Antithesis term. Antithesis as an artistic device

In the novel, Lermontov portrayed a man of his time, for, according to the author, Pechorin is “a portrait, but not of one person: it is a portrait made up of the vices of our entire generation, in their full development” (preface to the novel). Thus, the author, drawing the main character, depicts the modern era, its content, its morals and values. The idea of ​​the novel is that Pechorin with all his talents (knowledge of life, energy, will, intelligence, observation, etc.) remains a “superfluous person”, since he does not share “neither general opinions nor passions” (A.S. .Pushkin. “Eugene Onegin”, 8, ХI) of his time. Ordinary life success(only career, money) do not interest him, and he does not see other (high and worthy) life goals around him.

Pechorin in the novel is characterized by the most different ways: through appearance, actions, thoughts, pictures of nature, through comparison with minor characters. In other words, the main character becomes the center of the novel, all other characters play a service role in relation to him, forming a kind of social background for him, on the one hand, and emphasizing his personal qualities, on the other hand.

The image of Grushnitsky is no exception in this sense, although in terms of significance in the novel it is comparable only to the image of Maxim Maksimovich. So, Grushnitsky belongs to the “water society” and, therefore, bears the general stamp of mediocrity and vulgarity. Pechorin met him in the active army, and then accidentally met him on the waters, where Grushnitsky was recovering from his wounded leg. Grushnitsky is only five years younger than the main character, and he has all the qualities young nobleman that time. He successfully pursues women and, thanks to his pleasant appearance, as well as his mysterious demeanor, is successful. He diligently spends his life, having fun at officer parties, playing cards, participating in duels. Following the general hobby, he even composes “funny epigrams.” It was the desire for romantic impressions, as Pechorin claims, that pushed Grushnitsky to enroll as a cadet in the active army, where he was “reputed as an excellent brave man.” In other words, Grushnitsky begins life in much the same way as many young nobles of his time. It can be assumed that Pechorin five or six years ago was the same young cadet. But this is where the similarity between the protagonist and the “romantic cadet” ends.

Already on the first pages of “Princess Mary” Pechorin gives a characterization of Grushnitsky, in which one can see fundamental differences between two heroes. Junker is an extremely proud person; he is not interested in anything except himself and your own feelings. “I could never argue with him,” notes Pechorin. “He doesn’t answer your objections, he doesn’t listen to you.” Grigory Alexandrovich, of course, is also not devoid of pride, which he honestly admits to himself in his diary, but this feeling does not prevent him from carefully and successfully studying the people around him. His adventures described in the novel prove this: he easily falls in love with a variety of girls (mountain girl Bela, socialite Mary), deftly plays the cherished desires Azamat forces the boy to kidnap Bela for the wonderful horse.

Grushnitsky is not very smart. “His epigrams... are never sharp and evil,” notes Pechorin. Main character, on the contrary, is a man of remarkable intelligence, this is evident from his deep judgments about those around him (apt characteristics of Werner, Grushnitsky, Mary, Vera), from original thoughts about friendship, love, and the nature of people. It's safe to say that he educated person, as evidenced by his citation of A.S. Griboyedov and A.S. Pushkin, knowledge of philosophy (disputes with Werner), history (before the duel he recalls an anecdote about Julius Caesar), literature (the night before the duel he reads W. Scott’s novel “The Scottish Puritans”),

Grushnitsky is quite cowardly man, who “in action waves his saber, shouts and rushes forward, closing his eyes.” Pechorin is an intelligently brave man. When he decided to disarm the murderer Vulich, he prepared well and thought through his actions: through the crack of the shutter he carefully examined the drunken Cossack and his weapon, and ordered the captain to distract the drunken man’s attention with conversation. Only after this Pechorin chose an opportune moment and, tearing off the shutter, jumped into the hut. Careful preparations do not detract from Pechorin’s courage and courage shown in this episode.

