Dead souls are hypocrisy. The image of Chichikov in the poem “Dead Souls”: description of appearance and character with quotes. Composition: general structure of the work

The idea of ​​the poem “Dead Souls” and its implementation. The meaning of the title of the poem. Subjects

The idea of ​​the poem dates back to 1835. The plot of the work was suggested to Gogol by Pushkin. The first volume of Dead Souls was completed in 1841 year, and published in 1842 year under the title "The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls."

Gogol conceived a grandiose work in which he planned to reflect all aspects of Russian life. Gogol wrote to V.A. Zhukovsky about the concept of his work: “All of Rus' will appear in it.”

The concept of “Dead Souls” is comparable to the concept of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. The writer intended to write the work in three volumes. In the first volume, Gogol was going to show the negative sides of life in Russia. Chichikov, the central character of the poem, and most of the other characters are depicted in a satirical manner. In the second volume, the writer sought to outline the path to spiritual rebirth for his heroes. In the third volume, Gogol wanted to embody his ideas about the true existence of man.

Associated with the writer's intention is meaning of the title works. The very name “Dead Souls” contains, as is well known, a paradox: the soul is immortal, which means it cannot possibly be dead. The word "dead" is used here in a figurative, metaphorical sense. Firstly, we are talking here about dead serfs, who are listed as living in revision tales. Secondly, speaking about “dead souls,” Gogol means representatives of the ruling classes - landowners, officials, whose souls “dead”, being in the grip of passions.

Gogol managed to complete only the first volume of Dead Souls. The writer worked on the second volume of the work until the end of his life. Gogol apparently destroyed the last version of the manuscript of the second volume shortly before his death. Only individual chapters of the two original editions of the second volume have survived. Gogol did not start writing the third volume.

In his work, Gogol reflected the life of Russia in the first third of the 19th century, the life and customs of landowners, provincial city officials, and peasants. In addition, in the author's digressions and other extra-plot elements of the work, topics such as St. Petersburg, the War of 1812, Russian language, youth and old age, the vocation of a writer, nature, the future of Russia and many others.

The main problem and ideological orientation of the work

The main problem of Dead Souls is spiritual death and spiritual rebirth of man.

At the same time, Gogol, a writer with a Christian worldview, does not lose hope for the spiritual awakening of his heroes. Gogol intended to write about the spiritual resurrection of Chichikov and Plyushkin in the second and third volumes of his work, but this plan was not destined to come true.

In "Dead Souls" it prevails satirical pathos: the writer exposes the morals of landowners and officials, the destructive passions, and vices of representatives of the ruling classes.

Affirmative beginning in the poem related to the theme of the people: Gogol admires his heroic strength and lively mind, his apt word, and all kinds of talents. Gogol believes in a better future for Russia and the Russian people.

Genre

Gogol himself subtitle to “Dead Souls” he named his work poem.

In the prospectus of the “Training Book of Literature for Russian Youth” compiled by the writer, there is a section “Lesser Kinds of Epic,” which characterizes poem How genre intermediate between epic and novel.Hero such a work - "a private and invisible person." The author leads the hero of the poem through chain of adventures, to show a picture of “shortcomings, abuses, vices.”

K.S. Aksakov saw in Gogol's work features of an ancient epic. “The ancient epic rises before us,” wrote Aksakov. The critic compared Dead Souls with Homer's Iliad. Aksakov was struck by both the grandeur of Gogol’s plan and the greatness of its implementation already in the first volume of Dead Souls.

In Gogol's poem Aksakov saw a wise, calm, majestic contemplation of the world, characteristic of ancient authors. We can partly agree with this point of view. We find elements of the poem as a glorifying genre primarily in the author’s digressions about Rus', about the three-bird.

At the same time, Aksakov underestimated the satirical pathos of Dead Souls. V.G. Belinsky, entering into polemics with Aksakov, emphasized first of all satirical orientation"Dead Souls". Belinsky saw a remarkable example of satire.

In "Dead Souls" there are also features of an adventure novel. The main storyline of the work is built on the adventure of the protagonist. At the same time, the love affair, so important in most novels, is relegated to the background in Gogol’s work and presented in a comic vein (the story of Chichikov and the governor’s daughter, rumors about her possible abduction by the hero, etc.).

Thus, Gogol’s poem is a complex work in terms of genre. “Dead Souls” combines the features of an ancient epic, adventure novel, and satire.

Composition: general structure of the work

The first volume of Dead Souls is complex artistic whole.

Let's consider plot works. As you know, it was given to Gogol by Pushkin. The plot of the work is based on the adventurous story of Chichikov's acquisition of dead souls peasants who are listed as alive according to documents. Such a plot is consistent with Gogol’s definition of the genre of the poem as “a lesser kind of epic” (see the section on genre). Chichikov turns out plot-shaping character. The role of Chichikov is akin to the role of Khlestakov in the comedy “The Government Inspector”: the hero appears in the city of NN, creates a commotion in it, and hastily leaves the city when the situation becomes dangerous.

Note that the composition of the work is dominated by spatialprinciple of material organization. Here a fundamental difference is revealed between the construction of “Dead Souls” and, say, “Eugene Onegin,” where “time is calculated according to the calendar,” or “A Hero of Our Time,” where chronology, on the contrary, is violated, and the basis of the narrative is the gradual revelation of the inner world Main character. In Gogol's poem, the basis of the composition is not the temporal organization of events and not the tasks of psychological analysis, but spatial images - provincial cities, landowners' estates, and finally, all of Russia, the vast expanses of which appear before us in digressions about Rus' and the bird-troika.

The first chapter can be considered as exposition the entire action of the poem. Reader meets Chichikov- the central character of the work. The author gives a description of Chichikov's appearance and makes several comments regarding his character and habits. In the first chapter we are introduced to the external appearance of the provincial city of NN, as well as its inhabitants. Gogol gives a short but very capacious a satirical picture of the life of officials.

Chapters two to six the writer presents to the reader gallery of landowners. In the depiction of each landowner, Gogol adheres to a certain compositional principle (description of the landowner’s estate, his portrait, the interior of the house, comic situations, the most important of which are the dinner scene and the scene of the purchase and sale of dead souls).

In the seventh chapter the action is again transferred to the provincial town. The most important episodes of the seventh chapter - scenes in the execution chamber And description of the police chief's breakfast.

Central episode chapter eight - the governor's ball. This is where it gets developed love affair, outlined back in the fifth chapter (the collision of Chichikov’s chaise with a carriage in which two ladies were sitting, one of whom, as it turned out later, was the governor’s daughter). In the ninth chapterrumors and gossip about Chichikov are growing. Their main distributors are ladies. The most persistent rumor about Chichikov is that the hero is going to kidnap the governor's daughter. The love affair goes on Thus from the real sphere to the sphere of rumors and gossip about Chichikov.

In the tenth chapter the central place is occupied scene in the police chief's house. A special place in the tenth chapter and in the work as a whole is occupied by an inserted episode - "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin." The tenth chapter ends with the news of the death of the prosecutor. Prosecutor's funeral scene in the eleventh chapter completes the city theme.

