Fathers And Sons
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When studying Russias struggle to modernize during the nineteenth century, it is imperative that one reads the book Fathers and Sons. This book gives an in depth look at the dramatic intellectual changes that took place from one generation to the next while Russia was trying to usher in a new system and do way with feudalism. Feudalism produced a lazy non industrious nobility class that was not concerned with change or moving Russia forward. As feudalism was coming to a close, intellects became more prevalent in Russia. With these intellects came many new and varying ideologies that broke away from the traditional ideologies of the old days and was a great source of animosity between the older generation and young intellects on the eve of the emancipation of the serfs and shortly after as well. Reading Fathers and Sons, Turgenev welcomes the intellects breakdown of the Russian Table of Ranks and increase in knowledge for the betterment of Russia, but also wishes to maintain a tradition simplicity, happiness, and emotional expression while denouncing radicals and reactionaries. In a sense he stresses moderate conglomeration of new and old ideas.
By the time of the emancipation, a class of intellectuals had developed that did not fit into the traditional Russian social structure. This group was known as the intelligentsia, which produced a wide range of intellectual positions. Often these positions clashed with the older generations views of the world. In Fathers and Sons, Turgenev represents various intellectual positions of both the old and later generations by individual characters. In order to reveal the true tension and exchange of ideas that Turgenev is trying to explain between the traditional views and progressive views in Russia at this time, an in depth analysis of each major character is needed before the true clash can be understood.
Understanding the past is crucial in understanding the future, so the first character to be introduced is Nikolai. Nikolai is a classic romantic in the Russian sense. He is immediately identified with his status in Russian society. “His name was Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. He owned about twelve miles from the posting station, a fine property of two hundred serfsД (pg. 1). The son of a Russian general, he was well of and was educated and graduated from the University of St. Petersburg in 1835, but he was the product of a classic Russian education far before the any thought of emancipation. Unlike his brother Pavel, who established himself through the military, he was “so far from brave” (1) and could not distinguish himself through his military courage. Instead he would marry the daughter of his landlord and become entirely devoted to her and his son Arkady.
After the death of his wife it seemed that Nikolai became aloof and irresponsible in a way. “Ten years passed like a dream. Then in 1847 Kirsanovs wife died. He hardly survived this blow and his hair turned gray in a few weeks.” (2). After this his love is devoted entirely to his son and the story begins with his excitement for his son has graduated from the University of St. Petersburg and is returning home. It is upon his sons return that we get a true sense of generation tension and who Nikolais character is supposed to represent.
Nikolai is a person whose life is being complicated by the Table of Ranks in Russian society. A product of feudalism, he lost his sense of industriousness. Being used to having everything done for him, took its toll and it showed after the emancipation when his estate began to deteriorate. Although he reads and attempts to keep up with modern ideas, but often finds himself dreaming of his past happiness and his wife; and he believes that he cannot relive these individual happy moments. (31). The feeling of despair continues to grow when he tries to apologize to Arkady in advance for taking a mistress of inferior rank into his house (5); this is a crucial part of his character because he will marry Fenichka by the end of the novel. This shows the strain that is put on the lazy landowners of the countryside that seem to live in an impractical dream world which Nikolai is meant to represent. With lack of motivation and a social order that could in many ways restrict a person of ranks happiness, it is apparent that people like Nikolai are in a desperate situation and searching for an answer.
As Nikolai worries about how his son will perceive him in with his new mistress of lesser status he gains a sense of relief as Arkady represents a more liberal character. “`For goodness sake Daddy, interposed Arkady, `You neednt apologize. Are you ashamed?” (5). His character represents what Turgenev sees the best intellectual position for Russians at the time.
In the early chapters he is a naive young man who places intellect and rejection of his culture above all. This can be seen when in his description of nihilism to his uncle Pavel, “I already told you uncle dear, that we dont recognize any authority.” (27). From the beginning of the story we see Arkadys strong emphasis on nihilism by the way he follows in the shadow of his friend Bazarov. It is with nihilism he is able to assert himself intellectually only, not until he meets a woman named Katya that he realizes how important it is to express himself emotionally as well. Throughout the story though Arkady undergoes a transformation which borrows ideas from both nihilism and his fathers outlook on life that will define what class of intellects his character represents.
Arkadys character describes people that see the benefits of modernization. People who embrace the changing social structure and education, but at the same time find it important to maintain some aspects of the simple life, of their countryside culture that they see as beautiful and defines them as a people. They respect both intellectual and emotional, unlike Arkadys companion Bazarov that solely believes in intellect.
Bazarov for the most part is the central character of the novel. He initiates most of the dissent between the generations with his extremist nihilism views. From the beginning he presents himself as very cynical and shows animosity towards anyone who agrees with the need for order and organized institutions. (27-28). A strict follower of nihilism, he believes in no order and thinks that all institutions should be destroyed. He denounces the notion of love, yet in the end of the novel he finds himself fond of Madame Odintsova, in a situation that he once ridiculed.
Although Bazarov eventually sees that other forces prevail in society, he never parts from his previous views. His character identifies with the intellectual extremist of the time, who is always