/ "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 things, 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 melancholy 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 owner of the estate and without hesitation immediately started talking about the sale dead souls 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 Nozdryov’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 generals. They were all 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 peasant 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 like 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.
Here is a brief summary famous work Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol - Dead Souls. This book is a must for school curriculum, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with its contents, or, if you forgot some points, remember the main plot points.
Volume one
The story took place immediately after the famous expulsion of the French. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, a collegiate adviser, (not very young and not old, pleasant and slightly rounded in appearance, neither thin nor fat) finds himself in the provincial town of NN and stays at a hotel. He asks the tavern servants about the owners and income of the establishment, significant landowners, officials, and inquires about the state of the region and about rampant diseases, epidemic fevers and other misfortunes.
A visitor to the city visits all the residents and notices the courtesy of the people and their active activity. He hardly talks about himself, brushing it off, saying that he has seen a lot in life, that he had many enemies who wanted to kill him. Currently he is looking for a place to live. At the governor's party, he achieves everyone's favor and meets the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. Then he dines at the police chief's (where he meets the landowner Nozdryov), visits the vice-governor and the chairman, the prosecutor and the tax farmer - and goes to Manilov's estate.
Having covered 30 miles, Chichikov arrived in Manilovka to his kind owner. The landowner's don, which was located on the south, surrounded by flower beds and a gazebo, characterized the owner, not burdened by passions. After lunch with the landlady and the landowner's two sons, Alcides and Themistoclius, Chichikov talks about the purpose of his visit: he wants to buy dead peasants who were not declared in the audit certificate, but register them as living. The kind owner was initially frightened and perplexed, but then he was happy and made a deal. Then Chichikov goes to Sobakevich, and Manilov dreams of living next door to Chichikov across the river, building a bridge, a house with a gazebo allowing him to see Moscow, and being friends with him, for which the sovereign would make them generals. Chichikov's coachman Selifan, who was treated kindly by Manilov's servants, while talking to the horses, misses the necessary turn and during a downpour, drops the master into the slush. In the darkness, they manage to find accommodation for the night with Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a slightly timid landowner from whom Chichikov buys dead souls in the morning. He said that he himself would pay taxes for them. He purchases souls from her for 15 rubles, takes the list and, after tasting pancakes, pie and pies, leaves, leaving the hostess worried about whether she has sold too cheap.
On the main road, Chichikov heads to the tavern for a meal. He meets with Nozdryov, who is riding in Mizhuev’s chaise, because he lost everything he had. Talking about the fair he visited, he praises the drinking qualities of the officers and, demonstrating the puppy, Nozdryov takes Chichikov with him, also taking his reluctant son-in-law Mizhuev. After describing Nozdryov, his house, dinner, the author switches to his son-in-law’s wife, and Chichikov starts a conversation about his interest, but the landowner does not agree. Nozdryov suggested an exchange, take him to the stallion or play cards, in the end they quarrel and say goodbye for the night. The persuasion continues again in the morning, and Chichikov agrees to play checkers, but sees Nozdryov cheating during the game. Chichikov, whom his master and servants are about to beat, runs away during a visit from the police captain, who announces that Nozdryov has been taken to trial. On the way, Chichikov's carriage encounters an unknown crew and while the tangled horses are being separated, Chichikov sees a 16-year-old young lady, talking about her and dreaming of a family. The visit to Sobakevich is accompanied by lunch, during which they discuss city officials, who, according to the owner, are all scammers; the conversation ends with a proposal for a deal. Sobakevich begins to bargain, characterizing good qualities serfs, gives Chichikov the list and forces him to make a deposit.
Chichikov's path to Plyushkin is interrupted by a conversation with the man who gave Plyushkin a petty nickname and the author's reflection on love and indifference. Seeing the landowner, Chichikov thought that he was the housekeeper or a wandering beggar. His most important feature is his amazing self-deprecation; he dragged all unnecessary things into his chambers. Having demonstrated the profitability of the offer, Chichikov refuses tea with crackers and leaves in a good mood, taking with him a letter to the chairman of the chamber.
During Chichikov's sleep, the author sadly talks about the baseness of objects. After sleep, Chichikov begins to study the lists of purchased peasants, thinking about their fates, and goes to the ward to conclude the case. Manilov meets him near the hotel and goes with him. Then the official place, Chichikov’s troubles and the giving of a bribe are described. The chairman becomes Plyushkin's attorney, speeding up other deals. People begin to discuss Chichikov’s purchases, what he intends to do: in what places, with land or for withdrawal he acquired peasants. Having learned that the peasants will be sent to the Kherson province, after discussing the qualities of the sold men, the transactions are completed with champagne, then they go to the police chief to drink to the new landowner. Excited after the strong drinks, they began to force Chichikov to stay and start a family.
Chichikov's acquisitions lead to a stir in the city, everyone says that he is a millionaire. The ladies line up. Trying to describe women, the author becomes timid and falls silent. Before the governor's ball, Chichikov receives a love note. Having spent a lot of time on the toilet and being satisfied, Chichikov goes to the ball, where he almost cannot escape from the embrace. The girls, among whom he is looking for the author of the letter, begin to quarrel. But when the governor’s wife approaches him, his behavior changes radically, because she is accompanied by her daughter, a 16-year-old blonde, whose crew he encountered on the road. He begins to lose the affection of women because he starts talking to an interesting blonde, pointedly not paying attention to the others. In addition, Nozdryov comes to the ball and loudly asks how many Chichikovs have bought up the dead. Despite Nozdryov's drunken state, society is embarrassed, Chichikov does not have dinner or whist, and he leaves the ball in upset feelings.
At this time, a carriage arrives in the town with the landowner Korobochka, who arrived to find out about the price of dead souls. In the morning, the news is learned by a certain pleasant woman at home, who hurries to notify others, as a result, the most interesting details appear in the story (armed Chichikov burst into Korobochka at night, demanding dead souls - everyone came running, screaming, crying children). Her friend says that the dead souls are only a cover for Chichikov’s cunning plan to steal the governor’s daughter. After discussing the details of the enterprise, Nozdryov’s accomplice, the women tell everything to the prosecutor and go to the city to rebel.
