From century to century, on the verge of generations
Fathers and sons are embroiled in conflict.
The reason is the abyss of different dimensions.
Turgenev speaks about this too.
Conflict arises at the root of interests
Fathers and sons, but not their fault,
Blame it all - big leap progress -
It was, is and will be so at all times!
"Fathers and Sons" is cult novel Russian classic Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev. Was written in 1861. The writer managed to thoroughly describe the problem of two generations - fathers and children, reveal the eternal conflict and the essence of its origin. This work has been filmed several times, but the book cannot be replaced by anything; the paper original is several dozen times superior to the video replicas.
The novel is included in school curriculum high school, so required reading. It consists of 28 chapters (this is approximately 200 pages), written in quite readable language, so you can study its contents in short term.
But if for some reason you do not want to read this powerful work in full, our article will help you briefly familiarize yourself with the main idea of the novel, you will find summary books by chapters.
Having become familiar with summary every chapter, you will have an idea about the novel And about everyone key points development storyline.
- The main and minor characters of the novel; brief description every hero.
- Brief description the plot of 28 chapters of the book “Fathers and Sons”.
The main characters of the novel
Other characters
Fenechka is the daughter of Kirsanov’s servant, Nikolai Petrovich’s mistress, the mother of his child. At the end of the novel she marries Arkady's father.
Viktor Sitnikov, an acquaintance of Evgeniy Bazarov and Arkady Kirsanov, also adheres to nihilistic beliefs.
Evdokia Kukshina is Victor’s acquaintance, also an “ardent” nihilist.
Dunyasha is Fenechka's servant.
Peter is the servant of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov.
Princess R. is the love of all life for Pavel Petrovich.
Timofeich is Vasily Bazarov's serf, a man of respectable age.
Matvey Kolyazin - official.
Princess Avdotya Stepanovna is an evil old woman, Anna's aunt, who lives with her niece until her death.
Sergei Nikolaevich Loktev is a swindler, the father of Anna and Katerina, lives in the village due to forced circumstances.
Fathers and sons: summary by chapter
Actions in the work take place the day before peasant reform(abolition of serfdom) at the end of May 1859.
Chapter 1
Landowner Nikolai Petrovich is looking forward to the arrival of his son Arkady. He is lonely, single, lives on a modest estate and manages 200 serfs. I wanted to become a military man, but a leg injury prevented me from realizing this desire. He has higher education, lives in the village after the birth of his son and the death of his wife. Sends Arkady to St. Petersburg to study, goes with him for three years, but can’t stand it and returns to his village again to the usual way life.
She awaits her son with great excitement and trepidation. Moreover, Arkady is going to visit with a friend.
Chapter 2
Arkady's arrival and meeting Evgeny Bazarov. He comes across as smart and quite self-confident young man. Arkady Kirsanov asks his father to treat the guest as simply and calmly as possible, without any special ceremony with him. Therefore, the son and his father ride in a stroller, and Evgeniy rides in a tarantass (road carriage).
Chapter 3
Nikolai Petrovich is very happy to meet his son and cannot curb your feelings, constantly hugging him. Arkady values his friend's opinion very much, so he holds back his true emotions. The father admits that Fenechka lives with him on the estate, but she can leave the house if her son so wishes. Arkady does not oppose her presence.
Nikolai Petrovich narrates detailed story about how he is angry with his peasants because they do not pay their dues, but only get drunk. There are no changes in Maryino, everything is dilapidated. Arkady is thinking about what can be done for the village and how to change everything in better side. The trio rides the rest of the way in silence.
Chapter 4
At the Kirsanov estate, only the old servant Peter greets the guest. An acquaintance took place between the elder brother and, part-time, uncle Arkady, Pyotr Petrovich, and Evgeny Bazarov. Kirsanov Sr. is very intelligent and good-looking, dressed to the nines, has refined manners And excellent taste. New friend Arkady immediately called him negative emotions, Pyotr Petrovich did not even shake his hand, calling him “hairy.” Young people leave because they need to get themselves in order after long journey and get a good night's sleep, but the Kirsanov brothers cannot fall asleep for a long time, thinking about their daily lives.
Chapter 5
In the morning, Bazarov leaves to collect frogs for experiments in a local swamp. . Arkady meets his father's new passion Fenechka and her son Mitya, who is also his half-brother. He is glad that he has a brother, and reproaches his father for Nikolai Petrovich hiding this fact.
A conversation took place between Pavel Petrovich and Arkady about Bazarov. The nephew tells his uncle about his friend's beliefs that he is a nihilist and does not take principles for granted. Bazarov returns with a full bucket of frogs and everyone starts their morning meal.
Chapter 6
At the table while eating breakfast, a fierce fire flares up. dispute between Pavel Petrovich And Evgeny Bazarov about the latter's nihilism. Hostility arises between them. At the end of the meal, Arkady tells his friend about his uncle’s life so that Evgeny will show at least a little sympathy.
Chapter 7
Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov - a retired officer, was very popular among members of the opposite sex. The career promised to be successful, but, as luck would have it, at the age of 28, my uncle fell in love with a professional girl - Princess R. She was married. These feelings haunted him and for 4 years he unsuccessfully tried to win the favor of the unlucky beauty, finally abandoning his career. Pavel Petrovich never married, because he was never able to get rid of this unhealthy dependence on his princess. After the death of his beloved, he moved to his younger brother in the village to run a joint household.
Chapter 8
Pavel Petrovich goes to Fenechka’s outbuilding to look at the little six-month-old toddler Mitya. He is soon joined by younger brother Nikolai Petrovich. He loves his very much illegitimate son.
Chapter 9
Arkady's friend meets Nikolai Petrovich's passion and offers his medical services if necessary. Fenechka arouses his sympathy, he is convinced that Arkady’s father should marry her.
Bazarov openly ridicules creativity Nikolai Petrovich, especially when the latter begins to play the cello. Arkady is unpleasant about his friend’s behavior, but he doesn’t say anything to Evgeniy.
