Essay on the topic: Bazarov’s attitude towards his parents in Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons. How is Bazarov's character revealed in his relationship with his parents? Message on the topic of Bazarov's parents

In the novel “Fathers and Sons,” Bazarov’s parents are prominent representatives of the older generation. Despite the fact that the author does not pay as much attention to them as, say, to the Kirsanov brothers, the images of Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasyevna were not given by chance. With their help, the author most fully shows the relationships between generations.

Bazarov's parents

Vasily Ivanovich Bazarov is the father of the main character of the novel. This is a man of the old school, brought up in strict rules. His desire to appear modern and progressive is cute, but the reader understands that he is more of a conservative than a liberal. Even in his profession as a healer, he adheres to traditional methods, not trusting modern medicine. He believes in God, but tries not to show his faith, especially in front of his wife.

Arina Vlasevna Bazarova is Evgeniy’s mother, a simple Russian woman. She is poorly educated and strongly believes in God. The image of a fussy old woman created by the author looks old-fashioned even for that time. Turgenev writes in the novel that she should have been born two hundred years ago. She evokes only a pleasant impression, which is not spoiled by her piety and superstition, or her good nature and complaisance.

The relationship between parents and Bazarov

The characteristics of Bazarov's parents clearly show that for these two people there is nothing more important than their only son. This is where the meaning of their life lies. And it doesn’t matter at all whether Evgeniy is nearby or far away, all thoughts and conversations are only about his beloved and beloved child. Every word exudes care and tenderness. Old people speak very reverently about their son. They love him with blind love, which cannot be said about Evgeny himself: Bazarov’s attitude towards his parents can hardly be called love.

At first glance, it is difficult to call Bazarov’s relationship with his parents warm and affectionate. You can even say that he does not appreciate parental warmth and care at all. But this is far from true. He sees and notices everything, even experiences reciprocal feelings. But it’s not that he doesn’t know how to show them openly, he just doesn’t consider it necessary to do it. And he doesn’t allow those around him to do this.

Bazarov has a negative attitude towards any attempts by his parents to show joy from his presence. Bazarov's family knows this, and his parents try to hide their true feelings from him, do not show increased attention to him and do not show their love.

But all these qualities of Evgeniy turn out to be ostentatious. But the hero understands this too late, only when he is already dying. Nothing can be changed or returned. Bazarov understands this, and therefore asks Odintsova not to forget his old people: “People like them cannot be found in your big world during the day.”

These words from his mouth can be compared to a declaration of love for his parents, he just doesn’t know how to express it any other way.

But the absence or manifestation of love is not the cause of misunderstanding between generations, and Bazarov’s upbringing is a clear confirmation of this. He does not abandon his parents; on the contrary, he dreams that they understand him and share his beliefs. Parents try to do this, but still remain true to their traditional views. It is this discrepancy that leads to the problem of eternal misunderstanding between children and fathers.

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 selfless. And I, Arkady Nikolaich, I not only adore him, I'm proud of him, and my whole 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 quitrent 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 kinds 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 such a 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

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 his 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 did not read books. She loved to eat, sleep and “knew a lot about housekeeping.” She was very kind and caring: she would not go to bed if her husband had a headache; Arina Vlasevna loves her son more than anything in the world. She is a person of a different lifestyle 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 tell about 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, his task is to remake the foundations of life: to correct society and diseases will not be possible. 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.

Work 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 can’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 cherish 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.

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” (XXI). Bazarov is telling the truth. He feels sorry for his parents simply because “he never took an extra penny” (XXI). In terrible moments of his life, he thinks about them. So, before the duel with Pavel Petrovich, he sees his mother in a delirious dream, and before his death, understanding the state of his parents, he no longer hides his love for them. He constantly remembers his “old people”, for, driving around the *** province with Arkady, he always keeps in mind that the ultimate goal of his summer journey is his parents’ estate, where - he knows for sure - they are impatiently waiting for him: “No, we must go to my father's. (...)he is thirty miles from ***. I haven’t seen him for a long time, and neither has my mother; we need to amuse the old people. I like them well, especially my father: he’s very funny. I’m the only one they have” (XI). However, Arkady did not ask his question by chance. Bazarov’s relationship with his parents, when viewed from the outside, seems cold, even hostile: there is too little tenderness in these relationships.

