The Generation Gap In Fathers And Sons By Ivan Turgenev

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In the 19th century novel Fathers and Sons, author Ivan Turgenev compliments the theme of the generation gap by portraying two divergent paradigms of nihilism and the author’s personal ideology, romanticism. Yevgeny Bazarov’s is used as a representative of nihilism thus epitomizing one side of the spectrum; meanwhile Nikolai Kirsanov serves as a token for romanticism. Both characters experience key tests through character interaction in the novel and thus strive to test their own perspective. Through the use of the characters of Nikolai Kirsanov and Yevgeny Bazarov, Turgenev respectively conveys that balance and progressiveness are essential in order to sustain one’s philosophy through life’s challenges.

A title of a novel can offer initial insight of the novel’s themes. Through the title Turgenev outlines a prime topic of the relationship between the two generations of the fathers and sons. Disparity always exists on various issues between the younger and the older generation. On the one side, Turgenev characterizes Nikolai Kirsanov into a representation of romanticism in the novel as well as the traditional perspective of the generation gap. Nikolai and his life events is Turgenev’s classic example of the average Russian and Russian lifestyle. As learned in the first chapter, Nikolai’s father was a recognised military general and his brother Pavel consecutively followed in the same career path, Nikolai was therefore as well expected to follow in the family’s footsteps. However two months prior to the enlistment date Nikolai broke his leg prohibiting him from pursuing this career. As an alternative option Nikolai went to the University of St. Petersburg in 1835 to study the civil service.
As the novel progresses the reader bec...

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...the cold portrayal of Bazarov, his passion for critical thought and knowledge was the author’s demonstration of political reform that was about to enter the country to transform it into a new innovative state.

Although Turgenev wrote the novel Fathers and Sons two centuries ago, the issues raised in it are relevant in the present day. Some readers will identify with different characters depending on personal intention, some will have tendency to actively act rather than contemplate in terms of the reformation of society. Should the newer generation with innovative ideas dismiss the older generation? Should one only asses material and ideas in terms of practicality as Bazarov had the tendency to do? These questions will have to be solved by each new generation. However maybe its inability to solve them is the reason that allows this novel to be timeless.

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