Chapter 10
Everyone gradually gets used to Bazarov’s behavior and his oddities, life goes on as usual. One evening, a dispute breaks out between Pavel Petrovich and Evgeniy. Once again the reason becomes nihilism. Arkady supports his friend.
Chapter 11
This chapter is devoted to the reflections of the main characters of the novel about their past and later life.
Arkady and Evgeny decide to visit a noble relative of the Kirsanovs and leave the village.
Chapter 12
The meeting of two friends with the official Matvey Ilyich Kolyazin takes place according to all the rules of high society. An offer was made to pay a visit to the governor. Arkady agreed. Friends received an invitation to a ball.
Bazarov meets his friend Viktor Sitnikov, who takes Arkady and Evgeniy to his friend Kukshina .
Chapter 13
Meeting the hostess Evdokia Kukshina did not evoke pleasant emotions, since she was a very strange and unkempt lady who did not know how to listen to her interlocutor. Soon the friends leave.
Chapter 14
At the ball, Arkady meets Anna Sergeevna Odintsova, who arouses sympathy and keen interest on the part of the young man. The woman invites Arkady and Evgeny to visit.
Chapter 15
Young people pay a visit to the hotel where the young widow Odintsova lives. During Bazarov's conversation with Anna, Arkady notices that his friend was embarrassed, which was an atypical phenomenon for him.
Friends will know about touching story life of Anna Sergeevna Odintsova, that her father Sergei Loktev was famous swindler and left no inheritance to his daughters.
Therefore, Anna married an old man and lived with him for six years. Younger sister Katerina lived with them. After the death of her husband, Anna settled on the Nikolsky estate, where Bazarov and Kirsanov were invited.
Chapter 16
At Anna's estate, friends meet her younger sister. Feelings arise between Evgeny and Anna, Arkady is jealous of the woman’s friend and spends a lot of time with Katerina.
Chapter 17
15 days have passed since our friends arrived in Nikolskoye. These two weeks radically changed Eugene’s worldview, because he fell in love with Anna. She also began to reciprocate his feelings, but they could not admit their feelings for each other.
The arrival of the Bazarov serf Timofeich became the reason for Evgeny to leave the estate and visit his parents. The young man wants to sort out his feelings for Anna.
Chapter 18
The next day, Anna still extracts a confession from Evgeniy, but the young man is refused. Odintsova says that the main thing in her life is calm and doesn’t want to change anything.
Chapter 19
Bazarov leaves the estate and goes with Arkady to visit his parents. Relations between friends are no longer as warm as they used to be.
Chapter 20
The meeting with Evgeniy’s parents, whom he has not seen for 3 years, is quite restrained, because the young man does not like to show unnecessary emotions.
Chapter 21
IN parental home Evgeny is bored, so after three days he decides to return to the village with Arkady. Friends quarrel because of differences of opinion about their parents, because the old Bazarovs love their son very much, but he is so cold towards them.
Chapter 22
On the way home, Kirsanov decides to pay a visit to Nikolskoye, but they were not welcome there, so his friends were forced to leave the estate.
Arkady and Bazarov return to the Kirsanov estate, a warm welcome awaits them, the father is glad to see his son return.
After 10 days, Arkady leaves to visit Odintsova in Nikolskoye, under the pretext of urgent matters
The final part of the book
Chapter 23
Bazarov guesses where Arkady went. Gives increased attention Fenichka, and it all ends with a kiss. Pavel Petrovich becomes a witness to their closeness.
Chapter 24
Kirsanov Sr. challenges Evgeny to a duel, as he considers his behavior unacceptable, where he is slightly wounded in the thigh.
Bazarov leaves the village, and Pavel Petrovich convinces his brother to marry Fenechka.
Chapter 25
Kirsanov spends everything on his own free time with Katerina, having discovered his true feelings for her, and not for her older sister. Bazarov arrives and they decide to remain friends with Odintsova. After Evgeniy’s story about the duel, the friends’ relationship completely deteriorates.
Chapter 26
Arkady decides to marry Katerina, so he leaves for his father’s blessing to the village. Friends see each other in last time.
Chapter 27
Bazarov returns to his parents and studies medical practice. One day, accidentally cutting himself while autopsying a typhoid corpse, he becomes infected with a fatal disease. Anticipating his imminent death, he calls Odintsova to him and tells him the sad news. Soon Evgeniy dies...
Chapter 28
This is the last chapter of the novel. The work ends with the following events:
- double wedding of Nikolai Kirsanov with Fenechka and Arkady with Katerina.
- Pavel Petrovich leaves the village forever and goes abroad.
- Anna Sergeevna marries an influential man.
- What, Peter, haven’t you seen it yet? - asked on May 20, 1859, going out without a hat onto the low porch of the inn on the *** highway, a gentleman of about forty years old, in a dusty coat and checkered trousers, asked his servant, a young and cheeky fellow with whitish down on his chin and small dull eyes. little eyes.
The servant, in whom everything: the turquoise earring in his ear, the pomaded multi-colored hair, and the polite movements, in a word, everything revealed a man of the newest, improved generation, looked condescendingly along the road and answered: “No way, sir, I can’t see it.”
- You can’t see it? - the master repeated.
“You can’t see it,” the servant answered a second time.
The master sighed and sat down on the bench. Let us introduce the reader to him while he sits with his legs tucked under him and thoughtfully looking around.
