"Dead Souls" is characterized by the author himself in the poem. The original version was conceived as a work consisting of three books. The first volume of the book saw the light, drafts remained from the second, and only some fragmentary information is known about the third volume. Gogol used the idea of the plot of the work at the prompt of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. The case of the use of dead souls actually existed, and took place in Bessarabia.
"Dead Souls" summary
The first volume of the book begins with the appearance of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, who claimed to everyone that he was an ordinary landowner. Once in the small town "N", Chichikov enters into the confidence of the inhabitants of the city, who occupy a privileged status. Neither the governor nor other residents of the city have any idea about the real purpose of Chichikov's visit. The main goal of his actions is to buy the dead souls of peasants, but not registered as dead and listed as alive in the register.
After making a deal with local landowners, Chichikov transferred the peasants to himself. During his life, Chichikov tried many ways to achieve significant weight and high prosperity in society. Once he served at customs and collaborated with smugglers, but did not share something with an accomplice and he betrayed him to the authorities, as a result, a case was opened against both, but Chichikov, using his remarkable mind, connections and money, managed to get out of under court.
Manilov
Chichikov made his first visit to Manilov. The author is very critical of Manilov and characterizes him as too sugary. After Chichikov stated the purpose of his visit, Manilov, at first perplexed, simply completely without money, gives him the dead souls of the peasants. After Chichikov's departure, Manilov is convinced that the service rendered to Chichikov is so great, and the friendship is so significant, that, in his view, the Sovereign will surely reward them both with the rank of general.
Visit to Korobochka
Chichikov's next visit was to Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a woman, no doubt, very economical and distinguished by frugality. He, having spent the night in her estate, without unnecessary ceremonies declares to her his desire to buy dead souls from her, which immeasurably surprises the landowner. He manages to persuade her to make a deal only after he promises to buy additional honey and hemp from her.
Failure with Nozdrev
On the way to the city, Chichikov meets Nozdryov, who, without much persuasion, rather unceremoniously, takes him to him. The author characterizes the owner as a light, broken person, very versatile interests and unpredictable mood. Here the protagonist fails, the owner, seemingly agreeing to give Chichikov dead souls, persuades him to buy a horse, a dog and a hurdy-gurdy, to which he, of course, refuses. The whole adventure of Chichikov with Nozdryov ends with a game of checkers, as a result of which Chichikov manages only by a miracle to avoid a whipping or even an ordinary beating, he runs away.
Visit to Sobakevich
Sobakevich, whom Chichikov visited next, impressed him with his bearish habits. The owner has a rather harsh opinion about the officials in the city, he is hospitable and likes to treat the guest to a hearty dinner. The guest's message about the desire to buy the dead souls of the peasants from him was met in a businesslike manner, the price was requested at one hundred rubles for each soul, this was motivated by the fact that all the peasants highest quality, after a long bargain, Chichikov acquired peasant souls for two and a half rubles.
Plushkin
Dissatisfied with the bargain, Chichikov goes to Plyushkin, about whom Sobakevich informed him. The most perfect disorder met Chichikov at the estate, and the master himself, whom the guest at first mistook for a housekeeper, made a depressing impression on him. Life's misfortunes have turned the once zealous owner into a stingy, petty person. Having promised Plyushkin to pay taxes for them after acquiring souls, Chichikov made him very happy. Chichikov was leaving in the most cheerful disposition, because he managed to acquire as many as 120 souls.
Consequences
After completing all the actions, Chichikov enjoys universal respect in the city and is mistaken for a millionaire. Troubles lie in wait for the hero, Nozdryov accuses him of buying dead souls. Worried about whether she sold too cheap, Korobochka comes to town. The secret becomes clear. Chichikov's flirtation with the governor's daughter, Korobochka's message that he was buying dead souls, did not make a favorable impression on the townspeople. And then there are the rumors and absurdities expressed by the ladies, the police chief's notice about the escape of the criminal, the death of the prosecutor, everything was by no means favorable to the hero, he was refused admission in all houses. And Chichikov is forced to flee.
And again before him the road. Critics about the poem Despite the fact that critics ambiguously met Gogol's poem, they were all unanimous in their opinion about the unusualness of the work, both in its internal inconsistency and straightforwardness, and in the beauty of writing, for example, the description of the trio bird is beautiful. How life's contradictions are harmoniously shown existing world and the art world. And only Gogol was able to give the reader a complete understanding of the difference between the reality of life and fiction.
VOLUME ONE
The proposed history, as will become clear from what follows, took place somewhat shortly after the "glorious expulsion of the French." A collegiate adviser arrives in the provincial city of NN Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov(he is not old and not too young, not fat and not thin, his appearance is rather pleasant and somewhat rounded) and settles in a hotel. He makes a lot of questions to the tavern servant - both regarding the owner and income of the tavern, and revealing the solidity of it: about city officials, the most significant landowners, asks about the state of the region and whether there were "what diseases in their province, epidemic fevers" and other similar adversity.
Having gone on visits, the visitor discovers extraordinary activity (visiting everyone, from the governor to the inspector of the medical board) and courtesy, for he knows how to say something pleasant to everyone. About himself, he speaks somehow vaguely (that he “experienced a lot in his lifetime, endured in the service for the truth, had many enemies who even attempted on his life,” and now he is looking for a place to live). At the governor's house party, he manages to gain general favor and, among other things, make acquaintance with the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. In the following days, he dines with the chief of police (where he meets the landowner Nozdryov), visits the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor, the farmer and the prosecutor, and goes to the Manilov estate (which, however, is preceded by a fair author's digression, where, justifying his love for detail, the author certifies in detail Petrushka, the visitor's servant: his passion for "the process of reading itself" and the ability to carry with him a special smell, "responding somewhat to residential peace").
