In order to understand the conflict of the novel in its entirety, one should understand all the shades of disagreement between Evgeny Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov. "Who is Bazarov?" - the Kirsanovs ask and hear Arkady's answer: "Nihilist". According to Pavel Petrovich, nihilists simply do not recognize anything and do not respect anything. The views of the nihilist Bazarov can only be determined by ascertaining his position. The question of what to recognize, on what, on what grounds to build one's convictions, is extremely important for Pavel Petrovich. This is what the principles of Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov are: the aristocrats won the right to a leading position in society not by origin, but by moral virtues and deeds ("The aristocracy gave freedom to England and supports it"), i.e., the moral standards developed by aristocrats are the support of human personality. Only immoral people can live without principles. After reading Bazarov’s statements about the futility of big words, we see that Pavel Petrovich’s “principles” do not correlate in any way with his activities for the benefit of society, and Bazarov accepts only what is useful (“They will tell me the case - I agree.” “Now it’s more useful negation of everything - we deny"). Eugene also denies the political system, which confuses Pavel Petrovich (he "turned pale"). The attitude towards the people of Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov is different. To Pavel Petrovich, the religiosity of the people, life according to the orders established by their grandfathers, seem to be the original and valuable features of the people's life, they touch him. To Bazarov, these qualities are hateful: "The people believe that when thunder rumbles, it is Elijah the prophet in a chariot driving around the sky. Well? Do I agree with him?" One and the same phenomenon is called differently, and in different ways its role in the life of the people is evaluated. Pavel Petrovich: "He (the people) cannot live without faith." Bazarov: "The grossest superstition is choking him." The disagreements between Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich in relation to art and nature are visible. From Bazarov's point of view, "reading Pushkin is a waste of time, making music is ridiculous, enjoying nature is ridiculous." Pavel Petrovich, on the contrary, loves nature, music. The maximalism of Bazarov, who believes that one can and should rely in everything only on one's own experience and one's own feelings, leads to the denial of art, since art is just a generalization and artistic interpretation of someone else's experience. Art (and literature, and painting, and music) softens the soul, distracts from work. All this is "romanticism", "nonsense". Bazarov, for whom the main figure of the time was the Russian peasant, crushed by poverty, "gross superstitions", it seemed blasphemous to "talk" about art, "unconscious creativity" when "it's about daily bread."
So, in Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" two strong, vivid characters collided. According to his views, convictions, Pavel Petrovich appeared before us as a representative of the "fettering, chilling power of the past", and Yevgeny Bazarov - as part of the "destructive, liberating power of the present."
And what does Bazarov do among these three personalities? First, he tries to pay as little attention to them as possible and spends most of his time at work; wanders around, collecting plants and insects, cutting up frogs and making microscopic observations; he looks at Arkady as at a child, at Nikolai Petrovich - as at a good-natured old man, or, as he puts it, at an old romantic. He is not entirely friendly towards Pavel Petrovich; he is revolted by the element of nobility in him, but he involuntarily tries to hide his irritation under the guise of contemptuous indifference. Bazarov does not like not to argue, nor to speak out at all, and only Pavel Petrovich partly has the ability to call him into a meaningful conversation. These two strong characters act hostilely towards each other; seeing these two people; one can imagine the struggle taking place between two generations immediately following one after the other.
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Life is full of paradoxes, you can easily find many such examples. One of them is the diametrical opposition in the character and life principles of the closest people, in kindred senses.
Very often, brothers and sisters radically differ from each other, which causes sincere bewilderment. A similar situation is described by I. Turgenev in the novel "Fathers and Sons".
The place of the image of Nikolai Kirsanov in the novel and his relationship with his brother
Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov is one of the main characters of the novel. He is not an active figure in the events described, but it is difficult to overestimate his importance and participation in the conflict. Compared with other characters, Turgenev deprives Nikolai Petrovich of activity - the character appears at key moments, and his image is made up mainly of fragments and hints from the author, but at the same time, one cannot fail to note the influence of Nikolai Petrovich on the outcome of the conflict and the strong influence of this very conflict on Kirsanov's life.
Ivan Turgenev closely connects his character with the image of Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov, his elder brother. All descriptions and events of the life path of Nikolai Petrovich are compared with certain events or qualities of the brother's character. In other words, we can say that the whole life of Nikolai Petrovich passes in comparison with the life and personality of his brother.