His name is Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. Fifteen miles from the inn, he has a good estate of two hundred souls, or, as he puts it since he separated himself from the peasants and started a “farm,” two thousand dessiatines of land. His father, a military general in 1812, a semi-literate, rude, but not evil Russian man, pulled his weight all his life, commanded first a brigade, then a division, and constantly lived in the provinces, where, due to his rank, he played a fairly significant role. Nikolai Petrovich was born in the south of Russia, like his elder brother Pavel, who will be discussed later, and was raised until the age of fourteen at home, surrounded by cheap tutors, cheeky but obsequious adjutants and other regimental and staff personalities. His parent, from the family of Kolyazins, in the maidens Agathe, and in the generals Agathoklea Kuzminishna Kirsanova, belonged to the number of “mother commanders”, wore lush caps and noisy silk dresses, was the first to approach the cross in church, spoke loudly and a lot, admitted children in the morning to the hand, she blessed them at night - in a word, she lived for her own pleasure. As a general's son, Nikolai Petrovich - although he was not only not distinguished by courage, but even earned the nickname of a coward - had to, like his brother Pavel, enter military service; but he broke his leg on the very day when the news of his determination had already arrived, and, after lying in bed for two months, he remained “lame” for the rest of his life. His father waved his hand at him and let him go in civilian clothes. He took him to St. Petersburg as soon as he was eighteen years old and placed him in the university. By the way, his brother became an officer in a guards regiment at that time. The young people began to live together, in the same apartment, under the distant supervision of their cousin maternal side, Ilya Kolyazin, an important official. Their father returned to his division and to his wife and only occasionally sent his sons large quarters of gray paper, covered with a sweeping clerk's handwriting. At the end of these quarters were the words carefully surrounded by “frills”: “Piotr Kirsanof, Major General.” In 1835, Nikolai Petrovich left the university as a candidate, and in the same year General Kirsanov, dismissed for an unsuccessful inspection, came to St. Petersburg with his wife to live. He rented a house near the Tauride Garden and enrolled in English club, but suddenly died from a blow. Agathoklea Kuzminishna soon followed him: she could not get used to the remote capital life; the melancholy of a retired existence gnawed at her. Meanwhile, Nikolai Petrovich managed, while his parents were still alive and much to their chagrin, to fall in love with the daughter of the official Prepolovensky, former owner his apartment, a pretty and, as they say, developed girl: she read serious articles in magazines in the Sciences section. He married her as soon as the period of mourning had passed, and, leaving the Ministry of Appanages, where, under the patronage of his father, he had been enrolled, he lived in bliss with his Masha, first at the dacha near the Forestry Institute, then in the city, in a small and pretty apartment, with a clean staircase and a cold living room, finally - in the village, where he finally settled and where his son Arkady was soon born. The couple lived very well and quietly: they almost never parted, read together, played four hands on the piano, sang duets; she planted flowers and looked after the poultry yard, he occasionally went hunting and did housework, and Arkady grew and grew - also well and quietly. Ten years passed like a dream. In 1947, Kirsanov’s wife died. He barely endured this blow and turned gray in a few weeks; I was about to go abroad to disperse at least a little... but then the year 1948 came. He inevitably returned to the village and, after quite a long period of inactivity, began economic reforms. In 1955 he took his son to university; lived with him for three winters in St. Petersburg, almost never going anywhere and trying to make acquaintances with Arkady’s young comrades. He could not come for the last winter - and now we see him in May 1859, already completely gray-haired, plump and slightly hunched over: he is waiting for his son, who, like himself once, received the title of candidate.
The servant, out of a sense of decency, and perhaps not wanting to remain under the master's eye, went under the gate and lit a pipe. Nikolai Petrovich hung his head and began to look at the dilapidated steps of the porch: a large motley chicken was sedately walking along them, firmly knocking its large yellow legs; the dirty cat looked at him unfriendlyly, coyly snuggling on the railing. The sun was hot; The smell of warm rye bread wafted from the dim hallway of the inn. Our Nikolai Petrovich was daydreaming. “Son... candidate... Arkasha...” was constantly spinning in his head; he tried to think about something else, and the same thoughts returned again. He remembered his deceased wife... “I couldn’t wait!” - he whispered sadly... A fat gray pigeon flew onto the road and hurriedly went to drink in a puddle near the well. Nikolai Petrovich began to look at him, and his ear was already catching the sound of approaching wheels...
“No way, they’re on their way,” the servant reported, emerging from under the gate.
Nikolai Petrovich jumped up and fixed his eyes along the road. A tarantass appeared, drawn by three Yamsk horses; in the tarantass the band of a student’s cap flashed, the familiar outline of a dear face...
- Arkasha! Arkasha! - Kirsanov shouted, and ran, and waved his arms... A few moments later, his lips were already attached to the beardless, dusty and tanned cheek of the young candidate.
“Let me shake myself off, dad,” Arkady said in a slightly hoarse, but sonorous youthful voice, cheerfully responding to his father’s caresses, “I’ll get you all dirty.”
“Nothing, nothing,” Nikolai Petrovich repeated, smiling tenderly, and struck his hand twice on the collar of his son’s overcoat and on his own coat. “Show yourself, show yourself,” he added, moving away, and immediately walked with hasty steps towards the inn, saying: “Here, here, and hurry up the horses.”
Nikolai Petrovich seemed much more alarmed than his son; he seemed a little lost, as if he was timid. Arkady stopped him.
“Daddy,” he said, “let me introduce you to my good friend, Bazarov, about whom I wrote to you so often.” He was so kind that he agreed to stay with us.
Nikolai Petrovich quickly turned around and, approaching the man tall, in a long robe with tassels, who had just climbed out of the tarantass, tightly squeezed his naked red hand, which he did not immediately give to him.
“I’m sincerely glad,” he began, “and grateful for the good intention to visit us; I hope... may I ask your name and patronymic?
“Evgeny Vasiliev,” answered Bazarov, lazy, but in a courageous voice and, turning away the collar of his robe, showed Nikolai Petrovich his whole face. Long and thin, with wide forehead, with a flat top, pointed nose down, large greenish eyes and drooping sand-colored sideburns, it was enlivened by a calm smile and expressed self-confidence and intelligence.
Even the most impressive books can involuntarily fade in your memory over time; time rushes to erase insignificant episodes from it. However, a literature teacher tests knowledge of details, so he can make sure that the work has actually been studied, read and analyzed (book analysis, by the way). That is why we offer a brief retelling of Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons” chapter by chapter. This way you won't miss anything.
The reader is transported to 1859 and sees the landowner Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. The author describes his fate: the hero grew up in the family of a wealthy general, and after graduating from St. Petersburg University he married the woman he loved. But after her death, the nobleman, living in the village, raised his firstborn alone.
