Nihilist Philosophy Essay -- Analysis, Ivan Turgenev

Ivan Turgenevs Fathers and Sons takes place in midnineteenth century Russia. Throughout the text Turgenev explores the pros and cons of the nihilist philosophy and how nihilism, coupled with the presence of generational and class base animosities, affects the greater Russian identity. Properties of nihilism are examined and tested as the characters construe aristocratic lifestyles and the redeeming top executive of love. The female characters in Fathers and Sons represent a wide range of socioeconomic positions and tempera manpowerts, these women test the thinking of the nihilists by their propensities towards emotion, order, feminism, shyness, and propriety. This exploration of gender roles and the balance of power amongst women and the men that they control is field of honor to their ascribed classes and the relationships they hold. These women fall into two major categories the autocratic and the dependent. The aristocratic mothers and dependent daughters of Fathers and Sons sum about the reevaluation of Bazarov and Arkadys nihilistic beliefs and furthermore utilize their maidenlike qualities to command the men in their lives. The aristocratic women or rather the mothers enjoy the benefits of wealthiness and high society and use their perspective abilities to influence men. These women portray trinity very different kinds of female roles. Arina Barzarova the selfless caretaker, Evdoksya Kukshina the independent feminist, and Anna Odintsova who is both shielder and liberal, but all maintain emotional, sociable, and romantic control over the men in their lives. Arina Vlasevna Bazarova, the overly emotional mother of Enyushka Bazarova, is an intensely superstitious woman who believed in all manner of omens, soothsayings, incantations, and pr... ... destroy and reinstate the bonds of family and Russian nationalism. Turgenev explores hoe this generational divide interacts with the division among classes and how the powers of the aristocracy affects t he younger generation and feminine identity. Throught these interactions the power of love as redemption is seen in the relationship between Arkady and Katya as well as Anna and Bazarov. The women in Fathers and Sons symbolize the diversity prime within the same class and generational margins these women challenge the men they look and cease power over their relationships. The struggle for power, between the sexes is dependent upon the roles and social standings of the perspective character. The female characters whether aristocratic or dependent, mothers or daughters find power in their gender and utilize their womanly intellect to find ultimate resolve.