Ideological disputes between Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich. Dispute between Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov and Evgeny Bazarov (compendium)

The title of Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" very accurately reflects the main conflict of the work. The writer raises a layer of cultural, family, romantic, platonic and friendly themes, but the relationship between two generations - the older and the younger - comes to the fore. The dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov is a vivid example of this confrontation. The historical background for ideological conflicts was the mid-19th century, the time before the abolition of serfdom in Russian Empire. At the same time, liberals and revolutionary democrats clashed head-on. Let's look at the details and outcome of the controversy using the example of our heroes.

The central conflict of the novel “Fathers and Sons” is the dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov

It is a mistake to believe that the essence of the work “Fathers and Sons” comes down to just a change in the ideology of generations, which has socio-political implications. Turgenev endowed this novel with deep psychologism and a multi-layered plot. With a superficial reading, the reader’s focus is only on the conflict between the aristocracy and commoners. The dispute helps to identify the views held by Bazarov and Kirsanov. The table below shows the essence of these contradictions. And if we dig deeper, we can notice that there is an idyll of family happiness, and intrigue, and emancipation, and grotesqueness, and the eternity of nature, and reflections on the future.

Evgeny Bazarov finds himself in the midst of a conflict between fathers and sons when he agrees to come and visit Maryino with his university friend Arkady. The atmosphere in my friend’s house did not immediately go well. Manners, appearance, difference of views - all this provokes mutual antipathy with Uncle Arkady. The further dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov flares up due to many topics: art, politics, philosophy, the Russian people.

Portrait of Evgeny Bazarov

Evgeny Bazarov is a representative of the generation of “children” in the novel. He is a young student with progressive views, but at the same time prone to nihilism, which the “fathers” condemn. Turgenev seemed to deliberately dress the hero absurdly and carelessly. The details of his portrait emphasize roughness and spontaneity young man: broad forehead, red hands, self-confident behavior. Bazarov, in principle, is outwardly unattractive, but has a deep mind.

The dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov is aggravated by the fact that the former does not recognize any dogmas or authorities. Evgeniy is convinced that any truth begins with doubt. The hero also believes that everything can be verified experimentally, and does not take judgments on faith. The situation is aggravated by Bazarov’s intolerance towards opposing opinions. He is deliberately harsh in his statements.

Portrait of Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov

Pavel Kirsanov is a typical nobleman, a representative of the “fathers” generation. He is a pampered aristocrat and a staunch conservative who adheres to liberal political views. He dresses elegantly and neatly, wears formal suits in the English style and starches his collars. Bazarov's opponent is very well-groomed in appearance and elegant in manners. He shows his “breed” with all his appearance.

From his point of view, established traditions and principles must remain unshakable. The dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov is reinforced by the fact that Pavel Petrovich perceives everything new negatively and even hostilely. Here innate conservatism makes itself felt. Kirsanov bows to the old authorities, only they are true for him.

Dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov: table of disagreements

The most the main problem already voiced by Turgenev in the title of the novel - the difference between generations. The line of argument between the main characters can be traced from this table.

"Fathers and Sons": conflict of generations

Evgeny Bazarov

Pavel Kirsanov

Manners and portrait of heroes

Careless in his statements and behavior. A self-confident but smart young man.

Smart, sophisticated aristocrat. Despite his venerable age, he retained his slim and presentable appearance.

Political Views

Promotes nihilistic ideas, which Arkady also follows. Has no authority. Recognizes only what he considers useful for society.

Adheres to liberal views. He considers personality and self-respect to be the main value.

Attitude towards the common people

He despises commoners, although he is proud of his grandfather, who worked on the land all his life.

He comes to the defense of the peasantry, but keeps his distance from them.

Philosophical and aesthetic views

Convinced materialist. Doesn't consider philosophy to be something important.

Believes in the existence of God.

Motto in life

Has no principles, is guided by sensations. Respects people who are either listened to or hated.

He considers aristocracy to be the main principle. And he equates unprincipled people with spiritual emptiness and immorality.

Attitude to art

Denies the aesthetic component of life. Does not recognize poetry or any other manifestation of art.

He considers art important, but is not interested in it himself. The person is dry and unromantic.