The town quickly begins to seethe, to this is added the news that a new governor-general has been appointed, and there is information about papers: about the appearance of false banknotes in the province, about a robber who escaped from legal prosecution. Trying to find out who Chichikov is, they begin to remember his vague certification and the conversation about the attempt on his life. The postmaster suggested that Chichikov is the captain of Kopeyka, who took up arms against an unjust world and became a robber, but this is rejected because the captain is missing limbs, but Chichikov is intact. There is an assumption that this is Napoleon in disguise, with whom he has many similar features. Conversations with Sobakevich, Manilov and Korobochka did not yield results. And Nozdryov only increases the confusion, saying that Chichikov is a spy, making false notes and wanting to steal the governor’s daughter, in which he must help him. All the conversations had a strong effect on the prosecutor; he suffered a stroke from which he died.
Chichikov, with a slight cold, stays at the hotel and is surprised that not a single official comes to see him. However, when he decides to pay everyone a visit, he finds out that the governor does not want to see him, and the others step aside in fear. Nozdryov, coming to his hotel, tells him everything, announcing that he is ready to help in the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter. In the morning, Chichikov quickly leaves, but he is stopped by the funeral procession, he has to look at the officials who are walking behind the coffin of the prosecutor. The britzka leaves the city, and the opening spaces make the author think about sad and joyful things, about Russia, and then he becomes sad about the hero.
Having concluded that the hero needs to rest, the author tells the story about Pavel Ivanovich, reveals his childhood, studies, where he showed practical intelligence, what kind of relationships he had with teachers and peers, how he served in the government chamber, the commission for the construction of government buildings , where for the first time he showed his weaknesses, how he later went to other less profitable jobs, how he served at customs, where it is almost impossible to work honestly and incorruptibly, he received a lot of money by conspiring with smugglers, went bankrupt, but was able to avoid a criminal trial, although was forced to retire. Having become an attorney and taking care of the peasants' pledge, he came up with a plan: he began to travel around Rus', buying dead souls and pawning them in the treasury to receive money that would be used to purchase a village and provide for offspring.
Having again complained about the hero’s nature and justified him a little, calling him “the acquirer, the owner,” the author compared the flying troika with Russia, ending the story with the ringing of a bell.
Volume two
The estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls “the smoker of the sky,” is described. The author talks about his waste of time, tells the story of his life, which was inspired by hopes and overshadowed by official troubles and trifles. He retires, wanting to renew his estate, take care of the man, read books, but without any experience this does not provide desired results, the man begins to mess around, and Tentetnikov simply gives up. He avoids his neighbors, offended by the attitude of General Betrishchev, and does not visit him, although he often thinks about his daughter Ulinka. In general, he begins to sour.
Pavel Ivanovich goes to him, complaining about the breakdown in the carriage, trying to pay respects. Having won over the owner, Chichikov goes to the general, telling him about the grumpy guy and asks about the dead souls. The narration is interrupted by a laughing general, then we find Chichikov going to Colonel Koshkarev. He finds himself in front of the Rooster, who appears naked before him; he is interested in catching sturgeon. The Rooster has almost nothing except the mortgaged estate, so he simply overeats, meets with the landowner Platonov and persuades him to take a ride around Rus'. After this, he goes to Konstantin Kostanzhoglo, the wife of Platonov’s sister. From him he learns about management methods that significantly increase the profit from the estate; Chichikov is greatly inspired by this.
He quickly comes to Koshkarev, who has divided his village into expeditions, departments, committees, organizing ideal paper production on the estate. After returning, Kostanzhoglo criticizes the manufactories and factories that have a bad influence on the peasant, the absurd desires of the peasant and neighbor Khlobuev, who abandoned his estate and is selling it for pennies. Chichikov is touched and even yearns for honest work, listening to the story of the tax farmer Murazov, who flawlessly earned 40 million, the next day, together with Platonov and Kostanzhoglo, he goes to Khlobuev, sees his obscene and disorderly household, along with a governess for children, a fashionable wife and other luxury . Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he pays for the estate, wanting to purchase it, and goes to Platonov’s estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who skillfully manages the farm. Then he ends up with his neighbor Lenitsyn, winning his sympathy with his ability to tickle a child, thanks to which he receives dead souls.
After many omissions in the manuscript, Chichikov finds himself at the city fair, where he purchases lingonberry fabric with a spark. He meets Khlobuev, whose life he ruined. Khlobuev was led away by Murazov, who convinced him that he needed to work and raise funds for the church. Meanwhile, slander against Chichikov is recognized by dead souls and forgery. The tailor delivers the tailcoat. Suddenly a gendarme arrives and drags Chichikov to the Governor General. Then all his atrocities become known, and he ends up in prison. Chichikov ends up in the closet, where Murazov finds him. He tears his hair and clothes, mourning the loss of the box with papers. Murazov tries to awaken his desire with kind words honest life and goes to soften the Governor General. At the same moment, officials who want to annoy the authorities and take a bribe from Chichikov bring him a box, send denunciations to confuse the case and kidnap the witness. Unrest is unfolding in the province, which is of great concern to the Governor-General. But Murazov is able to feel the sensitive sides of his soul and provide good advice, which the Governor-General wants to take advantage of when releasing Chichikov. After this the manuscript breaks off...
The proposed history, as will become clear from what follows, took place somewhat shortly after the “glorious expulsion of the French.” Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives in the provincial town of NN (he is neither old nor too young, neither fat nor thin, rather pleasant in appearance and somewhat round) and checks into a hotel. He makes a lot of questions to the tavern servant - both regarding the owner and income of the tavern, and also exposing his thoroughness: about city officials, the most significant landowners, asks about the state of the region and whether there were “any diseases in their province, epidemic fevers” and other similar things misfortunes.
