Youth is the time to acquire wisdom, old age is the time to apply it.
J.-J. Rousseau
Arkady Kirsanov, having spent a day at the Bazarovs' estate, asks his older teacher friend if he loves his parents, and receives a direct answer: “I love you, Arkady” (XXI). Bazarov is telling the truth. He feels sorry for his parents simply because “he never took an extra penny” (XXI). In terrible moments of his life, he thinks about them. So, before the duel with Pavel Petrovich, he sees his mother in a delirious dream, and before his death, understanding the state of his parents, he no longer hides his love for them. He constantly remembers his “old people”, for, driving around the *** province with Arkady, he always keeps in mind that the ultimate goal of his summer journey is his parents’ estate, where - he knows for sure - they are impatiently waiting for him: “No, we must go to my father's. (...)he is thirty miles from ***. I haven’t seen him for a long time, and neither has my mother; we need to amuse the old people. I like them well, especially my father: he’s very funny. I’m the only one they have” (XI). However, Arkady did not ask his question by chance. Bazarov’s relationship with his parents, when viewed from the outside, seems cold, even hostile: there is too little tenderness in these relationships.
In literary analyzes of Fathers and Sons, the main character is usually reproached for neglect, and sometimes even contempt, for his parents. But how fair are these reproaches?
First reproach: Bazarov is in no hurry to go home, where, by the way, he hasn’t been for three years, but goes first to the Kirsanovs’ estate, then to provincial town, then to Odintsova’s estate. Having finally reached his parents’ estate, he stays in his home for only three days and leaves again. So Bazarov shows, to put it mildly, inattention to his elderly parents. But the same actions of the hero can be explained in another way. Poverty is the reason why the hero did not visit his parents for three years. It can be assumed that he simply did not have money for the long journey home, or during the summer holidays he earned money (at the clinic, for example) for the next school year - after all, he considers it unworthy to beg money from his parents.
Bazarov is a sociable, inquisitive and independent person by nature. Despite his poverty, he achieved respect among university students, as evidenced by his relationship with Arkady and reviews of Sitnikov (XII). Therefore, life in a secluded parental house seems boring to the young nihilist: here, except with Father Alexei, there is no one to talk to. And the anxious parental concerns about “feather feathers” and “beef” are difficult for his beloved Enyushenka. So he complains to Arkady: “It’s boring; I want to work, but I can’t do it here. (...) ...my father repeats to me: “My office is at your service - no one will disturb you”; and he himself is not a step away from me. Yes, and it’s a shame to somehow shut yourself out from him. Well, so does the mother. I hear her sigh behind the wall, and if you go out to her, there’s nothing to say to her” (XXI). Meanwhile, Bazarov will have a serious final exam at the university in a year, and he, unlike other heroes of the novel, intends not to rest, but to work hard all summer. Because of this, obviously, while still in St. Petersburg, he accepts the invitation of Arkady, his admirer and university friend, to stay in Maryino - this way Bazarov will ensure a calm, well-fed summer for himself and will not be a burden to his parents.
Second reproach: main character shows outright selfishness towards parents, not paying enough attention to them. However, we should not forget that the young nihilist comes to his parents immediately after a difficult explanation with Odintsova. Experiencing failure in love, he seeks solitude and some kind of distraction, so now he can’t bear to endure parental affection. He leaves for Maryino, where, as a guest, he has the right not to interfere in any “everyday squabbles” (XXII), and completely devotes himself to his work. Despite these considerations, the reproach of selfishness addressed to Bazarov is fair.
Which of the “children” in the novel behaves differently? In Odintsova’s house lives an old aunt, Princess X...ya, to whom “they did not pay attention, although they treated her respectfully” (XVI). Arkady, having returned with Bazarov to his father in Maryino, cannot forget the beautiful Odintsova: “...before he would have only shrugged his shoulders if someone had told him that he could get bored under the same roof with Bazarov, and under what other ! - under his parents’ roof, but he was definitely bored and wanted to get out” (XXII). The “rude son” Bazarov stayed with his parents for three days and became bored; the “tender son” Arkady, also yearning for love, stayed a little longer: “Ten days had not passed since his return to Maryino, when he again, under the pretext of studying the mechanism Sunday schools, rode to the city, and from there to Nikolskoye” (ibid.). And today’s worthy “fathers,” when solving their own everyday problems, treated their parents very carelessly. Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov recalls: “Once I quarreled with my deceased mother: she screamed, did not want to listen to me... I finally told her that you, they say, cannot understand me; We supposedly belong to two different generations. She was terribly offended...” (XI). Of course, the similar behavior of other heroes of the novel does not justify Bazarov, but it shows that in relation to their “ancestors,” respectable “children” are not much different from a determined nihilist. And in modern literary analyzes it is customary to praise them and set them up as an example to the main character.
