Comparative characteristics of Onegin and Pechorin. Comparison of Onegin and Pechorin

Eugene Onegin and Pechorin are the heroes of various works of two famous classics of Russian literature - Pushkin and Lermontov. The first worked on the novel for more than seven years. Pushkin called his work "feat" - of all his works only "Boris Godunov" was awarded such an epithet. Lermontov's famous novel "The Hero of Our Time" was written for two years and was first published in St. Petersburg. Later in the article, a comparison of Onegin and Pechorin will be made, the features linking and distinguishing them are shown.

The work of Pushkin. Short description

Work on the novel, Alexander Sergeevich began in Chisinau, in 1823 year. Pushkin was at that time in exile. In the course of the narrative, one can note that the author refused to use romanticism as the main creative method.

"Eugene Onegin" - a realistic novel in verse. It was assumed that the original work will include 9 chapters. However, later Pushkin revised the structure of the novel somewhat, leaving only eight in it. Excluded was the chapter on the journey of the main character - it became an attachment to the main narrative. In addition, the description of Onegin's vision of military settlements near the Odessa pier was withdrawn from the structure of the novel and quite sharply expressed judgments and remarks were made. Leaving this chapter for Pushkin was quite dangerous - he could be arrested for these revolutionary views.

"Hero of our time". Short description

Lermontov began work on the work in 1838-th year. His novel includes several parts. In the process of reading, you can see that the chronology is broken in the narrative. The author used this artistic technique for several reasons. Mostly this structure of the work shows the main character - Pechorin - first through the eyes of Maxim Maksimych. Then the reader is presented with the inner world of the character according to the records of his diary.

A Brief Comparative Characteristic of Onegin and Pechorin

Both characters are representatives of the capital's aristocracy. The heroes received an excellent education and upbringing. The level of their intelligence is higher than the average level of people around them. The characters are divided ten years, but each of them is a representative of his era. Onegin's life goes on in the twenties, the novel Lermontov unfolds in the 30s of the 19th century. The first is under the influence of freedom-loving ideas in the heyday of an advanced social movement. Pechorin lives in a period of violent political reactions to the activities of the Decembrists. And if the first could still join the insurgents and find a goal, thus giving a sense of their own existence, then the second hero had no such opportunity. This already indicates a greater tragedy of the Lermontov character.

The main features of the character of the novel "The Hero of Our Time"

The image of Gregory Pechorin was one of the artistic discoveries of Lermontov. This hero epochal mainly because in his depiction the features of that post-December period were expressed. Outwardly for this period, only losses, violent reactions are characteristic. Inside, an active, uninterrupted, deaf and silent work was performed.

It must be said that Pechorin is a rather unordinary personality, everything is controversial in him. For example, a hero can complain about a draft, and after a while jump on the enemy with a sword naked. Maksim Maksimych speaks of him as a man able to endure the difficulties of a nomadic life, a change of climates. Gregory was slender, his height was medium, his body was strong with a thin staff and broad shoulders. According to Maxim Maksimych, the essence of Pechorin was not defeated either by the depravity of the life of the capital, or by spiritual torments.

What do the characters have in common?

Comparison of Onegin and Pechorin should begin with an analysis of the character traits of the characters. Both characters are very critical of people and life. Realizing the emptiness and monotony of their existence, they show discontent with themselves. They are oppressed by the surrounding situation and people who are mired in slander and malice, envy.

Disappointed in society, the characters fall into melancholy, they begin to get bored. Onegin tries to start writing to satisfy his spiritual needs. But he is quickly tired of "hard work". Reading also briefly captivates him.

Pechorin too quickly gets tired of any business that he started. However, having got to the Caucasus, Grigory still hopes that under the bullets of boredom there will be no place. But he also gets used to military actions very quickly. Neskuchili Lermontov character and love adventures. This can be seen in relation to Pechorin to Mary and Bela. Having achieved love, Grigory quickly loses interest to the ladies.

What is the similarity between Pechorin and Onegin? Both heroes are selfish. They are not considered with the feelings, nor with the opinions of others.

The relationship between heroes and others

Not wanting to lose freedom, Onegin rejects Tatiana's feelings. Feeling his superiority over people in general, he accepts Lensky's challenge and dies a friend in a duel. Pechorin brings misfortune to almost everyone who surrounds him or meets him. So, he kills Grushnitsky, grieves Maxim Maksimych to the depths of his soul, destroys the lives of the Faith, Mary, Bela. Gregory achieves the disposition and love of women, following only the desire to entertain himself. Disenchanted with boredom, he quickly cooled to them. Pechorin is cruel enough. This quality is manifested even in relation to the sick Mary: he tells her that he never loved her, but only laughed at her.

The most striking features of the characters

The comparative characteristic of Onegin and Pechorin would be incomplete without mentioning the hero's self-criticism. The first to suffer remorse after a duel with Lensky. Onegin can not stay in the places where the tragedy happened, he throws everything and starts wandering around the world.

The hero of the novel Lermontov admits that he caused a lot of grief for people throughout his life. But, despite this understanding, Pechorin is not going to change himself and his behavior. And Gregory's self-criticism does not bring anyone relief, neither to himself, nor to others. This attitude to life, to oneself, to people, depicts him as a "moral cripple."

Despite the differences between Pechorin and Onegin, they both share many similarities. Particularly expressed in each of them is the ability to perfectly understand people. Both heroes are good psychologists. So, Onegin singled out Tatyana immediately, at the first meeting. Of all the representatives of the local nobility, Eugene only met Lensky. The hero of Lermontov also correctly judges the people who meet him on the way. Pechorin gives sufficiently accurate and accurate characteristics to those around him. In addition, Gregory excellently knows women's psychology, can easily predict the actions of ladies and, using this, wins their love.

The comparative characteristic of Onegin and Pechorin allows us to see the true state of the inner worlds of the characters. In particular, despite all the misfortunes that each of them caused to people, they are both capable of light feelings.

Love in the life of heroes

Realizing his love for Tatiana, Onegin is ready to do anything to see her. Lermontov's hero immediately rushes after the departed Vera. Pechorin, not catching up with his beloved, falls in the middle of the road and cries like a child. Pushkin's hero is noble. Onegin is honest with Tatiana and does not think to use her inexperience. In this Lermontov hero is the direct opposite. Pechorin appears as an immoral person, a man for whom people around him are just toys.

Ideals and values

The comparative characteristic of Onegin and Pechorin is mainly a comparison of the inner world of each character. An analysis of their behavior makes it possible to understand the motivation of certain actions. So, for example, the heroes have different attitude to the duel. Onegin is fast asleep on the eve. He does not take the duel seriously. However, after Lensky's death, Eugene covered the horror and remorse.

Lermontov's hero, on the other hand, does not sleep the whole night before the duel with Grushnitsky. Grigory is absorbed in thinking, he thinks about the purpose of his existence. At the same Pechorin cool enough to kill Grushnitsky. He calmly leaves the dueling ground, politely bowing.

Why Pechorin and Onegin are "superfluous people"?

The society was rather negative about the heroes. The people around could not understand the behavior of the characters. The point of view, views and opinions of Pechorin and Onegin did not coincide with the generally accepted ones, therefore they were perceived with hostility. Both characters feel their loneliness in the light, among the crowd, feeling the superiority of these young people. In the images of Pechorin and Onegin, the authors expressed their protest against the vileness and mustiness of the secular society of the time, depriving people of the goal, forcing them to waste their energy, not finding the application of either their abilities or skills.