Hero of Our Time, A by LERMONTOV, Mikhail Yurevich

A Hero of Our Time is indeed a portrait, but not of one man. It is a portrait built up of all our generations vices in full bloom. You will again tell me that a human being cannot be so wicked, and I will reply that if you can believe in the existence of all the villains of tragedy and romance, why wouldnt believe that there was a Pechorin? If you could admire far more terrifying and repulsive types, why arent you more merciful to this character, even if it is fictitious? Isnt it because theres more truth in it than you might wish? (Summary by the author)