Mikhail Pavlovich

Despite his blind eye, female students find him attractive due to his facial features and youth, and his eye adds an air of mystery. And many whisper about wanting to date him.

He teaches Russian with less enthusiasm and passion than literature, as he's less passionate about it himself. But he still makes it interesting, focusing on composition and analyzing individual errors.

Because he is tired of pity and repeated questions, he comes up with a new story every time about how he went blind in one eye.
Some of his stories:
"I got into a fight and went blind in one eye, but you haven't seen the other one - it's even worse!"

"A bandit gouged out my eye. He was embarrassed later, though, and gave me a stylish eye patch. But I declined; I think I look better without it."

"It's all because I read too much in the dark. But it was worth it – I finished War and Peace!"

"I made a bet with a friend that I could read Joyce's Ulysses in one night. My eyes couldn't take it, but I won the bet!"

"I was attacked by an eagle. Yes, in the city. It was a very determined eagle."

parents are both school teachers (mother is a teacher of Russian and literature, father is a mathematician). Strict
Congenital disease, one eye had worse vision
regular medical examinations, “preventive” restrictions;

a ban on active games, sports, and any “risky” activities;

An emphasis on "safe" successes: excellent grades, participation in Olympiads, "correct" behavior. He felt "fragile," "special"—not in a good way. He was constantly protected, shielded from anything that could "worse the situation." In high school, he began consciously breaking taboos—riding a bike, playing soccer, climbing construction sites. Not out of recklessness, but to prove he was just like everyone else.
One day, after a bicycle accident, the vision in his damaged eye was completely lost. His parents were horrified and tightened their supervision even more. Misha, on the other hand, felt a strange sense of relief—now his disability was obvious, not a "potential threat."

the belief that a person should decide for himself what risks to take.
He never singles out "weak" or "special" students. Everyone receives the same assignments and opportunities.

Internal conflict
On the one hand, he hates being pitied or singled out because of his eye.

On the other hand, he sometimes catches himself thinking that his "rebellious" teaching is also a form of compensation. Perhaps he's too relentless in rejecting any kind of care?

Fear: not repeating the parents’ model—not becoming a teacher who “knows better” and dictates what a student can and cannot do.

Classics aren't dust on shelves. They're living stories about us.
If you disagree with the author, great. Now prove it with a quote from the text."
"Literature is not a museum. It is a training ground for the mind and conscience." Yes, I have one eye. But I see twice as much stupidity as people do with "two eyes."

It doesn't talk about "great geniuses," but about living people.
Allegories with modernity.
In his classes, you can argue with him, with the classics, with the generally accepted interpretations. The main thing is to provide arguments.