Evgeny Bazarov - the main thing actor Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons. Bazarov's character is a young man, a convinced nihilist, contemptuous of art and respecting only the natural sciences, typical representative new
generations of thinking youth. The main plot of the novel is the conflict between fathers and children, the petty-bourgeois way of life and the desire for change.
IN literary criticism much attention is paid to the confrontation between Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich, the personality of Arkady Nikolaevich (a friend of Bazarov), but very little is said about the relationship of the protagonist with his parents. This approach is very unreasonable, because without studying his relationship with his parents, it is impossible to fully understand his character.
Bazarov's parents are simple good-natured old men who love their son very much. Vasily Bazarov (father) is an old district doctor, leading a boring, colorless life of a poor landowner, who at one time spared nothing for a good upbringing of his son.
Arina Vlasyevna (mother) - a noblewoman who "needed to be born in the era of Peter the Great", a very kind and superstitious woman who knows how to do only one thing - excellent cooking. The image of Bazarov's parents, a kind of symbol of ossified conservatism, is opposed to the main character - inquisitive, intelligent, sharp in judgment. However, despite such a different worldview, Bazarov's parents truly love their son, in the absence of Eugene, all of them free time pass in thinking about it.
Bazarov, on the other hand, treats his parents outwardly dryly, of course he loves them, but he is not used to open outpourings of feelings, he is burdened by constant obsessive attention. Neither with his father nor with his mother he can find mutual language, he cannot even have discussions with them, as with the Arkady family. Bazarov is hard on this, but he cannot help himself. under one roof, he agrees only on the condition that he will not be interfered with natural sciences in your office. Bazarov's parents understand this very well and try to please in everything. only child, but such an attitude, of course, is extremely difficult for them to endure.
Perhaps Bazarov's main trouble was that he was not understood by his parents, due to big difference V intellectual development and the level of education, and did not receive moral support from them, which is why he was such a sharp and emotionally cold person, which often repelled people from him.
However, in parental home we are shown another Evgeny Bazarov - softer, understanding, full of tender feelings that he will never show outwardly because of internal barriers.
The characterization of Bazarov's parents puzzles us: how could a person of such advanced views grow up in such a patriarchal environment? Turgenev Once again shows us what man himself can do. However, he also shows Bazarov's main mistake - his alienation from his parents, because they loved their child for who he is, and suffered greatly from his attitude. Bazarov's parents survived their son, but with his death the meaning of their existence ended.
"Fathers and Sons": Bazarov's parents
In Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons, the representatives of the older generation include Bazarov's parents: Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vasilievna.
The father of the protagonist, Vasily Ivanovich, appears before the reader as a man of strict rules, one might say, a conservative. A doctor by profession, he has a deep faith in God, but he tries in every possible way not to show this in front of his wife. Vasily Ivanovich's desire to appear modern man touches, because his old schooling and traditional thinking are clearly visible when discussing any issues.
Arina Vasilievna is the mother of Evgeny Bazarov. The traits of her character are simple and understandable, thanks to the considerable attention that Turgenev paid to this heroine. A fussy old woman in a cap seems old-fashioned even for that distant time. The author himself noted that she should have been born two hundred years ago. A quiet, good-natured woman, pious and, at the same time, superstitious Arina Vasilievna from the first minute causes the reader to pleasant impression.
These characters are two loving hearts, whose meaning of life lies in the only and dearly beloved son of Eugene. And it does not matter whether the object of adoration is nearby or not, their thoughts and conversations are still focused on the beloved child. The words of the old people about their son are saturated with tenderness and care. You can see how excited they are about native person. What can not immediately be said about Evgeny Bazarov.
Eugene is seen as a callous young man who does not appreciate care and parental warmth. Yes, Bazarov is not used to baring his feelings, but it’s not worth talking about his inner indifference to the family. He notices parental love and he himself has tender feelings for them (as he himself confessed to Arkady). But he does not consider it necessary to flaunt his attitude towards his father and mother. In addition, Eugene stops any attempts on their part to show joy from his presence. Parents know this trait of their son, so they try not to annoy him with excessive attention. But coldness and ostentatious indifference dissipate before the reader when Bazarov is on his deathbed. Asking Anna Sergeevna Odintsova to take care of his parents, he said important words: "People like them in your big light not to be found in the daytime with fire. This phrase from the lips of Eugene is akin to a passionate declaration of love from more emotional person.
