And everything that he saw before him he despised or hated

And everything that he saw before him he despised or hated

Mikhail Lermontov, a prominent Russian poet and novelist of the 19th century, is often associated with the theme of disillusionment and disdain for society in his works. The quote "And everything that he saw before him he despised or hated" encapsulates the essence of Lermontov's worldview and the characters he created in his literary works.

Lermontov's most famous work, the novel "A Hero of Our Time," is a prime example of his exploration of the darker aspects of human nature and society. The protagonist, Pechorin, is a cynical and disillusioned young officer who is bored with the superficiality and hypocrisy of the world around him. He despises the shallowness of his fellow officers, the vanity of women, and the futility of social conventions. Pechorin's contempt for the world around him is a reflection of Lermontov's own disillusionment with the society of his time.