Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons Summary | Chapters 1, 2 and 3 Summary

Fathers and Sons is the age-old story of generations torn between the new people who want to eradicate the past in order to build anew and the older generation who wish only to preserve the past memories. The protagonist is a young doctor named Bazarov who is firmly entrenched in Russia's emerging nihilism movement in the mid 1850's.

As the novel begins Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov awaits the arrival of his son, Arkady, at the local posting station in May 1859. Arkady is returning home to his small Russian village having just graduated from the university. Nikolai is a man about forty years of age who owns property twelve miles south of the posting station where people meet travelers arriving and departing by horse and carriage.

Nikolai comes from a privileged background, his father having served as an army general in the war of 1812. His mother is quite the opposite, a refined woman who reveled in the finer things of life and maintains a respectable distance from her children, Nikolai and Pavel.

Nikolai had been home schooled until the age of fourteen when he was sent away to school and graduated from the same university from which his son Arkady has just graduated. Nikolai also returned home to the family farm and married a girl named Prepolovensky soon after the death of both his parents. Nikolai and Prepolovensky became the proud parents of Arkady, living happily on the farm until Prepolovensky's untimely death ten years into the marriage.

Nikololai's grief is immense, his hair is turning completely gray at once and he leads a solitary life, emerging only to take Arkady to the university in Petersburg. Now this man of forty years, who looks much older, stands and waits to welcome his returning son. Nikolai's servant, Piotr, keeps watch for the approaching carriage. Nikolai's thoughts are consumed with his precious wife and son until his reverie is interrupted by Piotr's call that the carriage is near.

Nikolai rushes to embrace Arkady who is overwhelmed by his father's response. Arkady has brought a friend, also a university graduate, named Bazarov who has come for a visit at Nikolai's farm. Bazarov's cool demeanor puts Nikolai slightly ill at ease, but the old man welcomes his son's friend warmly.

Soon Nikolai's carriage is loaded with the bags and passengers as it begins the twelve-mile journey to the farm. Father and son are seated together and have the opportunity to speak privately for a little while. Times have been hard in Russia, and Nikolai has not prospered as he used to, having divided his farm among the peasants who now refuse to pay their rent. The farm which is named Maryino has been nicknamed Poverty Farm by the peasants who find it extremely difficult to make a living here.

Nikolai has one more news item to share: the young girl named Fenitchka is living with Nikolai. Nikolai makes no excuses for the improper arrangement telling Arkady that severe moralists would frown on the arrangement but it can't be concealed. Nikolai is not too concerned with Arkady's reaction because the father has always had unusual ideas about the relationship between fathers and sons.

Nikolai offers to install Fenitchka in another bedroom for the sake of appearances given Bazarov's presence, but Arkady assures Nikolai that the move is not necessary. Arkady changes the subject and comments on the beautiful meadows and fresh air that remind him of his youth.