However eternal problem fathers and children is not a lack of love or its excessive manifestation. This eternal question about mutual understanding of people of different generations. So Eugene wanted to be understood by his parents, so that his thoughts and views were shared by the closest people. But Bazarov's parents, although they tried to understand their son, remained adherents of traditional views. It seems strange how a nihilist son could grow up in people with patriarchal views. Bazarov himself spoke about it this way: "Every person should educate himself - well, at least like me, for example ..." Indeed, self-education played a huge role in shaping his personality. And when the fruits of many years of parental education overlap one's own perception of life principles, then the topic of fathers and children, which is relevant at all times, arises.
In the novel "Fathers and Sons" Bazarov's parents - prominent representatives older generation. Despite the fact that the author does not pay as much attention to them as, say, to the Kirsanov brothers, the images of Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasyevna are not given by chance. With their help, the author most fully shows the relationship between generations.
Bazarov's parents
Vasily Ivanovich Bazarov is the father of the main character of the novel. This is a man of the old school, brought up in strict rules. His desire to appear modern and progressive is endearing, but the reader realizes that he is more of a conservative than a liberal. Even in his profession as a doctor, he adheres to traditional ways not trusting modern medicine. He believes in God, but tries not to show his faith, especially in front of his wife.
Arina Vlasyevna Bazarova - Eugene's mother, a simple Russian woman. She is poorly educated, strongly believes in God. The image of a fussy old woman created by the author looks old-fashioned even for that time. Turgenev writes in the novel that she should have been born two hundred years ago. She causes only a pleasant impression, which does not spoil either her piety and superstition, or her good nature and complaisance.
The relationship between parents and Bazarov
The characterization of Bazarov's parents clearly shows that for these two people there is nothing more important than their only son. It is in it that the meaning of their life lies. And it doesn’t matter at all whether Eugene is nearby or far away, all thoughts and conversations are only about a dearly beloved and beloved child. From every word emanates care and tenderness. The old people speak very tenderly about their son. They love him with blind love, which cannot be said about Evgeny himself: it is difficult to call Bazarov’s attitude towards his parents love.
At first glance, it is difficult to call Bazarov's relationship with his parents warm and affectionate. You can even say that he does not appreciate parental warmth and care at all. But this is far from true. He sees and notices everything, even experiences reciprocal feelings. But to show them openly, he doesn’t know how, he just doesn’t consider it necessary to do it. And others do not allow it.
Bazarov is negative about any attempts by parents to show joy from his presence. The Bazarov family knows this, and the parents try to hide their true feelings don't show to it heightened attention and do not show their love.
But all these qualities of Eugene are ostentatious. But the hero realizes this too late, only when he is already dying. Nothing can be changed or returned. Bazarov understands this, and therefore asks Odintsova not to forget his old people: “People like them cannot be found in your big world during the day with fire.” These words from his mouth can be compared with a declaration of love for his parents, he just does not know how to express it in another way.
But the absence or manifestation of love is not the cause of misunderstanding between generations, and the upbringing of Bazarov is a vivid confirmation of this. He does not abandon his parents, on the contrary, he dreams that they understand him and share his convictions. Parents try to do this, but still remain true to their traditional views. It is this discrepancy that leads to the problem of the eternal misunderstanding of children and fathers.
Youth is the time to learn wisdom, old age is the time to apply it.
J.-J. Rousseau
Arkady Kirsanov, having spent a day at the Bazarovs' estate, asks his older teacher friend if he loves his parents, and receives a direct answer: "I love you, Arkady" (XXI). Bazarov speaks the truth. He pities his parents already because “he never took an extra penny” (XXI). In the terrible moments of life, he thinks about them. So, before the duel with Pavel Petrovich, in a dream-delirium, he sees his mother, and before his death, understanding the state of his parents, he no longer hides his love for them. He constantly remembers his “old men”, because, traveling around the *** province with Arkady, he always keeps in mind that the ultimate goal of his summer trip is the estate of his parents, where - he knows for sure - they are impatiently waiting for him: “No, you have to to go to his father. (...) it is thirty miles from ***. I haven't seen him for a long time, and neither did my mother; gotta entertain old people. They are good with me, especially my father: very amusing. I'm the only one with them" (XI). However, Arkady asked his question not by chance. Bazarov's relationship to his parents, when viewed from the outside, seems cold, even hostile: there is too little tenderness in these relationships.
