The main characters of the early 19th century are Onegin and Pechorin. They are the creations of the great writers of their time and in some ways even reflect the fate of their creators. Lermontov with Pushkin and Onegin with Pechorin have a very dramatic fate.
The writers sought to capture in their heroes the appearance of time, and in many ways the authors succeeded in this task. In fact, both Onegin and Pechorin are emblematic for their time, but at the same time, each of these heroes is outside of time, as they voice the problems that are characteristic of all eras.
In short, we have before us the images of two educated people, in many ways the best representatives of their time. Each received an excellent education, has a sharp mind that allows you to understand people and yourself. In addition, they are sincere seekers of truth and want to understand the meaning of not only their own era, but also their personal existence.
Given the significant similarities, it is necessary to point out the differences that determine the essence of these heroes. Let's start with Onegin.
Pushkin's hero has a cynical view of the world, he is spoiled and treats people with a certain amount of arrogance. At the same time, Onegin does not have a penchant for idealizing reality; for the most part, he is a pragmatist. Even Onegin goes to a duel, largely not of his own free will, but due to public rumor, he does not want to look ridiculous and therefore agrees to a duel.
In fact, such a detail is decisive, since the reason for Pechorin's duel is completely different, he goes to shoot, as he is looking for the highest truth and follows his ideals, he wants to get even with the world and uses Grushnitsky for this. Of course, Pechorin is also deeply selfish, but his egoism (as well as Onegin, too) is the position of a person at the top. Yes, Pechorin looks at everyone from above, but he cannot look differently, since he has really reached certain heights of the spirit and is at a height that is simply inaccessible to many.
Onegin (continuing the theme of selfishness) is also arrogant towards others, but this hero was for the most part brought up in a society where he was praised and gratified in every possible way. Therefore, such a "golden boy" is completely alone in the adult world. For the most part, the determining factor for this hero is boredom, which can only be characteristic of such Moscow aristocrats who do not feel the need.
Another significant difference between the two characters is their behavior in the world. Onegin, for the most part, agrees with the world and simply allows events to happen, just as he allows Larina to love himself and belatedly reciprocates the feeling.
Pechorin, in turn, is a more active character. He does not accept the world, but completely creates it, seeking adventure as well as trying to find the truth. A distinctive feature of Pechorin is the consistency of his philosophy with life views and behavior.
Composition Onegin and Pechorin
Perhaps in every era there are certain ideals in popular culture, on which the rest are equal. If we talk about the first half of the 19th century, then such ideals, of course, were Pechorin and Onegin.
These heroes are like modern-day celebrities that they look up to, that they want to be to some extent. Moreover, they largely reflect the biography of their creators. This is quite easy to verify.
For example, Pushkin in his novel introduces the figure of the author, who in turn partially resembles Pushkin himself (although he is not), and this author is Onegin's friend and is in many ways similar to him. In the same way, Pechorin is a young officer, a thinker. Some details from the Hero of Our Time (for example, episodes of duels) generally almost completely repeat episodes from Lermontov's biography.
Thus, these people (Pushkin and Lermontov) wrote what they knew about, as if following Hemingway’s maxim “you need to write truthfully” and what you know about, they really describe practically their own biographies and worldview. Therefore, comparing Onegin and Pechorin, we can to some extent compare Pushkin and Lermontov.
So, Pushkin noble man from a fairly noble family that leads a secular existence. Lermontov, in turn, was an officer who, although he was going to end his military career and completely engage in creativity, remained in the service until the end of his earthly journey. Likewise, Onegin more people who is bored, he does a lot out of boredom and cynicism, Pechorin is also a person who is bored, but he is more consciously looking for some kind of trials and adventures, in general, more harsh as befits a military officer.
In many ways, they are similar, since both have rather pleasant living conditions. They can, so to speak, not care about their daily bread and are more inclined to mental activity. They are both a little disillusioned with this world and are looking for opportunities to somehow entertain themselves.
However, neither Onegin nor Pechorin are spoiled or vile people. For example, when Pechorin meets with Princess Mary to annoy Grushnitsky, he understands the essence of his own act and does not build illusions for himself, he simply acts as a kind of naturalist who studies human psychology. Probably, deep psychologism and sincerity with themselves distinguishes these heroes, they feel the spirit of their time and accept it as it is.
3 option
Before us are two novels, Lermontov and Pushkin. In Lermontov's work "A Hero of Our Time" the main character is Pechorin, and in A.S. Pushkin's novel "Eugene Onegin" main character Onegin. Two completely different works, two completely different times, but how many similarities of characters. There are differences because time has left an imprint on the behavior and character of each person. The authors conveyed through these two characters the full power of those generations.
