“I must have had some high object in life, for I feel unbounded strength within me. But I never discovered it and was carried away by the allurements of empty, un-rewarding passions. I was tempered in their flames and came out cold and hard as steel, but I'd lost forever that fire of noble endeavour, that finest flower of life. How many time since then have I been an axe in the hands of fate? Like an engine of execution, I've descended on the heads of the condemned, often without malice, but always without pity. My love has brought no one happiness, for I've never sacrificed a thing for those I've loved. I've loved for myself, for my own pleasure, I've only tried to satisfy a strange inner need. I've fed on their feelings, love, joys and sufferings, and always wanted more. I'm like a starving man who falls asleep exhausted and sees rich food and sparkling wines before him. He rapturously falls on these phantom gifts of the imagination and feels better, but the moment he wakes up his dream disappears and he's left more hungry and desperate than before.”
Quote by Mikhail Lermontov
Work
This literary work delves into the psyche of its protagonist, a man who embodies the concept of heroism in various guises. The narrative unfolds through a series of interconnected stories, each highlighting different aspects of the protagonist's character and the societal context in which he lives. The novel is renowned for its exploration of moral ambiguity and the human struggle for self-definition. more
Author
A renowned Russian writer, poet, and literary critic. His works are characterized by their profound thoughtfulness and artistic value, and have had a profound impact on Russian literature. more
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