In the literary analyzes of Fathers and Sons, it is customary to reproach the protagonist for neglect, and sometimes even contempt for his parents. But how true are these accusations?
The first reproach: Bazarov is in no hurry to go home, where, by the way, he has not been for three years, but first goes to the estate to the Kirsanovs, then to provincial city, then to the estate of Odintsova. Having finally reached the estate of his parents, he endures in home only three days and leaves again. So Bazarov shows, to put it mildly, inattention to old parents. But the same actions of the hero can be explained in another way. Poverty is the reason why the hero did not visit his parents for three years. It can be assumed that he simply did not have money for a long way home or to summer holidays he earned (in the clinic, for example) funds for the next academic year- after all, he considers it unworthy to beg for money from his parents.
Bazarov is by nature a sociable, inquisitive and independent person. He, despite his poverty, achieved respect among university students, as evidenced by his relationship with Arkady and the reviews of Sitnikov (XII). Therefore, life in a secluded parental house seems boring to a young nihilist: here, except with his father Alexei, there is no one to talk to. Yes, and quivering parental concerns about "feather beds" and "beef" for the beloved Enyushenka are difficult for him. So he complains to Arkady: “It's boring; I want to work, but I can't. (...) ... my father keeps telling me: "My office is at your service - no one will interfere with you"; and not a step away from me. Yes, and ashamed to somehow lock himself away from him. Well, so does the mother. I hear her sighing behind the wall, and you go out to her and she has nothing to say” (XXI). Meanwhile, Bazarov will have a serious final exam at the university in a year, and, unlike other heroes of the novel, he intends not to rest, but to work hard all summer. Because of this, obviously, while still in St. Petersburg, he accepts the invitation of Arkady, his admirer and comrade at the university, to stay in Maryina - so Bazarov will ensure himself a calm, well-fed summer and will not be a burden to his parents.
Second reproach: main character shows frank selfishness in relation to parents, not paying enough attention to them. However, one should not forget that the young nihilist comes to his parents immediately after a difficult explanation with Odintsova. Experiencing a failure in love, he is looking for solitude and some kind of distraction, so now he cannot bear parental caresses. He leaves for Maryino, where, as a guest, he has the right not to interfere in any "everyday squabbles" (XXII), and completely devotes himself to his work. Despite these considerations, the reproach of selfishness addressed to Bazarov is fair.
And which of the "children" in the novel behaves differently? In the house of Odintsova lives an old aunt, Princess X ... I, whom they “did not pay attention to, although they treated her respectfully” (XVI). Arkady, having returned with Bazarov to his father in Maryino, cannot forget the beautiful Odintsova: “... before, he would only shrug his shoulders if someone told him that he could get bored under the same roof with Bazarov, and even under what ! - under the parental roof, but he was definitely bored and longing to get out" (XXII). The “rude son” Bazarov stayed with his parents for three days and got bored, the “gentle son” Arkady, also yearning for love, stayed a little longer: “Ten days have not passed since his return to Maryino, as he again, under the pretext of studying the mechanism Sunday schools, galloped to the city, and from there to Nikolskoye ”(ibid.). Yes, and the current worthy "fathers", solving their own everyday problems, treated their parents very casually. Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov recalls: “Once I quarreled with the deceased mother: she screamed, did not want to listen to me ... I finally told her that you, they say, cannot understand me; we supposedly belong to two different generations. She was terribly offended...” (XI). Of course, the similar behavior of other heroes of the novel does not justify Bazarov, but it shows that in relation to the "ancestors" respectable "children" are not much different from a determined nihilist. And in modern literary analysis it is customary to praise them and set an example for the main character.
The third reproach: Bazarov shows disrespect for his parents, because he does not see personalities in them. Lying under a haystack on his father's estate, Bazarov argues: "... they, my parents, that is, are busy and do not worry about their own insignificance, it does not stink of them ..." (XXI). The image of the "little man", so diversely represented in Russian literature, completely refutes such views of Bazarov. Pushkin in the story Stationmaster”, Gogol in the story“ Overcoat ”, Turgenev himself in the story“ County doctor" etc. prove that " small man"only seems primitive, and if you look closely at him, this is a man with his own complex inner world, with deep feelings, high life principles.
