All the heroes of Turgenev's work are fathers and sons. Heroes of the novel fathers and sons of Turgenev essay

The main theme of Turgenev's novel is the problem of the relationship between the old and modern generations. The fate of all the characters is closely intertwined with the solution of the pressing problem; each of them defines their life priorities in their own way. In Turgenev’s novel, a conflict of generations is created; the main characters of “Fathers and Sons” are antagonists who do not want to understand each other.

Characteristics of the heroes “Fathers and Sons”

Main characters

Minor characters

This is a characteristic of the heroes of Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons,” which deals with the eternal mutual misunderstanding of generations. The work “Fathers and Sons” are heroes, the old and new generations of which became role models and found a response in the hearts of readers. The names of the characters, this table of characteristics, give a brief idea of ​​the main characters from Turgenev’s book. This compressed data can be used to write essays in literature classes.

useful links

Check out what else we have:

Work test

Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons” reveals several problems at once. One reflects the conflict of generations and clearly demonstrates a way to get out of it while preserving the main thing - the value of family. The second demonstrates the processes taking place in the society of that time. Through dialogues and skillfully developed images of heroes, a type of public figure that has barely begun to emerge is presented, denying all the foundations of the existing statehood and ridiculing such moral and ethical values ​​as love feelings and sincere affections.

Ivan Sergeevich himself does not take either side in the work. As an author, he condemns both the nobility and representatives of new socio-political movements, clearly showing that the value of life and sincere affections is much higher than rebellion and political passions.

History of creation

Of all Turgenev’s works, the novel “Fathers and Sons” was the only one written in a short time. Only two years passed from the inception of the idea to the first publication of the manuscript.

The writer’s first thoughts regarding the new story came in August 1860 during his stay in England on the Isle of Wight. This was facilitated by Turgenev’s acquaintance with a young provincial doctor. Fate pushed them into bad weather on an iron road and, under the pressure of circumstances, they communicated with Ivan Sergeevich all night. New acquaintances were shown those ideas that the reader could later observe in Bazarov’s speeches. The doctor became the prototype of the main character.

(The Kirsanov estate from the film "Fathers and Sons", filming location Fryanovo estate, 1983)

In the autumn of the same year, upon returning to Paris, Turgenev worked out the plot of the novel and began writing chapters. Within six months, half of the manuscript was ready, and he finished it after arriving in Russia, in the middle of the summer of 1861.

Until the spring of 1862, reading his novel to friends and giving the manuscript to the editor of the Russian Messenger to read, Turgenev made corrections to the work. In March of the same year, the novel was published. This version was slightly different from the edition that was released six months later. In it, Bazarov was presented in a more unsightly light and the image of the main character was a little repulsive.

Analysis of the work

Main plot

The main character of the novel, the nihilist Bazarov, together with the young nobleman Arkady Kirsanov, arrives at the Kirsanov estate, where the main character meets his comrade’s father and uncle.

Pavel Petrovich is a sophisticated aristocrat who does not like Bazarov at all or the ideas and values ​​he displays. Bazarov also does not remain in debt, and no less actively and passionately, he speaks out against the values ​​and morality of the old people.

After this, the young people meet the recently widowed Anna Odintsova. They both fall in love with her, but temporarily hide it not only from the object of their adoration, but also from each other. The main character is ashamed to admit that he, who vehemently opposed romanticism and love affection, now himself suffers from these feelings.

The young nobleman begins to be jealous of the lady of his heart for Bazarov, omissions occur between friends and, as a result, Bazarov tells Anna about his feelings. Odintsova prefers him a quiet life and a marriage of convenience.

Gradually, the relationship between Bazarov and Arkady deteriorates, and Arkady himself becomes interested in Anna's younger sister Ekaterina.

Relations between the older generation of the Kirsanovs and Bazarovs are heating up, it comes to a duel, in which Pavel Petrovich is wounded. This puts an end to it between Arkady and Bazarov, and the main character has to return to his father’s house. There he becomes infected with a fatal disease and dies in the arms of his own parents.

In the finale of the novel, Anna Sergeevna Odintsova gets married by convenience, Arkady and Ekaterina, as well as Fenechka and Nikolai Petrovich get married. They have their weddings on the same day. Uncle Arkady leaves the estate and goes to live abroad.

Heroes of Turgenev's novel

Evgeny Vasilievich Bazarov

Bazarov is a medical student, by social status, a simple man, the son of a military doctor. He is seriously interested in natural sciences, shares the beliefs of nihilists and denies romantic attachments. He is self-confident, proud, ironic and mocking. Bazarov doesn’t like to talk a lot.

