The poem “Dead Souls” was conceived by Gogol as a grandiose panorama of Russian society with all its features and paradoxes. Central problem works - the spiritual death and rebirth of representatives of the main Russian classes of that time. The author exposes and ridicules the vices of the landowners, the corruption and destructive passions of the bureaucrats.
The title of the work itself has a double meaning. “Dead souls” are not only dead peasants, but also other actually living characters in the work. By calling them dead, Gogol emphasizes their devastated, pitiful, “dead” souls.
History of creation
“Dead Souls” is a poem to which Gogol devoted a significant part of his life. The author repeatedly changed the concept, rewrote and reworked the work. Initially, Gogol conceived Dead Souls as a humorous novel. However, in the end I decided to create a work that exposes the problems of Russian society and will serve its spiritual revival. This is how the POEM “Dead Souls” appeared.
Gogol wanted to create three volumes of the work. In the first, the author planned to describe the vices and decay of the serf society of that time. In the second, give its heroes hope for redemption and rebirth. And in the third he intended to describe the future path of Russia and its society.
However, Gogol only managed to finish the first volume, which appeared in print in 1842. Until his death, Nikolai Vasilyevich worked on the second volume. However, just before his death, the author burned the manuscript of the second volume.
The third volume of Dead Souls was never written. Gogol could not find the answer to the question of what will happen next to Russia. Or maybe I just didn’t have time to write about it.
Description of the work
One day, in the city of NN a very interesting character, who stands out greatly from the background of other old-timers of the city - Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. After his arrival, he began to actively get acquainted with important persons cities, attended feasts and dinners. A week later, the newcomer was already on friendly terms with all the representatives of the city nobility. Everyone was delighted with the new man who suddenly appeared in the city.
Pavel Ivanovich goes out of town to pay visits to noble landowners: Manilov, Korobochka, Sobakevich, Nozdryov and Plyushkin. He is polite to every landowner and tries to find an approach to everyone. Natural resourcefulness and resourcefulness help Chichikov to gain the favor of every landowner. In addition to empty talk, Chichikov talks with the gentlemen about the peasants who died after the audit (“dead souls”) and expresses a desire to buy them. The landowners cannot understand why Chichikov needs such a deal. However, they agree to it.
As a result of his visits, Chichikov acquired more than 400 “dead souls” and was in a hurry to quickly finish his business and leave the city. The useful contacts Chichikov made upon his arrival in the city helped him resolve all issues with documents.
After some time, the landowner Korobochka let slip in the city that Chichikov was buying up “dead souls.” The whole city learned about Chichikov's affairs and was perplexed. Why would such a respected gentleman buy dead peasants? Endless rumors and speculation have a detrimental effect even on the prosecutor, and he dies of fear.
The poem ends with Chichikov hastily leaving the city. Leaving the city, Chichikov sadly recalls his plans to buy dead souls and pledge them to the treasury as living ones.
Main characters
Qualitatively new hero in Russian literature of that time. Chichikov can be called a representative of the newest class, just emerging in serf Russia - entrepreneurs, “acquirers”. The activity and activity of the hero distinguishes him favorably from other characters in the poem.
The image of Chichikov is distinguished by its incredible versatility and diversity. Even by the appearance of the hero it is difficult to immediately understand what kind of person he is and what he is like. “In the chaise sat a gentleman, not handsome, but not of bad appearance, neither too fat nor too thin, one cannot say that he is old, but not that he is too young.”
It is difficult to understand and embrace the nature of the main character. He is changeable, has many faces, is able to adapt to any interlocutor, and give his face the desired expression. Thanks to these qualities, Chichikov easily finds common language with landowners, officials and wins the desired position in society. Ability to charm and win over the right people Chichikov uses it to achieve his goal, namely receiving and accumulating money. His father also taught Pavel Ivanovich to deal with those who are richer and to treat money with care, since only money can pave the way in life.
Chichikov did not earn money honestly: he deceived people, took bribes. Over time, Chichikov's machinations become increasingly widespread. Pavel Ivanovich strives to increase his fortune by any means, without paying attention to any moral norms and principles.
Gogol defines Chichikov as a person with a vile nature and also considers his soul dead.
In his poem, Gogol describes typical images of landowners of that time: “business executives” (Sobakevich, Korobochka), as well as not serious and wasteful gentlemen (Manilov, Nozdrev).
Nikolai Vasilyevich masterfully created the image of the landowner Manilov in the work. By this one image, Gogol meant a whole class of landowners with similar features. The main qualities of these people are sentimentality, constant fantasies and lack of active activity. Landowners of this type let the economy take its course and do nothing useful. They are stupid and empty inside. This is exactly what Manilov was - not bad at heart, but a mediocre and stupid poser.
Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka
The landowner, however, differs significantly in character from Manilov. Korobochka is a good and tidy housewife; everything goes well on her estate. However, the landowner's life revolves exclusively around her farm. The box does not develop spiritually and is not interested in anything. She understands absolutely nothing that does not concern her household. Korobochka is also one of the images by which Gogol meant a whole class of similar narrow-minded landowners who do not see anything beyond their farm.
The author clearly classifies the landowner Nozdryov as an unserious and wasteful gentleman. Unlike the sentimental Manilov, Nozdrev is full of energy. However, the landowner uses this energy not for the benefit of the farm, but for the sake of his momentary pleasures. Nozdryov is playing and wasting his money. Distinguished by its frivolity and idle attitude towards life.
Mikhail Semenovich Sobakevich
The image of Sobakevich, created by Gogol, echoes the image of a bear. There is something of a large wild animal in the appearance of the landowner: clumsiness, sedateness, strength. Sobakevich doesn't care aesthetic beauty things around him, but their reliability and durability. Behind his rough appearance and stern character lies a cunning, intelligent and resourceful person. According to the author of the poem, it will not be difficult for landowners like Sobakevich to adapt to the changes and reforms coming in Rus'.
The most unusual representative of the landowner class in Gogol's poem. The old man is distinguished by his extreme stinginess. Moreover, Plyushkin is greedy not only in relation to his peasants, but also in relation to himself. However, such savings make Plyushkin a truly poor man. After all, it is his stinginess that does not allow him to find a family.