Love and women

Voluntarily gives up love. Considers it only from the point of view of human physiology.

He treats women with reverence, reverence, and respect. In love - a real knight.

Who are nihilists

The ideas of nihilism are clearly manifested in the confrontation between opponents, who are Pavel Kirsanov and Bazarov. The dispute reveals the rebellious spirit of Yevgeny Bazarov. He does not bow to authority, and this unites him with the revolutionary democrats. The hero questions and denies everything he sees in society. This is precisely the trait that nihilists have.

Storyline outcome

In general, Bazarov belongs to the category of people of action. He does not accept conventions and feigned aristocratic etiquette. The hero is in a daily search for truth. One of such searches is the dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov. The table clearly shows the contradictions between them.

Kirsanov is good at polemics, but things don’t go beyond talking. He talks about the life of the common people, but only the ashtray in the shape of a bast shoe on his desktop speaks of his true connection with them. Pavel Petrovich talks with pathos about serving for the good of the Motherland, while he himself lives a well-fed and calm life.

Because of the uncompromising nature of the heroes, the truth is not born in the novel "Fathers and Sons." The dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov ends in a duel, which demonstrates the emptiness of noble knighthood. The collapse of the ideas of nihilism is identified with the death of Eugene from blood poisoning. And the passivity of the liberals is confirmed by Pavel Petrovich, since he remains to live in Dresden, although life away from his homeland is difficult for him.

In his work “Fathers and Sons” I.S. Turgenev showed for the most part not the conflict of generations, but the opposition of liberals and democrats. Each of these movements sought to improve society. which runs through the entire novel, personify these two directions. The author very clearly depicts the confrontation between representatives of two different cultures.

Author about the novel “Fathers and Sons”

Turgenev himself says about the novel “Fathers and Sons” that it is directed against representatives of the nobility and aristocracy.

Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose dispute unfolds on the pages of the work, are characters with different views from each other. These are people of different backgrounds.

The main reason for the confrontation between the two heroes is the complete opposite of judgment on all issues: moral, political, spiritual.

used by the author

In order to emphasize the contrast of his characters, the author uses techniques that show their complete difference from each other. He achieves this by describing the characters’ appearance, manner of dressing, and behavioral characteristics. We can easily imagine Bazarov: impetuous, sharp, fast, rude, with red hands, dressed in a robe. He always says what he thinks.

Pavel Petrovich, on the contrary, is elegant, slender, “thoroughbred”. Kirsanov's gestures are full of nobility and imagery. His hands are beautiful, with pink nails.

The writer’s manner of behavior alone prepares us for the fact that disputes between Bazarov and Pavel Kirsanov will certainly take place.

The attitude of the heroes towards the aristocracy

So, the attitude of the two heroes to different moments in life is fundamentally different from each other.

Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose disputes form a significant part of the novel, certainly have different attitudes towards the nobility.

Pavel Petrovich defines aristocracy as main force, promoting As actions that contribute to the transformation of life, Kirsanov chooses liberal reforms.

Evgeny Bazarov sees the inability of the aristocracy to be active. In his eyes, nobles cannot bring any benefit to social development.

Heroes debate about nihilism

The dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov certainly touches on the topic of nihilism. The characters see his role in the life of society differently. For Pavel Petrovich, nihilists are unprincipled impudents and cynics who do not respect social norms and values. Bazarov is a real nihilist. For him, only what is useful is important; he considers revolutionary changes necessary. There are no principles for Evgeniy.

Debates about the common people

Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose disputes permeate the entire novel, perceive the position of the people in society differently.

Pavel Petrovich, who has no idea how a simple peasant lives, is touched by his patriarchy. Bazarov finds the people ignorant, poorly informed about their own rights. For Kirsanov, the life of peasants, proceeding according to the same orders that were established by their distant ancestors, is completely natural and correct. Bazarov sees the darkness and ignorance of the common people.

It was not without reason that the heroes had such different opinions about the life of peasants. Evgeny, by his origin, is a commoner, a hard worker, he understands the common people well. Pavel Petrovich comes from a noble family, completely far from peasant life. The folk faith that Kirsanov admires so much is defined by Bazarov as superstition.

