Why does Bazarov leave his parents' house? Essay - analysis of the episode “Bazarov’s departure from his native nest” (chapter 21 of the novel “Fathers and Sons” by I.S. Turgenev)

Evgeny Bazarov is the main character in Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons. Bazarov's character is a young man, a convinced nihilist, contemptuous of art and respecting only natural sciences, a typical representative of the new

generation of thinking youth. The main plot of the novel is the conflict between fathers and children, the bourgeois lifestyle 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 (Bazarov’s friend), but very little is said about the relationship of the protagonist with his parents. This approach is very unfounded, 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 the boring, colorless life of a poor landowner, who at one time spared nothing for the good upbringing of his son.

Arina Vlasyevna (mother) is a noblewoman who “should have been born in the era of Peter the Great,” a very kind and superstitious woman who knows how to do only one thing - cook excellent food. The image of Bazarov's parents, a kind of symbol of ossified conservatism, is contrasted with the main character - inquisitive, intelligent, sharp in his judgments. However, despite such different worldviews, Bazarov’s parents truly love their son; in Evgeniy’s absence, all their free time is spent thinking about him.

Bazarov, on the other hand, treats his parents outwardly rather dryly; he certainly loves them, but is not used to open outpourings of feelings; he is burdened by constant obsessive attention. He cannot find a common language with either his father or his mother; he cannot even have discussions with them, like with Arkady’s family. This makes it hard for Bazarov, but he can’t help himself. under one roof, he agrees only on the condition that he will not be disturbed from studying natural sciences in his office. Bazarov’s parents understand this very well and try to please their only child in everything, but, of course, it is extremely difficult for them to tolerate such an attitude.

Perhaps Bazarov’s main trouble was that he was not understood by his parents, due to the large difference in intellectual development and level of education, and did not receive moral support from them, which is why he was such a harsh and emotionally cold person, which often alienated from him people.

However, in the parental home we are shown a different Evgeny Bazarov - softer, more understanding, full of tender feelings that he will never outwardly show due to internal barriers.

The characteristics of Bazarov’s parents baffle us: how could a person of such progressive views grow up in such a patriarchal environment? Turgenev once again shows us what a person can do on his own. However, it 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.

The climax of the novel- not a duel, not even an explanation. Bazarov's arrival to his parents begins the process of rethinking many previous postulates. During the meeting, Odintsova turned to him with a traditional request for such moments: “Tell me something about yourself... what is happening in you now.” For several evenings, Bazarov stubbornly avoids this question. Not out of “modesty”, not out of fear that the “aristocrat” would not understand him. He has driven his inner life so deep that now it is difficult to understand “what is happening in you.” “This is happening,” the wounded Bazarov is indignant, “as if I were some kind of state or society!” But the process of self-awareness has already begun. For the first time, when he sees his native home, the hero is overcome by a feeling of nostalgia: “That aspen<..>reminds me of my childhood... at that time I was sure that this pit and the aspen had a special talisman... Well, now I’m an adult, the talisman does not work.” For the first time, the consciousness of the uniqueness and value of one’s personality comes to mind: “The narrow place that I occupy is so tiny in comparison with the rest of the space where I am not and where no one cares about me; and the part of time that I manage to live is so insignificant before eternity, where I was not and will not be... And in this atom<...>the blood circulates, the brain works, it also wants something.”

For the first time, Bazarov realized that, having placed himself above everyone, he had doomed himself to loneliness. The great goal contrasted him with other people - simple, ordinary, but happy: “It’s good for my parents to live in the world!” A moment later he returns to the same thought: “As you look... at the deaf life that the “fathers” lead here, it seems that better?" And the goal itself now seems not so unconditional. Why is one person (a self-valued person) obliged to sacrifice himself for the sake of another (the same person)? Why is he worse? “...You said today, passing by the hut of our elder Philip,” he reflects, turning to Arkady, “...Russia will then achieve perfection when the last man has the same room...” Arkady, of course, repeated the words of the teacher that “ each of us owes this ( happiness of the people) contribute". But Bazarov’s reaction turns out to be a complete surprise for him: “And I hated this last guy.”<…>, for whom I have to bend over backwards and who won’t even say thank you to me... Well, he will live in a white hut. And a burdock will grow out of me<…>? “And no matter how frighteningly bitter such a recognition may emanate, this is also a symptom of the addition of humanity in Bazarov. Of course, hatred is a terrible feeling, but it is precisely a feeling, and it was precisely the feelings that were not present in Bazarov’s previous attitude towards people. Now “Philip or Sidor” is hated and, therefore, palpable: for Bazarov, for the first time he is a living person, and not<…>abstract question mark."