Having traveled, against the promised, not fifteen, but all thirty miles, Chichikov falls into Manilovka, into the arms of an affectionate owner. House Manilova, standing on a jura, surrounded by several English-style flower beds and gazebos with the inscription "Temple of Solitary Reflection", could characterize the owner, who was "neither this nor that", not weighed down by any passions, only unnecessarily cloying. After Manilov's confessions that Chichikov's visit was "a May day, a name day of the heart", and a dinner in the company of the hostess and two sons, Themistoclus and Alkid, Chichikov discovers the reason for his arrival: he would like to acquire peasants who have died, but have not yet been declared as such in the revision help, having issued everything legally, as if on the living (“the law - I am dumb before the law”). The first fright and bewilderment are replaced by the perfect disposition of the kind host, and, having made a deal, Chichikov leaves for Sobakevich, and Manilov indulges in dreams of Chichikov's life in the neighborhood across the river, of the construction of a bridge, of a house with such a belvedere that Moscow is visible from there, and of their friendship, having learned about which the sovereign would grant them generals. Chichikov's coachman Selifan, much favored by Manilov's yard people, in conversations with his horses misses the right turn and, at the sound of a downpour, knocks the master over into the mud. In the dark, they find lodging for the night at Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a somewhat timid landowner, with whom Chichikov also begins to trade in the morning. dead souls. Explaining that he himself would now pay taxes for them, cursing the old woman’s stupidity, promising to buy both hemp and lard, but another time, Chichikov buys souls from her for fifteen rubles, receives a detailed list of them (in which Pyotr Savelyev is especially struck by Disrespect -Trough) and, having eaten an unleavened egg pie, pancakes, pies and other things, departs, leaving the hostess in great concern as to whether she had sold too cheap.
Having driven out onto the main road to the tavern, Chichikov stops for a bite to eat; the author provides some enterprises with a lengthy discourse on the properties of the appetite of middle-class gentlemen. Here Nozdryov meets him, returning from the fair in the britzka of his son-in-law Mizhuev, for he lost everything with his horses and even the watch chain. Describing the charms of the fair, the drinking qualities of dragoon officers, a certain Kuvshinnikov, a great lover of "to use about strawberries" and, finally, presenting a puppy, "a real face", Nozdryov takes Chichikov (thinking to get hold of here too) to himself, taking away his son-in-law, who is reluctant. Having described Nozdryov, “in some respects a historical person” (for wherever he was, there was history), his possessions, the unpretentiousness of dinner with an abundance, however, drinks of dubious quality, the author sends his son-in-law to his wife (Nozdryov admonishes him with abuse and a word “fetyuk”), and Chichikova is forced to turn to her subject; but he fails to beg or buy souls: Nozdryov offers to exchange them, take them in addition to the stallion or make a bet in a card game, finally scolds, quarrels, and they part for the night. Persuasion resumes in the morning, and, having agreed to play checkers, Chichikov notices that Nozdryov is shamelessly cheating. Chichikov, whom the owner and the servants are already trying to beat, manages to escape in view of the appearance of the police captain, who announces that Nozdryov is on trial. On the road, Chichikov's carriage collides with a certain carriage, and while the onlookers who come running are breeding tangled horses, Chichikov admires the sixteen-year-old young lady, indulges in reasoning about her and dreams of family life. A visit to Sobakevich in his strong, like himself, estate is accompanied by a thorough dinner, a discussion of city officials, who, according to the owner, are all swindlers (one prosecutor is a decent person, “and even that one, to tell the truth, is a pig”), and is crowned with an interesting guest deal. Not at all frightened by the strangeness of the object, Sobakevich bargains, characterizes the favorable qualities of each serf, provides Chichikov with a detailed list and forces him to give a deposit.
Path Chichikov to the neighboring landowner Plyushkin, mentioned by Sobakevich, is interrupted by a conversation with a peasant who gave Plyushkin an apt, but not too printed nickname, and by the author's lyrical reflection on his former love for unfamiliar places and the indifference that has now appeared. Plyushkin, this "hole in humanity", Chichikov at first takes for a housekeeper or a beggar, whose place is on the porch. His most important feature is his amazing stinginess, and he even carries the old sole of his boot into a heap heaped in the master's chambers. Having shown the profitability of his proposal (namely, that he would take over the taxes for the dead and runaway peasants), Chichikov fully succeeds in his enterprise and, having refused tea with cracker, provided with a letter to the chairman of the chamber, departs in the most cheerful mood.
While Chichikov is sleeping in the hotel, the author reflects with sadness on the meanness of the objects he paints. Meanwhile, the satisfied Chichikov, waking up, composes the merchant's fortresses, studies the lists of the acquired peasants, reflects on their alleged fate, and finally goes to the civil chamber in order to conclude the case as soon as possible. Manilov, met at the gates of the hotel, accompanies him. Then follows a description of the public office, Chichikov's first ordeals and a bribe to a certain jug snout, until he enters the chairman's apartment, where, by the way, he also finds Sobakevich. The chairman agrees to be Plyushkin's attorney, and at the same time speeds up other transactions. The acquisition of Chichikov is discussed, with land or for withdrawal he bought peasants and in what places. Having found out that they were sent to the Kherson province, having discussed the properties of the sold peasants (here the chairman remembered that the coachman Mikheev seemed to have died, but Sobakevich assured that he was still alive and “became healthier than before”), they finish with champagne, they go to the chief of police, “father and a philanthropist in the city” (whose habits are immediately outlined), where they drink to the health of the new Kherson landowner, become completely excited, force Chichikov to stay and attempt to marry him.
Chichikov's purchases make a splash in the city, a rumor is circulating that he is a millionaire. Ladies are crazy about him. Several times trying to describe the ladies, the author becomes shy and retreats. On the eve of the governor's ball, Chichikov even receives a love letter, though unsigned. Having used, as usual, a lot of time on the toilet and being pleased with the result, Chichikov goes to the ball, where he passes from one embrace to another. The ladies, among whom he is trying to find the sender of the letter, even quarrel, challenging his attention. But when the governor's wife approaches him, he forgets everything, because she is accompanied by her daughter ("Institute, just released"), a sixteen-year-old blonde, whose carriage he encountered on the road. He loses the favor of the ladies, because he starts a conversation with a fascinating blonde, scandalously neglecting the rest. To complete the trouble, Nozdryov appears and loudly asks if Chichikov has bought a lot of the dead. And although Nozdryov is obviously drunk and the embarrassed society is gradually distracted, Chichikov is not given a whist or the subsequent dinner, and he leaves upset.