In addition to love, the main character does not share admiration for art, and has little faith in medicine, despite the education he receives. Not considering himself a romantic person, Bazarov loves beautiful women and, at the same time, despises them.

The most interesting moment in the novel is when the hero himself begins to experience those feelings whose existence he denied and ridiculed. Turgenev clearly demonstrates intrapersonal conflict, at a moment when a person’s feelings and beliefs diverge.

Arkady Nikolaevich Kirsanov

One of the central characters of Turgenev's novel is a young and educated nobleman. He is only 23 years old and barely graduated from university. Due to his youth and character, he is naive and easily falls under the influence of Bazarov. Outwardly, he shares the beliefs of the nihilists, but in his soul, and this is evident later in the plot, he appears as a generous, gentle and very sentimental young man. Over time, the hero himself understands this.

Unlike Bazarov, Arkady loves to talk a lot and beautifully, he is emotional, cheerful and values ​​affection. He believes in marriage. Despite the conflict between fathers and children demonstrated at the beginning of the novel, Arkady loves both his uncle and his father.

Anna Sergeevna Odintsova is an early widowed rich person who at one time married not out of love, but out of calculation, in order to protect herself from poverty. One of the main heroines of the novel loves peace and her own independence. She never loved anyone or became attached to anyone.

For the main characters, she looks beautiful and inaccessible, since she does not reciprocate anyone. Even after the death of the hero, she marries again, and again for convenience.

The widow Odintsova's younger sister, Katya, is very young. She is only 20 years old. Catherine is one of the sweetest and most pleasant characters in the novel. She is kind, sociable, observant and at the same time demonstrates independence and stubbornness, which only beauty the young lady. She comes from a family of poor nobles. Her parents died when she was only 12 years old. Since then, she was raised by her older sister Anna. Ekaterina is afraid of her and feels awkward under Odintsova’s gaze.

The girl loves nature, thinks a lot, she is direct and not flirtatious.

Father of Arkady (brother of Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov). Widower. He is 44 years old, a completely harmless person and an undemanding owner. He is soft, kind, attached to his son. He is a romantic by nature, he likes music, nature, poetry. Nikolai Petrovich loves a quiet, calm, measured life in the wilderness of the village.

At one time, he married for love and lived happily in marriage until his wife died. For many years he could not come to his senses after the death of his beloved, but over the years he found love again and it became Fenechka, a simple and poor girl.

A sophisticated aristocrat, 45 years old, Arkady's uncle. At one time he served as a guard officer, but because of Princess R. his life changed. A former socialite, a heartthrob who easily won the love of women. All his life he built in the English style, read newspapers in a foreign language, conducted business and everyday life.

Kirsanov is a clear supporter of liberal views and a man of principles. He is self-confident, proud and mocking. Love at one time crippled him, and from a lover of noisy companies, he became an ardent misanthrope who avoided the company of people in every possible way. At heart the hero is unhappy and at the end of the novel he finds himself far from his loved ones.

Analysis of the novel's plot

The main plot of Turgenev's novel, which has become a classic, is Bazarov's conflict with the society in which he found himself by the will of fate. A society that does not support his views and ideals.

The conventional plot of the plot is the appearance of the main character in the Kirsanovs' house. In the course of communication with other characters, conflicts and clashes of views are demonstrated that test Evgeniy’s beliefs for stability. This also happens within the framework of the main love line - in the relationship between Bazarov and Odintsova.

Contrast is the main technique that the author used when writing the novel. It is reflected not only in its title and demonstrated in the conflict, but is also reflected in the repetition of the protagonist’s route. Bazarov twice ends up at the Kirsanovs’ estate, twice visits Odintsova, and also returns twice to his parents’ house.

The denouement of the plot is the death of the main character, with which the writer wanted to demonstrate the collapse of the thoughts expressed by the hero throughout the novel.

In his work, Turgenev clearly showed that in the cycle of all ideologies and political disputes there is a large, complex and diverse life, where traditional values, nature, art, love and sincere, deep affections always win.

Supporting heroes. Satirical images.“When a man like Bazarov died<…>, a verdict has been pronounced on a whole trend of ideas,<…>Is it worth following the fate of people like Arkady, Nikolai Petrovich, Sitnikov?..” asks Pisarev in his article. The answer is obvious to him. But we’ll try to take a closer look at the named heroes, maybe they’ll suggest something that will help us understand Bazarov.