Having gone on a visit, the visitor reveals extraordinary activity (having visited everyone, from the governor to the inspector of the medical board) and courtesy, for he knows how to say something nice to everyone. He speaks somewhat vaguely about himself (that he “has experienced a lot in his life, endured in the service for the truth, had many enemies who even attempted on his life,” and is now looking for a place to live). At the governor's house party, he manages to gain everyone's favor and, among other things, make acquaintance with the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. In the following days, he dines with the police chief (where he meets the landowner Nozdryov), visits the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor, the tax farmer and the prosecutor, and goes to Manilov’s estate (which, however, is preceded by a fair author’s digression, where, justifying himself with a love of thoroughness, The author attests in detail to Petrushka, the visitor’s servant: his passion for “the process of reading itself” and the ability to carry with him a special smell, “resembling a somewhat residential peace”).
Having traveled, contrary to the promise, not fifteen, but all thirty miles, Chichikov finds himself in Manilovka, in the arms of a kind owner. Manilov’s house, standing on the south, surrounded by several scattered English flower beds and a gazebo with the inscription “Temple of Solitary Reflection,” could characterize the owner, who was “neither this nor that,” not burdened by any passions, just overly cloying. After Manilov’s confession that Chichikov’s visit is “a May day, the name day of the heart,” and dinner in the company of the hostess and two sons, Themistoclus and Alcides, Chichikov discovers the reason for his visit: he would like to acquire peasants who have died, but have not yet been declared as such in the audit certificate, registering everything in a legal manner, as if for the living (“the law - I am dumb before the law”). The first fear and bewilderment are replaced by the perfect disposition of the kind owner, and, having completed the deal, Chichikov leaves for Sobakevich, and Manilov indulges in dreams about Chichikov’s life in the neighborhood across the river, about the construction of a bridge, about a house with such a gazebo that Moscow can be seen from there, and about their friendship, if the sovereign had known about it, he would have granted them generals. Chichikov's coachman Selifan, much favored by Manilov's servants, in conversations with his horses misses the necessary turn and, with the sound of a downpour, knocks the master over into the mud. In the darkness, they find accommodation for the night with Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a somewhat timid landowner, with whom in the morning Chichikov also begins to sell dead souls. Having explained that he himself would now pay the tax 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 amazed by Disrespect -Trough) and, having eaten unleavened egg pie, pancakes, pies and other things, departs, leaving the hostess in great concern as to whether she has sold too cheap.
Having reached the main road to the tavern, Chichikov stops to have a snack, which the author provides with a lengthy discussion about the properties of the appetite of middle-class gentlemen. Here Nozdryov meets him, returning from the fair in the chaise of his son-in-law Mizhuev, for he had lost everything on his horses and even his watch chain. Describing the delights of the fair, the drinking qualities of the dragoon officers, a certain Kuvshinnikov, a big fan of “taking advantage of strawberries” and, finally, presenting a puppy, “a real little face,” Nozdryov takes Chichikov (thinking of making money here too) to his home, taking his reluctant son-in-law as well. Having described Nozdryov, “in some respects a historical man” (for everywhere he went, there was history), his possessions, the unpretentiousness of the dinner with an abundance of, however, drinks of dubious quality, the author sends his dazed son-in-law to his wife (Nozdryov admonishes him with abuse and words “fetyuk”), and Chichikov is forced to turn to his subject; but he fails to either beg or buy souls: Nozdryov offers to exchange them, take them in addition to the stallion, or make them a bet in card game, finally scolds, quarrels, and they part for the night. In the morning, the persuasion resumes, and, having agreed to play checkers, Chichikov notices that Nozdryov is shamelessly cheating. Chichikov, whom the owner and the mongrels are already attempting to beat, manages to escape due to 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 onlookers come running to separate the tangled horses, Chichikov admires the sixteen-year-old young lady, indulges in speculation about her and dreams of family life. A visit to Sobakevich in his strong estate, like himself, 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 married to the guest of interest deal. Not at all frightened by the strangeness of the object, Sobakevich bargains, characterizes the advantageous qualities of each serf, provides Chichikov with a detailed list and forces him to give a deposit.
Chichikov’s path to the neighboring landowner Plyushkin, mentioned by Sobakevich, is interrupted by a conversation with the man who gave Plyushkin an apt, but not very printed nickname, and the author’s lyrical reflection on his former love for unfamiliar places and the indifference that has now appeared. Chichikov at first takes Plyushkin, this “hole in humanity,” 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 pile piled up in the master's chambers. Having shown the profitability of his proposal (namely, that he will take on the taxes for the dead and runaway peasants), Chichikov is fully successful in his enterprise and, having refused tea with crackers, equipped with a letter to the chairman of the chamber, departs in the most cheerful mood.
While Chichikov sleeps in the hotel, the author sadly reflects on the baseness of the objects he paints. Meanwhile, a satisfied Chichikov, having woken up, composes merchant fortresses, studies the lists of acquired peasants, reflects on their expected fates and finally goes to the civil chamber in order to quickly conclude the deal. Met at the hotel gate, Manilov accompanies him. Then follows a description of the official place, Chichikov’s first ordeals and a bribe to a certain jug snout, until he enters the chairman’s apartment, where, by the way, he 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 heading to the Kherson province, having discussed the properties of the sold men (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 finished with champagne and went to the police chief, “father and to a benefactor 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 create a sensation in the city, rumors spread that he is a millionaire. The ladies are crazy about him. Several times approaching to describe the ladies, the author becomes timid and retreats. On the eve of the ball, Chichikov even receives a love letter from the governor, although unsigned. Having, as usual, spent a lot of time on the toilet and being satisfied 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, for 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 others. To top off the troubles, Nozdryov appears and loudly asks how many dead people Chichikov has traded. And although Nozdryov is obviously drunk and the embarrassed society is gradually distracted, Chichikov does not enjoy either whist or the subsequent dinner, and he leaves upset.
About this time, a carriage enters the city with the landowner Korobochka, whose growing anxiety forced her to come in order to find out what the price of dead souls is. The next 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 acquires amazing details (Chichikov, armed to the teeth, bursts into Korobochka in the dead of midnight, demands the souls that have died, instills terrible fear - “ the whole village came running, the children were crying, everyone was screaming"). Her friend concludes that the dead souls are just a cover, and Chichikov wants to take away the governor’s daughter. Having discussed the details of this enterprise, Nozdryov’s undoubted participation in it and the qualities of the governor’s daughter, both ladies let the prosecutor know everything and set off to riot the city.