At this time, a tarantass enters the city with the landowner Korobochka, whose growing anxiety forced her to come in order to still find out at what price dead Souls. In the morning, this news becomes the property of a certain pleasant lady, and she hurries to tell it to another, pleasant in all respects, the story is overgrown with amazing details (Chichikov, armed to the teeth, bursts into Korobochka in the dead of midnight, demands souls that have died, inspires terrible fear - “ the whole village has come running, the children are crying, everyone is screaming. Her friend concludes that dead Souls only a cover, and Chichikov wants to take away the governor's daughter. After discussing the details of this enterprise, Nozdryov's undoubted participation in it and the qualities of the governor's daughter, both ladies dedicate the prosecutor to everything and set off to rebel the city.
In a short time, the city seethes, to which is added the news of the appointment of a new governor-general, as well as information about the papers received: about the fake banknote maker who showed up in the province, and about the robber who fled from legal persecution. Trying to understand who Chichikov is, they recall that he was certified very vaguely and even spoke about those who attempted on his life. The postmaster's statement that Chichikov, in his opinion, is Captain Kopeikin, who took up arms against the injustice of the world and became a robber, is rejected, since it follows from the entertaining postmaster's story that the captain is missing an arm and leg, and Chichikov is whole. An assumption arises whether Chichikov is Napoleon in disguise, and many begin to find a certain similarity, especially in profile. Questions from Korobochka, Manilov, and Sobakevich did not yield any results, and Nozdryov only multiplied the confusion by announcing that Chichikov was definitely a spy, a maker of forged banknotes, and had an undoubted intention to take away the governor's daughter, in which Nozdryov undertook to help him (each of the versions was accompanied by detailed details up to the name priest who took up the wedding). All these rumors have a tremendous effect on the prosecutor, he has a stroke, and he dies.
Chichikov himself, sitting in the hotel with a slight cold, is surprised that none of the officials visits him. Finally, having gone on visits, he discovers that they do not receive him at the governor's, and in other places they fearfully shun him. Nozdryov, visiting him at the hotel, among the general noise he made, partly clarifies the situation by announcing that he agrees to hasten the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. The next day, Chichikov hurriedly leaves, but is stopped by a funeral procession and forced to contemplate the whole world of bureaucracy flowing behind the coffin of the prosecutor Brichka leaves the city, and the open spaces on both sides of it evoke sad and encouraging thoughts about Russia, the road, and then only sad about their chosen hero. Concluding that it is time for the virtuous hero to give rest, and, on the contrary, to hide the scoundrel, the author sets out the life story of Pavel Ivanovich, his childhood, training in classes where he already showed a practical mind, his relationship with his comrades and teacher, his service later in the state chamber, some kind of commission for the construction of a government building, where for the first time he gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent departure to other, not so profitable places, transfer to the customs service, where, showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with smugglers, went bankrupt, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became a confidant, and during the fuss about the pledge of the peasants, he put together a plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Rus', so that, having bought dead souls and pawned them in the treasury as living, he would receive money, buy, perhaps, a village and ensure future offspring.
Having again complained about the properties of his hero’s nature and partly justified him, having found him the name of “owner, acquirer”, the author is distracted by the urged running of horses, the similarity of the flying troika with rushing Russia and the ringing of the bell completes the first volume.
VOLUME TWO
It opens with a description of the nature that makes up the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls "the smoker of the sky." The story of the stupidity of his pastime is followed by the story of a life inspired by hopes at the very beginning, overshadowed by the pettiness of service and troubles afterwards; he retires, intending to improve the estate, reads books, takes care of the peasant, but without experience, sometimes just human, this does not give the expected results, the peasant is idle, Tentetnikov gives up. He breaks off acquaintances with his neighbors, offended by the treatment of General Betrishchev, stops visiting him, although he cannot forget his daughter Ulinka. In a word, without someone who would tell him an invigorating “forward!”, He completely turns sour.
Chichikov comes to him, apologizing for a breakdown in the carriage, curiosity and a desire to pay respect. Having won the favor of the owner with his amazing ability to adapt to anyone, Chichikov, having lived with him for a while, goes to the general, to whom he spins a story about an absurd uncle and, as usual, begs for the dead. On the laughing general, the poem fails, and we find Chichikov heading towards Colonel Koshkarev. Against expectation, he gets to Pyotr Petrovich Petukh, whom at first he finds completely naked, carried away by the hunt for sturgeon. At the Rooster, having nothing to get hold of, for the estate is mortgaged, he only overeats terribly, gets acquainted with the bored landowner Platonov and, having knocked him on joint trip in Rus', goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, married to a Platonic sister. He talks about the ways of managing, by which he increased the income from the estate dozens of times, and Chichikov is terribly inspired.
Very promptly, he visits Colonel Koshkarev, who has divided his village into committees, expeditions and departments and has arranged a perfect paper production in the mortgaged estate, as it turns out. Returning, he listens to the curses of the bilious Costanjoglo to the factories and manufactories that corrupt the peasant, to the peasant's absurd desire to enlighten, and to his neighbor Khlobuev, who has run a hefty estate and is now lowering it for nothing. Having experienced emotion and even a craving for honest work, after listening to the story of the farmer Murazov, who made forty millions in an impeccable way, Chichikov the next day, accompanied by Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, goes to Khlobuev, observes the unrest and debauchery of his household in the neighborhood of a governess for children, dressed in fashion wife and other traces of ridiculous luxury. Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he gives a deposit for the estate, intending to buy it, and goes to the Platonov estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who effectively manages the economy. Then he suddenly appears at their neighbor Lenitsyn, clearly a rogue, wins his sympathy with his skillfully tickling a child and receives dead souls.
After many seizures in the manuscript, Chichikov is found already in the city at a fair, where he buys fabric of a lingonberry color so dear to him with a spark. He runs into Khlobuev, whom, apparently, he cheated, either depriving him, or almost depriving him of his inheritance by some kind of forgery. Khlobuev, who missed him, is taken away by Murazov, who convinces Khlobuev of the need to work and determines for him to raise funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations against Chichikov are being discovered both about forgery and about dead souls. The tailor brings a new coat. Suddenly, a gendarme appears, dragging smart Chichikov to the governor-general, "angry as anger itself." Here all his atrocities become apparent, and he, kissing the general's boot, plunges into the prison. IN dark closet Murazov finds Chichikov, tearing his hair and coat tails, mourning the loss of a box of papers, with simple virtuous words awakens in him the desire to live honestly and goes to soften the governor general. At that time, officials who want to harm their wise superiors and receive a bribe from Chichikov deliver him a box, kidnap an important witness and write many denunciations in order to completely confuse the matter. Unrest breaks out in the province itself, greatly worrying the governor-general. However, Murazov knows how to feel the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, with which the Governor-General, having released Chichikov, is already going to use it, as "the manuscript breaks off."