Third reproach: Bazarov shows disrespect for his parents, because he does not see them as individuals. Lying under a haystack on his father’s estate, Bazarov reasons: “... they, my parents, that is, are busy and don’t worry about their own insignificance, it doesn’t stink to them...” (XXI). The image of the “little man”, so variously presented in Russian literature, completely refutes such views of Bazarov. Pushkin in the story " Stationmaster", Gogol in the story "The Overcoat", Turgenev himself in the story "The District Doctor", etc. prove that " little man"only seems primitive, but if you look closely at him, he is a man with his own complex inner world, with deep feelings, high life principles.
Proving that his son’s opinion about the old Bazarovs is completely wrong, Turgenev cites facts that the nihilist knows, but for some reason does not consider significant. The younger Bazarov affectionately and ironically calls his father Vasily Ivanovich “a very funny old man” (XX), and meanwhile the elder Bazarov, being the son of a sexton, made it into the people thanks to his perseverance and abilities - he learned to be a doctor. The son himself admits that Vasily Ivanovich “was a strong Latinist in his time, and was awarded a silver medal for his composition” (XXI). The elder Bazarov has a completely heroic biography: he participated in Patriotic War 1812, “felt the pulse” of Field Marshal Wittgenstein, and the poet Zhukovsky, and the future Decembrists; for his services to the state (he actively fought the plague epidemic in Bessarabia) he received the Order of St. Vladimir (ibid.) and, consequently, the title of nobility for himself and future offspring. The younger Bazarov frivolously considers this achievement of his father a trifle, as if he does not understand that the rank of nobility greatly facilitates his own life in Russia.
In Arina Vlasyevna - his mother - Bazarov sees only a good housewife. During her life, she read one book - the French sentimental novel “Alexis, or the Cabin in the Woods,” so her student son does not know what to talk about with this simple-minded old woman. But Arkady is right, personal experience I understood what it was like to live without maternal care and affection: “You don’t know your mother, Evgeny. She’s not only a great woman, she’s very smart, really” (XXI). Bazarov has no idea that his busy mother is his father’s wise friend and comforter. When, after staying for three days, his son leaves, Vasily Ivanovich cries from resentment and loneliness, but Arina Vlasyevna finds words to support her husband in a desperate moment, although she is also bitter about her son’s neglect: “What to do, Vasya! The son is a cut off piece. (...) Only I will remain unchanged for you forever, just as you are for me” (ibid.).
Grandfather Vlasiy, a second major who participated in Suvorov’s Italian campaign, was not awarded Bazarov’s respect either. True, such disdain could appear in Bazarov, a democrat in spirit, in defiance of the noble admiration for a long pedigree. Only the second grandfather - Ivan Bazarov - escaped a critical showdown: in a dispute with Pavel Petrovich, the nihilist grandson proudly says about him: “My grandfather plowed the land” (X).
Fourth reproach: Bazarov is contemptuous and condescending towards life principles their parents, and these principles, by the way, stem from the philosophy ancient Greek Epicurus (341-270 BC), originally developed in the poetry of the Roman poet Horace (65-8 BC). Horace in his poems presented the philosophy of a poor but cultured man who seeks happiness in the “golden mean”, that is, in contentment with little, in mastery over passions, in calm and moderate enjoyment of the blessings of life. Moderation and peace, according to Horace, allow a person to maintain internal independence. It is easy to notice that the old Bazarovs live exactly like this: being content with little and not bowing to anyone. Arina Vlasyevna takes care of her husband, takes care of food and order in her house, and Vasily Ivanovich treats peasants and cultivates his garden, enjoying nature and reflecting on life: “In this place I like to philosophize, looking at the setting of the sun: it befits a hermit . And there, further away, I planted several trees that Horace loved” (XX), he tells Arkady.