Bureaucracy
Gogol's work contains a description of several city officials. However, the author in his work does not significantly differentiate them from each other. All officials in “Dead Souls” are a gang of thieves, crooks and embezzlers. These people really only care about their enrichment. Gogol literally describes in a few outlines the image of a typical official of that time, rewarding him with the most unflattering qualities.
Analysis of the work
The plot of “Dead Souls” is based on an adventure conceived by Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. At first glance, Chichikov's plan seems incredible. However, if you look at it, the Russian reality of those times, with its rules and laws, provided opportunities for all sorts of fraud associated with serfs.
The fact is that after 1718 in Russian Empire A capitation census of peasants was introduced. For every male serf, the master had to pay a tax. However, the census was carried out quite rarely - once every 12-15 years. And if one of the peasants ran away or died, the landowner was still forced to pay a tax for him. Dead or escaped peasants became a burden for the master. This created fertile ground for various types of fraud. Chichikov himself hoped to carry out this kind of scam.
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol knew perfectly well how Russian society with its serfdom system was structured. And the whole tragedy of his poem lies in the fact that Chichikov’s scam absolutely did not contradict the current Russian legislation. Gogol exposes the distorted relationships of man with man, as well as man with the state, and talks about the absurd laws in force at that time. Because of such distortions, events become possible that contradict common sense.
“Dead Souls” is a classic work, which, like no other, was written in the style of Gogol. Quite often, Nikolai Vasilyevich based his work on some anecdote or comical situation. And the more ridiculous and unusual the situation, the more tragic the real state of affairs seems.
/ "Dead Souls"
Chapter I
The action of the poem takes place in one small town, to which Gogol gave the name “NN”. So, one day an interesting chaise pulled up to the city hotel. As the author says, only bachelors travel in such a chaise. In this bachelor’s transport sat a man “not handsome, but not of bad appearance, neither too fat nor too thin; I can’t say that I’m old, but I can’t say that I’m too young.” No one noticed the arrival of this gentleman, except for two peasants who stood at the entrance to the tavern opposite the city hotel. Seeing the chaise approaching, they began to argue whether it would reach Moscow or Kazan.
The visiting gentleman settled in one of the hotel rooms with huge cockroaches that ran from corner to corner. A footman named Petrushka and Selifan also came with him, he was a coachman. While the footman and coachman were sorting out the visiting gentleman's belongings, he went down to the common room and ordered lunch. During the meal, this gentleman started a conversation with the policeman about the landowners with a large number peasant souls and officials of the local city.
The visiting gentleman's name was Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. The next day, Pavel Ivanovich paid a visit to all city authorities and minor officials, including the governor. Chichikov was distinguished by his courtesy and ability to quickly gain the trust of his interlocutor. For example, in front of the governor, he could not get enough of the city roads. For this, the latter invited Pavel Ivanovich to his home to celebrate some event. Other seduced officials invited Chichikov to their home to have tea.
About myself main character didn't say much. Only that he wants to settle in this city, and therefore wants to get to know all the city officials.
In the evening, Pavel Ivanovich went to visit the governor. There were a lot of people there: men in black tailcoats with white shirts, women in evening dresses. All the men present could be divided into two types: fat and thin. Gogol further tells the reader that thin people are only suitable for small, insignificant matters, while fat people are more judicious and achieve significant results in their activities. The author refers Chichikov specifically to fat people.
In the governor's house, Chichikov and two landowners meet - Manilov and Sobakevich. The landowners invite Pavel Ivanovich to visit their villages.
For a few more days, Chichikov is visited by a city official. In the city of NN, rumors spread about him as a businesslike and decent gentleman.
Chapter II
Pavel Ivanovich lived in the city of NN for about a week, visiting various officials, and then decided to visit his new acquaintances, the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. Next, Gogol describes to us the footman Petrushka. The latter's favorite pastime was reading books. It should be noted that Petrushka read everything, without giving preference. He was silent by nature. Two things stood out about Parsley: he slept and what he wore; there was always the same smell wafting from him.
First of all, Chichikov decided to visit the landowner Manilov. His estate stood on the outskirts, blown by the winds. Near the landowner’s house there was a gazebo, on which one could see the inscription “Temple of Solitary Reflection.” Manilov was very happy about the arrival of his dear guest and immediately invited him to come into the house.
Looking at Manilov, it was very difficult to understand what kind of character he had. Gogol said about Manilov that he was neither this nor that. His facial features were pleasant and seemed like sugar. His manner of speech was inviting and seeking friendship. One can say about Manilov that he was a dreamy person, he hardly looked after the household, but was constantly thinking about something. Once he even wanted to dig an underground tunnel from his house, but this idea remained an idea. In the landowner’s office, a book on one page had been gathering dust for two years. Manilov lived amicably and happily with his wife. And they had two sons - Themistokmos and Alcides.
Chichikov decides to start a business conversation. He asked Manilov for a register of peasants who died after the last census. After this, Pavel Ivanovich makes an amazing offer to the landowner about buying dead the souls of these peasants. According to all the documents, the eyes look as if they were alive and Manilov was obliged to pay tax for them. This proposal plunged the landowner into a daze, but Chichikov assured that everything would be formalized in the proper form. According to the documents, the dead peasants will pass through as if they were alive.
Manilov refuses the money and gives the dead souls of the peasants to Chichikov. After this, Pavel Ivanovich leaves the landowner’s estate, and Manilov plunges into his next dreams, seeing how the tsar presents him and Chichikov with general shoulder straps for their strong friendship.
Chapter III
Chichikov leaves Manilov's estate in a very good mood, he is happy about the successful deal. The coachman Selifan, talking to the horse, became completely distracted and drove off the road. Chichikov's chaise drove along the plowed ground and eventually overturned, and Pavel Ivanovich landed in the mud.
Only in the evening the travelers arrived at some village. These were the possessions of Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. Nastasya Petrovna was an elderly and very melancholic woman. She grieved when the harvest failed or the farm suffered losses, but at the same time she gradually saved money and hid it in drawers in chests of drawers. By nature, landowner Korobochka was a very thrifty person.
A separate room was prepared for Chichikov to spend the night with a feather bed fluffed up to the ceiling. The next day Pavel Ivanovich woke up late. His clean clothes were already in the room. Looking out the window, Chichikov saw a large farm, the peasants lived in prosperity, order and cleanliness reigned on the estate.