February 24, 1852 Nikolay Gogol burned the almost finished second volume of Dead Souls, on which he had been working for more than 10 years. The story itself was originally conceived by Gogol as a trilogy. In the first volume, the adventurer Chichikov, traveling around Russia, encountered only human vices, in the second part, fate brought the protagonist together with some positive characters. In the third volume, which was never written, Chichikov had to go through exile in Siberia and finally embark on the path of moral purification.
AiF.ru tells why Gogol burned the second volume of "Dead Souls" and what adventures in the continuation of the story were to happen to Chichikov.
Why did Gogol burn the second volume of Dead Souls?
Most likely, Gogol burned the second volume of Dead Souls by accident. IN last years In his life, the writer felt constant weakness in his body, but instead of being treated, he continued to exhaust his body with strict observance of religious fasts and exhausting labor. In one of the letters to poet Nikolai Yazykov Gogol wrote: "My health has become rather poor ... Nervous anxious anxiety and various signs of perfect unsticking all over my body frighten me myself." It is possible that this “sticking up” prompted the writer on the night of February 24 to throw the manuscripts into the fireplace and then set them on fire with his own hands. The servant witnessed this scene Semyon, who persuaded the master to spare the papers. But he only rudely replied: “None of your business! Pray!
On the morning of the next day, Gogol, struck by his act, lamented his friend Count Alexander Tolstoy: "That's what I did! I wanted to burn some things that had long been prepared for that, but I burned everything. How strong the evil one is - that's what he moved me to! And I was there a lot of practical clarified and outlined ... I thought to send to friends as a keepsake from a notebook: let them do what they wanted. Now everything is gone."
Gogol claimed that he wanted to burn only drafts and unnecessary papers, and the second volume of Dead Souls was sent to the fireplace due to his oversight. Nine days after this fatal mistake, the writer died.
What is the second volume of Dead Souls about?
Gogol's letters and the remaining drafts allow us to restore the approximate content of some parts of the burnt manuscript. The second volume of "Dead Souls" begins with a description of the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls "the smoker of the sky." An educated and fair person, due to laziness and lack of willpower, drags out a meaningless existence in the village. Tentetnikov's fiancee, Ulinka, is the daughter of a neighboring general, Betrishchev. It is she who becomes the “beam of light in the dark realm” of the story: “If a transparent picture suddenly flared up in a dark room, lit from behind by a lamp, it would not have struck like this figurine shining with life, which appeared exactly to illuminate the room ... It was hard to tell what country she was from. Such a pure, noble outline of the face could not be found anywhere, except perhaps only on some ancient cameos, ”Gogol describes it this way. Tentetnikov, according to Gogol's plan, was to be convicted for participation in an anti-government organization, and his lover would follow him to hard labor. Then, in the third volume of the trilogy, these heroes had to go through exile in Siberia along with Chichikov.
Further, according to the plot of the second volume, Chichikov meets the bored landowner Platonov and, having incited him to travel together in Russia, goes to the master Kostanzhoglo, who is married to Platonov's sister. He talks about the ways of managing, by which he increased the income from the estate tenfold, which Chichikov is terribly inspired by. Shortly thereafter, Chichikov, having borrowed money from Platonov and Kostanjoglo, is trying to buy the estate from the ruined landowner Khlobuev.
On the "border line" between good and evil in the second volume of the story, the financier Afanasy Murazov suddenly appears. He wants to spend 40 million rubles earned by him not in the most honest way on “saving Russia”, but his ideas are more reminiscent of sectarian ones.
In the surviving drafts of the end of the manuscript, Chichikov is found in the city at a fair, where he buys fabric of a lingonberry color so dear to him with a spark. He runs into Khlobuev, whom, apparently, he “gave up”, either by depriving, or almost depriving him of his estate by forgery. Murazov saves Chichikov from continuing an unpleasant conversation, who convinces the ruined landowner of the need to work and determines him to raise funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations are being found against Chichikov both about forgery and about dead souls. However, the help of the corrupt official Samosvistov and the intercession of Murazov allow the hero to avoid prison.
Cameo - jewel or jewelry made in the technique of bas-relief on precious or semi-precious stones.
Is our summary"Dead Souls" can be used by 9th grade students to reader's diary. See also the full text of "Dead Souls", analysis of the work, texts of lyrical digressions in it and articles: Gogol - short biography, Gogol - biography, Gogol - chronology of life.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 1 - briefly
The nobleman Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrived in the provincial town of NN, a man not too old, but not quite young either, not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, but not thin either. Having settled in a city hotel, he asked the servant in detail about local prominent persons, especially wondering how many souls of peasants anyone had. (See the full text of the passage "Chichikov's arrival in the provincial town of NN".)
In the following days, Chichikov made visits to all the chief city officials. He also attended a party at the governor's, where he met the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. (See who Chichikov met when he arrived in the provincial city.)
Dead Souls. Film-play 1960
A very dexterous man in getting around, Chichikov made an "unpleasant" impression on everyone. (See the image of Chichikov - briefly, Chichikov in "Dead Souls", Description of Chichikov.)
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 1 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Chichikov
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 2 - briefly
A few days later, Chichikov moved his visits outside the city and first of all visited the Manilov estate. (See Characteristics of Manilov with quotes.) Sugary Manilov claimed enlightened humanity, European education, and liked to build fantastic projects, such as building a huge bridge across his pond, from where one could see Moscow during tea drinking. But, mired in dreams, he never put them into practice, distinguished by complete impracticality and mismanagement. (See Manilov in "Dead Souls", Description of Manilov, his estate and dinner with him.)
Accepting Chichikov, Manilov demonstrated refined courtesy. But in a private conversation, Chichikov made him an unexpected and strange offer: to buy from him for a small sum the recently deceased peasants (who were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit). Manilov was extremely surprised at this, but out of politeness he could not refuse the guest. (See the full text of the bargaining scene between Chichikov and Manilov.)
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 2 - a summary of the full text of this chapter.
