Psychological characteristics of Pechorin

"The Hero of Our Time" is the first psychological novel in our country in which Lermontov, through the analysis of the actions and thoughts of the protagonist, reveals his inner world before the readers. But, despite this, Pechorin's characterization is not a simple task. The hero is ambiguous, like his actions, largely due to the fact that Lermontov created not a typical character, but a real, living person. Let's try to understand this person and understand him.

Portrait characteristics Pechorin contains a very interesting detail: "his eyes did not laugh when he laughed." We can see that the hero's inner world is reflected even in his external description. Indeed, Pechorin never feels his whole life, in his own words, there are always two people coexisting in it, one of which acts, and the other one judges. He constantly analyzes his own actions, which is "seeing the mind mature on itself". Perhaps this is what prevents the hero from living a full life and makes him cynical.

The most striking feature of Pechorin's character is his selfishness. His desire at all costs to arrange everything exactly as it occurred to him, and nothing else. This he resembles a stubborn child, who does not back down until he gets what he wants. And, being childishly naive, Pechorin never knows beforehand that people can suffer from his petty egotistical aspirations. He puts his whim above the rest and just does not think about others: "I look at the suffering and joy of others only in relation to myself." Perhaps, it is thanks to this feature that the hero departs from people and considers himself superior to them.

The characteristic of Pechorin must also contain another important fact. The hero feels the power of his soul, feels that he was born for the highest goal, but instead of searching for it, he is wasting himself on all sorts of little things and momentary aspirations. He constantly rushes in search of entertainment, not knowing what he wants. So, in pursuit of petty joys, his life passes. Not having any goal in front of him, Pechorin spends himself on empty things that bring nothing but short moments of satisfaction.

Since the hero himself does not consider his life to be something valuable, he begins to play with it. His desire to infuriate Grushnitsky or to direct his pistol, as well as the test of fate in the chapter "Fatalist" - all these manifestations of morbid curiosity, generated by the boredom and inner emptiness of the hero. He does not think about the consequences of his actions, even his death or the death of another person. Pechorin is interested in observation and analysis, not the future.

It is due to the hero's self-analysis that Pechorin's characterization can be completed, as he himself explains many of his actions. He has studied himself well and perceives every emotion as an object for observation. He sees himself as if from the side, which brings him closer to the readers and allows us to evaluate Pechorin's actions from his own point of view.

Here are the main points, which should contain a brief description of Pechorin. In fact, his personality is much more complex and multifaceted. And it is unlikely to understand it can help characterize. Pechorin must be found inside himself, feel what he feels, and then his personality becomes clear to the heroes of our time.