When the boy enrolled in the university, he and his father were in the capital, and the elder Kirsanov did not miss the opportunity to be closer to his son, so he always tried to get to know Arkady’s comrades.
The author smoothly moves on to the beginning, describing the present: now Nikolai Petrovich is a 44-year-old nobleman who is engaged in farming “on new way" Nothing works out for him in this matter, but he does not give up, because he is waiting for his young son to help. The old man impatiently wanders around the inn and looks out for the carriage.
Chapter II
Finally, the long-awaited guest arrives, but not alone: he has a friend with him. Turgenev says this about:
in a long robe with tassels... a naked red arm... hanging sideburns... his face expressed self-confidence and intelligence.
Arkasha himself is a rosy-cheeked young man who is very shy to show his joy at meeting his dad. In front of his stern and silent friend, the hero is clearly ashamed of his emotions.
Chapter III
All three are heading to Maryino, the Kirsanovs’ estate. Arkady, in a conversation with his father, mentions another characteristic of Bazarov:
I cannot express to you how much I value his friendship... His main subject is natural sciences. Yes, he knows everything.
From this conversation we learn that Bazarov is a future doctor, natural scientist, and Arkady is trying to be like his friend, admiring him very much. He even tries to hide his own joy at returning home, since his friend does not like to express emotions too much.
The collision of the spiritual and the material, or rather, poetry and medicine, occurs already in the third chapter: Nikolai Petrovich reads Pushkin’s lines by heart, which undoubtedly speaks of his subtle nature, and Bazarov simply interrupts him. The guest's rudeness will be explained by his worldview. The hero considers reading Pushkin's poems absolutely inappropriate and unnecessary.
Chapter IV
They are greeted at home by Uncle Arkady, an elderly but very well-groomed and dressed up man. He “took his trousers out of his pocket beautiful hand with long pink nails,” but disdained to shake the guest’s red hand. He immediately hides his beautiful brush in his pocket.
This is how a conflict arises: the men did not like each other at first sight.
Chapter V
Early in the morning, Evgeny goes to the swamp with the peasant children. He urgently needed frogs as experimental material.
Arkady notices the inhabitant of the outbuilding - Fenechka, a serf girl. It turns out that she has a son from the master. The hero is glad to see his brother, but wonders why his father kept silent about such happiness.
Arkady educates relatives at the table, explaining ethical and moral principles friend. He is a nihilist who takes it upon himself to deny authorities, traditional values and the generally accepted way of things.
The guest returns with a swamp catch.
Chapter VI
The unfulfilled handshake between Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov in the sixth chapter develops into mutual antipathy between the heroes. Evgeniy declares his dislike for domestic scientific authorities, and his elderly interlocutor becomes irritated. He is accustomed to the manners of the court salon, and the treatment of the young upstart is insulting to him. He especially did not like the speaker's rude and impudent voice.
In the midst of controversy, Bazarov reveals his truth:
A decent chemist is twenty times more useful than any poet.
Feeling tension, Arkady tries to distract present with a story about the fate of his uncle. So he wants to prevent his relative from being ridiculed, because he knows about his comrade’s bilious character and sharp tongue.
Chapter VII
Pavel Petrovich was a brilliant officer, the star of balls and evenings, a welcome guest of all chosen people. But he had the misfortune of falling in love with Princess R., retired and followed her everywhere for many years. When Princess R. died, Pavel Petrovich settled with his brother in Maryino.
The heartfelt story does not touch the main character at all; he sees weakness in this act.
He believes that “a man who put his whole life on the line female love and when they killed this card for him, he became limp and sank... - not a man.”
Confirming his nihilist worldview, he calls all this romanticism nonsense, which is useless for society, unlike medicine.
Chapter VIII
Pavel Petrovich visits Fenechka, although he usually does not honor her with such an honor. After describing the room, the author reveals the purpose of Kirsanov’s arrival: he wanted to look at seven-month-old Mitya.
In this same chapter, we plunge into the past and learn the secret of the rapprochement between Nikolai Petrovich and Fenechka, the daughter of his housekeeper. Three years ago, a man decided to show pity and took in two poor hangers-on, a mother and daughter. Not long ago, the old woman died, and the soft and timid girl began to live with the master in an illegal marriage.
Chapter IX
Bazarov skillfully handles Fenechka's baby, talking to her about Mitya's health. He is ready to provide all necessary services if the child needs a doctor.
However, Bazarov is in his repertoire: after hearing Nikolai Kirsanov play the cello, Evgeny only condemns him. Arkady is unhappy with this reaction.
Chapter X
During the two weeks of Bazarov’s stay at the Kirsanov estate, Pavel Petrovich hated Evgeniy even more, and Nikolai Petrovich often listened to his speeches and looked at interesting experiments, but, of course, I was afraid of the strange guest.
Evgeniy again becomes indignant in response to Nikolai Petrovich reading Pushkin’s poems and without hesitation calls the owner of the house a “retired man.” Then Pavel Petrovich, standing up for his brother, again faces Bazarov in a heated verbal battle. Bazarov says that “denial is the most useful,” but does not meet with support from the Kirsanovs.
And Nikolai Petrovich, recalling his misunderstanding with his mother, begins to compare this situation with his son Arkady.
Chapter XI
Nikolai Petrovich is nostalgic: he remembers his wife, involuntarily compares her with Fenechka, but understands that his deceased wife was much better. His thoughts become increasingly sentimental, and he suffers from the realization that young people would judge him for being soft and sensitive.
Bazarov offers his friend Arkady a trip to the city: Evgeniy’s old friend lives there.
Chapter XII
As suggested by Bazarov in previous chapter, he and Arkady went to meet Evgeniy’s student. Separate lines are devoted to a description of the city, where they finally meet a fussy man - Sitnikov, who considered himself a follower of Bazarov. The heroes also meet an official from St. Petersburg, Kolyazin, and the governor, which was facilitated by the connections of Arkady’s father.