Pechorin is a nobleman. His social status allows him to abandon labor efforts and live for his own pleasure. But despite this, he serves in the Caucasus. Pechorin has a lot positive qualities. He is smart, has extraordinary willpower. Onegin is an aristocrat. This allows him to live for his own pleasure, like Pechorin, and not think about anything. Both characters were well-read and educated, which in turn also put them above other people. But unfortunately, with such a list of virtues, none of the heroes managed to realize themselves in life.
The youth of the two characters proceeded approximately the same way, both led a wild life and rested, not knowing any worries. Pechorin, talking about himself, says that he could say at the first meeting with a girl whether she would love him or not. But, unfortunately, he brought only misfortune to women. Onegin in this area is not much different from Pechorin and does not set an example of a gentleman. At one time, Onegin rejects Tatyana and breaks her heart, Tatyana suffers from unrequited love, but over time he finds the strength to overcome this feeling.
Both Eugene Onegin and Grigory Pechorin are not very friendly, this is clearly visible in the works. Evgeny says that he is friends with Lensky only out of boredom and just like that, and Pechorin demonstrates an indifferent attitude towards his comrade Maxim Maksimych.
Yet there are differences between them. Onegin is an egoist. This can be explained by remembering the childhood of Eugene. His father did not deal with him, there were always tutors surrounded by Onegin, who only praised him. From this, an egoistic view has developed. Unlike Pechorin, Evgeny never served, this feature distinguishes him from his contemporaries.
Pechorin is a suffering egoist. He realizes that I am losing a generation, it is insignificant. He considers himself a pitiful descendant who lacks pride and conviction. He does not believe in love, in exploits and in friendship. It robs him of all the charm of life. Unlike Onegin, Pechorin is not just smart, he is a thinker and philosopher.
Both heroes go to a duel, but with different goals. Onegin under the influence of public opinion, and Pechorin to take revenge on society.
Pechorin goes to meet life and accepts all its trials, while Onegin simply goes with the flow. After comparison, you can make sure that these are two very different personalities similar to each other.
Comparative characteristics of Onegin and Pechorin
Onegin is a year older than Pechorin. Both look great, follow fashion, especially Onegin. When it rotates into the light, it is necessary to create the impression of a fashionista. An interesting feature is that both have cold, like dead, expressionless eyes. But it is precisely by them that one can judge about state of mind person.
Both Onegin and Pechorin were born in St. Petersburg, noblemen. They grew up in luxury, did not know the need. But it quickly bored them. Their strange behavior is striking. But, despite this, society considers them sweet, charming young people.
Both have a sober calculating mind. Pechorin is even somewhat cynical. But at the same time, windy hangers. You don't have to worry about your daily bread. You don't have to earn a living either. What else can they do, how not to seduce women? Onegin is a hypocritical person who could make a lady believe in what he needed. In a word, both are good manipulators.
But women quickly got tired of both. They were not going to have wives, children. They haven't walked yet. Onegin considers marriage to be torment. He openly admits that when passion and love pass, he will stop loving a woman. He doesn't hide it. You just have to listen carefully.
Pechorin is disgusted by the very thought of marriage. As soon as a woman hints at the bonds of marriage, his love immediately evaporates. In short, in their years they feel like old men who are tired of both women and secular society. And they are not interested in science, they are bored, they constantly, defiantly yawn.
They lost interest in life, were disappointed in friendship. Both Onegin and Lensky are complete egoists. And what do women find in them that they hang themselves around their necks? Pechorin and Onegin are similar in their actions. Pechorin also refuses Princess Mary, like Onegin Tatyana.
Pechorin's meeting with Vera in the Caucasus is similar in meaning to the second meeting of Onegin and Tatyana. Only Tatyana turned out to be smarter than Vera. She did not succumb to the charms and sweet nightingale trills of Onegin.
Unlike Pechorin, Onegin does not go to work. Pechorin serves in the Caucasus. Onegin is languid and gloomy. And Pechorin amuses everyone. Onegin does not like nature, in the village he is frankly bored. And the views of lovely rural landscapes lull him to sleep. Pechorin contemplates the beauty of the Caucasus, this distracts him from problems.
To dispel boredom, Onegin can play billiards all day. And Pechorin goes hunting for a wild boar alone. Can walk all day and never get tired. And the rain doesn't stop him. Onegin is trying to read Adam Smith's book on economics. And Pechorin novels by Walter Scott.
But he and the other never found a place in life. They are "extra" people. They are lonely among other people.
One of the interesting genres of literature for children is classical Russian folk tale. In these tales there is witchcraft, and magical transformations, and miracles, and adventures.
