Fathers and Sons. Ivan Turgenev
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to hide his confusion)
Perhaps—she is embarrassed.
Arkady
She has no reason to be embarrassed. You know my views. If you have chosen her to live with you—she must be worthy of it.
Nicolai (profoundly moved)
Thanks, Arkasha. Of course, it’s not some—some caprice, or a cheap affair. It’s not easy for me to talk to you about this. But, you understand it’s difficult for her—especially the first day—of your return.
Arkady (rising)
In that case I will go to her. I will fix everything.
Nicolai (completely disconcerted)
But, Arkady—you can’t. I haven’t told you yet— My God—
(But Arkady has gone)
Pavel
He doesn’t know about the child?
Nicolai
Whatever will happen?
Bazarov
Trust Arkady to do the right thing.
(Bazarov has been eating unconcernedly throughout this conversation)
Nicolai
Oh, of course. I’m sorry, Mr. Bazarov, to expose you to such—intimate family scenes.
Bazarov
Think nothing of it.
Pavel (guarded but polite)
I have been trying to remember where I heard your name before. Was your father a military surgeon, Mr. Bazarov?
Bazarov
My father and my grandfather were in the horse guards.
Pavel
Ah, I remember your grandfather, he died a hero’s death at Sebastopol.
Bazarov
He died like a fool, in a foolish war.
Pavel
That is a rather harsh way to speak of one’s grandfather.
Bazarov
As he is my grandfather, I feel I have the right to take that liberty. My grandfather was a romantic. So, for that matter, is my father.
Pavel
You seem to have little respect for received opinions.
Bazarov
That is true. I am a nihilist.
Pavel
Eh?
Bazarov
A nihilist.
Nicolai (nonchalantly munching)
A nihilist, that from the Latin—nihil—nothing. The word must mean a man who accepts nothing—
Pavel
Who respects nothing—
Bazarov
Who regards everything from a critical point of view.
Pavel
Isn’t that just the same?
Bazarov
No,—a nihilist is a man who does not bow down before any authority regardless of what reverence attaches to it.
Pavel
A sort of revolutionary par excellence, eh?
(Bazarov nods and munches)
Pavel
Indeed. Well, it’s not in our line. We are old-fashioned folk. We think that without principles, taken as you say on faith, there’s no taking a step, no breathing. Vous avez change tout cela.
Bazarov (munching)
Reverence and principles don’t feed people.
Pavel
What was it?
Bazarov
Nihilist.
Pavel
Yes. There used to be Hegelians, now there are nihilists. We shall see how you will exist in a void, in a vacuum.
(Arkady returns)
Arkady
We have made friends, Dad! Fedosya Nikolaevna is not quite well today, really. But she will come a little later. But, why didn’t you tell me I had a brother?
(Nicolai waves his hand helplessly, Arkady embraces his father)
Nicolai
You must excuse me.
(He exits to the house)
Pavel
Is your special study physics, Mr. Bazarov?
Bazarov
Physics and natural science.
Pavel (ironically)
They say the Teutons have made great progress in that line.
Bazarov
Yes, the Germans are our teachers in it. Their scientists are a clever lot.
Pavel
I dare say you haven’t as high an opinion of our Russian scientists.
Bazarov
Very likely—
Pavel
Well, you are not a chauvinist. But if you are a nihilist, surely you don’t believe in these Teutons.
Bazarov
They tell me the truth. I agree that’s all.
Pavel
Do all Germans tell the truth?
Bazarov (yawning)
Not all.
Pavel
I confess. I don’t care for Germans very much. In the past they produced some excellent men, Goethe—Schiller— But now they have all turned chemists and materialists.
Bazarov
A good chemist is twenty times as useful as any poet. An engineer is worth a hundred Goethes.
Pavel
Oh, indeed. You don’t acknowledge art, then?
Bazarov (contemptuously)
The art of making money or of advertising pills!
Pavel
Ah—ah— You are pleased to jest, no doubt? Granted. Then, you place your faith in science?
Bazarov
—I have already explained that I don’t place my faith anywhere. There are sciences like trades and crafts. But abstract science doesn’t exist at all.
Pavel
Very good. And in regard to other accepted traditions of human conduct, do you adopt the same negative attitude?
Bazarov
Is this an examination?
Arkady
Uncle Pavel, please—
Pavel
I am sorry if I have been carried away by the conversation. It’s a misfortune to live in the backwoods, as it were, far from mighty intellects. You turn into a fool directly, you try not to forget what you’ve been taught—but—poof—they’ll prove it’s all rubbish and that up to date people have no more to do with such foolishness and you are an antiquated old fogy before you’re fifty. What’s to be done? Young people are, it goes without saying—cleverer