Fathers and Sons

¶ … father well enough," Arkady was saying. "Your father is a good fellow," said Bazarov, "but his day is over; his song has been sung to extinction." Nikolai Petrovich listened intently…Arkady made no reply. Then he proceeded to stop the conversation by employing a sober appearance and looking Bazarov directly in the eyes.

"I believe that you have the tendency to criticize whoever has a different thinking for you, is this right? I've seen how you constantly emphasize the fact that you feel different from most people you interact with, especially when considering individuals in the countryside, as you appear to perceive us." "You don't understand, father," Arkady said, "Bazarov is not criticizing your choices, he simply feels that you did not have access to sufficient information in order to have a more general understanding of the world." "Oh, but I feel that one can see the bigger picture without actually living in urban communities and without reading a particular type of books," said Nikolai Petrovich, "as it is enough for the individual to have gone through complex experiences -- experiences that shape who he is and that make it possible for him to connect with society to a greater degree.

I personally believe that a person can be illiterate and still know more than someone who is familiarized with most contemporary writers. You might see me as an outdated person and as someone who has lost touch with what is happening in universities and large cities. However, I believe that as long as I have a good understanding of reality I have the right to have my own version of the truth.

You see, reality is in many cases what you want it to be rather than what other people often attempt to influence you to believe." Bazarov initially seemed to take a long break between interfering and providing a response but it is only consequent to Nikolai Petrovich's speech that he is ready to speak.

"I… I never said that you didn't know what reality was, as I simply believe that you not having a mindset that is in accordance with the contemporary society makes it difficult for us to understand each-other. I do, however, believe that your thinking is somewhat limited by the fact that you are not familiarized with ideas expressed by some of today's best writers." Arkady intervenes: "Now that I've heard to both of your cases I must say that I am perplexed.

I was at first inclined to support your point-of-view while feeling empathy for my father's attempt to connect with us in a philosophical way Bazarov. But now that I think about it I believe that you're both right in your own way. However, the fact that you are obsessed with your personal point-of-view makes it difficult for you to accept each-other's logic.

I don't know whether it is because I lived here for so many years that I understand you, father, and I don't know whether is it because we read the same books that I understand you, Bazarov, but the fact of the matter is that I perfectly understand both of your thinking styles and I believe that you should both try to look at matters from my point-of-view.

I'm not saying that you have to think similar to each-other, as I'm just saying that you need to understand each-other's type of thinking and thus refrain from getting involved in a contradiction that is basically pointless.".