In Grushnitsky’s soul, as the protagonist remarks, “there are many good qualities.” In themselves, pride, limited intelligence and cowardice are not terrible vices, for these qualities are inherent in very many ordinary people. But, combined together in one character, they make the cadet very unpleasant and even dangerous in critical situations. Offended pride (Mary chose Pechorin over him) pushes Grushnitsky to meanness: he spreads gossip about the princess, not caring at all about her good name. Before the duel, he agrees to another meanness: the dragoon captain, with the knowledge of Grushnitsky, loads only his pistol, and Grushnitsky, having received the right to the first shot, shoots at an unarmed man.

In the character of Pechorin, when compared with Grushnitsky, one finds: intelligence, courage, life experience, will, nobility. The main character not only defends the honor of Princess Mary in a duel, but also worthily interrupts love affair, which, however, he himself started out of boredom. He did not want to further deceive the girl in love, much less take advantage of her. sincere feeling. According to Belinsky, both Pechorin is a portrait of his generation, and Grushnitsky is “a representative of a whole class of people, a household name.” This is a petty person, not remarkable for anything except his unfounded claims to exclusivity. Next to him, the superiority of Pechorin’s personality emerges more clearly. However, Lermontov is not limited to depicting the personal confrontation between two heroes; it is fundamentally important that the story presents a social opposition between Grushnitsky and Pechorin.

Firstly, the main character despises secular society with his petty interests, selfishness, dirty intrigues. (All these negative traits are demonstrated by representatives of the “water society.” The captain of the dragoon, for example, disliked Pechorin over a trifle. The main character prevented the affair that the “valiant cavalryman” had planned against Mary: at the ball she carelessly pushed the fat lady, the captain’s lady.) Grushnitsky, unlike the main character, dreams of penetrating secular society, tries to get acquainted with aristocrats, and acquires external secular manners.

Secondly, Pechorin sincerely experiences his disappointment in life, the lack of worthy goals, loneliness and uselessness, as evidenced by his diary entries(conclusion to “Taman”, philosophical discussions in “Fatalist”), Special attention deserve his thought on the eve of the duel. The image of a deeply unhappy person appears before the readers: his aimless life has already tired him and he lives by inertia, without interest, without hope. His love did not bring happiness to anyone; he will die and no one will regret him; There is not a single person on earth who would understand Pechorin completely: “Some will say: he was a kind fellow, others - a scoundrel. Both will be false.” Grushnitsky plays the role of an unrecognized and disappointed hero. For him, disappointment is fashion and the opportunity to “get interested.” The pose, panache, and false pathos in the cadet are brought to the point of ridiculousness: according to Pechorin, he “drapes himself in extraordinary feelings, sublime passions and exceptional suffering.”

In conclusion, it should be said that Lermontov, portraying the hero of his time, masterfully uses the technique of opposition. In “Bel” and “Maxim Maksimovich” Pechorin is depicted in comparison with the “good staff captain”, in “Fatalist” - with Vulich, in “Princess Mary” - with Grushnitsky.

A psychological, intellectual, social gap is discovered between the main character and the cadet, making them irreconcilable enemies. This conflict can only be resolved by a duel in six steps. No wonder last words Grushnitsky, which he throws in Pechorin’s face, become: “Shoot! I despise myself, and I hate you. (...) There is no place on earth for the two of us...".

Maxim Maksimovich differs from Pechorin in age, character, education, social status. They both see this difference very well, which, however, does not prevent them from liking each other. The external differences between Pechorin and Grushnitsky are not so significant: they are almost the same age, hereditary nobles, belong to the same social circle. At the same time, the internal contrast-rivalry between Pechorin and Grushnitsky is indicated in the novel more sharply and definitely than the differences between Pechorin and Maxim Maximovich.

1. Grigory Pechorin Maxim Maksimych Age Young, at the time of his arrival in the Caucasus he was about 25 years old Almost retired Military rank Officer of the Russian Imperial Army. Staff Captain...
2. A gallery of images of “extra people”, started Pushkin's Onegin, continues Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin, the hero of M. Yu. Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time.” In his image the author draws...
3. Petr Grinev Alexey Shvabrin Appearance Young, handsome, not lacking in masculinity. Embodies the features of a simple Russian person: Young, stately, not tall, with a dark, ugly,...
4. Zhilin Kostylin Place of service Caucasus Caucasus Military rank Officer Officer Status Nobleman from an impoverished family Nobleman. With money, pampered. Appearance: Small in stature, but daring. Dense...
5. Nikolay Almazov Verochka Almazova Character Traits Gentle, calm, patient, affectionate, restrained, strong. Characteristics Helpless, passive, wrinkles his forehead and spreads his arms in amazement, overly ambitious. Accurate...

