literary images nevertheless, it was of fundamental importance for the disclosure of their personal qualities, which contemporaries perceived as a reflection of deep social processes.

At the beginning of the novel, Onegin is a social dandy. He is rich, educated and constantly under the close attention of high society. Tired of idleness, Evgeniy makes an attempt to get down to serious business: reforming the economy he inherited. Novelty village life turned into boredom for him: the lack of the habit of working gave rise to melancholy, and all the endeavors of the learned economist came to naught.

Both characters are representatives of the capital's aristocracy. The heroes received an excellent education and upbringing. Their intelligence level is higher than the average level of the people around them. The characters are separated by ten years, but each of them is a representative of their era. Onegin's life takes place in the twenties, the action of Lermontov's novel takes place in the 30s of the 19th century. The first is influenced by freedom-loving ideas in the context of the flourishing of an advanced social movement. Pechorin lives in a period of brutal political reactions to the activities of the Decembrists. And if the first one could still join the rebels and find a goal, thus giving meaning to his own existence, then the second hero no longer had such an opportunity. This already speaks of the greater tragedy of Lermontov’s character.

Onegin's drama is in futility own strength and the emptiness of the lifestyle that was imposed public opinion and was accepted by the hero as a standard, beyond which he never dared to step. Duel with Lensky, difficult relationships with Tatyana Larina - a consequence of deep moral dependence on the opinions of the world, which played a primary role in Onegin’s fate.

Pechorin, unlike Onegin, is not so rich and noble. He serves in the Caucasus, a place of dangerous military operations, showing miracles of courage, demonstrating endurance and strength of character. But his main feature, repeatedly emphasized in the novel, is the dual contradiction of spiritual nobility and selfishness, bordering on cruelty.

The reader learns about Onegin’s personality from the narrator’s remarks and Tatyana Larina’s observations. The narrator and Maxim Maksimych express judgments about Pechorin. But his entire inner world is revealed in his diary - the bitter confession of a man who failed to find his place in life.

Pechorin's diary entries are the philosophy of the Byronic hero. His duel with Grushnitsky is a kind of revenge secular society for heartlessness and passion for intrigue.

In his confrontation with the light, Pechorin, like Onegin, suffers defeat. Strength without application, life without purpose, inability to love and friendship, secular tinsel instead of serving a high goal - these motives in “Eugene Onegin” and “A Hero of Our Time” have a common sound.

Pechorin became a hero of his time: the second half of the 30s of the 19th century, marked by a deep social crisis after the events associated with the Decembrist movement in Russia.

Both characters are very critical of people and life. Realizing the emptiness and monotony of their existence, they show dissatisfaction with themselves. They are oppressed by the surrounding situation and people mired in slander, malice, and envy. Disillusioned with society, the heroes fall into melancholy and begin to get bored. Onegin tries to start writing to satisfy his spiritual needs. But he quickly gets tired of "hard work." Reading also fascinates him for a short time. Pechorin also quickly gets tired of any business he starts. However, once in the Caucasus, Grigory still hopes that there will be no room for boredom under the bullets. But he also gets used to military action very quickly. Lermontov's character also became bored with his love adventures. This can be seen in Pechorin's attitude towards Mary and Bela. Having achieved love, Gregory quickly loses interest in the ladies.

A comparative description of Onegin and Pechorin would be incomplete without mentioning the self-criticism of the heroes. The first is tormented by remorse after the duel with Lensky. Onegin is unable to stay in the places where the tragedy occurred, he gives up everything and begins to wander around the world. The hero of Lermontov's novel admits that he has caused quite a lot of grief to people throughout his life. But, despite this understanding, Pechorin is not going to change himself and his behavior. And Gregory’s self-criticism does not bring relief to anyone - neither himself nor those around him. This attitude towards life, himself, and people portrays him as a “moral cripple.” Despite the differences between Pechorin and Onegin, both of them have many common features. Each of them has a particularly pronounced ability to understand people well. Both heroes are good psychologists. So, Onegin singled out Tatyana immediately, at the first meeting. Of all the representatives of the local nobility, Eugene became friends only with Lensky. Lermontov's hero also correctly judges the people who meet him on the way. Pechorin gives quite accurate and accurate characteristics to those around him. In addition, Gregory has an excellent knowledge of female psychology, can easily predict the actions of the ladies and, taking advantage of this, wins their love. A comparative description of Onegin and Pechorin allows us to see the true state of the characters’ inner worlds. In particular, despite all the misfortunes that each of them caused to people, both of them are capable of bright feelings.

