In his work “Fathers and Sons,” I.S. Turgenev showed, for the most part, not a generational conflict, but the opposition of liberals and democrats. Each of these movements sought to improve society. Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose debate runs through the whole novel, personify these two areas. The author very clearly displays the confrontation of representatives of two different cultures.
The author of the novel "Fathers and Sons"
Turgenev himself about the novel "Fathers and Sons" says that he is directed against representatives of the nobility, the aristocracy.
Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose debate unfolds on the pages of the work, are characters with different views from each other. These are people of different backgrounds.
The main reason for the confrontation between the two heroes is the complete opposite of judgments on all vital issues: moral, political, spiritual.
Artistic means used by the author
In order to emphasize the opposition of his heroes, the author uses techniques that show their perfect difference from each other. He achieves this by describing the appearance of the characters, the manner of dressing, and behavior. We can easily imagine Bazarov: impetuous, sharp, fast, rude, with red hands, dressed in a hoodie. He always says what he thinks.
Pavel Petrovich, on the contrary, is graceful, slender, and a "thoroughbred." Kirsanov's gestures are full of nobility, speech is literate and figurative. His hands are beautiful, with pink nails.
With a single description of the appearance and manner of behavior, the writer prepares us for the fact that the disputes of Bazarov and Pavel Kirsanov will certainly take place.
The attitude of heroes to the aristocracy
So, the attitude of two heroes to different moments of life is fundamentally different from each other.
Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose disputes form an essential part of the novel, certainly have a different attitude to the nobility.
Pavel Petrovich defines aristocracy as the main force contributing to the development of society. Kirsanov chooses liberal reforms as actions that contribute to the transformation of life.
Evgeni Bazarov sees the inability of the aristocracy to be active. In his eyes, nobles cannot bring any benefit to social development.
Disputes of heroes about nihilism
The dispute between Bazarov and Kirsanov, of course, touches on the topic of nihilism. Heroes differently see his role in society. For Pavel Petrovich, nihilists are unprincipled cheeks and cynics who do not respect social norms and values. Bazarov is a true nihilist. For him, only what is beneficial is important; he considers revolutionary changes necessary. There are no principles for Eugene.
Disputes about common people
Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose debate permeates the whole novel, perceive the position of the people in society differently.
Pavel Petrovich, who does not imagine how a simple peasant lives, is touched by his patriarchal nature. Bazarov finds the people ignorant, poorly informed about their own rights. For Kirsanov, the life of the peasants, proceeding in the same order as was established by their distant ancestors, is completely natural and correct. Bazarov sees the darkness and ignorance of the common people.
Such a different opinion about the life of peasants among the heroes was not without reason. Eugene by origin is a commoner, a hard worker, he understands the common people well. Pavel Petrovich - a native of a noble family, completely far from peasant life. Bazarov defines the popular faith that Kirsanov so admires as superstition.
The inability of the characters to find a compromise, constant contradictions led to a duel between them.
Disputes about art and nature
Bazarov and Kirsanov, disputes of which do not bypass even art, determine its place in human life in different ways. Bazarov does not see the point in reading fiction, nature for him is a resource. Kirsanov, on the contrary, appreciates art, perceives nature as its peculiar component.
The origin of the disputes of Bazarov and Kirsanov
Bazarov and Kirsanov, whose disputes are an integral part of the immortal work of Turgenev, have a certain nature. Eugene considers Pavel Petrovich a worthless person leading a useless life. Kirsanov’s ambition was hurt by this attitude, because he always considered himself a noble, active person. For this, Pavel Petrovich hates Bazarov. Most likely, it is thanks to this strong feeling that the characters argue throughout the work. It is the awareness of the meaninglessness of one’s own existence that makes Kirsanov enter into dialogue with Eugene.
Disputes between Bazarov and Kirsanov were conducted on a variety of issues, they related to education, and public debt, and religion. Bazarov is an opponent of obsolete foundations and culture. He stands for the destruction of former ideals, for active revolutionary action. Kirsanov adheres to the long-established "principles".
These two heroes are completely opposite to each other. When defending their ideas, they go to extremes.
Bazarov and Kirsanov argue, but forget about the truth, which can be revealed if you listen to your opponent at least a little. The meaning of the argument for them is in the argument itself. It is symbolic that Bazarov, the personification of materialism, dies at the end of the novel. Kirsanov during his illness revises his own views on life.