Mikhail Lermontov’s protagonist, Grigory Pechorin, belongs to that group of literary characters known individually as the “superfluous man.” Generally an intelligent, educated individual, the superfluous man would appear to be one who has been either unjustly treated or outcast by society in general. The superfluous man attempts to find a place for himself in the world, but perhaps due to the combination of his talents, upbringing, personality and intelligence, continually finds himself on the …showed first 75 words of 1022 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1022 total…without a spark of guilt or pity, for the benefit of society. He clearly does not fall into the sociopathic category, as his displays of emotion – faint though they are – prove. So he is a coward, unwilling to come to terms with himself. Pechorin is not merely the superfluous man of the 19th century, but rather a mirror held up for all of humanity. His insensitivity, fear, and self-loathing reflect us still to this day.