Fathers and Sons by Russian author Ivan Turgenev, set in the Russian countryside in the mid-1900s. The novel tells the story of a new faith and a new religion which is causing much uproar between generations in the country. Older individuals continue to follow tradition, while most younger generations begin to believe in a new belief: nihilism. We generally define nihilism as “the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless” (Oxford Dictionary). According to Arkady, one of the characters in the book, “A nihilist is a person who does not take any principle for granted, even if that principle may be revered” (Turgenev, 57). This new and exciting belief attracted a large part of the younger Russian generation. Those who did not like this new faith remained faithful to their aristocratic beliefs. An aristocrat is someone who believes in a government in which the nobility traditionally holds power. In this case, an aristocrat simply believes in traditions and does not encourage change. The historical context and setting of the novel are very important in describing the theme of the novel. Through the setting of the story, which includes Russia facing great economic, social, political, and religious upheaval, Turgenev explores the theme of generational conflict and sets the stage for the story. Turgenev's theme of generational conflict is derived from the social and other reforms taking place in 19th century Russia which makes the setting vital. The most important was the change in ideologies and Western influence. It was difficult for the older generation to accept and created conflicts. One individual's preaching of being responsible for one's own thoughts... in the middle of a newspaper... and outside influences changed Russia. Turgenev uses this as the basis for his illustration of generational conflict. People began to have a general desire to change the feudal economy, which caused many disputes between generations. Without the historical context and framework, Bazarov's nihilism would make no sense. Changes in Russia in the 1860s caused the rise of this new belief of nihilism, and this is presented and explored through the theme of generational conflict in Ivan Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons. Works Cited “Definition of nihilism in English”. Nihilism: Definition of nihilism in the Oxford Dictionary (British and World English). Np, and Web. August 18, 2013. “Russia.” Russia. Np, and Web. September 22, 2013. Turgenev, Ivan Sergeyevich, Constance Garnett and Fritz Eichenberg. Fathers and sons. New York: Heritage, 1941. Print.