In the novel “Fathers and Sons” by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, it is written about the conflict of different generations.
The main character Evgeny Bazarov is a very hardworking person. He likes exact sciences, he conducts research and experiments. Bazarov tries in every possible way to benefit his homeland and society as a whole. He doesn't like to talk about feelings and denies any expression of them. For him, creativity and poetry have absolutely no meaning.
Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov becomes his opponent - it is he who enters into an argument with Bazarov. Kirsanov Sr. does not understand why the young man Evgeniy treats art with such disdain.
Every day these two treat each other more and more with hatred and anger. It comes to the point that they start a secret duel in which Bazarov wins. Evgeniy’s victory is just a lucky chance and it could also have turned up against Pavel Petrovich.
After the duel, passions in the Kirsanovs' house, where Bazarov was invited, subsided a little. However better friend They did not treat each other.
Arkady, who invites his friend to stay at his parents' house, also notices that Bazarov is not so good man and in fact they don't have as much in common as he previously thought. Arkady and Evgeny considered themselves to be members of the nihilistic society.
The Kirsanovs are wealthy nobles, they have their own estate, a little dilapidated, but large. Kirsanov Sr. good education and he is very intelligent and well-mannered person. Arkady Kirsanov was receiving his education and met Evgeny Bazarov. It was Bazarov who led Arkady to the nihilists. Evgeniy has very few friends, or rather, practically none. All his friends and acquaintances at first eagerly accepted his ideas of nihilism, but then everyone quickly dispersed. Everyone went their separate ways, some got married and took care of their families, and some found things more interesting.
Arkady was very sympathetic to Bazarov and tried to support him in everything. Over time, Kirsanov realizes that it is better for them to stop communicating with Bazarov. Kirsanov has loving family father and uncle. A little time will pass and Arkady will marry a wonderful girl, Katerina, whom he fell in love with very much. Kirsanov believes that he should put his family at the head and abandon Bazarov’s obsessions.
Evgeny Bazarov has none of this. His parents, of course, love him madly, but they cannot show their feelings fully so as not to frighten their son. Evgeniy does not love anyone and believes that all people are no match for him. In order to satisfy his physiological needs, he does not need to love anyone. It is enough for the girl to be pretty. The only person he considered his equal was Anna Sergeevna Odintsova’s girl. Bazarov fell in love for the first time and wanted to own this woman. Anna Sergeevna refused him.
Bazarov will die trying to prove to everyone that he is right and that the manifestation of feelings is complete nonsense. He did not want to choose a family hearth and loving family. I couldn’t even convey my knowledge of nihilism to Bazarov. Evgeny Bazarov died alone.
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The book “Fathers and Sons” was written in the sixties of the nineteenth century. This is a story about unhappy love, new beliefs and the eternal problem of mutual understanding between different generations. Exactly last topic presented in the novel from various points of view.
The basis of disagreement in the novel
The topic of mutual understanding between parents and children is an eternal one. It was especially successfully revealed by the Russian classic. The conflict of generations in the novel “Fathers and Sons” is a difference in views on the political, cultural and social situation in Russia in the second half of the 19th century. It was 1860 that became a turning point in the history of the empire. Constant uprisings of dissatisfied peasants forced the government to cancel serfdom. This divided people into two camps.
In the first there were representatives of the old world, nobles and rich people. The second part is supporters of a new, free era, where people were valued and respected. Evgeny Bazarov, the hero of the novel “Fathers and Sons,” belonged to those who wanted revolution. He is a nihilist, which means he does not recognize authorities and laughs at generally accepted values. His ideas are shared by Arkady and his beloved Anna. But at the same time, he becomes an enemy for a close friend and for his parents.
A clash of views
The conflict gains its greatest development due to the stubbornness and misunderstanding of two representatives of different generations and eras. This is a meeting of the beliefs of the revolutionary democrat and the liberal nobleman Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. The first one tries to work for the benefit of society. The second one cares more about his own benefit. However, both of them are energetic and confident in defending their beliefs. In general, they are varied.
