Fathers And Sons

Of course, the new generation doesn't use the principals of their father's generation, and comes up with their own set of norms for which to live by.
             Nicholas actually reflects upon this at one point in the book. He makes it apparent that he is saddened that the new generation has no love for nature. He recites verse and the younger people feel that it has no meaning. I do, though, think that Nicholas, more so than Paul, realizes that generational gaps do occur naturally. At the end of chapter 10, Nicholas basically says that he did the same thing to his parents, yet he believes that his ideals are correct. .
             I think that this shows, almost, the stubbornness that people sometimes have. By Nicholas saying that his ideals were the right ones, he almost defends the new way of thinking. He says that when he was a child, he rebelled and he still stands with what he thinks. This is exactly what the new generation is doing, so they have the same mentality as he did. It is basically a never ending cycle; the younger generation's morals and norms will never be compatible with those of the last generation. Each generation will think that they are the right thinkers. It is basically ignoring the inevitable if one thinks that there will not be generational conflict.
             We can note a similar gap throughout history. One major conflict between generations occurred during the time known as the "Roaring 20's". The new generation was radical, almost raunchy, and of course the parents of these kids were appalled and outraged at the new ways. In the 1970's during the "Flower Power" days, the baby boomers were big into drugs and harmony and peace with the world. This obviously was much different than anything else we had seen before. Of course the next children had much different ideals. It is, as stated before, something that will continue to go on forever.
             Towards the end of the book, I really began to not like Bazarov.