Turgenev
The Great Reforms of the 1860's generated an era of social and economic turmoil in Russia. These unstable times spawned the growth of a radical intellectual group known as, the intellegencia. These new reformers or radicals were the sons and daughters of the heads of Russia. They wished to sweep away the assumptions of the romantic generation of the 1840's that "refused to accept the supremacy of reason over emotion" (Kishlanksy, Geary and O'Brien: 755) and any other non-scientifically proven truths of social, political, emotional and spiritual life in Russia. They rejected all common assumptions about serfdom, the foundations of Russian hierarchy, and its reform, including all of its social and economic ramifications. Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons", successfully identifies these diverse views (Romanticism vs. Realism) on reforming Russia through the depiction of its characters. Turgenev represents a contrast of old generation of liberal/conservative romantics, through the portrayals of Nicholas and Paul Kirsanov and the new radical, nihilist generation through Basarov.
Turgenev demonstrates the tension and difference in beliefs between the two generations early in the novel with the return of Arcady and the introduction of his nihilist mentor Bazarov. Within one of the first encounters between Bazarov and the Kirsanov brothers, Bazarov begins verbally assessing the differences between the generations. "He's archaic!" (Turgenev: 24) Bazarov exclaims of Paul Petrovich's pretentious demeanor and dress. "But your father's fine. A pity he has a weakness for reciting verse; it's unlikely that he understands much about estate management, but he must be a kindhearted man…. They simply amaze me these o...
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...#8230; But it's essential to construct as well." Bazarov responded, "That is not our affair… First, we must make a clean sweep." (Turgenev: 56) Both movements were advocates of change, the differentiation comes in the methods utilized to initiate the results. Early reformers were advocates of a moderate conventional change, nihilists on the other hand believed change was validated by taking radical risks often by unconventional measures.
In conclusion, these characters represent three of the different sectors of Russian society at the time, a time when society as a whole was under going a major upheaval. Their society can no longer fully and confidently support either of the factions, therefore they attempt to define their own existence and are unwilling to compromise their beliefs. Essentially, they are a product of their unstable and fickle society.
...looked at as he is the literate outsider who knows how to write and read , yet this presupposed privilege later on makes Liutov as minor instead of being superior . During the story , Liutov gives up gradually his academic superiority and in other words gives up his ‘individual’ identity in order to be part of this solidarity and collectivism that shape the Cossacks society.
Dostoyevsky's writing in this book is such that the characters and setting around the main subject, Raskolnikov, are used with powerful consequences. The setting is both symbolic and has a power that affects all whom reside there, most notably Raskolnikov. An effective Structure is also used to show changes to the plot's direction and Raskolnikov's character. To add to this, the author's word choice and imagery are often extremely descriptive, and enhance the impact at every stage of Raskolnikov's changing fortunes and character. All of these features aid in the portrayal of Raskolnikov's downfall and subsequent rise.
...was full of ambitions and strong charisma could change from poor citizen into a magnate. Many young people at that time knew that only the strongest can survive in Russia, therefore the clans were created who defended their ideas and in the most cases kill their opponents who tried to stop them from getting rich. Bold heads and leather jackets were the signs of Russian gangs. These clans were racketing all businesses that had big profits, that is why they have started to gain power and money. The Russian criminals are very similar to the Cosa Nostra, they started from nothing and gained famous reputation and power. The Cosa Nostra gave Russians an idea that everyone can have their own rules and set of commands. Nobody is going to stop them if they have power and money, nobody has the right to command them, they are criminals and criminal always get what they want.
“Split Personality Of The Russian National Character” Russian Empire, USSR, and the smaller states of today, the largest one being Russia itself have had their due share of a very healthy legacy and have been at the forefront of things. Russian Empire was the last largest empire to have survived for so long and when that split up things did not end there. It is a huge piece of land with marked difference in every respect possible. The way they have contributed to the history and made history is simply commendable. One keeps wondering when one sets to read about what is expected and what is due. The history seems intriguing when we start considering the Russian history. The Russians represents a sort of split personality and the way things have turned out over the years it seems that there are a lot of factors working within the system that might have contributed to a lot of problems besides contributing to the uplift of the nation. It is the same nation that has astounded the world by its contrasts and taken the things to the extreme in different ages. Be it wealth and poverty, culture and primitivism, cruelty and human genius. Behind or beneath these contrasts lies the deep dichotomy that splits the national psyche. The heritage and culture is bright and strong but in places is mulled and dark as well and there is proof of conflicting forces represented by the cultures of Europe and Asia, West and East. A nation that had so much and gave so much yet suffered such frequent ups and lows and what could be the reasons that might have contributed to all of this? Split personality of the Russian national character is a part of their heritage as well. Russians had a dual national identity and at times there have been more than two as w...
The arena for this ideological contest is Petersburg, full of slums, revolutionary students and petty titular councilors. Scientifically and artificially constructed in the midst of marshland, the city itself is a symbol of the incompatibility of logical planning with humankind's natural sensibilities. The city did not grow randomly or organically, but entirely by czarist decree. Nonetheless, it is a dank and depressing place to live, at least for those in the vicinity of Haymarket Square, where the story takes place. Joseph Frank, Dostoevsky's biographer, says of ...