Nikolai Petrovich is the first person we meet on the pages of the novel. The author presents him as a “gray-haired, plump and slightly hunched” man. Next to him, a “fat rock dove” appears as a kind of double. With a superficial understanding, it is easy to accept “Bazarov’s view” of Nikolai Petrovich: “a retired man, his song is over.” And following Bazarov, take an ironic view of his attempts to learn to play the cello - “at forty-four years old.”

Let's give the floor to the hero himself. In a conversation with his brother, Nikolai Petrovich bitterly complains: “It seems that I do everything to keep up with the times:<…>I read, study, and generally try to keep up with the time demands.” The author confirms the veracity of Nikolai Petrovich’s words. Next to his son, he spent three winters in the capital, listening to the “ebullient speeches” of young people and even tried to participate in discussions. Little of. The great ideas of the century, discussed in student classrooms, are boldly put into practice by the provincial landowner. From the further speech we learn how Nikolai Petrovich “organized the peasants, started a farm, so that even I am called red throughout the province...”. Let us remember that according to the novel calendar the year is 1859, but officially “emancipation” began in 1861! The modest landowner is ahead of reforms on a national scale by almost two years!

Moreover, the reforms are being carried out quite disinterestedly. It is not for nothing that the author devotes so much space to describing Kirsanov’s new estate, for which “four acres of flat and bare field” are allotted, and barren ones at that. Where the water in the ponds does not hold, where the park needed by the estate does not grow well. Needless to say, the owner of the estate could, during demarcation, claim the best land for himself (which happened quite often during the nationwide “emancipation”). With many seemingly fleeting features, the author seeks to emphasize the democracy of Nikolai Petrovich, unprecedented for his time. The landowner is ashamed to call himself the owner of two hundred serf souls. The elder Kirsanov recognizes himself as having power only over tithes of land, and, not without pride, calls the estate a “farm.” He calls his servant “Peter” and not “Petrushka”, as most landowners would have done in his place. In the arrival scene, Peter “as the newest servant” bowed to the masters from afar, and did not bow to the hand. Further, when the Kirsanovs’ carriage rolls up to the porch, “the crowd of servants did not pour out onto the porch to greet the gentlemen.” Nikolai Petrovich obviously does not tolerate the picture of false servility. The writer does not want to hide the other side of what is happening. Perestroika in Maryino, like any undertaking, is not without difficulties. It’s hard for the gentleman, unusual for the peasant: “The farm, which had recently been set up in a new way, creaked like an unoiled wheel...”, “everything came running<…>, climbed up to the master, often with beaten faces, while drunk, and demanded trial and punishment.” These mistakes, this disorganization of the business that has just begun, become the subject of Bazarov’s malicious pleasure: “...And the good peasants will deceive your father...” He wants the landowner to “test it in practice” and be convinced of the need for a general breakup, and not gradual changes. In addition, the soft Nikolai Petrovich not only lacks “principles” - even “principles”. But there is humanity and patience. In his next novel “Smoke”, speaking about reforms, Turgenev will say: “Patience was required above all, and patience is not passive, but active, persistent, not without skill, not without cunning sometimes...” Such patience is endowed by the modest Nikolai Petrovich, who uses the wise proverb: “If it grinds, there will be flour.”

Among such household worries, the hero finds time to make music. He finds moments to communicate with the classics, and his lyrical passages are by no means mediocre: “...I played Schubert’s “Waiting” with feeling, albeit with an inexperienced hand, and a sweet melody spread through the air like honey.” Through the eyes of Nikolai Petrovich we see a poetic picture of a summer sunset, which in itself is capable of refuting any attempts to proclaim nature only as a “workshop” and not as a “temple.” Why doesn’t he protest when his son, with a “sympathetic smile,” hands over “Matter and Strength” instead of his beloved Pushkin? Why doesn’t he speak out against Bazarov? We can say that Nikolai Petrovich is wise as a person. That wisdom that Pyotr Ivanovich Aduev (“Ordinary History”) comprehends only at the end of his life’s journey. He understands that it is impossible to make someone fall in love with music, nature, or art. It is impossible to logically explain the beauty of the world around us.

