"Fathers and Sons" by means of Ivan S. Turgenev is a seminal Russian novel that explores the generational conflict between fathers and their innovative sons in the mid-nineteenth century. Set against the backdrop of social and political upheaval in Russia, Turgenev presents a poignant and undying remark at the converting landscape of ideology and familial relationships. The tale follows the protagonist, Arkady Kirsanov, and his pal, Yevgeny Bazarov, as they go back home from college to Arkady's family property. The arrival of Bazarov, a staunch nihilist and advise of medical materialism, disrupts the traditional values and ideals of the older era, especially Arkady's father, Nikolai. The ideological conflicts among the conservative fathers and their progressive sons serve as a microcosm of the larger societal shifts taking place in Russia. Turgenev masterfully navigates the psychological complexities of the characters, revealing their inner struggles, hopes, and disillusionments. The novel captures the tensions between way of life and modernity, love and duty, and the inevitable conflicts that arise as the younger technology demanding situations the set up norms. "Fathers and Sons" is celebrated for its psychological perception, nuanced characterizations, and its portrayal of the wider cultural shifts that formed Russian society.
Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was a Russian novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, translator, and promoter of Russian literature in the West. His first significant publication, a short story collection titled A Sportsman's Sketches (1852), was a watershed moment for Russian realism. His novel Fathers and Sons (1862) is regarded as one of the most important works of nineteenth-century fiction. Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was born in Oryol (modern-day Oryol Oblast, Russia) to noble Russian parents Sergei Nikolaevich Turgenev (1793-1834), a Russian cavalry colonel who fought in the Patriotic War of 1812, and Varvara Petrovna Turgeneva (nee Lutovinova) (1787-1850). Ivan and his brothers Nikolai and Sergei were nurtured by their mother, an educated and dictatorial woman. Their home was the Spasskoye-Lutovinovo family estate, which was given to their ancestor Ivan Ivanovich Lutovinov by Ivan the Terrible. Varvara Turgeneva later provided as inspiration for the landlady in Turgenev's Mumu. The brothers had foreign governesses, and Ivan became fluent in French, German, and English. Family members utilized French in everyday situations, including prayers. Their father spent little time with his family. Although he was not antagonistic to them, his absence damaged Ivan's sentiments. Their relationship is portrayed in the autobiographical novel First Love. When Ivan was four years old, his family traveled across Germany and France.