IN a short time The city is seething, and to this is added the news about the appointment of a new governor-general, as well as information about the papers received: about a counterfeit banknote maker who showed up in the province, and about a robber who fled from legal prosecution. Trying to understand who Chichikov was, they remember that he was certified very vaguely and even spoke about those who attempted to kill him. The postmaster's statement that Chichikov, in his opinion, is Captain Kopeikin, who took up arms against the injustices of the world and became a robber, is rejected, since from the postmaster's entertaining story it follows that the captain is missing an arm and a leg, but Chichikov is intact. The assumption arises whether Chichikov is Napoleon in disguise, and many begin to find a certain resemblance, especially in profile. Questioning Korobochka, Manilov and Sobakevich does not produce results, and Nozdryov only increases the confusion by declaring that Chichikov is definitely a spy, a maker of false 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 right down to the name the priest who took up the wedding). All these rumors have an enormous effect on the prosecutor; he suffers a blow and dies.
Chichikov himself, sitting in a hotel with a slight cold, is surprised that none of the officials visit him. Having finally gone on a visit, he discovers that the governor does not receive him, and in other places they fearfully shun him. Nozdryov, having visited him at the hotel, amid the general noise he made, partly clarifies the situation, announcing that he agrees to facilitate the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter. The next day, Chichikov hurriedly leaves, but is stopped by the funeral procession and forced to contemplate the whole light of officialdom flowing behind the coffin of the prosecutor. The brichka leaves the city, and the open spaces on both sides bring to the author sad and joyful thoughts about Russia, the road, and then only sad ones about his chosen hero. Having concluded that it is time to give the virtuous hero a rest, but, on the contrary, to hide the scoundrel, the author sets out the life story of Pavel Ivanovich, his childhood, training in classes, where he had already shown a practical mind, his relationships with his comrades and the teacher, his later service in the government chamber, some commission for the construction of a state 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 integrity almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in an agreement with smugglers, he went bankrupt, but dodged a criminal trial, although he was forced to resign. He became an attorney and, during the troubles of pledging the peasants, he formed a plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Rus', so that, by buying up dead souls and pawning them in the treasury as if they were alive, he would receive money, perhaps buy a village and provide for 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, by the similarity of the flying troika with rushing Russia and ends the first volume with the ringing of a bell.
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 his service and troubles later; he retires, intending to improve the estate, reads books, takes care of the man, but without experience, sometimes just human, this does not give the expected results, the man is idle, Tentetnikov gives up. He breaks off acquaintances with his neighbors, offended by General Betrishchev’s address, and stops visiting him, although he cannot forget his daughter Ulinka. In a word, without someone who would tell him an invigorating “go ahead!”, he completely turns sour.
Chichikov comes to him, apologizing for a breakdown in the carriage, curiosity and a desire to pay respects. Ingratiating himself with the owner amazing ability In order to adapt to anyone, Chichikov, having lived with him for a little while, goes to the general, to whom he weaves a story about a quarrelsome uncle and, as usual, begs for the dead. The poem fails at the laughing general, and we find Chichikov heading to Colonel Koshkarev. Contrary to expectations, he ends up with Pyotr Petrovich Rooster, whom he finds at first completely naked, keen on hunting sturgeon. At Rooster's, not having anything to get hold of, for the estate is mortgaged, he only overeats terribly, meets the bored landowner Platonov and, having encouraged him to travel together across Rus', goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, married to Platonov's sister. He talks about the methods of management with which he increased the income from the estate tenfold, and Chichikov is terribly inspired.
Very quickly he visits Colonel Koshkarev, who has divided his village into committees, expeditions and departments and has organized a perfect paper production in the mortgaged estate, as it turns out. Returning, he listens to the curses of the bilious Kostanzhoglo against the factories and manufactories that corrupt the peasant, the peasant’s absurd desire to educate, and his neighbor Khlobuev, who has neglected a sizable estate and is now selling it for next to nothing. Having experienced tenderness and even a craving for honest work, having listened to the story of the tax farmer Murazov, who made forty million in an impeccable way, Chichikov the next day, accompanied by Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, goes to Khlobuev, observes the unrest and dissipation of his household in the neighborhood of a governess for children, dressed in fashion wife and other traces of absurd luxury. Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he gives a deposit for the estate, intending to buy it, and goes to Platonov’s estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who efficiently manages the estate. Then he suddenly appears at their neighbor Lenitsyn, clearly a rogue, wins his sympathy with his ability to skillfully tickle 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 that is so dear to him, the lingonberry color with a sparkle. He runs into Khlobuev, whom, apparently, he spoiled, either depriving him, or almost depriving him of his inheritance through some kind of forgery. Khlobuev, who let him go, is taken away by Murazov, who convinces Khlobuev of the need to work and orders him to collect funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations against Chichikov are discovered both about the forgery and about dead souls. The tailor brings a new tailcoat. Suddenly a gendarme appears, dragging the smartly dressed Chichikov to the Governor-General, “angry as anger itself.” Here all his atrocities become clear, and he, kissing the general’s boot, is thrown into prison. In a dark closet, Murazov finds Chichikov, tearing his hair and tails of his coat, mourning the loss of a box of papers, with simple virtuous words awakens in him a desire to live honestly and sets off to soften the Governor-General. At that time, officials who want to spoil their wise superiors and get a bribe from Chichikov, deliver a box to him, 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, which the Governor-General, having released Chichikov, is about to use when “the manuscript breaks off.”
Summary of Dead Souls
Volume one
ChapterI
One gentleman arrived at the hotel in the provincial town of NN in a beautiful chaise. Neither handsome, but not ugly, neither fat, nor thin, nor old, but no longer young. His name was Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. No one noticed his arrival. With him were two servants - the coachman Selifan and the footman Petrushka. Selifan was short and wore a sheepskin coat, and Petrushka was young, looked about thirty, and had a stern face at first glance. As soon as the gentleman moved into the chambers, he immediately went to dinner. They served cabbage soup with puff pastries, sausage and cabbage, and pickles.
