Lermontov M. Yu., The novel “Hero of Our Time”: reviews, analysis and characteristics of heroes

The most famous prose work of M. Yu. Lermontov can be safely called the novel “A Hero of Our Time”. Reviews of contemporaries of the writer about the work were delighted. Firstly, because the book became the first lyric-psychological novel in Russia. Secondly, Lermontov was only 24 years old at the time of writing. Let's talk about the work, its heroes and the opinions of critics and readers in more detail.

Romanticism and realism in the work

First of all, when analyzing a work, one should not forget that Lermontov was a romantic. “The hero of our time” (reviews of the work will be discussed below) nonetheless combines two principles - romantic and realistic. The first was particularly acute in the image of Pechorin. In fact, he is a typical romantic hero. A young man, disappointed in life, opposed to society, incomprehensible, lonely and lost. Nevertheless, there are realistic features in the character that are unusual for a romantic hero.

Realism manifested itself in the description of the artistic world of the novel. This is the Caucasus, and the characters of minor heroes. For example, creating the image of Maxim Maksimych, Lermontov turns to realism. As for the events described in the diaries of Pechorin, they combine the features of both directions. There is no double peace and mysticism in this work, which are usual for romanticism.

Conflict features

In this work, he focused on the internal conflict of his hero Lermontov (“Hero of Our Time”). Reviews of contemporaries about this were different. For example, Belinsky also saw the main problem of the novel in Pechorin’s internal contradictions. Their basis is the duality of the hero. On the one hand, he is able to subtly feel, admire the starry sky, understand the beauty of nature. On the other - Pechen ruthlessly kills Grushnitsky, mocking. He is characterized by callousness, which manifested itself when he met with Maxim Maksimych and after the death of Bela. Inside the hero there is a constant struggle - one part of his personality is eager for adventure and action, the second is evil, ironically and cynically criticizes these impulses.

The image of the protagonist

The review of Lermontov’s book “A Hero of Our Time” was mainly based on the image of the main character. It is about him that critics and readers primarily speak. So, Grigory Pechorin is the main character of the novel. He is extraordinary, smart, but unhappy. Lermontov himself wrote that in this image he recreated a modern person whom he “too often met in life”. Pechorin literally consists of contradictions in relation to friendship and love. He is busy searching for the meaning of life, the destiny of man, free will, choice of path.

Often Pechorin appears in a very unpleasant light. For example, when it makes people suffer, intervenes in their fate, destroys their lives. Nevertheless, there is something in his personality that attracts others to him, subordinates him to his will, makes him compassionate. Each chapter of the book reveals a part of the hero’s soul, so that in the end a complete picture appears before the reader.

The image of Maxim Maksimych

This is one of the main characters in the novel “Hero of Our Time”. The reviews indicate that Maxim Maksimych makes a much more favorable impression on readers and critics than Pechorin himself. And this is not surprising. After all, he is a person worthy of respect, kind, open, content with life, sometimes even naive. But such naivety only suits him.

He first appears in the Bela chapter as a storyteller. It is through his eyes that the reader becomes acquainted with Pechorin. However, the simple-minded Maxim Maximovich is difficult to understand what drives the main character. They are too different with Pechorin. They were spawned by different eras. That is why Maxim Maximich is offended by the coldness of a young officer at a meeting.

Female images

There are many women on the pages of the novel “A Hero of Our Time”. Feedback from readers and critics suggests that these images attract a lot of attention. Among them are Bela, Vera, Princess Mary, Ondine. A distinctive feature of all these heroines is that they are completely different. Each is unique and has no common features with the others. They are the protagonists in 3 parts of the work. Reading their dialogues with Pechorin, we can judge how the hero relates to this feeling, what he seeks in love and why he does not achieve what he wants. For these women, the meeting with Pechorin became fatal. And not one of them brought him happiness.

The first to appear to the reader is Bela. This is a passionate, proud and sensual girl. A meeting with the main character leads her to death. Then we see Mary Ligovskaya, Princess. She lives in her fantasy world. The young lady is similar to all representatives of her social level. Her Pechorin teaches a cruel lesson that took life from Grushnitsky. Ondine, the random love of the protagonist, is strikingly different from these women, although she has something similar to Bela - they are united by their proximity to nature. And here Lermontov portrays Vera, the only woman who could understand Pechorin and fall in love with who he is. But here, the main character fails.

"Hero of our time": reviews of the book of contemporaries

Immediately after the release, the book was highly appreciated. Almost all critics noted that Lermontov really managed to portray a hero who has absorbed the main features of people of a crucial era. Moreover, some, for example S.T. Aksakov, stated after the novel was published that the prose writer Lermontov exceeded the poet Lermontov. V.V. Kyukhelbeker considered the chapter “Mary” the best in the artistic sense, since the main characters were depicted with particular realism. However, Pechorin Kuchelbecker did not like it. He even lamented that Lermontov spent his talent on describing "such a creature ... like the ugly Pechorin."

Even N.V. Gogol appreciated the novel “Hero of Our Time”. A brief review of the great writer can be described in a few words - the best prose in Russian literature has not yet been. The only one who did not appreciate the works of Lermontov was Emperor Nicholas I, a longtime ill-wisher of the writer. He called the novel disgusting, and his hero "an exaggerated depiction of despicable characters." The work, in his opinion, was harmful and corrupting the minds of young people.

Review of Belinsky

A huge resonance among writers, critics and even politicians was caused by the “Hero of our time”. Reviews of the book were diametrically opposed. And if people close to literature praised him, then officials and politicians mercilessly criticized. However, Belinsky's opinion played a decisive role in those years. And the famous critic openly admired the work. He paid special attention to the complex compositional structure, which helped most clearly reveal the image of the main character.

Belinsky saw and appreciated the realistic beginning in the novel. He noted the real features in the image of Pechorin, which make it possible to see a living person in a literary character. The review of the work “The Hero of Our Time”, written by Belinsky, did not focus on the vices of Pechorin. No, the critic was able to see in him a sad soul that could not find its place in the modern era. And in how subtly and accurately Lermontov managed to portray this sadness, the critic saw the writer's incredible talent.

Opinions about the novel today

But what do modern readers think about the novel “A Hero of Our Time”? Reviews, it should be noted, are mostly positive. And today, the work resonates with the audience, despite the past one and a half centuries. And what is most interesting: the opinion of readers has not changed. All the same, Pechorin wants to sympathize, and his unpleasant actions cause indignation. All the same, people speak with love about Maxim Maximych. Pechorin is especially close to adolescents, since they are tormented by the same questions about the meaning of life. They likewise search for their place, try to understand how to be further. Thus, he became a novel for all times, "Hero of our time."

Reader review

If you want to leave your review, then it is better to start with a brief description of opinions about the work of contemporaries Lermontov. It is desirable to note that not everyone took the novel positively. In this regard, we can mention Nicholas I. And after that, you can express your opinion about the work. Share impressions that have arisen while reading the novel, include your favorite quotes.