Nihilism plays a dominant role in both Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time and The Sailor Who Fell in Disgrace with the Mishima Sea. Both novels target a particular character to make an example of, but the circumstances of this endeavor are significantly different. In A Hero of Our Time, Pechorin “[experiences] all that life has to offer and [finds] nothing to give him but passing satisfaction” (Lermontov xviii). Life has failed to provide him with a purpose worthy of his powers, and as a result, he turns against life and society. In The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea, Noburo and his group attempt to transcend established societal boundaries; they don't think the rules apply to them because they are above law and order, just like Pechorin. Unlike the boys in Mishima's novel, Pechorin does not deliberately try to destroy anyone's life. His escapades are only an attempt to create “a temporary escape from boredom” (Lermontov xviii). But the boys murder the kitten and later the sailor because they believe that only through "acts like this [can they] fill the greatest voids in the world" (57). In both novels, the main characters act without regard for morality and their disregard for banal platitudes drives them to hurt others. Pechorin targets and ultimately kills Grushinitsky for lack of anything better to occupy his talents, while Number One and his followers use the murders to test their theoretical worldview and attempt to fill the void in the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayBoth novels were written at a time when people were repressed and suffering. A Hero of Our Time is set in 1830s Russia, when Tsar Nicholas I suppressed anyone who expressed their opinion; the author uses this context to explain the tragic side of human existence. Here, a man like the protagonist—“proud, energetic, strong-willed, self-confident”—may find “that life is not living up to his expectations [and] become bitter, cynical, and bored” (xvii ). The Sailor Who Fell Out of Grace with the Sea is set in the conservative culture of post-World War II Japan. In Lermontov's novel, Pechorin, the true nihilist, is bored and tired of life because he always knows what it has in store for him. He intentionally goes against the rules of society in order to make life more interesting and have fun. The only thing he is convinced of is that “one bad evening, [he] had the misfortune of being born” (79). He regards his victims as grist for his amusement, saying, “the world would be [a boring place] if there were no fools” (79). Similarly, in Mishima's novel, Noburo and his group believe that they are above law and order and can do whatever they want. The leader, abandoned by his parents and allowed to do whatever he wants, leads the group to kill the kitten and then the sailor. Their actions are motivated by hatred towards authority figures who only want to deprive us of freedom: "They circle around our heads waiting for an opportunity, and when they see something rotten, they buzz and root for it . And there is nothing they will not do to contaminate our freedom and our abilities” (138). Only by killing the kitten and the sailor could the group “gain real power over existence” (57). The act of killing gave the boys a sort of "snow-white certificate of merit" (61) that meant they could now do anything, "..