“But the truth is where, on which side?” - the simple-minded Arkady is trying to achieve. New Bazarov no longer knows the answer to all the questions: “Where? I’ll answer you like an echo: where?” It cannot be said that the new Bazarov liked himself. Opening your own soul leads to a sad conclusion: you are the same as everyone else; just as vulnerable, just as involved in death. “What a disgrace!” Sometimes Bazarov even envies...an ant. "Drag her ( fly), brother, get it! Take advantage of the fact that you, as an animal, have the right not to recognize feelings of compassion!..” Challenge.., but to whom? Who is his enemy now?

Hence the hostile attitude towards Arkady. This time the younger Kirsanov appears not as a friend, but as a double. Or rather, a double of the former Bazarov. Who was so easy to live and who is painfully trying to resurrect within himself. Bazarov envies him, and hates him, and provokes him: “Enough, please, Evgeny, we will finally quarrel.” But Bazarov just wants a quarrel - “to the point of extermination.” Again, to Arkady’s horror, Bazarov’s bestial-proud nature awakened: “...The face of his friend seemed so ominous to him, such a serious threat seemed to him in the crooked smile of his lips, in his lit eyes...” Bazarov wants with all his might to remain the same Bazarov. “When I meet a person who would not give up in front of me... then I will change my opinion about myself.”

Read also other articles on the topic “Analysis of the novel by I.S. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons".

Lesson topic: Bazarov and his parents.

The purpose of the lesson: consider the images of father and mother, identify Bazarov’s relationship with his parents, expand the psychological portrait of the main character; develop students' reading interest and communication skills; instill a sense of duty in children towards their parents.

Equipment: epigraphs for the lesson, illustrations for the novel, presentation for the lesson.

During the classes.

Organizing time.

Guys, tell me, how often do you say words of love, confess your love? Who do you say “I love you” to most often? Of course, first of all, to your favorite girls. Think about the last time you told your parents, “I love you. Thank you for having me.” But they, no less than your girls, need our words of love, our support. They need us.

Recording an epigraph for the lesson.

You probably guessed it, today in class we will talk about relationships with parents, about the attitude of our hero Yevgeny Bazarov towards his parents. Let's turn to our first epigraph.

“People like them cannot be found in our wide world during the day.” ( Bazarov about parents).

Every child can say this about their parents.

Work on the topic of the lesson.

1) Let's first remember who Bazarov is and what you learned about him.Working with portraits Bazarova. Turgenev gives a short description of his hero’s appearance. We learn more about him from other heroes. (Bazarov is a nihilist. Bazarov is a future doctor, he is studying at a medical university. After three years of absence from home, he comes to his homeland, where his parents are eagerly awaiting him.) What can you say when looking at Bazarov’s portraits? How does he appear to you?

2) Yes, Bazarov is a nihilist. Who is a nihilist? How does Bazarov characterize himself? (We deny everything!) This means that nihilists also deny love, romanticism, and sentimentalism. When others don't think so. Therefore, we can say that Bazarov is lonely.

3) Let's remember when Bazarov comes to his parents. Straightaway? (No, almost a month after his arrival from St. Petersburg. He comes to his parents after a difficult conversation with Anna Sergeevna Odintsova. He, a nihilist who denies all living things, fell in love with this woman. And she rejected his feeling. It was unbearable for him. And for In order to forget Odintsova, Bazarov tries to distract himself by going to his parents).