Manilov
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 3 - briefly
From Manilov, Chichikov thought of going to Sobakevich, but the drunken coachman Selifan drove him in a completely different direction. Caught in a thunderstorm, the travelers barely reached a village - and found lodging for the night at the local landowner Korobochka. (See Characterization of the Quote Box, Box in Dead Souls.)
The widow Korobochka was a rustic and hoarding old woman. (See Description Korobochka, her estate and dinner with her.) The next morning, over tea, Chichikov made her the same offer as before to Manilov. The box bulged at first, but then calmed down, most of all caring about how not to sell the dead people cheap. She even began to refuse Chichikov, intending first to "apply to the prices of other merchants." But her dodgy guest pretended to be a state-owned contractor and promised to buy flour, cereals, lard and feathers in bulk from Korobochka. In anticipation of such a lucrative deal, Korobochka agreed to sell the dead souls. (See Chichikov's bargaining scene with Korobochka.)
Chichikov personally drew up the bill of sale for the deceased peasants on stamped paper, which he took out of his travel box, which contained many compartments and partitions. (See Chichikov's casket.)
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 3 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 4 - briefly
Leaving Korobochka, Chichikov stopped for lunch at a roadside inn. (See: What did Chichikov eat in the tavern?)
In a tavern, he met the landowner Nozdryov, whom he had previously met at a party with the governor. (See the text of the passage "Meeting of Nozdrev and Chichikov in a tavern".)
The incorrigible reveler, reveler, liar and cheat Nozdryov (see Nozdryov's Characteristics with quotes) was returning from the fair, having completely lost his cards at it. He invited Chichikov to his estate. Pavel Ivanovich agreed to go there, hoping that the broken Nozdryov would give him dead souls for nothing. (See Nozdryov in Dead Souls, Nozdryov's Appearance, Nozdryov's Estate, Nozdryov's House Interior, Chichikov's Dinner at Nozdryov's.)
On his estate, Nozdryov took Chichikov around the stable and kennel for a long time, assuring him that his horses and dogs were worth many thousands of rubles. When the guest started talking about dead souls, Nozdryov offered to play cards on them and immediately took out a deck. Thoroughly suspecting that she was marked, Chichikov refused. (See the full text of the bargaining scene between Chichikov and Nozdryov.)
The next morning, Nozdryov suggested playing the dead peasants not at cards, but at checkers, where cheating is impossible. Chichikov agreed, but during the game Nozdryov began to move several checkers at once with the cuffs of his robe in one move. Chichikov protested. Nozdryov in response called two hefty serfs and ordered them to beat the guest. Chichikov barely managed to escape unscathed thanks to the arrival of the police captain: he brought Nozdryov a summons to court for an insult inflicted on the landowner Maksimov in a drunken state. (See the text of the passage "Nozdrev and Chichikov play checkers".)
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 4 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
The Adventures of Chichikov (Nozdrev). An excerpt from the cartoon based on the plot of Gogol's "Dead Souls"
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 5 - briefly
Having galloped away from Nozdryov, Chichikov finally reached the estate of Sobakevich - a man who, by nature, was the opposite of Manilov. Sobakevich deeply despised wandering in the clouds and was guided in everything only by material benefits. (See Characterization of Sobakevich with quotes, Sobakevich (briefly), Portrait of Sobakevich, Description of the estate and interior of Sobakevich's house.)
Explaining human actions by one desire for selfish gain, rejecting any idealism, Sobakevich certified city officials as swindlers, robbers and Christ-sellers. (See Sobakevich's attitude towards others.)
In figure and posture, he resembled a medium-sized bear. At the table, Sobakevich neglected the low-nutrient overseas delicacies, dined on simple dishes, but devoured them in huge pieces. (See Lunch at Sobakevich's.)
Unlike the others, the practical Sobakevich was not at all surprised by Chichikov's request to sell dead souls. However, he broke an exorbitant price for them - 100 rubles each, explaining it by the fact that his peasants, although dead, were “selected goods”, because they used to be excellent craftsmen and hard workers. Chichikov ridiculed this argument, but only after a long bargain did Sobakevich lower the price to two and a half rubles per capita. (See the text of their bargaining scene.)
Sobakevich
While the list of sold peasants was being compiled, Chichikov, annoyed by Sobakevich's stinginess, looked at his back with hatred and mentally cursed him with a "fist". (See Chichikov's relationship to Sobakevich.)
In a conversation with Chichikov, Sobakevich let slip that the unusually stingy landowner Plyushkin lives not far from him, and that this owner has more than a thousand peasants who are dying like flies. Leaving Sobakevich, Chichikov immediately found out the way to Plyushkin.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 5 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 6 - briefly
Plyushkin's house turned out to be large, but unimaginably dilapidated. At the gate Chichikov noticed a strange, dirty figure dressed in a dressing gown. (See Plyushkin's appearance, Plyushkin's clothes.) At first he mistook her for an old housekeeper, but it was the owner of the estate himself. (See Plushkin characterization with citations.)
In previous years, Plyushkin was a businesslike, thrifty owner. But in his old age, after widowhood and a quarrel with his children, he developed an extraordinary stinginess. Plyushkin's interests and concerns were crushed. Having abandoned important studies, he turned to various trifles. For days on end, this owner of a thousand serf souls walked around his own village, collecting rubbish, like broken shovels and old shoe soles. He put it in a dusty heap in the middle of one of the rooms of his house, vigilantly watching that the servants did not steal anything from it. (See Plyushkin in "Dead Souls", Plyushkin's Manor, Plyushkin's Garden, Plyushkin's House Interior, Plyushkin's Household, Plyushkin's Family, Chichikov's Dinner at Plyushkin's, Plyushkin - a tear in humanity, Quotes confirming Plyushkin's stinginess.)
Seeing the visiting nobleman, Plyushkin at first suspected that he wanted to dine with him for free. For a long time he could not believe that Chichikov was ready to pay money for the dead peasants and then pay state taxes for them until the next revision. But Chichikov managed to convince Plyushkin - and received from him a shopping list of the names of two hundred dead and runaway peasants, compiled from savings on a dirty, stale piece of paper. (See the full text of the bargaining scene between Chichikov and Plyushkin.)
