A Review of Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons (1862)
Yuhendra
Fathers and Sons written by Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1862) depicts a young nihilist Russian, Bazarov. The story begins when Nikolai Petrovich welcomes his only son, Arkady and his friend, Bazarov after graduating from university. Bazarov spends his days in Marino, Arkady's house and meets Arkady's aristocratic uncle, Pavel Petrovich, Fenichka, a mistress of Nikolai and other minor characters. The house atmosphere turns stiff as Nikolai feels awkward with his son for taking Fenichka as his mistress and has a son with her, while Pavel gets irritated with Bazarov's nihilistic beliefs which later lead to a heated argument. During his stay in Arkady's house, both young people pay a visit to Arkady's distant relative and meet Anna Sergeyevna Odintsova, with whom Bazarov falls in love. After their visit to Madame Odintsova's house they went to Bazarov's house where they are happily received by his parents. After a few days, they return to Arkady's, but this time Bazarov makes a mistake by kissing Fenichka which drives Pavel mad and makes him ask Bazarov for a duel. Bazarov must leave Marino, Anna and desperately go back home for good.
The way Turgenev wrote Fathers and Sons is flat. He starts the story with many dialogues and continues the story with more and more conversations. He describes the characters through the talks he builds. The way readers gain the idea about nihilism is enhanced through the discussions. Too many dialogues can be boring sometimes, but that is the way Turgenev takes the readers into the climax. There are not many descriptive lines in his story. Even though the story is not my type, the reader can get Turgenev's idea about nihilism, philosophy and the messages he offers.
The title itself, Fathers and Sons depicts a gap between two generations. Indeed, that was the idea that Turgenev wanted to deliver. Nikolai, Pavel and Yassili (Bazarov's father) depict an older generation, while Arkady and Bazarov present the nowadays-generation. By choosing this title, Turgenev wants the readers to see this difference straight forward.
There is a remarkable part describing the gap between two generations, which is said by Nikolai after the hot argument between Pavel and Bazarov in Chapter 10:
"Do you know what all this remind me of, Pavel? Once I quarreled with our late mamma; she stormed and would not listen to me"¦ At last I said to her, "Of course, you cannot understand me: we belong to two different generations,"I said. She was dreadfully offended but I thought to myself, "It can't be helped. It is a bitter pill but she must swallow it".You see, now our turn has come, and our successors say to us, "you are not of our generation: swallow your pill."
Although Turgenev's main goal in Fathers and Sons is to depict nihilism in his time, he makes clear that people change. Nothing is immortal except change itself. Every time has its own successors. People can not stick to what they are used to believing. Change is a natural process in life. Nobody can escape from it.
For me, Bazarov as the main character is a kind of impressive young person. He denies everything and doesn't care about aristocratic things. He also shows that he is a smart guy who stands for his opinion and bravely confronts people in a heated debate. Despite his carelessness and his repudiation to everything or his being nihilist, he is accepted by lower class people. I like the way he behaves. He is beyond hypocrisy.
The story offers new philosophy in its time; mid nineteenth century, which is nihilism. But, in whole, the ideas are very general and the messages are endless. People from any generation can learn about family bonds, love, care and the feeling of losing somebody in life. In addition, Turgenev also talks about independent women or women emancipation. The way Turgenev combines these aspects of life has successfully made this book significant and is worth a read.
The idea of "killing" Bazarov in the last chapters is surprising. I was expected that Bazarov could see that love and care the people around him offer can change his philosophy. I expected he would come to positive thought and get rid of that nihilism.
The story itself reminds me of Indonesia classic literature, Salah Asuhan (The unmannered) published in 1928 by Abdul Muis. It is about a young man who got the opportunity to study in the Netherlands. His returning home is a big shot for his family and his community. He starts to neglect and despise his culture. He more loves western culture and denies any valuable teachings in his culture.
About the Author
Like Arkady, his character in Fathers and Sons, Turegenev came from a wealthy landowning family of central Rusia. He widened his education in Berlin and started admiring western ideas. During his studies in Berlin, Turgenev had become confirmed for the need of Westernization of Russia. Lacking the interest in religious issues like his two great compatriots, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, he represented the social side of reform movement.
