A+Hero+of+Our+Times

"Orientalism" and the "Other"

Choose a short passage from the novel and write your literary analysis of its connection to the concepts of Orientalism and the Other. Does Lermontov seem to support or critique such points of view?

1. Understand: 2. Interpret: 3. Appreciate: 4. Direct Response:

HOT Page 8, last paragraph “What’s the matter! Horrible brutes, these Asiatics! You think they’re helping by shouting? The devil only knows that they’re shouting! The oxen understand them; you could harness up a score of them and still, if they shouted in their way, the oxen would never budge. Horrible swindlers! But what can you expect from them…? They enjoy fleecing the travelers who pass through. The rogues have been spoiled! You’ll see, they’re going to get a tip from you as well. Oh, I know them, they can’t fool me.

Understand – The narrator is frustrated at the nature of the Caucasians although these are mostly generalizations that were made through russia’s perception of the Caucasus of being uncivilized and”oriental”. He is shouting at them that they do not know what they are doing and are too material oriented.

Interpret – The narrator sees the Caucasians merely as servants that do not deserve the same level of respect as he does. He deems them unfit for their occupation, criticizing them as if they are stuck with the job without a choice because they have to make the necessary money. He also sees them as less economically off then he is. Whereas he sees money as something to spend, he generalized that Caucasions are after money with disregards to how they get it.

Appreciate – In this passage we see that the author uses exclamatory sentences to express the frustration of the narrator and to emphasize his points. He uses the narrator’s voice and tone (as read by the audience) to express a generalization, and hyperbole.

Opinion – Lermontov seems to be familiar with the concept of the “others” and by portraying the narrator as a thoughtless person who is frustrated at the absence of amenities in the Caucasus, I believe he is criticizing the generalization and assumptions we make about people outside of our culture. -Kevin

P.9: At this the conversation ended, and we continued to walk in silence, side by side. At the mountainís summit we found snow. The sun set and night followed day without interval, as usually happens in the South; however, thanks to the reflection off the snow, we could easily distinguish the road, which was still going uphill, although no longer as steeply. I ordered my valise placed on the cart and the oxen exchanged for horses, and for the last time I looked back down on the valley ñ but a thick mist, which surged in waves from the gorges, had covered it completely, and not a single sound reached our hearing from there. The Ossetians had gathered volubly around me and were demanding tips; but the staff captain shouted at them so menacingly that they scattered instantly.

Understand: The narrator walked along side with Maxim Maximich like old friends in the Caucasian mountains, moving away from the valley. It was snowing and nighttime is approaching. The oxen are changed into horses. The Ossetians are asking for tips, the staff captain shouted them away, showing that the Ossetians are not very much liked.

Interpret: The narrator can see that the Ossetians are way below in position than the staff captain.

Appreciate: Lermontov used vivid imagery to construct the setting into a cold and poor-conditioned place. This helps to strengthen the social differences greater because it shows that even though in such a rural area like this, such social positions still exist.

Opinion: From this, we can see that Lermontov is quite aware how the Caucasians are viewed upon, and does not necessary feel positive towards it.

-Ben

"The Others"

Pg.18

"'Listen to me!' said Azamat in a firm voice. 'I tell you, I'd do anything. Do you want me to steal my sister for you? How she dances! How she sings! And she embroiders in goldㅡa marvel! Never has even a Turkish padishah had such a wife. Want me to? Wait for me tomorrow night there, in the gorge, where the stream flows. I'll walk by with her going to the next villageㅡand she's yours. Isn't Bela worth your courser?

Understand

• Azamat is overly obsessed with getting Kazbich's horse. His stubbornness towards getting things he want lets him to decide trading his sister, Bela, for the horse.

Interpret

• The value of woman at the time was so low that it was treated as if it's an object. Azamat's promise of trading horse with woman clearly shows how he treated Bela no more than an object and a tool which could possibly grant his desire, the horse. The inferiority of woman is shown in the tone and content of Azamat's speech with Pechorin.

Appreciate

• Word choice. "Steal my sister" he uses the word "steal" as if Bela is an object which adds the emphasis on inferiority of woman in the society at the moment.

Opinion

• By treating women as inferior and invaluable figure, it shows the similarity with the perspective of occident on Orientals. -Bong Jin

page 95

"And you wish to remain in the Caucasus all your life?" the princess was saying.

"What is Russia to me?" replied her escort. "A country where thousands of people, because they are richer than I, are going to regard me with contempt, whereas here---here this thick greatcoat has not prevented my acquaintance with you."

Understand - Grushnitsky and Princess Mary are having a conversation. Grushnitsky believes the Russians will regard him with contempt and wishes to remain in Caucasus. Interpret - Russians view Caucasians as inferior, perhaps due to the difference in wealth, and that in Caucasus this distinction does not exist since there are no interferences between Grushnitsky and Princess Mary at the moment. The dash between "here" and "here" adds emphasis on Caucasus and juxtaposes it with Russia. Appreciate - The author uses a rhetorical question as a form of expression to characterize Grushnitsky's feelings about Russia. His response afterwards generalizes how a country views a particular race/ethnicity in a different viewpoint. It seems Lermontov critiques the concept of the "Others" because of the lack of respect Russia seems to have on a different social status. -Jessica Z.

“Good gracious, these Circassians are well-known to be a nation of thieves. Whatever’s just lying around, they can’t help but snatch it up: they may not even need something, but they’ll steal it anyways…” (P.39 - Last paragraph)

Here Lermontov uses a dialog between Maxim and the narrator to portrait Kazbich as being one of the "Others." Maxim starts off by telling the narrator about his long experience serving in the army in the Caucasus and in his experience he tells him about how Kazbich’s attempted to steal “poor” Bela. Maxim characterizes Kazbich as is a savage and a coward for attempting such a horrendous act. Kazbich here is portrait as being one of “the others” solely because he is Cirrcassian, who Maxim described as being, “a nation of thieves.”