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 6 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Plushkin
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 7 - briefly
Returning to the provincial town of N, Chichikov took up the final design of the merchant's fortresses in the state chancellery. This chamber was located on the main city square. Inside it, many officials were diligently poring over papers. The noise from their feathers sounded like several wagons loaded with brushwood were passing through a forest littered with withered leaves. For speeding up the case, Chichikov had to pay a bribe to the clerk Ivan Antonovich with a long nose, colloquially called a jug snout.
Manilov and Sobakevich arrived at the signing of the deeds themselves, while the rest of the sellers acted through attorneys. Not knowing that all the peasants bought by Chichikov were dead, the chairman of the chamber asked what land he intended to settle them on. Chichikov lied about his alleged estate in the Kherson province.
To “splash” the purchase, everyone went to the chief of police. Among the city fathers, he was known as a miracle worker: he had only to blink, passing by a fish row or a cellar, and the merchants themselves carried a snack in great abundance. At a noisy feast, Sobakevich especially distinguished himself: while the other guests were drinking, in a quarter of an hour he secretly pissed alone to the bones of a huge sturgeon, and then pretended that it had nothing to do with it.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 7 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 8 - briefly
Chichikov bought dead souls from the landlords for a penny, but on the paper in the bill of sale it appeared that he had paid about a hundred thousand for all. Such a large purchase caused the liveliest talk in the city. The rumor that Chichikov was a millionaire raised him greatly in all eyes. In the opinion of the ladies, he became a real hero, and they even began to find in his appearance something similar to Mars. One emotional person sent him an anonymous romantic letter. (See Letter to Chichikov from an unknown lady.)
At the very end of the ball, Chichikov suddenly suffered a terrible and fatal blow. The drunken Nozdryov, who entered the hall, went straight to him and began to loudly, with laughter, ask how much he had bought dead souls. Confusion arose among those present, and although no one understood anything yet, Chichikov considered it best to leave as soon as possible. (See Nozdryov and Chichikov at the ball.)
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 8 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 9 - briefly
Nozdryov's words were at first considered drunken nonsense. However, soon the news of Chichikov's buying up the dead was confirmed by Korobochka, who came to the city to find out if she had been cheap in her deal with him. The wife of a local archpriest gave the story of Korobochka to a well-known in the city society nice lady, and she - to her friend - lady, pleasant in every way. From these two ladies, the rumor spread to everyone else. (See The conversation of a lady pleasant in every way, and just a pleasant lady.)
The whole city was at a loss: why did Chichikov buy dead souls? In the female half of society prone to frivolous romance, a strange idea arose that he wanted to cover up preparations for the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. The more down-to-earth male officials wondered if there was a strange visitor - the auditor, sent to their province to investigate due to official omissions, and "dead souls" - some kind of conditional phrase, whose meaning is known only to Chichikov himself and the highest authorities. The bewilderment came to true awe when the governor received two papers from above, saying that a well-known counterfeiter and a dangerous fugitive robber could be in their area. (See Why, with rumors about Chichikov's purchases, revival and panic swept the city?)
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 9 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 10 - briefly
The city fathers gathered for a meeting with the police chief to decide who Chichikov was and what to do with him. Here the most daring hypotheses were put forward. Some considered Chichikov a forger of banknotes, others - an investigator who would soon arrest them all, and others - a murderer. There was even an opinion that he was Napoleon in disguise, released by the British from St. Helena, and the postmaster saw in Chichikov Captain Kopeikin, a disabled veteran of the war against the French, who did not receive a pension from the authorities for his injury and took revenge on them with the help of a gang of robbers recruited in the Ryazan forests. (See What rumors went about Chichikov? and "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" - read in full.)
Remembering that Nozdryov was the first to speak about dead souls, they decided to send for him. But this famous liar, having come to the meeting, began to confirm all the assumptions at once. He said that Chichikov had previously kept two million counterfeit money and that he even managed to slip away with them from the police who surrounded the house. According to Nozdryov, Chichikov really wanted to kidnap the governor's daughter, prepared horses at all stations and bribed for a secret wedding for 75 rubles a priest - Father Sidor in the village of Trukhmachevka. (See Nozdryov on Chichikov.)
Realizing that Nozdryov was carrying game, those present drove him away, left in great bewilderment. All these rumors and hypotheses affected the city prosecutor so strongly that, having come home, he suddenly died, having flopped back from his chair. (See Death of a prosecutor in Dead Souls.)
Nozdryov went to Chichikov, who was ill and did not know anything about the city's rumors. Nozdryov "out of friendship" told Pavel Ivanovich: in the city everyone considers him a counterfeiter and an extremely dangerous person. Shaken, Chichikov decided to leave early in the morning in a hurry.
For more details, see separate articles Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 10 - summary and Gogol "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 11 - briefly
The next day, Chichikov almost escaped from the city of NN. His chaise rolled along the high road, and during this journey Gogol told the readers the story of his hero's life and finally explained for what purpose he acquired dead souls.
Chichikov's parents were nobles, but very poor. As a young boy, he was taken from the village to the city and sent to a school. (See Chichikov's childhood.) Finally, the father gave his son advice to please the bosses and save a penny.
Chichikov always followed this parental instruction. He did not have brilliant talents, but he constantly fawned over teachers - and graduated from school with an excellent certificate. Greed, the desire to break out of the poor into wealthy people were the main properties of his soul. After school, Chichikov entered the lowest official position, achieved a promotion, promising to marry the ugly daughter of his boss, but deceived him. Through lies and hypocrisy, Chichikov twice reached prominent official posts, but the first time he plundered the money allocated for government construction, and the second time he acted as the patron of a gang of smugglers. On both occasions, he was exposed and narrowly escaped prison. (See Chichikov's service career.)
He had to be satisfied with the position of a court attorney. At that time, loans under the mortgage of landowners' estates to the treasury were spreading. Being engaged in one such case, Chichikov suddenly found out that the dead serfs were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit, which took place in Russia only once every few years. When mortgaging estates, the nobles received from the treasury amounts according to the number of their peasant souls - 200 rubles per person. Chichikov came up with the idea of traveling around the provinces, buying up for a penny the dead, but not yet marked as such in the audit, peasant souls, then pawn them in bulk - and so get a rich jackpot ...
Gogol thought to continue the adventures of Chichikov in the second and third volumes of Dead Souls. He completed the first one with a famous passage, where he compared Russia with a troika jumping God knows where. The original interpretation of the meaning of this Gogol's reasoning was given by another great Russian writer - Vasily Shukshin, in the story "Stuck".
