Turgenov痴 Fathers and
Sons has several characters who hold strong views of the world. Pavel believes that Russia needs structure
from such things as institution, religion, and class hierarchy. Madame Odintsov views the world as simple so
long as she keeps it systematic and free from interference. This essay will focus on perhaps the most
interesting and complex character in Fathers and Sons: Bazarov. Vladimir Nabakov writes that "Turgenov
takes his creature [B] out of a self-imposed pattern and places him in the the
normal world of chance." By
examining Bazarov this essay will make this statement more clear to the
reader. Using nihilism as a starting
point we shall look at Bazarov痴 views and interpretations
of science, government and institution.
Next we will turn to the issue relationships. Finally we examine Bazarov痴
death and the stunning truths it reveals.
These issues combined with the theme of nihilism will prove that chance,
or fate is a strong force which cannot easily be negated.
Nihilism as a concept is used
throughout Fathers and Sons. To gain a
better understanding of the ideas behind this term let痴
look at what Bazarov says on the subject.
"We base our conduct on what we recognize as useful... the most
useful thing we can do is to repudiate ・and so we
repudiate" (123). The base concept
of nihilism is to deny or negate, and as we learn later in the same paragraph,
to negate everything. With this 租estruction・of everything from science to
art there is no building for nihilists, as Bazarov says "That is not our
affair" (126). Nihilists view the
current structure of society as concerned with such trivialties as 疎rt・and 叢arliamentism・while
ignoring real life issues such as food, freedom, and equally. Nihilists are aware of these social woes and
hence mentally deny to recognize any of the present authority or institutions
which only serve to perpetuate a myth.
Bazarov agrees with the statement that nihilism "confine[s]
[oneself] to abuse" (126).
"...
I don稚 believe in anything: and what is science耀cience in the abstract?
There are sciences as there are trades and professions, but abstract
science just doesn稚 exist" (98). For Bazarov anything that is not tangible and
concrete doesn稚 exist.
Psychology, quantum mechanics, neurochemistry would be scoffed at by
Bazarov. It seems peculiar that Bazarov
would say, "... nowadays we laugh at medicine in general, and worship no
one," (197) while at the same time he pursues a career as a doctor. The medicine that Bazarov uses deals in the 叢ure sciences・u刋ﾈ€ﾟ龠蜩€趺凍鈔聶凍礪阪凍蓚渹?頏痺・竇€・楳肛弟M€梠・乗臥蛟礦渼・榱楳ﾀ癩癇阮€?粡黹阮纈€ﾟ龠蓍・・鳬€礪弱鉉・?蓍・鉗蓍跚齡蜒€鈔聶島梳ﾒ・纔韭瘟遯€渹縲渹・?鈬繖€・乗?癆€ﾀ癩癇阮痴 main focus; the dissection of frogs. Each time he pokes around the anatomy of a
frog he notices they all have similar structures (heart, liver, intestine痴 etc). Humans also share
a common internal anatomy. Abstract concepts like authority, religion or
science to not naturally exist within people and are only made 喪eal・by others. Bazarov knows
this and his studies confirm his rebellious attitude. Bazarov says, "All men are similar, in
soul as well as in body ... and the so-called moral qualities are the same in
all of us" (160).
As
with general science Bazarov feels nothing towards art. "... You assume that I have no feeling for
art ・and it is true, I haven稚" (159).
Art is trivial to Bazarov and accomplishes nothing, therefore he doesn稚 recognize it. It is the
same with nature, "Bazarov was rather indifferent to the beauties of
nature" (169). There is a saying,
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." What if the beholder has no eye for
beauty? Such is the case with
Bazarov. The point for Bazarov is that
aesthetics in art and nature only serve to divert attention from pressing
issues such as corruption in society and
structural change. These are what
concerns a nihilists, not the latest prose from Pushkin or painting from
Alexander.
Institutions
such as education, government and established authority are scorned by
Bazarov. "Everyone ought to educate
himself" (105). Since
indoctrination of the established society begins with education, a nihilist
should view education from behind the barrel of a shotgun. Logic is of no use Bazarov, "You don稚 need logic, I suppose, to put a piece of bread in your
mouth" (123). The nihilist agenda,
that is, the need for tearing down of structure is beyond logic and is as
necessary as eating or breathing. In
addition Bazarov believes that what is preached by politicians and so-called
leaders is itself without logic.
"Aristocraticism, liberalism, progress, principles ・think
of it, what a lot of foreign words ... and useless words!" (123).
It is easy for Bazarov to give no credence and thus negate the things
which government deems important in society.
