After two weeks, everyone except Pavel grew used to the two young men. Pavel, however, came to hate Bazarov “with all the strength of his soul.” He regarded Bazarov as arrogant, insolent, and cynical, and suspected that “he all but had contempt for him.” The only other person who did not like Bazarov was old Prokofitch who, as a servant, was “just as much an aristocrat as was Pavel.”
Arkady and Bazarov often went on long walks and had arguments which Arkady usually lost, even though Bazarov said very little. One day, as they were returning from a walk, Nikolai overheard the two talking when Bazarov was saying that Nikolai is a ,’very good fellow ... but he’s on the retired list, his song is sung.” Bazarov mentions that Nikolai even reads the poet Pushkin.
Nikolai is so upset by this overheard conversation that he reports it to his brother Pavel. Actually, Nikolai has read constantly in an attempt to keep up with the new generation, and is somewhat disappointed that he is considered so out of date. Furthermore, one day when he was reading a Pushkin poem, his son Arkady came up and gently replaced the book with one by a German entitled Stoff und Kraft. Nikolai still remembers his German well enough to read it, but he cannot see any value in this book. Pavel decides that they must have a discussion with Bazarov.
That same day, Pavel had his opportunity to discuss things with Bazarov when the young man referred to a neighbor as a rotter and a petty aristocrat. Pavel objects to both and defends the rights of the aristocrat. Ultimately, after some discussion, Bazarov asks Pavel what benefit he is to mankind, but Pavel merely defends the concept of the aristocrat as a part of the heritage of the world.
After Bazarov tears down all the things that Pavel believes in such as art, poetry, culture, etc., Pavel wonders if nihilism means only to tear down. He asks if “it is necessary to build up.” Bazarov explains that it is not their business to build up, but only to “clear the site.” Bazarov further explains that the “nihilist” respects no authority and no tradition: he rejects all talk of values as being mere platitudes, and reviles everything.
Pavel wonders how they can tear down when they don’t even know why they are destroying. Bazarov explains, “We break things down because we are a force,” and a force does not have to “render any account.” There is nothing that Bazarov respects; he finds faults with everything. Throughout the discussion, Arkady enthusiastically agrees with his friend. Bazarov ends the discussion by saying that Pavel needs time to think over these things and examine if anything has any value; in the meantime he will continue to dissect frogs.
After they leave, Nikolai reminds his brother that when they were young they thought that their parents were old fashioned, but then admits that he is confident that their values are better than those of the young nihilist.