After this, Pavel Ivanovich went to the room of the mistress of the estate and without hesitation immediately started talking about selling the dead souls of peasants. Nastasya Petrovna could not understand what her guest was talking about, but she felt that the business was profitable. Unable to bear it, Chichikov called Korobochka “a strong-willed man,” “a damned old woman.” The landowner refused to sell the dead souls; she wanted to first study the demand so as not to sell them too cheap. Still, Chichikov manages to persuade Nastasya Petrovna to sell him the dead souls of the peasants. For this he bought honey and hemp from the landowner. Korobochka was happy with this deal, she treated Pavel Ivanovich, after which he left the landowner’s estate.
Chapter IV
Deciding to have a snack, Chichikov stops at a tavern. There he strikes up a conversation with the owner of this establishment. She says that she knows the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich well. From her words one can understand that Manilov is a delicate person. He liked to order a lot of dishes, but he didn’t eat everything, he only tried it. Sobakevich, on the contrary, ordered one dish, which he ate completely, then asked for additional food, for which he necessarily paid extra.
At this time, Chichikov’s acquaintance Nozdryov appeared at the tavern. Nozdryov was a landowner. He was distinguished by average height, strong physique, snow-white teeth and tar sideburns. He was a man who radiated health. Nozdryov began the conversation with Chichikov by visiting a fair, where he spent all his money and things. He addresses Pavel Ivanovich as if he were an old friend, scolding him for the fact that he has not yet come to visit him. Later, Nozdryov brings Chichikov to his estate.
Next, Gogol introduces us to the personality of the landowner Nozdryov. The author says about the landowner that he was a reveler, that he was one of those who often makes friends and one who often finds himself beaten by new friends. Next we learn that his wife had already died, leaving two children with whom the landowner did not care at all. Nozdryov never sat at home, but constantly traveled to fairs and balls. Loved to play cards. Since he did not play honestly, he often returned home beaten and shabby. And what’s most amazing is that he could be friends with his offenders the very next day.
Nozdryov was a liar by nature. He often started stories about a pink or blue horse. The landowner loved to annoy his close people and friends by spreading rumors and telling tall tales. He was restless. At any moment he could take off and drive wherever his eyes lead. He offered ridiculous exchanges of everything for everything. And he did this not for profit, but for the sake of action and his curious character.
Nozdryov's estate was as reckless as its owner. There was a construction goat in the dining room of the house. On it, men whitewashed the walls. Nozdryov immediately took Chichikov to inspect his estate. The landowner had many dogs of all stripes. Their nicknames were very original: shoot, scold, bake.
At about five o'clock in the evening, Nozdryov invited Chichikov to dinner. Food, like everything else in the landowner's house, was not the main thing. Some dishes were burnt, others were damp. During the meal, Pavel Ivanovich starts a conversation about selling dead souls. The landowner agrees to the deal with one condition: Chichikov had to buy another horse with a dog and a barrel organ. Pavel Ivanovich does not agree to this.
The next day, Nozdryov invites Chichikov to play checkers for dead souls. The latter agrees. During the game, Chichikov notices that the landowner is not playing fairly and stops the game. When Nozdryov orders the servants to beat Pavel Ivanovich. At this moment, a police captain enters Nozdryov’s estate and reminds Nozdryov that he is on trial for beating the landowner Maksimov. Chichikov, taking advantage of the moment, leaves Nozdrev’s estate.
Chapter V
On the way to the village of Sobakevich, the coachman Selifan, unable to control the chaise, collides with another chaise harnessed to six horses. The reins got mixed up and both vehicles stuck on the road. This event attracted the attention of local men who gave ridiculous advice to the coachmen, thereby preventing the problem from being quickly resolved. In the chaise, Chichikov noticed an old woman and a girl with golden hair. She looked to be about sixteen years old. Chichikov liked the young lady, and he tried to start a conversation, but it didn’t work out. At this time, the reins were unraveled and the travelers dispersed.
Sobakevich's estate was significant in size. Everything about it was made to last. It was noticeable that the owner was busy with the housework, because order reigned everywhere.
Gogol compared Sobakevich to a “medium-sized bear.” This image was emphasized by a bear-colored tailcoat, long sleeves and trousers, and a clubbed gait. His face was red-hot. The landowner did not turn his neck at all. Because of this, I almost never looked at my interlocutor. In addition, Sobakevich’s name was Mikhail Semenovich.
Sobakevich invited Chichikov to go into the living room for dinner. In the living room hung huge paintings depicting Greek commanders. All of them were depicted with “thick thighs and incredible mustaches.”
All household utensils seemed to resemble their owner and complement him. For example, in the corner of the living room there was a “pot-bellied walnut bureau on very incongruous four legs", which resembled a bear.
For about five minutes Chichikov, Sobakevich and his wife sat in silence. To start the conversation, Pavel Ivanovich decided to talk about city officials. Sobakevich immediately spoke unflatteringly about them, calling them swindlers and hypocrites.
The lunch dishes were very nutritious. The landowner lived by the rule: if pork is served for dinner, then you need to eat the whole pig. Lamb and beef were treated the same way. To confirm this rule, Sobakevich ate most of the side of lamb on his own, even gnawing the bones.
Later, when Sobakevich’s wife left the living room, Chichikov started talking about buying dead peasants heavenly souls. Sobakevich immediately wanted to sell them at a price of one hundred rubles per head. He explained the price by saying that all the peasants were masters of their craft and were famous throughout the area. Pavel Ivanovich was embarrassed by this price and after long negotiations the parties agreed on a price of 2.5 rubles per head.
Later, Chichikov leaves Sobakevich’s village very dissatisfied. He believes that Sobakevich simply robbed him. Pavel Ivanovich goes to the estate of the landowner Plyushkin.
Chapter VI
The village of Plyushkin was a mirror image of the village of Sobakevich. The houses here were very dilapidated, their roofs were full of holes, and there was no glass in the windows at all. Behind the village huts one could see huge stacks of the owner's bread, only they had been lying there for a long time and were overgrown with grass.
Gogol compares Plyushkin’s house to a “decrepit disabled person.” Almost all the windows were boarded up, and the plaster on the walls was crumbling. An old, withered garden grew around the house. Everything around said that once there was a vibrant life here, but now everything is dead and in oblivion.
In the center of the yard, Chichikov noticed “some figure” who was quarreling with a man. It was impossible to understand who it was: a man or a woman. She was wearing women's clothes and had a bunch of keys hanging from her belt. Deciding that it was a woman, Chichikov called out to her and said that the master was waiting for him. She told him to go into the house.
