Turgenev I. Fathers and Sons, Conflict of “Fathers and Sons” in the image of I

The theme of fathers and sons is eternal. It is especially aggravated during turning points social development. It was during this period that people from different generations represent residents of opposite historical eras. The problem of fathers and children in the image of Turgenev reflects the sixties of the 19th century. The reader can see not only family drama, but also social conflict between the aristocratic nobility and the developing intelligentsia.

Key Narrative Objects

The main participants in the process are the young and outstanding representative of the nobility Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov. The text describes Bazarov’s relationship with his parents, and also discusses examples of communication in the Kirsanov family.

External description of the main characters of the work

The problem of fathers and children in the depiction of I. S. Turgenev is visible even in appearance characters. Evgeny Bazarov is presented to readers as an object not of this world. He is always gloomy, but has enormous power spirit and an impressive energy reserve for new achievements. Special attention The author devotes time to describing the hero’s high mental abilities. Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov is deprived of a vivid description of his mind, but he appears to the reader as a very well-groomed person, his entire description consists of admiration for external characteristics. He is always perfect; he can only be seen in a starched white shirt and patent leather ankle boots. Which is no wonder: his secular past does not allow itself to be forgotten. Despite living with his brother in a village society, he still always looks impeccable and elegant.

Personal qualities of a youth representative

Turgenev endowed Bazarov with such qualities as decisiveness in action and a reasonable personal opinion. Such people set goals for themselves and brought real benefits to society. Many representatives of that historical period had similar characteristics. The author assumed that the future of Russia would consist of precisely such people. But as an ardent fan he completely denied inner world and emotionality. He did not allow the existence of the sensual side of life. On this issue, Turgenev categorically disagrees with his character. Many critics suggest that it is for this reason main character was killed by the author.

Aristocratic elite

To show the errors in youth views, the problem of fathers and sons in the image of Turgenev is reflected through the clash of a convinced nihilist with a member of the aristocracy. Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov was chosen by the author as a representative noble society. For the first time, the reader sees this hero perfectly dressed in an English frock coat. From the first lines it is clear that this person is the absolute opposite of Evgeny Vasilyevich Bazarov on the issue of attitude towards life values. Typical life a wealthy aristocrat was reduced to constant idleness and holidays.

Fathers and sons in the image of I. S. Turgenev

The clash between a representative of an aristocratic society and a developing intelligentsia is the main problem described in the work. The relationship between Bazarov and Kirsanov is proof of the existence of Despite the fact that they are not related, nevertheless, two different socio-political camps do not find common ground. The problem of fathers and children in the depiction of Turgenev on the basis of real family unions occurs, but indirectly.

Opposite life positions

During the course, the author often touches on topics of political disagreement. Democrats and liberals do not reach a consensus on these issues. The main disputes arise on the basis of reflections on the further development of the country, on material values, experience, idealism, science, art history and attitude towards ordinary people. Kirsanov stubbornly defends old concepts, and Bazarov, in turn, strives to destroy them. Kirsanov tried to reproach his opponent for this desire. But Bazarov always answered that it was necessary to first clear the place in order to build something new.

Bazarov's relationship with his parents

In the family of Evgeny Bazarov there is a problem of fathers and children. Turgenev I.S. finds its reflection in the hero’s attitude towards his parents. It wears controversial nature. Bazarov confesses his love for them, but at the same time despises their stupid and aimless lives. This is his unshakable life position. But, despite his attitude, his son was very dear to his parents. The old people loved him very much and softened tense conversations. Even after the death of the main character of the work, the very moment of their unconditional love. Turgenev described a rural cemetery with a sad overgrown landscape where the main character Bazarov is buried. Birds sing at his grave, old parents come to visit her.

Perhaps, if not for the ardent defense of one’s rightness and a more gentle attitude towards the opinions of other people, the duel and subsequent infection with typhus could have been avoided. Obviously, it was the wound that contributed to the spread of the disease. But a clash of views was inevitable. The problem of fathers and children in the depiction of Turgenev led to tragic consequences.

The widespread relevance of the problem

In high school, students are asked to write an essay on literature. The problem of fathers and sons is an insoluble dispute that has lasted hundreds of years. Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" remains one of best works world classics. An impartial description of everyday life and relationships without embellishment makes it clear to the reader that youth is a perpetual motion machine. Behind them lies strength and new achievements, inventions and improvement of life. But mature aristocrats also live their own lives, they cannot be blamed. They look at life differently, do not understand each other's views, but they are happy. Each in their own way. This is the meaning of life. Just be happy.

