Essay Father and Son - 984 Words

Father and Son Just whom is Edmund Gosse’s Father and Son written for? Is it for the Father, or for the Son, or, as Edmund Gosse tells us, for the public, so they can have a record of life in a rigidly religious family? Edmund begins his book by telling you that it is a historical record, an important chronicle that is to be used, basically as a reference for a period of time. Yet, in the first sentence of the first chapter, we can see that this is truly not his purpose. The first words on the page does not reference a historical event; they are, instead, cathartic. Edmund tries very hard to convince his reader that â€Å"this is not an autobiography† (217). Try as he might, he did not persuade me. I will grant that for Edmund†¦show more content†¦This is not the only narcissistic angle of the book. Even when reiterating episodes in the life of the Gosse’s he does it in reference to himself. If this were to chronicle â€Å"two temperaments, two consciences....two epochs † there would be more than one perspective. Do we once hear of Philip Gosse’s reactions or feelings about his wife dying? We do not, we merely get the reactions of what he does from his son. Do we know what he thought those nights alone without his wife? No, we do not. Edmund did not take the time to find out. He even apologizes when he said, â€Å"Had I been older and more intelligent, of course, it might have been him, and not of myself that I should have been thinking.† Yet, still thinking of himself, he states, â€Å"This is not to be dwelt on here.† Of course it isn’t Edmund, it is an autobiography, it is about you. Edmund, we know would argue that. He tries to take the spotlight off of himself. Being the type of person that he is, the always goes back to talking about himself. In the last numerical chapter of the book, Edmund tells of an apocalyptic event, a noteworthy action worthy of ending a book on...his transcendence into heaven. His epiphany is quickly grounded by reality. Nothing happens. His ego is shattered. HIS ego, Edmund’s ego. This catalytic event puts an emotional and spiritual division between father and son that puts â€Å"the thick o’ the world† between them. Although in the Epilogue Edmund is apologeticShow MoreRelatedFathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev1029 Words   |  4 PagesNihilism is the belief that any traditional values, morals, or ideas are unfounded, denying any objective idea of truth, especially moral truths. We see this concept used in the novel Fathers and Sons, by Ivan Turgenev. Turgenev uses the recurring idea of Nihilism to illustra te the development of characters and their change in attitude as the book progresses. He emphasizes character analysis, as well as comparing emotional aspects by using minor characters to alter major characters and their emotionsRead MoreThe Generational Conflict Of Fathers And Sons1382 Words   |  6 PagesYevgeny Bazarov, the main character in Ivan Turgenev’s novel, Fathers and Sons is fascinatingly complex—full of passion and contradictions. Rude and unsympathetic to everyone, including his loving parents, members of his own generation nonetheless respect him greatly for his ideals and intellectual acumen. The generational conflict that is the basis for the novel is most exemplified by Bazarov’s confrontations with Pavel Petrovich, his friend Arkady’s uncle. When viewed as social criticism of theseRead MoreEssay on Ivan Turgenevs Fathers and Sons1000 Words   |  4 Pagescentury. In his pieces, Turgenev shows deep concern for the tangible problems o f Russia at that particular time, such as the evolution of peasants and intellectuals, the women question and the hierarchy of Russian population. In his masterpiece Fathers and Sons, Turgenev emphasizes the enormous difference between subsequent generations by describing their distinctive philosophical views and life ideologies. The protagonists of the novel, Arkady and Bazarov, are two graduates who return to their homesRead MoreEssay on Nihilism in Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons1682 Words   |  7 PagesNihilism in Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons has several characters that hold strong views of the world. For example, Pavel believes that Russia needs structure from such things as institution, religion, and class hierarchy. On the other hand, Madame Odintzov views the world as simple so long as she keeps it systematic and free from interference. This commentary will focus on perhaps the most interesting and complex character in Fathers and Sons: Bazarov. Vladimir Nabakov writes that TurgenevRead MoreBook Review : Father And Sons By Ivan Turgenev859 Words   |  4 PagesBazarov v. Pavel Father and Sons by Ivan Turgenev is about two young men returning home from college. In the beginning readers are introduced to Arkady a young man whom on his journey home to his father has brought his friend, Bazarov. From the first meeting Arkady’s family is a little suspicious of Bazarov and have many questions for him and about him. Conversation did not start between the men until the next morning at breakfast. Nikolai (Arkadys father) had a few things to say but the real debateRead More Crime and Punishment, Fathers and Sons, We Essay1555 Words   |  7 Pagespoverty stricken young man who discovers a revolutionary theory of the mind of a criminal. Despite his psychological insight, Raskolnikov is alienated from society, and eventually forced to test his theory upon himself. Ivan Turgenev’s Bazarov, in Fathers and Sons (1862), pioneers the anarchistic philosophy of nihilism, depending entirely on science and reason, but ends up falling passionately in love and the n cast out, through death, from the rigidity of thought he held so dear. D-503, the main characterRead More`` Fathers And Sons `` : A Psychological Standpoint, The Primary Reason For Order933 Words   |  4 Pagescollective goods, and such. Freud raises the decentering idea that â€Å"cultural endeavors and the means it employs†¦(are) not worth the trouble†¦(for) the individual will be unable to tolerate (the outcome)†. This pessimistic view is apparent in the novel, Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev and the short stories, The Chicken and The Dinner, from the short story collection namely Family Ties by Clarice Lispector through philosophical discrepancies, societal expectations and patterns in social behavior. With theRead MoreIn the 19th century novel Fathers and Sons, author Ivan Turgenev compliments the theme of the1300 Words   |  6 PagesIn the 19th century novel Fathers and Sons, author Ivan Turgenev compliments the theme of the generation gap by portraying two divergent paradigms of nihilism and the author’s personal ideology, romanticism. Yevgeny Bazarov’s is used as a representative of nihilism thus epitomizing one side of the spectrum; meanwhile Nikolai Kirsanov serves as a token for romanticism. Both characters experience key tests through character interaction in the novel and thus strive to test their own perspective. ThroughRead MoreFather Son And The Father1353 Words   |  6 Pagesfather son relationship by making the son superior to the father. The chaos of this power dynamic is exemplified when Stevens is asked to restrict his father’s duties around the house, due to his decreasing health. Stevens enters his father’s chambers to deliver the message and recalls dictating The fact is, Father has become increasingly infirm. So much so that even the duties of an under-butler are now beyond his capabilities. His lordship is of the view, as indeed I am myself, that while FatherRead MoreFather and son947 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Father and Son -Bernard Maclaverty â€Å"Father and Son† is a short story which is set in a time of war and ends in the death of one of the main characters. Bernard Maclaverty transfers real life problems in the story. The main theme of the story is father trying to communicate with his son but cannot do so. Due to the techniques used by the writer we get an idea that the end of the story is going to be tragic