The house felt cold and damp from the basement. The situation inside the house was even worse than outside. It seemed as if all the furniture had been demolished into one room. The table was littered with some papers, glasses with liquid in which men were swimming. The whole thing was covered with a thick layer of dust. What was not needed was simply piled in the corner of the room.
A little later, the figure of a woman from the yard, already familiar to Chichikov, appears in the room. As it turned out, it was Plyushkin. He was a man with a huge chin, small eyes and thick eyebrows. His clothes were so worn and greasy that it was impossible to tell what he was wearing. In appearance, Plyushkin looked like the most ordinary beggar who begs for alms from the church.
In fact, Plyushkin was one of the richest landowners in this region. He had more than a thousand serfs. Its storerooms and barns were filled with goods. But this was not enough for the landowner. Every day he collected all sorts of things from around the village and dragged everything into the house, dumping it in the corners.
Gogol further tells us that Plyushkin was not always like this. He used to be an exemplary owner. His farm worked like clockwork, bringing huge profits to its owner. But after the death of his wife, Plyushkin changed, he began to get greedy every day. After his eldest daughter ran away from home to the headquarters captain, Plyushkin cursed her, the estate became even more empty. The son of a landowner, without his father's permission, decided to military service. After he lost at cards, Plyushkin cursed him too, and was never interested in his fate again. When his youngest daughter died, Plyushkin was left alone with everything. This loneliness gave rise to an irresistible feeling of greed and stinginess in him every day.
Soon traders stopped visiting Plyushkin’s estate. All the landowner's goods turned into decay, and the estate fell into disrepair.
Plyushkin began his conversation with Chichikov by saying that he was very poor. Pavel Ivanovich offered him help in the form of purchasing dead souls. Plyushkin was very happy about this and even treated Chichikov to tea with mossy crackers.
Chichikov bought more than one hundred and twenty dead souls from Plyushkin. After that, he returned in excellent spirits to his city hotel room.
Chapter VII
Waking up in the morning, Chichikov began to study the lists of acquired peasant souls. During the time that Pavel Ivanovich was in the city of “NN” he managed to buy four hundred dead souls. Getting acquainted with their names, he thought about the hard life of a simple serf. In one of the lists of peasants whom Chichikov bought from Sobakevich, he found female name: Sparrow Elizabeth. After this, Pavel Ivanovich said: “Sobakevich is a scoundrel, and he cheated here too!”
A little later, Chichikov went to the chairman of the chamber of judges to formalize the deed of sale. There he met Manilov and Sobakevich. Pavel Ivanovich wandered around the offices of officials for a long time until he gave in to his paw. After completing the deal, he went to the chairman to wash the purchase. Chichikov told everyone that he was buying peasants to export to the Kherson province. At one moment he himself believed what was said. All evening everyone drank to Pavel Ivanovich and to his future bride, whom they wanted to find in the city.
Chapter VIII
After high-profile purchases, Chichikov found himself in the center of attention of all residents of the city “NN”. He began to be revered as a very rich and noble man. Everyone around him treated him with love and care. Also at this time, Pavel Ivanovich began to be in demand among the female population of the city.
One day Chichikov was invited to another ball, which took place in the governor’s house. There Pavel Ivanovich was person number one. There wasn't a minute when someone didn't hug Chichikov or shake his hand. The women surrounded the main character in a tight ring and kept him busy with their conversations. In an instant, Chichikov noticed the golden-haired girl whom he had tried to meet earlier, on the way to Sobakevich’s village. It turns out that she was the daughter of the governor. Pavel Ivanovich immediately turned his attention to her. The girl, as if not noticing his signs of attention, yawned periodically. The surrounding ladies were angry with Chichikov’s behavior.
A little later, the landowner Nozdryov appears at the ball, who loudly declares that Chichikov is not buying up peasants, but their dead souls. None of those present paid any attention to Nozdryov’s words, because the landowner was known as a notorious liar. Pavel Ivanovich spent the rest of the evening with a negative feeling in his soul.
At the height of the ball at the governor's house, a chaise resembling a fat watermelon drove into the city. In it sat the landowner Korobochka, who came to find out true price dead souls, which she sold to Chichikov.
Chapter IX
The next day, one resident of the city “NN” came to her friend and told her the news: Chichikov was buying the dead souls of peasants. The landowner Korobochka, who personally sold them to him, said this.
Without thinking twice, the ladies decided that all this was just a cover. The true target is the governor's daughter, whom Chichikov planned to kidnap. This news spread throughout the city at the speed of light. The townspeople simply rebelled. Everything was confused in their heads, and no one could understand what was the matter. The news grew with new details every day. Whether Pavel Ivanovich abandoned his wife for the sake of the governor’s daughter, whom he secretly met with moonlight. City officials were also alarmed when they heard the news about the purchase of dead souls. Everyone began to look for sins in themselves that did not exist.
Just at the climax of the news about Chichikov, the governor receives a message about an escaped criminal. This completely confused everyone. And to find the truth, city officials went to the police chief.
Chapter X
All city officials were excited by the events taking place. Only the postmaster was calm and balanced. He told those gathered that Pavel Ivanovich was Captain Kopeikin and told the story of captain Kopeikin.
Captain Kopeikin lost an arm and a leg during the military campaign of the twelfth year. Together with the wounded soldiers he was taken to St. Petersburg. As it turned out, there were no orders regarding the wounded, and the captain found himself in a hopeless state. To clarify the situation, he decides to go to the sovereign. In St. Petersburg, Captain Kopeikin rents the cheapest room, after which he goes to the nobleman to ask for the sovereign's favor.
After standing in line for about four hours, Kopeikin managed to talk with the nobleman. The latter asked him to come back in a few days. The next day Kopeikin again came to the nobleman. He stated that it was necessary to wait for the king’s order regarding the wounded. The captain couldn't wait. He enters the nobleman's house and declares that he will not budge until his problem is solved. For such behavior, Kopeikin was expelled from St. Petersburg. No one heard from the captain again. A few months later, rumors spread that a gang of robbers led by Captain Kopeikin was operating in the forests near Ryazan.