Childhood and youth of Nikolai Kirsanov
The tendency to compare and contrast the personalities of brothers dates back to childhood. In the descriptions, the reader notices that the image of the older brother is contradictory contrasted with the image of the younger.
First of all, this is expressed in the willingness to follow in the footsteps of his father. Peter Kirsanov was originally a hereditary nobleman, but their family did not have much influence. The situation was corrected by merits in the field of military service - his authority increased significantly, and in the rural wilderness, where their family estate was located, he became an indispensable and highly respected person.
Based on this turn of events, the fate of the boys was predetermined - they also had to start military service. For the eldest son, this was a feasible task - he had a tough and firm character. The younger one was a man of a completely different composition - soft and impressionable, he was not at all suitable for a military career. To this all was added a certain timidity and cowardice: he "not only did not differ in courage, but even earned the nickname of a coward." The resulting leg injury, which made the boy lame for the rest of his life, saved Nikolai Kirsanov from a heavy burden. The parents had no choice but to send their son to the university. “Father waved his hand at him and let him go in civilian clothes…”
In "1835, Nikolai Petrovich left the university as a candidate."
Nikolai Kirsanov and Masha Prepolovenskaya
The troubles associated with Nikolai were not limited to physical trauma. Soon the parents were shocked by another unpleasant news about their youngest son. This time, the reason was falling in love - their Nikolai was head over heels in love with the daughter of the "official Prepolovensky" Masha. Turgenev does not go into the details of the case, but states a fact - the parents were extremely unhappy with the choice of their son, they believed that the girl was unworthy to be Nikolai's wife.
The tense situation was defused by the death of his parents - authoritarianism in relation to Nikolai was excluded, and there were no longer any obstacles to the marriage of lovers. After waiting for the right time for mourning, the young people got married. Parents' fears about the inconsistency and fallacy of marriage with Masha were in vain. "The couple lived very well and quietly: they almost never parted." Kirsanov's family life looked like a utopia, but this fairy tale was suddenly interrupted - Masha dies after ten years of married life. Nikolai Petrovich has only memories of her and her little son Arkady.
The appearance of Nikolai Petrovich
"Nikolai Petrovich limped, had small, pleasant, but somewhat sad features, small black eyes and soft, liquid hair."
Turgenev pays little attention to describing the appearance of his characters, especially in cases where the wardrobe does not become the subject of constant attention of the character. Nikolai Petrovich belongs to the second category of characters - he is indifferent to fashion trends, and appreciates convenience in clothes. He does not spend a long time, like his older brother, at the toilet and with a certain degree of indifference to the state of his suit, but at the same time he does not run it.
Relations between Nikolai Petrovich and Arkady
It was in Arcadia that Nikolai Petrovich found solace and the meaning of life after the loss of his wife. Despite all his gentleness of character and great grief that suddenly surging, Kirsanov understands that he cannot afford to be covered with a wave of blues - in this case, he will lose absolutely everything and, after that, he is unlikely to be able to change the situation.
In relation to Arkady, Nikolai Petrovich does not hesitate to show the most tender feelings, he is alien to the rigidity and pragmatism that were common among fathers. He can gently hug his son, languish in anticipation of his arrival and miss him unspeakably. In a word, the behavior of Kirsanov the father is more similar to the behavior of the mother than the father. This state of affairs does not bother either father or son.
Arkady is also very attached to his father, he considers him a good and kind person. Arkady often speaks well of his father: "Father is a kind fellow, you are the kindest and smartest person in the world."
Life after the death of his wife
After the loss of his wife, Kirsanov finally moved to the village and took up the affairs of the Maryino estate. Their family estate was “a good estate of two hundred souls, or, as he puts it since he separated from the peasants and started a “farm,” two thousand acres of land.”
Unfortunately, the gentleness of character and lack of practicality do not allow Nikolai Petrovich to improve things on the estate “life did not turn out very nicely in Maryino, and poor Nikolai Petrovich had a bad time. The chores on the farm grew every day - cheerless, stupid chores.