Sitnikov invites the arriving heroes to Kukshina. He himself calls her an emancipated, progressive woman.
Chapter XIII
Together with the characters, the reader gets to know Kukshina as a caricature of a woman who considers herself educated and progressive. However, during the conversation the girl is not particularly interested in the answers of her guests, she only carries on meaningless conversations, which explains some of the discomfort of Arkady and Bazarov in her company.
For the first time, an important name will appear in the work - Anna Sergeevna Odintsova, who will subsequently play a significant role in the life of the main character.
Chapter XIV
Thanks to his father’s connections, Arkady and his friend come to the governor’s ball, where Nikolai Petrovich’s son meets. This sweet, young, rich landowner learns from her interlocutor about his friend. The girl is intrigued and asks both young men to come visit her.
Bazarov is impressed by Anna Sergeevna.
He said that “she has such shoulders as I have not seen for a long time.”
So, he decides that a trip to her is a good idea, and the men intend to pay a visit without keeping them waiting.
Chapter XV
Arkady and Bazarov go to meet her, and then the girl makes an even greater impression on Evgeny.
The reader is told the story of Anna Sergeevna's enrichment and widowhood: after she received her education in St. Petersburg, her bankrupt father dies, and out of despair she accepts the offer of Odintsov, a wealthy elderly landowner. However, her husband dies six years later, and Anna Sergeevna is left with his fortune.
A frequent topic in Anna and Evgeniy’s conversation is science. The characters quickly become close, they are interested in communicating. At the end of the meeting, Anna Odintsova invited the heroes to her estate.
Chapter XVI
Odintsova introduces the men to her sister Katya.
Bazarov lectures those around him, declaring that all people are built the same, their organs are identical, just like what a person proudly calls inner world. All moral illnesses come from society and its errors, so it is enough to correct it so that there are no more illnesses.
The author describes Odintsova. This is a devastated and indifferent person. She thought she wanted everything, but in reality she wanted nothing. She had no prejudices, but she also had no attachments as such.
Chapter XVII
The friends stayed at Odintsova’s estate (Nikolskoye) for about fifteen days. Bazarov considered love stupidity, and “knightly feelings are something like ugliness or illness.” However, he noted with indignation that he himself was falling into Anna’s snare. He felt too good alone with this lady. However, Arkady found his ideal in Katerina.
In the same chapter, Bazarov meets his father's manager. He tells him that Evgeniy’s parents are worried about his delay and have been waiting for their son.
Chapter XVIII
By the eighteenth chapter, the former Evgeny may not be recognizable: Bazarov, who denies all romanticism or recognizes love as nonsense, realizes his feelings for Anna Odintsova.
The man explains to the woman, but she rejects him. The peace of a lonely life is more valuable to her. Evgeniy, despondent, goes to his parents' estate.
Chapter XIX
The heroes leave Odintsova to visit their parents. The changes in Evgenia are noticed not only by the reader, but also by his friend Arkady: his friend has become too busy.
Having seen off the guests, Anna Sergeevna still hopes that the conversation with Bazarov will take place again in the near future, although they parted very coldly.
Chapter XX
Friends come to visit Evgeniy’s parents. Turgenev describes the delight of the character’s parents associated with the long-awaited arrival of their son, although they tried to be a little more restrained, knowing full well about Evgeniy’s worldview.
Bazarov has not seen his parents for three years, and despite this, he is in no hurry to devote even an hour of conversation to his father. He complains about being tired from the road, goes to spend the night, but does not close his eyes.
Chapter XXI
Less than a week has passed when Evgeniy decides to leave. In the bosom of the family, Bazarov thinks that everything is distracting him, and, although Arkady tries to convey to his friend how wrong this is, Evgeny stands his ground.
We are presented with the dark thoughts of the main character:
I didn’t break myself, so the woman won’t break me.
Of course, the hero’s parents were absolutely not happy with their son’s decision to leave so soon. They grieved, barely daring to reveal their annoyance.
Chapter XXII
The heroes come back to Maryino, where they are welcome.
However, Arkady is not so easy to sit still. After some time, he leaves for the city again, unable to get past Nikolskoye, where he was wonderfully received by Anna and her sister. Meanwhile, Evgeniy plunges headlong into medicine, trying to recover from the fervor of love.
Chapter XXIII
Bazarov realizes where and why Arkady is going after all, and grins at his excuses. But Evgeniy himself prefers to focus on work.
The only person in the Kirsanov estate to whom Bazarov remained positive attitude, - this is Fenechka. She saw in him common man, so she wasn’t ashamed of him as she was with the gentlemen. Even under Nikolai Petrovich she did not feel so calm and free. The doctor was always happy to talk about her baby.
Once Bazarov kissed a girl, but Pavel Petrovich accidentally caught this scene.
Chapter XXIV
Then the old man takes a desperate step: he challenges the young guest to a duel. He does not reveal the true motive, but insults Evgeniy, stating bluntly that he is superfluous here. The aristocrat in him despises this rude and uncouth lout.
The duel does not turn out to be fatal for any of the characters, but it is not without casualties, and Bazarov shoots his opponent in the leg. However, like a real doctor, he immediately provides Uncle Arkady with medical assistance.
After the incident, Evgeniy goes to his family, and his rival asks his brother to marry Fenechka. Previously, he opposed unequal marriage, but now he realized its necessity.
Chapter XXV
Arkady was always in the shadow of his older comrade, blindly imitated him and repeated his words. But after meeting Katya, everything changed. The girl pointed out to the gentleman that he was much kinder and nicer without Bazarov. This is the real him.
On the way, Evgeny stops by Nikolskoye, meets a friend and tells him that without him, Bazarov had completely broken up with his relatives.
Chapter XXVI
Katya and Arkady are in love, the young people exchanged confessions. The young man asks her consent to marry him. Excited and romantic Katya agrees to Arkady's proposal.
You and I were mistaken... at first we interested each other, curiosity was aroused, and then...” - “and then I ran out of steam,” Bazarov answers her.
