(259 words) In Russian literary criticism one may encounter a rather mysterious characteristic “extra person”. Basically, this image is tragic: the hero is often gifted, promising, ambitious, but he has no place in the gray, serving Nikolaev Russia. He is in constant turmoil, he is tormented by the awareness of his own abilities in the complete absence of the ability and desire to realize them. A hero with a similar mindset is trying to forget himself and find solace in idle entertainments or empty intrigues, which weaving is easy for him to weave.
Almost the most famous "excess person" is the famous hero of Lermontov, Grigory Pechorin. It is difficult to recall a more lost, aimlessly existing, bored and despising everything in the world, including himself, the character. Grigory Alexandrovich is so estranged from life as a whole that it is simply not possible for the reader to recall at least one passion or hobby of the hero. To the simple question “What does Pechorin like in life?” No answer. This person is indifferent to the service, he is not at all interested in career advancement. He is indifferent to money: he easily breaks up with them and never thinks about material issues. He doesn’t have strong emotional ties with people: “friendship” with Dr. Werner is more like a cold partnership, instead of companionable feelings for Grushnitsky, Pechorin is more likely to be indulgent, women are seen by Grigory as a means of obtaining at least some impressions, and not as separate and significant personalities .
The lack of goals and hobbies makes Pechorin’s life empty and unbearable. It is this isolation from the world that makes it superfluous. The hero simply does not understand why he lives, what he wants, what he strives for. Perhaps this is the meaning of the “superfluous” tragedy: fate gave them everything to reach absolutely any heights, but they simply do not need them.