This story did not make much of an impression on those present. Chichikov had both arms and legs intact, so he could not be Captain Kopeikin. Then the idea appeared that Pavel Ivanovich was Napoleon. To confirm this idea, officials turn to the landowner Nozdryov. He confirms that Chichikov is a sent Cossack. These rumors most likely caused the prosecutor to have a heart attack and die upon arriving home.
Due to illness, Chichikov lay in his room for three days and knew nothing about the events taking place in the city. After his recovery, he decides to visit city officials, but no one will let him in anymore. Towards evening, Nozdryov comes to Pavel Ivanovich, who tells him about what happened. Chichikov decides to leave the city as quickly as possible and tells Selifan to prepare the chaise for the trip.
Chapter XI
The next day, Chichikov failed to quickly leave the city of NN. Selifan did not prepare the chaise (the horses needed to be shoed and the wheel re-strung), and Pavel Ivanovich himself woke up late. All this preparation took about five more hours. After that, Chichikov got into the chaise and they set off.
One of the city streets was blocked by a funeral procession. Pavel Ivanovich hid in the chaise because he did not want to be seen. After a while, the chaise finally left the city.
Chichikov was born into a noble family. Pavlusha grew up without friends in a small room. Later, his father moved him to the city, where the main character began to attend school. Father Chichikov's last instructions were the words: “Most of all, please teachers and bosses.” They became the main principle of the life of the protagonist.
Chichikov did not have any special skills for education. He was always a modest and quiet student. Pavel Ivanovich was a man with a practical mindset. He did not spend the fifty dollars that his father left him, but managed to increase it by selling baked goods to his comrades. All his life Chichikov saved money not out of greed. He wanted a beautiful and well-fed life.
Later he entered the service of the treasury chamber, where he occupied the lowest position. There he pleases the boss as best he can, shows signs of attention to his daughter, and even promises to take her as his wife. Later, having received a higher position, Chichikov forgets about marriage.
After a while, he became a member of the commission for the construction of a state-owned house. Construction continued for six years, but the state house was never built. But each member of the commission got his own brand new house. Later the boss was changed, and all property was confiscated.
Chichikov was again left penniless. He gets a job at customs. There he shows his abilities in searching smugglers, for which he receives a promotion. After this, Pavel Ivanovich enters into an agreement with the smugglers, receiving huge profits from this. Over time, this connection became obvious, and Chichikov was put on trial. Somehow the main character escapes criminal punishment. He again loses his fortune.
After this, he comes up with the idea of buying dead souls, because with them he can get a bank loan and escape with the money. It is for this purpose that Chichikov comes to the city of “NN”.
Gogol treats his hero as an acquirer of the owner. Many people may not like him. To which the author recommends that everyone look into their soul and answer the question: “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me too?”
The poem ends with Chichikov’s chaise rushing along the road, and the main character himself smiles, as he loves driving fast.
Published in the second half of the 19th century and consists of two volumes. It tells about one landowner who roams the expanses of the country in order to buy up dead peasant souls. The work rivets you, forcing you to read faster and faster in order to reach the moment in which the purpose of buying up dead souls will be explained. I would like to know what benefits he will receive through such manipulations.
The main character of the poem is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, a middle-aged man of ordinary build. Gives you the opportunity to draw your own conclusions about the moral character, the author does not give any assessment of the hero’s personality.
In addition to Chichikov, there are several other characters in the novel with whom he makes acquaintance in order to make a profitable deal. Among them:
- Sobakevich
- Manilov
- Box
- Nozdryov
- Plyushkin
Each chapter of the volume provides an opportunity to get to know each character individually. Sometimes it is not possible to read the poem in its entirety, so the work “Dead Souls” is presented here briefly.
Chapter one
The first chapter tells how Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov drove into a hotel in a certain city of NN on his chaise. He introduced himself as a college adviser and didn’t tell anything else about himself. But he willingly asked about all the officials of this city, about landowners and other influential personalities. In addition, he asked whether there were epidemics in the province, and how many people died from diseases.
The main character was accompanied by his servants:
- Selifan, a middle-aged man who likes to drink.
- Petrushka, a footman of about thirty.
The councilor toured the city, inspected all the places and paid visits to city officials. Thanks to his insight and ability to flatter, he quickly made friends.
Chichikov was invited to the governor's ball, where he had the opportunity to meet such landowners as Sobakevich, Manilov and Nozdrev. All three invited a new friend to visit him, and he promised to visit him in the near future.
Chapter two
Chichikov decided to restrain given promise and went to visit my friend Manilov. Accompanied by his coachman Petrushka and servant Selifan, he left the city.
The adviser was warned that the village was fifteen miles from the city, but in reality it turned out to be much further. The hero finally reached the village of Manilovka. The unremarkable village could hardly invite anyone to come to it. The master's house stood on a hill and was open to all winds. Chichikov counted about two hundred huts as he approached the landowner’s house.
Finally, Pavel Ivanovich met with Manilov.
The man seemed very pleasant and sociable. I never took care of my property and was not interested in the affairs of the village, but loved to dream. Manilov had a wife, with whom he was very pleased, and two sons - Themistoclus and Alcides.
The owner of the house invited Chichikov to the table. During dinner, the guest and the landowner showered each other with mutual compliments. Soon the conversation turned to the estate, and Pavel Ivanovich voiced the purpose of his visit. He asked to sell him souls that were no longer alive, but according to the auditor’s tale, they were listed as such.
After some persuasion, the main character finally convinced the gentleman to make a deal. Having discussed some details and agreed to meet in the city, he left the estate in high spirits. And the owner of the house was completely confused and thought about such a strange proposal for a long time.
Chapter Three
On the way back, Chichikov got caught in the rain, it became completely dark, and his cart went astray. Suddenly they found themselves at the gate of a landowner.
She turned out to be an elderly woman named Nastastya Petrovna Korobochka. The hostess let the wet poor fellows in to spend the night, and in the morning ordered them to be fed breakfast. It is clear that Nastasya Petrovna was a thrifty housewife and an intelligent landowner. Compared to the previous village, this one was much more well-kept.
At breakfast, an unexpected guest asked the hostess about the peasants and asked to sell those who had died, but were listed as alive in the audit. The hostess was shocked by the strange question. This was the first time she had heard that dead souls could still be sold. The woman did not want to agree to the deal, she reasoned like this: if someone needs these souls, then they have some kind of value; and since they have value, then there will still be someone willing to buy them, and it will be possible to sell them at a higher price.
