What Are Our Beliefs - Essay Example

Since time immemorial, most of our beliefs, if not all, are generally acquired principles. In other words, people draw out their beliefs and perception about the world from things that they have acquired from their parents, friends, and teachers or from the people they have encountered in the past. Customarily, it resulted into the formation of a nearly pre-determined characteristic of a person from childhood to dotage. The story contained in the novel Fathers and Children illustrates how “nihilism” brings out another ground of comprehension and interpretation about the world which, accordingly, should not solely be in accordance with faith and customary beliefs but, likewise, must be proven by science. Each character in the story has shown a unique brand of contribution that has well-blended the entire novel. Defying the norms of philosophical side of a person has been aided by the predicating idea about nihilism. Fathers and Sons is a whole new act of silenced revolution against various political dilemmas that blighted Russia in the past. This particular study shall be focused on Yevgeny Vassilyich Bazarov, a character in the story who presented strong defiance and negations against presumably futile facets of human life. Such things he tried to flout are those relating to abstractive features of life like love, attraction and hatred which presented haziness. [Student’s Last Name] 2 Albeit, Bazarov was very arrogant and stubborn on his beliefs, he has presented an inspirational significance to the motive of the story. We have initially caught a glimpse of him owing to Arkady’s eyes. Further, we shortly realized that Arkady is among his followers. When the two of them parted and lived their own separate lives, we commence to notice the objectivity of Bazarov. He possesses the qualities of a frontrunner. He holds an authoritative disposition as well as a gist of prominence. The essence of his imposing personality resonated through his unassailable statements just like when he establishes his points on some philosophical views, he said to Pavel “In these days the most useful thing we can do is to repudiate – and so we repudiate” (Quoted from Fathers and Children, Ch.10). Regardless of whether Bazarov appeals to be someone loathsome or endearing, he retains a definite allure that is conspicuous and indisputable. Bazarov holds an extreme self-assurance and poise that as Pavel describes it, he is “an almost Satanic pride”, albeit, for the youthful who constantly rushes and scrabbles in search for their life’s essence, he is pleasing (Quoted from Fathers and Children, Ch. 10). Bazarov’s penetrating work tenet is fuelled by his self-confidence as he asserts that any young man who lacks belief relies on himself. He manifested a strong desire of proving everything. When he was in Marino, he was busy experimenting on things that he finds interesting. Moreover, there is a secondary and a rather perilous key regarding what sits at the derivations of Bazarov's influences. As soon as Arkady ceased from endorsing Bazarov to Anna Sergeyevna, she requested him to take Bazarov to her hotel. Bazarov's influence extended on Anna's perception about him as Anna stated "I am very curious to meet a man who has the [Student’s Last Name] 3 courage not to believe in anything" (Quoted from Friends and Children, Ch. 14). Joined with his self-assurance and sureness, it is Bazarov's illogical resolve to have confidence in something that drags people toward him. It is the defiant blaze of it, the valour that Anna specified. Within a world where people are drifted through societal opinions and perceptions via trusting in something that filled up their gullets, he was willing enough to live his life carrying no belief at all; to encounter emptiness. It is indeed a certainty; Bazarov would be incomplete if he differs to embrace meekness before his death. This part of him retells us of what we understood at all times. It is an undisputed fact that he has a talent and he desires to do great things in his lifetime. As we look back during the time before he got sick, Bazarov ponders, "And yet there was a time when I, too, thought of all the things that I would do, and never die, why should I" (Quoted from Fathers and Children, Ch. 27). He does have a midpoint of seriousness. Albeit he manifested a slight dread about death, it essentially fashions him to realize his own inconsequentiality. Still, finally, it is his impenitent and unyielding character that makes him a gripping sort. He epitomizes the boldness of the young, the personification of young delusion that we will never taste death. Relevant Themes Pride Nihilism is a philosophical doctrine of the egotistical. It is impossible abandon all your beliefs without having a definite extent of sureness. In Fathers and Children, Bazarov is a [Student’s Last Name] 4 perfect epitome of a person who embraces nihilism because he is illogical and futile on his belief. For so long as the philosophies of the young cohort, the one that will seize Pave’s awareness would be Bazarov’s pride. As Bazarov uttered, “An archaic survival! But your father's nice. He wastes his time reading poetry, and knows precious little about farming, but his heart's in the right place” (Quoted from Fathers and Children, Ch.4). Love Bazarov does not have faith in love. He does not believe it. Initially, he teases Arkady’s uncle, Pavel, because of surrendering after a failed unsuccessful love affair. Ironically, Bazarov was stuck with an attraction towards a woman who does not love him. As what is being narrated at the final stretch of the novel, love is the utmost repudiation of nihilism. The world is filled with things that are beyond explanation. Not all can be elucidated by science. Bazarov was a perfect example of a nihilist person. He does not easily believe in things that are obscure and hanging. He influences the people he encounters by predicating his ideas that the truth should come as a result of experimentation and theoretical analysis. Nevertheless, his domineering and authoritative behaviour rested within his own perception of the world. It should not transcend, however, beyond what others believe. In the last portions of the novel, Bazarov slowly, though, indirectly admitted his thoughts toward love. Though initially, he was sceptical and different about some of the world’s encompassing philosophies, he made a great exit by transitioning from a pure nihilist into a rather open-minded person. Reference: Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich. Fathers and Children. Trans. Michael R. Katz. New York: Norton 2009 Read More