The hero has a softening, reconciling effect on his brother and Bazarov, but at the same time he is not afraid to tell his brother the bitter truth for him: “Bazarov is smart and knowledgeable.” Nikolai Petrovich is characterized by conscientiousness and delicacy to the highest degree. For a long time he refuses his cherished desire - marriage with Fenechka, fearing to offend the memory of his mother in the eyes of his son and embarrass the same Pavel Petrovich. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” These biblical words involuntarily come to mind when reading the final pages. Kirsanov’s “nest did not go out of order”: Mitya grows up, Kolya is born. Between generations in the Kirsanov estate there is not confrontation, but cooperation. When “father and son” began to work together, “their affairs began to improve.” “Arkady has become a zealous owner, and the “farm” is already generating significant income.” This is how it should be, according to the writer. In this cooperation of generations, wisdom and experience on the one hand, young energy on the other, lies, according to Turgenev, the key to the success of all reforms.

His very name (happy) speaks about Arkady. Arkady really has the talent to be happy in the present. Like his father, he is naturally delicate. This delicacy of his brought many pleasant moments to the old Bazarovs, for whom he partially replaced his cold and unapproachable son with his stories. From the lips of Arkady we learn a lot about Bazarov; His role in the compositional cohesion of the work is no less important: he brings Bazarov to his parents’ estate, he awakens Odintsova’s curiosity with his stories about his friend, thanks to him Bazarov and Anna Sergeevna meet again (second and third dates). Despite his outward gentleness and invisibility, his role as a kind of squire to a friend is very important for understanding the main character.

At the beginning of the novel, he is completely under the authority of his older friend. Pavel Petrovich, discussing “what inexperienced hearts submit to,” indignantly points Bazarov to his nephew: “Look, one of them is sitting next to you, because he is almost praying for you, admire it.” His admiration is sincere and naive, sometimes to the point of ridiculousness. He “lazyly” agreed to Bazarov’s offer to go to the city. “In his heart he was very happy at his friend’s offer,” Turgenev comments, “but he considered it his duty to hide his feeling. No wonder he was a nihilist!” Arkady's naivety highlights the seriousness of feelings and the true severity of Bazarov. But there is a trait in Bazarov that instinctively repels his “student”. Although he agreed, on his advice, to take away the “unnecessary” book from his father, when Bazarov began to “laugh” at Nikolai Petrovich, “Arkady, no matter how much he revered his teacher, this time did not even smile.” 10th grade student in essay “Evgeny Bazarov and Arkady Kirsanov are the sons of their fathers” astutely notes that “Arkady’s cold attitude towards Nikolai Petrovich is only for show. This attitude appears under the “nihilistic” influence of Bazarov. But Arkady is trying, as it were, to justify himself to his father, and his “nihilistic” attitude is manifested insincerely.” He also tries to soften Bazarov’s categorical assessments of his uncle by telling the story of Princess R. Subsequently, it comes to Bazarov’s clashes with his “pupil”:

– What did you call Pavel Petrovich?

“I called him properly, an idiot.”

“This, however, is unbearable!” exclaimed Arkady.

Bazarov is inclined to explain Arkady’s behavior by the remnants of an outdated, in his eyes, “family feeling.” Arkady rightly objects: he speaks of a “simple sense of justice.” The “sense of justice” is shocked in Arkady and by Bazarov’s relationship with his own parents. He wholeheartedly praises both Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasyevna; finally, he asks a direct question: does Bazarov love his parents? "They love you so much." Hidden in the soul of the kind-hearted Arkady is a kind of moral guideline that unmistakably shows when Bazarov’s severity turns into cruelty. Arkady is a student, a devoted admirer. But not a slave. He gently but finally frees himself from the power of his friend, sensing in their relationship a hint of despotism and rudeness. We even know exactly when this happens - all in the same scene under the haystack. “Oh, my friend, Arkady Nikolaich!.. I ask you one thing: don’t speak beautifully,” an irritated Bazarov turns to Arkady. “I speak as best I can... And finally, this is despotism. A thought occurred to me; Why not express it?” - Arkady is rightly indignant at Bazarov’s habit of subjugating people’s actions. Again Turgenev repeats the idea that each person is interesting and valuable in his own way.

Having learned about Arkady and Katya's engagement, Bazarov ironically congratulates him. And he immediately breaks up with a person with whom he is now not on the same path. “You were not created for our bitter, tart, bean life,” Bazarov rightly notes. “Our dust will eat into your eyes, our dirt will stain you, and you haven’t grown up to us...” The attentive reader will notice that with this monologue the bazaars “execute” not only a friend, but all the “liberal nobles.” The hero admits that he “has other words”; he obviously would like to part with his old friend more warmly - “only I won’t express them, because this is romanticism - it means: falling apart.” Arkady's decision has its own strength and weakness. Yes, he chose a different path in life, easier than his friend. But this is his way. No one, no one's power will force Arkady to submit.