“Hero of Our Time” M.Yu. Lermontov came out separate publication In St. Petersburg in the spring of 1940. The novel has become one of the extraordinary phenomena in Russian literature. This book has been the subject of numerous debates and studies for over a century and a half, and has not lost any of its vital relevance even today. Belinsky wrote about it: “Here is a book that is destined to never grow old, because, at its very birth, it was injected living water poetry."

The main character of the novel, Pechorin, lived in the thirties of the nineteenth century. This time can be characterized as the years of gloomy reaction that came after the defeat of the Decembrist uprising of 1825. At this time, a man of progressive thought could not find an application for his powers. Disbelief, doubt, denial have become features of consciousness younger generation. They rejected the ideals of their fathers from the cradle, and at the same time they doubted moral values as such. That's why V.G. Belinsky said that “Pechorin suffers deeply,” finding no use for the immense powers of his soul.

Creating “A Hero of Our Time,” Lermontov depicted life as it really was. And he found new ones artistic means, which neither Russian nor Western literature has yet known and which delight us to this day with the combination of a free and broad depiction of faces and characters with the ability to show them objectively, “building” them, revealing one character through the perceptions of another.

Let's take a closer look at the two heroes of the novel - Pechorin and Grushnitsky.

Pechorin was an aristocrat by birth and received a secular upbringing. Having left the care of his relatives, he “went into big light” and “began to enjoy wildly all the pleasures.” He soon became disgusted with the frivolous life of an aristocrat and became bored with reading books. After the “notorious story in St. Petersburg,” Pechorin was exiled to the Caucasus. Drawing the appearance of his hero, the author with a few strokes indicates not his aristocratic origin: “pale”, “noble forehead”, “small aristocratic hand”, “dazzlingly clean linen”. Pechorin is a physically strong and resilient person. He is endowed with an extraordinary mind, critically assessing the world. He reflects on the problems of good and evil, love and friendship, on the meaning human life. In the assessment of his contemporaries, he is self-critical: “We are no longer capable of great sacrifices, either for the good of humanity, or even for our own happiness.” He has a great understanding of people, is not satisfied with the sleepy life of the “water society” and gives destructive characteristics to the capital’s aristocrats. Most fully and deeply inner world Pechorin is revealed in the story “Princess Mary”, where his meeting with Grushnitsky takes place.

Grushnitsky is a cadet, he is the most ordinary young man, dreaming of love, “stars” on his uniform. Making an impact is his passion. In a new officer's uniform, dressed up, smelling of perfume, he goes to Mary. He is mediocrity, he has one weakness that is quite forgivable at his age - “draping himself into extraordinary feelings”, “passion for declaiming”. He seems to be striving to play the role of a disappointed hero, fashionable at that time, “a creature doomed to some kind of secret suffering.” Grushnitsky is a completely successful parody of Pechorin. That is why the young cadet is so unpleasant to him.

With his pitiful behavior, Grushnitsky, on the one hand, emphasizes the nobility of Pechorin, and on the other, as if erasing any differences between them. After all, Pechorin himself spied on him and Princess Mary, which, of course, was not a noble act. And he never loved the princess, but simply used her gullibility and love to fight Grushnitsky.

Grushnitsky, as a narrow-minded person, at first does not understand Pechorin’s attitude towards him. Grushnitsky seems to himself to be a self-confident, very insightful and significant person: “I feel sorry for you, Pechorin,” he says condescendingly. But events are developing imperceptibly according to Pechorin’s plans. And now the cadet, overwhelmed by passion, jealousy and indignation, appears before us in a different light. He turns out to be not so harmless, capable of revenge, dishonesty and meanness. Someone who just recently played at being noble is today capable of shooting at an unarmed person. The duel scene reveals the essence of Grushnitsky, shoot, I despise myself, and I hate you. If you don’t kill me, I’ll stab you at night from around the corner. There is no place for the two of us on earth... Grushnitsky rejects reconciliation Pechorin shoots him in cold blood. The situation becomes irreversible. Grushnitsky dies after drinking the cup of shame, repentance and hatred to the end.