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", chapter 11 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
The work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol "Dead Souls" is one of the most striking works of the author. This poem, the plot of which is connected with the description of the Russian reality of the 19th century, is of great value for Russian literature. It was also significant for Gogol himself. No wonder he called it a "national poem" and explained that in this way he tried to expose the shortcomings Russian Empire and then change the face of their homeland for the better.
Birth of a genre
The idea that Gogol wrote "Dead Souls" was suggested to the author by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. Initially, the work was conceived as a light humorous novel. However, after the start of work on the work Dead Souls, the genre in which the text was originally supposed to be presented was changed.
The fact is that Gogol considered the plot to be very original and gave the presentation a different, deeper meaning. As a result, a year after the start of work on the work Dead Souls, its genre became more extensive. The author decided that his offspring should be nothing more than a poem.
Main idea
The writer divided his work into 3 parts. In the first of them, he decided to point out all the shortcomings that took place in contemporary society. In the second part, he planned to show how the process of correcting people takes place, and in the third part, the life of the heroes who have already changed for the better.
In 1841 Gogol completed the first volume of Dead Souls. The plot of the book shocked the entire reading country, causing a lot of controversy. After the release of the first part, the author began work on the continuation of his poem. However, he was never able to finish what he started. The second volume of the poem seemed to him imperfect, and nine days before his death he burned the only copy of the manuscript. For us, only drafts of the first five chapters have been preserved, which today are considered a separate work.
Unfortunately, the trilogy was never completed. But the poem "Dead Souls" should have had a significant meaning. Its main purpose was to describe the movement of the soul, which went through a fall, purification, and then rebirth. This path to the ideal had to be passed by the main character of the poem, Chichikov.
Plot
The story told in the first volume of Dead Souls takes us to the nineteenth century. It tells about a journey through Russia undertaken by the main character Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov to acquire the so-called dead souls from the landowners. The plot of the work provides the reader with a complete picture of the customs and life of the people of that time.
Let's look at the chapters of "Dead Souls" with their plot in a little more detail. This will give general idea about a brilliant piece of literature.
Chapter first. Start
How does the work "Dead Souls" begin? The theme raised in it describes the events that took place at the time when the French were finally expelled from the territory of Russia.
At the beginning of the story, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, who served as a collegiate adviser, arrived in one of the provincial cities. When analyzing "Dead Souls", the image of the protagonist becomes clear. The author shows him as a middle-aged man with an average build and good looks. Pavel Ivanovich is extremely inquisitive. There are situations when you can even talk about his importunity and annoying. So, at the tavern servant, he is interested in the income of the owner, and also tries to find out about all the officials of the city and about the most noble landowners. He is also interested in the state of the region to which he arrived.
The collegiate adviser does not sit alone. He visits all officials, finding the right approach to them and choosing words that are pleasant for people. That is why they treat him just as well, which even surprises Chichikov a little, who has experienced many negative reactions towards himself and even survived the assassination attempt.
The main purpose of Pavel Ivanovich's arrival is to find a place for a quiet life. To do this, when attending a party in the governor's house, he meets two landowners - Manilov and Sobakevich. At a dinner at the police chief's, Chichikov became friends with the landowner Nozdrev.
Chapter two. Manilov
The continuation of the plot is connected with Chichikov's trip to Manilov. The landowner met the official on the threshold of his estate and led him into the house. The road to Manilov's dwelling lay among the pavilions, on which signs were hung with inscriptions indicating that these were places for reflection and solitude.
Analyzing "Dead Souls", Manilov can be easily characterized by this decoration. This is a landowner who has no problems, but at the same time is too cloying. Manilov says that the arrival of such a guest is comparable for him to a sunny day and the happiest holiday. He invites Chichikov to dine. The mistress of the estate and the two sons of the landowner, Themistoclus and Alkid, are present at the table.
After a hearty dinner, Pavel Ivanovich decides to tell about the reason that brought him to these parts. Chichikov wants to buy peasants who have already died, but their death has not yet been reflected in the audit certificate. His goal is to draw up all the documents, supposedly these peasants are still alive.
How does Manilov react to this? He has dead souls. However, the landowner is initially surprised by such a proposal. But then he agrees to the deal. Chichikov leaves the estate and goes to Sobakevich. Meanwhile, Manilov begins to dream about how Pavel Ivanovich will live next door to him and what good friends they will be after his move.
Chapter three. Getting to know the Box
On the way to Sobakevich, Selifan (Chichikov's coachman) accidentally missed the right turn. And then it began to rain heavily, besides, Chichikov fell into the mud. All this forces the official to look for lodging for the night, which he found at the landowner Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. Analysis of "Dead Souls" indicates that this lady is afraid of everything and everyone. However, Chichikov did not waste time in vain and offered to purchase deceased peasants from her. At first, the old woman was intractable, but after a visiting official promised to buy all the lard and hemp from her (but next time), she agrees.
The deal went through. The box treated Chichikov with pancakes and pies. Pavel Ivanovich, having eaten a hearty meal, drove on. And the landowner became very worried that she took little money for dead souls.
Chapter Four. Nozdrev
After visiting Korobochka, Chichikov drove out onto the main road. He decided to visit an inn along the way to have a bite to eat. And here the author wanted to give this action a certain mystery. He makes lyrical digressions. In Dead Souls, he reflects on the properties of appetite inherent in people like the protagonist of his work.
While in the tavern, Chichikov meets Nozdryov. The landowner complained that he had lost money at the fair. Then they follow to the estate of Nozdrev, where Pavel Ivanovich intends to profit well.
By analyzing "Dead Souls", you can understand what Nozdrev is. This is a man who loves all sorts of stories. He tells them everywhere, wherever he is. After a hearty dinner, Chichikov decides to bargain. However, Pavel Ivanovich cannot beg for dead souls or buy them. Nozdrev sets his own conditions, which consist in an exchange or in a purchase in addition to something. The landowner even offers to use dead souls as a bet in the game.
Serious disagreements arise between Chichikov and Nozdryov, and they postpone the conversation until morning. The next day, the men agreed to play checkers. However, Nozdryov tried to deceive his opponent, which was noticed by Chichikov. In addition, it turned out that the landowner was on trial. And Chichikov had no choice but to run when he saw the police captain.
