Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin

Appearance

Has an attractive, noble appearance Age: 25 Body type: athletic, slender, with a thin waist and broad shoulders Hair: blond, slightly curled. Despite the light color of the hair, the moustache and eyebrows were black Skin: soft, has a feminine softness. The first wrinkles have already appeared on the forehead Nose: slightly upturned. Teeth are snow-white. Look: brown eyes that never laugh. The look is heavy, penetrating, makes an unpleasant impression Gait: languid, slightly lazy, careless. When walking, Grigory never waved his arms - this speaks of a secretive character Hands: despite the strong figure, they seemed small, with long thin fingers, typical of aristocrats Clothes: expensive, clean, well-ironed. Pechorin keeps his linen clean, wears clean boots and gloves Aroma: The hero exudes a pleasant scent of perfume Smile: There is something childish in the hero's smile Face: Pechorin's face expresses nothing, even in the most difficult moments of his life Look: from behind half-lowered eyelashes, Pechorin's eyes shone with some kind of phosphorescent shine, like the shine of smooth steel, dazzling but cold. Facial features: thin, like a girl's Body position: when Pechorin sat down on the bench, his straight figure bent over, as if he had not a single bone in his back. The position of the whole body depicted some kind of nervous weakness Combat clothing: Pechorin described himself as a perfect dandy: not a single extra braid, valuable weapons with simple trim, fur on the hat not too long, not too short, leggings and boots fitted with the utmost precision Endurance: Maxim Maksimych explained that Pechorin could spend the whole day hunting in the rain Grigory Pechorin is an attractive young man who was liked by women Pechorin was able to endure all the difficulties of nomadic life and climate changes thanks to his strong physique. According to Princess Mary, Pechorin's gaze was heavy. Maxim Maksimych said that Pechorin is a rich man

Character

Some positive traits: brave, decisive, intelligent, has a keen sense of another person's psychological state. Some negative traits: indifferent, harsh towards other people, selfish, vindictive. Pechorin's actions and deeds are permeated with cold prudence, hiding behind them emotions and feelings, sometimes trying to break through. He is brave and reckless, but at the same time sometimes seems weak and defenseless, like a child. Grigory Pechorin is constantly searching for the meaning of life, but does not find it. He is rich and educated, accustomed to high society, but feels that this life is empty and worthless. An insatiable thirst to be loved and a need for constant attention and admiration. Pechorin could not be completely satiated with the feelings of others. In order to receive love from a woman he liked, he was ready to do a lot. Background depression. Pechorin did not value his life and himself at all. He was an internally unhappy person who made others the same. He was clearly satiated with all material pleasures and love victories. Increased interest in everything external. Pechorin chose mostly beautiful women who occupied a high position in society. For him, appearance was much more important than the internal content of a woman. Tendency to blame others. Pechorin explained his complex and difficult character by the fact that others saw his worst traits in him since childhood and attributed to him things that were not there. Psychological immaturity. Pechorin lived for momentary pleasures, like a selfish child, without thinking about the consequences of his actions. Lack of empathy. Pechorin cannot put himself in another person's place. He is indifferent to the feelings of others, because he is focused only on himself. Psychological sadism. Pechorin mocked others, often ridiculing even the most noble human manifestations. He liked to deliberately reveal the shortcomings of others, as he often did in Grushnitsky.

More about Pechorin's Character

Attitude to death. Pechorin acknowledges the predetermination of fate, but at the same time he believes that a person should not be deprived of will. In his opinion, one must always move forward - "nothing worse than death will happen - and you cannot avoid death." Pechorin is a tragic hero, lonely and misunderstood. He is a product of his time, an era of disappointments and spiritual quests. His image is not just a portrait of a specific person, but also a generalized image of an entire generation searching for the meaning of life in the conditions of social and spiritual crisis. Reflection and self-analysis. Pechorin has an exceptional ability for self-observation. His diary ("Pechorin's Journal") is an attempt to understand his own motives, emotions, and contradictions. He analyzes his actions with cold rationality, which makes him both the subject and the object of research. However, this reflection does not lead to change - he is aware of his vices, but does not fight them, accepting them as a given. Disappointment and boredom. Pechorin suffers from existential melancholy. He has lost faith in high ideals, is disillusioned with society, friendship, love. His actions are often motivated by the desire to overcome boredom, which turns life into a series of experiments on himself and others. For example, the story with Bela, the game with Mary's feelings or the duel with Grushnitsky - all these are attempts to feel at least something. Egocentrism and manipulativeness. Pechorin perceives others as a tool for satisfying his ambitions or desires. His actions are dictated not by love or hate, but by the desire to assert power over others. Even in romantic relationships (like with Vera), he remains a cold analyst, destroying those who become attached to him. Duality of nature. He combines contradictory traits: intelligence and cynicism, courage and recklessness, depth of feelings and emotional detachment. For example, in the scene of the pursuit of Vera, he cries, realizing her loss, but a moment later returns to his usual indifference. This duality emphasizes his internal conflict.

