A Hero of Our Time

The Russian classic Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov continues the theme of the superfluous man, begun by Pushkin. The charismatic handsome Grigory Pechorin is disillusioned with life. High society has corrupted him; he finds no pleasure in simple human joys anymore. The... hero tries to fill his existence with some meaning. But these attempts cause suffering to those around him. His love for the Circassian beauty Bela destroys her family. His interference in the life of a quiet Cossack village creates turmoil. His unwillingness to communicate with an old friend inflicts a heavy emotional wound on that friend. Everything Pechorin touches ends up broken. He is aware of this and suffers even more. After reading the novel, you will see how the vices of society can destroy a person's character.