Mahima Singh

3rd English, Section- B

Paper: 19th Century European Realism
Date: 20th March 2016

Position of Women in Russian Society, as reflected in the novel.

(Fathers and Sons: Ivan Turgenev)

Ivan Turgenevs Fathers and Sons deals with the nihilistic philosophy and personal and social
rebellion. Set during the six-year period of social ferment, from Russias defeat in Crimean War
to the Emancipation of the Serfs, the novel examines the conflict between the older generationreluctant to accept reforms and the idealistic youth. The plot revolves around the central
character- Bazarov who believes in the idea of Nihilism.
Russian literature consists pre-dominantly of male authored Russian novels where female
characters have been produced but they are always portrayed as minor characters and tend to
function as a focus for male desires, fears, or anxieties. In most cases female representation in
the literature is based upon the stereotypical images of either being wicked or completely nave
and innocent. However, in Turgenevs novel Fathers and Sons, women characters have as much
plot development as their male counterparts do. Turgenevs representation of a powerful female
character like Odintsova with her intellectual concern with the latest thinking in science, politics
and arts is indeed remarkable especially when contrasted with the English realist novels of the

period where such a character was unimaginable. Even Katya, who in many ways represents
values opposing to that of her sister, is quite capable of discussing the merits of Heines writings
with Arkady. This portrayal of women engaged in the intellectual debate of their time is one of
the positive achievements of Turgenevs representation. In contrast to Nikolai Petrovich,
Odintsova is shown to be highly efficient in managing a large estate and in ordering the daily life
of the household so that it seems to glide along rails in a manner that so irritates Bazarov even
though he enjoys the ease he is provided with at the residence.
Turgenev, in his novel, also considers writing about sexual relationships of his characters, and
about their sexual feelings, attitudes and experiences. In Fathers and Sons, Turgenev also
represents a woman who is sexually mature, has already been married, and who is not innocently
youthful, is considered interesting enough to be the heroine of the work unlike in many novels
written during the time where marriage marks the end of the heroines story and where any
evidence of active sexuality in a female character unsanctioned by a firm attachment to the man
she is destined to marry carries ominous moral implications. Here, Odintsova is permitted even
to go on to a second marriage, which promises her the possibility of happiness and even love in
spite of the freedom and sexual assertiveness with which she conducts herself in her relationship
with Bazarov. Turgenev seems to be concerned to represent his main female character as an
interesting identity in her own right. What is also notable is Fenichkas marriage with Nikolai in
the end and the efficiency with which she takes up the responsibility of the house is another
positive towards the acknowledgement of the reality of inter-class marriage and relations.
Women in Turgenevs novels invariably fall into one of the three recurrent types: their physical
beauty or lack of it. The first two polarized types are beautiful in very different ways: there is the
pure young heroine just emerging from youthful awkwardness into shy sexual awareness and the

old femme fatale who seems to attract men by her mature sexuality but is not herself passionate,
indeed is often coldly incapable of love. The third type is the unattractive or ugly woman who is
presented as ridiculous especially if she tries to attract men. Clearly, many of the aspects of the
characterization of Odintsova conforms to the femme fatale type. Her asking Arkady to bring
Bazarov to visit her gives the impression that she deliberately sets out to attract him. During the
time Bazarov stays at her place, we find her constantly trying to provoke his interest and actively
encouraging him to reveal his emotions and feelings. She seeks Bazarov from motives of
curiosity and boredom rather than desire, as he recognizes that he tells her she is probably
incapable of love. Though Bazarovs death is due to the typhus infection almost self-inflicted but
he was emotionally destroyed by Odintsova who had fatally destroyed the force of life in
Bazarov. He leaves her house having not slept or eaten for several days, his lean profile almost
like dead mans head.
Katya is represented as a young woman stereotype who is given to blushing and tears as
indicative of her spontaneous emotional responsiveness. She is apparently demure and quiet, but
reveals intuitive wisdom and insight: Katya understand Bazarovs nature from the beginning.
Contratry to her sister, Katya functions in the text as an image of new life, freshness and
innocence. She adores nature and is given to arranging flowers. Turgenevs association of this
type of woman with life is even more obvious in his representation of Fenichka with her baby.
The two women are described in very similar terms and it is natural that Fenichka comes to love
Katya next to her husband and child.
The representation of women in Turgenevs Fathers and Sons can only be fully understood if it is
seen as vigorously involved in these passionate issues. The representation of the liberated
woman, Yevdoxia Kukshina, can be contrasted with the representation of Bazarovs mother or

Nikolai Kirsanovs wife, the women ideals of the older generation. Kukshina is clearly meant to
the representative of the radicalism of the 1850s to1860s- the progressive, educated and
advanced women. On the other hand, Arina Vlassyevna- Bazarovs mother is constructed as
Kukshinas opposite in almost every detail. She is represented as superstitiously religious and
spontaneously emotional. She has never read a book and although married against her will, has
devoted her life to her husbands well-being allowing him the complete management of her
estate. She worships her son finding her entire identity and fulfillment in this maternal role:
Such ladies are already few and far between. God knows whether one should be glad of that
fact.
Thus in conclusion it can be said that that undoubtedly Turgenevs representation of his women
characters exerts, to quote Pam Morris, an immensely powerful effect on the readers
imagination, often far more than that of the male characters but however, in the words of Walter
Smyrniws Turgenevs creative vision..continued to regard emancipated women as both a
fascinating and an enigmatic phenomenon.
Marks Awarded:-4.0/10
https://survivingbaenglish.wordpress.com/women-in-turgenevs-fathers-and-sons/