Why You Should Read Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

A timeless novel for anyone who has ever said “I don’t understand the new generation”

​​Turgenev’s widely acclaimed novel Fathers and Sons sought to portray the growing schism between the Liberals of the 1830–40's and the generation of young Nihilists which were appearing at the time of authorship.

The Liberals, represented by the aristocratic Nikolay Kirsilov and his brother Pavel, hold Romantic sentiments and value aristocratic principles which the young Nihilists scoff at. The young Nihilist’s reject all authority, something which both offends and perplexes Nikolay and his more combative brother in particular. The book caused a sensation in Russia when it was published, and as Turgenev portrayed both sides warts and all, he faced criticism from young and old alike. Perhaps the greatest compliment to Turgenev’s characterisation was that the Nihilists and the liberals generally believed Turgenev had accurately reflected their antithesis. Ultimately, Turgenev was an artist and not a pamphleteer, and whilst this earnt him criticism, it is also what makes the book an enduring classic.

Whilst the setting of the novel has aged dramatically- advocating for the freedom of serfs was considered liberal!- the book touches upon timeless topics including generational tension, the experience of ageing, the longing for experience in youth and the painful joy of watching a child mature and depart.

The novel begins with Arkady, Nikolay’s beloved son, returning home from university with his friend Bazarov. Nikolay is delighted at his son’s homecoming, and eagerly looks forward to growing closer to his now matured boy. Arkady is also delighted, but on the first meeting “feel’s a slight awkwardness, the awkwardness which tends to come over a young man who has just left boyhood and come back to a place where people have been used to seeing and thinking of him as a boy”. As a graduate living at home, it is a familiar emotion.

We quickly learn that Arkady has become a Nihilist whilst studying, influenced heavily by his friend Bazarov whom he adoringly emulates. Bazarov is a medical student who shuns convention and is coldly critical of all authority. He is forthright, unsentimental and has little time for social niceties. To use the kind of poetic language the character himself would detest; he is all head and no heart.

At their homecoming dinner, Arkady’s uncle Pavel Petrovich- an aristocratic bachelor and former “social lion”- is surprised to hear Bazarov and his nephew are Nihilist’s. As Bazarov enters the room characteristically late, he mockingly announces: “Here comes Mr Nihilist”; It is not hard to picture a modern parent announcing the arrival of their “little communist” or “comrade” to the table after hearing of their political views. I myself have been told about an encounter between a son and his parents when he told them he was an Anarchist. Pavel struggles to grasp the idea of Nihilism and grows frustrated at Bazarov’s nonchalant demeanour and insolence.

Both brothers are taken aback by their first encounter, but respond quite differently; Nikolay introspectively examines his own views and begins to face up to the fact that he is a spent force, whilst his brother goes on the offensive and takes every chance to question and deride the young Nihilist’s. Soon after this encounter, Nikolay overhears Bazarov call him a “pensioner” to Arkady whilst walking in the gardens. To his dismay, his son does not challenge the label, despite feeling uncomfortable with it. Nikolay later proclaims to his brother:

‘So you and I’ve become “pensioners”…‘We’ve had our day. In the end maybe Bazarov’s right. But I have to say I find one thing painful: I had hoped that Arkady and I would find ourselves getting closer and fonder of each other, but it appears I’ve got left behind, he’s gone off ahead of me, and we can’t understand each other… I think I do everything to keep up with the times.’ I’ve settled my peasants, set up a farm so I am even known as a “red” all over the province. I read, I study, I generally try to be up to the demands made on me by the modern world- and they say I have had my day.’

To make matters worse, soon after this Arkady patronisingly removes a Pushkin book that Nikolay is reading and replaces it with a more modern political pamphlet. Always the diplomat, Nikolay reads the book, but is hurt by his son’s insinuation that he is outdated. A comic exchange ensues between the aristocratic brothers that echoes every parents cry who has ever witnessed their child praise something that seems unintelligible to themselves:

‘So have you tried to read it’ asks Pavel

‘I have’ he responds

‘And…?’

‘Either I’m stupid or it’s all nonsense. It must be I’m stupid’

Nikolay half-jokingly opines:

‘I can see it’s time to order our coffins and cross our arms over out breast’

Furthermore, Nikolay has a recollection which demonstrates the age old cycle in which the old is surpassed by the new, and what was once in vogue quickly becomes an anachronism. Once again, despite the 150+ years that have elapsed since the novel was written, a startlingly familiar scene plays out:

“Do you know, Brother, what I’ve remembered? I once had a quarrel with our dead mama. She shouted and wouldn’t listen to me. In the end I said to her, “You can’t understand me; we belong to two different generations’. She was terribly offended, but I thought to myself, “what’s one to do? The pill is bitter but it has to be swallowed”. Now our turn has come and our heirs can say to us, “You don’t belong to our generation. Swallow the pill”.

It is a stark reminder that no-matter how hard we try, we will always carry the inheritance of our upbringing. Naturally, we can stay on top of current affairs and change our opinions, but often the social and political landscape changes far faster than we are able to.

Too often, book reviews and foreword’s spell out the plot of classic novels in their entirety. I have intentionally avoided this, and hope this article has sufficiently whet your appetite to pick up Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons for yourself without giving too much away. It is a timeless book which will resonate with young and old alike, and which reminds us that despite dramatic social and technological change, we are not all that different from our forebears.