On the eve of the duel, remembering his life, Pechorin thinks about the question: why did he live? for what purpose was he born? And then he himself answers: “Oh, it’s true, she existed, and, it’s true, I had a high purpose, because I feel immense strength in my soul.” And then Pechorin realizes that he has long been playing “the role of an ax in the hands of fate.” “The immense powers of the soul” - and small, unworthy actions of Pechorin; he strives to “love the whole world” - and brings people only evil and misfortune; the presence of noble, high aspirations - and small feelings that dominate the soul; a thirst for the fullness of life - and complete hopelessness, awareness of one’s doom. Pechorin is lonely, his situation is tragic, he really “ extra person" Lermontov called Pechorin “a hero of his time,” thereby protesting against the romanticism of the idealized idea of ​​a contemporary, portraying the image of Grushnitsky as a parody of romanticism. For the author, a hero is not a role model, but a portrait made up of the vices of an entire generation in their full development.

So, the image of Grushnitsky helps to reveal the main thing in central hero novel. Grushnitsky - false mirror Pechorin - highlights the truth and significance of the experiences of this “suffering egoist”, the depth and exclusivity of his nature. But in the situation with Grushnitsky, the whole danger lurking in the depths of this human type is revealed with particular force. destructive force, which is embedded in the individualistic philosophy inherent in romanticism. Lermontov did not seek to pass a moral verdict. He's only with enormous power showed all the abysses human soul devoid of faith, filled with skepticism and disappointment. Pechorinism was a typical disease of the time. And wasn’t it about these people that the generation of the 30s of the last century said M.Yu. Lermontov in the famous Duma:

“... We will pass over the world without noise or a trace, leaving not a fertile thought for the centuries, not for the geniuses of the work that has begun.”

Two bright characters Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov's novel “A Hero of Our Time” is the cadet Grushnitsky and the officer Grigory Pechorin.

Our heroes are young men. Grigory Pechorin in the novel is about twenty-five, and Grushnitsky looked older than his years. He was given twenty-five years old, but in fact he was only twenty-first.

Both heroes are young and handsome men. Grushnitsky is dark and black-haired, and he is well built. And Pechorina is told that he is very handsome.

Grushnitsky has a very expressive face, while Pechorin’s face expresses absolutely nothing. Even when he lay in a fever, it could not be determined by the expression on his face.

Grushnitsky is a cadet who later becomes an officer. Pechorin is an officer (ensign) who used to be a cadet. Moreover, Pechorin himself believes that the best part There was precisely that period in his life when he held the rank of cadet.

Both characters are nobles. But Pechorin is rich, he is called the St. Petersburg winner, and Grushnitsky is not very rich and comes from the provinces, his father has his own village.

Pechorin has an extraordinary mind, while Grushnitsky cannot be called smart. Pechorin is restrained in the manifestation of his feelings and passions, and Grushnitsky, on the contrary, is uncontrollable in the manifestation of his emotions.

If Pechorin is very brave man and knows how to take responsibility for his actions and actions, then Grushnitsky in the work manifests himself as a cowardly little man.

Pechorin does not like to talk much; in conversation he is mostly silent. In his opinion, being silent is not as tiring as talking. In addition, this deprives you of the opportunity to spill the beans and inadvertently give away your or someone else’s secret. And this character really doesn’t like to reveal his secrets. And for him, silence in a conversation is a great opportunity to find out someone’s secret. Grushnitsky, on the contrary, loves to cook. He speaks at length and tastefully, using pre-prepared long and ornate phrases in his speech. Moreover, he shares his secrets with almost everyone.

Pechorin is very arrogant and often speaks impudently to people. And Grushnitsky is a modest guy, he feels awkward if he has to ask for it, even if this is customary among people living in the area.

Pechorin is very insightful, he sees people through and through and knows them. Grushnitsky does not know people, does not know how to find an approach to them and touch the secret strings of their souls.