Chichikov's escape from the city of NN in the eleventh chapter ends the main storyline poems.

Characters

Gallery of landowners

The central place in the poem is gallery of landowners. Their characteristics are devoted five chapters first volume - from the second to the sixth. Gogol showed five characters in close-up. This Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Sobakevich and Plyushkin. All landowners embody the idea of ​​the spiritual impoverishment of man.

When creating images of landowners, Gogol widely uses means of artistic representation, bringing literary creativity closer to painting: these are description of the estate, interior, portrait.

Also important speech characteristics heroes, proverbs, revealing the essence of their nature, comic situations, first of all the dinner scene and the scene of buying and selling dead souls.

A special role in Gogol’s work is played by details– landscape, subject, portrait, details of speech characteristics and others.

Let us briefly characterize each of the landowners.

Manilov- Human outwardly attractive, friendly, disposed to acquaintance, communicative. This is the only character who speaks well of Chichikov to the end. Moreover, he appears to us as good family man, loving his wife and caring for his children.

But still main features Manilova is empty daydreaming, projectism, inability to manage a household. The hero dreams of building a house with a belvedere, from where a view of Moscow would open. He also dreams that the sovereign, having learned about their friendship with Chichikov, “will grant them generals.”

The description of the Manilov estate leaves the impression of monotony: “The village of Manilovka could lure few with its location. The master’s house stood alone on the jura, that is, on a hill open to all the winds that might blow.” An interesting detail of the landscape sketch is a gazebo with the inscription “Temple of Solitary Reflection.” This detail characterizes the hero as a sentimental person who loves to indulge in empty dreams.

Now about the interior details of Manilov’s house. His office had beautiful furniture, but two chairs had been covered with matting for several years. There was also some kind of book lying there, always on page fourteen. On both windows there are “mountains of ash knocked out of the pipe.” Some rooms had no furniture at all. A smart candlestick was served on the table and some kind of copper invalid was placed next to it. All this speaks of Manilov’s inability to manage the farm, that he cannot complete the work he has begun.

Let's look at Manilov's portrait. The hero's appearance testifies to the sweetness of his character. He was a rather pleasant person in appearance, “but this pleasantness seemed to have too much sugar in it.” The hero had attractive facial features, but his gaze conveyed “sugar.” The hero smiled like a cat that had been tickled behind the ears with a finger.

Manilov's speech is verbose and florid. The hero loves to say beautiful phrases. “May day... the name day of the heart!” - he greets Chichikov.

Gogol characterizes his hero by resorting to the proverb: “Neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan.”

We also note the dinner scene and the scene of buying and selling dead souls. Manilov treats Chichikov, as is customary in the village, with all his heart. Chichikov’s request to sell dead souls evokes surprise in Manilov and high-flown reasoning: “Wouldn’t this negotiation be inconsistent with civil regulations and future views of Russia?”

A box distinguishes love of hoarding and at the same time " clubheadedness" This landowner appears before us as a limited woman, with a straightforward character, slow-witted, and thrifty to the point of stinginess.

At the same time, Korobochka lets Chichikov into her house at night, which speaks of her responsiveness And hospitality.

From the description of the Korobochka estate, we see that the landowner cares not so much about the appearance of the estate, but about the successful management of the household and prosperity. Chichikov notices the well-being of peasant households. Box – practical housewife.

Meanwhile, in Korobochka’s house, in the room where Chichikov stayed, “behind every mirror there was either a letter, or an old deck of cards, or a stocking”; All these object details emphasize the landowner’s passion for collecting unnecessary things.

During lunch, all kinds of household supplies and baked goods are placed on the table, which indicates the patriarchal morals and hospitality of the hostess. Meanwhile, Korobochka cautiously accepts offer Chichikova about selling him dead souls and even goes to the city to find out how much dead souls are worth these days. Therefore, Chichikov, using a proverb, characterizes Korobochka as a “mongrel in the manger” who does not eat herself and does not give to others.

Nozdryov–spendthrift, reveler, swindler,“historical person”, since some kind of history always happens to him. This character is distinguished by constant lies, passion, dishonesty,familiar address with the people around him, boastfulness, a penchant for scandalous stories.

The description of Nozdryov's estate reflects the unique character of its owner. We see that the hero does not do housework. So, on his estate “the field in many places consisted of hummocks.” Only Nozdryov’s kennel is in order, which indicates his passion for hound hunting.

The interior of Nozdryov's house is interesting. In his office hung “Turkish daggers, on one of which was mistakenly carved: “Master Savely Sibiryakov.” Among the interior details, we also note Turkish pipes and a barrel organ - items that reflect the character’s range of interests.

There is a curious portrait detail that speaks of the hero’s penchant for a wild life: one of Nozdryov’s sideburns was somewhat thicker than the other - a consequence of a tavern fight.

In the story about Nozdrev, Gogol uses hyperbole: the hero says that while he was at the fair, “alone during dinner he drank seventeen bottles of champagne,” which indicates the hero’s penchant for bragging and lies.

At dinner, during which disgustingly prepared dishes were served, Nozdryov tried to get Chichikov to drink cheap wine of dubious quality.

Speaking about the scene of buying and selling dead souls, we note that Nozdryov perceives Chichikov’s proposal as a reason for gambling. As a result, a quarrel arises, which only by chance does not end with Chichikov being beaten.

Sobakevich- This landowner-fist, which runs a strong economy and at the same time is different rudeness And straightforwardness. This landowner appears before us as a man unfriendly,clumsy,speaks poorly of everyone. Meanwhile, he gives unusually accurate, although very rude, characterizations of city officials.

Describing the Sobakevich estate, Gogol notes the following. When building the manor house, “the architect constantly struggled with the taste of the owner,” so the house turned out to be asymmetrical, although very durable.

Let's pay attention to the interior of Sobakevich's house. Portraits of Greek commanders hung on the walls. “All these heroes,” Gogol notes, “were with such thick thighs and an incredible mustache that a shiver ran through the body,” which is quite consistent with the appearance and character of the owner of the estate. In the room there was “a walnut bureau on the most absurd four legs, a perfect bear... Every object, every chair seemed to say: “And I, too, are Sobakevich.”

Gogol’s character also resembles a “medium-sized bear” in appearance, which indicates the rudeness and uncouthness of the landowner. The writer notes that “the tailcoat he was wearing was completely bearish in color, his sleeves were long, his trousers were long, he stepped with his feet this way and that, and constantly stepped on other people’s feet.” It is no coincidence that the hero is characterized by the proverb: “It’s not cut well, but it’s sewn tightly.” In the story about Sobakevich, Gogol resorts to the technique hyperboles. Sobakevich’s “heroism” is manifested, in particular, in the fact that his foot is shod “in a boot of such a gigantic size that one can hardly find a corresponding foot anywhere.”