Love in the lives of heroes

Pechorin and Onegin belong to that social type twenties of the nineteenth century, who were called “superfluous” people. “Suffering egoists”, “clever uselessness” - this is how Belinsky figuratively and accurately defined the essence of this type.
So, how are the characters in Pushkin’s and Lermontov’s works similar and different?
First of all, the heroes of both novels appear before us as historically and socially determined human characters. Socially - political life Russia in the twenties of the nineteenth century - the strengthening of political reaction, the decline in the spiritual strength of the younger generation - gave birth to a special type of incomprehensible young man of that time.
Onegin and Pechorin are united by their origin, upbringing and education: both of them come from wealthy noble families. At the same time, both heroes do not accept many of the secular conventions and have a negative attitude towards external secular splendor, lies, and hypocrisy. This is evidenced, for example, by Pechorin’s extended monologue about his “colorless” youth, which “passed in a struggle with himself and the world.” As a result of this struggle, he “became a moral cripple,” quickly becoming fed up with “all the pleasures that can be obtained for money.” The same definition is quite applicable to Pushkin's hero: “Having had fun and luxury as a child,” he quickly got tired of the bustle of society, and “the Russian melancholy took possession of him little by little.”
The heroes are also united by spiritual loneliness among the secular “motley crowd.” “... My soul is spoiled by light, my imagination is restless, my heart is insatiable,” Pechorin bitterly notes in a conversation with Maxim Maksimych. The same is said about Onegin: “... the feelings in him cooled down early; he was tired of the noise of the world.”
This is where the idea of escapism arises in both works - the desire of both heroes for solitude, their attempt to distance themselves from society and worldly vanity. This is expressed both in a literal departure from civilization and in an escape from society into the world of internal experiences, “throwing off the burden of the conditions of light.” Onegin and Pechorin are also united by the common motif of “wandering without a goal,” “wanderlust” (Pechorin’s wanderings in the Caucasus, Onegin’s fruitless travels after the duel with Lensky).
Spiritual freedom, which is understood by the characters as independence from people and circumstances, is the main value in the worldview of both characters. So, for example, Pechorin explains his lack of friends by the fact that friendship always leads to the loss of personal freedom: “Of two friends, one is always the slave of the other.” The similarity between Onegin and Pechorin is also manifested in their identical attitude towards love and inability for deep affection:
“We’ve had time to tire of the betrayals;
I’m tired of friends and friendship.”
Such a worldview determines the special significance of the heroes’ actions in the lives of other people: both of them, according to different expression Pechorin, play the role of “axes in the hands of fate”, causing suffering to the people whom their fate encounters. Lensky dies in a duel, Tatyana suffers; similarly, Grushnitsky dies, Bela dies, kind Maxim Maksimych is offended, the smugglers’ way of life is destroyed, Mary and Vera are unhappy.
The heroes of Pushkin and Lermontov are almost equally It is common to “assume an appearance”, “put on a mask”.
Another similarity between these heroes is that they embody the type of intellectual character who is characterized by originality of judgment, dissatisfaction with oneself, a penchant for irony - everything that is brilliantly defined by Pushkin as a “sharp, cooled mind.” In this regard, there is a direct overlap between Pushkin’s and Lermontov’s novels.
However, there are clear differences between the characters of these characters and the means of their artistic image in both novels.
So what's the difference? If Pechorin is characterized by a boundless need for freedom and a constant desire to “subordinate to his will what surrounds him,” “to arouse feelings of love, devotion and fear,” then Onegin does not strive for constant self-affirmation at the expense of other people, and takes a more passive position.
Pechorin’s worldview is also distinguished by great cynicism and some disdain for people

The difference between Pechorin and Onegin

Onegin - literary hero, who could devote his life to democratic changes in society, but due to his personal qualities became a hostage of high society.
Pechorin understands the worthlessness of his own existence and tries to change it: at the end of the novel he leaves Russia.
Onegin does not seek to change anything in his destiny: all his actions are a consequence of the current circumstances.
Pechorin is able to objectively evaluate himself and honestly admits his passions and vices.
Onegin understands his own imperfection, but is not able to analyze his own actions and their consequences. Read more: