Western influence has been a strong wave that hit even the most of the conservative communities. This was through the young people like Arkadiy and Evgeny who went to western nations to acquire education. Since they were familiar with the Russian culture, they found it cool to adopt the western culture which they subsequently carried back home. Some of the areas of influence are adopting the liberal thought rather than the inclination to religion and culture. This is also reflected in their dress code, which is more western, and how they address people who may be younger or older to them.
/>
Western influence is said to be a new breath that delivers people from an inclusive thought. It makes people more open to the changes around them and hence adopting to them. The western influence also makes it easier for people to relate with others outside their communities by breaking the cultural barriers that hindered them (Turgenev 29). Since change is inevitable it is good when the older generation accepts some of the thought brought about by cultural interactions. Western culture is only detrimental when it makes people and especially the young to loose their morals and respect. There is hence need to choose the positive side which is the liberal thought and leave the negative such us losing respect for the elderly.
Turgenev looks at western culture as a wave that disconnects generations as well as alienating them from their cultural values. This is the major cause of generational gap that makes the young appear arrogant and the older rigid. This is a challenge that however has to accepted due to the different environments that they have been exposed to (Turgenev 65). The fact that the young people were allowed to travel to the west to seek knowledge, the old must have recognized the uniqueness in the system. This hence implies that they were ready to appreciate the changes that came with the new system.
Work cited
Turgenev, Ivan. Fathers and sons: a novel. New York: Leypoldt & Holt, 1867.