Gogol also uses hyperbole when describing dinner at Sobakevich’s, who was obsessed with a passion for gluttony: a turkey “the size of a calf” was served at the table. In general, dinner at the hero’s house is distinguished by the unpretentiousness of the dishes. “When I have pork, bring the whole pig to the table, lamb – bring the whole lamb, goose – the whole goose! I’d rather eat two dishes, but eat in moderation, as my soul demands,” says Sobakevich.

Discussing with Chichikov the terms of the sale of dead souls, Sobakevich bargains hard, and when Chichikov tries to refuse the purchase, he hints at a possible denunciation.

Plyushkin represents stinginess taken to the point of absurdity. This is an old, unfriendly, unkempt and inhospitable man.

From the description of Plyushkin’s estate and house, we see that his farm is completely desolate. Greed destroyed both the well-being and the soul of the hero.

The appearance of the owner of the estate is nondescript. “His face was nothing special; it was almost the same as that of many thin old men, one chin only protruded very far forward, so that he had to cover it with a handkerchief every time so as not to spit, writes Gogol. “The small eyes had not yet gone out and ran from under the high eyebrows, like mice.”

Of particular importance when creating the image of Plyushkin is subject detail. On the bureau in the hero’s office, the reader finds a mountain of various little things. There are many objects here: “a pile of finely written pieces of paper covered with a green marble press with an egg on top, some kind of old book bound in leather with a red edge, a lemon, all dried up, no more than a hazelnut tall, a broken armchair handle, a glass with some kind of liquid and three flies, covered with a letter, a piece of sealing wax, a piece of some kind of raised rag, two feathers stained with ink, dried out as if in consumption, a toothpick, completely yellowed, with which the owner, perhaps, picked his teeth even before the invasion of Moscow French." We find the same pile in the corner of Plyushkin’s room. As you know, psychological analysis can take different forms. For example, Lermontov paints a psychological portrait of Pechorin, revealing the hero’s inner world through the details of his appearance. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy resort to extensive internal monologues. Gogol recreates character's state of mind mainly through the objective world. The “mud of little things” surrounding Plyushkin symbolizes his stingy, petty, “dried up” soul, like a forgotten lemon.

For lunch, the hero offers Chichikov crackers (the remains of Easter cake) and old liqueur, from which Plyushkin himself extracted the worms. Having learned about Chichikov's proposal, Plyushkin is sincerely happy, since Chichikov will save him from the need to pay taxes for numerous peasants who died or ran away from a stingy owner who starved them to death.

It is very important to note that Gogol resorts to such a technique as excursion into the hero's past(retrospection): it is important for the author to show what the hero was like before and to what lowness he has now sunk. In the past, Plyushkin was a zealous owner, a happy family man. In the present there is “a hole in humanity,” as the writer puts it.

Gogol in his work satirically depicted various types and characters of Russian landowners. Their names have become household names.

Note also the meaning of the landowners' gallery itself, symbolizing the process of human spiritual degradation. As Gogol wrote, his heroes are “one more vulgar than the other.” If Manilov has some attractive traits, then Plyushkin is an example of extreme impoverishment of the soul.

The image of a provincial town: officials, ladies' society

Along with the gallery of landowners, an important place in the work is occupied by image of the provincial town of NN. City theme opens in the first chapter,resumes in chapter seven the first volume of "Dead Souls" and ends at the beginning of the eleventh chapter.

In the first chapter Gogol gives general characteristics of the city. He's drawing appearance of the city, describes streets, hotel.

The cityscape is monotonous. Gogol writes: “The yellow paint on the stone houses was very striking and the gray paint on the wooden ones darkened modestly.” Some signs are curious, for example: “Foreigner Vasily Fedorov.”

IN hotel description Gogol uses bright subjectdetails, resorts to artistic comparisons. The writer draws the darkened walls of the “common room”, cockroaches peeking out like prunes from all corners of Chichikov’s room.

The city landscape and the description of the hotel help the author to recreate atmosphere of vulgarity reigning in the provincial city.

Already in the first chapter Gogol names the majority officials cities. These are the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, police chief, chairman of the chamber, inspector of the medical board, city architect, postmaster, and some other officials.

In the description of the city, provincial officials, their characters and morals, a pronounced satirical orientation. The writer sharply criticizes the Russian bureaucratic system, the vices and abuses of officials. Gogol denounces such phenomena as bureaucracy, bribery, embezzlement, gross arbitrariness, and idle lifestyle, gluttony, addiction to card games, idle talk, gossip, ignorance, vanity and many other vices.

In Dead Souls, officials are depicted much more more generalized than in The Inspector General. They are not named by last name. Most often, Gogol indicates the position of an official, thereby emphasizing the social role of the character. Sometimes the name and patronymic of the character are indicated. We find out that chairman of the chamber name is Ivan Grigorievich,police chief - Alexey Ivanovich, postmaster - Ivan Andreevich.

Gogol gives some officials brief characteristics. For example, he notices that governor was “neither fat nor thin, had Anna around his neck” and “sometimes embroidered on tulle.” Prosecutor had thick eyebrows and winked with his left eye, as if inviting the visitor to go into another room.

Police chief Alexey Ivanovich, “father and benefactor” in the city, like the mayor from “The Inspector General,” visited the shops and the Gostiny Dvor as if he were visiting his own pantry. At the same time, the police chief knew how to win the favor of the merchants, who said that Alexey Ivanovich “even though he will take you, he will certainly not give you away.” It is clear that the police chief covered up the machinations of the merchants. Chichikov speaks of the police chief as follows: “What a well-read person! We lost to him at whist... until the very late roosters.” Here the writer uses the technique irony.

Gogol gives a vivid description of a petty bribe-taker official Ivan Antonovich “jug snout”, who competently takes “gratitude” from Chichikov for drawing up the deed of sale. Ivan Antonovich had a remarkable appearance: the entire middle of his face “protruded forward and went into his nose,” hence the nickname of this official - the master of bribes.

And here postmaster“almost” did not take bribes: firstly, they did not offer him: it was not the right position; secondly, he raised only one son, and the government salary was mostly enough. Ivan Andreevich's character was sociable; according to the author, it was "wit and philosopher."

Concerning chairman of the chamber, then he knew Zhukovsky’s “Lyudmila” by heart. Other officials, as Gogol notes, were also “enlightened people”: some read Karamzin, some Moskovskie Vedomosti, some didn’t even read anything at all. Here Gogol again resorts to the technique irony. For example, about officials playing cards, the author notes that this is “a useful activity.”

According to the writer, there were no duels between officials, because, as Gogol writes, they were all civil officials, but one tried to harm the other wherever possible, which, as we know, is sometimes more difficult than any duel.

At the center of “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin,” told by the postmaster in the tenth chapter, there are two characters: a disabled person from the war of 1812, "little man" captain Kopeikin And "significant person"- a senior official, a minister who did not want to help the veteran, who showed callousness and indifference towards him.

Persons from the bureaucratic world also appear in the biography of Chichikov in the eleventh chapter: this Chichikov himself, the police officer, whom Chichikov cleverly deceived by not marrying his daughter, commission members for the construction of a government building, colleagues Chichikova at customs, other persons from the bureaucratic world.