Thanks to the diligence of Nikolai Petrovich, things do not look completely terrible - the estate somehow keeps afloat. Pavel Petrovich, believes that the main reason why things went downhill is the impracticality of his brother: “Brother is not quite practical,” he reasoned with himself, “he is being deceived.”
Romance in the life of Nikolai Kirsanov
Nikolai Petrovich has always been an impressionable and romantic person. Most young people are characterized by such a commitment, but over time, under the influence of life's difficulties, romanticism is replaced by pragmatism. This did not happen in relation to Nikolai Petrovich - he retains a romantic mood until the end of his days. The bulk of the events of the novel fall on Nikolai Petrovich's age limit of 44 years.
In part, his rural life affected the preservation of romanticism. “He liked to dream; rural life developed this ability in him.
Nikolai Petrovich did not leave music lessons, and although his musical skills were far from ideal, he still does not neglect playing the piano and cello - he experiences catharsis.
The next way to find peace of mind for Kirsanov is to read books. Pushkin's poems were especially popular with him. Often, admiring nature, a wide variety of verses came to his mind and he replayed the familiar text with pleasure in his head.
Nikolai Petrovich and Fenya
Undoubtedly, the death of his wife was a huge loss in the life of Kirsanov. The image of Masha became a key, ideal for him. At times he became nostalgic and dreamed of the old days when he was happy with his wife. He sincerely wanted Masha to come to life and he could once again feel her warmth next to him. Whatever the significant loss, time gradually replaced it in Kirsanov's life, 10 years after the death of his wife, a spark of new love arose.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the novel by I. Turgenev “Fathers and Sons”.
The object of tender feelings this time was a girl of ignoble origin - Fenya. She moved with her mother to the Kirsanov estate, after Nikolai Petrovich offered the woman a service on his estate. At that time, Fenya was a little girl. Time passed, and from a little girl, a very attractive and pious woman turned out. Kirsanov falls in love with her, and after the death of her mother begins an affair. These relationships do not become a fleeting hobby in Kirsanov's life - he has love for the girl, and this feeling is mutual. Kirsanov is in no hurry to get married - he is worried about possible condemnation from the aristocracy, but lives with Fenya as with a legal wife. Under the influence of the request of Pavel Petrovich, the wedding nevertheless took place.
Nikolay Kirsanov and Evgeny Bazarov
The appearance of Arkady's friend, the nihilist doctor Yevgeny Bazarov, could not pass unnoticed in the life of Nikolai Kirsanov.
The life positions of Nikolai Petrovich and Evgeny are too different. Eugene is a specific person, he likes to provoke people into a conflict, but, despite all the disagreements, Nikolai Petrovich does not enter into an argument or discussion. Kirsanov softly asks Bazarov about his position, but at the slightest hint of a discussion, he stops the discussion. This behavior of Kirsanov is connected with the desire to please his son. Arkady is delighted with his new friend, and his father does not want to become a stumbling block between them. On the other hand, Nikolai Petrovich realizes that his time has come to “swallow the bitter pill” of the new time - new orders have come and old people like him are not able to succeed in the course of their development.
The third reason that hinders the discussion is Kirsanov's dislike for conflicts and disputes.
Thus, Nikolai Kirsanov has a calm temperament, he is not characterized by harsh judgments or actions. He is a romantic and emotional person - not capable of meanness and deceit. A distinctive feature of Nikolai Petrovich is a sense of tact and delicacy. In general, he is a positive and kind person, endowed with wisdom and the ability to deeply analyze the situation.
Characteristics of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov in the novel "Fathers and Sons": description of appearance and character in quotes
5 (100%) 6 votesA landowner with liberal views, a widower, a lover of poetry and music. Shows interest in cutting-edge ideas in various areas of life and technology, in particular in agriculture. In love with Fenechka - a woman of ignoble origin, the daughter of a housekeeper. At first, he is ashamed of his own feelings, but eventually marries her.
Fathers and Sons
Nikolai Kirsanov lives in the family estate with his older brother. Pavel is a proud and self-confident man, a retired officer. In the past, Pavel Petrovich had a tragic love, now he lives alone on his brother's estate.
