“The Hero of Our Time” is the first psychological novel in our country in which Lermontov reveals his inner world to readers by analyzing the actions and thoughts of the protagonist. But, despite this, the characterization of Pechorin is not an easy task. The hero is ambiguous, like his actions, largely due to the fact that Lermontov created not a typical character, but a real, living person. Let's try to understand this person and understand him.
The portrait characterization of Pechorin contains a very interesting detail: "his eyes did not laugh when he laughed." We can see that the inner world of the hero is reflected even in his external description. Indeed, Pechorin never feels his whole life, in his own words, two people always coexist in him, one of whom acts, and the second judges him. He constantly analyzes his own actions, which is "observing the mature mind over oneself." Perhaps this is precisely what prevents the hero from living a full life and makes him cynical.
The most striking feature of Pechorin’s character is his egoism. His desire at all costs to arrange everything exactly as it occurred to him, and nothing else. By this, he resembles a stubborn child who does not retreat until he receives what he wants. And, being childishly naive, Pechorin never realizes in advance that people can suffer from his petty, selfish aspirations. He puts his whim above the rest and simply does not think about others: "I look at the suffering and joys of others only in relation to myself." Perhaps it is thanks to this line that the hero moves away from people and considers himself superior to them.
Characterization of Pechorin should contain another important fact. The hero feels the strength of his soul, feels that he was born for a higher goal, but instead of looking for it, he squanders himself on all sorts of little things and momentary aspirations. He constantly rushes about in search of entertainment, not knowing himself what he wants. So, in pursuit of petty joys, his life passes. Having no purpose in front of him, Pechorin spends himself on empty things that bring nothing but short moments of satisfaction.
Since the hero himself does not consider his life as something valuable, he begins to play with it. His desire to infuriate Grushnitsky or direct his gun at himself, as well as the fate test in the chapter “Fatalist” - all these are manifestations of painful curiosity generated by the boredom and inner emptiness of the hero. He does not think about the consequences of his actions, whether it be even his death or the death of another person. Pechorin is interested in observation and analysis, not in the future.
It is thanks to the hero’s introspection that the characterization of Pechorin can be completed, since he himself explains many of his actions. He studied himself well and perceives his every emotion as an object for observation. He sees himself as if from the outside, which brings him closer to the readers and allows us to evaluate Pechorin’s actions from his own point of view.
Here are the main points that should contain a brief description of Pechorin. In fact, his personality is much more complex and multifaceted. And it is unlikely that a characterization can help him understand. Pechorin needs to be found within himself, to feel what he feels, and then his personality will become clear to the heroes of our time.