Let's look at some episodes poems where the characters of officials and their way of life are most clearly revealed.

The central episode of the first chapter is the scene parties at the governor's. Already here such features of the provincial bureaucracy are revealed as idleness, love of card games, idle talk. Here we find digression on fat and thin officials, where the writer hints at the unjust incomes of the fat and the extravagance of the thin.

In the seventh chapter, Gogol returns to the theme of the city. Writer with irony describes treasury chamber. This is “a stone house, all white as chalk, probably to depict the purity of the souls of the positions located in it.” About the court, the author notes that it is an “incorruptible zemstvo court”; about the judicial officials he says that they have “the incorruptible heads of the priests of Themis.” An apt description of officials is given through the mouth of Sobakevich. “They all burden the earth for nothing,” the hero notes. Close up shown bribe episode: Ivan Antonovich “jug snout” masterfully accepts the “little white one” from Chichikov.

In the scene breakfast at the police chief's reveals such features of officials as gluttony And love of drinking. Here Gogol again resorts to the technique hyperboles: Sobakevich eats a nine-pound sturgeon alone.

Gogol describes with undisguised irony ladies' society. The ladies of the city were " presentable", as noted by the author. The female society is especially vividly depicted in the scenes Governor's Ball. The ladies perform in “Dead Souls” as trendsetters and public opinion. This becomes especially obvious in connection with Chichikov’s courtship of the governor’s daughter: the ladies are outraged by Chichikov’s inattention to them.

The topic of ladies' gossip is further developed in ninth chapter, where the author showed in close-up Sofya Ivanovna And Anna Grigorievna - “a simply pleasant lady” And "a lady pleasant in every way." Thanks to their efforts, a rumor is born that Chichikov is going to kidnap the governor's daughter.

The central episode of the tenth chapter–meeting of officials at the police chief, where the most incredible rumors about who Chichikov is are discussed. This episode is reminiscent of the scene in the mayor's house in the first act of The Inspector General. Officials gathered to find out who Chichikov was. They remember their “sins” and at the same time pronounce the most incredible judgments about Chichikov. Opinions are expressed that this is an auditor, a manufacturer of false banknotes, Napoleon, and finally, Captain Kopeikin, about whom the postmaster tells the audience.

Death of a prosecutor, which is mentioned at the end of the tenth chapter, is a symbolic result of the author of the poem’s thoughts about the meaningless, empty life of the city. Mental impoverishment, according to Gogol, affected not only landowners, but also officials. A curious “discovery” of the inhabitants of the city made in connection with the death of the prosecutor. “Then it was only with condolences that they learned that the deceased definitely had a soul, although due to his modesty he never showed it,” the writer notes with irony. Painting of the prosecutor's funeral in the eleventh chapter the story about the city ends. Chichikov exclaims, watching the funeral procession: “Here, the prosecutor! He lived, lived, and then died! And then they will print in the newspapers that, to the regret of his subordinates and all of humanity, he has died, a respectable citizen, a rare father, an exemplary husband... but if you take a good look at the matter, in reality all you had was thick eyebrows.”

Thus, creating the image of a provincial city, Gogol showed the life of Russian officials, their vices and abuses. The images of officials, along with the images of landowners, help the reader understand the meaning of the poem about dead souls distorted by sin.

Theme of St. Petersburg. "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin"

Gogol’s attitude towards St. Petersburg has already been considered in the analysis of the comedy “The Inspector General”. Let us recall that for the writer St. Petersburg was not only the capital of an autocratic state, the justice of which he had no doubt, but also the focus of the worst manifestations of Western civilization - such as the cult of material values, pseudo-enlightenment, vanity; In addition, St. Petersburg, in Gogol’s view, is a symbol of a soulless bureaucratic system that belittles and suppresses the “little man.”

We find mentions of St. Petersburg and comparisons of provincial life with life in the capital already in the first chapter of Dead Souls, in the description of a party at the governor’s. The author discusses the insignificance of the gastronomic subtleties of St. Petersburg in comparison with the simple and plentiful food of provincial landowners, “middle-class gentlemen” at the beginning of the fourth chapter. Chichikov, thinking about Sobakevich, tries to imagine what Sobakevich would become if he lived in St. Petersburg. Talking about the governor’s ball, the author ironically remarks: “No, this is not a province, this is the capital, this is Paris itself.” Chichikov’s remarks in the eleventh chapter about the ruin of the landowners’ estates are also connected with the theme of St. Petersburg: “Everyone came to St. Petersburg to serve; estates are abandoned."

The theme of St. Petersburg is most clearly revealed in "Tales of Captain Kopeikin", which the postmaster tells in the tenth chapter. "The Tale..." is based on folklore traditions. One of her sources–folk song about the robber Kopeikin. Hence the elements tale: Let us note such expressions of the postmaster as “my sir”, “you know”, “you can imagine”, “in some way”.

The hero of the story, a disabled person from the war of 1812, who went to St. Petersburg to ask for “royal mercy,” “suddenly found himself in a capital, which, so to speak, has nothing like it in the world! Suddenly there is a light in front of him, so to speak: a certain field of life, a fabulous Scheherazade.” This description of St. Petersburg reminds us of hyperbolic images in the scene of Khlestakov’s lies in the comedy “The Inspector General”: the captain sees in luxurious shop windows “cherries - five rubles each”, “a huge watermelon”.

At the center of the “Tale” is confrontation "little man" Captain Kopeikin And “significant person” - minister, which personifies a bureaucratic machine indifferent to the needs of ordinary people. It is interesting to note that Gogol protects the Tsar himself from criticism: at the time of Kopeikin’s arrival in St. Petersburg, the Tsar was still on campaigns abroad and did not have time to make the necessary orders to help the disabled.

It is important that the author denounces the St. Petersburg bureaucracy from the position of a man of the people. The general meaning of the “Tale...” is as follows. If the government does not turn its face to the needs of the people, a rebellion against it is inevitable. It is no coincidence that Captain Kopeikin, having not found the truth in St. Petersburg, became, according to rumors, the chieftain of a gang of robbers.

Chichikov, his ideological and compositional role

Image of Chichikov performs two main functions - independent And compositional. On the one hand, Chichikov is a new type of Russian life, the type of acquirer-adventurer. On the other hand, Chichikov is plot character; his adventures form the basis of the plot of the work.

Let's consider Chichikov's independent role. This, according to Gogol, owner, purchaser.

Chichikov comes from the environment poor and humble nobility. This official, who served the rank of collegiate adviser and accumulated his initial capital by engaging in embezzlement and bribes. At the same time, the hero acts as Kherson landowner who he pretends to be. Chichikov needs the status of a landowner to acquire dead souls.

Gogol believed that spirit of profit came to Russia from the West and acquired ugly forms here. Hence the hero’s criminal path to material prosperity.

Chichikov is distinguished hypocrisy. By committing lawlessness, the hero declares his respect for the law. “The law – I am speechless before the law!” - he declares to Manilov.