One of the most famous portraits painted by the painter is the painting Horsewoman
The painting of the Russian painter Shcherbakov “Rus' near Moscow” is one of his most famous works. It is simple and at the same time accurately reflects the spirit of its people.
In Russian literature of the 19th century, the images of Eugene Onegin and Pechorin became symbols of the era. They combined the typical features of representatives of the nobility with outstanding personal qualities, deep intellect and strength of character, which, alas, could not be used in the conditions of a deep moral crisis that 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 measure of human values in high society. Despite 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 novel by M. Yu. Lermontov "A Hero of Our Time", a Russian nobleman, officer, who, on duty, ended up in the war zone in the Caucasus. The originality of the personality of this literary hero caused a sharp controversy among critics and the keen interest of contemporaneous readers.
Onegin- The main thing actor 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 XIX 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. A slight difference in the creation time of these literary images nevertheless, it was of fundamental importance for revealing their personal qualities, which contemporaries perceived as a reflection of deep social processes.
At the beginning of the novel, Onegin is a secular dandy. He is rich, educated and constantly under the scrutiny of high society. Tired of idleness, Eugene makes an attempt to tackle a serious matter: the reform of the economy that he inherited. The novelty of village life turned into boredom for him: the lack of the habit of working gave rise to spleen, and all the undertakings of the learned economist came to naught.
Both characters are representatives of the metropolitan aristocracy. Heroes received an excellent education and upbringing. Their level of intelligence 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 his 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 under the influence of freedom-loving ideas in the heyday of an advanced social movement. Pechorin lives in a period of violent 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 the futility of his own forces and the meaninglessness of the way of life, which was imposed by public opinion and accepted by the hero as a standard, beyond which he did not dare to step. A duel with Lensky, a difficult relationship with Tatyana Larina - a consequence of a deep moral dependence on the opinions of the world, which played a paramount role in Onegin's fate.
Pechorin, unlike Onegin, is not so rich and noble. He serves in the Caucasus, in a place of dangerous military operations, showing miracles of courage, demonstrating endurance and strength of character. But its main feature, repeatedly emphasized in the novel, is the dual inconsistency of spiritual nobility and selfishness, bordering on cruelty.
The reader learns about Onegin's personality from the narrator's remarks and Tatiana Larina's observations. The narrator and Maxim Maksimych express judgments about Pechorin. But his inner world is fully revealed in the diary - a 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 on secular society for heartlessness and passion for intrigue.
In the confrontation with the light, Pechorin, like Onegin, is defeated. Forces without application, life without a goal, 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 XIX 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 and anger, envy. Disappointed in society, the heroes fall into melancholy, begin to get bored. Onegin is trying to start writing to satisfy his spiritual needs. But his "hard work" quickly tires him. Reading also briefly fascinates him. Pechorin also gets tired of any business he starts quite quickly. However, once in the Caucasus, Grigory still hopes that there will be no place for boredom under the bullets. But he gets used to military operations very quickly. Bored Lermontov's character and love adventures. This can be seen in Pechorin's attitude towards Mary and Bela. Having achieved love, Gregory quickly loses interest in ladies.
Comparative characteristics Onegin and Pechorin would be incomplete without mentioning the self-criticism of the characters. The first is tormented by remorse after the duel with Lensky. Onegin, unable to stay in the places where the tragedy happened, abandons 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 to himself, nor to those around him. Such an attitude towards life, himself, 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 the ability to perfectly understand people. Both heroes are good psychologists. So, Onegin singled out Tatyana immediately, at the first meeting. Of all the representatives of the local nobility, Eugene got along only with Lensky. The hero of Lermontov also correctly judges the people who meet him on the way. Pechorin gives quite accurate and accurate characteristics to others. In addition, Gregory knows perfectly well female psychology, can easily predict the actions of ladies and, using this, wins their love. Comparative characteristics 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 catching 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 exact opposite. Pechorin appears as an immoral person, a person for whom the people around him are just toys.
Pechorin and Onegin belong to that social type of the twenties of the nineteenth century, who were called "superfluous" people. “Suffering egoists”, “smart useless things” - Belinsky so figuratively and accurately defined the essence of this type.
So, how are the characters of Pushkin's and Lermontov's works similar and how are they different?
First of all, the heroes of both novels appear before us as historically and socially conditioned human characters. Public - political life Russia in the twenties of the nineteenth century - the strengthening of political reaction, the decline of the spiritual strength of the young generation - gave rise 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, they have a negative attitude towards external secular brilliance, lies, and hypocrisy. This is evidenced, for example, by Pechorin's extended monologue about his "colorless" youth, which "leaked in the struggle with himself and the world." As a result of this struggle, he "became a moral cripple", quickly getting fed up with "all the pleasures that money can get." The same definition is quite applicable to Pushkin's hero: "having fun and luxury as a child," he quickly got tired of the worldly fuss, and "the Russian melancholy took possession of him little by little."
