For the first time, we see Bazarov in a situation where he is uncomfortable. He is in the presence of a person who has a personality as strong as his own and this disconcerts him. Formerly everytime we have seen him he was in control of the situation by being coldly aloof and austere, but here Madame Odintsova is the cold and withdrawn one. She seems to be the controlling factor, not Bazarov.
We must also remember that Madame Odintsova is somewhat older than either Arkady or Bazarov, and she has lived more extensively then either student. Arkady is astounded as he for the first time notices a form of contradiction in his friend; Arkady is shocked to see Bazarov in a situation where he blushes. As they leave, to cover up his embarrassment, Bazarov again returns to the subject of Madame Odintsova’s beautiful body. He feels on safer ground talking about a woman’s anatomy and even wishes, ironically and ridiculously, that he had her body in the dissecting room.
This chapter follows Turgenev’s technique of interrupting the narrative to give some background information about a character. We learn that Madame Odintsova has lived a varied life filled with many experiences and finally decided to return to this Russian province to settle down. Furthermore, we hear that she is not liked by the other people. This causes Bazarov later to ask her if she is disturbed by the rumors in the town.