Based on their wealth and their living conditions, it changes the way they are brought up and their idea that come with that. Sonya is different in her ideas, because she is selfless, and loving and caring. Contrasted by the cold, immoral Svidrigailov, who uses his wealth to his advantage. Dostoevsky marvelously uses the setting to show the differences in environments can have a massive role in the development of people, in this case Raskolnikova, Sonya, and Svidrigailov. He wants readers to see how your vocations impact you life and help from you to be the person you are. Also to hold strong to you morals, as Sonya had so that you can be known for more than just you hard life
The shots rang out and they did not know how to react. The Romanov’s lived a privileged life, being the last ruling family of the Russian Monarchy. They experienced acts of cruelty that no one should have had to endure in their lifetime. There is an abundance of intrigue and mystery behind the story of this family and their untimely deaths. Rumors of affairs and surviving members of the horrible tragedy that befell them plagued the family long after their deaths. The Russian nation was divided at this tough point in history. The tsar, Nicholas II, was partially to blame ("Russian Revolution."). The name Romanov is synonymous with unknown actions and phenomenons that the world is just incapable of comprehending.
...ew that the reforming ideas of the older spawned the nihilist view of the younger, and that the older liberals must bear some responsibility for the actions of the radicals. The older Verkhovensky, Stepan Trofimovich, has produce a son, Petr, who has subjugated and broken the ideals of his fathers generation, metamorphosing the idealistic liberal humanism of the 1840s Westernizers into shallow nihilistic opportunism, to become a murky reflection of the disturbing, amoral Nechayev whose revolutionary theory culminated in murder (Jones -Miller p.75). It is the generational gap, first promoted by his former friend Turgenev, which gives Dostoyevsky the opportunity to condemn the nihilists.
When asked about his thoughts regarding the great men and women of society, George Bernard Shaw replied, “...they don’t exist. We believe in them a lot like we used to believe in unicorns and dragons. The greatest man or woman is ninety-nine percent just like yourself” (George). This concept remains hard to keep in accord with human nature. In the novel Fathers and Sons, Russian author, Turgenev, enshrines this human “goal” to become “great” and “powerful” symbolically in one character; Bazarov. He also characterizes the polar opposite of this goal in an ordinary, but respected individual; Arkady. In this tabloid society, it comes as no surprise that humans all want to have power, and that most anyone would go to nearly any heights to achieve such success. In the novel Fathers and Sons, Turgenev uses characterization to contrast fates between two characters to represent an idea; in life, the desire and need to attain power and fame leads to detrimental defeats. In order to accomplish this, two completely different characters as character foils; Bazarov and Arkady serve to show their lives being reflective of their fate. Although each male has distinct positive traits, only Bazarov has the hunger to become powerful in society. Arkady, however, prefers to listen in and evaluate situations and change himself for the better rather than changing his fame in society. Through the desire to achieve status, Bazarov loses true insight on what he truly values in life, which symbolically lead him to a devastating fate of loneliness and regret. Arkady endures life without power, leading him to a more noble reputation and a lasting companionship.
“Your Excellency,” Ivan Ilyitch had only been known as such for a few short weeks, but with his statue of mind and manner, it seemed like years. He was, in his own mind, always right and if someone did not understand what he was doing or saying, they were idiotic. “And how could he fail to understand? It was more difficult not to understand than understand,” is not even a statement against a drone, but rather against another even more credible bourgeoisie than himself. To his due, he is a very brilliant man, but he lacks common respect and tries to use his position in authority to gain popularity amongst the proletariat culture. Due to his economic stature, and his social class, he believed he could do anything he pleased; which he showed by walking in on a fellow colleague’s wedding party. Under no circumstance did he know or relate to Mr. Pseldonymov, but only ...
First of all the characters of the farm have a special role in Russian Revolution. The farm itself represents Russia, with its poor conditions and non-responsible leaders.
...nd outside influences changed Russia. Turgenev uses this as a base for his illustration of generation conflict. People were starting to have an overall desire to change the feudalistic economy, which caused for a lot of arguments between generations. Without the historical context and setting, Bazarov’s Nihilism would make no sense. The changes in Russia in the 1860’s caused for this new belief of nihilism to rise, and this is presented and explored through the theme of a generational conflict in Ivan Turgenev’s Novel: Fathers and Sons.
Marxism and Leninism According to most historians, “history is told by the victors”, which would explain why most people equate communism with Vladimir Lenin. He was the backbone of Russia’s communist revolution, and the first leader of history’s largest communist government. It is not known, or discussed by most, that Lenin made many reforms to the original ideals possessed by many communists during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He revised Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles’ theories to fit the so-called ‘backwardness’ of the Russian Empire.
The novel, as inferred from the aforementioned personal statement, may best be described as an autobiography of Dostoevsky filled with his beliefs, values, theories, and insights on a bestial world. Through the main characters-Ivan, Alyosha, Dmitri, Father Zosima, and Smerdyakov--one can perceive the different sides of Dostoevsky himself, good and evil. Not only does one see his characteristics through the protagonists and antagonists of the novel, but also his beliefs concerning life, religion, and love. Among his personal beliefs integrated with his fictitious characters include: faith in love over faith in miracles, the importance of suffering as a means of salvation, and the importance of the Russian "folk" and children in the coming 20th century. But despite Dostoevsky's overbearing presence in his masterpiece, one variable inevitably affects all of his characters as well as the entire living world--death. Thus, through the novel, he introduces us into his tormented mind and soul, hoping to influence future generations in his beliefs of a better mankind, unafraid of the spectre of death that will crush the cowardly but unharm the s...
These aristocrats, despite their high education and power, will do nothing to help win the war. They live like parasites on the body of Russia’s society. This is how Tolstoy describes this class in general, but he also depicts two representatives of this upper class, Andrew Bolkonsky and Pierre Bisuhov, who were the more intellectual ones, and whose lives and views of war and life changed as the result of the war. Andrew was interested in a military career, and wasn’t completely satisfied with the czar, while Pierre wasted his life on alcohol – his everyday activity.