Unites heroes and spiritual loneliness among the secular "motley crowd". “... My soul is corrupted by light, my imagination is restless, my heart is insatiable,” Pechorin bitterly remarks in a conversation with Maxim Maksimych. The same is said about Onegin: “... early on, his feelings cooled down; he was tired of the noise of the world.
Hence, in both works, the idea of escapism arises - the desire of both heroes for solitude, their attempt to distance themselves from society, worldly fuss. This is expressed both in a literal departure from civilization, and in an escape from society into the world of inner experiences, "the conditions of light overthrowing the burden." Unites Onegin and Pechorin and the common motif of "wandering without a goal", "hunting for a change of place" (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 of Onegin and Pechorin is also manifested in their identical attitude to love, inability for deep affection:
“Treason managed to tire;
Friends and friendship are tired.
Such a worldview determines the special significance of the actions of heroes in the lives of other people: both of them, according to Pechorin’s different expression, play the role of “axes in the hands of fate”, cause suffering to people with whom their fate confronts. Lensky dies in a duel, Tatyana suffers; similarly, Grushnitsky dies, Bela dies, the good Maksim Maksimych is offended, the way of smugglers is destroyed, Mary and Vera are unhappy.
The heroes of Pushkin and Lermontov almost equally tend to "assume", "put on a mask".
Another similarity between these heroes is that they embody the type of intellectual character who is characterized by extraordinary judgments, dissatisfaction with himself, a penchant for irony - everything that Pushkin brilliantly defines as "a sharp, chilled mind." In this regard, there is a direct echo of Pushkin's and Lermontov's novels.
However, there are clear differences between the characters of these characters and the means of their artistic representation in both novels.
So what's the difference? If Pechorin is characterized by an unlimited need for freedom and a constant desire to “subordinate to his will what surrounds him”, “to arouse feelings of love, devotion and fear for himself”, then Onegin does not strive for constant self-affirmation at the expense of other people, takes a more passive position.
Pechorin's worldview is also distinguished by great cynicism, some disregard for people
The difference between Pechorin and Onegin
- Onegin - literary hero who could devote his life to democratic transformations 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 fate: all his actions are a consequence of the circumstances.
- Pechorin is able to objectively evaluate himself and honestly admits his passions and vices.
- Onegin understands his own imperfection, but he is not able to analyze his own actions and their consequences. More:
The undoubted similarity of the images of Eugene Onegin and Grigory Pechorin was noted by one of the first V.G. Belinsky. “Their dissimilarity among themselves is much less than the distance between Onega and Pechora ... Pechorin is the Onegin of our time,” the critic wrote.
The lifetime of the characters is different. Onegin lived in the era of Decembrism, free-thinking, rebellions. Pechorin is the hero of the era of timelessness. Common to the great works of Pushkin and Lermontov is the depiction of the spiritual crisis of the noble intelligentsia. The best representatives of this class turned out to be dissatisfied with life, removed from social activities. They had no choice but to waste their strength aimlessly, turning into " extra people».
The formation of characters, the conditions for the education of Onegin and Pechorin, no doubt, are similar. These are people of the same circle. The similarity of the heroes lies in the fact that both of them have gone from agreement with society and themselves to the denial of light and deep dissatisfaction with life.
“But sooner the feelings in him cooled down,” Pushkin writes about Onegin, who “fell ill” with the “Russian melancholy.” Pechorin is also very early "... despair was born, covered with courtesy and a good-natured smile."
They were well-read and educated people, which put them above the rest of the young people of their circle. Education and natural curiosity of Onegin is found in his disputes with Lensky. One list of topics worth it:
... Tribes of past treaties,
The fruits of science, good and evil,
And age-old prejudices
And fatal secrets of the coffin,
Fate and life...
Evidence of Onegin's high education is his extensive personal library. Pechorin, on the other hand, said this about himself: “I began to read, to study - science was also tired.” Possessing remarkable abilities, spiritual needs, both failed to realize themselves in life and squandered it for nothing.
In their youth, both heroes were fond of carefree social life, both succeeded in the "science of tender passion", in the knowledge of "Russian young ladies". Pechorin says about himself: “... when I met a woman, I always guessed accurately whether she would love me ... I never became a slave to my beloved woman, on the contrary, I always acquired invincible power over their will and heart ... Is that why I never really do not I value ... "Neither the love of the beautiful Bela, nor the serious enthusiasm of the young Princess Mary could melt the coldness and rationality of Pechorin. It only brings misfortune to women.
