Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fathers and Sons, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Tradition and Progress
Nature vs. Materialism
Love vs. Nihilism
Generational Conflict
Summary
Analysis
Bazarov returns to the terrace and begins drinking his tea. Pavel begins to question him with “studious politeness.” Bazarov’s indifference “exasperated his aristocratic nature.” Pavel asks him how it is possible that Bazarov acknowledges no authorities. “Why should I?” Bazarov replies. “If they talk sense, I agree with them. That’s all there is to it.”
The combative dynamic between Bazarov and Pavel is established—Pavel is painfully polite and Bazarov is tersely indifferent. Bazarov bases his worldview on what makes “sense,” not on the supposed inherent authority of an idea; that suggests he sees himself as the arbiter of what makes sense.
Themes
Given Bazarov’s fondness for German scientists, Pavel observes that nowadays Germany mainly “[churns] out chemists and materialists,” in contrast to former greats like Schiller and Goethe. Bazarov interrupts, “A decent chemist is twenty times more useful than any poet.” When Pavel persists in questioning him on his views regarding art and science, Bazarov speaks up, “What is this, a cross-examination?”
Pavel reminisces for the days when Germany produced great poets, but Bazarov provocatively rejects Pavel’s premise that poets are superior to scientists. He thinks that progress is possible on the basis of scientific principles and sees the older generation’s appreciation for art as outdated and useless.
Themes
Nikolai intervenes, saying that he would value Bazarov’s scientific advice on farming someday, then he encourages Pavel to join him for a visit to the estate’s bailiff. As he gets up, Pavel sarcastically observes that “one fine day [one’s learning] turns out to be all rubbish […] obviously the younger generation are more intelligent than we are.” He and Nikolai walk away.
Nikolai, with a peacekeeping instinct, cuts the exchange short. Pavel is clearly affronted by Bazarov’s insinuations about the older generation, especially given his lifelong efforts to be educated, cultured, and reform-minded himself.
Themes
Bazarov asks Arkady if his uncle Pavel always acts like that. Arkady objects that Bazarov hurt Pavel’s feelings by being so curt. Bazarov retorts that he’s not going to pander to aristocratic vanity—they should go and examine the rare specimen of water-beetle he’s found. Arkady tells his friend that he must be fair and understand Pavel’s background, which he proceeds to tell him.
Arkady is more sensitive to others’ feelings than Bazarov. Bazarov tends to categorize people according to class—Pavel is offensive to him as an “aristocrat”—and, anyway, studying insect specimens is a better use of time, in his mind, than trying to understand the feelings of others. This reflects Bazarov’s materialistic outlook, which sees everything as reducible to scientific examination.
Themes
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