Analysis of Bazarov in Fathers and Sons

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Critical analysis of Bazarov

Bazarov is a model of the "new man" of the 1860s. He is a representative of the sons mentioned in the title. These sons are in revolt against the principals of their fathers, the "men of the forties." This projection of the "new man" embodies the views of nihilism. This is the rejection of any values created by society. Bazarov rejects liberal reformism, any attempt to idealize the peasantry, divine faith, and all social customs. He attempts to be totally independent and live a life based on science. His nihilism breaks down after he encounters the emotion of love, which he had stipulated did not exist. Turgenev sensitively alerts us to the changes in Bazarov, by beginning with external changes. ."..unprecedented perturbation: he was easily irritated, reluctant to talk, he gazed around angrily, and couldn't sit still in one place, as though he were being swept away by some irresistible force" (Allen p.644). This is the beginning of Bazarov's tragic story. His sub-conscious is developing new concepts that are anathema to his conscious; as a result, contradictory views exist in him at the same time. When Bazarov acknowledges his subconscious feelings as love and acts on them, he is rejected. This weakens him mentally, which ultimately leads to his death.

There was a strong reaction to Fathers and Sons, and many of the nihilists condemned Turgenev for creating an inaccurate caricature of a nihilist. However, Turgenev had never meant Bazarov to defame the nihilist, he meant Bazarov to represent good. Turgenev based him on observations and conceived of him as a tragic figure, this was misinterpreted by many young radicals as an indictment. Turgenev wrote in response to a young poet's misinterpretation of Bazarov, "I wanted to make a tragic character out of him: there was no room in this case for gentleness. He's honest, truthful, and a democrat through and through-and you don't find any good sides to him?" Turgenev continues to explain that he has not been understood. "My entire tale is directed against the gentry as a progressive class. Take a close look at the characters of Nikolai, Pavel, and Arkady. Weakness and flabbiness or limitations. Aesthetic considerations made me take the specifically good representatives of the gentry so as to prove my point more surely; if the cream is only this good, what does that imply about the milk?

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