Madame Bovary and Fathers & SonsMany people have difficulty dealing with the real world. These people are desperately looking for one thing: freedom from the worries of daily life. Basarov in Fathers & Sons and Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary also seek escape – through romance. Each character follows their own misguided thoughts and emotions. And at the end of their respective novels, each will have to accept their decisions in the face of idealistic romanticism. Basarov, for most of the novel, is the personification of abstinence. He is presented as a nihilist, “a person who takes no principle for granted, even if that principle may be revered” (94). It denies the existence of anything that cannot be verified by empirical methods. For him, the world is a big laboratory, with laws waiting to be defined by experimentation and reasoning according to cold, hard facts. Much of his time is devoted to such experiments. He is a doctor, trained in science at the University of Saint Petersburg and regularly puts his knowledge into practice during his walks in nature in Maryino and with Madame Odintsov. He also exhibits other less commendable characteristics due to his approach to life. Basically, he has trouble getting along with people. His arrogance and aloofness, especially in his dealings with "provincial aristocrats" (Pavel and Nikolai Petrovich), cause much conflict and ill will in Maryino: "[Pavel] considered him an arrogant and impudent, cynical man and vulgar. suspected that Basarov... almost despised him... Nikolai Petrovich had a slight apprehension towards the young “nihilist” and doubted whether his influence on Arkady was desirable” (117). Basarov detaches...... middle of paper ......ent he thought of her; he could have easily controlled his blood but something else was taking hold of him, something he had never allowed, something he had always mocked, against which all his pride rebelled” (170). Finally, early one morning in a fit of emotion, Basarov finally declares his crazy and idiotic love to Anna. She responds: "You misunderstood me", and both parties are confused. The matter remains unsolved (183). response until a final scene on Basarov's deathbed. Emma realizes their fault in time just in time to see her life fall apart and cannot cope, committing suicide as a final escape. . He only realizes his love for Anna when he is dying of typhus neither of them had the right approach to life. moderation ;.