The difference in the life philosophy of “fathers” and “children” is manifested in the attitude towards the world - contemplative-conciliatory in Horatianism, active-offensive nihilism: “Yes,” Bazarov began, “ strange creature Human. When you look from the side and from a distance at the desolate life that the “fathers” lead here, it seems: what’s better? Eat, drink and know that you are acting in the most correct, most reasonable manner. But no: the melancholy will overcome. I want to mess with people, even scold them, and mess with them” (XXI).
The nihilist Bazarov is obviously more mature than his parents, thanks to his powerful intellect and intense inner life, but the parents, according to Turgenev, are wiser than their son, since they know how to live in harmony with the world. In the famous dispute with Pavel Petrovich, Bazarov declares: “... I will then be ready to agree with you when you present me with at least one resolution in our modern life, in the family or in society, that would not cause complete and merciless denial” (X) . And now life (and, according to Turgenev, it is richer and more varied than any theory) brings the young nihilist face to face with such a “decree.” Family and family life his own parents are worthy of respect and have the highest strength, so that even a terrible blow cannot destroy them - the death of their only son, the nihilist himself.
So, the relationships in the Bazarov family illustrate the conflict of successive generations, as eternal as the world. The old parents adore and are afraid of their highly learned and self-confident son. Before his arrival, Vasily Ivanovich even tore the order ribbon off his coat and sent away the boy who usually used a branch to ward off flies during lunch from the dining room. In the presence of their son, old people are embarrassed to say an awkward word (what if he doesn’t like it), to show their feelings (“... he doesn’t like it. He is the enemy of all outpourings” - XXI). Bazarov’s attitude towards his parents combines love and care (he doesn’t “extort” money from old people), alienation and hasty assessments.
Bazarov's dry and harsh attitude towards his parents may be a consequence of either an intolerant, selfish character, or youth. In the case of Bazarov, there is, rather, a second reason. After the self-confident nihilist said goodbye forever to his friend-student Arkady Kirsanov, caused trouble in Maryino (he wounded Pavel Petrovich in a duel), and most importantly, experienced true, but unrequited love, Bazarov came to his parents. Because there was nowhere else to go, and because here he was expected and loved, despite all his shortcomings and mistakes.
Now his attitude towards his parents becomes softer, and during a short fatal disease his restrained love for his father and mother is revealed. He does not complain of pain, so as not to frighten the old people, agrees to take communion for them, and asks Odintsova to console them after his death: “After all, people like them in (...) the big world cannot be found during the day” (XXVII ). At the end of the novel, the generational conflict in the Bazarov family is exhausted both in the moral and physical sense, and the last lines of the novel are perceived as a “hymn parental love"(Herzen), all-forgiving and unchanging.
>Essays based on the work Fathers and Sons
Bazarov's attitude towards his parents
The novel by the Russian writer I. S. Turgenev “Fathers and Sons” was significant for its time. Written in the second half of the 19th century, it fully reflected the problems of the era and the conflict between elders and younger generation. Prominent representatives of the older generation in it are Bazarov's parents - Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasevna Bazarov. These are the only people who accepted their son for who he is, because they sincerely loved him.
Despite the fact that the author did not pay as much attention to them as to the Kirsanov family, we understand that these are people of the old school, brought up in accordance with strict rules and traditional dogmas. Vasily Ivanovich, like his son, is a doctor. In the eyes of others, he tries to seem progressive, but he is betrayed by a lack of trust in modern methods medicine. Arina Vlasevna is a real Russian woman. She is illiterate and very pious. Overall, it makes a pleasant impression on the reader. The author notes that she should have been born two hundred years ago.
Both father and mother treat their son with reverence. They dote on him, despite his sharply liberal views. For them, it doesn’t matter whether Evgeniy is close or far away, the main thing is that everything is fine with him. Bazarov’s own attitude towards his parents can hardly be called love. Sometimes they openly irritate him. It cannot be said that he appreciates the parental warmth with which they diligently surrounded him. He is not pleased with their attempts to show joy in his presence. That’s why he calls himself a “nihilist” in order to deny all the rules that have developed in society.
Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasevna know about their son’s views and his aversion to increased attention, so they try to hide their true feelings. Perhaps Bazarov himself loves his parents in his soul, but he does not know how to openly show any emotions. Take, for example, his attitude towards Anna Sergeevna, whom he seriously liked and with whom he was really in love. Eugene never told her the most important thing, but only deliberately drowned out his feelings. Only, when he was already dying, he wrote her a letter reminding her of his love and asking her to come.
As it became clear at the end of the work, all his reactions were ostentatious. He was absolutely normal, loving and good man, just to stand out from the crowd, I chose such an extraordinary way. Moreover, in a letter to Odintsova, he did not forget to mention his old people, begging her to keep an eye on them. The following lines testify precisely to his love for his parents: “People like them cannot be found in your great world during the day.”
Bazarov’s meeting with his parents is one of the most difficult conflicts that new people have had to enter into - a conflict with their own parents - “fathers” in the literal sense of the word. The goal of our lesson is to understand what and why Bazarov’s relationship with his parents developed.
Question
How do his father and mother treat Evgeniy? To answer this question, let us turn to the beginning of the XX chapter of the novel.
Answer
“Arkady craned his head from behind his comrade and saw on the porch of the manor’s house a tall, thin man, with tousled hair and a thin aquiline nose, dressed in an open old military frock coat. He stood with his legs spread apart, smoking a long pipe and squinting in the sun.
The horses stopped.
“He’s finally here,” said Bazarov’s father, still continuing to smoke, although the chibouk was jumping between his fingers. - Well, get out, get out, let's scratch. He began to hug his son... “Enyusha, Enyusha,” was heard trembling female voice
. The door swung open, and a round, short old woman in a white cap and a short colorful blouse appeared on the threshold. She gasped, staggered and probably would have fallen, if Bazarov had not supported her. Her plump arms instantly wrapped themselves around his neck, the head pressed against his chest, and everything fell silent. Only her intermittent sobs could be heard" (Ch. XX)
“Your son is one of the most wonderful people, with whom I have ever met,” Arkady answered with liveliness.
Vasily Ivanovich's eyes suddenly opened, and his cheeks faintly flushed. The shovel fell out of his hands.
“So, you believe...” he began.
“I’m sure,” Arkady picked up, “that a great future awaits your son, that he will glorify your name.” I was convinced of this from our first meeting.
- How... how was it? - Vasily Ivanovich barely spoke. Enthusiastic smile parted his wide lips and never left them.
- Do you want to know how we met?
- Yes... and in general...
Arkady began to talk and talk about Bazarov with even greater fervor, with greater enthusiasm than that evening when he danced the mazurka with Odintsova.
Vasily Ivanovich listened to him, listened, blew his nose, rolled his handkerchief in both hands, coughed, ruffled his hair - and finally could not stand it: he bent over to Arkady and kissed him on the shoulder.
- You made me completely happy“,” he said, still smiling, “I must tell you that I... idolize my son; I’m not even talking about my old woman: you know - mother! but I don’t dare show my feelings in front of him, because he doesn’t like it. He is the enemy of all outpourings; many even condemn him for such firmness of his character and see in it a sign of pride or insensitivity; But people like him should not be measured by an ordinary yardstick, isn't it? Yes, for example: someone else in his place would have pulled and pulled from his parents; and with us, would you believe it? he never took an extra penny, by God!
- He is selfless honest man, - Arkady noted.
- Precisely unselfish. And I, Arkady Nikolaich, I not only adore him, I'm proud of him, and all my ambition is that over time the following words will appear in his biography: “The son of a simple headquarters doctor, who, however, knew how to figure him out early and spared nothing for his upbringing...” - The old man’s voice broke. (Ch. XXI)
The mental state of the characters is shown by laconic but extremely expressive details of external behavior.
Question
What are these people like?
Answer
Vasily Ivanovich is not a nobleman, but a commoner, the son of a sexton, who became a doctor. He was a military doctor for General Kirsanov, apparently a very good one, since he was awarded the Order of Vladimir for his work during the plague epidemic in Bessarabia. He was proud that he knew the Decembrists from the “Southern Society”.
