The subversive of the foundations of Bazarov. "Fathers and Sons" - a novel about the dispute of generations

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

The 1950s were, in a certain sense, revolutionary epochs in both the 19th and 20th centuries. In the last century, a change in the rhythm of life, a new art, a technical and scientific breakthrough provoked a generational conflict. It seemed to the youth that everything would now be different, humanity would live differently, and the conservative-minded "ancestors" objected to them: "Everything will return to normal, and no satellites and reactors with computers can change people."

Chemists or poets? Physicists or lyricists?

Approximately the same sentiments were in the air of the 19th century. Ivan Turgenev wrote his wonderful novel in the 60s, but its action takes place a little earlier, on the eve of the abolition of serfdom. The bearer of the conflict of generations was the nihilist, materialist and cynic Yevgeny Bazarov. Fathers and children in a literary work are not presented as relatives. Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov, a representative of the older generation and an admirer of the patriarchal-aristocratic way of life, argues with the young rebel in the same way that the youth of the “thaw” entered into ideological disputes in the middle of the 20th century.

Whomore important, who is needed more, physicists or lyricists? Debate on this topic excited people in the Soviet Union as well. “A chemist is more useful than a poet,” said Turgenev’s character, the son of a doctor Bazarov, in the late 50s of the 19th century. "Fathers and Sons" is a novel about the eternal dispute between materialists and idealists, and its characters hold extremely opposite views.

Conservatism and liberalism

Kirsanov idealizes the role of the aristocracy and "principles", without which life is impossible, and his young opponent objected ardently and sharply. He believes that it is necessary to "clear" a place for new social relations, and this can be done only by destroying the old world "to the ground, and then …". It is unlikely that he read the works of Marx, at least there is no mention of this in the novel, but their general spirit, albeit in a simplified schematic form, is declared by Bazarov. "Fathers and Sons" is a novel, a work of art that reflects the movement of Russian social thought in a liberal direction.

Arguments about a man

Interesting debate about populism, which are the characters of the novel "Fathers and Sons". Yevgeny Bazarov seems to have a deeper knowledge of peasant life, his grandfather even plowed the land. He rightly reproaches Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov for his inability to organize agricultural production, and at the same time for his inactivity. All this is the true truth, but the trouble is, this subverter of the foundations despises the peasants for their ignorance. They answer him with an equal coin, they consider him a pea jester. In fact, they have a very remote idea of \u200b\u200bthe life of ordinary people andKirsanov, and Bazarov. Fathers and children alike are delusional about this issue.

What about love?

Both conflicting characters are subject to a wonderful feeling. The materialist pays tribute to Fenechka's external attractiveness, he likes her, but the meeting with Anna Sergeevna Odintsova makes one look at love not just as a manifestation of the rational instinct of reproduction. Pavel Petrovich loves differently, he does not analyze his own feelings. Princess R. is his deity, but this novel ends tragically, she dies. Parts with Odintsova and Bazarov. "Fathers and Sons" - a book about unrequited love.

The attitude of the author to his characters

The author's sympathies are on the side of Kirsanov, every reader of the novel "Fathers and Sons" feels this. The image of Bazarov causes subconscious rejection, despite the fact that it is difficult to disagree with some of his arguments. However, Pavel Petrovich is by no means depicted as an ideal protagonist, he has flaws. So the writer disposed of his characters, he “killed” one, sent the other abroad.

Apparently, Turgenev wanted to see other heroes, and not only on the pages of books, but also in life.