The love of the inexperienced, naive Tatyana Larina also leaves Onegin indifferent at first. But later, our hero, at a new meeting with Tatyana, now a secular lady and a general, realizes that he has lost in the face of this extraordinary woman. Pechorin is not at all capable of a great feeling. In his opinion, "love is satiated pride."
Both Onegin and Pechorin value their freedom. Eugene writes in his letter to Tatyana:
Your hateful freedom
I didn't want to lose.
Pechorin bluntly declares: "... twenty times my life, I will even put my honor at stake, but I will not sell my freedom."
The indifference to people inherent in both, disappointment and boredom affect their attitude towards friendship. Onegin is friends with Lensky "there is nothing to do." And Pechorin says: “... I am not capable of friendship: of two friends, one is always the slave of the other, although often neither of them admits this to himself; I can’t be a slave, and in this case commanding is tedious work, because you have to deceive along with it ... ”And he demonstrates this in his cold attitude towards Maxim Maksimych. The words of the old staff captain sound helplessly: “I have always said that there is no use in someone who forgets old friends!”
Both Onegin and Pechorin, disappointed in the life around them, are critical of the empty and idle "secular mob". But Onegin is afraid of public opinion, accepting Lensky's challenge to a duel. Pechorin, shooting with Grushnitsky, takes revenge on society for unfulfilled hopes. In essence, the same evil trick led the heroes to the duel. Onegin "swore Lensky to infuriate and take revenge in order" for a boring evening at the Larins'. Pechorin says the following: “I lied, but I wanted to defeat him. I have an innate passion to contradict; my whole life has been only a tribute to sad and unfortunate contradictions of heart or mind.
The tragedy of feeling one's own uselessness is deepened in both by an understanding of the uselessness of one's life. Pushkin bitterly exclaims about this:
But it's sad to think that in vain
We were given youth
What cheated on her all the time,
That she deceived us;
That our best wishes
That our fresh dreams
Decayed in rapid succession,
Like leaves in autumn rotten.
The hero of Lermontov seems to echo him: “My colorless youth passed in the struggle with myself and the world; Fearing ridicule, I buried my best qualities in the depths of my heart: they died there... Knowing well the light and springs of life, I became a moral cripple.
Pushkin's words about Onegin, when
Killing a friend in a duel
Having lived without a goal, without labor
Until the age of twenty-six
Languishing in the idleness of leisure.,
he "began wandering without a goal", can also be attributed to Pechorin, who also killed the former "friend", and his life continued "without a goal, without labor." Pechorin during the trip reflects: “Why did I live? For what purpose was I born?
Feeling "immense forces in his soul", but completely wasting them in vain, Pechorin is looking for death and finds it "from a random bullet on the roads of Persia." Onegin, at the age of twenty-six, was also "hopelessly tired of life." He exclaims:
Why am I not pierced by a bullet,
Why am I not a sickly old man?
Comparing the description of the life of the heroes, one can be convinced that Pechorin is a more active person with demonic features. “To be the cause of suffering and joy for someone, without having any positive right to do so - is this not the sweetest food of our pride?” - says the hero of Lermontov. As a person, Onegin remains a mystery to us. No wonder Pushkin characterizes him like this:
A sad and dangerous eccentric,
Creation of hell or heaven
This angel, this arrogant demon,
What is he? Is it an imitation
An insignificant ghost?
onegin image pechorin intelligentsia
Both Onegin and Pechorin are selfish, but thinking and suffering heroes. Despising the idle secular existence, they do not find ways and opportunities to freely, creatively resist it. In the tragic outcomes of the individual fates of Onegin and Pechorin, the tragedy of "superfluous people" shines through. The tragedy of the “superfluous person”, in whatever era he appears, is at the same time the tragedy of the society that gave birth to him.
(1 option)
"Eugene Onegin" and "A Hero of Our Time" are the main milestones in the development of Russian literature XIX V. These are the best works of two true geniuses of Russia: A.S. Pushkin and M.Yu. Lermontov. The novels amaze readers and literary critics not only with the grandiosity of the idea, but also with their innovation. It manifests itself primarily in the disclosure of the images of the two main characters. For the first time Pushkin wrote a realistic novel in verse. It was like a revolution. The poet was worried about his creation, realizing that not all people can
Appreciate a work that was ahead of its time. These experiences were not unfounded. Even many of Pushkin's friends could not understand the genius of the concept of the work.