4) Tell us how his parents met Bazarov.

5) Who are they, what do they do? (Vasily Ivanovich is a very kind man. He treats peasants for free, although he has already refused to work as a doctor. He strives to expand his knowledge. Vasily Ivanovich is a hospitable host, he gladly welcomes Arkady, offers him a comfortable room, albeit in an outbuilding. Vasily Ivanovich loves to talk a lot. Arina Vlasyevna is superstitious and ignorant, she was afraid of frogs, she didn’t read books. She loved to eat, sleep and “knew a lot about housekeeping.” She didn’t understand politics. She is very kind and caring: she won’t go to bed if her husband has a headache; She loves her son more than anything in the world. Arina Vlasevna is a person of a different way of life than her son.)

6) How do Eugene’s father and mother treat him? (Mother affectionately calls him Enyushka; they were afraid to disturb him again)

7) Can Bazarov be called a good son? (Yes, you can. He cares about their financial condition, during his studies he did not ask them for a penny. Being near death, he asks Odintsova to take care of his parents: “After all, people like them cannot be found in your big world during the day...")

8) What is the reason for his “dry” communication with his parents? (With a break with Odintsova)

9) Can we say that Bazarov is insensitive towards his parents? (No, he doesn’t want to upset his parents, so he decides to announce his departure only in the evening.)

10) Why does the life of his parents seem “deaf” to Bazarov?

11) How does Bazarov relate to his parents? (Bazarov loves his parents, he directly says to Arkady: “I love you, Arkady.” And this is a lot in his mouth. In the first moments of meeting his father, he looks at him with love and understands how he, poor fellow, turned gray. His father’s kindness finds in him proper assessment. But Bazarov cannot close his eyes to the difference in views and goals of life. Bazarov cannot accept such a deaf life. Bazarov does not want to fight with the little things in life, his task is to remake the foundations of life: there will be no diseases to correct society. But to remake the foundations of life parents are not allowed; any attempt to scold them would, at the very least, upset them and be of no use).

12) Death of Bazarov. Why does Bazarov die? How does Bazarov feel about his death? (An experienced and understanding doctor, Bazarov knows perfectly well what needs to be done in case of infection, but does not do it.)

13) Tell us about the experiences of Bazarov’s parents during his illness.

Working from a painting. In 1874, the artist V. Perov painted a painting based on the novel “Fathers and Sons” “Old Parents at the Grave of their Son.”

Work with text. How does this picture make you feel? (For parents, there is nothing more painful than the loss of their child).

I want to read you a parable.One young man was unlucky in Love. Somehow he always came across the wrong girls in his life. He considered some to be ugly, others to be stupid, and others to be grumpy. Tired of searching for an ideal, the young man decided to seek wise advice from the elder of the tribe.

Having listened carefully to the young man, the elder said:

I see that your trouble is great. But tell me, how do you feel about your mother?

The young man was very surprised.

What does my mother have to do with this? Well, I don’t know... She often irritates me: with her stupid questions, annoying concerns, complaints and requests. But I can say that I love her.

The elder paused, shook his head and continued the conversation:

Well, I will tell you the most important secret of Love. Happiness exists, and it lies in your precious heart. And the seed of your well-being in Love was planted by a very important person in your life. Your mother. And how you treat her is how you will treat all women in the world. After all, mom is the first Love who accepted you into her caring arms. This is your first image of a woman. If you love and honor your mother, you will learn to appreciate and respect all women. And then you will see that one day the girl you like will respond to your attention with a tender gaze, a gentle smile and wise speeches. You will not be prejudiced against women. You will see them as True. Our attitude towards Rod is the measure of our happiness.

The young man bowed to the wise old man with gratitude. Setting off on his way back, he heard the following behind him:

Yes, and don’t forget: look for that girl in Life who will love and honor her father!

What is this parable about? What conclusion can be drawn?

We, children, are indebted to our parents, we are obliged to protect them in old age, to be support and hope. They should not worry about our terrible actions, bad grades, bad behavior. We have the power to make the lives of parents happier. The poet M. Ryabinin has the following lines (epigraph of the lesson):

Bow down to your mother's earth

And bow down to your father...

