From childhood, Mikhail Lermontov dreamed of linking his fate with the army. He constantly admired the exploits of fathers and grandfathers who took part in the Patriotic War of 1812 and he himself wanted to accomplish something unusual, noble, to serve for the good of the motherland. That is why the poet left the university and entered the school of cavalry junkers. He was constantly attracted to military operations in the Caucasus; in 1832, Mikhail Yuryevich enlisted in the Guards Regiment with the rank of cornet.
Prerequisites for writing a poem
M. Lermontov “Valerik” wrote in 1840 during a bloody battle on the river of the same name. Those around him characterized the poet as an unbalanced and wayward young man, although close friends argued the opposite. Most likely, the writer deliberately behaved provocatively, challenged society in order to get into exile in the Caucasus - this is what analysis says. Lermontov's “Valerik” accurately describes the battle in which the author participated. Mikhail Yuryevich got into the army in 1837, but he managed to see a real battle only in the summer of 1840.
The poem is written in the epistolary genre to express feelings, thoughts, memories or observations. It was intended for the beloved poet - Varvara Lopukhina. Lermontov loved her until his death, but constantly repelled her, because he considered himself unworthy of her love. At that time, the writer kept a journal of military operations of General Galafeev, an interesting fact is that his text is the basis of a poem that describes the battle, but only its brief content.
Lermontov "Valerik" - a parallel between social life and war
The work begins as a love message. The author writes a letter from the war to the girl, but not with a declaration of love, but simply with a description of his military everyday life. Mikhail Yuryevich intentionally or unconsciously tried to hurt Varvara, prick her self-esteem, push him away. He believes that there is no spiritual closeness between them and the tragic events that happened in the Caucasus are to blame. After the deaths, the poet perceives love as childishness - analysis also speaks of this.
Lermontov's “Valerik” in the second part describes directly military operations. Here the author in all colors paints the battle and gives vent to his feelings. Of course, stories about wounded and dead friends, dying commanders are not intended for a young girl, a socialite, dreaming of going to the theater or to a ball. The poet specifically in his work compares two worlds - this is shown by analysis. "Valerik" Lermontov highlighted the meaninglessness of the life of secular ladies who care only about clothes and gentlemen. At the same time, he showed the fate of ordinary soldiers dying for high ideals.
In the final third part of the work, the author again addresses the lover. Although disguised, Mikhail Yuryevich reproaches Lopukhina for the fact that for her a trip to the Caucasus is perceived as an exciting journey,
secular society simply cannot understand all the hardships of war - this is what analysis shows. "Valerik" Lermontov speaks of the meaninglessness of human victims. The poet, who had been striving to go to war all his life, only in a bloody battle realized that there was no point in all this and there was no justification for the death of a person.