M.Yu. Lermontov went even further in his creative quest. The novel he created was not realistic, like Pushkin's, but combined the features of two currents. And this brilliant work was not appreciated by critics and contemporaries.
First of all, the innovation of the two novels lies in the new characters for the literature of that time. Subsequently, this type was called "an extra person." This concept implies a romantic, then a realistic image of a young man, a nobleman, smart, educated and interesting, but far from real life, disappointed, inactive, alien to his contemporaries. The gallery of these characters opens with Onegin, followed by Pechorin.
The time of the appearance of such characters is the 1830s, a period of decline. After the Decembrist uprising and the accession of Nicholas I, a cruel, reactionary politician, the public life of Russia calmed down for a long time. A new social phenomenon appeared - young people who had everything except happiness and a sense of the significance of their personality. Their suffering and quest were embodied in novels about Onegin and Pechorin, the heroes of their time.
Despite the seeming dissimilarity of the two works, their plot is built in the same way: the hero goes through some kind of test, his character is revealed depending on the situation.
Undoubtedly, the main test for both Onegin and Pechorin is the test of love.
Onegin, like Pechorin, at the beginning of the novel appears as a conqueror of other people's hearts, "a fickle admirer of charming actresses." He was not interested in deep feelings, he did not seek love for life, to the grave, but only cynically sought the adoration of pretty girls, and, having achieved it, quickly abandoned them, not thinking about the suffering caused. It was his cure for boredom.
How early could he be hypocritical,
Hold hope, be jealous
disbelieve, make believe
To seem gloomy, to languish,
Be proud and obedient
Attentive or indifferent!
In the "science of tender passion" Onegin clearly succeeded.
So, Onegin is a life-burner. But then he meets Tatyana. He manages to easily conquer this provincial young lady. She does not shine with beauty, and her soul is darkness for a windmill. And Eugene here simply plays the role of a mentor, teaches the girl how to live. But, having returned from the journey, having experienced a moral upheaval and purification, he looks at Tatyana with different eyes. Onegin falls in love with her, completely loses his head, and not because Tatyana has changed (she remained the same in her soul), but because Evgeny himself has undergone profound changes, he has grown spiritually, has become worthy of Tatyana. But Onegin was late, she is married and will be "faithful to him for a century." And this is a clear illustration of the tragedy of the "superfluous person", his "miserable lot".
Pechorin repeats the fate of Onegin. He also wanders aimlessly through life, trying to find himself, also for some reason seeks the love of women, and then leaves them. Onegin sees that Tatyana has become his victim, but it's too late. Pechorin could also prevent the tragedy of Bela and Mary, but did not want to. He also played with the fate of Vera, but she turned out to be stronger than him - and here he is, crushed and humiliated, crying about lost happiness.
In the romantic "Hero of Our Time" there is no single female image. We recognize Tatyana's traits in Bela, and in Mary, and in Vera. And thus, the love of the hero is more multifaceted and expressive.
The attitude of the characters towards friendship is no less expressively described. Lermontov again lacks unambiguity, Lensky is embodied in Grushnitsky, and in Werner, and even in Maxim Maksimych. However, a comparison of Lensky and Grushnitsky suggests itself. Pechorin and Grushnitsky are also "nothing to do friends." Story line duels over trifles, passion for one beloved of another can also be traced in both works.
It is impossible not to mention moral quest Onegin and Pechorin, because they are both involuntarily alien to high society, to the society to which they should belong. Onegin travels in Russia, Pechorin in the Caucasus, both of them are trying to find the meaning and purpose of their existence in these travels. They drag women, make them suffer, shoot duels, break people's lives, without knowing why. In the end, their fate is unenviable.
Both Onegin and Pechorin are real "heroes of time". They are very similar to each other, and their tragedies are similar. In the whole world there is no shelter for them, they are destined to suffer all their lives and seek peace. Such is the fate of superfluous people.
(Option 2)
Probably, starting his novel, Lermontov thought that his main character would remind readers of the existence of Pushkin's Onegin. The undoubted similarity of the images of Eugene Onegin and Grigory Pechorin was noted by one of the first V. G. Belinsky. "Their dissimilarity among themselves is much less than the distance between Onega and Pechora ... Pechorin is the Onegin of our time," the critic wrote.
The lifetime of the characters is different. Onegin lived in the era of Decembrism, free-thinking, rebellions. Pechorin is the hero of the era of timelessness. Common to the great works of Pushkin and Lermontov is the depiction of the spiritual crisis of the noble intelligentsia. The best representatives of this class turned out to be dissatisfied with life, removed from social activities. They had no choice but to waste their strength aimlessly, turning into "superfluous people."
