Thesis+statements


 * __Jack__ **

__ Setting __

In 1984 Orwell refines the setting to add to the particular nature of the nightmare world Winston inhabits, setting provides a sense of realism and context to a novel that can lose some of its verity in a paranoid fantasy. In A Hero of Our Time nature and setting can symbolise freedom from social constraints, the sublime descriptions of the Caucasus mountains emphasise Pechorin's sometimes hyperbolic and melodramatic nature, whilst the “foul” setting of 'Taman' foreshadows Pechorin's defeat. It can therefore be assumed that Lermontov equates Pechorin with nature.

__ Themes __

At their core both novels seem to address the question of the individual or a small group against the wider context of each respective society. If both characters are assumed to be symbolic then the two authors seem to have political concerns at the forefront of their writing, the two novels were written in the context of war and upheaval. 1984 in the aftermath of World War II and A Hero of our Time in the Decembrist revolt.

__ Imagery __

Orwell's use of imagery often coincides with him trying to pertain to a political or social comment. The image created by O'Brien's 'boot' stamping on a face is an allusion to the Master-Slave complex. Whilst, Lermontov uses imagery to allude or develop Pechorin’s character

__ Character __

The two authors through techniques such as rhetorical questions, inquire into their readerships by asking them to identify with their respective protagonists. During the torture scenes in 1984, Orwell through free indirect discourse, asks us to place ourselves in Winston's shoes and to question how we would react to O'Brien's inquisition. Lermontov uses Pechorin's moments of self-doubt to add to the realism of Pechorin. At times Pechorin can seem in this world, but not of it. His moments of hesitation firmly ground him in a common level of humanity.


 * Anna A. **

// __Setting __ // In both __A Hero of Our Time__ and __Nineteen Eighty-Four__, Lermontov and Orwell use descriptions of setting to reveal internal facets of Pechorin and Winston respectively. In particular, Pechorin’s sublime portrayal of nature compared to his disdainful approach to people in the journal sections of __A Hero of Our Time__ expounds Pechorin’s duality and inner contradictions, whereas in __Nineteen Eighty Four__, changes in setting—and especially Winston’s reaction them—can arguably be considered as representative of Winston’s state of mind: when Orwell describes the setting as tranquil and harmonious, we see an articulate Winston thinking clearly and independently, with an increasing sense of hope and self-confidence. Setting is therefore symbolic in both novels for psychological freedom, or lack thereof: in __A Hero of Our Time__, freedom from social restrictions and customs, and in __Nineteen Eighty-Four__ freedom from the Party’s dominance of thoughts and beliefs.

// __Theme __: the dangers of a misguided sense of fatalism // Lermontov’s Pechorin and Orwell’s Winston Smith are two protagonists that have a misguided perception of fate: Pechorin uses his superficial belief of fatalism as a scapegoat for his emotional exploitation and abuse of others, whereas Winston equates fate with the Party’s actions. Consequently, Pechorin is never able to truly look within himself and be as critical of his own flaws as he is of those of others: he is never able to realize the cruelty of his actions and hold himself accountable for them, he is dominated by his own actions and contradictions. Conversely, by having Winston assimilate fate with the Party, Orwell is emphasizing the power and utter control that the Party has over its citizens; even in Winston’s moments of believed freedom and individuality, the ubiquitous Party is an underlying presence in his thoughts and decisions. Subsequently, whilst Lermontov can arguably be propounding the consequences of not taking responsibility for one’s actions and behavior—an indifference to the sufferings of others—, Orwell appears to be highlighting how the notion of fate can be manipulated to control the thoughts and actions of others.

// __Character __: the role of the protagonist with regards to the author’s overarching purpose // Although both Lermontov’s __A Hero of Our Time__ and Orwell’s __Nineteen Eighty-Four__ are two novels that revolve around a single, central protagonist—Pechorin and Winston Smith respectively—the role of the main character is subtly different. The purpose of __A Hero of Our Time__ is to paint a portrait of Pechorin as an amalgamation of various character traits that dominated the ‘lost generation’ of Russian history­: ennui and the subsequent craving for excitement, manifested by Pechorin into the emotional torture of those around him. Contrarily, Orwell’s overarching purpose in __Nineteen Eighty-Four__ is seemingly to propound the dangers of a certain type of societal structure—totalitarianism—rather than of a certain type of individual. It is therefore understandable why __A Hero of Our Time__ focuses specifically on Pechorin’s inner workings and motivations, whereas __Nineteen Eighty-Four__is centered towards Winston’s relationship with the Party.

// __Imagery __: // In __Nineteen Eighty-Four__, Orwell uses decrepit imagery to describe the derelict streets and buildings of London in order to implicitly convey the Outer Party’s degenerating state of mind, whereas in __A Hero of Our Time__, Lermontov juxtaposes Pechorin’s use of beautifully sublime imagery when he describes the Caucasus mountains with the dull and dreary portrayal of people that no longer satisfy Pechorin’s desire for excitement. Subsequently we see that whilst Orwell mainly uses imagery to portray the issues present in a society utterly controlled by a totalitarian government, Lermontov uses this same narrative technique to depict the superfluous nature of. and the contradictions present within, one type of individual: a young man pertaining to the ‘lost generation’ of nineteenth century Russia.