The inability of the heroes to find a compromise and constant contradictions led to a duel between them.

Debates about art and nature

Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose disputes do not bypass even art, define its place in human life in different ways. Bazarov sees no point in reading fiction, nature is a resource for him. Kirsanov, on the contrary, appreciates art and perceives nature as its unique component.

The origin of the disputes between Bazarov and Kirsanov

Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose disputes are an integral part immortal work Turgenev, have a certain nature. Evgeniy considers Pavel Petrovich a worthless person leading a useless life. Kirsanov’s ambition was hurt by this attitude, because he always considered himself a noble, active person. For this, Pavel Petrovich hates Bazarov. Most likely, it is thanks to this strong feeling that the characters argue throughout the entire work. It is the awareness of the meaninglessness of his own existence that forces Kirsanov to enter into a dialogue with Evgeniy.

Disputes between Bazarov and Kirsanov were conducted on a variety of issues, they concerned education, public duty, and religion. Bazarov is an opponent of outdated foundations and culture. He advocates the destruction of previous ideals and active revolutionary actions. Kirsanov adheres to the “principles” he learned long ago.

These two characters are completely opposite to each other. When defending their ideas, they go to extremes.

Bazarov and Kirsanov argue, but forget about the truth, which can be revealed if you listen to your opponent even a little. The meaning of the dispute for them is in the dispute itself. It is symbolic that Bazarov, the personification of materialism, dies at the end of the novel. During his illness, Kirsanov reconsiders his own views on life.

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After reading the tenth chapter of the work “Fathers and Sons,” it is easy to see that the views on life of Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov are diametrically opposed. For example, Pavel Petrovich highly regards the aristocracy: “... I respect aristocrats - real ones... The aristocracy gave freedom to England and supports it.” Bazarov, on the contrary, has a very low opinion of aristocrats: “Trash, aristocrat.” Another difference in their worldviews is that Pavel Petrovich loves art very much and does not tolerate those who do not respect figures of spiritual culture: “I was told that in Rome our artists never set foot in the Vatican. Raphael is considered almost a fool, because he is supposedly an authority, but they themselves are powerless and stupid to the point of disgusting; and they themselves don’t have enough imagination beyond “Girls at the Fountain”, no matter what! And the girl is written very badly. In your opinion, they are great, aren’t they?” To which Bazarov objects: “In my opinion, Raphael is not worth a penny, and they are no better than him.” In addition, Bazarov does not believe that there is “at least one resolution<…>which would not cause complete and merciless denial.” Pavel Petrovich responds to this: “I will present you with millions of such resolutions, millions!”

So, we are convinced that Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov are completely different people, their views on things are literally opposite, and they argue about aristocrats, art and principles. Pavel Petrovich is sure that they play a huge role in people’s lives, but Bazarov believes that they have no meaning.

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Format

The problem of relationships between fathers and children in literature is not a new topic. However, Turgenev is the first to create the image advanced person of its time. The writer has an ambivalent attitude towards the main character of the work “Fathers and Sons”.

Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov and Bazarov are representatives of different generations. Let's try to compare and analyze in what aspects these two characters differ.

Writer about the work

Turgenev says about his novel that it is directed against the aristocracy, which was considered the advanced class in Russia.

Bazarov and Kirsanov are two characters whose contrasting views formed the basis of the plot of the work. The specifics of the worldview and position in society of these heroes can be presented in the form of a table. This form allows you to see the main aspects of their contradictions most clearly.

Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich. Comparative characteristics. Table

Pavel Petrovich KirsanovEvgeny Bazarov
Attitude to the aristocracy
Aristocracy is the development of societyThe uselessness of the aristocracy, the inability to lead Russia to the future
Attitude towards nihilism
Considers nihilists harmful to societyNihilism is powerful driving force development
Attitude towards the common people
He is touched by the patriarchal nature of the peasant family, says that the people cannot live without faithConsiders the people ignorant, dark and superstitious, notes the revolutionary nature of the human spirit
Attitude to art, nature
Loves nature, art, musicDefines nature as a workshop in which man is in charge. Art is considered useless
Origin
Born into a noble familyBorn into the family of a zemstvo doctor, commoner

Attitude to the aristocracy

Kirsanov believes that the aristocracy is key driving force The ideal, in his opinion, is a constitutional monarchy, which can be achieved through liberal reforms.

