Various Aspects of Nihilism as Portrayed by Bazarov

Although many people have defined nihilism in various terms, the common thread is the belief in nothing. Derived from the Latin word "nihil," meaning "nothing," the word symbolizes "a man who recognizes nothing" (Hershkowitz 71). When one examines the element of non-belief more closely, other key characteristics of nihilism emerge. For example, "nihilism [is] defined as the critical repudiation of all the traditions, conventions and values of the established order" (Seeley 219), meaning that a nihilist represents an individual who abandons the notions of cultural traditions. Also defined as "a man who does not bow before any authority whatever, who does not accept a single principle on faith" (Hershkowitz 64), the nihilist is primarily concerned with abolishing people in authoritative positions in addition to denying a life based on faith. In Ivan Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons, the character Bazarov displays a nihilistic ideology which centers on the belief in nothing, and, consequently, the denial of value within anything. Furthermore, Bazarov explores various elements of nihilism, including: lack of principles, value of feelings, the role of natural sciences, the conflict between youth and the aristocracy, the insignificance of life, and freedom. Ultimately, Bazarov's nihilistic ideology dismisses all forms of conventional wisdom.