Evgeny leaves forever: both his friend and his beloved woman are lost to him forever.
Chapter XXVII
The hero comes to the family. There is a bad rumor about him in the village, people do not understand his scholarship, the people are alien to his denial, although he himself sincerely believed that they supported him.
This self-confident Bazarov had no idea that in their eyes he was something of a fool.
Evgeniy was in apathy and abandoned science. He only helped his father treat the surrounding people. But even this was not possible for him. During the autopsy, he cut himself and contracted typhus. He knows that death awaits him. Now he asks for one thing - to send for Anna.
He confided his feelings to the visiting guest, complaining that no one needed him, that people did not understand him and did not accept him, but he wanted to be useful to society. And so I couldn’t.
Chapter XXXVIII (Epilogue)
All the couples got married: Nikolai Petrovich took Fenechka as his wife, Arkady took Katya as his wife. Even Anna marries a smart but cold man who matches her completely.
IN last lines works Turgenev describes the grave at rural cemetery, where only an elderly couple often comes to see their beloved son.
Interesting? Save it on your wall!On May 20, 1859, Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov awaits the return home of his son Arkady, who has successfully completed his studies.
Nikolai Petrovich was the son of a general, but prepared military career didn't work out.
Chapter 2.
There is a meeting between father and son, the father is proud of his son. But Arkady did not return alone. The young man, Evgeny Vasilyevich Bazarov, introduces himself in the usual peasant manner, showing with all his appearance that noble conventions are unpleasant to him. The young man was tall, unattractive and self-confident, an aspiring doctor.
Chapter 3-4
On the way to the Kirsanov estate, Turgenev describes nature. He draws a social landscape, through which the writer, it turns out, can tell us about the standard of living of the peasants.
Upon returning home, Bazarov meets Pavel Petrovich. Animosity immediately arises between them. Turgenev shows the origin of the conflict already in the differences in appearance, between the aristocrat and Bazarov, the democrat.
Chapter 5
In the morning, Bazarov gets up before everyone else and goes to catch frogs for medical experiments, and Nikolai Petrovich tells Arkady about Fenechka, and he meets his father’s mistress. Afterwards, Arkady tells his father and uncle about Bazarov, that he is a nihilist, a man who will not approve of any authorities.
“A nihilist is a person who does not bow to any authority, who does not accept a single principle on faith, no matter how respectful this principle may be.”
Chapter 6
In yet another argument with Pavel Petrovich about science, Bazarov emerges victorious. He is so confident that he does not care about the aristocrat's questions, which he pronounces ironically and with superiority. In his understanding, the principles defended by aristocrats are an “archaic phenomenon” that interfere with life. Defending his opinion to “deny everything,” Bazarov shows the essence of that time.
Chapter 7
Arkady tries to somehow soften the emerging tension and tells Bazarov the story of Pavel Petrovich’s love for a certain princess R, who at first was madly in love, and then cooled off towards him. This love completely changed the life of Pavel Petrovich, he bet everything on this novel, and when it came to an end, Pavel Petrovich found himself completely devastated.
Chapter 8-9
In this chapter, Turgenev tells us the story of Fenechka - Nikolai Petrovich’s mistress, they have a son who is 6 months old. Bazarov meets Fenechka. Bazarov liked the girl, but he cannot understand why Fenechka is embarrassed about her connection with Nikolai Petrovich.
Chapter 10
In the next confrontation between Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov, the full strength of Bazarov is shown. He defines the main thesis of nihilism: “At present, denial is best - we deny.”
Chapter 11
Turgenev questioned Bazarov’s denial of nature, shows artistic description nature. Turgenev does not support Bazarov in that nature is like a workshop in which a person is a worker.
Chapter 12-13
Friends go to the city, where they encounter Bazarov’s “student” - Sitnikov. They go to visit the “emancipated” lady, Kukshina. Sitnikov and Kukshina belong to the category of “progressives”; they reject all authorities, chasing the fashion for “free thinking”. They really don’t know how or know anything, but still in their “nihilism” they go far ahead of Arkady and Bazarov.
Chapter 14 -15
Bazarov meets Odintsova, a young widow who immediately interests him. Arkady believes that he loves Odintsova, but between Bazarov and Odintsova appears mutual attraction, and she invites her friends to visit her. In the chapter, Bazarov speaks rudely about Odintsova, calling her special from the category of mammals. Turgenyev talks about Odintsovo that she is free and determined, that life was not favorable to her.
Chapter 16
While visiting Odintsova, friends meet their younger sister Katya, who behaves very modestly. Bazarov feels uneasy in his new place, as does Arkady. Arkady begins to communicate with Katya.
Chapter 17 -18
For the first time, Bazarov experiences the feeling that has arisen for Anna Sergeevna, he despises himself for this, as he discovers a romantic in himself. He confesses everything to Odintsova, but she is frightened by such passion, she freed herself from his embrace, remaining absolutely calm.
Chapter 19
Bazarov begins to change, begins to lose his positions, which he previously defended with such firmness. When he falls in love, he ceases to be the same as before. This irritates him, he hopes that he can get rid of this feeling.
Chapter 20-21
Not wanting to depend on this feeling, Bazarov goes to his father, who lives nearby, and Odintsova freely lets him go.
“It is better to break stones on the pavement than to allow a woman to take possession of even the tip of a finger” E. Bazarov
Chapter 22 - 23
Friends stopped by Nikolskoye, but to no avail; they weren’t really expected there, but they were glad to see them in Maryino. Bazarov returns to his frogs again, and Arkady could not forget Katya, finds an excuse and goes to her. Out of boredom, Bazarov, seeing Fenechka alone, kisses her deeply, Pavel Petrovich sees this, and challenges Bazarov to a duel.
Chapter 24
Bazarov wounds Pavel Petrovich, but he himself provides him with first aid. They didn’t tell Nikolai Petrovich the real reason duel, he behaves nobly and finds an excuse for both opponents.