It should be noted that Chichikov is attracted not by money itself, but by the opportunity rich and beautiful life. “He imagined a life ahead of him in all comforts, with all prosperity; carriages, a house, perfectly arranged, that’s what was constantly running through his head,” Gogol writes about his hero.

The pursuit of material values ​​has distorted the hero's soul. Chichikov, like landowners and officials, can be classified among the “dead souls.”

Let's now consider compositional the role of Chichikov's image. This central character"Dead Souls". His main role in the work is plot-forming. This role is primarily related to the genre of the work. As already noted, Gogol defines the poem as “a lesser kind of epic.” The hero of such a work is “a private and invisible person.” The author leads him through a chain of adventures and changes to show a picture of modern life, a picture of shortcomings, abuses, vices. In “Dead Souls,” the adventures of such a hero, Chichikov, become the basis of the plot and allow the author to show the negative sides of contemporary Russian reality, human passions and delusions.

At the same time, the compositional role of Chichikov’s image is not limited to its plot-forming function. Chichikov turns out, paradoxically, "trusted representative" of the author. In his poem, Gogol looks at many phenomena of Russian life through the eyes of Chichikov. A striking example is the hero’s reflections on the souls of the dead and runaway peasants (chapter seven). These thoughts formally belong to Chichikov, although the author’s own view is clearly palpable here. Let's give another example. Chichikov discusses the wastefulness of provincial officials and their wives against the background of national disasters (chapter eight). It is clear that the denunciation of the exorbitant luxury of officials and sympathy for the common people come from the author, but are put into the mouth of the hero. The same can be said about Chichikov's assessment of many characters. Chichikov calls Korobochka “club-headed” and Sobakevich “fist”. It is clear that these judgments reflect the writer’s own view of these characters.

The unusualness of this role of Chichikov lies in the fact that "confidant" author becomes a negative character. However, this role is understandable in the light of Gogol’s Christian worldview, his ideas about the sinful state of modern man and the possibility of his spiritual rebirth. At the end of the eleventh chapter, Gogol writes that many people have vices that make them no better than Chichikov. “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me too?” - the author of the poem asks both himself and the reader. At the same time, intending to lead the hero to spiritual rebirth in the second and third volumes of his work, the writer thereby expressed hope for the spiritual rebirth of every fallen person.

Let's look at some artistic media creating the image of Chichikov

Chichikov - type averaged. This is emphasized description appearance hero. Gogol writes about Chichikov that he is “not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, but not too thin, one cannot say that he is old, but not that he is too young.” Chichikov wears lingonberry-colored tailcoat with sparkle. This detail of the hero’s appearance emphasizes his desire to look decent and at the same time make a good impression of himself, sometimes even to shine in the light, to show off his eyes.

The most important character trait of Chichikov is ability to adapt to others, a kind of “chameleonism”. It's confirmed speech hero. “Whatever the conversation was about, he always knew how to support it,” writes Gogol. Chichikov knew how to talk about horses and dogs, and about virtue, and about making hot wine. Chichikov speaks differently to each of the five landowners. He talks to Manilov in a florid and pompous manner. Chichikov does not stand on ceremony with Korobochka; at the decisive moment, irritated by her stupidity, he even promises the devil to her. Chichikov is careful with Nozdryov, businesslike with Sobakevich, and taciturn with Plyushkin. Curious Chichikov's monologue in the seventh chapter (the police chief's breakfast scene). The hero reminds us of Khlestakov. Chichikov imagines himself as a Kherson landowner, talks about various improvements, about a three-field farm, about the happiness and bliss of two souls.

In Chichikov's speech there are often proverbs. “Don’t have money, have good people to work with,” he tells Manilov. “I caught it and dragged it, if it fell off, don’t ask,” the hero argues in connection with an unsuccessful scam in the commission for the construction of a government building. “Oh, I’m Akim-simplicity, I’m looking for mittens, and both are in my belt!” - Chichikov exclaims on the occasion of the idea that came to his mind to buy up dead souls.

Chichikov plays a big role in creating the image subject detail. Casket the hero is a kind of mirror of his soul, obsessed with a passion for acquisitions. Britzka Chichikov is also a symbolic image. It is inseparable from the hero’s lifestyle, prone to all sorts of adventures.

Love affair in “Dead Souls”, as in “The Inspector General”, it turns out in the background. At the same time, it is important both for revealing Chichikov’s character and for recreating the atmosphere of rumors and gossip in the provincial city. Conversations that Chichikov allegedly sought to kidnap the governor's daughter open a series of fables that accompany the hero until the moment of his departure from the city.

It turns out that gossip and rumors about the hero is also an important means of creating his image. They characterize him from different sides. According to the inhabitants of the city, Chichikov is both an auditor, and a manufacturer of false banknotes, and even Napoleon. Napoleon's theme in “Dead Souls” is not accidental. Napoleon is a symbol of Western civilization, extreme individualism, the desire to achieve a goal by any means necessary.

Of particular importance in the poem is biography Chichikov, placed in the eleventh chapter. Let's name the main stages and events of Chichikov's life. This joyless childhood, life in poverty, in an atmosphere of family despotism; leaving the parental home and starting school, marked father’s parting words: “Most of all, take care and save a penny!” IN school years the hero was carried away petty speculation, he did not forget about sycophancy in front of the teacher, to whom later, in difficult times, he treated him very callously and soullessly. Chichikov is hypocritical cared for the daughter of an elderly police officer for the purpose of promotion. Then he studied “ennobled” forms of bribery(through subordinates), theft in the commission for the construction of a government building,after exposure – fraud during customs service(the story of Brabant lace). Finally he started dead souls scam.

Let us remember that almost all the heroes of “Dead Souls” are depicted by the writer statically. Chichikov (like Plyushkin) is an exception. And this is no coincidence. It is important for Gogol to show the origins of his hero’s spiritual impoverishment, which began in his very childhood and early youth, to trace how the passion for a rich and beautiful life gradually destroyed his soul.

The theme of the people

As already noted, the idea of ​​the poem “Dead Souls” was to show “all of Rus'” in it. Gogol paid main attention to representatives of the noble class - landowners and officials. At the same time he touched themes of the people.

The writer showed in “Dead Souls” dark sides life of the peasantry - rudeness, ignorance, drunkenness.

Chichikov's serfs - lackey Parsley and coachman Selifan– unclean, uneducated, narrow-minded in your own mental interests. Parsley reads books without understanding anything in them. Selifan is distinguished by his addiction to drinking. Serf girl Korobochki Pelagia does not know where the right side is, where the left side is. Uncle Mityai and Uncle Minyai they cannot untangle the harness of horses harnessed to two carriages.

At the same time, Gogol notes talent, creativity Russian people, their heroic strength And freedom-loving spirit. These features of the people are reflected especially clearly in the author's digressions (about the apt Russian word, about Rus', about the three-bird), as well as in Sobakevich's reasoning about dead peasant craftsmen(This brickmaker Milushkin, Eremey Sorokoplekhin, who, while engaged in trade, brought in rent of 500 rubles, carriage maker Mikheev, carpenter Stepan Probka, shoemaker Maxim Telyatnikov); in Chichikov's thoughts about purchased dead souls, which express the position of the author himself (except for the already named peasants of Sobakevich, the hero mentions the runaway peasants of Plyushkin, in particular Abakuma Fyrova, which probably drifted onto the Volga; he became a barge hauler and gave himself up to the revelry of a free life).