Bazarov notes the aristocrats’ inability to act; they cannot bring any benefit, unable to lead Russia to the future.

This is how Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich relate to the aristocracy. (the table presented above) reflects this and gives an idea of ​​how different their understanding of what the driving force of social development is is.

Attitude towards nihilism

The next question on which the two heroes argue concerns nihilism and its role in the life of society.

Pavel Petrovich defines representatives of this worldview as impudent and cynics who do not respect or recognize anything. He is glad that there are few of them in society.

Nihilists note the need for revolutionary changes. Bazarov believes that the people are ignorant, but revolutionary in spirit. Evgeniy sees meaning only in what is useful; he does not consider it necessary to say big words.

This is how they look at Pavel Petrovich. Comparative characteristics(the table is in the article) displays this moment, shows how different the heroes’ attitude to this ideological position is.

Attitude towards ordinary people

Pavel Petrovich is far from the people, but at the same time he is touched by patriarchy and religiosity. Bazarov considers the peasants dark, ignorant, and ignorant of their rights.

Kirsanov believes that the life of ordinary people according to the rules established by their great-grandfathers is correct. Bazarov despises the ignorance of the peasants.

Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov (the table records this point) perceive the position of the common people in society differently.

By his origin, Evgeniy is closer to ordinary people. He is a commoner. Consequently, he understands the peasants more. Pavel Petrovich comes from a noble family, he is absolutely far from understanding the life of ordinary people. What Kirsanov considers faith, Bazarov calls superstition.

A compromise between these heroes is impossible, which is confirmed by the duel between Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich.

Attitude to art, nature

The views of Bazarov and Kirsanov differ even in the perception of art. They treat nature differently. According to Bazarov, reading fiction is a waste of time, and he values ​​nature solely as a resource. Kirsanov is the complete opposite of him. On the contrary, he loves the world around him, art, music.

Bazarov believes that it is necessary to rely in life only on personal experience and sensations. Based on this, he denies art, since it is only a generalized and figurative understanding of experience, distracting from the matter. He denies the world's cultural achievements.

Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich look at nature and art differently. Comparative characteristics (the table shows this) in Once again shows the practicality of Eugene’s views.

Biography of heroes, attitude to life

Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov and Bazarov are two opposite characters. The author makes this clear to us. Kirsanov hated Evgeny because he showed Pavel Petrovich the uselessness of his existence. Before meeting him, Kirsanov believed that he was noble and worthy of respect. When Evgeny appears, Pavel Petrovich comes to the realization of the emptiness and meaninglessness of his own life.

Kirsanov is undoubtedly a worthy representative of the nobility. He is the son of a general, an officer who squandered best years life in an effort to win the woman he loves. The elder Kirsanov is, of course, honest, decent, and loves his family.

Turgenev notes that, having described the best representatives of the nobility in the novel, he wanted to emphasize the failure and futility of this class.

Bazarov's parents are very pious people. His father is a zemstvo doctor, his mother, as the author writes about her, should have been born two hundred years ago.

In his own way, Bazarov is a commoner who loves work. He is a man with a strong mind and character, who raised himself.

Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov (the table clearly reflects this) are two completely different people in their views and origins.

In the novel "Fathers and Sons" the author contrasts two very bright characters. Pavel Petrovich's beliefs characterize him as a representative of the past. Bazarov's views are too advanced and progressive, extremely materialistic, which may be responsible for the death of this hero at the end of the work.