In literary analyzes of Fathers and Sons, the main character is usually reproached for neglect, and sometimes even contempt, for his parents. But how fair are these reproaches?

The first reproach: Bazarov is not in a hurry to go home, where, by the way, he has not been for three years, but goes first to the Kirsanovs’ estate, then to the provincial town, then to Odintsova’s estate. Having finally reached his parents’ estate, he stays in his home for only three days and leaves again. So Bazarov shows, to put it mildly, inattention to his elderly parents. But the same actions of the hero can be explained in another way. Poverty is the reason why the hero did not visit his parents for three years. It can be assumed that he simply did not have money for the long journey home, or during the summer holidays he earned money (at the clinic, for example) for the next school year - after all, he considers it unworthy to beg money from his parents.

Bazarov is a sociable, inquisitive and independent person by nature. Despite his poverty, he achieved respect among university students, as evidenced by his relationship with Arkady and reviews of Sitnikov (XII). Therefore, life in a secluded parental house seems boring to the young nihilist: here, except for Father Alexei, there is no one to talk to. And the anxious parental concerns about “feather feathers” and “beef” are difficult for his beloved Enyushenka. So he complains to Arkady: “It’s boring; I want to work, but I can’t do it here. (...) ...my father repeats to me: “My office is at your service - no one will disturb you”; and he himself is not a step away from me. Yes, and it’s a shame to somehow shut yourself out from him. Well, so does the mother. I hear her sigh behind the wall, and if you go out to her, there’s nothing to say to her” (XXI). Meanwhile, Bazarov will have a serious final exam at the university in a year, and he, unlike other heroes of the novel, intends not to rest, but to work hard all summer. Because of this, obviously, while still in St. Petersburg, he accepts the invitation of Arkady, his admirer and university friend, to stay in Maryino - this way Bazarov will ensure a calm, well-fed summer for himself and will not be a burden to his parents.

The second reproach: the main character shows outright selfishness towards his parents, not paying enough attention to them. However, we should not forget that the young nihilist comes to his parents immediately after a difficult explanation with Odintsova. Experiencing failure in love, he seeks solitude and some kind of distraction, so now he can’t bear to endure parental affection. He leaves for Maryino, where, as a guest, he has the right not to interfere in any “everyday squabbles” (XXII), and completely devotes himself to his work. Despite these considerations, the reproach of selfishness addressed to Bazarov is fair.

Which of the “children” in the novel behaves differently? In Odintsova’s house lives an old aunt, Princess X...ya, to whom “they did not pay attention, although they treated her respectfully” (XVI). Arkady, having returned with Bazarov to his father in Maryino, cannot forget the beautiful Odintsova: “...before he would have only shrugged his shoulders if someone had told him that he could get bored under the same roof with Bazarov, and under what other ! - under his parents’ roof, but he was definitely bored and wanted to get out” (XXII). The “rude son” Bazarov stayed with his parents for three days and became bored, the “tender son” Arkady, also yearning for love, stayed a little longer: “Ten days had not passed since his return to Maryino, when he again, under the pretext of studying the mechanism of Sunday schools , rode to the city, and from there to Nikolskoye” (ibid.). And today’s worthy “fathers,” when solving their own everyday problems, treated their parents very carelessly. Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov recalls: “Once I quarreled with my deceased mother: she screamed, did not want to listen to me... I finally told her that you, they say, cannot understand me; We supposedly belong to two different generations. She was terribly offended...” (XI). Of course, the similar behavior of other heroes of the novel does not justify Bazarov, but it shows that in relation to their “ancestors”, respectable “children” are not much different from a determined nihilist. And in modern literary analyzes it is customary to praise them and set them up as an example to the main character.

Third reproach: Bazarov shows disrespect for his parents, because he does not see them as individuals. Lying under a haystack on his father’s estate, Bazarov reasons: “... they, my parents, that is, are busy and don’t worry about their own insignificance, it doesn’t stink to them...” (XXI). The image of the “little man”, so variously presented in Russian literature, completely refutes such views of Bazarov. Pushkin in the story “The Station Warden”, Gogol in the story “The Overcoat”, Turgenev himself in the story “The District Doctor”, etc. prove that the “little man” only seems primitive, but if you look closely at him, he is a man with his own complex inner world, with deep feelings, high life principles.