In the end, the deal took place and the main character left the landowner's village.
Chapter Four
After talking with Korobochka, Chichikov drove back to the city, along the way he stopped at a tavern, where he met his new acquaintance Nozdrev.
Nozdryov was a sociable person; he had many acquaintances. But at the same time, he could easily start a fight with his own friends. His wife died many years ago, and there were children at home, whom he was not involved in raising at all. His whole life was spent in entertainment establishments. He was both a very sincere man and at the same time a desperate liar. But he lied so naturally that he even believed it himself.
Despite being thirty years old, he remained at heart the leader and reckless driver that he was in the years of his stormy youth.
Nozdryov invited Chichikov to his place for lunch. After eating, the newly made friends started talking about the estate and the serfs. Pavel Ivanovich offered the landowner a deal for the purchase and sale of so-called “dead souls,” which he soon regretted greatly, because the conversation ended in a quarrel.
Nevertheless, despite this, the main character stayed overnight with the flighty landowner. In the morning the conversation resumed and almost ended in a fight, but the police captain who arrived on time prevented this. He informed the owner of the estate that he was on trial for insulting the landowner Maksimov. Chichikov took advantage of this moment and ran out of the house.
Chapter Five
After the strange events in the previous estate, the collegiate adviser thought for a long time about the failed deal, but at the same time he was glad that he managed to escape.
The carriage brought him to the village to Sobakevich, whom he also met at the ball.
A few words about the landowner Sobakevich: He was a serious, demanding man, he managed the farm seriously and thoughtfully, somewhat reminiscent of a bear. Either because of his strong physique, or because of the name Mikhail Semenovich. Everywhere in his house there were things as large as the owner.
Distinctive feature Sobakevich had a tendency to think very badly about everyone. He called everyone scammers and trusted no one.
The owner invited the guest to dinner, after which Chichikov dared to name the reason for his visit. Sobakevich reacted absolutely calmly to such a strange offer, agreed to carry out the deal, and even became so carried away that he began to praise every dead peasant.
During the transaction, Mikhail Semenovich started a conversation about the strange landowner Plyushkin, whose peasants often die of hunger.
Chapter Six
Soon after Chichikov left Sobakevich's estate, he found himself in front of a vast village. But its appearance was so dilapidated, abandoned and poor that it was difficult to imagine that someone lives here. At the end of the street a manor's house was visible, equally dilapidated and covered with mold.
Not far from the house, an old man in greasy rags, who could be mistaken for a beggar and given alms, was cursing. But it turned out to be none other than Plyushkin, the landowner of this village.
He was once a happy family man, he had a wife, two daughters and a son. They ran their household competently and thoughtfully. But after the death of his wife, the daughters got married, and the son went to serve in the regiment. After these events, Plyushkin became very suspicious and stingy.
He stopped looking after the estate, everything was slowly falling apart. The landowner walked the streets collecting carnations, feathers and all sorts of small things. Then he carefully hid what he had collected at home in the hope that it would come in handy.
Chichikov pondered for a long time how to approach and talk to Plyushkin. He was considering how to explain his visit. After several minutes of hesitation, he finally dared and met the master. Over a cup of tea, he offered to buy dead souls from the master, for which he received approval.
The result of this visit was a deal to buy Chichikov one hundred and twenty dead and another seventy fugitive souls.
After a profitable purchase, the newly minted entrepreneur returned to the hotel and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Seven
The next morning, the entrepreneur prepared lists for the deed of sale in the chamber. Sobakevich and Manilov were waiting for him there.
Having drawn up the bill of sale, the comrades began to celebrate the profitable deal. During the feast, Chichikov answered those who were interested that he had bought peasants for withdrawal and would take them with him to the Kherson province.
After a pleasant feast, the adviser arrived at the hotel and fell asleep.
Chapter Eight
In the city everyone talked only about Pavel Ivanovich and his peasants. People often wondered how it was possible to transport so many peasants to another province.
At the same time, the people’s love for the newly-minted landowner grew, and rumors appeared that he was a millionaire. Women tried to attract his attention on themselves and bought the most beautiful dresses in the city.
There was a governor's ball in the city again, where the main character appeared. The officials greeted and hugged him and showered him with compliments.
Chichikov approached the governor’s wife to express his respect. Next to her stood her daughter, a young, pretty blonde, from whom Chichikov could not take his eyes off.
But the unexpected happened - a drunken Nozdryov appeared at the ball. Seeing a new acquaintance, he asked how many dead peasants he could buy. Almost everyone heard these words and were surprised by the strange words. After these words, the entrepreneur was very upset and did not find what to answer.
Chapter Nine
This chapter describes a conversation between two ladies. They tell each other latest news, the main one of which is the news about a certain Chichikov, who is buying up dead souls in order to kidnap the governor’s daughter. And Nozdryov is his accomplice and helps in this dirty business.
In general, the city is overgrown with rumors and gossip. And in an instant, the image of a millionaire state councilor, ransoming peasants for withdrawal, was destroyed. The town was divided into two parts:
- the female part of the city was interested in the story of the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter;
- I was worried about the male population question of the dead shower.
Both of them began to be distrustful of the newly-made landowner. No one now could answer the question - who is Chichikov, and what is the purpose of his visit to their city?
Chapter ten
For discussion important issue everyone gathered at the police chief's. Officials put forward their own versions of Chichikov’s arrival and suggested that he could be Captain Kopeikin.
Since few people knew about this captain, the postmaster began his story. It talked about a certain captain whose limb was torn off in one of the battles. And in order to feed himself, he went to St. Petersburg to ask for the mercy of the monarch, but he was sent back several years ago, without being given the opportunity to see the ruler.
After several such unsuccessful visits, the unfortunate man was expelled from the city at public expense.
After this, rumors appeared about gangs of robbers, whose leader was considered Kopeikin.
After listening to the story, everyone unequivocally decided that Chichikov could not have been the captain, since all the limbs were in place. Then the officials decided to invite Nozdryov so that he would clarify and explain to everyone who Chichikov was. However, the reveler introduced even more everyone is confused by confidently declaring that our hero is:
- kidnapper
- spy
- counterfeiter of securities.
Against the backdrop of all these events, the prosecutor died.
Chichikov was sick at that time, suffering from a cold. The adviser was sincerely perplexed why no one came to visit him. And only in the evening he learned about the new gossip of the city. Nozdryov came to him and declared him a forger, a kidnapper and guilty of the death of the prosecutor.