The formation of characters, the conditions for the education of Onegin and Pechorin, no doubt, are similar. These are people of the same circle. The similarity of the heroes lies in the fact that both of them have gone from agreement with society and themselves to the denial of light and deep dissatisfaction with life.
“But early on, his feelings cooled down,” Pushkin writes about Onegin, who “fell ill” with “Russian melancholy. Pechorin also very early “... despair was born, covered with courtesy and a good-natured smile.”
They were well-read and educated people, which put them above the rest of the young people of their circle. Education and natural curiosity of Onegin is found in his disputes with Lensky. One list of topics worth it:
Tribes of past treaties,
The fruits of science, good and evil,
And age-old prejudices
And fatal secrets of the coffin,
Fate and life...
Evidence of Onegin's high education is his extensive personal library. Pechorin, on the other hand, said this about himself: "I began to read, study - science was also tired." Possessing remarkable abilities, spiritual needs, both failed to realize themselves in life and squandered it for nothing.
In their youth, both heroes were fond of carefree secular life, both succeeded in the "science of tender passion", in the knowledge of "Russian young ladies". Pechorin says about himself: "... when I got to know a woman, I always unmistakably guessed whether she would love me ... I never became a slave to my beloved woman, on the contrary, I always acquired invincible power over their will and heart ... Is that why I never really I value ... "Neither the love of the beautiful Bela, nor the serious enthusiasm of the young Princess Mary could melt the coldness and rationality of Pechorin. It only brings misfortune to women.
The love of the inexperienced, naive Tatyana Larina also leaves Onegin indifferent at first. But later, our hero, at a new meeting with Tatyana, now a secular lady and a general, realizes that he has lost in the face of this extraordinary woman. Pechorin, it turns out, is not at all capable of a great feeling. In his opinion, "love is satiated pride."
Both Onegin and Pechorin value their freedom. Eugene writes in his letter to Tatyana:
Your hateful freedom
I didn't want to lose.
Pechorin bluntly declares: "... twenty times my life, I will even put my honor at stake, but I will not sell my freedom."
The indifference to people inherent in both, disappointment and boredom affect their attitude towards friendship. Onegin is friends with Lensky "there is nothing to do." And Pechorin says: “... I am not capable of friendship: of two friends, one is always the slave of the other, although often neither of them admits this to himself; I cannot be a slave, and commanding in this case is tedious work, because it is necessary along with this, to deceive ... "And he demonstrates this in his cold attitude towards Maxim Maksimych. The words of the old staff captain sound helplessly: "I have always said that there is no use in someone who forgets old friends! .."
Both Onegin and Pechorin, disappointed in the life around them, are critical of the empty and idle "secular mob". But Onegin is afraid of public opinion, accepting Lensky's challenge to a duel. Pechorin, shooting with Grushnitsky, takes revenge on society for unfulfilled hopes. In essence, the same evil trick led the heroes to the duel. Onegin "swore Lensky to infuriate and even take revenge" for a boring evening at the Larins. Pechorin says the following: "I lied, but I wanted to defeat him. I have an innate passion to contradict, my whole life was only a tribute to sad and unsuccessful contradictions to the heart or mind ..."
The tragedy of feeling one's own uselessness is deepened in both by an understanding of the uselessness of one's life. Pushkin bitterly exclaims about this:
But it's sad to think that in vain
We were given youth
What cheated on her all the time,
That she deceived us
That our best wishes
That our fresh dreams
Decayed in rapid succession,
Like leaves in autumn rotten.
The hero of Lermontov seems to echo him: "My colorless youth passed in the struggle with myself and the light, my best qualities, fearing ridicule, I buried in the depths of my heart: they died there ... Having learned well the light and the springs of life, I became a moral cripple."
Pushkin's words about Onegin, when
Killing a friend in a duel
Having lived without a goal, without labor
Until the age of twenty-six
Languishing in the idleness of leisure,
he "began wandering without a goal," can also be attributed to Pechorin, who also killed his former "friend", and his life continued "without a goal, without labor." Pechorin, during the trip, reflects: "Why did I live? For what purpose was I born?"
Feeling "immense forces in his soul", but completely wasting them, Pechorin seeks death and finds it "from a random bullet on the roads of Persia." Onegin, at the age of twenty-six, was also "hopelessly tired of life." He exclaims:
Why am I not pierced by a bullet,
Why am I not a sickly old man? ..
Comparing the description of the life of the heroes, one can be convinced that Pechorin is a more active person with demonic features. "To be the cause of suffering and joy for someone, without having any positive right to do so - is this not the sweetest food of our pride?" - says the hero of Lermontov. As a person, Onegin remains a mystery to us. No wonder Pushkin characterizes him like this:
A sad and dangerous eccentric,
Creation of hell or heaven
This angel, this arrogant demon,
What is he? Is it an imitation
An insignificant ghost?
