Abstract: This article is dedicated to the question that has not been previously raised within the framework of Lermontov studies, namely analysis of the essay of Lermontov’s late period “The Caucasian” from the perspective of reflection of existential problematic of literature of the early XIX century therein. The research is conducted on the ideological and artistic arrangement of the text, which represents the socio-psychological aspects of human adaptation to life. The author underlines that Lermontov chose the Caucasian discourse for expressing the personal biographical experiences and creative ideas of his novel “A Hero of Our Time”, which coincide with the period the writer’s military service in the Caucasus and vacation in St. Petersburg in 1841. This essay generalizes the threads of personal life and fate, featuring all possible characters representing the theme: natural. Georgian, state Caucasians, among them are the unnamed heroes of the entire textual space of Lermontov’s mature prose (Maxim Maksimych, Grushnitsky, wandering literary artist, Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin, as well as female images Bela, Undine, Cossack woman, Nastya). The essay finale is an emotional outcome of futile existence of a human. The author follows the life path of the composite character – the Russian Caucasian from the initial novella “Bela” to finale of the essay “The Caucasian”, which appears to be emotional outcome of vain existence of a human having no real substance.