Proving that his son’s opinion about the old Bazarovs is completely wrong, Turgenev cites facts that the nihilist knows, but for some reason does not consider significant. The younger Bazarov affectionately and ironically calls his father Vasily Ivanovich “a very funny old man” (XX), and meanwhile the elder Bazarov, being the son of a sexton, made it into the people thanks to his perseverance and abilities - he learned to be a doctor. The son himself admits that Vasily Ivanovich “was a strong Latinist in his time, and was awarded a silver medal for his composition” (XXI). The elder Bazarov has a completely heroic biography: he participated in the Patriotic War of 1812, “felt the pulse” of Field Marshal Wittgenstein, and the poet Zhukovsky, and the future Decembrists; for his services to the state (he actively fought the plague epidemic in Bessarabia) he received the Order of St. Vladimir (ibid.) and, consequently, the title of nobility for himself and future offspring. The younger Bazarov frivolously considers this achievement of his father to be a trifle, as if he does not understand that the rank of nobility greatly facilitates his own life in Russia.

In Arina Vlasyevna - his mother - Bazarov sees only a good housewife. During her life, she read one book - the French sentimental novel “Alexis, or the Cabin in the Woods,” so her student son does not know what to talk about with this simple-minded old woman. But Arkady is right, who from personal experience understood what it’s like to live without maternal care and affection: “You don’t know your mother, Evgeny. She’s not only a great woman, she’s very smart, really” (XXI). Bazarov has no idea that his busy mother is his father’s wise friend and comforter. When, after staying for three days, his son leaves, Vasily Ivanovich cries from resentment and loneliness, but Arina Vlasyevna finds words to support her husband in a desperate moment, although she is also bitter about her son’s neglect: “What to do, Vasya! The son is a cut off piece. (...) Only I will remain unchanged for you forever, just as you are for me” (ibid.).

Grandfather Vlasiy, a second major who participated in Suvorov’s Italian campaign, was not awarded Bazarov’s respect either. True, such disdain could appear in Bazarov, a democrat in spirit, in defiance of the noble admiration for a long pedigree. Only the second grandfather - Ivan Bazarov - escaped a critical showdown: in a dispute with Pavel Petrovich, the nihilist grandson proudly says about him: “My grandfather plowed the land” (X).

Fourth reproach: Bazarov is contemptuous and condescending towards the life principles of his parents, and these principles, by the way, stem from the philosophy of the ancient Greek Epicurus (341-270 BC), originally developed in the poetry of the Roman poet Horace (65-8 BC AD). Horace in his poems presented the philosophy of a poor but cultured man who seeks happiness in the “golden mean”, that is, in contentment with little, in mastery over passions, in calm and moderate enjoyment of the blessings of life. Moderation and peace, according to Horace, allow a person to maintain internal independence. It is easy to notice that the old Bazarovs live exactly like this: content with little and bowing to no one. Arina Vlasyevna takes care of her husband, takes care of food and order in her house, and Vasily Ivanovich treats peasants and cultivates his garden, enjoying nature and reflecting on life: “In this place I like to philosophize, looking at the setting of the sun: it befits a hermit . And there, further away, I planted several trees that Horace loved” (XX), he tells Arkady.

The difference in the life philosophy of “fathers” and “children” is manifested in their attitude towards the world - contemplative-conciliatory in Horatianism, active-offensive nihilism: “Yes,” Bazarov began, “man is a strange creature. When you look from the side and from a distance at the deaf life that the “fathers” lead here, it seems: what’s better? Eat, drink and know that you are acting in the most correct, most reasonable manner. But no: the melancholy will overcome. I want to mess with people, even scold them, and mess with them” (XXI).