Nikolai Petrovich himself is also not married. Maria, the hero's first wife, died, leaving Nikolai Petrovich a widower. Now Nikolai Petrovich began an affair with Fenechka, the housekeeper's daughter. Fenechka became Nikolai's mistress after the death of her mother, and then gave birth to a son from the hero. In the final, Nikolai Petrovich marries Fenechka.
The hero has a son from his first wife - Arkady Kirsanov, a recent student at a university in St. Petersburg, Ph.D. This son becomes a friend of Yevgeny Bazarov and through that he is imbued with nihilistic ideas for a while, but then he abandons this worldview.
Arkady arrives at his father's estate with Bazarov, and the young people stay there for a while. With both Kirsanov brothers, Bazarov develops tense relations. Pavel Petrovich, Nikolai's older brother, argues a lot with the young man on all sorts of philosophical topics - about science and art, about the nobility, about love, and so on. Pavel Petrovich frankly cannot stand Bazarov.
In the end, young people leave the estate, not finding a common language with Nikolai Petrovich and his brother. After staying with Bazarov's parents, the young people return to the Kirsanovs' estate again. There, Bazarov allows himself an unpleasant trick in relation to Fenechka, the mistress of Nikolai Petrovich.
Finding the woman alone, Bazarov kisses her, and Pavel Petrovich becomes an unwitting witness to this. This trick is followed by a duel between Nikolai's brother and Bazarov, as a result of which the young man wounds Pavel Petrovich in the leg.
Nikolai Kirsanov is 44 years old. During these years, the hero looks fresh and ruddy. Nikolai has soft gray hair, black eyes, and pleasantly small features. The hero limps slightly and casually dresses, wears a dusty overcoat and plaid trousers.
Nikolai Kirsanov is a nobleman by birth and the owner of a fair fortune. At the disposal of Nicholas "two thousand acres of land", and as the owner of the estate, the hero adheres to advanced views. Nikolai started a "farm" and separated himself from the peasants. The hero does not use the labor of serfs and takes civilian workers, while he treats the people arrogantly.
The hero received his upbringing and education in St. Petersburg. Nikolai graduated from the university as a candidate of sciences, knows French and German, can play the piano. The hero's father was a general and wanted his son to make a military career, but the hero's life story turned out differently. As a young man, Nikolai broke his leg and since then has been limping, so the path of the military man was closed to the hero. Under the patronage of his father, he served for some time in the ministry, from where he later left.
Nikolai married for love, albeit without the approval of his parents. The chosen one of the hero came from a family of officials. The marriage turned out to be happy, the couple practically never parted. Nikolay, having become a widower, greatly missed his late wife.
Illustration for the novel "Fathers and Sons" This is a man in whose biography many troubles happened, but this did not spoil Nikolai Petrovich's character. Nikolai remains an idealist and liberal in political views, a man with romantic tastes who seeks to put his own ideals into practice.
Nikolai is trying to build a new relationship with the peasants who work for him, he works hard and seeks to rebuild the economy on the estate, armed with advanced ideas. With all this, Nikolai is an impractical person, and he is not very good at housekeeping.
Nikolai is not indifferent to art and strives to find happiness in love. Turgenev portrays the hero as a person with a weak character, but at the same time kind and delicate, loyally perceiving the attempts of young people to abandon the views of their fathers, to live and think in a new way.
However, Nikolai does not receive the same friendly treatment in return. Bazarov speaks of Nikolai Kirsanov as a man whose "song is sung", and his son Arkady, in a tactless manner, is trying to "re-educate" his father, inspiring him with nihilistic ideas.
Nikolai himself loves his son and wants to get close to the young man, but Arkady's attitude hurts the hero. Nikolai shows patience with his son, and over time, Arkady's views change. At the end of the book, the relationship between Nikolai and his son becomes closer, they have a common cause, both establish their own family life, and the fate of both turns for the better.
Screen adaptations
In the film "Fathers and Sons", based on the novel of the same name by Ivan Turgenev in 1958, the role of Nikolai Kirsanov went to the actor. The tape was released by the Lenfilm film studio, and two directors worked on it at the same time - Adolf Bergunker and Natalya Rashevskaya.
The next film adaptation of the novel came out with a long break, in 1984. The four-episode film was directed by Vyacheslav Nikiforov at the Belarusfilm studio. The role of Nikolai Kirsanov was played by an actor known for his role as the Duke of Buckingham in the three-part Soviet film adaptation of the novel The Three Musketeers, released in 1978, five years before Fathers and Sons.
