Ahmad-+quotes

1. ‘//Roaring songs at the top of his voice, the Ossete driver relentlessly urged on his horses so as to reach the top of Koyshaur by nightfall’ (pg. 5) (setting, emphasis on people’s origins)// 2. //‘Ah these people!” he said. “They don’t know the Russian for ‘bread’, but they’ve learnt to say ‘Officer, tip for vodka’.’ (pg. 7) (character of Maxim Maxymich, characterization of Ossetes)// 3. //‘Once they get drunk on buza at a wedding or a funeral, it’s sheer murder’ (pg. 10) (revelation of people’s nature through insignificant nature, divide between Russians and Asians, stereotyping of people based on their origins)// 4. //‘I’m still in love with her; I’m grateful to her for a few moments of relative bliss. I’d give my life for her. But she bores me.’ (pg. 35) (ease with which Pechorin is bored, objectification of women, slow revelation of details about Pechorin)// 5. //‘He was about to throw his arms round Pechorin, but Pechorin rather coldly held out his hand, although he gave him a friendly smile.’ (pg. 49) (Emotionally distant nature of Pechorin, slow revelation of details about Pechorin, Maxim Maxymich’s attitude towards Pechorin)// 6. //‘I don’t like him either. I fancy one day our paths will cross and one of us will come off worst.’ (pg. 73) (foreshadowing, Pechorin’s tendency to manipulate others, Pechorin’s intelligence)// 7. //‘My whole life has been nothing but a series of dismal, unsuccessful attempts to go against heart or reason’ (pg. 77) (cynicism, Pechorin’s bitter nature, Pechorin’s ability to understand his own faults)// 8. //‘Of two friends, one is always the slave of the other, though often neither will admit it. I can never be a slave, and to command in these circumstances is too exacting. For you have to pretend at the same time.’ (pg. 79) (cynicism, emotionally distant nature of Pechorin, Pechorin’s understanding of relations)// 9. //‘I must confess I don’t really like strong-willed women. That’s not their role in life!’ (pg. 89) (misogyny, male chauvinism, stereotyping of women, Pechorin’s will to control, power)// 10. //‘What is happiness but gratified pride? If I thought myself better and more powerful than everyone else in the world, I should be happy.’ (pg. 103) (bitterness, cynicism, logic over emotions, Pechorin’s inability for compassionate emotions)// 11. //‘Passions are merely ideas in their initial stage. They are the property of youth, and anyone who expects to feel their thrill throughout his life is a fool.’ (pg. 103) (logic over emotions, cynicism, Pechorin’s inability for emotional experiences)// 12. //‘…and you can never convince a woman of anything, - you have to arrange matters so that they convince themselves.’ (pg. 117) (male chauvinism, misogyny, male superiority, Pechorin’s tendency to manipulate others)// 13. //‘Women! Women! Who can understand them? Their smile says one thing, their eyes another, their words lead you on with promises, but their tone of voice repulses you.’ (pg. 98) (misogyny, male superiority, this quotes shows this belief to be common to the whole society)// 14. //‘What if it does? If I die, I die. It will be small loss to the world, and I’ve had about enough of it myself.’ (pg. 131) (Pechorin’s struggle to enjoy life, cynicsm, bitterness)// 15. //‘I’ve now been six weeks here in the fort at N -. Maxim Maximych has gone out hunting, and I’m alone, sitting by the window.’ (pg. 132) (narrative voice)// 16. //‘When I think of possible, imminent death, I think only of myself. Some people don’t even do that. To hell with the friends who’ll forget me in a day…’ (pg. 134) (Pechorin’s inability for emotional experiences, Pechorin’s struggle to enjoy life, cynicsm, bitterness)// 17. //‘If predestination really exists, why have we been given free-will and reason? Why do we have to give an account of our deeds?’ (pg. 148) (predestination, fate, predestination vs. fate)// 18. //‘Lieutenant Vulich was a Serb by origin, as you could tell from his name, and his looks matched his character perfectly.’ (pg. 148) (emphasis on people’s origins, identification of people according to their origins, this quote shows this tendency to be common among whole society)// 19. //‘Vulich pulled the trigger. The pistol misfired’ (pg. 151)// //‘Vulich has been killed’ (pg. 154) (predestination, fate, predestination vs. fate)// 20. ‘//The turmoil of life has left me with a few ideas, but no feelings’ (pg. 134) (pechorin's inability for emotional experiences, cynicism, bitterness)//