One of the main characters of the novel “Fathers and Sons” is Yevgeny Vasilyevich Bazarov - a young nihilist, a student at a medical university, the son of an army doctor and a pious landowner. The image of Bazarov is very noticeable in literature and criticism and is the subject of constant discussion. The thing is what features I.S. put into it Turgenev. In Bazarov miraculously combines rudeness and tenderness, arrogance and well-read, sensuality and nihilism. Separately, one should consider the question of how Bazarov shows his attitude towards people around him.
At one time he was considered a hero of the public, when it was fashionable to deny intangible things and sensations. Despite the fact that in addition to Bazarov, the novel contains several more representatives of such a worldview (Arkady Kirsanov, Kukshina and Sitnikov), it is Eugene who is a true nihilist. With all his desire to demonstrate the novelty of his views, Arkady does not fully believe in the denial of love, faith and other feelings, sometimes he is forgotten, revealing his true face.
Two other supporters of nihilism only boast of their views, poorly understanding the very essence of the phenomenon. But if Bazarov is condescending to Kirsanov, rather, even patronizing him, then Eugene openly despises university friends. However, they can best demonstrate Bazarov’s attitude to those around him from quotes from the text. On this basis, an analysis of the work should be carried out, considering the relationship of the hero with each of the characters.
Bazarov: attitude towards others
On the one hand, the hero is cynical and selfish. Having first appeared in the house, he immediately and without embarrassment in a rather cheeky manner demonstrates his worldview, criticizes the enthusiasm of the house owner - Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov - with poetry, advising him instead to read German materialists. Bazarov openly argues with his brother, Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov, almost ridiculing the views of the latter, and later even challenges him to a duel. Eugene skillfully manipulates Arkady, provoking him to replace his father's book with the one proposed by Bazarov.
But there is another side to how Bazarov shows his attitude towards others. For example, he demonstrates unprecedented delicacy, with sympathy and respect for his lover Nikolai Petrovich - Fenechka, a simple girl and a maid in the Kirsanovs' house. He is gentle with her child, which immediately fascinates the mother. Also, Eugene nobly leaves the duel with Kirsanov, not ending her murder, but only shooting Pavel Petrovich’s leg. And to Arkady and at all has friendly feelings, taking care of him and trying to direct him on the true path along the path of nihilism. In general, we can conclude that the attitude of E. Bazarov towards others in the novel “Fathers and Sons” is ambiguous, and depends on what the people themselves are.
The image of Evgeny Bazarov
Bazarov has a very specific, even repulsive appearance, he has long hair, rough hands, and sloppy clothes. But at the same time, everyone around him is surprisingly imbued with sympathy for him. Perhaps because Eugene is sincere in his statements, he is not hypocritical and does not try to please everyone around him, in contrast to the same Pavel Petrovich. Turgenev sought to create just such an image, fearing that, due to excessive straightforwardness, the reader would not be able to discern the true essence of Bazarov and understand the author’s idea. The main contradiction in Bazarov’s attitude towards those around him is that although he believes in his ideology sacredly, denies any intangible things, he still cannot resist instincts and falls in love with Arkady’s good friend, the rich and educated widow Anna Sergeyevna Odintsova.
First, he tries to overcome his feelings, justifying himself by the fact that he was impressed only by the “rich body” of the young woman, as if specially created for the anatomical theater (according to him). But then the nihilist succumbs to emotions and recognizes Odintsova in feelings. Love for Anna Sergeyevna slightly shook the views of Bazarov, but still did not change them. But it influenced Arkady, who revealed her feelings to Catherine - the sister of Anna Sergeyevna. Subsequently, the younger Kirsanov married the girl.
Evgeny Bazarov - the hero of modernity
Thus, it is obvious that although the hero is too blunt and even slightly rude, he is still a kind and caring person, has some kind of inner charisma. His main advantage is how Bazarov sincerely shows his attitude towards people around him. He does not seek to please everyone around him, does not stick out his progressive views, does not scream at every corner about far-reaching plans, although they are really such, because with the help of materialism, Eugene seeks to make the world a better place, to make everyone happy. He faithfully loves his parents and tries to achieve everything in life on his own. It is these features that make him a positive character in the novel and can even be attributed to the heroes of our time.