Bazarov and Odintsova: relationships and a love story

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Russian literature is famous for the depth of its works. One of these "Fathers and Sons" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev. The main theme is the birth and cultivation of new progressive ideas, the vector of which is the ignoring of art in favor of the exact sciences. In the circle of nihilists there is no place for feelings and old truths. But whatever the essence of the author's invested in the novel, for readers in the first place is the love story of Bazarov and Odintsova.

"Fathers and Sons" by Turgenev

The novel was written in the 60s of the XIX century and immediately conquered the world with its youth ideas. Then, as now, Bazarov is an example of a new, modern person. But, as the author has shown, one should not strive for such an example. However, the main character has captured the hearts of many readers. He always had something to say, his lines are clear and his dialogues are intriguing. It is important that in the novel Ivan Sergeevich showed how easily life can be destroyed due to incorrect interpretation.

No wonder the work is called "Fathers and Sons". The protagonist disdainfully treats not only the elders, but also his parents. In his thoughts he respects many adults, but in realityimpudent. Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons" showed how the ideals of different generations differ and how young people degrade every year.

Summary of a large work:

getting to know the hero

Events begin their countdown from May 20, 1859, upon Arkady's arrival home with his friend Yevgeny Bazarov. The latter is a sharp, proud and quiet person. He draws weak-willed people, like a magnet, into his nets, but against his will. Those who are willing to argue automatically become his enemies. Bazarov in his heart despises love, poetry and his people. He is a nihilist who professes to believe in liberal and conservative ideas.

The birth of feelings

But Bazarov's meeting with Odintsova sets new priorities. The young, beautiful and rich widow Anna immediately captures Eugene. Feelings, as it seems to him, are mutual, but the woman decides to remain calm and not develop love. The hero, captivated by his rules, decides to also remain true to his principles. He runs away from the love of his parents. But high feelings won over life stereotypes. Bazarov's love for Odintsova makes him return to Arkady's house.

Out of sadness, the hero seduces another woman, for which he is challenged to a duel. With the passage of circumstances, everyone is happy, except for Eugene. Anna does not return feelings, and readers lose hope that a couple of Bazarov and Odintsov will form. Relationships are not getting better, so the hero finally says goodbye to his beloved and friend, burns bridges and returns home.

The end of a story that never started

At homeBazarov is drowning in work for several days. But sadness and feeling catch up with him and gradually become the essence of life. Due to inattention, he becomes infected with typhus from the deceased and realizes his imminent death, so he decides to ask his beloved to come and say goodbye to him.

In a dying conversation, the hero admits that the relationship between Bazarov and Odintsova did not work out to a greater extent because of his character. He realizes that his life creeds interfered with building relationships, but the young man expresses little regret about this. Leaving this world, the protagonist is not satisfied with what he spent his life on. But if fate gave him one more chance to rewrite his history in a new way, he apparently would not change a single look. The relationship between Bazarov and Odintsova was doomed from the very beginning. After this sad event, several weddings take place in the novel. But the feelings seem to be staged. Anna Sergeevna is getting married again by convenience.

As a result, only old and suffering parents, whom he did not respect so much during his lifetime, come to Bazarov's grave.

Evgeny Bazarov: the role he carried through his whole life

One of the main characters of Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" - Yevgeny Bazarov. Reading the work, there is a double impression of the character. Moreover, the dual perception of this person haunts immediately after meeting. On the one hand, we see his cold, dry character, on the other hand, intuition constantly suggests that the figure is not fully disclosed. The taste that somewhere in the depths of his soul Bazarov will surprise us with his chivalrous deeds remains. But the ambiguous assessment keeps us in suspense until the end of the book. Later, some explanations are given by the love of Bazarov and Odintsov.

The appearance of the hero is fully consistent with his face. A pointed nose, large green eyes, a wide flat forehead on a thin face framed by sideburns, dark blond hair and a smile that poorly masks a bright mind, self-confidence and dignity. This is how the character appears before us for the first time. His image beckons with a certain mystery.