Gogol also notes rebellious spirit people. The writer believes that if the arbitrariness of the authorities is not stopped, if the needs of the people are not met, then a rebellion is possible. This view of the author is evidenced by at least two episodes in the poem. This murder men assessor Drobyazhkin, who, being possessed by a lustful passion, pestered girls and young women, and the story of captain Kopeikin, who probably became a robber.

An important place in the poem is occupied by author's digressions:satirical,journalistic,lyrical,philosophical and others. In their content, some are close to deviations Chichikov's reasoning, conveying the author's position. Such an extra-plot can also be considered as a retreat element, How parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokia Kifovich in the eleventh chapter.

In addition to the retreats, plays an important role in identifying the author’s position "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" told by the postmaster (tenth chapter).

Let us name the main digressions contained in the first volume of Dead Souls. These are the author's thoughts about fat and thin officials(first chapter, scene of the governor’s party); his judgment about the ability to deal with people(third chapter); witty author's remarks about a healthy stomach for average gentlemen(beginning of chapter four). We also note the digressions about an apt Russian word(end of chapter five), about youth(the beginning of the sixth chapter and the passage “Take it with you on the journey...”). A digression is of fundamental importance for understanding the author’s position. about two writers(beginning of chapter seven).

Retreats can be equated Chichikov's reasoning about the purchased peasant souls(beginning of the seventh chapter, after a digression about two writers), and also reflections hero about the idle life of the powerful this against the background of the misfortunes of the people (end of the eighth chapter).

Let us also note the philosophical digression about the misconceptions of humanity(tenth chapter). The list of digressions is completed by the author’s reflections in the eleventh chapter: about Rus'(“Rus! Rus'!.. I see you...”), about the road, about human passions. We especially note parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokia Kifovich and retreat about bird three, which concludes the first volume of Dead Souls.

Let's look at some of the deviations in more detail. Author's thoughts about an apt Russian word ends the fifth chapter of the poem. In the strength and accuracy of the Russian word, Gogol sees a manifestation of the intelligence, creative abilities, and talent of the Russian people. Gogol compares the Russian language with the languages ​​of other nations: “The word of a Briton will respond with knowledge of the heart and wise knowledge of life; The short-lived word of a Frenchman will flash and spread like a light dandy; the German will intricately come up with his own, not accessible to everyone, clever and thin word; but there is no word that would be so sweeping, lively, would burst out from under the very heart, would boil and vibrate so much, like an aptly spoken Russian word.” When discussing the Russian language and the languages ​​of other peoples, Gogol resorts to the technique figurative parallelism: the many peoples living on earth are likened to the many churches in Holy Rus'.

At the beginning of the sixth chapter we find a digression about youth. The author, telling the reader about his travel impressions in his youth and adulthood, notes that in his youth a person is characterized by a freshness of worldview, which he subsequently loses. The saddest thing, according to the writer, is that over time a person can lose those moral qualities that were embedded in him in his youth. It is not for nothing that Gogol continues the theme of youth in the subsequent narration, in connection with the story about Plyushkin, about his spiritual degradation. The author addresses youth with reverent words: “Take them with you on the journey, emerging from the soft youthful years into stern, embittering courage, take with you all human movements, do not leave them on the road, you will not pick them up later!”

Retreat about two writers, which opens the seventh chapter, is also built on figurative parallelism. Writers are likened to travelers: a romantic writer to a happy family man, a satirist to a lonely bachelor.

A romantic writer shows only the bright sides of life; satirical writer portrays "the terrible mud of little things" and exposes her in the “public eyes”.

Gogol says that romantic writer accompanies lifetime fame, satirical writer are waiting reproaches and persecution. Gogol writes: “This is not the fate of the writer who dared to bring to light everything that is every minute before our eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see, all the terrible, stunning mud of little things that entangle our lives, all the depth of cold, fragmented, everyday characters.”

In a digression about two writers, Gogol formulates own creative principles, which later received the name realistic. Here Gogol says about the meaning of high laughter- the most valuable gift of a satirical writer. The fate of such a writer is “look around” life “through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to him tears”.

In retreat about the misconceptions of humanity the tenth chapter contains the main idea of ​​"Dead Souls" component the essence of Gogol's Christian worldview. According to the writer, humanity in its history has often deviated from the true path outlined by God. Hence the misconceptions of both past generations and the present. “What crooked, deaf, narrow, impassable roads that lead far to the side have been chosen by mankind, striving to achieve eternal truth, while the straight path was open to them, like the path leading to the magnificent temple assigned to the king’s palace. It is wider and more luxurious than all other paths, illuminated by the sun and illuminated by lights all night, but people flowed past it in the deep darkness,” writes Gogol. The life of Gogol's heroes - landowners, officials, Chichikov - is a vivid example of human delusions, deviation from the right path, and loss of the true meaning of life.

In retreat about Rus'(“Rus! Rus'! I see you, from my wonderful, beautiful distance I see you...”) Gogol contemplates Russia from distant Rome, where, as we remember, he created the first volume of “Dead Souls.”

The author of the poem compares the nature of Russia with the nature of Italy. He is aware that Russian nature, unlike luxurious Italian, not distinguished by external beauty; at the same time the endless Russian expanses cause in the writer's soul deep feeling.

Gogol says about the song, which expresses the Russian character. The writer also thinks O limitless thought And about heroism, characteristic of the Russian people. It is no coincidence that the author concludes his thoughts about Rus' with the words: “Is it here, in you, that a boundless thought will not be born, when you yourself are endless? Shouldn't a hero be here when there is room for him to turn around and walk? And a mighty space envelops me menacingly, reflecting with terrible force in my depths; My eyes lit up with unnatural power: oh! what a sparkling, wonderful, unknown distance to the earth! Rus!.."

The parable of Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich both in form and content it resembles an author’s digression. The images of father and son - Kifa Mokievich and Mokiy Kifovich - reflect Gogol's understanding of the Russian national character. Gogol believes that there are two main types of Russian people - philosopher type And type of hero. According to Gogol, the trouble of the Russian people is that both thinkers and heroes in Rus' are degenerating. A philosopher in his modern state is only capable of indulging in empty dreams, and a hero is capable of destroying everything around him.

The first volume of “Dead Souls” ends with a digression about the bird-three. Here Gogol expresses his faith in a better future for Russia, he connects it with the Russian people: it is not for nothing that the craftsman is mentioned here - "Yaroslavl efficient man"- Yes daring coachman, dashingly driving the speeding troika.

Questions and tasks

1. Give the full title of “Dead Souls”. Tell us about the history of the poem. What did Gogol write about the concept of his creation to Zhukovsky? Did the writer manage to fully realize his plan? In what year was the first volume of the work completed and published? What do you know about the fate of the second and third volumes?

