The largest story in thenovel, published in 1840, which Lermontov wrote - "Princess Mary". The writer uses the form of a journal, a diary, in order to reveal to the reader the character of the protagonist, all of its inconsistency and complexity. The main participant in the thick of events tells about what is happening. He does not justify himself and does not blame anyone, he just reveals his soul.
Pyatigorsk
Pechorin meets Pyatigorsk at the springa kind of secular society, composed of the capital's nobility at the time of treatment on the waters. Here he unexpectedly meets a familiar cadet, a former colleague, wounded in the leg. Grushnitsky did not like Pechorin because of his empty posturing, he tried to impress the young ladies, it was important to say stupidity in French.
About the ladies passing by, Grushnitsky reported thatThis Ligovskie, Princess and her daughter Mary. As soon as the princess came closer, Grushnitsky with pathos spoke one of his empty phrases. Turning around, the girl held her serious long look on him. Later, the hero witnessed the princess secretly giving Grushnitsky a glass, which he tried to lift from the ground, leaning on a crutch. Junker was delighted. Pechorin envied the young man, but admitted it only to himself, because he loved to annoy enthusiasts. All his life, Pechorin passionately contradicted not only others, but even his heart or reason.
Dr. Werner, an old friend, sharedby the secular news, saying that he had seen a relative who had just arrived at the Ligovskys - a young pretty blonde with a painful appearance, with a birthmark on her right cheek. Pechorin, this lady was familiar.
From boredom Pechorin rattled Grushnitsky and angeredprincess In the grotto at the well, he accidentally met the blonde-mentioned Faith Vera, with whom he once had a passionate affair. She reproached him that she had never received anything from relationships with him, except for suffering, and asked him to start caring for Princess Ligovsky in order to divert the attention of her second old and jealous husband from their renewed romance. Pechorin writes in a journal that he never became a slave to a woman he loved, but on the contrary subordinated her to his will.
Grushnitsky brags about what happens in Ligovskys and says that the princess hates Pechorin, to which he replies that if she wants, tomorrow she will win her favor.
"Princess Mary" magazine summary (for 22, May 23, 29)
Pyatigorsk
At a ball in a restaurant, Pechorin witnessedas one of the ladies who envied the beauty and grace of the princess, she asked her cavalier, the dragoon officer, to teach “this young girl”. Pechorin invited the princess to a waltz tour and during the dance he asked for an apology for his behavior. After the waltz, the princess, at the instigation of the dragoon captain, was not quite sober in a rude and degrading tone intended to invite to the mazurka. Pechorin defended the young lady, pushed the offender, saying that she was already invited.
Княгиня Лиговская поблагодарила молодого человека and invited to visit their house. Pechorin began to visit the Ligovskys - on the one hand, for the sake of relations with Vera, and on the other - out of sports interest to test his irresistibility on a young, inexperienced girl. Vera is passionately jealous of Pechorin for Princess Mary and asks to swear that he will never marry her, and even invites her to a long-awaited meeting at night.
"Princess Mary" summary of the magazine (for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 June)
Kislovodsk
Grushnitsky is also jealous of his former friendthe princess, the new officer joined the party of Pechorin's ill-wishers, led by the dragoon captain, who planned to teach him a lesson, causing a duel and not loading pistols.
Coming down from the balcony of Vera, he was capturedGrushnitsky and the captain, was forced to fight back and fled. Later Grushnitsky was called to a duel for gossip about the princess, as the rejected cavalier thought that Pechorin was with Mary.
"Princess Mary" magazine summary (for June 16)
Kislovodsk
The duel ended in favor of Pechorin.Grushnitsky died, and Vera was taken away by a jealous husband. Having read the note of the woman he loves, Pechorin, in an attempt to overtake her, pounds the horse and remains alone, tormenting herself with love. Princess Ligovskaya makes an attempt to help her only daughter, to save her from the sufferings of unrequited love. She tells Pechorin that she is ready to give her daughter to marry him, because she does not care about wealth, but the happiness of a single child. In a conversation with the princess, Pechorin explained that he could not marry her and submit herself to any of her worst opinions about him. After the princess said she hated him, he thanked him and left. Soon he left Kislovodsk forever.
Very difficult to read the summary(“Princess Mary”), to understand why Lermontov’s contemporaries called this novel strange. Each generation of new readers is trying to solve his riddles, but for this you need to read the whole novel.
