Student Essay on Immunity to Nihilism in Turgenev's "fathers and Sons"

A study of Russian nihilism as portrayed by Turgenev in "Fathers and Sons." Ivan Turgenev's novel, presents a dichotomy; he places two generations face to face, and forces them to encounter Bazarov, a very influential character with revolutionary ideas. Perhaps the most interesting result of this is seeing which characters, or which members of a generation, are won over by his ideas and join his side.

Immunity to Nihilism in Turgenev's Fathers and Sons

Whenever reform or revolution is possible, it is because a new, progressive ideal has been quickly and widely perpetuated among the people of a particular nation. It is often a country's youth population that most readily accepts such new ideals, since they, being in the process of education and the development of their personal beliefs, tend to be malleable to new ideas and standards, and ready for change and development. The older generation is thus an opponent to change, or at least, not passionately motivated towards any revolution, being older and accustomed to certain ways of life. Ivan Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons, presents this very dichotomy; he places two generations face to face, and forces them to encounter Bazarov, a very influential character with revolutionary ideas. Perhaps the.....