“What am I? Retired staff physician, volata; Now I’ve become an agronomist. “I served in your grandfather’s brigade,” he turned again to Arkady, “yes, yes, yes; I have seen many species in my time. And what kind of societies have you not been to, with whom have you not gotten involved? I, the same me whom you deign to see before you now, I felt the pulse of Prince Wittgenstein and Zhukovsky! Those in the southern army, in the fourteenth, you understand (and here Vasily Ivanovich pursed his lips significantly), knew everyone inside out. Well, my business is the side; know your lancet and that's it! And your grandfather was a very respectable man, a real military man.” (Ch. XX)
“Your present bed, my sirs,” he began, “reminds me of my military, bivouac life, dressing stations, also somewhere like that near a haystack, and that too, thank God. - He sighed. - I have experienced a lot, a lot in my lifetime. For example, if you allow me, I will tell you an interesting episode of the plague in Bessarabia.
- For which did you get Vladimir? - Bazarov picked up. - We know, we know... By the way, why don’t you wear it?
“After all, I told you that I have no prejudices,” muttered Vasily Ivanovich (he had only the day before ordered the red ribbon to be removed from his coat) and began to tell the episode of the plague.” (Ch. XXI)
Now he is a small landowner (his wife has 22 souls in his name) and, in his own way, a working man. The garden was cultivated with his hands, and he is still practicing medicine: he treats peasants, and for free. This is a very kind, gentle person. He is ready to love everything related to his son.
“How many souls does your father have? - Arkady suddenly asked.
- The estate is not his, but his mother’s; I remember fifteen showers.
“And all twenty-two,” Timofeich noted with displeasure.” (Ch. XX)
“- There’s a guy here, he suffers from icterus...
- That is, jaundice?
- Yes, chronic and very persistent icterus. I prescribed him centaury and St. John's wort, forced him to eat carrots, gave him soda; but that's all palliative funds; I need something more decisive. Even though you laugh at medicine, I’m sure you can give me sound advice.” (Ch. XXI)
Question
In the field of science, Vasily Ivanovich is trying to keep up, to keep up with the times. Does he succeed?
Answer
“... I try, if possible, not to become overgrown, as they say, with moss, to keep up with the times.
Vasily Ivanovich pulled out of his pocket a new yellow foulard, which he had managed to grab while running to Arkady’s room, and continued, waving it in the air:
- I’m not even talking about the fact that I, for example, not without making sensitive sacrifices for myself, put the peasants on rent and gave them my land for share. I considered this my duty; prudence itself commands in this case, although other owners do not even think about it: I am talking about science, about education.
- Yes; “I see you have a “Friend of Health” for the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five,” Bazarov noted.
“An old friend is sending it to me through an acquaintance,” Vasily Ivanovich said hastily, “but we, for example, also have an understanding of phrenology,” he added, turning, however, more to Arkady and pointing to a small plaster head standing on the cabinet, broken into numbered quadrilaterals - both Schönlein and Rademacher were not unknown to us.
- Do they still believe in Rademacher in the *** province? - asked Bazarov.
Vasily Ivanovich coughed.
- In the province... Of course, you, gentlemen, know better; where can we keep up with you? After all, you have come to replace us. And in my time, some humoralist Goffman, some Brown with his vitalism seemed very funny, but they also thundered once. Someone new has replaced Rademacher with you, you worship him, and in twenty years, perhaps, they will laugh at that too. “I’ll tell you as a consolation,” said Bazarov, “that now we generally laugh at medicine and do not bow to anyone.” (Ch. XX)
Everything they talk about with their son is far from modern Bazarov science, the newspaper “Friend of Health” was blackened by ancient dust - it was four years old (1855).
Vasily Ivanovich is proud that he understands something in phrenology, but this is a false science, and then it was already infinitely outdated.
Vasily Ivanovich considers Rademacher, a follower of the scientist who lived in the 16th century, to be the highest authority.
And what seems progressive, and is really progressive, in comparison with the activities of others, is nothing more than a “palliative”* measure. And Bazarov is a supporter not of half-hearted, but of abrupt, revolutionary measures.
* A “palliative” (half-hearted) measure is something that gives only a temporary effect.
Arina Vlasevna is a person of a different time, a different way of life than her son. But in the novel she is shown mainly as an infinitely loving mother.