Chapter 25 -26
Bazarov leaves Maryino, but stops by to see Odintsova. They both come to the conclusion that feelings need to be replaced with friendship. Arkady and Katya understand each other perfectly, and the girl notes that Bazarov is a stranger to them. Finally, Bazarov tells his friend that he is a good, but still a liberal barich. Arkady is upset, but finds solace in Katya’s company, confesses his love to her and realizes that he is loved too
Chapter 27
Bazarov returns home again and tries to completely immerse himself in work, but after a few days he becomes bored. While conducting experiments on the corpse of a typhoid patient, he cuts his finger and as a result he develops blood poisoning. A couple of days later, he tells his father that he probably doesn’t have much time left.
Before his death, Bazarov asked Odintsova to come to him and say goodbye. He remembers how much he loved her, and says that his pride, like his love, went to dust.
6 months have passed. There are two weddings taking place in the village church: Katya with Arkady, and Fenichka with Nikolai Petrovich.
Arkady has become a father and a diligent owner, and his efforts are beginning to generate income.
Chapter 28
Decrepit old men continue to go to Bazarov’s grave, continue to cry and pray for the repose of the soul of their departed son.
On a hot spring day, May 20, 1859, “a gentleman of about forty” comes out onto the porch of the inn. This is Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. He is waiting for his son Arkady, who graduated from the university in St. Petersburg and received the rank of candidate - which means that Arkady graduated with honors and upon entering the service could receive the rank of 10th grade.
The novel begins with a remark from Nikolai Petrovich: “What, Peter, haven’t you seen yet?” - and we immediately feel the anxiety and impatience of a father waiting for his beloved son. Peter is a servant, a man of the “newest, improved generation.” He condescendingly answers the master’s questions and smokes a pipe behind his back. Already in this seemingly insignificant episode, Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev touches on the topic of generational conflict. The younger generation is condescending towards the elderly, confident in their superiority. This is also a hint at the changes that are taking place in public life. It is no coincidence that Turgenev moves the action of his novel to 1859. For Russia it was a turbulent time, characterized by unrest in society, revolutionary movements, peasant riots, economic crisis. This was the time on the eve of reforms to free the peasants. All layers of Russian society were in an unstable situation, experiencing hard time. The old, noble era collides with the new, revolutionary-democratic one. It is at such a time that we meet Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, who “sits with his legs tucked under him and thoughtfully looking around”, waiting for his son. The word “legs” conveys to us Turgenev’s attitude in the best possible way: one feels pity, sympathy, sympathy for the hero. Let's get to know Nikolai Petovich better.
Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov is a landowner, owner of an estate of two hundred souls or “two thousand dessiatines of land.” He is forty-four years old, Nikolai Petrovich’s father was a military general in 1812. Nikolai Petrovich was born in the south of Russia, and, like his older brother Pavel, was raised at home until the age of 14 by “cheap tutors” and “cheeky but obsequious adjutants.” The mother, Agathoklea Kuzminishna, belonged to the “commander mothers”, lived for her own pleasure, and was not particularly involved in raising children. Nikolai Petrovich, as the general’s son, was destined military fate, but chance changed everything - on the very day when the news of his determination arrived, he broke his leg. And Nikolai, unlike Pavel, was not distinguished by courage. “My father waved his hand at him and let him go in civilian clothes. He took him to St. Petersburg as soon as he was eighteen years old and placed him in the university.” Brother Pavel at that time entered service as an officer in the guards regiment. The brothers began to live together under the supervision of their cousin. After his father’s resignation, his parents also came to St. Petersburg, but, unable to get used to life in the capital, they died early. Some time later, when the period of mourning had expired, Nikolai Petrovich married the daughter of the former owner of the apartment where he lived. “The couple lived very well and quietly” in the village. Their life resembled an idyll: music, reading, flowers, hunting, solitude. Son Arkady grew up quietly. Ten years passed unnoticed. But in 1947, Nikolai Petrovich’s wife died. Grief overwhelmed him, he turned gray in a few weeks, he thought of going abroad to disperse, but the revolution of 48 prevented him: it is known that at that time Nicholas I imposed a strict ban on leaving the country. Nikolai Petrovich was forced to engage in economic reforms. In 1955, just like himself, he took his son to St. Petersburg, to the university, and lived with him for three winters. And now, in 1859, he was already waiting for the return of Arkady, the candidate.
In the story about Nikolai Petrovich, Turgenev’s obvious sympathy for the hero is felt. It is no coincidence that in one of his letters Turgenev wrote: “Nikolai Petrovich is me...”. For Nikolai Petrovich, the main thing in life is family, son. His life passes as if in isolation from the history of the country. He has no social aspirations or goals. He's not a social person at all, that's why military service It wouldn't suit him. In its own way life position he is passive, lives with the flow, quietly, peacefully, limiting himself only to the interests of the family. But this way of life does not evoke condemnation in the author and the reader; rather, other feelings: empathy, sympathy. We empathize with him when he keeps looking at the road, waiting for his son. We are sad with him when he remembers his deceased wife, who did not live to see such a thing. happy day– son’s return from university. “Son...candidate...Arkasha...I couldn’t wait!” - he whispered sadly..."
But finally “his ear... caught the sound of approaching wheels.” With a few words and meager details, Turgenev makes us feel his father’s joy: Nikolai Petrovich “jumped up,” “fixed his eyes,” “screamed” and “ran,” “waved his arms.” From the very first words of Arkady, we feel the carelessness characteristic of youth, enthusiasm, lightness, a certain swagger - for example, in the way Arkady addresses his father: “daddy.” Nikolai Petrovich joyfully greets his son, from the fullness of his feelings he even becomes shy in front of him. This timidity leads to excessive fussiness. He “seemed a little lost, as if timid.”