Arguing that his son's opinion about the old Bazarovs is completely wrong, Turgenev cites facts that the nihilist knows, but for some reason does not consider significant. The younger Bazarov affectionately and ironically calls his father Vasily Ivanovich "a very amusing old man" (XX), and meanwhile the elder Bazarov, being the son of a deacon, made his way into the people, thanks to his perseverance and abilities, he learned to be a doctor. The son himself admits that Vasily Ivanovich “at one time was a strong Latinist, he was awarded a silver medal for writing” (XXI). Senior Bazarov has a completely heroic biography: he participated in Patriotic War 1812, "felt the pulse" of Field Marshal Wittgenstein, and the poet Zhukovsky, and the future Decembrists; for his services to the state (he actively fought the plague epidemic in Bessarabia) he received the Order of St. Vladimir (ibid.) and, consequently, a title of nobility for himself and future offspring. The younger Bazarov frivolously considers this achievement of his father a trifle, as if he does not understand that the rank of nobility greatly facilitates his own life in Russia.
In Arina Vlasyevna - his mother - Bazarov sees only a good housewife. She read one book in her life - French sentimental romance“Alexis, or the Cabin in the Woods”, so the student son does not know what to talk about with this rustic old woman. But Arkady is right, who personal experience I understood what it was like to live without maternal care and affection: “You don’t know your mother, Eugene. She not only great woman, she is very smart, really ”(XXI). Bazarov is unaware that his troublesome mother is a wise friend and comforter of his father. When, after staying for three days, the son leaves, Vasily Ivanovich cries from resentment and loneliness, but Arina Vlasyevna finds words to support her husband in a desperate moment, although her son’s neglect is bitter to her: “What to do, Vasya! The son is a cut piece. (...) Only I will remain forever unchanged for you, just as you are for me ”(ibid.).
Grandfather Vlasiy, a second major who participated in Suvorov's Italian campaign, was not awarded Bazarov's respect either. True, such a disdain could have appeared in Bazarov, a democrat in spirit, in defiance of noble admiration for a long pedigree. Only the second grandfather, Ivan Bazarov, escaped critical disassembly: in a dispute with Pavel Petrovich, the nihilist grandson proudly says of him: “My grandfather plowed the land” (X).
The fourth reproach: Bazarov is contemptuously condescending towards life principles their parents, and these principles, by the way, follow from the philosophy ancient Greek Epicurus (341-270 BC), originally developed in the poetry of the Roman poet Horace (65-8 BC). Horace in his poems presented the philosophy of the poor, but cultured person who seeks happiness in the "golden mean", that is, in contentment with little, in dominance over passions, in a calm and moderate enjoyment of the blessings of life. Moderation and peace, according to Horace, allow a person to maintain inner independence. It is easy to see that the old Bazarovs live just like that: content with little and bowing to no one. Arina Vlasyevna takes care of her husband, takes care of food and order in her house, and Vasily Ivanovich treats the peasants and cultivates his garden, enjoying nature and thinking about life: “In this place I like to philosophize, looking at the setting of the sun: it befits a hermit . And there, further away, I planted several trees loved by Horace ”(XX), he tells Arkady.
Difference life philosophy"fathers" and "children" is manifested in the attitude towards the world - contemplative and conciliatory in Horatianism, actively offensive nihilism: "Yes," began Bazarov, strange creature Human. When you look from the side and from afar at the deaf life that the “fathers” lead here, it seems: what is better? Eat, drink, and know that you are doing the right thing, the most reasonable way. But no: longing will overcome. I want to mess around with people, even to scold them, but to mess around with them” (XXI).
The nihilist Bazarov is obviously older than his parents, thanks to his powerful intellect, intense inner life, but parents, according to Turgenev, are wiser than their son, because they know how to live in harmony with the world. In the famous dispute with Pavel Petrovich, Bazarov declares: “... then I will be ready to agree with you when you present me at least one decision in our modern life, in family or public life, which would not cause complete and merciless denial” (X) . And so life (and, according to Turgenev, it is richer and more diverse than any theory) puts the young nihilist face to face with such a “decree”. family and family life his own parents are worthy of respect and possess the highest strength, so that even a terrible blow cannot destroy them - the death of their only son, the nihilist himself.
