ury [for nihilism] . . . . Youre a decent chap, but after all youre a softy (194). Bazarov leaves his happy, romantic friend, and returns to his parents house. Nihilism finally appears to have stolen Bazarovs confidence and conviction, and hebecomes increasingly unhappy. Bazarovs energy petered out, to be followed by drearyboredom and a vague restlessness (198). Bazarovs inner war of emotion versus the coldlogic of nihilism grows to such an extent that it begins to affect him physically. Therewas a strange lassitude in all his movements, and even his gait, usually firm andimpetuously confident, underwent a change (198). Although Bazarov still consciouslysupports nihilism, his starving soul requires attention and love. Bazarov no longer tookhis solitary walks and began to seek company (198). But, before Bazarov has a chanceto choose a more normal existence, he dies of blood poisoning.The life of the nihilist so stifles and stresses that it cannot be sustained, at least notfor long. I suspect if Bazarov had not died of blood poisoning, he would have had otherserious emotional and physical problems, unless he successfully abandoned his unnaturaland strenuous philosophy. The book concludes on a more human note. Bazarovs parents weep over hisgrave. Can it be that their prayers and their tears are fruitless? Can it be that love,sacred love, is not all powerful? Nay! However passionate, however sinning andrebellious the heart that lies buried in the grave, the flowers that grow on it gaze at youserenely with their innocent eyes. It is not of eternal peace alone they speak to us, of thatgreat peace of impassive nature; they speak to us, too, of eternal reconciliation and thelife everlasting . . . . (217). Even if repressed, the human soul will eventually manage toburst free, even if it must wait until death. Bazarovs cold, dead body represents hisattitudes in life, which rot in the soil. But his heart and soul are nourished for...