They relate to religion, philosophy and even poetry. Characteristics of the novel “Fathers and Sons” are brief description events that actually happened in Russia in the 1860s. Conversations and are conversations between people of those turning-point years for society.
Discrepancies in the Kirsanov family
It is also important to consider the relationship between Arkady and Nikolai Petrovich. These two, father and son, are also representatives of different generations. Arkady - best friend Evgeniy Bazarov and part-time his obedient student. He strives to understand nihilism and immerse himself in the theory of democracy as much as possible.
His father is an avid liberal who is ashamed of his connection with common people. In particular, he is ashamed of his love for a young woman named Fanechka. The first conflict of generations in the novel “Fathers and Sons” arises between the father and Arkady. But the love they cherish for each other is stronger than the misunderstanding regarding their views on society.
Kinship is stronger than conviction
So, over time, Arkady abandons his theory and stops trying to join in the creation of a new world. Nikolai Petrovich is not far behind. At the end of the novel, he marries the commoner Fanechka. And Arkady chooses the modest and quiet Catherine as his wife. Their conflict is resolved.
Characteristics of the novel “Fathers and Sons” - an analysis of the society of that time. Turgenev shows that Bazarov’s thoughts did not take root, the conflict that arose in this family hesitated, never reaching logical solution. But at the end of the book, during the double wedding of father and son, the author makes a minor point and says that neither of them looks happy.
The author and Bazarov's parents
Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev does not hide his attitude towards the older generation and instills love for this in his reader. His tender feelings of gratitude and respect can be seen in the description of Dear, charming spouses, from the first lines we are attracted by the warmth and friendliness that emanates from them.
The conflict of generations in the novel “Fathers and Sons” could not have been so vivid if the author had not so clearly revealed the images of old people to the reader. So, he introduces us to Arina Vlasevna and Vasily Ivanovich. Mother is a dear old lady, she believes in God and folk superstitions. She is the embodiment of hospitality, peace and kindness. Father, a respectable man who rightly earned the respect of his acquaintances. He is sincere, warm-hearted and even tries to join the new ideas of the generation.
Their only son is the greatest joy in their life. Knowing about his difficult character, his parents try to indulge him as much as possible. They tiptoe around him and show only part of their feelings for their beloved child. Evgeny Bazarov, main character the novel “Fathers and Sons” is revealed to us from the other side in our own home.
The role of Bazarov's whole life
An unapproachable heart is not so unapproachable. From the first lines of the novel, the reader observes how Eugene treats the older generation with disdain. Corrosive, pompous, narcissistic, he refuses any other people's thoughts. His arrogance and coldness are repulsive. He is inhuman and indifferent to old age.
But once he gets to his parents' house, most of his contempt disappears. Main topic In the novel “Fathers and Sons”, the difference between generations is clearly expressed precisely in the relationship between Evgeniy and his parents. A change in environment changes Bazarov's way of thinking. He becomes softer, more tolerant, more gentle. Despite the fact that he rarely visits his homeland, he passionately loves his loved ones, although he diligently hides this behind a mask of absent-mindedness. His main problem is that he never learned to express feelings, especially if it concerns light, positive emotions. It was precisely this wall of inability and misunderstanding that parents faced.
Conflict of views
In his work, Turgenev revealed a simple and painful truth - the difference between generations. Bazarov's old-fashioned parents only worsen, although not intentionally, their relationship with their son. All the characters in the novel “Fathers and Sons” are very strong personalities, and for them to break their own views in favor of others is unacceptable.
The young man does not share his philosophy with his parents, representatives of another generation. They are devout, and he is an atheist, they are people of the first half of the century, he is of the second. And the parents, knowing about their son’s isolation, do not try to get into his world of new principles. So, both the first and the second rejoice at the small amount of intimacy that exists.
Perhaps if life path Evgeniy was longer, he himself became a father, then over the years he would have understood what was not revealed to him - a young dreamer. And then the conflict of generations in the novel “Fathers and Sons” could find a logical solution. But the author decided to correct the situation in the destinies of his readers through the grief of the characters.