“Arina Vlasyevna was a real Russian noblewoman of the past; she should have lived over two hundred years old, in old Moscow times. She was very pious and sensitive, believed in all kinds of omens, fortune telling, conspiracies, dreams; she believed in holy fools, in brownies, in goblins, in bad encounters, in corruption, in folk medicines, in Thursday salt, in the imminent end of the world; she believed that if the candles did not go out at the all-night vigil on Bright Sunday, then the buckwheat would grow well, and that the mushroom would no longer grow if the human eye saw it; she believed that the devil loves to be where there is water, and that every Jew has a bloody spot on his chest; she was afraid of mice, snakes, frogs, sparrows, leeches, thunder, cold water, draft winds, horses, goats, red people and black cats and considered crickets and dogs to be unclean animals; I ate neither veal, nor pigeons, nor crayfish, nor cheese, nor asparagus, nor pears, nor hare, nor watermelons, because a cut watermelon resembles the head of John the Baptist; and she spoke about oysters only with a shudder; she loved to eat and fasted strictly; she slept ten hours a day - and did not go to bed at all if Vasily Ivanovich had a headache; I didn’t read a single book except Alexis, or The Cabin in the Woods, I wrote one, many two letters a year, and I knew a lot about housekeeping, drying and jam, although I didn’t touch anything with my own hands and was generally reluctant to move. Arina Vlasyevna was very kind and, in her own way, not stupid at all. She knew that there are gentlemen in the world who must command, and simple people who must serve, and therefore she did not disdain either servility or prostrations; but she treated her subordinates kindly and meekly, never let a single beggar pass without a handout, and never judged anyone, although she did gossip sometimes. In her youth she was very pretty, played the clavichord and spoke a little French; but during many years of wandering with her husband, whom she married against her will, she became blurred and forgot music and French. She loved and feared her son unspeakably; she left the management of the estate to Vasily Ivanovich - and no longer entered into anything: she groaned, waved her handkerchief and raised her eyebrows higher and higher in fear as soon as her old man began to talk about the upcoming transformations and his plans. She was suspicious, constantly expecting some great misfortune and immediately cried as soon as she remembered something sad... Such women are now a thing of the past. God knows whether we should rejoice at this!” (Ch. XX)
Question
What role did the parents play in raising their son? How do they look at his activities now?
Answer
The parents did everything they could. Vasily Ivanovich is proud that he “spared nothing for his upbringing.” “The son of a simple staff doctor, who, however, knew how to figure him out early and spared nothing for his upbringing...”
They helped their son as much as they could, although they themselves did not live well. To Bazarov’s credit, it should be noted that he “has never taken an extra penny from them” (Chapter XXI). Vasily Ivanovich says that early on he was able to unravel his son, understand that he was a very smart person, and give him the path to science (Chapter XXI).
Question
What hopes does Vasily Ivanovich place on his son?
Answer
“...it won’t be in the medical field that he will achieve the fame that you prophesy for him?” “He will be famous!” (Chapter XXI).
Vasily Ivanovich understands that Bazarov is an extraordinary person, and at the same time very disinterested and not insensitive. The father even guesses that his son will not achieve his fame in the medical field, but what worries him most is not what his Eugene will do, but that he will be famous. Vasily Ivanovich is proud of his son, although he hardly understands his goals.
Question
How does Bazarov relate to his parents?
Answer
Bazarov deeply loves his parents. He simply tells Arkady about this: “I love you, Arkady!” And this is a lot coming from him. In the first moments of meeting his father, he looks at him with love: “Hey, hey!” How he turned grey, however, poor fellow!” “...It’s better to sit here on the sofa and let me look at you.” (Ch. XX)
Question
Do the parents share the views of their son? Is Bazarov satisfied with the lifestyle of his parents?
Answer
Despite all their love, they do not have unity: Bazarov cannot turn a blind eye to the difference in views and goals in life. “A dull life, a life in itself,” according to established laws, enlivened only by “generosity” with the peasants - Bazarov cannot accept such a life.
It is noteworthy that Bazarov not only does not argue with his father, but does not even support the conversations his father initiates about politics: “about the grave fears instilled in him by Napoleonic policies and the intricacies of the Italian question,” about the impending reform. He even accuses himself of once “teasing” (his expression) his father, embarrassing him with the fact that he knows how he ordered the beating of a quitrent peasant. Bazarov’s task is to remake the foundations of life: “fix society, and there will be no diseases.” But you can’t change the foundations of your parents’ life.