We owe them an unpaid debt -

Remember this sacredly all your life.

I asked you to write an essay about your parents. What do they mean to you? You began to ask what to write, how to write. What they do for us cannot be described in words. And everyone said that they mean EVERYTHING to you!

“I love and appreciate my parents very much. Sometimes we have disagreements, but we still make peace. My dad taught me to play hockey and now I'm on the team. And mom will always help in difficult times. In any difficult situation, parents will give advice and are always there.”

"I love my parents very much. I owe them my life. They raised me and taught me everything they know.”

“I very often think that my mother can and knows everything in the world, from repairing a motorcycle, delicious pies, to the ability to mentally communicate with me and understand me. My mother has good friends, because it couldn’t be any other way, she’s the best. “I love, appreciate, proud and respect my mother very much.”

“It happened in my life that I live with my father. Dad is strict with me. He always says: “Remain human in any situation.” My father wants me to achieve everything on my own. It was only thanks to him that I fell in love with sports. I am very grateful to my dad for his care and love."

“Two years ago I had an obnoxious character, very often I quarreled with my parents. I am very grateful to my parents for putting up with my evil character. And today I have a warm relationship with them. I want everything to continue like this, only to get better.”

“Parents are the most precious thing in our lives. Every person must and must respect, love, appreciate and value them. I have a large and very friendly family. It so happened that my brothers and sister were left without parents, But we still do not stop loving and remembering them. They are also alive for us. They are always near us. I have a brother I can rely on. In difficult times, we always help each other and lend a helping hand. Our beloved grandmother also lives with us, who has partially replaced our parents. She dotes on us, protects us from life’s adversities, always side by side with us, both in sorrow and in joy. We sincerely wish her good health and patience in raising us. My brothers and sister and I understand what difficult, titanic work this is. For our part, we also help her with housework and babysit her sister. I am sure that we will all overcome all the difficulties and adversities of life that fate has in store for us. Take care of your parents and your loved ones during your lifetime. Give them your warmth and love while your hearts are beating."

“My mother was the best, the most caring. She was a good housewife, a good mother and a good wife. My parents always devoted their free time to me. Every Sunday we went to church for services, she sang in the choir and baked prosphora. Every morning she took me to kindergarten. I will never forget her!!! I love her very much and often feel her presence next to me."

Presentation (photo with parents). Look at the happy faces of your parents. They are happy that we are near them. So don't make your parents sad. Support them, talk to them, be silent with them, be always with them. It’s not for nothing that I ended the presentation with a photo of your master. After all, here at the lyceum, she is your mother. Therefore, do not upset her with your bad behavior, your bad grades. Guys, don’t forget to hug your parents when you come home and tell them that you love them very much. Don't forget to wish your dear mothers a Happy Mother's Day.

What could be more valuable than family?

The father's house greets me with warmth,

They are always waiting for you here with love,

And they send you off on your way with kindness!

Love it! And appreciate happiness!

It is born in a family

What could be more valuable than her?

On this fabulous land.

8. Summing up. Grading.

We have already witnessed the scene of returning “to our native nest”. Returning is a meeting, a feeling of joy. At the end of ch. 21 – before us is the scene of departure from the “native nest”. And even before reading, you feel a certain sadness, sadness, because leaving is a parting. It is difficult for both parties, those leaving and those seeing off.

The departure scene begins with Bazarov’s phrase: “Nothing! It will heal until the wedding.” And this Bazarov “nothing” could sound like “no big deal.” It seems like “he’ll get over it and calm down.” Everything is in the style of Bazarov's nihilism. But a whole day will pass before Bazarov decides about his intention to notify Vasily Ivanovich. It seems like a small detail. But it is not so small for the decisive, rejecting feelings in general and love in particular, Evgeny Bazarov.