In 2008, a film adaptation of the director's Fathers and Sons was released, also consisting of four episodes. The role of Nikolai Kirsanov is played by an actor. Filming of the Kirsanov estate took place in the city of Orel, on the territory of the museum complex, into which the estate of Ivan Turgenev was turned.
Anatoly Vasiliev (left) as Nikolai Kirsanov Actors from local theaters were involved in the filming, who played the roles of servants and yard servants on the Kirsanovs' estate. The ten-month-old son of the employees of the museum complex got on the screen, who played the role of the little son of Nikolai Kirsanov from Fenechka, the housekeeper's daughter.
Quotes
“Your father is a kind fellow, but he is a retired man, his song is sung” (Bazarov about Nikolai Kirsanov)
“Personality, dear sir, is the main thing; the human personality must be as strong as a rock, for everything is built on it.”
"Ten years have passed like a dream."
The conflict of two generations is depicted. The title of the novel shows us not only the age categories of those portrayed, but also immediately implies a contrast. Antithesis can be traced throughout the work. Fathers adhere to the old, centuries-old principles, and children - the ideas of nihilism. The images taken by the author are quite real: Bazarov is not a fiction at all, but an ideal that occupied the minds of the youth of that time. He is a materialist, a scientist, a "nihilist". It was these ideas that were of interest to Turgenev's young entourage. Under the pressure of this new destructive force, the old generation in the work has no choice but to defend its position. A struggle ensues, ruthless, not accepting alternatives, in which everyone is right to some extent.
If between Pavel Petrovich and Evgeny Vasilyevich there are obvious disagreements that serve as fertile ground for disputes, then communication with Nikolai Petrovich is completely different. Unlike his older brother, Nikolai Petrovich does not have a sharp antipathy towards Yevgeny Vasilyevich. If Pavel Petrovich “had hated Bazarov with all the strength of his soul”, then his younger brother “was afraid of the young“ nihilist ”and doubted the benefits of his influence on Arkady; but he willingly listened to him, willingly attended his physical and chemical experiments. That is, Bazarov was to some extent interesting to Nikolai Petrovich. Yes, and Yevgeny Vasilyevich himself treated the brothers differently: Pavel Petrovich always remained an “aristocrat” for him, while about Nikolai Petrovich he said to Arkady: “Your father is a good fellow ...” The reason for this attitude is not only in Bazarov, but also in the Kirsanovs. Pavel Petrovich, defending his principles, does not accept any new ideas, thereby rejecting the possibility of any evolution and remaining on the same level, while Nikolai Petrovich treats what is happening philosophically, justifying the actions of Arkady by his youth, Kirsanov looks at events from an optimistic point of view: he understands that such disagreements were and will always be, remembers himself and realizes that he was the same. Perhaps that is why Nikolai Petrovich does not perceive Bazarov as the cause of all the troubles of modern society. And the source of fear for Yevgeny Vasilievich is a flock in the eyes of Kirsanov because the second was afraid of a deterioration in relations with his son due to the possibility of numerous disputes due to differences in worldviews.
The attitude of Nikolai Petrovich to the main character is very similar to the attitude of the author. Both of them do not share the opinions of today's youth, but they also understand the inevitability of such situations. Both philosophically consider it impossible to fight what is happening.
Despite the fact that the main antagonists in Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" are E. V. Bazarov and P. P. Kirsanov, Nikolai Petrovich also plays an important role.
Nikolai Petrovich is a representative of the older generation, and Bazarov is of the young. These people have completely different outlooks on life. From the history of Kirsanov's life, we learn that we have before us an educated person.
Bazarov is the son of a poor district doctor, we know nothing about his student life, although we understand that the desire to learn from him is associated only with the natural sciences.
Nikolai Petrovich loved poetry, art, nature, but Bazarov denied all this. Let us recall the moment when Nikolai Petrovich thought about art. He simply did not understand how poetry and music could be rejected. This man tried to keep up with the times. Even from the first chapters, the reader learns that, unlike his brother, he takes care of the household.