Bazarov's disputes with Pavel Petrovich: who is right? (Novel by I.S. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons")
The novel "Fathers and Sons", according to the definition of the Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov, is "not only best novel Turgenev, but also one of the most brilliant works of the XIX century." The central place here is occupied by long disputes between the young raznochinsky nihilist Yevgeny Bazarov and the aging aristocrat Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov.
These heroes differ from each other in everything: age, social status, beliefs, appearance. Here is a portrait of Bazarov: “tall in a long robe with tassels,” his face “long and thin with a wide forehead, a flat upward, pointed nose downward, large greenish eyes and hanging sand-colored sideburns, it was enlivened by a calm smile and expressed self-confidence and intelligence”; the hero has thin lips, and “his dark-blond hair, long and thick, did not hide the large bulges of his spacious skull.” And here is a portrait of Bazarov’s main opponent: “... a man of average height, dressed in a dark English suit, a fashionable low tie and patent leather ankle boots, Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov, entered the living room. He looked about forty-five years old; his short-cropped gray hair had a dark tint its shine was like new silver; his face, bilious, but without wrinkles, unusually regular and clean, as if carved with a thin and light chisel, showed traces of remarkable beauty; his light, black, elongated eyes were especially beautiful... his whole appearance... graceful and thoroughbred. , retained youthful harmony and that desire upward, away from the earth, which for the most part disappears after the twenties."
Pavel Petrovich is twenty years older than Bazarov, but, perhaps even more than he, retains the signs of youth in his appearance. The elder Kirsanov is a man who is extremely concerned about his appearance in order to look as young as possible for his age. So befits a socialite, an old heartthrob. Bazarov, on the contrary, appearance doesn't care at all. In the portrait of Pavel Petrovich, the writer highlights the correct features
and strict order, sophistication of costume and a desire for light, unearthly materials. This hero will defend order in the dispute against Bazarov’s transformative pathos. And everything in his appearance indicates adherence to the norm. Even Pavel Petrovich’s height is average, so to speak, normal, while Bazarov’s tall height symbolizes his superiority over those around him. And Evgeniy’s facial features are emphatically non-. regular, unkempt hair, instead of Pavel Petrovich’s expensive English suit, he has some kind of strange robe, his hand is red, rough, while Kirsanov’s - beautiful hand"with long pink nails." But Bazarov’s wide forehead and convex skull reveal his intelligence and self-confidence. But Pavel Petrovich has a bilious face, and increased attention to the toilet reveals in him a carefully hidden lack of confidence in his own abilities. We can say that he has aged twenty years. Kin's Onegin, living in a different era, in which there will soon be no place for this type of people
What position does Bazarov defend in the dispute? He claims that “nature is not a temple, but a workshop, and man is a worker in it.” Evgeniy is deeply convinced that achievements modern natural science in the future they will allow us to solve all the problems of social life. He denies beauty - art, poetry - in love he sees only the physiological, but does not see the spiritual principle. Bazarov “approaches everything from a critical point of view”, “does not accept a single principle on faith, no matter how much respect this principle is surrounded.” Pavel Petrovich proclaims that “aristocratism is a principle, and in our time only immoral or empty people can live without principles.” However, the impression of an inspired ode to principles is noticeably weakened by the fact that Bazarov’s opponent puts in first place the “principle” of aristocracy that is closest to himself. Pavel Petrovich, brought up in a comfortable estate existence and accustomed to the St. Petersburg secular society It is no coincidence that he puts poetry, music, and love in first place. He had never done anything in his life practical activities, except for a short and easy service in the guards regiment, he was never interested in the natural sciences and understood little about them. Bazarov, the son of a poor military doctor, accustomed from childhood to work and not to idleness, graduated from university, interested in natural sciences, experimental knowledge, very little in his short life dealt with poetry or music, maybe didn’t really read Pushkin. Hence the harsh and unfair judgment of Evgeniy Vasilyevich about the great Russian poet: “... He must be in military service served... on every page: To the battle, to the battle! for the honor of Russia!”, by the way, almost verbatim repeating the opinion about Pushkin expressed in a conversation with Turgenev by the raznochinsky writer N.V. Uspensky (the author of “Fathers and Sons” called him a “hater of men”).