He sees irrelevance in much of what is said and done by leaders and
Bazarov believes that real issues are being avoided. "We saw that our clever men, our
so-called progressives and reformers never accomplished anything, that we were
concerning ourselves with alot of nonsense, discussing art, unconscious
creative work, parliamentarianism, the bar, and the devil knows what, while all
the time the real question was getting daily bread to eat ... when our
industrial enterprises come to grief solely for want of honest man at the
top" (126).
Bazarov痴 nihilistic nature is a product of the corruption he sees in is
nation. Bazarov could choose to live his life and pretend not to be
aware of the evils around him. Instead
he chooses to be a destroyer of structure, a nihilist in every sense and every
thought. He finds himself in a world
which he despises and discovers he must deny everything which results from this
world. However, Bazarov痴
self-imposed nihilism, which gives him the power to negate, is challenged by
something we are all subjects to幼hance.
When
Bazarov meets Madame Odintsov we notice distress within our hero. Up to this point Bazarov has maintained his
somewhat icy composure and easily passed the tests of his nihilist convictions. But now, chance deals Bazarov a new
hand. By befriending Anna Odintsov
Bazarov comes up against feelings which he tries desperately to defeat. In the early stages he feels inspired and
this feeling "tortured and maddened him" (169). Later, sometimes unaware, Bazarov has
fantasies wherin his lust for Anna O is quite clear. Bazarov finds that despite his strength in
other matters her is overwhelmed and consumed by these 壮hameful・thoughts. Bazarov would
"stamp his feet or grind his teeth and shake his fist at himself"
(170). Even after all his teeth grinding
and fist shaking, Bazarov cannot seem to cast off his growing passion. "He was breathing heavily; his whole body trembled" (182). It is interesting to watch this fight between
Bazarov痴 deeply held views of nihilism versus (what
Bazarov would call) a trivial and ambiguous entity - passionate love. This situation between Bazarov and Anna would
have been scoffed at by Bazarov himself, had another been in his place. Eventually the "passion struggling in
him, violent and painful" (182) is too much for Bazarov to take and he
gives into this 叢assionate fury・ This proves that even a nihilist, who heeds
no authority, institution, or social conventions and follows no rules, cannot
negate the power of love.
Life
is itself without rules. It is the
random, somewhat chaotic nature of life which makes convention attractive. Bazarov sees life for what it is and would
rather take his chances with the 祖haotic・u刋ﾈ€粤・弱о呈窶ﾟ迸跚・€瑙?鴣跂鵺€・堤凍ﾟ鈔€ﾟ鈔癇糂€鉗占薙о瑙?阡蒹鴦・€ﾀ癩癇阮€矣梧礪狩肅冗ﾟ譫辣・閼・閹€・門惹?組liding along the rails・ Bazarov lives at the edge of an abyss and he
uses no railing for support. For this
reason, Bazarov is a stronger man than most, as he has only himself to turn to. He sees corruption and scandel in many of the
structures and fights to tear these down. It is hard for Bazarov to do this alone for
nihilism is a "bitter, harsh, lonely existence" (271). What is needed is more strong men like
Bazarov to help tear down the institutions.
Chance, however finds Bazarov in a time which cannot appreciate his ideas. It is too early and the people have yet to
uncover their eyes, and cannot see what is systematically removing their
souls.
Bazarov痴 gradual demise is foreshadowed by the peasants when
"Bazarov the self-confident did not for a moment, suspect that in their
eyes he was nothing but a buffoon" (276).
Bazarov痴 nihilistic ideas do not seem to reside
anywhere but in himself. He seems to
realize that Russia is not ready to accept his ideas and meets fate with
unusual acceptance. When Bazarov becomes
infected with typhus he doesn稚 stamp his feet or grind his
teeth, he merely says, "It痴 a fortuitous
circumstance, and, to tell you the truth, a very unpleasant one"
(281). It痴 of
little use for Bazarov to deceive himself into thinking he can negate
fate. "Yes, just try and set death
aside. It sets you aside, and thats the
end of it!" (283). Bazarov, the
great nihilist of Russia encounters the strongest negation of all ・death.
Nihilism
as an idea has the potential to create alot of change. By relinquishing all forms of authority,
institution and convention of value so that subordination, normality, rules and
laws no longer exist, would cause a radically different perception of social
conduct and responsibility. Bazarov, by
being a nihilist, brings this into existence.
Negation, however does have its limits.
As Bazarov discovers, there are some things which defy negation. If by chance one falls in love, the sword of
negation meets heavy armor. The strength
of a nihilist resides in his or her mind. The action potential is in the strength of
conviction to these principles. But the
overall power of ones ability to destroy is in no way a match for the supremacy
of fate ・negation in the form of death.
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