While everything was being brought, the guest forced the servant to tell everything about the inn, its owner, and how much income they received. Then he found out who the governor of the city was, who the chairman was, the names of the noble landowners, how many servants they had, how far their estates were located from the city, and all that nonsense. After resting in his room, he went to explore the city. He seemed to like everything. And stone houses covered yellow paint, and signs on them. Many of them bore the name of some tailor named Arshavsky. On the gambling houses it was written “And here is the establishment.”
The next day the guest paid visits. I wanted to express my respect to the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, chairman of the chamber, head of state-owned factories and other city dignitaries. In conversations, he knew how to flatter everyone, and he himself took a rather modest position. He told almost nothing about himself, except superficially. He said that he had seen and experienced a lot in his lifetime, suffered in the service, had enemies, everything was like everyone else. Now he wants to finally choose a place to live, and having arrived in the city, he wanted first of all to show his respect to its “first” inhabitants.
By evening he was already invited to the governor's reception. There he joined the men, who, like him, were somewhat plump. Then he met the courteous landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. Both invited him to see their estates. Manilov was a man with amazingly sweet eyes, which he squinted every time. He immediately said that Chichikov simply had to come to his village, which was only fifteen miles from the city outpost. Sobakevich was more reserved and had an awkward look. He only said dryly that he too was inviting the guest to his place.
The next day Chichikov was at dinner with the police chief. In the evening we played whist. There he met the broken landowner Nozdryov, who after a couple of phrases switched to “you”. And so on for several days in a row. The guest almost never visited the hotel, but only came to spend the night. He knew how to please everyone in the city, and the officials were pleased with his arrival.
ChapterII
After about a week of traveling for lunches and evenings, Chichikov decided to visit his new acquaintances, the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. It was decided to start with Manilov. The purpose of the visit was not just to inspect the landowner’s village, but also to propose one “serious” matter. He took the coachman Selifan with him, and Petrushka was ordered to sit in the room and guard the suitcases. A few words about these two servants. They were ordinary serfs. Petrusha wore somewhat loose robes that came from his master's shoulder. He had large lips and nose. He was silent by nature, loved to read and rarely went to the bathhouse, which is why he was recognizable by his amber. The coachman Selifan was the opposite of a footman.
On the way to Manilov, Chichikov did not miss the opportunity to get acquainted with the surrounding houses and forests. Manilov's estate stood on a hillock, everything was bare all around, only in the distance one could see Pine forest. A little lower down there was a pond and many log cabins. The hero counted about two hundred of them. The owner greeted him joyfully. There was something strange about Manilov. Despite the fact that his eyes were as sweet as sugar, after a couple of minutes of conversation with him there was nothing more to talk about. He smelled of deathly boredom. There are people who love to eat heartily, or are interested in music, greyhounds, but this one was not interested in anything. He had been reading one book for two years.
His wife did not lag behind him. She was fond of playing the piano, French and knitting all sorts of little things. For example, for her husband’s birthday, she prepared a beaded toothpick case. Their sons had strange names too: Themistoclus and Alcides. After dinner, the guest said that he wanted to talk with Manilov about one very important matter. He headed to the office. There Chichikov asked the owner how many dead peasants he had since the last audit. He didn’t know, but sent the clerk to find out. Chichikov admitted that he buys the “dead souls” of peasants who are listed as living in the census. Manilov at first thought that the guest was joking, but he was absolutely serious. They agreed that Manilov would give him what he needed even without money, if it did not violate the law in any way. After all, he will not take money for souls that no longer exist. And I don’t want to lose a new friend.
ChapterIII
In the chaise, Chichikov was already counting his profits. Selifan, meanwhile, was busy with the horses. Then thunder struck, then another, and then it began to rain like buckets. Selifan pulled something against the rain and rushed the horses. He was a little drunk, so he couldn't remember how many turns they made along the road. In addition, they did not know exactly how to get to the village of Sobakevich. As a result, the chaise left the road and drove across a ripped-up field. Fortunately, they heard a dog barking and drove up to a small house. The hostess herself opened the gate for them, welcomed them cordially, and let them spend the night with her.
It was an elderly woman in a cap. To all questions about the surrounding landowners, in particular about Sobakevich, she answered that she did not know who he was. She listed some other names, but Chichikov did not know them. In the morning, the guest looked at the peasant houses and concluded that everything was kept in abundance. The owner's name was Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna. He decided to talk to her about buying up “dead souls.” She said the deal seemed profitable, but dubious, she needed to think about it, ask the price.
Chichikov then got angry and compared her to a mongrel. He said that he had already thought about it with her household products buy, but now it won’t. Although he lied, the phrase had an effect. Nastasya Petrovna agreed to sign a power of attorney to complete the deed of sale. He brought his documents and stamp paper. The job was done, he and Selifan got ready to set off. Korobochka gave them a girl to act as their guide, and so they parted. At the tavern, Chichikov rewarded the girl with a copper penny.
ChapterIV
Chichikov had lunch at the tavern and the horses rested. We decided to go further in search of Sobakevich’s estate. By the way, the surrounding landowners whispered to him that the old woman knew both Manilov and Sobakevich very well. Then two people drove up to the tavern. In one of them Chichikov recognized Nozdryov, a broken landowner whom he had recently met. He immediately rushed to hug him, introduced him to his son-in-law and invited him to his place.
It turned out that he was driving from the fair, where he not only lost to smithereens, but also drank an enormous amount of champagne. But then my son-in-law met. He took it from there. Nozdryov was from that category of people who create fuss around themselves. He easily met people, became familiar with them, and immediately sat down to drink and play cards with them. He played cards dishonestly, so he was often pushed around. Nozdryov’s wife died, leaving two children, whom the reveler didn’t care about. Where Nozdryov visited was not without adventure. Either he was taken away by gendarmes in public, or his own friends pushed him out, not without reason. And he was from the breed of those who could spoil their neighbors without any reason.