The son’s decision was so unexpected that poor Vasily Ivanovich “turned over on the spot” out of confusion. How touching the old Bazarovs are in their love for their son. They never expected that their Enyusha, after three years of absence, would stay for only three days. Taking out a handkerchief, blowing his nose, bending almost to the ground, Vasily Ivanovich, not understanding with his mind, agreeing with his son (so as not to offend), will only say confusedly: “I thought that you were with us... longer, three days... This, this after three years, not enough; Not enough, Evgeniy.” And these words contain everything: parental resentment, confusion, amazement. But they tried so hard for their son, they were so looking forward to his arrival. Arina Vlasevna asked a neighbor for flowers especially for her son, so that she could clean the room so that her son could feel comfortable in the house. And Vasily Ivanovich wouldn’t even dare to tell his son that “every morning at first light, standing on his bare feet in shoes, he entrusted Timofeich with various purchases, especially focusing on food items...”. And all this is for Evgeniy, my son, so that he doesn’t feel embarrassed, so that he likes it. They lived only in anticipation of their learned son, they revered him. Poor Vasily Ivanovich is still holding on, still holding back his tears, still trying to show his modernity to young people: “The main thing is freedom; this is my rule... no need to embarrass..." But he felt sorry for Arina, his old lady, and didn’t want to tell her at night, because he knew what a grief this news would be for her. And the morning of the next day will become darker than night for them.

There is no need to comment on the lines telling about the last minutes of parting. They need to be read. Vasily Ivanovich’s face became haggard during the night, he was still brave, spoke loudly and pounded his feet, but poor Arina Vlasyevna just cried quietly. It cannot be said that Bazarov, a nihilist who rejects feelings in general and love in particular, did not care. His heart also trembled, which is why he promised to return no later than a month. He promised to calm and console.

But then the horses started moving, the bell rang - “and now there was no need to look after them.” How great is the grief of the parents. What does the future hold for them? They will live out their days in sad loneliness, caring for each other. Alone, like a finger, alone “in their own house, which also seemed to have suddenly shrunk and become decrepit.” And, leaning her gray head against the gray head of her husband, Arina Vlasyevna consoles him: “What to do, Vasya! The son is a cut off piece. He’s like a falcon: he wanted - he flew, he wanted - he flew away; and you and I, like honey mushrooms in a hollow tree, sit side by side and don’t move. Only I will remain unchanged for you forever, just as you are for me.” And in these words is a picture of the life of the outgoing generation of “fathers.” I sympathize and sincerely feel sorry for the old Bazarovs. It's a shame for Evgeniy. But it is already felt that his impeccable theory does not stand the test of life.

Bazarov’s meeting with his parents is one of the most difficult conflicts that new people have had to enter into - a conflict with their own parents - “fathers” in the literal sense of the word. The goal of our lesson is to understand what and why Bazarov’s relationship with his parents developed.

Question

How do his father and mother treat Evgeniy? To answer this question, let us turn to the beginning of the XX chapter of the novel.

Answer

“Arkady craned his head from behind his comrade and saw on the porch of the manor’s house a tall, thin man, with tousled hair and a thin aquiline nose, dressed in an open old military frock coat. He stood with his legs spread apart, smoking a long pipe and squinting in the sun.
The horses stopped.
“He’s finally here,” said Bazarov’s father, still continuing to smoke, although the chibouk was jumping between his fingers. - Well, get out, get out, let's scratch. He began to hug his son... “Enyusha, Enyusha,” was heard trembling female voice. The door swung open, and a round, short old woman in a white cap and a short colorful blouse appeared on the threshold. She gasped, staggered and probably would have fallen, if Bazarov had not supported her. Her plump arms instantly wrapped themselves around his neck, the head pressed against his chest, and everything fell silent. Only her intermittent sobs could be heard" (Ch. XX)