The appearance of Bazarov did not cause delight in N.P. Kirsanov, but he did not say anything to his son. Let us recall his words when he heard the conversation between Bazarov and Arkady: “... but, I confess, one thing hurts me: I was hoping right now to get close and friendly with Arkady; but it turns out that I was left behind, he went ahead, and we cannot understand each other. Nikolai Petrovich, without knowing it himself, ended up in retired people. He understands that Bazarov constantly stands between him and his son with his views: the father speaks of love for the motherland, and the son answers him that there is no difference where a person was born. However, in addition to a different attitude towards Bazarov, they are separated by belonging to different generations. In the depths of his soul, Nikolai Petrovich understands this. He carefully listens to Bazarov's speeches, although he has his own views, which he is not going to give up. But he is bitter and offended that his son pushes him away, does not talk to him about his dreams and aspirations. But the father could be a teacher in the life of his son!
Misunderstanding between generations has always existed, but Nikolai Petrovich's attitude towards Arkady cannot be called conflict.
At the beginning of the novel, carried away by friendship with Bazarov, longing for freedom, considering himself an adult, he tries to hint to his father about the imperfection of his views. But Arkady loves nature, music, and these feelings prevail. While he is young, the desire to achieve something speaks in him, but then, having married Katya (on the same day as Nikolai Petrovich), he chooses the life of "fathers", without any regrets.
The relationship between Nikolai Petrovich, Bazarov and Arkady reveals a family conflict.
In the novel “Fathers and Sons”, I. S. Turgenev depicts the problem of all generations, namely, we all understand that disagreements between fathers and children have existed, exist and will always exist.
The main conflict of the novel "Fathers and Sons" is a clash of two camps, two completely different philosophies of life. The camp of children is represented by the image of Bazarov. The author makes Pavel Kirsanov his obvious opponent, but the image of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, although belonging to the old generation, is opposed to both of the above heroes. Very delicate and delicate by nature, Nikolai Kirsanov treats with love everything beautiful that he sees in life. His habits, feelings, thoughts, all this is directed against the arrogance of his brother and the rude ideology of Bazarov.
Biography of Nikolai Kirsanov - a typical phenomenon of the past
Nikolai Kirsanov in the novel "Fathers and Sons" is a special character. His image embodied all the best from the aristocracy, and it is to him that the author shows his frank sympathy. It appears from the first lines of the work and does not disappear until the end of the whole story.
His appearance is unremarkable: a gray-haired gentleman, about forty years old, slightly hunched and puffy. Such a typical rural landowner of the middle hand. His biography is also typical for his time. A small Kirsanov family lived on the estate, his father was a military general, his mother was engaged in housekeeping. Like his older brother, Pavel, he dreamed of a military career, but it did not work out.
He studied at the University of St. Petersburg, then returned to his parents. After the death of his parents, he married a beautiful girl who became a good wife. They lived in love and harmony, raising their only son. When Arkady was 10 years old, Kirsanov's wife died. He devoted himself entirely to his son and household.
The author endowed Kirsanov with many positive traits: he is well brought up and educated. Kindness and delicacy, sincere affection for those close to him are the most natural feelings. He does not understand how one can do without love, how to live without believing in anything.
Kirsanov Nikolai Petrovich, father of Kirsanov Arkady, loves music, poetry, appreciates everything beautiful in life. Bazarov laughs at these feelings. However, the author does not consider the hero's musical studies to be something ridiculous and useless. On the contrary, he talks about the usefulness of poetry and music. In Nikolai Petrovich, all the best features of the Russian nobility are embodied, which, sadly, are also a thing of the past. They are replaced by Bazarov's nihilism, his judgments about the meaninglessness of principles and the empty life that the aristocracy leads.
Dreaminess and sentimentality are familiar feelings for Kirsanov. They characterize him positively, unlike Bazarov, who considers the dream to be nonsense and whim. For Kirsanov Sr., these features of his nature are components, this is a familiar state of mind.
The author considers Nikolai Kirsanov one of his favorite characters. On his side are the eternal values of life: family, love, nobility and kindness. Kirsanov's characteristic is a characteristic of a person who lives in harmony with himself. His personality is completely harmonious. This image evokes sympathy not only of the author, but also of the readers of the novel from its beginning to the end of the development of the action.
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