In the novel A Hero of Our Time, Pechorin is created as an honorable man who is thought to be the victim of his own unfortunate surroundings that hinder his ability to be portrayed as honorable. Despite Pechorin’s nonchalant attitude and lack of interest in his life, Pechorin’s “heroism,” intelligence, and honesty can still be illustrated as honorable. Pechorin’s qualities stress the values the Russian generation in the 19th century deemed crucial in a “hero” or an honorable man. However, throughout the novel, it is evident that Pechorin’s intent is never to become a hero.
Therefore, Lermontov characterizes Pechorin as an honorable man who encompasses the honorable traits that the Russian population values to question whether all honorable actions are established from honest virtues and views. In Princess Mary, Pechorin engages in a duel with Grushnitsky which portrays Pechorin’s courage that is innate in an honorable man. However, Pechorin’s courage does not come from honest valor, but his desire to prove the existence of fate. Due to Grushnitsky’s jealousy and provocation of Pechorin, Grushnitsky and Pechorin eventually face each other in a fatal duel.
Pechorin gives Grushnitsky a chance to “publicly retract his slander” (149) and during the duel “gives Grushnitsky every advantage. ” (150) His only condition is to keep his affair secret as he does not want Doctor Werner “being held responsible. ” Unlike Grushintsky who is worried about his own death, Pechorin worries about his associates before he worries about himself. His devotion to his Doctor Werner is the epitome of an honorable man who values friendship. Pechorin’s strength to forgive Grushnitsky who is constantly filled with anger and hatred for Pechorin delineates Pechorin’s audacity.
Even though Grushnitsky slanders him, Pechorin magnanimously tries to give him a chance to apologize. Pechorin’s innate character makes him fear death, but his honorable traits allow Pechorin to let Grushnitsky to shoot first. Unfortunately, Pechorin’s yearning for a confirmation of “fate” (160) drives his honorable traits instead of his will to act upon good intent. Pechorin’s forgiving nature and audacity compared to Grushnitsky’s cowardice further emphasizes Pechorin’s honorable traits, but his want to test fate drives these traits.
Pechorin also proves to be an honorable man in the Fatalist when he risks his life to capture the Cossack to question the presence of fate in life. Even though, the others want to shoot the Cossack, Pechorin insists on “taking him alive. ” (172) Pechorin only attempts to capture the Cossack to “test [his] fate” (172) like Vulich. Pechorin’s intelligence in implementing his plan makes the act successful. Pechorin risks his life when he tries to capture the Cossack. However, Pechorin’s nonchalant bravery deters any anxiety from stopping him.
In the pressure filled situation, Pechorin’s ability to cleverly come up with a plan to capture the Cossack is exemplary. His quick thinking cleverness is an honorable trait of his because it is practical for him in many situations. Pechorin’s intelligence does not need recognition solely because it is constructive, but his intelligence is honorable because it is more sophisticated. While other characters like Maxim do “not care for metaphysical discussions,” (174) Pechorin is intelligent enough to realize that fate exists every moment.His intelligence is envious and perhaps honorable to the other characters because he is able to comprehend complicated issues that do not occur to other people.
Nevertheless, Pechorin’s curiosity and over- obsessive interest in fate instigates these honorable qualities by instilling a nonchalance that comes from the belief that fate will happen anyway. Another one of Pechorin’s honorable traits, honesty, is portrayed in Princess Mary when Pechorin does the honorable feat by telling Mary he does not love her. So, she will be able to move on.However, even though this action will help her stop grieve for her lost love; it originates from Pechorin’s boredom of Princess Mary.
Pechorin’s actions towards Mary seemed artificial, but at the moment he spends time with her, he finds her “extremely pretty,” and he feels an attraction to her. (88) Moreover, while Princess Mary is in love with Pechorin, Pechorin does not ever say he loves her, rather he admits that he “does not love” (136) her. While Pechorin’s harsh words may seem malicious, the truth helps Princess Mary quickly realize that she does not have any hope with Pechorin. Pechorin’s harsh words help her overcome her love for him.
Pechorin does the honorable thing by relieving Mary from constantly worrying if Pechorin will love her or not. In addition, honesty is really honorable trait for Pechorin because every other character around him seems not to be honest. For example, Princess Mary is not honest to Grushnitsky about loving Pechorin, and leads Grushnitsky on until he is hopelessly in love with her. However, Pechorin’s honesty is not inherently good because he “never treasure[s]” women, (101) and constantly grows bored with them.
Pechorin’s admirable trait of honesty to Princess Mary is instilled in him due to his lack of interest with Princess Mary.Lermontov portrays Pechorin as an honorable man by revealing him as someone who has desirable and honorable qualities such as his honesty, courage, and intelligence. While Pechorin’s traits illustrate him as honorable, Pechorin’s honorable traits originate from indifference and belief of fate in his life. Ironically only to himself, Pechorin is not an “honorable man” because Pechorin does not realize that what he does may seem heroic to others.
Pechorin focuses on the malicious intent that he acts upon, and constantly thinks he is cruel and malicious.