Bazarov does not have as much experience in love as Pavel Petrovich, and therefore is inclined to treat this feeling too simplistically. The elder Kirsanov had already experienced love suffering; it was an unsuccessful romance with Princess R. that prompted him to long years settled in the village with his brother, and the death of his beloved aggravated his state of mind. Bazarov's love pangs - an equally unsuccessful romance with Anna Sergeevna Odintsova is yet to come. That is why, at the beginning of the novel, he so confidently reduces love to certain physiological relationships, and calls the spiritual in love “romantic nonsense.”
Bazarov is a realist, and Pavel Petrovich is a romantic, focused on the cultural values ​​of romanticism of the first third of the 19th century, on the cult of beauty. And he, of course, is offended by Bazarov’s statements about the fact that “a decent chemist is twenty times more useful than any poet” or that “Raphael is not worth a penny.” Here Turgenev certainly disagrees with Bazarov’s point of view. However, he does not give victory on this point of the dispute to Pavel Petrovich. The trouble is that the refined Anglomaniac aristocrat does not have not only Raphael’s abilities, but no creative abilities at all. His discussions about art and poetry, as well as about society, are empty and trivial, often comical. Pavel Petrovich cannot possibly be a worthy opponent for Bazarov. And when they parted, the eldest of the Kirsanov brothers “was dead,” of course, in a figurative sense. Arguments with a nihilist somehow justified the meaning of his existence, introduced a certain “fermentation”, awakened thoughts. Now Pavel Petrovich is doomed to a stagnant existence. This is how we see him abroad at the end of the novel.
Turgenev's plan was fully consistent with Bazarov's victory over the aristocrat Kirsanov. In 1862, in one of his letters regarding “Fathers and Sons,” Ivan Sergeevich especially emphasized that “my whole story is directed against the nobility, as an advanced class... An aesthetic feeling forced me to take precisely good representatives of the nobility, in order to more accurately prove my theme: if cream is bad, what about milk?.. if the reader does not fall in love with Bazarov with all his rudeness, heartlessness, ruthless dryness and harshness - if he does not fall in love, I repeat, - I am guilty and have not achieved my goal. But “to crumble.” , in his words, I didn’t want to, although through this I would probably immediately have young people on my side. I didn’t want to buy into popularity with this kind of concessions. It’s better to lose the battle... than to win it with a trick. , wild, big, half grown out of the soil, strong, evil, honest - and yet doomed to death - because
that she still stands on the threshold of the future..." Turgenev himself was a representative of the same generation as Pavel Petrovich, but of the heroes of his novel he felt the greatest sympathy for the young nihilist Bazarov. In 1869, in a special article dedicated to the "Fathers and children,” the writer directly stated: “I honestly, and not only without prejudice, but even with sympathy, reacted to the type I had drawn... Drawing the figure of Bazarov, I excluded everything artistic from the circle of his sympathies, I gave him a harshness and unceremonious tone - not out of an absurd desire to insult the younger generation (!!!)... “This life turned out this way,” experience told me again, “perhaps erroneous, but, I repeat, conscientious... My personal inclinations mean nothing here ; but, probably, many of my readers will be surprised if I tell them that, with the exception of Bazarov’s views on art, I share almost all of his beliefs. And they assure me that I am on the side of the “Fathers”... I, who in the figure of Pavel Kirsanov even sinned against artistic truth and over-salted, brought his shortcomings to the point of caricature, made him funny!” Turgenev was honest as an artist to the same extent how honest the character created by his imagination was as a person. The writer did not want to idealize Bazarov and endowed his hero with all those shortcomings that his prototypes from the radical heterodox youth possessed in abundance. However, Turgenev did not deprive Evgeni of his Russian roots, emphasizing that a half-hero grows up. from Russian soil, the fundamental conditions of Russian life, and half is formed under the influence of new ideas brought from Europe. And in a dispute with Pavel Petrovich, Bazarov, according to the conviction of the writer, and any thoughtful reader, is right in his main positions: the need to question established dogmas. , work tirelessly for the good of society, be critical of surrounding reality. Where Bazarov is wrong, in utilitarian views on the nature of beauty, on literature, on art, victory still does not remain on the side of Pavel Petrovich. Arkady and Bazarov