A world that has not matured to Bazarov's views
The events in the novel take place from May 1859 to the winter of 1860. These are significant years for the history of Russia. It was then that new ideals were born. And the first who began to distribute them was Evgeny Bazarov. But the world was not ready for his beliefs, so the only thing left for the lonely hero was to give up his attempts to change the country. But fate chose a different path for him.
Death put an end to suffering on earth, where no one understood him. Along with Bazarov’s death, all the conflicts that the author created in the work were resolved. The story of the novel “Fathers and Sons” is the story of a rootless man. He was forgotten by friends, supporters and his beloved. And only the elderly parents continued to mourn their only joy.
The problem of “fathers and sons” arises in all areas human life: in the family, in the work team, in society. This issue can be resolved if the older generation is more tolerant of the younger generation, perhaps agreeing with him somewhere, and the “children” will show more respect.
The heroes of Turgenev's novels often became representatives of the new generation. This writer showed an amazing sensitivity to major social and political changes. However, this feature of Turgenev’s style even today does not deprive his book of its relevance. After all, history, as we know, repeats itself. And the conflict between fathers and children is relevant at all times.
Nihilist ideas
In April 1860, Turgenev once again left for France. In the small town of Soden, he studied the works of materialist philosophers. In the sixties, many young people showed interest in the natural sciences. Turgenev was offended by Dobrolyubov’s article, in which the author expressed extremely nihilistic views.
Young people are smarter than old people - this is precisely the idea that was visible between the lines in the work of the young critic. A furious dispute developed in the correspondence between Dobrolyubov and Turgenev. Moreover, the discussion concerned primarily the main categories human existence- love and death.
The idea of the novel
There is no love, but there is physical attraction. There is no beauty of nature, but there is an eternal cycle chemical processes. There is no spiritual pleasure in art, but only physiological irritation of the nerves. Young people immediately reject the ancient ideals of their fathers. Matter and force are the only things that cannot be doubted. But for some reason, not a single mentally healthy person dreams of death, and everyone strives to love and be loved. Such thoughts haunted the writer, and it was from them that the novel was born, in which, like no other, the theme of the conflict between fathers and children was revealed.
From the history of creation
The writer thought a lot about the relationship between youth and old age. What is the connection between them? Turgenev analyzed the conflict between fathers and sons based on own experience. Disputes similar to those depicted in the novel increasingly arose between him and his grown-up daughter Polina.
In 1866, Turgenev met with Herzen in London. The conversation between old friends was mainly about the Sovremennik magazine. And first of all, about the intolerant attitude of Chernyshevsky and Dobrolyubov towards the people of the forties. These conversations became the final impetus for the creation of a novel about the conflict between fathers and children. Turgenev touched on this topic in more early works, namely in " Noble nest" In "Fathers and Sons" he created an image that had not previously been found in literature.
New hero
In 1860, Turgenev began working on a new novel. During the first days, the image of a hero vaguely appeared in his thoughts, convinced that natural scientific discoveries could explain everything in man. The prose writer imagined a gloomy, significant, strong, evil figure, but at the same time pure and sincere. And doomed to death.
Turgenev created a character who stands on the threshold of the future, but is in constant confrontation with the present. At the same time, he turns out to be too weak to realize his ideas and bring them to life. The conflict between fathers and sons, humanists and nihilists, representatives of the Russian nobility and commoners - all this inspired the writer to create the novel.
Features of Turgenev's prose
This prose writer influenced both the form and content foreign literature. The opinion that he was addicted to European culture, incorrect. Rather, French prose writers of the 20th century wrote under the influence of Turgenev's work. The novel “Fathers and Sons” also became popular in Europe. The conflict of this work, however, can only be fully understood by those who grew up in Russia.