Comment on the title of the work. What is the paradox here? Why is the phrase “dead souls” interpreted as metaphorical?

Name the main themes of Gogol's poem. Which of these topics are covered in the main narrative, and which in digressions?

2. How can you determine the main problem of the work? How is it connected with Gogol’s Christian worldview?

What pathos prevails in Gogol's poem? What theme is the affirmative beginning associated with?

3. What genre definition did Gogol give to “Dead Souls” in the subtitle to the work? How did the writer himself interpret this genre in the prospectus of the “Training Book of Literature for Russian Youth”? What features of genres did K.S. Aksakov and V.G. Belinsky see in “Dead Souls”? How does Gogol's work resemble an adventure novel?

4. Who gave Gogol the plot of “Dead Souls”? How is the plot of the work related to Gogol’s understanding of the genre of the poem? Which character in the work is central to the plot and why?

What principle of organizing material prevails in Gogol's work? What spatial images do we find here?

What elements of the first chapter relate to exposition? What place does the landowners' gallery occupy in the work? Name the main episodes of the subsequent chapters that reveal the image of the provincial city. What place does love affair occupy in the composition of the work? What is its uniqueness in the poem?

What place does Chichikov’s biography occupy in Dead Souls? What extra-plot elements of the poem can you name?

5. Briefly describe the gallery of landowners. According to what plan does Gogol tell about each of them? What artistic means does the writer use to create their images? Tell us about each of the landowners depicted by Gogol. Reveal the meaning of the entire gallery.

6. In which chapters of “Dead Souls” is the theme of the city highlighted? Tell us about the exposition of the image of the city in the first chapter. What descriptions and characteristics does it include?

List the maximum number of city officials, naming their positions and last and patronymic names, if they are indicated by the author. Give a general description of the officials and each individual. What human passions and vices do they personify?

List the main episodes that reveal the theme of the city, identify the ideological and compositional role of each of them.

7. In which chapters and in which episodes of “Dead Souls” are St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg life mentioned? In which chapter, which of the characters and in what connection tells “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin”? What folklore source does it go back to? What is unique about the narrative in the story about Kopeikin? How is St. Petersburg pictured here? What literary device is the author using here? What is the main conflict in "The Tale..."? What idea did the author want to convey to the reader by including the story with Kopeikin in the main text of Dead Souls?

8. What functions does the image of Chichikov perform in “Dead Souls”? What type of Russian life does he represent? What is the compositional role of Chichikov, what is unusual about this role? Consider the artistic means of creating the image of a hero, give examples of these means; Pay special attention to the biography of the hero.

9. What aspects of people’s lives are revealed in “Dead Souls”? Tell us about Chichikov’s serf servants, about the episodic characters - representatives of the people. Name the peasant craftsmen from among the “dead souls” sold to Chichikov by Sobakevich, briefly describe them. Name the runaway peasant Plyushkin, who loved a free life. Which episodes of Dead Souls contain hints about the people's ability to revolt?

10. List all the author’s digressions and other extra-plot elements of “Dead Souls” that you know of. Consider in detail the digressions about the apt Russian word, about youth, about two writers, about the misconceptions of mankind, about Rus', the parable of Kifa Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich, as well as the digression about the three-bird. How does the author of the work appear in these digressions?

11. Make a detailed outline and prepare an oral report on the topic: “Artistic means and techniques in the poem “Dead Souls”” (landscape, interior, portrait, comic situations, speech characteristics of heroes, proverbs; figurative parallelism, comparison, hyperbole, irony ).

12. Write an essay on the topic: “Varieties and artistic functions of details in “Dead Souls” by N.V. Gogol.”

The main character of the poem “Dead Souls” is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. The complex character of literature opened his eyes to the events of the past and showed many hidden problems.

The image and characterization of Chichikov in the poem “Dead Souls” will allow you to understand yourself and find the traits that you need to get rid of so as not to become his likeness.

Hero's appearance

The main character, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, does not have an exact indication of his age. You can do mathematical calculations, distributing the periods of his life marked by ups and downs. The author says that this is a middle-aged man, there is an even more precise indication:

“...decent middle years...”

Other appearance features:

• full figure;
• roundness of shapes;
• pleasant appearance.

Chichikov is pleasant in appearance, but no one calls him handsome. Fullness is in those sizes that it can no longer be thicker. In addition to his appearance, the hero has a pleasant voice. That is why all his meetings are based on negotiations. He easily talks to any character. The landowner is attentive to himself, he carefully chooses clothes, uses cologne. Chichikov admires himself, he likes his appearance. The most attractive thing for him is the chin. Chichikov is sure that this part of the face is expressive and beautiful. The man, having studied himself, found a way to charm. He knows how to evoke sympathy, his techniques bring a charming smile. The interlocutors do not understand what secret is hidden inside an ordinary person. The secret is the ability to please. Ladies call him a charming creature, they even look for things in him that are hidden from view.

Hero's personality

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov has a fairly high rank. He is a collegiate advisor. For man

“...without tribe and clan...”

Such an achievement proves that the hero is very persistent and purposeful. From childhood, a boy cultivates the ability to deny himself pleasure if it interferes with big things. To obtain a high rank, Pavel received an education, and he studied diligently and taught himself to get what he wanted by all means: by cunning, sycophancy, and patience. Pavel is strong in mathematical sciences, which means he has logical thinking and practicality. Chichikov is a cautious person. He can talk about various phenomena in life, noticing what will help achieve the desired result. The hero travels a lot and is not afraid of meeting new people. But the restraint of his personality does not allow him to conduct long stories about the past. The hero is an excellent expert in psychology. He easily finds an approach and common topics of conversation with different people. Moreover, Chichikov’s behavior changes. He, like a chameleon, easily changes his appearance, demeanor, and style of speech. The author emphasizes how unusual the twists of his mind are. He knows his own worth and penetrates into the depths of the subconscious of his interlocutors.

Positive character traits of Pavel Ivanovich

The character has a lot of traits that do not allow him to be considered only a negative character. His desire to buy up dead souls is frightening, but until the last pages the reader is at a loss as to why the landowner needs dead peasants, what Chichikov has in mind. One more question: how did you come up with this method of enriching yourself and increasing your status in society?

• protects his health, he does not smoke and monitors the amount of wine he drinks.
• does not play gambling: cards.
• a believer, before starting an important conversation, a man crosses himself in Russian.
• takes pity on the poor and gives alms (but this quality cannot be called compassion; it does not manifest itself to everyone and not always).
• slyness allows the hero to hide his true face.
• neat and thrifty: things and objects that help preserve important events in memory are stored in a box.

Chichikov developed a strong character. The firmness and conviction that one is right is somewhat surprising, but also captivating. The landowner is not afraid to do what should make him richer. He is firm in his convictions. Many people need such strength, but most get lost, doubt and go astray from a difficult path.

Negative traits of a hero

The character also has negative qualities. They explain why the image was perceived by society as a real person; similarities with him were found in any environment.