The nihilist Bazarov is obviously more mature than his parents, thanks to his powerful intellect and intense inner life, but the parents, according to Turgenev, are wiser than their son, since they know how to live in harmony with the world. In the famous dispute with Pavel Petrovich, Bazarov declares: “... then I will be ready to agree with you when you present me with at least one resolution in our modern life, in family or social life, that would not cause complete and merciless denial” (X) . And now life (and, according to Turgenev, it is richer and more diverse than any theory) brings the young nihilist face to face with such a “decree.” The family and family life of his own parents are worthy of respect and have the highest strength, so that even a terrible blow cannot destroy them - the death of their only son, the nihilist himself.

So, the relationships in the Bazarov family illustrate the conflict of successive generations, as eternal as the world. The old parents adore and are afraid of their highly learned and self-confident son. Before his arrival, Vasily Ivanovich even tore the order ribbon off his coat and sent away the boy who usually used a branch to ward off flies during lunch from the dining room. In the presence of their son, old people are embarrassed to say an awkward word (what if he doesn’t like it), to show their feelings (“... he doesn’t like this. He is the enemy of all outpourings” - XXI). Bazarov’s attitude towards his parents combines love and care (he doesn’t “extort” money from old people), alienation and hasty assessments.

Bazarov’s dry and harsh attitude towards his parents may be a consequence of either an intolerant, selfish character, or his youth. In the case of Bazarov, there is, rather, a second reason. After the self-confident nihilist said goodbye forever to his friend-student Arkady Kirsanov, caused trouble in Maryino (he wounded Pavel Petrovich in a duel), and most importantly, experienced true, but unrequited love, Bazarov came to his parents. Because there was nowhere else to go, and because here he was expected and loved, despite all his shortcomings and mistakes.

Now his attitude towards his parents becomes softer, and during a short fatal illness his restrained love for his father and mother is revealed. He does not complain of pain, so as not to frighten the old people, agrees to take communion for them, and asks Odintsova to console them after his death: “After all, people like them in (...) the big world cannot be found during the day” (XXVII ). At the end of the novel, the generational conflict in the Bazarov family is exhausted both in the moral and physical sense, and the last lines of the novel are perceived as a “hymn of parental love” (Herzen), all-forgiving and unchanging.

>Essays based on the work Fathers and Sons

Bazarov's attitude towards his parents

The novel by the Russian writer I. S. Turgenev “Fathers and Sons” was significant for its time. Written in the second half of the 19th century, it fully reflected the problems of the era and the conflict between the older and younger generations, which was relevant in all centuries. Prominent representatives of the older generation in it are Bazarov's parents - Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasevna Bazarov. These are the only people who accepted their son for who he is, because they sincerely loved him.

Despite the fact that the author did not pay as much attention to them as to the Kirsanov family, we understand that these are people of the old school, brought up in accordance with strict rules and traditional dogmas. Vasily Ivanovich, like his son, is a doctor. In the eyes of others, he tries to seem progressive, but he is betrayed by his distrust of modern methods of medicine. Arina Vlasevna is a real Russian woman. She is illiterate and very pious. Overall, it makes a pleasant impression on the reader. The author notes that she should have been born two hundred years ago.

Both father and mother treat their son with reverence. They dote on him, despite his sharply liberal views. For them, it doesn’t matter whether Evgeniy is close or far away, the main thing is that everything is fine with him. Bazarov’s own attitude towards his parents can hardly be called love. Sometimes they openly irritate him. It cannot be said that he appreciates the parental warmth with which they diligently surrounded him. He is not pleased with their attempts to show joy in his presence. That’s why he calls himself a “nihilist” in order to deny all the rules that have developed in society.

Vasily Ivanovich and Arina Vlasevna know about their son’s views and his aversion to increased attention, so they try to hide their true feelings. Perhaps Bazarov himself loves his parents in his soul, but he does not know how to openly show any emotions. Take, for example, his attitude towards Anna Sergeevna, whom he seriously liked and with whom he was really in love. Eugene never told her the most important thing, but only deliberately drowned out his feelings. Only, when he was already dying, he wrote her a letter reminding her of his love and asking her to come.

As it became clear at the end of the work, all his reactions were ostentatious. He was an absolutely normal, loving and good person, just to stand out from the crowd, he chose such an extraordinary way. Moreover, in a letter to Odintsova, he did not forget to mention his old people, begging her to keep an eye on them. The following lines testify precisely to his love for his parents: “People like them cannot be found in your great world during the day.”