Synthesis of Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons by Russian author, Ivan Turgenev, is set in the Russian countryside in the mid 1900’s. The novel tells the story of a new coming belief and religion that causes a lot of tumult between the age generations in the country. The older individuals continue to follow tradition, while most of the younger generation starts believing a new belief: nihilism. We generally define nihilism as “the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless” (Oxford Dictionary). According to Arkady one of the characters in the book, ”A nihilist is a person who does not take any principle for granted, however much that principle may be revered” (Turgenev, 57). The new and exciting belief attracted a lot of the younger generation of Russia. Those who didn’t like this new faith, stayed true to their aristocratic beliefs. An aristocrat is someone who believes in a government in which traditionally, nobility holds power. In this case, an aristocrat simply believes in the traditions and doesn’t encourage change. The historical context and setting of the novel are very important for the description of the theme in the novel. Through the setting of the story, which included Russia having big economical, social, political and religious disruptions, Turgenev explores the theme of generational conflict and sets the stage for the story.

Turgenev’s theme of generational conflict is derived from social and other reforms happening in 19th century Russia which makes setting vital. Most importantly was the change in ideologies and the western influence. This was difficult for the older generation to accept and created conflict. The preach of an individual to have responsibility for ones own thoughts instead ...

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...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.

Works Cited

"Definition of Nihilism in English." Nihilism: Definition of Nihilism in Oxford Dictionary (British & World English). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2013.

"Russia." Russia. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.

Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, Constance Garnett, and Fritz Eichenberg. Fathers & Sons,. New York: Heritage, 1941. Print.