Paste your essay in heSome critics also points out that Bazarov is not a true nihilism. But the love for Madame Odinstov is the only incident when he questions the authenticity of his nihilism. Bazarov has a fanatic kind of nihilism which means his behavior and opinion are extreme, his ego, his belief in science and his opinions on society. He hates aristocracy but the fundamental shortcoming and eternal source of the suffering for the character because he believes fanatically and passionately in things.
Despite the above points Bazarov challenged the established views on religion, politics, family and society in general and show off his idea of the moral man which was only philosophy of existence. Through the character of Bazarov Russian society get introduction of nihilism. As the title says Fathers and Sons there is presence of conflicting ideas between generations. Akrady and Bazarov came to the estate of Akrady’s father Nikolay Petrovich during their break from university. Akrady introduced Bazarov as a nihilist as it was mentioned earlier also at which Akrady’s uncle Pavel dislikes this idea because according to him a man who was a nihilist respect nothing after that Akrady shows his disagreement and gives their point of view on nihilism and mentioned that the man who is a nihilist does not accept any authorities, principles and deny the fact of existence, form them only tangible things are mattered. By denying the principles, authorities are offensive behavior to the aristocrat such as Pavel. He cried out that how one can live without principles and faith and mentioned that he must be from another age because according to him with authorities and principles a person can’t even breathe properly. In the novel Turgenev portray the contrasted personalities of Pavel and Bazarov. Both argue with each other and try to pose that their point of views are right.
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With that Bazarov also points out that he does not acknowledge art and compare with romanticism and states it all nonsense and rubbish no practical thing involve in it. At this characters told him that it means you believe in science. However Bazarov does not believe even on science. He mentions that science is like a mission just as other trade and according to him in reality it also does not exist. He only believes in tangible objects or things which is unquestionable and natural science. Even Bazarov collects and examine insects and frogs daily. As other minor characters in novel and others men who saw Bazarov to do things like that asked questions to him in a confused manner that how one can live without art as it is important to understand people and life. At this Bazarov reply in angrily that one human example is sufficient to understand all because all we all are made in the same way even he also compare human beings with frog. According to him ‘Nature’ is just a workshop not a temple and we all are workers here. Through this he erases all the mysticism and spirituality from nature and ascribes and promotes the cold hard scientific facts. For him the important thing is which has some meaning is two multiplies two are four and all the rest are nonsense and rubbish.
Through this Bazarov showed his rejection towards political and hierarchal authority and he is against the Russian state and institution, main focus on legal and economic system. However the character of Pavel portray as an aristocrat and he said to Bazarov that it means the aristocrat also rubbish according to you. At this Pavel states that it is important to build up human personality and it make strong as a rock and concludes his thoughts by saying that aristocratism is a principles and without principle no humans have ability to live a life only immoral and empty headed people can live. Later on both Bazarov and Akrady travel to the estate of Anna Sergeevna Odintsova who is an aristocrat and because of her the feeling of sexual desire arouses
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in Bazarov and from here the element of pain and distress start to notice in him. His believes on nihilist put to the test as the change of feelings evoked especially his view on romanticism. All the feelings which he took as nonsense and rubbish but change of feelings made him made and confused.
At the end of the novel there is slightly change into Pavel as he encouraged his brother for marry from the mother of his child who is worked in their house as a servant. Arkady also get married with a young woman who is untamed according to Bazarov. However Arkady has somewhat different notion as compare with Bazarov, he devotes himself to the pursuit of truth. According to Bazarov as Akrady lacks anger, daring attitude and has not will to fight so he was not made for the people who have bitter, rootless life like himself (Bazarov). The end of Bazarov is full of horror, he meets his fate in the form of Typhus. His parents get emotional but he did not let his emotion cloud his scientific knowledge.
Turgenev portrayed the nihilism in the nature of political and social, he wants to negate the poltical authorities and class hierarchy. In the novel Bazarov encouraged individual to think and it alright to be critical of society. The negation of Christian values evokes the question is life or existence has any meaning at all?