“Your son is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met,” Arkady answered lively.
Vasily Ivanovich's eyes suddenly opened, and his cheeks faintly flushed. The shovel fell out of his hands.
“So, you believe...” he began.
“I’m sure,” Arkady picked up, “that a great future awaits your son, that he will glorify your name.” I was convinced of this from our first meeting.
- How... how was it? - Vasily Ivanovich barely spoke. An enthusiastic smile parted his wide lips and never left them..
- Do you want to know how we met?
- Yes... and in general...
Arkady began to talk and talk about Bazarov with even greater fervor, with greater enthusiasm than that evening when he danced the mazurka with Odintsova.
Vasily Ivanovich listened to him, listened, blew his nose, rolled his handkerchief in both hands, coughed, ruffled his hair - and finally could not stand it: he bent over to Arkady and kissed him on the shoulder.
- You made me completely happy“,” he said, still smiling, “I must tell you that I... idolize my son; I’m not even talking about my old woman: you know - mother! but I don’t dare show my feelings in front of him, because he doesn’t like it. He is the enemy of all outpourings; many even condemn him for such firmness of his character and see in it a sign of pride or insensitivity; But people like him should not be measured by an ordinary yardstick, is not it? Well, for example: someone else in his place would have pulled and pulled from his parents; and with us, would you believe it? he never took an extra penny, by God!
“He is a disinterested, honest person,” Arkady noted.
- Precisely unselfish. And I, Arkady Nikolaich, I not only adore him, I'm proud of him, and all my ambition is that over time the following words will appear in his biography: “The son of a simple headquarters doctor, who, however, knew how to figure him out early and spared nothing for his upbringing...” - The old man’s voice broke. (Ch. XXI)

The mental state of the characters is shown by laconic but extremely expressive details of external behavior.

Question

What are these people like?

Answer

Vasily Ivanovich is not a nobleman, but a commoner, the son of a sexton, who became a doctor. He was a military doctor for General Kirsanov, apparently a very good one, since he was awarded the Order of Vladimir for his work during the plague epidemic in Bessarabia. He was proud that he knew the Decembrists from the “Southern Society”.

“What am I? Retired staff physician, volata; Now I’ve become an agronomist. “I served in your grandfather’s brigade,” he turned again to Arkady, “yes, yes, yes; I have seen many species in my time. And what kind of societies have you not been to, with whom have you not gotten involved? I, the same me whom you deign to see before you now, I felt the pulse of Prince Wittgenstein and Zhukovsky! Those in the southern army, in the fourteenth, you understand (and here Vasily Ivanovich pursed his lips significantly), knew everyone inside out. Well, my business is the side; know your lancet and that's it! And your grandfather was a very respectable man, a real military man.” (Ch. XX)

“Your present bed, my sirs,” he began, “reminds me of my military, bivouac life, dressing stations, also somewhere like that near a haystack, and that too, thank God. - He sighed. - I have experienced a lot, a lot in my lifetime. For example, if you allow me, I will tell you a curious episode of the plague in Bessarabia.
- For which did you get Vladimir? - Bazarov picked up. - We know, we know... By the way, why don’t you wear it?
“After all, I told you that I have no prejudices,” muttered Vasily Ivanovich (he had only the day before ordered the red ribbon to be removed from his coat) and began to tell the episode of the plague.” (Ch. XXI)

Now he is a small landowner (his wife has 22 souls in his name) and, in his own way, a working man. The garden was cultivated with his hands, and he is still practicing medicine: he treats peasants, and for free. This is a very kind, gentle person. He is ready to love everything related to his son.

“How many souls does your father have? - Arkady suddenly asked.
- The estate is not his, but his mother’s; I remember fifteen showers.
“And all twenty-two,” Timofeich noted with displeasure.” (Ch. XX)

“- There’s a guy here, he suffers from icterus...
- That is, jaundice?
- Yes, chronic and very persistent icterus. I prescribed him centaury and St. John's wort, forced him to eat carrots, gave him soda; but that's all palliative facilities; I need something more decisive. Even though you laugh at medicine, I’m sure you can give me sound advice.” (Ch. XXI)

Question

In the field of science, Vasily Ivanovich is trying to keep up, to keep up with the times. Does he succeed?