Russian classic literature has always sought to test the stability and strength of the social foundations of society. In the novel “Fathers and Sons” I. S. Turgenev vividly depicted the main conflict: disputes between the “fathers”, representatives of the old, outgoing noble culture, and “children”, bearers of new, democratic ideas. Starting a piece with an image family conflict between father and son Kirsanov, the writer goes further to clashes public character. A family theme in the novel it only gives social contradictions special humanistic overtones. These disputes between “fathers” and “sons” touch on a variety of issues: cultural heritage, arts and sciences, moral principles, education, public duty and many others. And the attitude of sons to their fathers is not limited only to family feelings, but extends much further - to the attitude towards the past and present of their fatherland, to those historical and moral values which they inherit. The tragic depth of this collision is especially emphasized by the violation of “nepotism” in connections between generations, between opposing social trends. And the contradictions between them go so far that they already touch the very natural foundations of existence.

Describing the origins and development of this conflict, the author at that time clearly expresses his position, his attitude towards the fate of Russia, the Russian people, his understanding of the ways further development countries. Giving overall assessment political content of his novel, the writer said: “My whole story is directed against the nobility, as an advanced class. Look at the faces of Nikolai Petrovich, Pavel Petrovich, Arkady. Sweetness and dullness or limitation. An aesthetic feeling forced me to take the good representatives of the nobility in order to prove my theme all the more accurately: if cream is bad, what about milk?.. They are the best of the nobles - and that is why I chose them to prove their inconsistency.”

The nobles depicted in Turgenev's novel are indeed the best representatives of their class. The views they express are the result of their sincere convictions. And for all their liberalism, they are still bearers of certain life values, they are characterized by aesthetic sensitivity and a culture of feelings. But they enter the turbulent era of the 60s completely unchanged, with the burden of old romantic-idealistic ideas. So, Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov is a typical aristocrat gentleman. It bizarrely combines noble imitation of the West and a Slavophile interpretation of a people who “sacredly honors traditions,” “cannot live without faith,” and is characterized by patriarchy. In his face we see an aristocrat admiring himself, whose life has been reduced to general philosophical reasoning and regrets about the past. He treats ordinary people with disdain, talking to them “he frowns and sniffs cologne”; an angry protest evokes everything new and democratic in him. And it cannot be otherwise, because he is completely unadapted to new living conditions, which are a direct threat to his calm existence. The same uselessness and inability to adapt to life are manifested in the image of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, who finds solace in romantic admiration for nature, which is a temple for him. Arkady Kirsanov, a representative of the young noble generation, is also critically depicted in the novel, quickly turning into an ordinary landowner, occupied exclusively with his family and household. The author notes the spiritual limitations and weakness of the hero, the superficiality of his democratic Hobbies, his obvious lordly manners and laziness.

Evgeny Bazarov is opposed to the old world in everything. He is proud of his simple origin and confidently strives to combat the remnants of the old times. “We want to fight,” he says to Arkady. Bazarov is sincerely passionate about the natural sciences and firmly believes in a person’s ability to withstand the unfavorable influence of circumstances: “As for time, why will I depend on it? It’s better to let it depend on me.” These views of the hero are a clear expression of the new, democratic understanding of life emerging in society. Even his appearance and manner of speaking sets him apart from all the other characters in the novel. He was dressed in a long robe with tassels and wore long hair, which at that time were a demonstrative sign of freethinking. Bazarov speaks simply and clearly, can use a saying or proverb to the point, gives exact specifications. It is not difficult to notice the author's sincere sympathy for this representative of the new generation. Since it is people like him who appear in the new historical period exponents of advanced ideas.

Depicting the clash between “fathers” and “children,” Turgenev showed “the triumph of democracy over the aristocracy.” And, although the landowners-nobles Kirsanovs still remained masters in the country at that time, the intellectual and moral superiority of the common democrat and materialist Bazarov, without a doubt, meant the defeat of those foundations and principles on which the life of the “fathers” was based. Natural sciences and materialism turned out to be stronger than idealism and those uncritical thoughts and beliefs that Pavel Petrovich clung to so much.