So, the relationship in the Bazarov family illustrates the eternal conflict of successive generations like the world. Old parents adore and fear their highly learned and self-confident son. Before his arrival, Vasily Ivanovich even ripped the ribbon off his coat and sent the boy out of the dining room, who used to drive away flies with a branch during dinner. In the presence of their son, old people are embarrassed to say an awkward word (what if he doesn’t like it), to show their feelings (“... he doesn’t like it. He is the enemy of all outpourings” - XXI). In relation to Bazarov, love and care are combined with parents (does not “pull” money from the elderly), alienation and hasty assessments.
Bazarov's dry and harsh attitude towards his parents may be the result of either an intolerant, selfish nature, or youth. In the case of Bazarov, rather, the second reason takes place. After the self-confident nihilist forever said goodbye to his friend-student Arkady Kirsanov, did trouble in Maryino (wounded Pavel Petrovich in a duel), and most importantly, experienced a real, but unrequited love, Bazarov came to his parents. Because there was nowhere else to go, and because he was expected and loved here, despite all his shortcomings and mistakes.
Now his attitude towards his parents becomes softer, and during a short fatal illness, his restrained love for his father and mother is revealed. He does not complain about the pain, so as not to frighten the old people, he agrees to take communion for the sake of them, and asks Odintsova to comfort them after his death: “After all, people like them cannot be found in (...) a big day with fire” (XXVII ). At the end of the novel, the generational conflict in the Bazarov family is exhausted both in the moral and physical sense, and the last lines of the novel are perceived as a "hymn to parental love”(Herzen), all-forgiving and unchanging.
Bazarov's behavior in relations with Odintsova is contradictory. Another contradiction of the protagonist of the novel is Bazarov's attitude towards his parents. The latter are drawn by Turgenev with extraordinary sympathy.
Bazarov's father, Vasily Ivanovich, is a retired regimental doctor, a commoner by birth, a "plebeian", as he certifies himself. A sense of pride filled his words that he "felt the pulse" of Zhukovsky himself. And in the campaigns of the Russian army, he participated directly, and the heroes of the past "knew without fail." He builds his life in accordance with the educational ideals of the past: he lives by his work, is interested in science and politics. an important step in his life was the fact that "not without significant donations, he put the peasants on quitrent and gave them his land to share." He reaches out to young generation, as the father of Arkady, wants to understand the search and claims of his son. But life moves forward so irresistibly, the changes taking place in it are so abrupt that some kind of blank wall grows between him and his son and a deep abyss opens. “Of course,” he turns to his young friends, “you, gentlemen, better know where can we keep up with you? After all, you have come to replace us.” In many ways, Vasily Ivanovich still lives with old ideas. He often speaks in the language XVIII century using intricate phrases and words.
The hero's mother - Arina Vlasyevna - was also shaped by the past era. She lives by old traditions and customs, she is, in the words of Turgenev, "a real Russian noblewoman of the past." She is charming, especially at moments when this kind woman fussily fussing to regale her beloved son, whom she is so proud of, but for whom she is so fearfully worried.
Bazarov's attitude towards his parents is very uneven. On the one hand, he tries to suppress the filial feeling in himself, he is ashamed of its manifestations. More than once he speaks very sharply about his father and mother, considering love for them unnatural sentimentality. And on the other hand, he shows great human tenderness for the “old men”. He goes to Odintsova, but on the way he remembers those who are waiting for him at home, since this is his name day. And then he tries to cover up his feelings for his parents, casually throwing the phrase: "Well, they'll wait, what's the importance." But Bazarov is at home, on the eve of farewell to Odintsova. His behavior is again contradictory. He clearly does not want to fulfill the request of his father, so important for the old man. But here, touchingly and tenderly, she characterizes Odintsova's parents: there is no need to dissuade the childishly ingenuous father of anything. “And caress your mother. After all, people like them cannot be found in your big world during the day with fire. In these contradictory judgments and feelings, Turgenev's hero reveals himself especially eloquently.