Question
Is it easy for Bazarov to endure such a situation?
Answer
You can't talk about his insensitivity. Bazarov does not want to upset his parents. Having decided to leave, he could not tell his father about it all day and only when saying goodbye to him, he said “with a forced yawn.” He is upset that he embarrassed his father before leaving, he is “ashamed” to lock himself away from him while working, he tries to talk to his mother, but... “you go out to her and she has nothing to say.” It's difficult and hopeless, in its own way. tragic conflict with parents, loved ones and loving people. The best way out in this situation is to “define territories”, yours and your parents’, and meet only in the “neutral zone”. Bazarov is forced to do so.
Question
How does Turgenev himself look at this conflict, does he condemn Bazarov or not, and what feeling will the reader have after reading this chapter?
Answer
Turgenev does not condemn Bazarov, he explains why this happened, but at the same time Turgenev sympathizes with the parents in their great sadness, since the feeling of parental love is “a holy, devoted feeling.”
"Honor your father and mother." Even if views on life are different, this should not interfere with mutual respect and friendship between parents and children.
Literature
Vladimir Korovin. Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev. // Encyclopedias for children “Avanta+”. Volume 9. Russian literature. Part one. M., 1999
N.I. Yakushin. I.S. Turgenev in life and work. M.: Russian word, 1998
L.M. Lotman. I.S. Turgenev. History of Russian literature. Volume three. Leningrad: Nauka, 1982. pp. 120 – 160
Didn't like the essay?
We have 10 more similar essays.
For some reason in literary criticism very little attention is paid to Bazarov's relationship with his parents. This, of course, is not such a “fertile” topic as, say, Bazarov’s conflict with Pavel Petrovich or his love affair with Odintsova. But it’s all the more interesting to take a closer look at the relationship between the main character of “Fathers and Sons” and his parents.
Arina Vlasevna and Vasily Ivanovich represent the generation of “fathers” in the novel, along with more significant actors, such as Pavel Petrovich and Nikolai Petrovich.
The author pays a lot of attention to the description of Arina Vlasyevna. The reader appears before the reader as a pretty old woman in a cap, fussy, kind, meek, pious and, at the same time, superstitious. Turgenev, by the way, did not fail to notice that she should have been born two hundred years ago. For us, modern readers, this no longer has any significance, since the time when the novel takes place is already separated from us by almost two centuries. But, nevertheless, when reading, you involuntarily apply the definition of “old-fashioned old lady” to Arina Vlasyevna, and this suits her perfectly.
Vasily Ivanovich - county doctor, a good-natured man, a little fussy, as pious as his wife, but trying to hide it. He even tries to be “modern”, but it is clearly visible that he is a man of the old generation, conservative, in a good way this word.
The soul of two old men, as in a mirror, is reflected in their attitude towards their son. As usual, parents dote on their only child, pamper and cherish him in every possible way, since it is in him that the only meaning of their life lies. Even when Evgeniy is not with them (and he comes extremely rarely), their lives are focused on thoughts and memories of him.
Bazarov himself is a completely different matter. His attitude towards his parents is too casual, at least outwardly. He knows how much they love him, and he loves them himself, as he admits to Arkady once. However, he was not used to expressing his feelings in any way, or showing affection towards anyone. Therefore, he is annoyed when people start fussing with him and fussing around him. Parents, knowing this, try not to express their joy at his presence in their home so violently.
But the reader can fully feel this joy. It is visible in the little things. Arina Vlasevna is afraid of her son and tries not to bother him, but she will always take care of a soft feather bed and delicious borscht. Vasily Ivanovich behaves more boldly with his son, but is increasingly trying to seem stern and more self-possessed than he really is, so as not to irritate Evgeniy. Only in conversations with Arkady can the father amuse his parental vanity by hearing praise in honor of his adored son.
