Why does the novel begin with the frame story but end with Pechorin’s diary? What does Lermontov accomplish stylistically with this narrative choice?

How are women portrayed in the novel? Do any of the female characters truly have agency? Why or why not?

What is the thematic role of the Russian military in the novel? Why is it significant that the narrator, Maksim Maksimych, and Pechorin are military officers, and how do they compare with one another?