PERCEPTION OF PECHORIN AS THE MAIN CHARACTER OF THE NOVEL “A HERO OF OUR TIME” BY RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the perception of Pechorin, the protagonist of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” by M.Yu. Lermontov in the considerations of Lermontov studies in the USA and this is the first article on this topic. The author examines the evolution of the perception of Pechorin from the early Lermontov’s studies (60-70s) to the present time. Using the review of a wide range of studies, the conclusion is made about how the views over the protagonist of the novel are changing, ranging from rather critical assessments based on the condemnation of the vices and sins of Pechorin to analysis in a much broader context. The considerations which have not been observed in Russian Lermontov’s studies are of particular interest, particularly the assessment of the protagonist from the point of view of other characters of the novel and the influence that Pechorin’s actions have on them. Researchers from the United States often refer to the comparison of the images of Onegin and Pechorin, considering them in terms of similarities and differences. Considering the title of the novel “A Hero of Our Time”, the scholars from the USA often raise up the question whether Pechorin is a hero of his time or not and completely opposite points of view can be found here. In the conclusion, the author stated that the perception of Pechorin in Lermontov’s studies in the USA looks like rather contradictory and it would be early to say that there is a common position among the scholars. The author’s bibliographic list contains both the most authoritative monographs and the works written in a dissertation format.