-Omar

"And an utterly stupid people too!" he replied. "Would you believe it, they are absolutely ignorant and incapable of the slightest civilisation! Why even our Kabardians or Chechenes, robbers and ragamuffins though they be, are regular dare-devils for all that. Whereas these others have no liking for arms, and you'll never see a decent dagger on one of them! Ossetes all over!"

Understand The unknown narrator is criticising the Orientals, saying that even their lowest people is better than these "stupid" people that are "absolutely ignorant and incapable of the slightest civilisation". He also claims that "you'll never see a decent dagger" on these people, which hints his degrading attitude toward this race.

Interpretation From there, we can assume that the narrator believes these people are the lowest one can possibly meet because even their lowest people are better. His claim mentioning these "others" have no liking for arms suggest that a decent dagger, or good weaponry is vital to being civilised.

Appreciate A lot of exaggeration is in this paragraph. For example, the words "absolutely" ignorant and incapable of the "slightest" civilisation is an extreme way of describing these people. Comparison is also used when he is comparing these people to the lowest class of their civilisation.

Opinion The author appears to be displaying realistic criticism of the "Others" in this passage. This is even directly stated in the passage where he says "these others have no liking for arms".

-Jessica L.

Page11

"A very stupid nation," he replied. "Would you believe it? They don't know how to do anything, they're incapable of any kind of education! At least our Kabardians or Chechens, brigands though they are, and paupers, are darling devils, whereas these haven't even a mind for weaponry. You won't see a proper dagger on a one of them. Ossentians for certain!"

Understand:

-Looks down on Georgian

-don't know how to do anything

-no education

-devils

Interpretation:

-They take Education as an important factor

-Disbiased by other people

Appreciation:

-Comparing with Devil

-Exaggeration (devil, not capable of doing anything)

Opinion

-In this passage, the author is criticizing the Orientals.

-Lauren


 * “And so I began examining the blind boy’s face; but what would you have me read in a face that has no eyes? For a long time I looked at him with unwitting pity, when suddenly a barely perceptible smile ran across his thin lips, and I don't know why, but it made the most chilling impression on me. The suspicion was born in my mind that this blind boy was not as blind as he seemed; in vain did I try to assure myself that whites of eyes cannot be faked, and anyways, what would be the point? But what can I do? I’m often inclined to prejudice.”—Pg. 60**


 * Understand: **

While Pechorin examines the blind boy’s face, the boy broke into a smile, which gave Pechorin a chilling impression. Pechorin then admits his prejudice towards the boy.


 * Interpret: **

Pechorin has a strong bias towards all individuals who are disabled in a certain way. He looks down on the blind boy, which suggests his arrogant attitude.


 * Appreciate: **

The usage of rhetorical questions is presented throughout the passage, such as “…what would be the point? But what can I do?” From this rhetorical question, we can infer that Pechorin is nonchalant towards his prejudice against the disabled, because he feels that it is within reason to have strong opinions and biases on such group of people. Thus, the use of rhetorical questions further emphasizes Pechorin’s disdain and arrogance.


 * Opinion: **

The “others” in this case, can be referred to those who have disabilities. Pechorin views them as “aliens” because they lack certain capabilities to function like normal human beings. Therefore, the author portrays the idea of the “others” through Pechorin’s scornful manners.

-Joyce

Page 9 -

"You see, what a nation." he said, "They can't say 'bread' in Russian, but they've learned 'Officer give me a tip!" To my mind, the Tartars are better than this; at least they don't drink.

1. Understand: The speaker is talking down on people from the Tartars, saying they are only after money, however they don't drink which implies they are good in some ways.

2. Interpret: People from the Caucuses are stingy and maybe aren't educated as they haven't learnt simple words such as 'bread'. However,also shows the Russians stereotyping and how they stereotype those from the caucuses in a negative way

3. Appreciate: In this passage we see that the author uses exclamation points to emphasise his speech, as well as speaking in a specific tone which also emphasizes his speech.

4. Direct Response: From this short passage, we can see how Lermentov viewed the people of the caucuses, and which stereotypes they used. Connor.

"Just so, sir," he answered. "They're terrible beasts, these Asiatics! You think that all that shouting means that they are helping the oxen? Why, the devil alone can make out what it is they do shout. The oxen understand, though; and if you were to yoke as many as twenty they still wouldn't budge so long as the Ossetes shouted in that way of theirs. . . . Awful scoundrels! But what can you make of them? They love extorting money from people who happen to be travelling through here. The rogues have been spoiled! You wait and see: they will get a tip out of you as well as their hire."

Maximych discusses his opinion of the Ossetes as lesser than the Russians. He briefly mentions their methods to extort more money from their customers.
 * Understand:**

It can be seen that the Maximych view the Ossetes as inferior to them. Furthermore, since they view the Ossetes in this way, any characteristics that Maximych attributes to the Ossetes, he attributes the opposite to himself (and the Russians).
 * Interpretation:**

Hyperbole/Exaggeration: “…if you were to yoke as many as twenty they still wouldn't budge…”
 * Appreciate:**

Lermontov seems to critique the concept of the “Other” in that he shows how negatively people viewed the inhabitants of the Caucasus, in comparison to the detailed descriptions of the Caucasus and background knowledge regarding how he viewed living in the Caucasus.
 * Opinion:**