After its publication in 1862, Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons” caused a literal flurry of critical articles. None of the public camps accepted Turgenev’s new creation. Liberal criticism could not forgive the writer for the fact that representatives of the aristocracy, hereditary nobles, are depicted ironically, that the “plebeian” Bazarov constantly mocks them and turns out to be morally superior to them. Democrats perceived the novel's protagonist as an evil parody. The critic Antonovich, who collaborated in the Sovremennik magazine, called Bazarov “the astronomer of our time.”
But all these facts, it seems to me, speak in favor of I.S. Tug Geneva. Like a true artist, creator, he was able to guess the trends of the era,
the emergence of a new type, the type of commoner democrat, who replaced the progressive nobility.
The main problem posed by the writer in the novel is already heard in its title: “Fathers and Sons.” This name has a double meaning. On the one hand, this is a generational problem - eternal problem classical literature, on the other hand, is the conflict between two socio-political forces operating in Russia in the 60s: liberals and democrats.
The characters in the novel are grouped depending on which of the socio-political camps we can attribute them to.
But the point is that main character Evgeny Bazarov turns out to be the only representative of the “children” camp, the camp of commoner democrats. All other heroes are in the hostile camp.
The central place in the novel is occupied by the figure of a new man - Evgeny Bazarov. He is presented as one of those young figures who “want to fight.” Others are people of the older generation who do not share Bazarov’s revolutionary democratic beliefs. They are depicted as petty, weak-willed people, with narrow, limited interests. The novel presents nobles and commoners of 2 generations - “fathers” and “children”. Turgenev shows how a commoner democrat acts in an environment alien to him.
In Maryino, Bazarov is a guest who differs in his democratic appearance from his landowner hosts. And he disagrees with Arkady in the main thing - in his idea of ​​​​life, although at first they are considered friends. But their relationship still cannot be called friendship, because friendship is impossible without mutual understanding, friendship cannot be based on the subordination of one to the other. Throughout the entire novel, the subordination of a weak nature to a stronger one is observed: Arkady to Bazarov. But still, Arkady gradually acquired his own opinion and no longer blindly repeated Bazarov’s judgments and opinions of the nihilist. In disputes, he cannot stand it; I express my thoughts. One day their argument almost came to the point of a fight. The difference between the heroes is visible in their behavior in Kirsanov’s “empire”. Bazarov is busy with work, studying nature, and Arkady is sybaritic and does nothing. The fact that Bazarov is a man of action can be seen immediately from his red bare hand. Yes, indeed, in any environment, in any home, he tries to get busy. His main business is the natural sciences, the study of nature and testing theoretical discoveries in practice. Passion for science is a typical feature cultural life Russia in the 60s, which means Bazarov keeps up with the times. Arkady is the complete opposite. He doesn’t do anything; none of the serious matters really captivates him. For him, the main thing is comfort and peace, and for Bazarov - not to sit idly by, to work, to move.
They form completely different judgments in relation to art. Bazarov denies Pushkin, and unfoundedly. Arkady is trying to prove to him the greatness of the poet. Arkady is always neat, tidy, well dressed, and has aristocratic manners. Bazarov does not consider it necessary to follow the rules good manners, so important in noble life. This is reflected in all his actions, habits, manners, speeches, and appearance. A major disagreement arose between “friends” in a conversation about the role of nature in human life. Here Arkady’s resistance to Bazarov’s views is already visible; gradually the “student” emerges from the power of the “teacher.” Bazarov hates many, but Arkady has no enemies. "You, gentle soul", a weakling," says Bazarov, realizing that Arkady can no longer be his associate. The “disciple” cannot live without principles. In this way, he is very close to his liberal father and Pavel Petrovich. But Bazarov appears before us as a man of a new generation, which replaced the “fathers” who were unable to solve the main problems of the era. Arkady is a man belonging to the old generation, the generation of “fathers”.
Pisarev very accurately assesses the reasons for the disagreements between the “student” and the “teacher”, between Arkady and Bazarov: “Bazarov’s attitude towards his friend casts a bright streak of light on his character; Bazarov has no friend, because he has not yet met a person who would not gave up in front of him. Bazarov’s personality closes in on itself, because outside of it and around it there are almost no elements related to it.”
Arkady wants to be the son of his age and puts on himself the ideas of Bazarov, which absolutely cannot merge with him. He belongs to the category of people who are always looked after and always do not notice that they are being looked after. Bazarov treats him patronizingly and almost always mockingly; he understands that their paths will diverge.