THE REFLECTION OF THE CONCEPT OF NIHILISM IN IVAN TURGENEV’S NOVEL “FATHERS AND SONS”

Abstract

This article examines the concept of nihilism in the novel “Fathers and Sons” by the classic Russian author Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, exploring its socio-philosophical, historical, and literary-critical roots. Through the character of the protagonist, Yevgeny Bazarov, the study provides a theoretical analysis of the worldview held by the younger generation in the 1860s – specifically their rejection of traditional values – and demonstrates how this ideology ultimately faces a crisis when confronted with the realities of life. Furthermore, the article discusses Turgenev’s perspective on nihilism and the enduring existential significance of the work today.