Turgenev's novels are characterized by the absence of verbose moralizing, which cannot be said about the books of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. The author's voice in “Fathers and Sons”, “On the Eve”, “Ace”, “Spring Waters” does not occupy the first place. The writer never imposed his opinion on the reader. Another feature of Turgenev’s manner is the presence of subtext.
And finally, he always wrote about the most current problems contemporary society. Thus, in Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons” the conflict is born from the contradictions that arose between adherents different points vision. And it has a direct bearing on the social and political transformations in Russia in the mid-19th century.
Human nature is unchanged
What political events took place during the years when Turgenev was working on his novel? The Decembrists were returned from Siberia. Reforms have begun. Liberal views are progressing in society. Turgenev quickly realized that everything that was happening was superficial. These are just conversations with nothing to follow. Turgenev, unlike Nekrasov, had no illusions.
The writer never relied on progress great hopes. He understood that human nature is unchangeable. The main character of the novel, Evgeny Bazarov, is a man completely free from liberal illusions. Empty conversations that Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov passionately conducts are alien to him. Bazarov doesn’t believe in anything, doesn’t want anything. This is a deeply disappointed man.
Image of Bazarov
The main character of this work is the first convincing commoner in Russian literature. This is the first character who proudly says about himself: “My grandfather dug the earth.” Turgenev wrote almost every novel for the sake of something new. literary image. “Fathers and Sons” was created for the sake of Bazarov. This character is a manifestation of a new type of consciousness.
In “Fathers and Sons” the writer created, as already mentioned, a fundamentally new hero. There is an opinion that Dostoevsky partially borrowed the image of Raskolnikov from his colleague.
What is Turgenev's novel about?
The political meaning of the novel “Fathers and Sons” somewhat overshadows the author’s main idea, characteristic feature which was humanity. This writer did not demand moral feat from his heroes. “Fathers and Sons” is a novel with a very deep human meaning, which is quite obvious, but it is overshadowed by the titanic figure of Yevgeny Bazarov.
The main character is straightforward, he is smarter than most of his interlocutors, therefore he is not interested in communicating with them. It's very difficult for him to live. Evgeniy loves his father, but cannot build a dialogue with him. He is attached to Arkady, but he annoys him. Bazarov completely lacks the ability to establish contact with others. The main character of Turgenev's novel denies everything, and above all conventions. He does not understand love metaphors and romantic relationship, and this becomes his main tragedy.
In what main idea novel? Perhaps the fact is that happy is the one who knows how to forgive and love. The landscape depicted in final scene, illustrates main idea author: nature conquers everything. Let us recall the contents of the book, namely its ending.
Two couples are getting married in the church: Nikolai Petrovich and Fenechka, Arkady and Katya. There is happiness in the lives of these characters, although it is somewhat feigned. Pavel Petrovich is still lonely, looks like a gentleman. But his life is empty. Sitnikov and Kukshina continue to put on a show, posing as representatives of new views.
The nihilist hero is the least fortunate. All that remains of his ideas is a gravestone, to which decrepit old men regularly come, cry and pray for the repose of their son’s soul. This fate awaits everyone. But Bazarov did not have time to truly fall in love or know his father’s happiness. Charged with the ideas of materialist philosophers, he was above this.
The ideal of a person according to Turgenev
The conflict of generations in “Fathers and Sons” is expressed in the form of dialogues. Throughout the entire story, the characters engage in endless discussions, trying to defend their own point of view and prove to each other that they are right. Who wins this argument? Having finished reading Turgenev's novel, the reader does not see a resolution to the conflict. But one of the characters - a representative of the older generation - still wins the argument. Although he did not enter into controversy.
Pavel Petrovich does not inspire respect from the author. This is a man crushed feminine love. The writer does not mention the name of Kirsanov’s former lover. However, there is an opinion that Princess R is a symbol pointing to Russia. Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov is a man without a future, without prospects. Although this hero is only 44 years old. Main conflict in the novel it is expressed primarily in the dialogues of Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov. They represent opposing views. As we know from the ending of the novel, there is no winner in their intellectual dispute.