The heroes have a lot of different things, but they also have a lot in common. They are both nobles, both well-bred and received a decent education. They are both military and both serve in the Caucasus. As for their character, both heroes are proud, proud and vengeful.

Grushnitsky absorbed everything negative qualities Pechorin, without taking anything from the main character of the novel positive traits character. Therefore, Grushnitsky sets off Pechorin very favorably, because in comparison with Grushnitsky, Pechorin seems much better than he really is.

Comparative characteristics of Grushnitsky and Pechorin

In Lermontov’s work “A Hero of Our Time,” or rather, in one of its parts, there are two heroes, one of whom is the most important, and exists throughout the entire novel. This person is Pechorin.

Grigory Pechorin is a person who is not subject to anyone. No one was able to figure out this man, or understand him completely. After all, Pechorin is very original and mysterious, since he never really had friends and did not share his innermost thoughts with anyone.

Pechorin never fell in love and did not truly love. He destroyed all those who did not risk loving him. He used people very successfully, and often despised them, since by his nature he was arrogant and even arrogant. But at the same time, he was handsome, and there was a sense of breed in him, something that distinguished him from other people.

Pechorin is a man who does not need the shackles of marriage, as he called it. He always wanted to remain free in his actions. He also did not tolerate boasting in people, as he considered it the highest stupidity and worthlessness. That is why he did not tolerate Grushnitsky, who had these qualities in abundance. Pechorin is the one who remained in the hearts of many as someone clearly unusual, cold, even a little arrogant, and at the same time so mysterious and so brave. Not everyone liked this character, but still this personality is worthy of admiration to some extent.

Grushnitsky is precisely the type of person who despises everyone who is below him, and respects or simply flatters everyone who is even slightly higher in position and rank than him, while he scolds and envyes them behind his back. He did not see Pechorin as superior to himself, although somewhere on a subconscious level he was wary of him, because he understood that Pechorin could not possibly be inferior to him in everything, although he did not want to believe that he was superior. That is why he hated Pechorin, although outwardly they had a very friendly relationship.

Grushnitsky is a person who loves to brag and show himself to everyone - how good, smart and handsome he is. This is exactly what let him down - excessive pride never leads to good ending. He did not see himself from the outside, and did not know how to think things through too far ahead. And he never paid attention to others, especially to their feelings. Although he was very handsome, and even an officer, he could only in the first impression interest him with his appearance and shoulder straps, as well as his dapperness, but nothing more. When, like Pechorin, he interested everyone from the moment they met and beyond.

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A comparative description of Pechorin and Grushnitsky in the novel “Hero of Our Time” will help the reader understand that, despite external resemblance the characters between them have little in common and they are completely different personalities, but this makes watching their actions throughout the entire work even more interesting.

Childhood and education

Grushnitsky noble origin. A guy from the people. Provincial. His parents are the most ordinary people. Having grown up in the village, he always strived to leave his native place in order to achieve something in life, and not to vegetate in the wilderness out of boredom. Received a good education. Romantic by nature.

Appearance

Grushnitsky 20 years old. Black-haired. The skin is dark. Well built. Whiskered. Facial features are expressive. Loves to make an impression. Gives great importance appearance.

Character

• reasonable. Self-assured;
• has a great understanding of people and relationships;
• has analytical warehouse mind;
• cynic. Witty and sarcastic. Manipulates people for his own purposes;
• proud;
• restrained in showing emotions;
• secretive;
• makes good use of its advantages.

• romantic;
• emotional;
• does not know how to manipulate people;
• likes to pretend to be a sufferer. Tends to dramatize everything;
• smart;
• selfish by nature;
• spiteful and envious;
• strives to please everyone;
• capable of betrayal.

The role of Pechorin and Grushnitsky in society

Grushnitsky enjoys life in modern society. He likes social evenings, where he has the opportunity to show himself and feel like one of them. For him, this lifestyle is acceptable. He strove for it with all his soul, dreaming about it since childhood.

They are similar to each other, but at the same time too different. Grushnitsky is a pathetic parody of Pechorin. In an effort to keep up with Pechorin, he is ridiculous and absurd. The character of Grushnitsky revealed in Pechorin the depth of his soul, the basic qualities of nature.