More about character

Fear of the mundane. Pechorin runs away from everything that resembles stability or "philistine happiness." He cannot accept the role of a husband, friend, employee - his soul craves storms, even at the cost of destruction. This makes him an eternal wanderer, doomed to loneliness. The tragedy of unfulfillment. Despite his outstanding abilities, Pechorin does not find a worthy use for his energy. He becomes "an axe in the hands of fate", causing suffering to others, but he himself suffers from the meaninglessness of existence. Ban on showing feelings. Pechorin banned himself from having feelings because they did not find a response in those around him. He says about himself that he lives not with his heart, but with his mind. The desire for knowledge. Pechorin strives to delve into science, but understands that strength is not in knowledge, but in dexterity and luck. Ability to do noble deeds. Pechorin is capable of doing noble deeds if his energy is directed in the right direction. For example, he bravely throws himself out the window in pursuit of the Cossack murderer. Lack of demand in life. Lack of demand in life leads Pechorin to actions that defy logic and explanation. Cynicism as a defensive reaction. Pechorin's cynicism is a defensive reaction to disappointment in people and in himself. Wit that often turns against him. Pechorin's wit often turns against him, giving rise to doubts and skepticism.

Hobbies

Hunting is one of Pechorin's favorite activities. He was distinguished by his courage and bravery, and was able to hunt a boar alone. When Pechorin got tired of Bela, he began to disappear for days on end hunting. Pechorin could spend the whole day hunting in the rain, but at the same time he was deathly afraid of a draft. Fast horse riding was also a passion for the hero. He studied the mountain riding style for a long time and kept four horses: one for himself and three for his friends, so that he wouldn’t get bored dragging himself around the fields alone. Solving puzzles is another hobby of Pechorin. He was a cunning and curious person, he loved to always be on guard, to catch every glance, the meaning of every word, to guess intentions. In the chapter “Taman”, Pechorin appears as a dreamer who is attracted to everything new and unknown. In addition, Pechorin was used to smoking expensive cigars. Pechorin sought to delve deeper into science, but quickly realized that the main guarantee of success was in dexterity, not knowledge. At one time, the hero kept a journal, trying to understand himself and get rid of boredom. Then he cooled off to this activity, and the notebooks remained with Maxim Maksimych.

Background

Background: Pechorin was born in St. Petersburg and lived in Moscow until he was 19. In his youth, he quickly abandoned his studies and plunged into social life with carousing and women. However, he quickly got tired of this. Then the hero decided to pay his debt to the Fatherland by going to serve in the army. For his participation in a duel, the young man was punished with real service, sent to the Caucasus to the active troops.

Some quotes:

“I run through my entire past in my memory and involuntarily ask myself: why did I live? For what purpose was I born?.. And it is true that it existed, and it is true that I had a high purpose, because I feel boundless strength in my soul; but I did not guess this purpose…”. “My love brought no one happiness, because I sacrificed nothing for those I loved; I loved for myself, for my own pleasure; I only satisfied a strange need of the heart, greedily absorbing their feelings, their tenderness, their joys and sufferings - and I could never be satisfied.” "Of two friends, one is always the other's slave, although often neither of them will admit it to themselves. I am stupidly created: I forget nothing, nothing!" "Women only love those they don't know." "What began in an extraordinary way must end in the same way."