Arkady did not come alone - with a friend, Evgeny Bazarov, a student Faculty of Medicine. The son introduces his father to a friend. And in the way Nikolai Petrovich “quickly turned around” and “tightly squeezed” Bazarov’s hand, one can see his openness to the guest, his readiness to unconditionally accept the person whom his son loves and respects. Nikolai Petrovich is hospitable. Bazarov does not immediately give him his “naked red hand.” He is not as friendly as Nikolai Petrovich. “Evgeny Vasiliev,” this is how Bazarov introduces himself. It seems that it is no coincidence that he chooses the colloquial version of the patronymic Vasiliev, instead of Vasilyevich, thereby contrasting himself, a simple man, with Nikolai Petrovich - the master, the landowner. The “red” hand is also an important detail, telling us that Bazarov is a man of labor. In all of Bazarov’s behavior, in the way he speaks (lazily, calmly), some kind of negligence is visible. Answers briefly, behaves somewhat condescendingly (“ Thin lips we moved a little; but he didn’t answer and just lifted his cap.” In general, it is noticeable that Bazarov is a man of few words, he speaks only to the point, but at the same time his speech is precise and figurative: it is enough to remember what apt epithet he gave to the coachman - “thick-bearded.” Eugene’s appearance is nothing remarkable: “Long and thin, with a wide forehead, a flat upward, pointed downward nose, large greenish eyes and drooping sand-colored sideburns, it was enlivened by a calm smile and expressed self-confidence and intelligence.” Arkady immediately warns his father: “Please don’t stand on ceremony with him. He’s a wonderful guy, so simple – you’ll see.” Arkady is sincerely glad to be returning home, he is excited, he is overwhelmed joyful emotions, but he seems to be ashamed of his “childish” joy, wants to look like an adult, he can’t wait to “quickly turn the conversation from an excited mood to an ordinary one.”
On the way home, Arkady learns a lot of new things. The father shares with him his concerns about the household. Not all is well, it turns out, on the estate. The men “don’t pay quitrent,” the hired workers “don’t have any real effort,” “the harnesses are spoiled,” the clerk had to be changed and a new one hired—a freeman, from the bourgeoisie. There is also sad news: Arkady’s nanny, Egorovna, has died. Arkady enthusiastically interrupts his father’s story:
What kind of air there is! It smells so good! Really, it seems to me that nowhere in the world smells as much as in these parts! And the sky is here...
And suddenly he cuts himself off mid-sentence, casting an “indirect glance back.” Back - that is, to the tarantass in which Bazarov is traveling. Obviously, Bazarov would not like such sentimentality. Arkady holds back in front of his friend, afraid of his condemnation. He speaks and acts with an eye on Bazarov. Nikolai Petrovich replies: “...you were born here, everything here should seem something special to you.” But Arkady’s former delight is replaced by a prosaic remark: “Well, dad, it’s the same no matter where a person is born.” Nikolai Petrovich “looked sideways at his son,” but did not answer. He senses, still vaguely, that changes have occurred in Arcadia.
The conversation resumed after some time. Nikolai Petrovich, clearly embarrassed, reveals an important and delicate circumstance to his son. He talks about changes in his life, about a girl... Nikolai Petrovich switches to French so that the servants do not understand. He doesn’t even dare to say the girl’s name, and Arkady deliberately cheekily asks: “Fenechka?” Behind this swagger, Arkady may also be hiding his embarrassment, a feeling of awkwardness. And at the same time, he smiles condescendingly at his father, not understanding why his father is apologizing. Arkady feels “secret superiority” in himself, realizes his own development and freedom. Arkady and Bazarov are “above all this” - that is, above the moral issues that torment Nikolai Petrovich.
Nikolai Petrovich is surprised at his son’s judgment, “something pierced his heart.” Yes, Arkady has changed, but his father delicately and wisely looks at this “from under the fingers of his hand.”
Then a sad landscape unfolds before us: Nikolai Petrovich and Arkady are driving through their fields and forests (however, the forest had to be sold: “they needed money”). This is what we see: small forests, sparse and low bushes, ditched river banks, tiny ponds with thin dams, villages with low huts, crooked threshing sheds, empty threshing floors, churches with ruined cemeteries, with fallen plaster or leaning crosses. All adjectives reveal a picture of wretchedness and poverty. And nouns with diminutive suffixes evoke a feeling of pity. In the descriptions of the villagers and animals, the signs of ruin appear even more sharply and expressively: the peasants were “shabby”, the cows were “emaciated”, “as if gnawed”. From the harsh, mournful landscape, “Arkady’s heart gradually sank.” After all, this is his homeland, he cannot remain indifferent at the sight of such poverty. Turgenev masterfully, in a few phrases, described the life of a Russian village in the fifties of the nineteenth century. The reader, like Arkady, involuntarily asks the question: “No, this poor region does not amaze you with either contentment or hard work; it’s impossible, he can’t stay like this, transformations are necessary... but how to carry them out, how to start?”
But Arkady is young. Life and youth take their toll. After all, no matter how gloomy the picture of nature may be, it’s still spring all around. “Everything around was golden green, everything was wide and softly agitated and shiny under the quiet breath of a warm breeze,” the birds sang cheerfully and shouted, running over the hummocks. Arkady looked at all this, and his heart gradually softened, his anxiety dissipated. Spring has won. No matter how sad the reality is, it is difficult to resist beauty and youth when you so want to live and enjoy life. “He threw off his overcoat and looked at his father so cheerfully, like such a young boy, that he hugged him again.” Arkady is full of life: “what a wonderful day today!” Nikolai Petrovich recalls Pushkin’s lines from Eugene Onegin. Arkady listens to his father with amazement and sympathy. It obviously seems strange to him to listen to his father read poetry. Suddenly poetic lines Bazarov interrupts: “Arkady! - Bazarov’s voice came from the tarantass, “send me a match, I have nothing to light my pipe with.” From poetry to prose - such is the sharp contrast that drew another, at first glance, imperceptible line between the younger generation and the generation of fathers.
Arkady also lit a cigarette - and this surprised Nikolai Petrovich, “who never smoked.” But Nikolai Petrovich is so soft, tactful person, who does not want to offend his son with a remark, delicately turns away. From the very first pages he shows himself exceptionally an intelligent person trying to avoid conflicts, smooth out sharp corners in relationships.