And everything would be fine, but in the future, another, real Bazarov appears before us, whose character traits were invisible at first. He looks down, proudly looks at everyone, does not recognize the sanctity of marriage and love, does not believe in authority and considers it below his dignity to prove his point of view to a friend or enemy.

However, we can observe new outbursts of character immediately after the romance of Bazarov and Odintsova broke out. The relationship that arose between young people is changing the world they are used to.

Anna Odintsova - challenge, punishment and reward for Bazarov

In the space in which the main character lives, there was no place for love until he met Anna Sergeevna. Cold, prudent widow - Bazarov in a female form.

The aristocrat whom Eugene fell in love with is proud and smart. The deceased old husband left her a large financial fortune. This allows her to live independently and do what she pleases.

There are no other two such similar and different people in world literature. Bazarov's love storyand Odintsova - a review of the book "How not to live." A young woman, attractive, has no purpose in life. She exists between time, not distinguishing between day and night.

A barely noticeable smile and a wasp waist - Odintsova, like Bazarov, knew how to effectively present herself. But unlike the main character, a woman really does not know how to love. Or was her heart petrified as a child? Or perhaps the reason was new currents in society? The only important thing is that Bazarov did not immediately confess his feelings, and Anna's love never arose.

The fact that the heartless woman was indifferent is also evidenced by her attitude towards the young man. He is fun for her. The indifference to his death frightens readers. For Odintsova (even the surname itself speaks volumes), such feelings as grief and joy were far away. The novel ends with her marriage to a new profitable party.

In the world of literature

There are clichés used to write the main characters. And it is these characters that subsequently become the most popular. Turgenev's heroes were also created under this line. These are soulless young boys and girls who do not dream of love.

There were men who were colder and more withdrawn than Eugene. Many lovers of world literature differed from each other: Darcy and Lizzy Bennet, Rochester and Jane Eyre, Rhett Butler and Scarlett, among them are the heroes of Turgenev - Bazarov and Odintsova. The relationship of the latter was doomed to failure. The walls they built were impossible to break even with love.

Criticism on the choice of the main character

The relationship between Bazarov and Odintsovato life, critics perceived it ambiguously. On the one hand, young people remain true to themselves, and behind them are new grandiose theories. Bazarov is a representative of a new society, independent, free from artificially planted authorities. He and his supporters are cultivating ideas that are ahead of their time. To refuse them would mean the inability to develop freely.

On the other hand, the height of love has been tested for thousands of years. It was this wonderful feeling that inspired me to create. Therefore, the choice of the hero in favor of the so-called progressive society is low and unreasonable. Bazarov clearly could have achieved great results by abandoning his theory.

Feelings that change the world

Probably the most difficult thing that a person can experience is the treachery of their own principles. But it's even worse to be alone with your rules, ignoring love.

Throughout the entire work, an unusual, non-everyday line of sympathy for two characters is drawn. These main characters are Bazarov and Odintsova, whose relationship flares up brightly and gradually goes downhill.

The beauty of the character is definitely controversial. According to all the criteria of the then world, he does not reach the standard of perfection. But as soon as he opens his mouth, which, we note, he does quite rarely, the flow of his thoughts, the strength of character in words and confidence in his rightness conquer. Despite the cold emanating from the protagonist, Bazarov and Odintsov, whose relationship was very difficult, still managed to ignite feelings for each other.

Bazarov faces a choice: stay true to his principles or fall to the state for which he has always despised people. To be romantic and happily in love is to be low. “This is all romanticism, nonsense, rot, art,” Bazarov somehow expresses his thoughts to a friend.

Unfortunately, Bazarov and Odintsova did not pass the test of love. However, in Turgenev's work "Fathers and Sons" the eternal theme of a large and wide human soul is clearly expressed.