Answer

“... I try, if possible, not to become overgrown, as they say, with moss, to keep up with the times.
Vasily Ivanovich pulled out of his pocket a new yellow foulard, which he had managed to grab while running to Arkady’s room, and continued, waving it in the air:
- I’m not even talking about the fact that I, for example, not without making sensitive sacrifices for myself, put the peasants on rent and gave them my land for share. I considered this my duty; prudence itself commands in this case, although other owners do not even think about it: I am talking about science, about education.
- Yes; “I see you have a “Friend of Health” for the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five,” Bazarov noted.
“An old friend is sending it to me through an acquaintance,” Vasily Ivanovich said hastily, “but we, for example, also have an understanding of phrenology,” he added, turning, however, more to Arkady and pointing to a small plaster head standing on the cabinet, broken into numbered quadrilaterals - both Schönlein and Rademacher were not unknown to us.
- Do they still believe in Rademacher in the *** province? - asked Bazarov.
Vasily Ivanovich coughed.
- In the province... Of course, you, gentlemen, know better; where can we keep up with you? After all, you have come to replace us. And in my time, some humoralist Goffman, some Brown with his vitalism seemed very funny, but they also thundered once. Someone new has replaced Rademacher with you, you worship him, and in twenty years, perhaps, they will laugh at that too. “I’ll tell you as a consolation,” said Bazarov, “that now we generally laugh at medicine and do not bow to anyone.” (Ch. XX)

Everything they talk about with their son is far from Bazarov’s contemporary science; the newspaper “Friend of Health” has turned black with ancient dust - it is four years old (1855).
Vasily Ivanovich is proud that he understands something in phrenology, but this is a false science, and then it was already infinitely outdated.
Vasily Ivanovich considers Rademacher, a follower of the scientist who lived in the 16th century, to be the highest authority.
And what seems progressive, and is really progressive, in comparison with the activities of others, is nothing more than a “palliative”* measure. And Bazarov is a supporter not of half-hearted, but of abrupt, revolutionary measures.

* A “palliative” (half-hearted) measure is something that gives only a temporary effect.

Arina Vlasevna is a person of a different time, a different way of life than her son. But in the novel she is shown mainly as an infinitely loving mother.

“Arina Vlasyevna was a real Russian noblewoman of the past; she should have lived over two hundred years old, in old Moscow times. She was very pious and sensitive, believed in all sorts of omens, fortune telling, conspiracies, dreams; she believed in holy fools, in brownies, in goblins, in bad encounters, in corruption, in folk medicines, in Thursday salt, in the imminent end of the world; she believed that if the candles did not go out at the all-night vigil on Bright Sunday, then the buckwheat would grow well, and that the mushroom would no longer grow if the human eye saw it; she believed that the devil loves to be where there is water, and that every Jew has a bloody spot on his chest; she was afraid of mice, snakes, frogs, sparrows, leeches, thunder, cold water, draft winds, horses, goats, red people and black cats and considered crickets and dogs to be unclean animals; I ate neither veal, nor pigeons, nor crayfish, nor cheese, nor asparagus, nor pears, nor hare, nor watermelons, because a cut watermelon resembles the head of John the Baptist; and she spoke about oysters only with a shudder; she loved to eat and fasted strictly; she slept ten hours a day - and did not go to bed at all if Vasily Ivanovich had a headache; I didn’t read a single book except Alexis, or The Cabin in the Woods, I wrote one, many two letters a year, and I knew a lot about housekeeping, drying and jam, although I didn’t touch anything with my own hands and was generally reluctant to move. Arina Vlasyevna was very kind and, in her own way, not stupid at all. She knew that there are gentlemen in the world who must command, and simple people who must serve, and therefore she did not disdain either servility or prostrations; but she treated her subordinates kindly and meekly, never let a single beggar pass without a handout, and never judged anyone, although she did gossip sometimes. In her youth she was very pretty, played the clavichord and spoke a little French; but during many years of wandering with her husband, whom she married against her will, she became blurred and forgot music and the French language. She loved and feared her son unspeakably; she left the management of the estate to Vasily Ivanovich - and no longer entered into anything: she groaned, waved her handkerchief and raised her eyebrows higher and higher in fear as soon as her old man began to talk about the upcoming transformations and his plans. She was suspicious, constantly expecting some great misfortune and immediately cried as soon as she remembered something sad... Such women are now a thing of the past. God knows whether we should rejoice at this!” (Ch. XX)

Question

What role did the parents play in raising their son? How do they look at his activities now?