The same can be said about Katya, “a girl of about eighteen, black-haired and dark-skinned, with a somewhat round but pleasant face, with small dark eyes.” Katya has the qualities that we are used to seeing, which give the charm to Turgenev’s girl. When she first appears, she "holds a basket filled with flowers" and befriends a "beautiful greyhound dog with a blue collar." The girl is kind to her aunt: “Katya put a bench under her feet,” although the evil old woman “didn’t even look at her.” Katya loves Mozart’s music: “She played very well<…>, clenching her teeth tightly... and only towards the end of the sonata her face flared up and a small strand of developed hair fell on her dark eyebrow.” Like Arkady, she was influenced by a strong nature and was even a little “intimidated” by her sister; she is timid and afraid when Anna Sergeevna “caressed” her. There is no secularism in Katya, she is “not a flirt”, she does not dream of new shoes. “Simply, without being ashamed or showing off,” she tells Arkady, who financially depends on her sister. The girl is not at all weak-willed. She has both character and pride. “Some young ladies are considered smart only because they sigh intelligently; and yours will stand up for itself...” notes Bazarov. She will not agree, like her sister, to sell herself into marriage with a rich man, “because the song says about unevenness.”

Katya can be called a Turgenev girl with some reservations. There is no desire for self-sacrifice in her, no dream of going “to a difficult feat,” as in Natalya or Asa. Calmly and somewhat busily, she prepares herself for the main work of life: marriage and raising children. Arkady, as Bazarov predicted, soon falls under her influence; but this influence is beneficial for him. He leaves the habit of “being sybaritic” and “zealously gets down to business” - the business to which his soul lies. No less than leaders, the world needs simple workers, modest leaders. People cannot be manipulated.

Evgeny Vasilyevich Bazarov is the main character of the novel, the son of a regimental doctor, a medical student, and a friend of Arkady Kirsanov. Bazarov is the brightest representative of the youth and mixed-democratic intelligentsia of the mid-19th century. Calling himself a “nihilist,” he denies the established social order and rejects any principles.

A beautiful aristocrat, 29 years old, whom Bazarov fell in love with. She considers herself to be a new generation of nobles: simple, calm, devoid of snobbery, preaches freedom of judgment and democracy. By nature, Anna Sergeevna is proud and smart. Left without a father at an early age, she raised her younger sister.

One of the main characters of the novel, the father of Arkady Kirsanov and the brother of Pavel Petrovich. In the past he was happily married, but remained a widower. Now he lives with a young girl, Fenechka, who gave birth to his son. Despite the fact that Nikolai Petrovich is no longer young, he tries to keep up with the times and is interested in music, poetry and art in general.

Brother of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, uncle of Arkady and Bazarov's main opponent. He acts as the main opponent in ideological disputes with Bazarov and, due to the strength of his character, is a worthy rival to him. Pavel Petrovich is distinguished by integrity, insight, aristocracy, high intelligence, sharp mind, nobility, willpower, liberal views and passion for everything English.

She is one of the main female characters in the novel. She is an ordinary peasant girl, left an orphan at an early age. Fenechka’s mother Arina Savishna worked as a housekeeper on the estate of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. When she died, he took upon himself the care of young Fenechka, with whom he later fell in love.

A minor character in the novel, an emancipated landowner, Sitnikov’s friend, a psedonihilist. She imitates the most extreme manifestations of radicalism, is constantly interested in the “women's question” and the situation of women throughout the world, is interested in the natural sciences, and despises George Sand.

A minor character in the novel, Bazarov's friend and student, a pseudo-nihilist. He is characterized by anxious tension, as well as dog-like devotion to his “teacher.” He tries in vain to imitate Bazarov, making him his idol. In his attempts to behave freely and boldly, to show harshness in his judgments and actions, he looks comical.

Kate

Odintsova's younger sister. A young and shy girl of 18 years old. Their love with Arkady developed slowly, but gradually the young people fell in love with each other and got married. In the future, they had a son, Kolya.

Vasily Ivanovich

Bazarov's father, a retired staff doctor. Lives on a remote estate, has a few serf souls. He treats local peasants. He is interested in gardening and vegetable gardening. Evgeniy was his only son, after whose death his life also faded.

Arina Vlasevna

Bazarov's mother is a kind woman who passionately loves her son. She was very pious and believed in everything possible: in devils, dreams, omens, fortune telling, damage and even in the end of the world. In her youth she was beautiful, played the clavichord and knew French. Now I’ve gained weight and forgotten music and language. The death of her son practically killed her herself.

