When creating a literary work, the author, like the Creator, is entitled to determine the fate of the hero, marry, make him happy or unhappy, save his life or end the work with his death.
The novel "Fathers and Sons" I.S. Turgenev ends with the death of the main character. Understanding the reasons why the author finishes his work this way is possible through an analysis of the episode "Bazarov’s death." “Fathers and Sons” is a novel in which the death of the protagonist is certainly not accidental. Perhaps such a finale speaks of the failure of the life principles and beliefs of this character. So, let's try to figure it out.
Who is Bazarov?
An analysis of the episode of Bazarov’s death is impossible without understanding what this character is. Thanks to what is told about Eugene in the novel, we imagine a smart, confident, cynical young man who denies the generally accepted moral principles, moral values, ideals. He considers love “physiology”, in his opinion, a person should not depend on anyone.
Subsequently, however, Turgenev reveals to us in his hero such qualities as sensitivity, kindness, and the ability to deep feelings.
Bazarov is a nihilist, that is, a person who denies all generally accepted values, including he does not share the enthusiasm of art lovers . In his opinion, only what is of practical benefit is significant. He considers all beautiful to be meaningless. His main life goal, Eugene means "work for the good of society." His task is to "live for the great purpose of renewing the world."
Attitude to others
An analysis of the episode of Bazarov’s death in Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons” cannot be carried out without understanding how the protagonist’s relationships with the people who made up his circle of contacts were built. It should be noted that Bazarov treated others with contempt, he put others lower than himself. This was manifested, for example, in what things he said to Arkady about himself and his relatives. Attachment, sympathy, tenderness - all these feelings Eugene considers unacceptable.
Lyubov Bazarova
An analysis of the episode of Bazarov’s death requires mentioning that, with all his neglect of exalted feelings, he, ironically, falls in love. His love is unusually deep, as evidenced by the explanation with Anna Sergeyevna Odintsova. Having realized that he is capable of such a feeling, Bazarov ceases to regard him as a physiology. He begins to consider the existence of love possible. Such a change of views could not pass without a trace for Eugene, who lived on the ideas of nihilism. His former life is ruined.
Bazarov’s declaration of love is not just words, it is a recognition of his own defeat. Eugene’s nihilistic theories are broken.
Turgenev considers it inappropriate to end the novel with a change in the views of the protagonist, and decides to end the work with his death.
Bazarov’s death - an accident?
So, in the finale of the novel, the main event is the death of Bazarov. The analysis of the episode requires recalling the reason why, according to the text of the work, the main character dies.
His life becomes impossible due to an unfortunate accident - a small cut that Bazarov received when opening the body of a peasant who died of typhus. Ironically, he, a doctor doing useful things, cannot do anything to save his life. The realization that he would die gave the protagonist time to evaluate his achievements. Bazarov, aware of the inevitability of his death, is calm and strong, although, of course, being a young and energetic person, he regrets that so little remains to live.
Bazarov’s attitude to death and to himself
An analysis of the episode of Bazarov’s death is impossible without a deeper understanding of how the hero relates to the proximity of his end and death in general.
No man can calmly realize the approaching finale of his life. Eugene, being a man, of course, strong and confident, is no exception. He regrets that he has not completed his main task. He understands the power of death and speaks of the approaching last minutes with bitter irony: “Yes, go and try to deny death. It denies you, and that's it!”
So, the death of Bazarov is approaching. The analysis of the episode, which is one of the key in the novel, needs an understanding of how the character of the protagonist has changed. Eugene becomes kinder and more sentimental. He wants to meet his beloved, once again to talk about his feelings. Bazarov is softer than before, refers to parents, now understanding their significance.
An analysis of the episode of Bazarov’s death shows how lonely the protagonist of the work is. He does not have a close person to whom he could convey his beliefs, therefore, his views have no future.
Understanding True Values
In the face of death, human values are changing. There comes an understanding of what is really important in life.
Analysis of the episode "Bazarov’s death" based on the novel by I. S. Turgenev requires an understanding of what values the protagonist now considers true.
The most important thing for him now is his parents, their love for him, as well as his feeling for Odintsova. He wants to say goodbye to her, and Anna, not afraid to get infected, comes to Eugene. With her, Bazarov shares his innermost thoughts. He comes to the understanding that Russia is not needed at all, it needs those who carry out routine work every day.
It is harder for Bazarov to come to terms with his death than any other person, because he is an atheist and does not believe in life after death.
Turgenev ends his novel with the death of Bazarov. The principles by which the hero lived are destroyed. Bazarov did not have more powerful, new ideals. Turgenev notes that the protagonist was ruined by a deep commitment to nihilism, which forced him to abandon the universal values that allow him to live in this world.