Chapter Eleven
And finally, the most interesting part of the work “dead souls” chapter 11, summary. In this chapter, Chichikov's personality is finally revealed. Although Gogol himself does not give him any assessment, but leaves the reader the opportunity to decide for himself who the main character is.
Pavel Ivanovich decided to leave this city as soon as possible, but, unfortunately, he did not succeed.
It turns out that he was not spoiled by fate. His mother died early, and his sick father sent little son study in the city. There he ordered the child to “study and please bosses and teachers, take care of money and increase it, be friends only with rich people.”
The smart child remembered his father’s words for a long time and tried to follow his advice all his life: he learned to get grades not for knowledge, since he did not like to read, but for diligence and good behavior. He never treated his friends, but he knew how to sell something profitably.
Soon after Chichikov graduated from college, his father died. He inherited several sweatshirts, frock coats, a dilapidated house and some money. The career either rose up or ended.
Immediately after college, Pavlusha entered the public service. Having achieved the favor of his boss, he was promoted to the position of military officer.
Our hero was no stranger to bribery. He masterfully organized the fight against bribes and at the same time accepted them without a twinge of conscience, swimming like cheese in butter.
But everything comes to an end, and in place of the old boss they sent a new one, a military man and very strict. Soon Chichikov was removed from his post, he had to leave his city and start his career from the very beginning in another place. In the new city, the hero got a job at the customs office, where he soon became a threat to all smugglers. But over time, he himself became a link in the chain of fraud and again earned hundreds of thousands.
However, he was not given the chance to become rich. During one drunken quarrel with another official, aspects of agreements with smugglers came to light and Chichikov was taken to court. All his property was cut; he had about ten thousand left. This was enough to get out of court.
Again he started his career from the very bottom. This time he was engaged in pawning the peasants to the guardianship council. But someone suggested that for the mortgage it did not matter whether they were alive or dead, the only important thing was that they were listed in the auditor’s book. And that the council will still allocate money for each of them. Then a new plan matured in the businessman’s head. He decided to go to those areas of the country that suffered the most from epidemics and redeem “dead souls” from the landowners.
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 out of town and first visited Manilov’s estate. Sweet Manilov claimed enlightened humanity, European education and loved 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, being characterized by complete impracticality and mismanagement. (See Description of Manilov, his estate and dinner with him.)
Receiving Chichikov, Manilov demonstrated his refined courtesy. But in a private conversation, Chichikov made him an unexpected and strange offer to buy from him for a small sum recently deceased peasants (who, until the next financial audit, were listed as alive on paper). Manilov was extremely surprised by this, but out of courtesy he could not refuse the guest.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, Chapter 2 - summary of the full text of this chapter.
Manilov. Artist A. Laptev
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 3 – briefly
From Manilov, Chichikov thought of going to Sobakevich, but the drunken coachman Selifan took him in a completely different direction. Caught in a thunderstorm, the travelers barely made it to some village - and found accommodation for the night with the local landowner Korobochka.
The widow Korobochka was a simple-minded and frugal old woman. (See Description of Korobochka, her estate and lunch with her.) The next morning, over tea, Chichikov made her the same proposal as before to Manilov. The box at first widened its eyes, but then calmed down, most of all caring about how not to make a cheap sale when selling the dead. She even began to refuse Chichikov, intending first to “apply to the prices of other merchants.” But her resourceful guest pretended to be a government contractor and promised to soon buy flour, cereals, lard and feathers in bulk from Korobochka. In anticipation of such a profitable deal, Korobochka agreed to sell the dead souls.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 3 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 4 – briefly
After leaving Korobochka, Chichikov stopped for lunch at a roadside tavern and met there the landowner Nozdryov, whom he had previously met at a party with the governor. An incorrigible reveler and reveler, a liar and a sharpie, Nozdryov (see his description) was returning from the fair, having completely lost at cards there. He invited Chichikov to his estate. He agreed to go there, hoping that the broken Nozdryov would give him the dead souls for free.
On his estate, Nozdryov led Chichikov around the stables and kennels 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 with them and immediately took out the deck. Thoroughly suspecting that it was marked, Chichikov refused.
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 responded by calling two hefty serfs and ordering them to beat the guest. Chichikov barely managed to escape unharmed thanks to the arrival of the police captain: he brought Nozdryov a summons to trial for an insult inflicted while drunk with rods on the landowner Maximov.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 4 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
The Adventures of Chichikov (Nozdryov). An excerpt from a cartoon based on the plot of Gogol’s “Dead Souls”
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 5 – briefly
Having galloped away at full speed from Nozdryov, Chichikov finally reached the estate of Sobakevich - a man whose character was the opposite of Manilov. Sobakevich deeply despised having his head in the clouds and was guided in everything only by material gain. (See Portrait of Sobakevich, Description of the estate and interior of Sobakevich's house.)
Explaining human actions solely by the desire for selfish gain, rejecting any idealism, Sobakevich certified city officials as swindlers, robbers and sellers of Christ. In figure and posture he resembled a medium-sized bear. At the table, Sobakevich neglected the low-nutritive overseas delicacies and dined simple dishes, but absorbed them in huge pieces. (See Lunch at Sobakevich's.)
Unlike others, the practical Sobakevich was not at all surprised by Chichikov’s request to sell dead souls. However, he charged an exorbitant price for them - 100 rubles each, explaining it by the fact that his peasants, although dead, were “select goods”, because were there before excellent craftsmen and hard workers. Chichikov laughed at this argument, but Sobakevich only after a long bargaining reduced the price to two rubles and a half per head. (See the text of the scene of their bargaining.)
In a conversation with Chichikov, Sobakevich let it slip that an unusually stingy landowner Plyushkin lives not far from him, and this owner of more than a thousand peasants has people dying like flies. Having left Sobakevich, Chichikov immediately found out the way to Plyushkin.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 5 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Sobakevich. Artist Boklevsky
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 6 – briefly
Plyushkin. Drawing by Kukryniksy
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 7 – briefly
Back in provincial town N, Chichikov took up the final registration of deeds of sale in the state chancellery. This chamber was located in the main city square. Inside it, many officials were diligently poring over papers. The noise from their feathers sounded as if several carts with brushwood were passing through a forest littered with withered leaves. To speed up the matter, Chichikov had to bribe the clerk Ivan Antonovich with a long nose, colloquially called a pitcher's snout.