Prokofich

A servant in the Kirsanovs' house, a thin old man of about sixty years old. Nikolai Petrovich called him a grouch. The only servant who did not love Bazarov.

Dunyasha

A servant in the Kirsanovs' house, a young girl who helps Fenechka take care of her little son Mitya. She really liked Bazarov.

Peter

Valet in the Kirsanovs' house. Stupid and proud person. He could read syllables. At the end of the book, he married the daughter of a city gardener and received a good dowry. She chose him only because he had a watch.

Mitya

The little son of Nikolai Petrovich and Fenechka. He is not even a year old yet.

Matvey Ilyich

A noble relative of the Kirsanovs, to whom Arkady and Bazarov went from the estate. He advised them to go to the governor and get an invitation to the ball.

Governor

A fussy and forgetful person. He invited Bazarov and Kirsanov to his big ball, where they met Odintsova.

Princess X

Anna Sergeevna Odintsova's aunt, a thin and small old woman, a princess. After the death of her husband, Odintsova invited her to live on her estate and manage it. Now no one paid attention to her, although they treated her with respect and looked after her well. She died shortly after Bazarov's death.

Porfiry Platonich

Odintsova's neighbor, who often came to her to play cards. He was short, cheerful and already gray-haired. He loved to tell jokes.

Timofeich

Bazarov's father's clerk, Evgeniy's former uncle. He came to pick him up from Odintsova and said that his parents were really looking forward to him. He also came to her to bring her to the dying Bazarov.

Fedka

Servant in the Bazarovs' house. Upon the arrival of Bazarov and Arkady, he began to serve them. For the sake of their arrival, he was dressed in different clothes and given new boots, which he could not get used to.

Doctor Odintsova

He came with Odintsova to examine the sick Bazarov, immediately determined that he had no chance of survival, which he managed to whisper to her before she met him.

Creativity of I.S. Turgenev made a huge contribution to the development of Russian literature. Many of his works are well known to readers of different ages. But the most popular was and remains Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons,” which became the answer to many of the writer’s contemporary questions. The history of the creation of the novel “Fathers and Sons” began in 1860, with the idea that visited Ivan Sergeevich.

First stage

Thoughts about creating a new work describing the surrounding reality arose in Turgenev when he was in England on the Isle of Wight. Then he conceives a major story, the hero of which should be a young doctor. The prototype of Bazarov was a young doctor whom Turgenev accidentally met while traveling by rail. In him he saw the beginnings of nihilism, which was just emerging at that time. This amazed Ivan Sergeevich. He was simply fascinated by the views of this young man.

Beginning of work

Turgenev began work directly in 1860. He leaves with his daughter for Paris, settles there and plans to finish work with a new work in a short time. During the first year of working on Fathers and Sons, the writer completes the first half of the novel. He feels great satisfaction from his work. He is madly attracted to the image of Yevgeny Bazarov. But over time, he feels that he can no longer work in Paris. The writer returns to his homeland.

Completion of the novel

Returning to Russia gives Turgenev the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of modern social movements. This helps him complete the novel. Shortly before the end of work on Fathers and Sons, a significant event took place in Russia - the abolition of serfdom. The last chapters of the work are being completed by Ivan Sergeevich in his native village of Spassky.

First publications and disputes

For the first time, “Fathers and Sons” appeared to the world on the pages of the popular literary publication “Russian Messenger”. As Turgenev feared, the controversial image of Bazarov caused a strong reaction in literary circles. Its discussion gave rise to a lot of controversy in the press. Many excellent critics devoted their articles to analyzing the ideological content of the novel and characterizing the main character. The appearance of a new image, denying everything familiar and beautiful, became a kind of hymn to the young nihilistic movement.

Latest edition of the novel

After the novel appeared in the Russian Messenger, Turgenev was engaged in a slight reworking of the text of the work. It smoothes out some particularly harsh character traits of the main character, and makes the image of Bazarov more attractive than in the original version. In the fall of 1862, an edited version of the novel was published. On the title page there is a dedication to Vissarion Grigorievich Belinsky. Turgenev and Belinsky were very close friends, and thanks to the influence of Vissarion Grigorievich, some of Ivan Sergeevich’s social views were formed.

Roman I.S. Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons” became a unique work, reflecting the eternal confrontation between two generations not only within a single family, but also at the level of socio-political life of an entire country.