The son-in-law, at the behest of Nozdryov, also went with them. We spent two hours exploring the landowner's village, and then headed to the estate. At dinner, the owner kept trying to get the guest drunk, but Chichikov managed to pour the booze into a vat of soup. Then he insisted on playing cards, but the guest refused this too. Chichikov started talking to him about his “business,” that is, ransoming the souls of dead peasants, which is why Nozdryov called him a real swindler and ordered him not to feed his horses. Chichikov already regretted his arrival, but there was nothing left to do but spend the night here.
In the morning the owner again offered to play cards, this time for “souls”. Chichikov refused, but agreed to play checkers. Nozdryov, as always, cheated, so the game had to be interrupted. Because the guest refused to finish the game, Nozdryov called his guys and ordered them to beat him. But Chichikov was lucky this time too. A carriage rolled up to the estate, and someone in a semi-military frock coat got out. It was a police captain who had come to notify the owner that he was on trial for beating the landowner Maksimov. Chichikov did not listen to the end, but got into his chaise and ordered Selifan to drive away from here.
ChapterV
Chichikov looked back at Nozdryov’s village all the way and was afraid. On the way, they met a carriage with two ladies: one was elderly, and the other was young and unusually beautiful. This did not hide from Chichikov’s eyes, and all the way he thought about the young stranger. However, these thoughts left him as soon as he noticed Sobakevich’s village. The village was quite large, but a little awkward, like the owner himself. In the middle rose huge house with a mezzanine in the style of military settlements.
Sobakevich received him as expected and led him into the living room, decorated with portraits of commanders. When Chichikov tried to flatter him as usual and start a pleasant conversation, it turned out that Sobakevich could not stand all these chairmen, police chiefs, governors and other swindlers. He considers them fools and sellers of Christ. Of all of them, he liked the prosecutor the most, and even he, according to him, was a pig.
Sobakevich’s wife invited him to the table. The table was set abundantly. As it turned out, the owner loved to eat from the heart, which distinguished him from the neighboring landowner Plyushkin. When Chichikov asked who this Plyushkin was and where he lived, Sobakevich recommended not to know him. After all, he has eight hundred souls, and eats worse than a shepherd. And his people are dying like flies. Chichikov started talking to the owner about “dead souls.” They bargained for a long time, but reached a consensus. We decided to settle the deed of sale in the city tomorrow, but keep the deal a secret. Chichikov went to Plyushkin by roundabout routes so that Sobakevich would not see.
ChapterVI
Rocking in his chaise, he reached a log pavement, behind which stretched dilapidated and dilapidated houses. Finally, the master's house appeared, a long and decrepit castle, looking like an invalid. It was clear that the house had endured more than one bad weather, the plaster was crumbling in places, only two of all the windows were open, and the rest were boarded up with shutters. And only the old garden behind the house somehow refreshed this picture.
Soon someone appeared. Judging by the outline, Chichikov thought it was a housekeeper, since the silhouette had a woman’s hood and cap, as well as keys in the belt. In the end it turned out that it was Plyushkin himself. Chichikov could not understand how the landowner of such a large village turned into this. He was terribly old, dressed in everything dirty and decrepit. If Chichikov had met this man somewhere on the street, he would have thought that he was a beggar. In fact, Plyushkin was incredibly rich, and with age he turned into a terrible miser.
When they entered home, the guest was stunned by his surroundings. There was an incredible mess, chairs piled on top of each other, cobwebs and a lot of small pieces of paper around, a broken arm of a chair, some kind of liquid in a glass with three flies. In a word, the situation was terrifying. Plyushkin had almost a thousand souls at his disposal, and he walked around the village, picking up all sorts of rubbish and dragging them home. But once upon a time he was simply a thrifty owner.
The landowner's wife died. Eldest daughter she married a cavalryman and left. Since then, Plyushkin cursed her. He began to take care of the farm himself. The son went into the army, and the youngest daughter died. When his son lost at cards, the landowner cursed him and didn’t give him a penny. He drove away the governess and the French teacher. The eldest daughter somehow tried to improve relations with her father and at least get something from him, but nothing worked out. Merchants who came to buy goods also could not come to an agreement with him.
Chichikov was even afraid to offer him anything and did not know which direction to approach. Although the owner invited him to sit down, he said that he would not feed him. Then the conversation turned to the high mortality rate of peasants. This is what Chichikov needed. Then he spoke about his “business”. Together with the fugitives, there were about two hundred souls. The old man agreed to give power of attorney for the deed of sale. With grief, a blank piece of paper was found and the deal was finalized. Chichikov refused tea and good location spirit went to the city.
ChapterVII
Chichikov, having slept, realized that he had neither more nor less, but already four hundred souls, so it was time to act. He prepared a list of people who were once alive, thought, walked, felt, and then went to the civil chamber. On the way I met Manilov. He hugged him, then handed him a rolled-up piece of paper and together they went to the office to see the chairman, Ivan Antonovich. Despite the good acquaintance, Chichikov still “slipped” him something. Sobakevich was also here.
Chichikov provided a letter from Plyushkin and added that there should be another attorney from the landowner Korobochka. The chairman promised to do everything. Chichikov asked to finish everything quickly, since he wanted to leave the next day. Ivan Antonovich quickly got it done, wrote everything down and entered it where it should be, and also ordered Chichikov to take half the duty. Afterwards, he offered to drink for the deal. Soon everyone was sitting at the table, slightly tipsy, trying to persuade the guest not to leave at all, to stay in the city and get married. After the feast, Selifan and Petrushka put the owner to bed, and they themselves went to the tavern.
ChapterVIII
Rumors about Chichikov's profits quickly spread in the city. Some people doubted this because good peasants the owner wouldn’t sell it, which means they’re either drunks or thieves. Some thought about the difficulties of moving so many peasants and were afraid of a riot. But for Chichikov everything worked out perfectly in the best possible way. They began to say that he was a millionaire. The residents of the city already liked him, and now they completely fell in love with the guest, so much so that they did not want to let him go.
The ladies generally idolized him. He liked local women. They knew how to behave in society and were quite presentable. Vulgarities were not allowed in conversation. So, for example, instead of “I blew my nose,” they said “I lightened my nose.” No liberties were allowed on the part of the men, and if they met with anyone, it was only in secret. In a word, they could give a head start to any young lady in the capital. Everything was decided at a reception with the governor. There Chichikov saw a blond girl whom he had previously met in a stroller. It turned out that it was the governor's daughter. And immediately all the ladies disappeared.
