The Fatalist

by Mikhail Lermontov

Genres: Russian Literature, Russia, Fiction, Short Stories

9 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1839

About the author

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (Михаил Юрьевич Лермонтов), a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", was the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death. His influence on later Russian literature is still felt in modern times, not only through his poetry, but also by his prose.

Lermontov died in a duel like his great predecessor poet, Aleksander Pushkin.

Even more so tragically strange (if not to say fatalistic) that both poets described in their major works fatal duel outcomes, in which the main characters (Onegin and Pechorin) were coming out victorious.

Reviews

[Jorge Leal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second short story set in the world of Russian literature. Like Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov focuses heavily on the characters’ internal conflicts and doubts.

I particularly liked how the story portrays Grigory Pechorin, the main character, as someone who initially believes that humans control their own destiny and that the idea of fate is nonsense. Yet, over the course of several events, Pechorin begins to question his own thesis.

What I also like is the way Lermontov portrays human thinking, not as something dogmatic or rigid, but as something dynamic. Pechorin is someone who thinks, perceives, and ultimately doubts his own beliefs.

Quotes I liked:

1. I like to doubt everything: this frame of mind does not interfere with the decisiveness of my character; on the contrary, it makes me more resolute.

2. I looked fixedly into his eyes and suddenly felt convinced that he would die that night.

3. After all this, how could one help becoming a fatalist, if only for a moment?

4. I always boldly go forward when I do not know what awaits me.

[Tahir H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love it! Some stories doesn't need to be 500 pages to be entertaining (shot to Dostoevsky).
Straight to the point about the role of fate in our life. I wish they made short movie about this story.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing little tale about fate versus free will.

[vorona · Rating 4 out of 5]

absurd and entertaining little story

[Valerie López Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Intriguing, made me think of how fragile life is.

[Genavieve Zermeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely chilling

[Ngapain Kuliah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalau kamu percaya sama sesuatu (dalam konteks ini konsep abstrak). Apakah kamu akan membuktikan kepercayaanmu itu? meskipun dengan membuktikannya bisa saja merenggut nyawamu?

[Timothy Coplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing short which aptly entices the reader, who has read this separate from its contextual whole collective novel, to pursue A Hero of Our Time.