The ideal person for Turgenev is by no means Bazarov. The most charming and sweet character in the novel is Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. He has a beloved son, a beloved woman. He reads poetry and plays the cello. Nikolai Petrovich knows how to live. And he is the most humane of all the heroes of Turgenev’s novel. He is one of the few who finds happiness at the conclusion of this whole story.
Russia's eternal problem
The author of the novel “Fathers and Sons” was not the first to write about the conflict of generations. Lermontov already spoke about this earlier. Moreover, the conflict between fathers and children (the main theme of Turgenev's novel) is a problem that has been relevant in Russia for a long time. Turgenev's compatriots were always alien to both English continuity and Eastern respect for the elderly.
In Russia, it is somehow not customary to support the ideas of ancestors. Perhaps this is where revolutionary events of various scales have occurred from time to time over the past two centuries.
The very title of the work suggests that it will resolve the eternal question - the relationship between generations. To some extent this is fair. But the author’s main attention is drawn to the conflict of different worldviews - liberals and revolutionary democrats, called nihilists. Turgenev created the image of a new man, a commoner by birth, a democrat by political views. The contrast between the views of commoners and nobles, democrats and liberals is the basis of the novel’s conflict.
Among the heroes of the novel, the most active representatives of irreconcilable worldviews are Evgeny Bazarov and “aristocrat to the core” Pavel Kirsanov. Pavel Petrovich was a typical representative of his era and environment. He followed the “principles” everywhere and in everything, even continuing to live in the village as before. He kept his habits unchanged, although from a practical point of view it was inconvenient. But for the nihilist Bazarov it looked simply ridiculous.
Pavel Petrovich is about forty-five years old, he is always shaven, wears a strict English suit, the collar of his shirt is always white and starched. “The whole appearance of Pavel Petrovich, elegant and thoroughbred, retained youthful harmony and that desire upward, away from the earth, which for the most part disappears after the twenties.” In appearance and by conviction, Pavel Petrovich is an aristocrat. True, as Pi-sarev notes, “he... has no convictions, but he has habits that he values very much,” and he “out of habit proves in disputes the need for “principles.” What are these “principles”? First of all, this is a view of the state structure. A nobleman and aristocrat himself, he holds the same views as most nobles of that time. Pavel Petrovich is for the established order, he is a monarchist.
Pavel Petrovich cannot tolerate dissent and fiercely defends doctrines that “his actions constantly contradicted.” He loves to talk about Russian peasants, but when he meets them, he “wrinkles and sniffs cologne.” Kirsanov talks about Russia, about the “Russian idea,” but at the same time uses huge amount foreign words. He speaks with pathos about the public good, about serving the fatherland, but he himself sits with folded hands, satisfied with a well-fed and calm life.
But, seeing that he cannot defeat the nihilist in a dispute, cannot shake his moral foundations, or rather, the lack of them, Pavel Petrovich resorts to the last resort of resolving conflicts of this kind. This is a duel. Evgeniy accepts the challenge, although he considers this the trick of a crazy “aristocrat”. They shoot, and Evgeniy wounds Kirsanov. The duel did not help solve their problems. With the help of a partly satirical depiction of these events, the author emphasized the absurdity of Pavel Petrovich’s behavior, because it is ridiculous and even senseless to believe that you can force the younger generation to think the same way as the generation of “fathers”. They part, but each of them remains unconvinced. Bazarov only managed to violate peace of mind Pavel Petrovich,
For young people, nihilism is a certain political and life position. Many perceive it as a fashionable fad (Sitnikov, Kukshina, Arkady). Deny everything: authorities, science, art, the experience of previous generations and not listen to anything - that’s their motto. But sooner or later they will all grow up, start families and remember their beliefs as the mistakes of their youth. And now they are only vulgarizing the ideas that Bazarov preaches.
However, the main character is aware of his thoughts and is firm in his convictions. He is interested in natural sciences and intends to continue the work of his father, a retired doctor, who does not give up practicing medicine even in the wilderness of the village.
