Turgenev and NihilismNihilism comes from the Latin “nihil,” meaning nothing. Its definitions includethe “rejection of all distinctions in moral value, constituting a willingness to refute allprevious theories of morality,” and “a doctrine among the Russian intelligentsia of the1860s and 1870s, denying all authority in favor of individualism” (The AmericanHeritage Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1973).Turgenev introduces Bazarov as a nihilist and mentor to his young friend, Arkady.Thoroughly immersed in nihilism, Bazarov appears emotionally cold. He rejects naturalfeelings and inclinations such as fear, love, and affection. Anything connected withemotion–art, literature, poetry, music– Bazarov views as unnecessary. Instead, heembraces the cold logic and reasoning of the mind. Bazarov coaches his young student,Arkady, in the aspects and subtitles of nihilism. Arkady, however, sometimes lapses into“romanticism” and allows his emotions to lead him, for which Bazarov sharply rebukeshim.Turgenev juxtaposes Bazarov and Arkady to illustrate the tension betweennihilism and romanticism, logic and emotion. As Arkady blooms into a well-adjustedman, Bazarov becomes increasingly bottled up and unhappy. Nihilism’s characteristic ofemotional repression runs counter to the natural inclinations of the human soul. For mostof the book, Turgenev reveals the “rules” and intricacies of nihilism, and their effects onArkady and Bazarov, allowing the reader to form an unbiased opinion. Not until the enddoes Turgenev expose his opinion of nihilism.Nihilists “believe in whatever is useful” (53), explains Bazarov. Art, poetry,nature, and music are sentimental constructions of the romanti…
…arov’s 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. Bazarov’s cold, dead body represents hisattitudes in life, which rot in the soil. But his heart and soul are nourished for the firsttime. Bazarov’s unspoken love, affection, and caring blossom. His soul, like every soul,will live forever.
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