  1. New!

    I. S. Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" was written in 1861 - at a time when the centuries-old foundations of Russia were changing. One of the themes of the work is eternal theme love. In the novel we see bright love stories: the love story of Pavel Petrovich...

  2. In the novel by I.S. Turgenev “Fathers and Sons” political, philosophical and moral problems. The work touches on the so-called “ eternal questions": relationships between the older and younger generations (“fathers and sons”), love and friendship, life choices...

    Youth is the time to acquire 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”...

    For more than half a century, Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev was at the center of the social and spiritual life of Russia and Western Europe, striving, according to him in my own words, “during all this time... to embody into proper types what Shakespeare calls the very image...


Russian classical literature has always sought to test the stability and strength of the social foundations of society. In the novel “Fathers and Sons,” I. S. Turgenev vividly depicted the main conflict: disputes between “fathers,” representatives of the old, outgoing noble culture, and “children,” bearers of new, democratic ideas. Beginning the work with a depiction of a family conflict between father and son Kirsanov, the writer goes further to clashes of a social nature. And the family theme in the novel only gives social contradictions a special humanistic coloring. These disputes between “fathers” and “sons” touch on a variety of issues: cultural heritage, art and science, moral principles, education, public duty and many others. And the attitude of sons towards their fathers is not limited only to family feelings, but extends much further - to the attitude towards the past and present of their fatherland, towards the historical and moral values ​​that they inherit. The tragic depth of this collision is especially emphasized by the violation of “nepotism” in connections between generations, between opposing social trends. And the contradictions between them go so far that they already touch the very natural foundations of existence.

Describing the origins and development of this conflict, the author at that time clearly expresses his position, his attitude to the fate of Russia, the Russian people, his understanding of the ways for the further development of the country. Giving a general assessment of the political content of his novel, the writer said: “My whole story is directed against the nobility, as the advanced class. Look at the faces of Nikolai Petrovich, Pavel Petrovich, Arkady. Sweetness and dullness or limitation. An aesthetic feeling forced me to take the good representatives of the nobility in order to prove my theme all the more accurately: if cream is bad, what about milk?.. They are the best of the nobles - and that is why I chose them to prove their inconsistency.”

The nobles depicted in Turgenev's novel are indeed the best representatives of their class. The views they express are the result of their sincere convictions. And with all their liberalism, they are still bearers of certain life values; they are characterized by aesthetic sensitivity and a culture of feelings. But they enter the turbulent era of the 60s completely unchanged, with the burden of old romantic-idealistic ideas. So, Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov is a typical aristocrat gentleman. It bizarrely combines noble imitation of the West and a Slavophile interpretation of a people who “sacredly honors traditions,” “cannot live without faith,” and is characterized by patriarchy. In his face we see an aristocrat admiring himself, whose life has been reduced to general philosophical reasoning and regrets about the past. He treats ordinary people with disdain, talking to them “he frowns and sniffs cologne”; an angry protest evokes everything new and democratic in him. And it cannot be otherwise, because he is completely unadapted to new living conditions, which are a direct threat to his calm existence. The same uselessness and inability to adapt to life are manifested in the image of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, who finds solace in romantic admiration for nature, which is a temple for him. Arkady Kirsanov, a representative of the young noble generation, is also critically depicted in the novel, quickly turning into an ordinary landowner, occupied exclusively with his family and household. The author notes the spiritual limitations and weakness of the hero, the superficiality of his democratic Hobbies, his obvious lordly manners and laziness.

Evgeny Bazarov is opposed to the old world in everything. He is proud of his simple origins and confidently strives to fight the remnants of the old times. “We want to fight,” he says to Arkady. Bazarov is sincerely passionate about the natural sciences and firmly believes in a person’s ability to withstand the unfavorable influence of circumstances: “As for time, why will I depend on it? It’s better to let it depend on me.” These views of the hero are a clear expression of the new, democratic understanding of life emerging in society. Even his appearance and manner of speaking sets him apart from all the other characters in the novel. He was dressed in a long robe with tassels and had long hair, which at that time was a demonstrative sign of freethinking. Bazarov speaks simply and clearly, can use a saying or proverb to the point, and gives precise characteristics. It is not difficult to notice the author's sincere sympathy for this representative of the new generation. Since it is people like him who are the exponents of advanced ideas in the new historical period.