__ Setting __ - Setting plays a key role in both novels; In 1984, the setting of Air Strip one serves to reflect the state of its population: “everything had a battered, trampled-on look”. Similarly in A Hero of Our Time, setting described in the first few pages serves to forebode the narrator’s introduction to Pechorin’s character through it’s mysterious and yet sublime depiction: “unassailable mountains”, “another nameless rivulet which noisily unearthed itself from a black and gloomy chasm, extends like a silver thread, glittering like a scaly snake”. In both novels, the setting is largely symbolic. In 1984, Airstrip One symbolizes the state of its occupants and The Golden Country symbolizes hope; in A Hero of Our Time, Pechorin’s adoration of the setting reflects aspects of his personality, and the setting of the Caucauses at times serves to forebode Pechorin’s character. Obviously Pechorin finds unquenchable challenges in nature, and he admits that this is the “remedy” to his “insatiable heart”: “to travel”.
 * Alice **

__ Theme __ - Both characters Winston and Pechorin have misguided views of fate, and their stories both explore the idea and effects of freedom, or lack of it. Winston is an inhabitant of a totalitarian, unfree society, and Pechorin is a free agent in quite a personally liberal society – despite the presence of autocracy. However, interestingly, Winston through his confined, stifled state finds himself optimistic, whereas Pechorin develops a strong sense of nihilism from his surplus of freedom.

__ Character __

- The symbolic nature of both protagonists, Winston Smith and Grigory Alexander Pechorin, allows for interesting comparison. Pechorin’s character is skillfully hyperbolic, whereas Winston remains quite average; both of these observations support their symbols – Pechorin as an amalgamation of the “lost generation” and Winston as an individual in a totalitarian society.

__Imagery__ ? --> lol

The reader can see how both the protagonists of A Hero of Our Time and 1984 are influenced by setting. However, they differ in terms of the internal changes that are influenced by setting. Winston seems to become more optimistic as his relationshiop with Julia progresses, giving a sense of hope to the novel. However, Pechorin’s frequent changes in setting reflect the inner conflict that is occuring within him, and through this, Lermontov introduces a sense of duality to his charatcer.
 * JOEL **
 * Setting: **

Individualism vs. collectivism is a theme that is explored by both Orwell and Lermontov (Pechroin vs. society and Winston vs. the Party). However, the perspective of the theme is different in each novel. For example, A Hero of Our time involves Pechorin rebelling against society : the individual betrays the whole. In contrast, 1984 involves the Party acting wrongly against Winston : the whole betrays the individual. The purpose of the theme is juxtaposed when comparing the novels and in this way, the authors are able to carry out a commentary of society and its members at the time each novel was written.
 * Theme : **

Both Orwell and Lermontov seem to play on the idea that the protagonists of their novels, Winston and Pechroini are heroes or have elements of heroism. However, the realism of the novels (the time period, the setting and the events that occur during the narrative) affect our views of each character, and this enables the reader to question what they would have done in the character’s place.
 * Character : **

In a Hero of Our Time imagery is related to character, the reader can the positive effect of the Caucasus mountains and the setting on Pechorin’s charcter, introducing the duality of personality and seemingly focusing on the individual and their role in society. However, in 1984 Orwell uses negative imagery to reflect the destruction and oppression that the Party brought onto its people and country, enabling Orwell to focus, and comment on, the role of the collective and totalitarian rule.
 * Imagery: **

Iván Bosch Chen

Setting: In both novels, "1984", and, "A Hero of Our Time", the authors use descriptions of setting as a symbol for freedom in the protagonists' lives. In Orwell's novel, descriptions of setting become more serene as Winston believes he is drifting away from the control of the party. In a similar manner, Pechorin illustrates a more sublime setting when he encounters a freedom from the superficiality of the Russian society

Theme: Fatalism The authors George Orwell and Mikhail Lermontov both explore the theme of fatalism in their novels but through different perspectives.Lermontov analyses the belief of fatalism as an excuse Pechorin uses for his malicious behaviour. On the other hand, Orwell portrays a belief in fatalism as a representation of the helplessness that dissident outer-party members feel under the abuse of the ruling power.

Character: Orwell develops his protagonist from a naive party member to a perceptive rebel and finally turns him into a destroyed man under the abuse of the Party. Lermontov on the other hand illustrates a perceptive and cunning man throughout the novel. The development of these characters are therefore contrast in the sense that Winston's character represents the Party's attempt to limit thought process whilst Pechorin represents the wasted potential of the Russian middle class.


 * Selam **

**Themes**- A theme which is pervasive throughout //A Hero of Our Time// is the superficiality of society this is expounded through the use of irony and. This irony is demonstrated through Pechorin’s hypocrisy, another way in which the superficiality of the higher classes is shown is through the focus and emphasis on clothing which is an indication of rank.
 * Setting ** - throughout //A// //Hero of Our Time// Setting influences the feelings of the characters; this is shown mainly through the protagonist Pechorin. It is increasingly evident that when the characters are isolated the mountainous setting has a calmative effect; this is shown through the description of the setting. Primarily, through the use of sublime and euphonic diction and this is further emphasized through the juxtaposition in portraying urban scenery and the people.
 * Imagery ** - throughout the Novel //A Hero of our Time//, Lermontov uses imagery which is associated with freedom. This is shown through the liberating diction, more specifically adjectives and verbs that Lermontov uses when describing the setting in the Caucasus.