Some stages of Pechorin's life:

Life in St. Petersburg. Pechorin falls in love with Vera, a young married lady, but their relationship is interrupted. In St. Petersburg, Pechorin takes part in a duel, for which he is sent to serve in the Caucasus. Taman and smugglers. Pechorin travels to the Caucasus, stopping in Taman on the way. Here Pechorin becomes infatuated with a girl, "Undine", but finds out that she is a smuggler. Pyatigorsk: Princess Mary and a duel with Grushnitsky. Having completed a service assignment, Pechorin comes to Pyatigorsk to take a treatment at the waters. Here he meets his old friend Grushnitsky and also turns the head of the young Princess Mary. Fortress N. For the duel with Grushnitsky, Pechorin is sent to Fortress N. Here Pechorin meets the kind officer Maksim Maksimych. A mission to a Cossack village: the death of Vulich. While serving in Fortress N, Pechorin goes on a mission for 2 weeks to a Cossack village. Here Pechorin meets a strange officer, Vulich, who soon dies tragically. Fortress N and meeting Bela. Pechorin continues to serve in Fortress N under the command of Maxim Maksimych. Pechorin spends a total of 1 year here. During this period, he falls in love with the Circassian Bela and steals her from her home. Vladikavkaz: departure to Persia. About 5 years pass after the events with Bela. Pechorin travels from St. Petersburg to Persia, and stops in Vladikavkaz on his way. Here he accidentally meets Maksim Maksimych.

Attitude towards people

Relationships with women: Pechorin truly loved only girls, but quickly became indifferent to them. For example, in his relationship with Bela, love was replaced by indifference. In his relationship with Princess Mary, there was no love at all, only a desire to satisfy his vanity. Probably, Pechorin loved only Vera in his life, but even with her he could not build happiness. The hero admits: "My love did not bring happiness to anyone, because I did not sacrifice anything for those I loved: I loved for myself, for my own pleasure." Pechorin's attitude to friendship: Pechorin notes that he has no friends, that he himself can never be a true friend, because "of two friends, one is always the other's slave." Pechorin is indifferent to friendly relations. For example, the way the protagonist treated Maxim Maksimych when they met shows that friendship was not of great importance to Pechorin. Even his relationship with Dr. Werner was doomed from the very beginning, because they both did not value friendship. Outwardly friendly relations with Grushnitsky also lead to a tragic ending: Pechorin kills his friend as a result of a duel. Lack of empathy: Pechorin cannot put himself in another person's shoes. He is indifferent to the feelings of others, because he is focused only on himself. For example, after Princess Mary's touching declaration of love to him, he heartlessly admitted that he had been laughing at her all this time. Grigory instantly forgot about Bela's death, which happened because of him, without being upset for a second. Psychological sadism: Pechorin mocked others, often ridiculing even the most noble human manifestations. He liked to deliberately reveal the shortcomings of others, as he often did with Grushnitsky. Grigory was a skilled manipulator: if he wanted, he could charm anyone and gain their trust, in order to cause them mental pain after a while.

More about relationships with people

Pechorin and Maxim Maksimych. The staff captain sincerely considers Pechorin his friend, but when they meet, the hero behaves coldly. Pechorin and Maxim Maksimych are too different: the staff captain is old, Pechorin is still young, Maxim Maksimych is simple-minded and not very smart. There is an intellectual gap between them. Pechorin constantly analyzes other people's actions and his own, and Maxim Maksimych does not try to evaluate or draw conclusions. For Pechorin, memories are very painful, so he tries with all his might to avoid them. Pechorin and Grushnitsky. They are noblemen with Pechorin, young officers, comrades in arms. Nevertheless, Pechorin mercilessly ridicules Grushnitsky in his journal. Grushnitsky is in some ways a parody of Pechorin's true drama. Narrow-minded and self-satisfied, he wears a mask of high disappointment, claims extraordinary passions, while Pechorin diligently hides the tormenting melancholy and "immense strength" of his contradictory soul. Pechorin and Werner. Werner is the only person with whom Pechorin feels at ease. They understand each other at a glance, meet often, and Pechorin values ​​Werner's opinion. However, he turns out to be not quite and not entirely a friend. Werner revealed to Pechorin the plot of Grushnitsky's seconds, supported Pechorin during the duel, but after it did not offer Pechorin his hand in greeting. Pechorin perceived this as betrayal, an unwillingness to share responsibility for Grushnitsky's death. Pechorin and Vulich. Vulich is a fatalist, he is a gambler who relies on luck. Pechorin does not want to be a toy of fate, calling himself an instrument of predestination, he creates his own destiny. For Pechorin, Vulich is just an interlocutor with whom you can discuss interesting topics. Even at the moment of tragedy, Pechorin remains a cold observer, for whom human life is just a subject of reflection.

Story

It is currently the 1830s, the reign of Nicholas I.