Depicting the clash between “fathers” and “children,” Turgenev showed “the triumph of democracy over the aristocracy.” And, although the landowners-nobles Kirsanovs still remained masters in the country at that time, the intellectual and moral superiority of the common democrat and materialist Bazarov, without a doubt, meant the defeat of those foundations and principles on which the life of the “fathers” was based. Natural sciences and materialism turned out to be stronger than idealism and those uncritical thoughts and beliefs that Pavel Petrovich clung to so much.

Russian classical literature has always sought to test the stability and strength of the social foundations of society. In the novel “Fathers and Sons,” I. S. Turgenev vividly depicted the main conflict: disputes between “fathers,” representatives of the old, outgoing noble culture, and “children,” bearers of new, democratic ideas. Beginning the work with a depiction of a family conflict between father and son Kirsanov, the writer goes further to clashes of a social nature. And the family theme in the novel only gives social contradictions a special humanistic coloring. These disputes between “fathers” and “sons” touch on a variety of issues: cultural heritage, art and science, moral principles, education, public duty and many others. And the attitude of sons towards their fathers is not limited only to family feelings, but extends much further - to the attitude towards the past and present of their fatherland, towards the historical and moral values ​​that they inherit. The tragic depth of this collision is especially emphasized by the violation of “nepotism” in connections between generations, between opposing social trends. And the contradictions between them go so far that they already touch the very natural foundations of existence. Describing the origins and development of this conflict, the author at that time clearly expresses his position, his attitude to the fate of Russia, the Russian people, his understanding of the ways for the further development of the country. Giving a general assessment of the political content of his novel, the writer said: “My whole story is directed against the nobility, as the advanced class. Look at the faces of Nikolai Petrovich, Pavel Petrovich, Arkady. Sweetness and dullness or limitation. An aesthetic feeling forced me to take the good representatives of the nobility in order to prove my theme all the more accurately: if cream is bad, what about milk?.. They are the best of the nobles - and that is why I chose them to prove their inconsistency.” The nobles depicted in Turgenev's novel are indeed the best representatives of their class. The views they express are the result of their sincere convictions. And with all their liberalism, they are still bearers of certain life values; they are characterized by aesthetic sensitivity and a culture of feelings. But they enter the turbulent era of the 60s completely unchanged, with the burden of old romantic-idealistic ideas. So, Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov is a typical aristocrat gentleman. It bizarrely combines noble imitation of the West and a Slavophile interpretation of a people who “sacredly honors traditions,” “cannot live without faith,” and is characterized by patriarchy. In his face we see an aristocrat admiring himself, whose life has been reduced to general philosophical reasoning and regrets about the past. He treats ordinary people with disdain, talking to them “he frowns and sniffs cologne”; an angry protest evokes everything new and democratic in him. And it cannot be otherwise, because he is completely unadapted to new living conditions, which are a direct threat to his calm existence. The same uselessness and inability to adapt to life are manifested in the image of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, who finds solace in romantic admiration for nature, which is a temple for him. Arkady Kirsanov, a representative of the young noble generation, is also critically depicted in the novel, quickly turning into an ordinary landowner, occupied exclusively with his family and household. The author notes the spiritual limitations and weakness of the hero, the superficiality of his democratic Hobbies, his obvious lordly manners and laziness. Evgeny Bazarov is opposed to the old world in everything. He is proud of his simple origins and confidently strives to fight the remnants of the old times. “We want to fight,” he says to Arkady. Bazarov is sincerely passionate about the natural sciences and firmly believes in a person’s ability to withstand the unfavorable influence of circumstances: “As for time, why will I depend on it? It’s better to let it depend on me.” These views of the hero are a clear expression of the new, democratic understanding of life emerging in society. Even his appearance and manner of speaking sets him apart from all the other characters in the novel. He was dressed in a long robe with tassels and had long hair, which at that time was a demonstrative sign of freethinking. Bazarov speaks simply and clearly, can use a saying or proverb to the point, and gives precise characteristics. It is not difficult to notice the author's sincere sympathy for this representative of the new generation. Since it is people like him who are the exponents of advanced ideas in the new historical period. Depicting the clash between “fathers” and “children,” Turgenev showed “the triumph of democracy over the aristocracy.” And, although the landowners-nobles Kirsanovs still remained masters in the country at that time, the intellectual and moral superiority of the common democrat and materialist Bazarov, without a doubt, meant the defeat of those foundations and principles on which the life of the “fathers” was based. Natural sciences and materialism turned out to be stronger than idealism and those uncritical thoughts and beliefs that Pavel Petrovich clung to so much.