Manilov and Sobakevich arrived to sign the bills of sale themselves, and the rest of the sellers acted through attorneys. Not knowing that everything bought by Chichikov peasants are dead, the chairman of the chamber asked what land he intended to settle them on. Chichikov lied about allegedly having an estate in the Kherson province.
To “sprinkle” the purchase, everyone went to the police chief. Among the city fathers, he was known as a miracle worker: he only had to blink when passing a fish row or a cellar, and the merchants themselves would carry snacks in great abundance. At the noisy feast, Sobakevich especially distinguished himself: while the other guests were drinking, he secretly killed a huge sturgeon to the bones in a quarter of an hour, and then pretended that he had nothing to do with it.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 7 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 8 – briefly
Chichikov bought from landowners are dead souls for pennies, but on the paper in the deeds of sale it was stated that he had paid about a hundred thousand for everyone. Such a large purchase caused the most lively talk in the city. The rumor that Chichikov was a millionaire greatly raised his profile in everyone's eyes. In the opinion of the ladies, he became a true hero, and they even began to find in his appearance something similar to Mars.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 9 – briefly
Nozdryov’s words were initially considered drunken nonsense. However, soon the news of Chichikov’s purchase of the dead was confirmed by Korobochka, who came to the city to find out if she had gone cheap in her deal with him. The wife of a local archpriest told Korobochka’s story to one well-known in the city world nice lady, and she - to her friend - lady, pleasant in every way. From these two ladies the word spread to everyone else.
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 thought arose that he wanted to cover up the preparations for the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter. More down-to-earth male officials wondered whether there was a strange visitor - an auditor sent to their province to investigate official omissions, and "dead souls" - some kind of conventional phrase, whose meaning is known only to Chichikov himself and the top authorities. The bewilderment reached the point of true trepidation when the governor received two papers from above, informing them that a well-known counterfeiter and a dangerous fugitive robber might be in their area.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 9 - summary. You can 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. The most daring hypotheses were put forward here. Some considered Chichikov a forger of banknotes, others - an investigator who would soon arrest them all, and still others - a murderer. There was even an opinion that he was Napoleon in disguise, released by the British from the island of St. Helena, and the postmaster saw in Chichikov Captain Kopeikin, a disabled war veteran 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.
Remembering that Nozdryov was the first to talk 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 escape 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 the priest, Sidor’s father, in the village of Trukhmachevka for a secret wedding for 75 rubles.
Realizing that Nozdryov was carrying game, those present drove him away. He went to Chichikov, who was ill and knew nothing about the city rumors. Nozdryov “out of friendship” told Chichikov: everyone in the city considers him a counterfeiter and an extremely dangerous person. Shocked, Chichikov decided to hastily leave early tomorrow morning.
For more details, see the separate articles Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 10 – summary and Gogol “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin” – summary. You can 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 N. His chaise rolled along the high road, and during this journey Gogol told the readers the life story of his hero 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 school. (See Chichikov's childhood.) The father finally gave his son advice to please his bosses and save a penny.
Chichikov always followed this parental instruction. He did not have brilliant talents, but he constantly curried favor with teachers - and graduated from school with an excellent certificate. Self-interest, the thirst to rise from the poor to wealthy people were the main properties of his soul. After school, Chichikov entered the lowest bureaucratic position, achieved a promotion by promising to marry the ugly daughter of his boss, but deceived him. Through lies and hypocrisy, Chichikov twice achieved prominent official positions, but the first time he stole 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.
He had to be content with the position of trial attorney. At that time, loans against the mortgaging of landowners' estates to the treasury became widespread. While doing one such thing, Chichikov suddenly learned that 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 their 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 dead peasant souls for pennies, but not yet marked as such in the audit, then pawning them wholesale - and thus getting a rich sum...
DEAD SOULS
A small chaise with a middle-aged gentleman of good appearance, not fat, but not thin either, drove into the provincial town of NN. The arrival did not make any impression on the inhabitants of the city. The visitor stopped at a local tavern. New visitor during lunch in more detail I asked the servant who used to run this establishment and who now, how much income there was and what the owner was like. Then the visitor found out who was the governor of the city, who was the chairman of the chamber, who was the prosecutor, i.e., “he did not miss a single significant official.”
In addition to the city authorities, the visitor was interested in all the major landowners, as well as the general condition of the region: whether there were any epidemics in the province or widespread famine. After lunch and a long rest, the gentleman wrote down his rank, first and last name on a piece of paper to report to the police. Coming down the stairs, the floor guard read: “Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, landowner, according to his needs.”
Chichikov devoted the next day to visiting all city officials. He even paid his respects to the inspector of the medical board and the city architect.
Pavel Ivanovich showed himself to be a good psychologist, since in almost every house he left the most favorable impressions of himself - “he very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone.” At the same time, Chichikov avoided talking about himself, but if the conversation turned to him, he got off with general phrases and somewhat bookish phrases. The newcomer began to receive invitations to the houses of officials. The first was an invitation to the governor. While getting ready, Chichikov very carefully put himself in order.
During the reception, the city guest managed to show himself as a skilled interlocutor; he successfully complimented the governor’s wife.
The male society was divided into two parts. Thin men hovered behind the ladies and danced, while the fat ones mostly concentrated at the gaming tables. Chichikov joined the latter. Here he met most of his old acquaintances. Pavel Ivanovich also met the wealthy landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, about whom he immediately made inquiries from the chairman and postmaster. Chichikov quickly charmed both of them and received two invitations to visit.
The next day the visitor went to the police chief, where they played whist from three o'clock in the afternoon until two o'clock in the morning. There Chichikov met Nozdryov, “a broken fellow, who, after three or four words, began to say you to him.” In turn, Chichikov visited all the officials, and in the city there was a general impression of him. good opinion. In any situation he could show himself socialite. Whatever the conversation was about, Chichikov was able to support it. Moreover, “he knew how to dress it all up with some kind of sedateness, he knew how to behave well.”
Everyone was pleased with the arrival of a decent man. Even Sobakevich, who was rarely ever satisfied with his surroundings, recognized Pavel Ivanovich as “a most pleasant person.” This opinion in the city persisted until one strange circumstance led the inhabitants of the city of NN into bewilderment.