In the novel Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev, Arcady plays a major role both
             in his own life and the lives of others. Arcady, despite the shield he surrounds himself
             with, is not a true Nihilist like his friend Bazarov through his thoughts and actions we see
             his change. To begin, Arcady shows signs of Romanticism Early on in the novel despite
             the announcement of his Nihilist beliefs.
             For example, Bazarov and Arcady are walking one afternoon in the garden and
             overhear Nicholas playing his cello. "At that instant the lingering notes of a 'cello were
             wafted towards them from the house . . . and, like honey, the melody flowed through the
             air" (49). Like a true Nihilist, Bazarov immediately denounces the act of playing music as
             a purely romantic institution. "Good Lord! At forty-four, a pater familias, in the province
             of X, playing the 'cello! Bazarov continues to laugh: but, on this occasion, Arcady,
             though he venerated his mentor, does not even smile" (50).
             By this we see that although Arcady looks up to Bazarov, he truly does not uphold
             the Nihilist beliefs as strongly or as strictly. His acceptance of his father's cello playing
             shows that Arcady, unlike Bazarov, does not find music a purely romantic institution, but
             an enjoyable way to be merry. Also this incident shows us that Arcady does not like when
             others poke fun at his family. Here, he obviously does not think his father's cello playing
             Secondly, Nihilist ideas include the belief that love is outdated. Arcady goes
             against this belief when he falls in love with Anna Sergeyevna and later, her sister Katya.
             Arcady even goes so far as to tell Katya, in his own way, that he truly loves her. "It may
             be all the same to you, but I should like to state that, far from having any preference for
             your sister, I wouldn't exchange you for anyone else in the world" (174).
             Bazarov also falls in love with Anna Sergeyevna but realiz
             ...