Russian classical literature has always sought to test the stability and strength of the social foundations of society. In the novel “Fathers and Sons,” I. S. Turgenev vividly depicted the main conflict: disputes between “fathers,” representatives of the old, outgoing noble culture, and “children,” bearers of new, democratic ideas. Beginning the work with a depiction of a family conflict between father and son Kirsanov, the writer goes further to clashes of a social nature. And the family theme in the novel only gives social contradictions a special humanistic coloring. These disputes between “fathers” and “sons” touch on a variety of issues: cultural heritage, art and science, moral principles, education, public duty and many others. And the attitude of sons towards their fathers is not limited only to family feelings, but extends much further - to the attitude towards the past and present of their fatherland, towards the historical and moral values ​​that they inherit. The tragic depth of this collision is especially emphasized by the violation of “nepotism” in connections between generations, between opposing social trends. And the contradictions between them go so far that they already touch the very natural foundations of existence.

Describing the origins and development of this conflict, the author at that time clearly expresses his position, his attitude to the fate of Russia, the Russian people, his understanding of the ways for the further development of the country. Giving a general assessment of the political content of his novel, the writer said: “My whole story is directed against the nobility, as the advanced class. Look at the faces of Nikolai Petrovich, Pavel Petrovich, Arkady. Sweetness and dullness or limitation. An aesthetic feeling forced me to take the good representatives of the nobility in order to prove my theme all the more accurately: if cream is bad, what about milk?.. They are the best of the nobles - and that is why I chose them to prove their inconsistency.”

The nobles depicted in Turgenev's novel are indeed the best representatives of their class. The views they express are the result of their sincere convictions. And with all their liberalism, they are still bearers of certain life values; they are characterized by aesthetic sensitivity and a culture of feelings. But they enter the turbulent era of the 60s completely unchanged, with the burden of old romantic-idealistic ideas. So, Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov is a typical aristocrat gentleman. It bizarrely combines noble imitation of the West and a Slavophile interpretation of a people who “sacredly honors traditions,” “cannot live without faith,” and is characterized by patriarchy. In his face we see an aristocrat admiring himself, whose life has been reduced to general philosophical reasoning and regrets about the past. He treats ordinary people with disdain, talking to them “he frowns and sniffs cologne”; an angry protest evokes everything new and democratic in him. And it cannot be otherwise, because he is completely unadapted to new living conditions, which are a direct threat to his calm existence.

are a direct threat to his peaceful existence. The same uselessness and inability to adapt to life are manifested in the image of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, who finds solace in romantic admiration for nature, which is a temple for him. Arkady Kirsanov, a representative of the young noble generation, is also critically depicted in the novel, quickly turning into an ordinary landowner, occupied exclusively with his family and household. The author notes the spiritual limitations and weakness of the hero, the superficiality of his democratic Hobbies, his obvious lordly manners and laziness.

Evgeny Bazarov is opposed to the old world in everything. He is proud of his simple origins and confidently strives to fight the remnants of the old times. “We want to fight,” he says to Arkady. Bazarov is sincerely passionate about the natural sciences and firmly believes in a person’s ability to withstand the unfavorable influence of circumstances: “As for time, why will I depend on it? It’s better to let it depend on me.” These views of the hero are a clear expression of the new, democratic understanding of life emerging in society. Even his appearance and manner of speaking sets him apart from all the other characters in the novel. He was dressed in a long robe with tassels and had long hair, which at that time was a demonstrative sign of freethinking. Bazarov speaks simply and clearly, can use a saying or proverb to the point, and gives precise characteristics. It is not difficult to notice the author's sincere sympathy for this representative of the new generation. Since it is people like him who are the exponents of advanced ideas in the new historical period.

Depicting the clash between “fathers” and “children,” Turgenev showed “the triumph of democracy over the aristocracy.” And, although the landowners-nobles Kirsanovs still remained masters in the country at that time, the intellectual and moral superiority of the common democrat and materialist Bazarov, without a doubt, meant the defeat of those foundations and principles on which the life of the “fathers” was based. Natural sciences and materialism turned out to be stronger than idealism and those uncritical thoughts and beliefs that Pavel Petrovich clung to so much.