He stopped looking at anyone and thought only about her. In turn, the offended ladies began to say unflattering things about the guest. The situation was aggravated by the sudden appearance of Nozdryov, who publicly announced that Chichikov was a fraudster and that he was in the business of " dead souls" But since everyone knew Nozdryov’s nonsense and deceitful nature, they did not believe him. Chichikov, feeling awkward, left early. While he was suffering from insomnia, another trouble was being prepared for him. Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka arrived in the city and was already interested in how much “dead souls” were these days, so as not to sell them too cheap.
ChapterIX
The next morning, one “beautiful” lady ran to another similar lady to tell how Chichikov bought “dead souls” from her friend Korobochka. They also have thoughts about Nozdryov. The ladies think that Chichikov started all this in order to get the governor’s daughter, and Nozdryov is his accomplice. The ladies immediately spread the version to other friends and the city begins to discuss this topic. True, men have a different opinion. They believe that Chichikov was still interested in “dead souls.”
City officials are even beginning to believe that Chichikov was sent for some kind of check. But they were guilty of sins, so they got scared. During this period, a new governor-general was just appointed in the province, so this was quite possible. Then, as if on purpose, the governor received two strange papers. One said that a well-known counterfeiter who changed names was wanted, and the other said about an escaped robber.
Then everyone wondered who this Chichikov really was. After all, none of them knew for sure. They interviewed the landowners from whom he bought the souls of the peasants, but there was little sense. We tried to find out something from Selifan and Petrushka, also to no avail. Meanwhile, the governor's daughter got it from her mother. She strictly ordered not to communicate with the dubious guest.
ChapterX
The situation in the city became so tense that many officials began to lose weight from worry. Everyone decided to gather at the chief of police to confer. It was believed that Chichikov was Captain Kopeikin in disguise, whose leg and arm were torn off during the 1812 campaign. When he returned from the front, his father refused to support him. Then Kopeikin decided to turn to the sovereign and went to St. Petersburg.
Due to the absence of the sovereign, the general promises to receive him, but asks him to come in a few days. Several days pass, but he is not accepted again. One nobleman assures that this requires the king’s permission. Soon Kopeikin runs out of money, he is in poverty and starving. Then he again turns to the general, who rudely escorts him out and expels him from St. Petersburg. After some time, a gang of robbers begins to operate in the Ryazan forest. Rumor has it that this was the work of Kopeikin.
After consulting, the officials decide that Chichikov cannot be Kopeikin, because his legs and arms are intact. Nozdryov appears and tells his version. He says that he studied with Chichikov, who was already a counterfeiter. He also says that he sold him a lot of “dead souls” and that Chichikov really intended to take away the governor’s daughter, and he helped him in this. As a result, he lies so much that he himself understands that he has gone too far.
At this time, in the city, a prosecutor dies for no reason from stress. Everyone blames Chichikov, but he knows nothing about it, since he suffers from gumboil. He is sincerely surprised that no one visits him. Nozdryov comes to him and tells him everything about how the city considers him a swindler who tried to kidnap the governor’s daughter. He also talks about the death of the prosecutor. After he leaves, Chichikov orders things to be packed.
ChapterXI
The next day Chichikov gets ready to go on the road, but cannot leave for a long time. Either the horses were not shod, or he overslept, or the chaise was not laid. As a result, they leave, but on the way they encounter a funeral procession. This is the prosecutor being buried. All the officials go to the procession, and everyone is thinking about how to improve relations with the new governor-general. Followed by lyrical digression about Russia, its roads and buildings.
The author introduces us to the origin of Chichikov. It turns out that his parents were nobles, but he doesn’t look much like them. Since childhood, he was sent to an old relative, where he lived and studied. In parting, his father gave him parting words to always please his superiors and only associate with the rich. At school, the hero studied mediocrely, had no special talents, but was a practical guy.
When his father died, he mortgaged his father's house and entered the service. There he tried to please his superiors in everything and even courted the boss’s ugly daughter and promised to marry. But when I got promoted, I didn’t get married. Then he changed more than one service and did not stay anywhere for long because of his machinations. At one time he even participated in the capture of smugglers, with whom he himself entered into an agreement.
The idea of buying “dead souls” came to him in Once again when everything had to start all over again. According to his plan, the “dead souls” had to be pledged to the bank, and having received a significant loan, he had to hide. Further, the author complains about the properties of the hero’s nature, but he himself partly justifies him. At the end, the chaise rushed so quickly along the road. What Russian doesn't like driving fast? The author compares the flying troika with rushing Russia.
Volume two
The second volume was written by the author as a draft, revised more than once, and then burned by him. It told about Chichikov’s further adventures, about his acquaintance with Andrei Ivanovich Tententikov, Colonel Koshkarev, Khlobuev and other “useful” characters. At the end of the second volume, Chichikov's tricks were made public and he ended up in prison. However, a certain Murazov is working on his behalf. That's where the story ends.
“Dead Souls” is a complex work with multi-level text, where even experienced readers can get lost. So it won't hurt anyone brief retelling Gogol's poems in chapters, as well as hers, which will help students understand the author's large-scale plans.
He asks you to send comments about the entire text or image of a particular class to him personally, for which he will be grateful.
Chapter first
The chaise of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov (here is his) - a collegiate adviser - accompanied by servants Selifan and Petrushka, drives into the city of NN. Chichikov's description is quite typical: he is not handsome, but not bad-looking, not thin, but not fat, not young, but not old.
Chichikov, showing masterful hypocrisy and the ability to find an approach to everyone, gets acquainted with all the important officials and impresses them pleasant impression. At the governor's he meets the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, and at the police chief he meets Nozdryov. He undertakes to pay a visit to everyone.
Chapter two
The author writes about Chichikov's servants: Petrushka and the drinking coachman Selifan. Pavel Ivanovich goes to see Manilov (here is him), in the village of Manilovka. Everything in the manners and portrait of the landowner was too sweet, he thinks only about abstract things, can’t finish reading one book and dreams of building a stone bridge, but only in words.