(www.kirjasto.sci.fi)<>
Yuhendra
Fathers and Sons written by Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1862) depicts a young nihilist Russian, Bazarov. The story begins when Nikolai Petrovich welcomes his only son, Arkady and his friend, Bazarov after graduating from university. Bazarov spends his days in Marino, Arkady's house and meets Arkady's aristocratic uncle, Pavel Petrovich, Fenichka, a mistress of Nikolai and other minor characters. The house atmosphere turns stiff as Nikolai feels awkward with his son for taking Fenichka as his mistress and has a son with her, while Pavel gets irritated with Bazarov's nihilistic beliefs which later lead to a heated argument. During his stay in Arkady's house, both young people pay a visit to Arkady's distant relative and meet Anna Sergeyevna Odintsova, with whom Bazarov falls in love. After their visit to Madame Odintsova's house they went to Bazarov's house where they are happily received by his parents. After a few days, they return to Arkady's, but this time Bazarov makes a mistake by kissing Fenichka which drives Pavel mad and makes him ask Bazarov for a duel. Bazarov must leave Marino, Anna and desperately go back home for good.
The way Turgenev wrote Fathers and Sons is flat. He starts the story with many dialogues and continues the story with more and more conversations. He describes the characters through the talks he builds. The way readers gain the idea about nihilism is enhanced through the discussions. Too many dialogues can be boring sometimes, but that is the way Turgenev takes the readers into the climax. There are not many descriptive lines in his story. Even though the story is not my type, the reader can get Turgenev's idea about nihilism, philosophy and the messages he offers.
The title itself, Fathers and Sons depicts a gap between two generations. Indeed, that was the idea that Turgenev wanted to deliver. Nikolai, Pavel and Yassili (Bazarov's father) depict an older generation, while Arkady and Bazarov present the nowadays-generation. By choosing this title, Turgenev wants the readers to see this difference straight forward.
There is a remarkable part describing the gap between two generations, which is said by Nikolai after the hot argument between Pavel and Bazarov in Chapter 10:
"Do you know what all this remind me of, Pavel? Once I quarreled with our late mamma; she stormed and would not listen to me"¦ At last I said to her, "Of course, you cannot understand me: we belong to two different generations,"I said. She was dreadfully offended but I thought to myself, "It can't be helped. It is a bitter pill but she must swallow it".You see, now our turn has come, and our successors say to us, "you are not of our generation: swallow your pill."
Although Turgenev's main goal in Fathers and Sons is to depict nihilism in his time, he makes clear that people change. Nothing is immortal except change itself. Every time has its own successors. People can not stick to what they are used to believing. Change is a natural process in life. Nobody can escape from it.
For me, Bazarov as the main character is a kind of impressive young person. He denies everything and doesn't care about aristocratic things. He also shows that he is a smart guy who stands for his opinion and bravely confronts people in a heated debate. Despite his carelessness and his repudiation to everything or his being nihilist, he is accepted by lower class people. I like the way he behaves. He is beyond hypocrisy.
The story offers new philosophy in its time; mid nineteenth century, which is nihilism. But, in whole, the ideas are very general and the messages are endless. People from any generation can learn about family bonds, love, care and the feeling of losing somebody in life. In addition, Turgenev also talks about independent women or women emancipation. The way Turgenev combines these aspects of life has successfully made this book significant and is worth a read.
The idea of "killing" Bazarov in the last chapters is surprising. I was expected that Bazarov could see that love and care the people around him offer can change his philosophy. I expected he would come to positive thought and get rid of that nihilism.
The story itself reminds me of Indonesia classic literature, Salah Asuhan (The unmannered) published in 1928 by Abdul Muis. It is about a young man who got the opportunity to study in the Netherlands. His returning home is a big shot for his family and his community. He starts to neglect and despise his culture. He more loves western culture and denies any valuable teachings in his culture.
About the Author
Like Arkady, his character in Fathers and Sons, Turegenev came from a wealthy landowning family of central Rusia. He widened his education in Berlin and started admiring western ideas. During his studies in Berlin, Turgenev had become confirmed for the need of Westernization of Russia. Lacking the interest in religious issues like his two great compatriots, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, he represented the social side of reform movement.
(www.kirjasto.sci.fi)<>
His other well-known writing is Sportsman Sketches, the story of peasant life. Turgenev was the first of the great Russian novelists to win fame abroad. He is known for his detailed descriptions about the everyday live in Russia in the 19th century.
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