Chapter five. Sobakevich
Sobakevich continues the images of the landowners in Dead Souls. It is to him that Chichikov comes after Nozdryov. The estate he visited is a match for his master. Just as strong. The host treats the guest to dinner, talking during the meal about city officials, calling them all swindlers.
Chichikov talks about his plans. They did not frighten Sobakevich at all, and the men quickly moved on to making a deal. However, trouble began for Chichikov. Sobakevich began to bargain, talking about the most best qualities dead peasants. However, Chichikov does not need such characteristics, and he insists on his own. And here Sobakevich begins to hint at the illegality of such a deal, threatening to tell whoever needs to know about it. Chichikov had to agree to the price offered by the landowner. They sign the document, still fearing a dirty trick from each other.
There are lyrical digressions in "Dead Souls" in the fifth chapter. The author finishes the story about Chichikov's visit to Sobakevich with a discussion about the Russian language. Gogol emphasizes the diversity, strength and richness of the Russian language. Here he points to the peculiarity of our people to give each nickname associated with various misconduct or with the course of circumstances. They do not leave their master until his death.
Chapter six. Plushkin
A very interesting hero is Plyushkin. "Dead Souls" shows him as a very greedy person. The landowner does not even throw away his old sole, which has fallen off his boot, and carries it into a rather decent pile of such rubbish.
However, Plyushkin sells dead souls very quickly and without bargaining. Pavel Ivanovich is very happy about this and refuses the tea with cracker offered by the owner.
Chapter seven. Deal
Having reached his original goal, Chichikov is sent to the civil chamber to finally resolve the issue. Manilov and Sobakevich have already arrived in the city. The chairman agrees to become an attorney for Plyushkin and all other sellers. The deal went through, and champagne was opened for the health of the new landowner.
Chapter eight. Gossip. Ball
The city began to discuss Chichikov. Many thought he was a millionaire. The girls began to go crazy for him and send love messages. Once at the ball to the governor, he literally finds himself in the arms of the ladies. However, a sixteen-year-old blonde catches his attention. At this time, Nozdryov comes to the ball, loudly interested in buying dead souls. Chichikov had to leave in complete confusion and sadness.
Chapter nine. Benefit or love?
At this time, the landowner Korobochka arrived in the city. She decided to check if she had miscalculated with the cost of dead souls. The news about the amazing sale and purchase becomes the property of the residents of the city. People believe that dead souls are a cover for Chichikov, but in fact he dreams of taking away the blonde he likes, who is the daughter of the governor.
Chapter ten. Versions
The city literally revived. The news comes one after another. They talk about the appointment of a new governor, about the presence of supporting papers about fake banknotes, about an insidious robber who escaped from the police, etc. There are many versions, and they all relate to Chichikov's personality. The excitation of people negatively affects the prosecutor. He dies on impact.
Chapter Eleven. Purpose of the event
Chichikov does not know what the city is talking about him. He goes to the governor, but he is not received there. In addition, people who meet him on the way shy away from the official in different directions. Everything becomes clear after Nozdryov comes to the hotel. The landowner tries to convince Chichikov that he was trying to help him kidnap the governor's daughter.
And here Gogol decides to tell about his hero and why Chichikov is buying up dead souls. The author tells the reader about childhood and schooling, where Pavel Ivanovich already showed the ingenuity given to him by nature. Gogol also tells about Chichikov's relationship with his comrades and teachers, about his service and work in the commission, which was located in the government building, as well as about the transition to service in customs.
The analysis of "Dead Souls" clearly indicates the makings of the protagonist, which he used to complete his deal described in the work. Indeed, at all places of work, Pavel Ivanovich managed to make a lot of money by concluding fake contracts and collusion. In addition, he did not disdain to work with smuggling. In order to avoid criminal punishment, Chichikov resigned. Having gone to work as an attorney, he immediately put together an insidious plan in his head. Chichikov wanted to buy dead souls in order to pawn, as if alive, into the treasury for the sake of receiving money. Further in his plans was the purchase of a village for the sake of providing future offspring.
In part, Gogol justifies his hero. He considers him the owner, who built such an entertaining chain of transactions with his mind.
Images of landowners
These heroes of "Dead Souls" are especially vividly presented in five chapters. Moreover, each of them is dedicated to only one landowner. There is a certain pattern in the placement of chapters. The images of the landlords of "Dead Souls" are arranged in them according to the degree of their degradation. Let's remember who was the first of them? Manilov. Dead Souls describes this landowner as lazy and dreamy, sentimental and practically unadapted to life. This is confirmed by many details, for example, the farm that has fallen into disrepair and the house standing southward, open to all winds. The author, using the amazing artistic power of the word, shows his reader the deadness of Manilov and his worthlessness. life path. After all, behind external attractiveness there is a spiritual emptiness.
What other vivid images are created in the work "Dead Souls"? Heroes-landlords in the image of the Box are people who are focused only on their household. Not without reason, at the end of the third chapter, the author draws an analogy of this landowner with all aristocratic ladies. The box is distrustful and stingy, superstitious and stubborn. In addition, she is narrow-minded, petty and narrow-minded.
Next in terms of degradation is Nozdrev. Like many other landowners, he does not change with age, without even trying to develop internally. The image of Nozdryov embodies a portrait of a reveler and a braggart, a drunkard and a cheater. This landowner is passionate and energetic, but all his positive qualities are wasted. The image of Nozdryov is as typical as the previous landowners. And this is emphasized by the author in his statements.
Describing Sobakevich, Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol resorts to comparing him with a bear. In addition to clumsiness, the author describes his parodic inverted heroic power, earthiness and rudeness.
But the ultimate degree of degradation is described by Gogol in the form of the richest landowner in the province - Plyushkin. During his biography, this man went from a thrifty owner to a half-crazy miser. And it was not social conditions that brought him to this state. Plyushkin's moral decline provoked loneliness.
Thus, all the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" are united by such features as idleness and inhumanity, as well as spiritual emptiness. And he opposes this world of truly "dead souls" with faith in the inexhaustible potential of the "mysterious" Russian people. Not without reason, in the finale of the work, an image of an endless road appears, along which a trinity bird rushes. And in this movement, the writer's confidence in the possibility of the spiritual transformation of mankind and in the great destiny of Russia is manifested.
