Fathers And Sons

Nikolskoe is an orderly house, where “everything was clean and sweet smelling, just like in a minister’s reception room” (65). Bazarov comments on the “grand style” with which Anna has “pampered herself” (65). Though Bazarov immediately sees their relatively inferior social positions, particularly his status as the grandson of a sexton, he compares himself to Speransky, one of Tsar Alexander I’s liberal advisors who also had humble origins, showing Bazarov’s high opinion of himself.

In the drawing room, Anna introduces her younger sister Katya, who is “green and fresh […] constantly blushing and hastily catching her breath” (66). Anna invites Bazarov to argue with her, commenting that his lack of interest in art would make it hard for him to “understand people” (67). Bazarov rejects the idea that individuals are worth understanding: “all people resemble each other, in soul as in body” (67), which means differences of character are like the distinctions between healthy bodies and ill ones. A well-organized society makes who is good or evil irrelevant.

The young men meet the bad tempered aunt enters, who is treated deferentially, but generally ignored. Anna suggests Katya play the piano for Arkady, which causes him to feel rejected and stirs his growing passion for Anna. Katya plays Mozart while Arkady thinks of Anna and ignores Katya, who is merely competent at the piano and pleasant to look at. Katya is shy—not of him, but of her older sister.

At night, Bazarov admits that the elder Anna is “splendid” but he is more intrigued by Katya’s youth, which he says could easily be molded.

Meanwhile, Anna is restless—“nothing completely satisfied her; she scarcely desired complete satisfaction” (70). Her wealth has kept her from finding anything in life to be passionate about, and she has too many distractions to seriously contemplate profound social problems or existential questions. She loves luxury, like her father did—another way that she is insulated from worldly problems.

Arkady spends the next day quietly with Katya, while Anna goes on a botany excursion with Bazarov. When they return, “Her cheeks were red, her eyes shining brighter than usual under her round straw hat” (72), and Bazarov, too, appears changed by the encounter: “cheerful and even affectionate” (72). Arkady is jealous, but Anna and Bazarov mostly ignore him. Bazarov even absent-mindedly greets him for the second time, contrary to Russian custom.

Arkady and Bazarov spend two weeks at Nikolskoe. Bazarov complains about Anna’s strict schedule—breakfast, regular meals, social hour, and an early bedtime. He also dislikes that her servants are in formal dress, as it offends his “democratic sentiments” (72). Anna placidly agrees that she lives like an aristocrat, but does not change her habits. The narrator wryly adds that this formality is what allows Bazarov to enjoy his time there.

Arkady and Bazarov enjoy themselves but their emotions are tempestuous: Bazarov is “anxious and irritable” and Arkady feels “quiet despondency” knowing his passion for Anna is not reciprocated (73). He and Katya become friends, and he feels much more himself with her than with Anna. Like Arkady, Katya loves nature, while Anna shares Bazarov’s indifference. Arkady and Bazarov grow distant. Bazarov’s distance is caused by his romantic feelings for Anna, was something he had before considered “unforgivable stupidity” (74). To his horror, even when he realizes that can’t seduce her, he still has feelings for her.

Bazarov’s family steward visits to tell him his parents miss him, so he resolves to leave Nikolskoe. This upsets Anna profoundly, though when she asks him persistently why he must leave, Bazarov demurs that she can study chemistry without him and points out that she can return to her orderly life. He then claims he cannot understand her, and wonders why someone “with your intellect and beauty” shuns society (75). Tension and intimacy grow during their argument when Anna exclaims that she wants to live life and admits that she wants love and romance. Bazarov is tortured by the idea that Anna is just toying with him. He wishes she knew “how to surrender,” but this is only possible for those who do not regard themselves highly (79). He leaves the room, after urgently pressing her hand with his own. Lost in thought, she considers calling him back.

That night she lies awake for hours. Bazarov also goes to bed late, telling Arkady briefly that he was with Anna for a long time. Arkady ends the conversation abruptly, not to cry in front of his “sarcastic friend” (80).