The female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time": composition

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The work of the great Russian writer and poet M. Yu. Lermontov left a tangible mark on the history of world literature. The study of the images he created in his poems and novels is included in the system of planned familiarization not only for schoolchildren, but also for students of many higher educational institutions. “The female image in the novel “A Hero of Our Time”” is the theme of one of the essays for high school students.

Lermontov - poet or prose writer

The inner creative world of the writer is so multifaceted that it is impossible to say exactly which genre was more typical for him. There are frankly lyrical works, there are romantic ones, there are heavy dramatic opuses associated with his participation in hostilities in the Caucasus.

Here it is worth noting that Lermontov was still more of a poet than a prose writer. After all, for his own, albeit short, but enoughproductive creative life he wrote hundreds of poems and poems. But the prose is quite small, which undoubtedly makes it even more attractive to readers.

Women and honor

An interesting fact is that Lermontov, despite the certain drama of his works, was able to surprisingly subtly write out gentle and timid, and sometimes bold and determined young ladies in them. The female image in the novel A Hero of Our Time, for example, is the character of not one, but several girls, and they are all very different.

According to the essays and memoirs of contemporaries, the poet loved women, moreover, he was inspired by them to create his works. The reverent attitude towards women was emphasized primarily in matters of honor. One mispronounced word addressed to even an unfamiliar lady could cause a duel. Lermontov was very quick-tempered, but meanwhile quick-witted, which his friends often used to somehow reason with the poet during the next conflict. However, duels still happened. One of them ended with the death of the poet.

Woman is a muse

But women were not only the reason for the poet's quarrels with the outside world. They endowed him with creative powers to create new works. Therefore, all the female images described by Lermontov are very harmonious in nature. The female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time" is not an accident, and not a whim of M. Yu. Lermontov. After all, we can rightly say that not one of the problems of that (and even of the present time) is complete without the participation ofthe fair sex.

Wild Bela

If we talk about what a female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time" is, then first of all it should be understood that this is a composite definition. Three girls became the heroines of the novel - Bela, Princess Mary and Vera. The most curious thing is that the images are written out very carefully and original, taking into account the origin of the girls, upbringing and even nationality.

Bela is a young native of the Caucasus. She struck the main character Pechorin with her spontaneity and innocence. Some wildness of the girl's character is quite consistent with the customs of her homeland. Yes, and it seems savagery only to enlightened St. Petersburg residents. Bela is honest and straightforward.

Pechorin takes real pleasure in fighting for her. In his opinion, Bela has everything that experienced secular lionesses lack so much. However, as soon as Pechorin achieves love, he realizes that he is somewhat deceived in his aspirations. It turns out that spontaneity and unusualness are also annoying. Having received what he wants, the main character concludes that the love of a savage, in principle, is no different from the love of women he knows. However, this approach is characteristic of Pechorin's personality. He tends to be very quickly disappointed in everything and look for new sensations. So, the first female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time" - Bela - is the firmness, honesty, purity of the girl's soul.

Princess Mary

Completely differentlooks like the image of Princess Mary Ligovskaya. Even before meeting the girl, Pechorin heard rather ironic statements about her from another character in the novel, Grushnitsky. Basically, they boiled down to some disregard for the provincial society of Pyatigorsk. The small world of the county town makes Pechorin laugh. But he accepts the rules of the game of the local high society in order to have fun with another intrigue, this time with the princess.

Actually, the next female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time" - Mary - is a young, well-bred, flirtatious and slightly frivolous young lady. Among other things, the princess is sure that the society in which she is located is the highest and noblest. Therefore, it is worth adhering to the laws adopted in it.

This cannot but evoke the irony of Grushnitsky and Pechorin. They both become involved in an intrigue to win Mary's heart. However, for Pechorin this is another entertainment, which cannot be said about Grushnitsky. In addition, for the main character, visiting the Ligovskys is an occasion to see another heroine of the novel - Vera.

Faith

This is perhaps the main female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time". Vera is a young lady, a relative of the princess by her husband, who also visits the Ligovskys. Previously, Pechorin had a close relationship with her.

It was Vera who managed to understand Pechorin, to accept him without reservations as he is. Pechorin cannot forget the girl. By chance meeting her, he realizes that the feelings still remain. But, describing the female image in the novel "The Hero of Ourtime "(the essay cannot do without some presentation of the content), one should not forget about the egoism of the main character, which manifests itself in relation to Vera, who successfully married a rich man. If in the case of Bela and Mary Pechorin is just having fun, then in intrigue with Vera, his pride is hurt. He cannot accept the fact that, as it seems to him, his woman belongs to another.

Pechorin's male egoism

What is he - the main female image in the novel "A Hero of Our Time"? A summary of Vera's relationship with Pechorin can be conveyed in a few phrases. The lady does not immediately understand Pechorin's true aspirations and calmly explains to him as a close person that her marriage is a commercial transaction necessary to ensure the future of her son.

Pechorin uses Vera's frankness and escalates the situation. He specifically renders signs of attention to Mary in the hope of arousing jealousy in the lady of the heart. He succeeds. Faith in despair. She realizes that old feelings again overwhelm her. But she has a husband to whom she is devoted in her own way. Pechorin understands the situation and sincerely enjoys his power over the girl.

The Moral Purity of Faith

In the end, Vera decides to confess everything to her husband. She tells him about her past relationship with Pechorin and about her rekindled feelings. Without thinking twice, the husband decides to leave. Pechorin gives chase, but his attempt is in vain. He cries from a sense of loss and evil selfishness.

"Femaleimage in the novel "A Hero of Our Time" "is a complex essay. After all, it is necessary to compare all three heroines, to give them an assessment. The image of Vera is written out by Lermontov most carefully. There is vice, and jealousy, and moral purity at the same time. For Pechorin, this is, by his own definition, the ideal woman. But for Vera, relations with Pechorin are a moral and spiritual dead end. However, she has the courage to honestly tell her husband about everything and leave, leaving the protagonist to deal with the fruits of his intrigues and selfishness on his own.