But love does not mean understanding. Parents do not know how to understand Bazarov, his views, and he does not particularly try to share his thoughts with them. He never expresses his views so sharply and openly in his parents’ house as in the estate of the Kirsanovs. While protecting the feelings of his father and mother, he still behaves with them more gently than with others, although with the same indifferent and careless appearance. It is still surprising that in such a patriarchal family a child like Evgeny Bazarov was born and raised. Probably, a truly original personality is influenced to a greater extent not by parental education, but by self-education.
Perhaps Bazarov’s trouble was that he was not understood first of all by his parents, and then by everyone around him. Maybe his parents would like to understand Bazarov, but in his development he had already gone too far from them, so love and tenderness were the only things he could receive from Arina Vlasyevna and Vasily Ivanovich. A person who has a home may sometimes forget about it, but will always subconsciously feel the support and love of his family. Unfortunately, his parents could not support Bazarov in his endeavors and give him what he was striving for.
Bazarov had the opportunity to die in his home, and this was a huge relief for him, even if he did not realize it. It is many times harder to die in a foreign land, in an unfamiliar house or hotel.
The worst thing for parents is the death of a child. What if this child is the only joy, the light in the window? It is impossible to imagine that parents are dealing with such grief. Bazarov's parents changed their minds. They didn't die, but something inside them broke. It’s scary to live only by visiting your own grave. This is how they lived. These were two broken, tired old men, all they had left was their memory.
Bazarov could have given them much more if he had been a different person. He could tell his father and mother about his love for them. Although, who knows, maybe they weren’t at a loss for words? The parent's heart feels the child without any words. They never knew (and this is a great happiness for them) how alien he was to them and how much he suffered.
The chapters that show Bazarov’s life in his parents’ house reveal the hero from a new side. He is not at all as callous and cold as he wants to seem. He is full of tenderness for his parents, although the internal barrier will never allow him to show it. In a word, he is the same person as Arkady, their only difference is that the latter does not hide his affection for his family. A person cannot deny absolutely everything. As Bazarov said, death itself denies everything and everyone. But love also denies the arguments of reason, which is why parents love their children and always wait for them, no matter what. No one knows how to wait like parents. It is a pity that during his lifetime Bazarov was not able to appreciate how much warmth, comfort and affection his father and mother could give him. Not a single person has a place on earth that is dearer, calmer and warmer than his home.
“Fathers and Sons” was iconic for its time. Written in the second half of the 19th century, it fully reflected the problems of the era and the conflict between the older and younger generations, which was relevant in all centuries. Prominent representatives of the older generation in it are Bazarov's parents - Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasevna Bazarov. These are the only people who accepted their son for who he is, because they sincerely loved him.
Despite the fact that the author did not pay as much attention to them as to the Kirsanov family, we understand that these are people of the old school, brought up in accordance with strict rules and traditional dogmas. Vasily Ivanovich, like his son, is a doctor. In the eyes of others, he tries to seem progressive, but he is betrayed by his distrust of modern methods of medicine. Arina Vlasevna is a real Russian woman. She is illiterate and very pious. Overall, it makes a pleasant impression on the reader. The author notes that she should have been born two hundred years ago.
Both father and mother treat their son with reverence. They dote on him, despite his sharply liberal views. For them, it doesn’t matter whether Evgeniy is close or far away, the main thing is that everything is fine with him. Bazarov’s own attitude towards his parents can hardly be called love. Sometimes they openly irritate him. It cannot be said that he appreciates the parental warmth with which they diligently surrounded him. He is not pleased with their attempts to show joy in his presence. That’s why he calls himself a “nihilist” in order to deny all the rules that have developed in society.
Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasevna know about their son’s views and his aversion to increased attention, so they try to hide their true feelings. Perhaps Bazarov himself loves his parents in his soul, but he does not know how to openly show any emotions. Take, for example, his attitude towards Anna Sergeevna, whom he seriously liked and with whom he was really in love. Eugene never told her the most important thing, but only deliberately drowned out his feelings. Only, when he was already dying, he wrote her a letter reminding her of his love and asking her to come.
As it became clear at the end of the work, all his reactions were ostentatious. He was an absolutely normal, loving and good person, just to stand out from the crowd, he chose such an extraordinary way. Moreover, in a letter to Odintsova, he did not forget to mention his old people, begging her to keep an eye on them. The following lines testify precisely to his love for his parents: “People like them cannot be found in your great world during the day.”
