In the more formulaic works of this genre, the typical protagonist is a nihilist student. In contrast to the Chernyshevskian character of Rakhmetov however, the nihilist is weak-willed and is easily seduced into subversive activities by a villain, often a Pole (in reference to Polish nationalist insurrectionary efforts against the Russian Empire).Шаблон:Notetag[3]
The more meritous works of this genre managed to explore nihilism with less caricature.[3] Many anti-nihilistic novels were published in the conservative literary magazine The Russian Messenger edited by Mikhail Katkov.[1]
Nihilism came into conflict with Orthodox religious authorities, as well as with the Tsarist autocracy.[4] Young radicals began calling themselves nihilists in university protests, innocuous youthful rebellions, and ever-escalating revolutionary activities, which included widespread arson.[5] The theoretic side of nihilism was somewhat distinct from this violent expression however.[6] Nevertheless, nihilism was widely castigated by conservative publicists and government authorities.[7]Fathers and Sons is sometimes considered a more sympathetic work of the anti-nihilistic genre, as with Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov;[2] Turgenev's own opinion of his nihilist character Bazarov was ambivalent, stating: "Did I want to abuse Bazarov or extol him? I do not know myself, since I don't know whether I love him or hate him."[8]