Evgeny scoffs at Pavel Petrovich’s “principles”, considering them unnecessary and simply frivolous. Bazarov finds that it is better to deny, and he denies. To Pavel Petrovich’s exclamation: “But we need to build!”, he replies: “This is no longer our business.” Evgeniy speaks sarcastically about romantics, but, having met love, he realizes the romance in himself. Life treated Bazarov cruelly. Not believing in love, he fell in love, but his love was rejected.
Looking at the album of Saxon Switzerland, Bazarov says to Odintsova: “You don’t assume in me artistic meaning“Yes, I really don’t have it in me, but these species could interest me from a geological point of view.” Bazarov tries to debunk ineffective “principles” and does not accept illusory dreaminess. But at the same time, he rejects the great achievements of culture (“Raphael is not worth a penny”) and perceives nature in a utilitarian way.
Bazarov dies with the words: “Russia needs me... No, apparently he doesn’t need me. And who needs a wife?” This is the tragic result of the life of Eugene.
The author's attitude towards his characters is not at all simple. The writer himself belongs to the generation raised in German universities, he is a nobleman and a liberal. But he remarkably managed to show the change in forms of consciousness, as well as the inevitable tragedy of people who are the first to take a step forward towards a new world order.
Humanity is in constant movement, developing, generations after generations accumulate experience, knowledge and strive to pass on everything accumulated to those who follow, since all this will not only allow them to survive in reality, but also achieve success and happiness. New times give birth to a new generation, which already looks at the world differently and sets other goals for itself. Much of the ancestral experience really becomes unacceptable in new reality, but a huge part should serve as a support for further development.
What to leave behind and what to take with you on the journey of life for the new generation? This is what it's all about eternal problem two generations: the older one, striving to pass on all knowledge, all experience, and the new one, sweeping away everything in its path. Naturally, such a problem could not help but worry writers and poets. different eras. In the novel “Fathers and Sons” by I. S. Turgenev, the characters of representatives of the 40s and 60s of the 19th century collide. He includes Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov in the camp of the 40s – “fathers”, and Evgeniy Bazarov belongs to the camp of the 60s – “children”. Both of them are completely opposite people in character. Each of them was brought up in their own era and therefore has their own views on life.
At the very first meeting, the future enemies felt hostility towards each other: Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov was amazed at Bazarov’s outfit with long tassels, as well as his arrogance; Bazarov didn’t even bother to greet this aristocrat.
Soon, the already tense situation became even more tense, and an argument ensued between them. It reveals the characters and ideological positions of these people.
Pavel Petrovich, who “was only waiting for an excuse to attack the enemy,” misunderstands Bazarov’s statement about aristocrats. He regards the words “rubbish and aristocratic” as an insult to the aristocrats and begins to defend their rights. He himself tries to imitate English aristocrats in everything: he dresses fashionably, he always smells of cologne.
Bazarov at first has firm ideological positions. He does not want to argue with Pavel Petrovich, but is gradually drawn into the argument. “You deny everything, or, to put it more precisely, you destroy everything... But you also need to build,” Kirsanov says in confusion, completely stunned by Bazarov’s short and clear answers. “It’s none of our business... First we need to clear the place.” He himself does not yet know who will “build” after him, or even “will build.”
Bazarov, unlike Pavel Petrovich, is a nihilist. In his dispute with Kirsanov, he seems to define nihilism: “We... decided not to accept anything... And this is called nihilism.” Turgenev defined the meaning of this word as follows: “And if he is called a nihilist, then it should be read: “revolutionary.”
Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov are completely different people in their views: one is an idealist, the other is a materialist and democrat. Their clash in the novel quite logically ends in a duel.
The difference in the ideological positions of these people is so great that they become irreconcilable enemies. Bazarov, about whom Turgenev says: “He is honest and truthful and a democrat to the core,” and Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov will never be able to understand each other, because they are people of different generations, they have opposite views on life.
The problem of “fathers” and “sons” is not limited only to literature. Generation conflict is also real in today's society.