Father and Son

Author: Ivan Turgenev
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Fathers and Sons, a masterpiece by the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, was created in 1862. Set against the backdrop of the abolition of serfdom, the work reflects the conflict between revolutionary democrats and aristocratic liberals. The protagonist, Bazarov, is a medical student of common birth who is invited to stay at the estate of his noble classmate Arkady, the son of Arkady's uncle Pavel. Pavel, the uncle, develops a dislike for Bazarov due to his lack of aristocratic manners, and their conversations never go smoothly, leading to sharp exchanges. Later, Bazarov falls in love with the beautiful and wealthy widow Olga Okhotnikov at a ball, but is rejected by Olga, who is obsessed with aristocratic life. After his heartbreak, he devotes himself to biological research. However, he accidentally cuts his finger during an autopsy and later dies from an infected wound. The work, through Bazarov, portrays a group of new figures emerging in Russia in the early 1860s.