Manilov lives here with his wife and two children, whose names are Alcides and Themistoclus. Chichikov says that he wants to purchase “dead souls” from him - dead peasants who are still on the audit lists. He refers to the desire to relieve his newfound friend from paying taxes. The landowner, after a short fright, happily agrees to give them to the guest for free. Pavel Ivanovich hastily leaves him and goes to Sobakevich, pleased with the successful start of his enterprise.
Chapter Three
On the way to Sobakevich's house, due to the inattention of the coachman Selifan, the chaise goes far from the right road and gets into an accident. Chichikov is forced to ask for an overnight stay with the landowner Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka (here is her).
The old woman is too thrifty, incredibly stupid, but very successful. Order reigns in her estate, she conducts trade business with many merchants. The widow keeps all her old things and receives the guest with suspicion. In the morning, Chichikov tried to talk about “dead souls,” but Nastasya Petrovna for a long time could not understand how one could trade in the dead. Finally, after a small scandal, the irritated official makes a deal and sets off on a repaired chaise.
Chapter Four
Chichikov enters the tavern, where he meets the landowner Nozdryov (here is him). He is an avid gambler, a fan of making up tall tales, a carouser and a talker.
Nozdryov calls Chichikov to his estate. Pavel Ivanovich asks him about “dead souls,” but the landowner inquires about the purpose of such an unusual purchase. He offers the hero to buy other expensive goods along with the souls, but it all ends in a quarrel.
The next morning, the gambling Nozdryov invites the guest to play checkers: the prize is “dead souls.” Chichikov notices the landowner's fraud, after which he escapes from the danger of a fight, thanks to the police captain who entered.
Chapter Five
Chichikov's britzka runs into the carriage, which causes a slight delay. A pretty girl, noticed by Pavel Ivanovich, would later turn out to be the governor’s daughter. The hero approaches the huge village of Sobakevich (here is his), everything in his house is of impressive size, like the owner himself, whom the author compares to a clumsy bear. A particularly characteristic detail is a massive, roughly hewn table that reflects the character of the owner.
The landowner speaks rudely about everyone Chichikov talks about, remembering Plyushkin, whose serfs endlessly die because of the owner’s stinginess. Sobakevich calmly sets a high price for the dead peasants and begins to talk about selling them. After much bargaining, Chichikov manages to buy several souls. The chaise goes to the landowner Plyushkin.
Chapter Six
The village of Plyushkina has a miserable appearance: the windows are without glass, the gardens are abandoned, the houses are overgrown with mold. Chichikov mistakes the owner for an old housekeeper. Plyushkin (here is him), looking like a beggar, leads the guest into the dusty house.
This is the only landowner whose past the author talks about. The master's wife and youngest daughter died, and the rest of his children left him. The house was empty, and Plyushkin gradually sank to such a pitiful state. He is happy to get rid of the dead peasants so as not to pay taxes for them, and happily sells them to Chichikov at a low price. Pavel Ivanovich leaves back to NN.
Chapter Seven
Along the way, Chichikov examines the collected records and notices the variety of names of deceased peasants. He meets Manilov and Sobakevich.
The chairman of the chamber quickly draws up the documents. Chichikov reports that he bought serfs for removal to the Kherson province. Officials celebrate Pavel Ivanovich's success.
Chapter Eight
Chichikov's huge acquisitions become known throughout the city. Various rumors are spreading. Pavel Ivanovich finds an anonymous letter of love.
At the governor's ball, he meets a girl whom he saw on the way to Sobakevich. He becomes interested in the governor's daughter, forgetting about other ladies.
The sudden appearance of a drunken Nozdryov almost disrupts Chichikov's plan: the landowner begins to tell everyone how the traveler bought dead peasants from him. He is taken out of the hall, after which Chichikov leaves the ball. At the same time, Korobochka goes to find out from her friends whether her guest has set the right price for the “dead souls.”
Chapter Nine
Friends Anna Grigorievna and Sofya Ivanovna gossip about the visiting official: they think that Chichikov is acquiring “dead souls” in order to please the governor’s daughter or kidnap her, in which Nozdryov may become his accomplice.
The landowners are afraid of punishment for the scam, so they keep the deal secret. Chichikov is not invited to dinners. Everyone in the city is busy with the news that somewhere in the province a counterfeiter and robber is hiding. Suspicion immediately falls on the buyer of dead souls.
Chapter Ten
The police chief is arguing over who Pavel Ivanovich is. Some people think he is Napoleon. The postmaster is sure that this is none other than Captain Kopeikin, and tells his story.
When Captain Kopeikin fought in 1812, he lost a leg and an arm. He came to St. Petersburg to ask for help from the governor, but the meeting was postponed several times. The soldier soon ran out of money. As a result, he is advised to return home and wait for the sovereign's help. Soon after his departure, robbers appeared in the Ryazan forests, whose ataman, by all indications, was Captain Kopeikin.
But Chichikov has all his arms and legs, so everyone understands that this version is wrong. The prosecutor dies due to anxiety; Chichikov has had a cold for three days and does not leave the house. When he recovers, he is refused admission to the governor, and others treat him the same way. Nozdryov tells him about the rumors, praises him for the idea of kidnapping the governor’s daughter and offers his help. The hero understands that he urgently needs to escape from the city.
Chapter Eleven
In the morning, after slight delays in preparations, Chichikov sets off. He sees the prosecutor being buried. Pavel Ivanovich leaves the city.
The author talks about Chichikov's past. He was born into a noble family. His father often reminded his son to please everyone and save every penny. At school, Pavlusha already knew how to earn money, for example, by selling pies and showing performances of a trained mouse for a fee.
Then he began to serve in the government chamber. Pavel Ivanovich made his way to a high position by announcing to an old official that he was going to marry his daughter. In all positions, Chichikov took advantage of his official position, which is why he once found himself on trial for smuggling.
One day, Pavel Ivanovich got the idea of purchasing “dead souls” in order to ask for the Kherson province to house them. Then he could get a lot of money on the security of non-existent people and make a big fortune for himself.
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