rvous system to the point of irritation… well, that upsets their balance.” (Turgenev: 24) This statement repined Bazarov’s opinion of the “men of the forties” and their ideologies. In Bazarovs mind, the former generation immersed themselves in art and philosophy to ease their discontent with Russian authority and backwardness. In the eyes of the intellegensia this was cowardice and proved a lack of intellectual prowess. These differences between nihilists and romantics appear throughout the novel and are represented by both the disapproval of the Romantic ideology by the nihilists and vice versa. For example, Paul Petrovich describes a nihilist as “a man who respects nothing.” (Turgenev: 29) The older generation believes in the necessities of the rule of law and the conventions of behavior, for them this is an unchallengable fact and the only viable alternative. Bazarov reinforces Nicholas’ Romantic emphasis on the arts by criticizing him for playing Schubert’s “Expectation,” a piece of classical music. “Good Lord! At forty-four, a pater familias, in the province of X, playing the ‘cello!”’ (Turgenev: 50) While in the same conversation Bazarov, commented that “nature isn’t a temple, but a workshop, and man is the craftsman.” (Turgenev: 49) This statement of nature shows his rejection of Romantic ideals and his tendency toward practical and scientific views.Basarov also insults the Romantic ideals when he observes Nicholas reading Pushkin.Basarov suggests that “he is no youth, it is time he gave up such nonsense. Where is the sense of being a romantic nowadays! Give him something more practical to read.” (Turgenev: 51) Again Bazarov criticized romantic ideals, which he finds useless and detrimental to the reformation of Russia’s society. Furthermore, the young nihilists provide Nicholas with a book by Bu...