Both Onegin and Pechorin are selfish, but thinking and suffering heroes. Despising the idle secular existence, they do not find ways and opportunities to freely, creatively resist it. In the tragic outcomes of the individual fates of Onegin and Pechorin, the tragedy of "superfluous people" shines through. The tragedy of the "superfluous man", in whatever era he appears, is at the same time the tragedy of the society that gave birth to him.
Sadly, I look at our generation!
His future is either empty or dark,
Meanwhile, under the burden of knowledge and doubt,
It will grow old in inaction.
M.Yu.Lermontov
In the novels of A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin" and M.Yu. Lermontov "A Hero of Our Time" the dramatic fate of typical representatives of the noble intelligentsia of the first half of the 19th century is shown. The main characters of these works, Eugene Onegin and Grigory Pechorin, belong to the type of "superfluous people" in Russia, who, not finding the use of 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 - the fourteenth of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five years, the uprising of the Decembrists.
Onegin lives in the twenties of the XIX 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 XIX century. This period was marked by a violent political reaction that followed the speech of the Decembrists on Senate Square. Onegin could still go to the Decembrists, thus gaining a purpose in life and giving meaning to his existence. Pechorin is already deprived of such an opportunity. His position is much more tragic than that of Pushkin's hero.
What is the similarity between Onegin and Pechorin?
Both of them are representatives of the metropolitan aristocracy, received a good upbringing and education, their intellectual level is higher than 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, malice reign in the world. Therefore, Onegin and Pechorin begin to suffer from boredom and melancholy.
To satisfy his spiritual needs, to dispel boredom, Onegin tries to write, but "he was sick of hard work," reading books also does not take him long.
And Pechorin quickly gets tired 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 whistle of bullets very quickly. Love adventures also bored Lermontov's hero. This manifested itself in his attitude towards Bela and Mary. Having achieved their love, he loses interest in them.
characteristic feature Onegin and Pechorin is their selfishness. Heroes do not take into account the opinions and feelings of other people.
Onegin rejects Tatyana's love, not wanting to lose his freedom. A petty desire to annoy Lensky leads to the murder of a friend.
Pechorin, on the other hand, brings misfortune to almost everyone he meets: he kills Grushnitsky, destroys the lives of Bela, Mary, Vera, upsets Maxim Maksimych to the core. He seeks the love of women solely out of a desire to entertain himself, dispel boredom, and then cool off 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 about themselves. Onegin, tormented by remorse, cannot remain where the crime has been committed. He is forced to leave the calm village life and roam the world. Pechorin admits that in his life he 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 brings no relief to him or anyone else. Such behavior makes Pechorin, as he described himself, "a moral cripple."
Onegin and Pechorin are observant, well versed in people. They are subtle psychologists. Onegin, at the very first meeting, singled out Tatyana among other women, and from all the local nobility he got along only with Vladimir Lensky. Pechorin also correctly judges the people he meets on his way. The characteristics given to them are accurate and marks. He perfectly knows the psychology of women, can easily predict their actions and uses this to win their love.
But both characters are capable of deep feelings. Onegin, realizing that he is in love with Tatyana, is ready for 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 "superfluous people".
Despite the similarity of characters 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 towards Tatyana, does not want to take advantage of her inexperience. Pechorin, on the other hand, appears before us as an immoral person, 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 fate of other people.
The heroes also have a different attitude to the duel.
The day before, Onegin is fast asleep, not taking the upcoming duel seriously. And after the murder of Lensky, he is seized with horror, remorse begins to torment him.
Pechorin, on the other hand, takes the issue of the duel seriously, carefully choosing the place of the duel. Before the duel, the hero of Lermontov does not sleep and reflects on questions that any person sooner or later 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 area.
Onegin and Pechorin are deeply disappointed in life, tired of the emptiness of secular society, rejecting 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 own path in life, his vocation and destiny. He thinks about the goal in life, feeling in his soul "immense forces." Unfortunately, all his energy only brings misfortune to the people he encounters. This is the tragedy of Pechorin's life.
Depicting the fate of their heroes, typical of their generation, Pushkin and Lermontov protest against a society that deprives people of a goal in life, forces them to waste their strength for nothing, and does not allow them to find application for their mind and abilities. This society gives rise to "superfluous people" who are not able to find love, friendship, or happiness. The historical significance of the novels "Eugene Onegin" and "A Hero of Our Time" lies in the exposure of this society.