Answer

The parents did everything they could. Vasily Ivanovich is proud that he “spared nothing for his upbringing.” “The son of a simple staff doctor, who, however, knew how to figure him out early and spared nothing for his upbringing...”

They helped their son as much as they could, although they themselves did not live well. To Bazarov’s credit, it should be noted that he “has never taken an extra penny from them” (Chapter XXI). Vasily Ivanovich says that early on he was able to unravel his son, understand that he was a very smart person, and give him the path to science (Chapter XXI).

Question

What hopes does Vasily Ivanovich place on his son?

Answer

“...it won’t be in the medical field that he will achieve the fame that you prophesy for him?” “He will be famous!” (Chapter XXI).

Vasily Ivanovich understands that Bazarov is an extraordinary person, and at the same time very disinterested and not insensitive. The father even guesses that his son will not achieve his fame in the medical field, but what worries him most is not what his Eugene will do, but that he will be famous. Vasily Ivanovich is proud of his son, although he hardly understands his goals.

Question

How does Bazarov relate to his parents?

Answer

Bazarov deeply loves his parents. He simply tells Arkady about this: “I love you, Arkady!” And this is a lot coming from him. In the first moments of meeting his father, he looks at him with love: “Hey, hey!” How he turned grey, however, poor fellow!” “...It’s better to sit here on the sofa and let me look at you.” (Ch. XX)

Question

Do the parents share the views of their son? Is Bazarov satisfied with the lifestyle of his parents?

Answer

Despite all their love, they do not have unity: Bazarov cannot turn a blind eye to the difference in views and goals in life. “A dull life, a life in itself,” according to established laws, enlivened only by “generosity” with the peasants - Bazarov cannot accept such a life.

It is noteworthy that Bazarov not only does not argue with his father, but does not even support the conversations his father initiates about politics: “about the grave fears instilled in him by Napoleonic policies and the intricacies of the Italian question,” about the impending reform. He even accuses himself of once “teasing” (his expression) his father, embarrassing him with the fact that he knows how he ordered the beating of a quitrent peasant. Bazarov’s task is to remake the foundations of life: “fix society, and there will be no diseases.” But you can’t change the foundations of your parents’ life.

Question

Is it easy for Bazarov to endure this situation?

Answer

You can't talk about his insensitivity. Bazarov does not want to upset his parents. Having decided to leave, he could not tell his father about it for the whole day and only, saying goodbye to him, said “with a forced yawn.” He is upset that he embarrassed his father before leaving, he is “ashamed” to lock himself away from him while working, he tries to talk to his mother, but... “you go out to her and she has nothing to say.” This is a complex and hopeless, in its own way tragic, conflict with parents, loved ones and loving people. The best way out in this situation is to “define territories”, yours and your parents’, and meet only in “no man’s land.” Bazarov is forced to do so.

Question

How does Turgenev himself look at this conflict, does he condemn Bazarov or not, and what feeling will the reader have after reading this chapter?

Answer

Turgenev does not condemn Bazarov, he explains why this happened, but at the same time Turgenev sympathizes with the parents in their great sadness, since the feeling of parental love is “a holy, devoted feeling.”

"Honor your father and mother." Even if views on life are different, this should not interfere with mutual respect and friendship between parents and children.

Literature

Vladimir Korovin. Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev. // Encyclopedias for children “Avanta+”. Volume 9. Russian literature. Part one. M., 1999
N.I. Yakushin. I.S. Turgenev in life and work. M.: Russian Word, 1998
L.M. Lotman. I.S. Turgenev. History of Russian literature. Volume three. Leningrad: Nauka, 1982. pp. 120 – 160