• never dances, although he attends balls with zeal.
• loves to eat, especially at someone else's expense.
• hypocritical: he can cry, lie, pretend to be upset.
• deceiver and bribe-taker: in speech there are statements of honesty, but in reality everything says the opposite.
• composure: politely, but without feelings, Pavel Ivanovich conducts business that makes his interlocutors shrink inside with fear.

Chichikov does not feel the right feeling for women - love. He considers them as an object capable of giving him offspring. He even evaluates the lady he likes without tenderness: “nice grandma.” The “acquirer” seeks to create wealth that will go to his children. On the one hand, this is a positive trait; the meanness with which he approaches this is negative and dangerous.

It is impossible to accurately describe the character of Pavel Ivanovich, to say that he is a positive character or a negative hero. A real person taken from life is both good and bad at the same time. One character combines different personalities, but one can only envy his desire to achieve his goal. The classic helps young people to stop the traits of Chichikov in themselves, a man for whom life becomes a matter of profit, the value of existence, the mystery of the afterlife are lost.

The image of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is perhaps the most successful of Gogol's caricatures. The life story of only this character, who plays the main role in the poem “Dead Souls,” is revealed by the author in great detail. The novelty of the character he took on forced the writer to engage in such an artistic and comprehensive study.

Pavel Ivanovich combines many of the features of the landowners of that time. The hero would not be complete without a description in the eleventh chapter of the conditions in which his formation took place.

As an inheritance from an impoverished nobleman, Pavel Ivanovich received some copper and instructions to study well and please everyone, and to save and save money. He took the absence of lofty words about debt in the will literally. And life itself soon confirmed that these concepts did not lead to anything good (in his understanding). At school, Pavlushi’s knowledge, behavior, and respectfulness evoked only approval and praise from the teachers, who set the boy as an example to other students. Having entered the government chamber after studying, he continues to please his boss and show attention to his daughter. The same behavior is characteristic of him in any situation. Chichikov quickly realized: in order to please a person, you need to talk to him about his interests, about topics close to him. This behavior helps him remain his own person in any society. Gradually, Pavel Ivanovich drowns out his still living soul, tries not to hear the quiet voice of conscience, builds his happiness on the misfortune of others. And all this for their own benefit. The tools that Chichikov skillfully and actively uses are fraud and deception, theft from the treasury, insult, and bribery. Constant accumulation and acquisition become the meaning of life for the main character. And at the same time, Chichikov needs money not for its own sake. They serve as a means to achieve a good, prosperous life for his family. The image of Chichikov differs sharply from other characters in his determination and strength of character. He achieves his goal by any means, showing extraordinary resourcefulness, resourcefulness, and perseverance.

Chichikov in the poem “Dead Souls” is not like everyone else in his activity, activity, and enterprise. Manilov’s head in the clouds and Korobochka’s naivety are not characteristic of him. He cannot be compared with the miser Plyushkin, but Nozdryov’s careless wastefulness is also not for him. The entrepreneurial spirit of this hero is far from the businesslike nature of Sobakevich. All these qualities indicate the clear superiority of Pavel Ivanovich over other characters in the poem.

The image of Chichikov is incredibly multifaceted. People like him are very difficult to immediately unravel, to understand what they really are. Chichikov managed to please most residents of the city as soon as he appeared in it. He managed to present himself as a secular, developed and decent person. During the conversation, he finds an individual key to everyone in whom he is interested. His ostentatious goodwill is only a means to profitably use the high position of the right people. It costs nothing for Chichikov to reincarnate, change his behavior and at the same time not forget about his own goals. His ability to adapt to everyone is amazing. When Pavel Ivanovich bargains with Manilov, he shows delicacy, sensitivity and courtesy. But with Korobochka, on the contrary, he behaves assertively, rudely, and impatiently. He understands that Plyushkin is very easy to persuade; he must speak to Sobakevich in a businesslike manner. The energy of the main character is tireless, but it is aimed at low actions.

The image of Chichikov is an example of a trader and entrepreneur, a new type of person, whom Gogol defined as a vile, vile, “dead soul.”

He outlined this image in particular detail, which, as they say, was to occupy a prominent role in all three parts of Dead Souls.

Chichikov - the main character of Gogol's "Dead Souls"

Describing his heroes, Gogol almost always gives us, more or less, a detailed history of their personality. This story, in his eyes, explains a lot about the hero’s character and makes him treat many things more leniently. That is why he talks in detail about Chichikov's childhood and upbringing. This childhood was hopeless, desolate: poverty, lack of love and affection, the immorality of a callous, unloving father, external and internal dirt - this was the environment in which he grew up, loved by no one, needed by no one.

But fate endowed Chichikov with iron energy and the desire to arrange his life “more decently” than his loser father, unclean both in the moral and physical sense. This “dissatisfaction with reality” inspired the energy of little Chichikov. From his early encounters with poverty and hunger, from his father’s complaints about lack of money, from his instructions to “save money,” since you can only rely on one “money” in life, the boy gained the conviction that money is the basis of earthly happiness. That’s why the hero of “Dead Souls” began to see the well-being of life as something that could be obtained with money – a well-fed, luxurious life, comfort...

And so Chichikov began to “invent” and “acquire”: he saved money penny by penny, dodging in every possible way in the company of his comrades, revealing extraordinary persistence. While still at school, he began to “make a career” by imitating the teacher’s tastes. While still at school, he developed the talent to peer into human weaknesses, skillfully play on them, slowly and persistently. The ability to adapt to a person helped the main character of “Dead Souls” in the service, but it also developed in Chichikov the desire to distinguish between “necessary” people and “unnecessary” ones. That is why he reacted coldly to the sad fate of his former teacher, that is why he did not have any feelings of gratitude towards the old tax farmer who helped him get a position. The feeling of gratitude is unprofitable - it requires “giving up something”, giving up “something”, and this was not part of the calculations of the “acquirer” Chichikov.

Money, as the only and main goal of life, is an unclean goal, and the paths to it are unclean, and Chichikov went to this goal along the road of fraud and deception, without losing heart, struggling with failures... Meanwhile, having entered the wide expanse of life, he expanded and deepened his ideal. The picture of a well-fed, luxurious life gave way to another - he began to dream of a calm, clean family life, in the company of his wife and children. He felt warm and comfortable when he surrendered to this dream. The hero of “Dead Souls” pictured in his mind a house where complete contentment reigns, where he is an exemplary husband, a respected father and a respectable citizen of his native land. It seemed to Chichikov that when his dreams came true, he would forget the whole past - his dirty, joyless and hungry childhood and the thorny road marked by fraud and trickery. It seemed to him that he would then give up cheating, “correct himself” and leave an “honest name” to his children. If earlier, when cheating, he justified himself with the knowledge that “everyone does it,” now a new justification has been added: “the end justifies the means.”

Chichikov's ideals became broader, but the path to them remained dirty, and he became more and more dirty. And, in the end, he himself had to admit that “cunning” had become his habit, his second nature. “No more disgust from vice! - he complains to Murazov in the second part of “Dead Souls”. - The nature has become coarser; there is no love for good, there is no such desire to strive for good as there is for obtaining property! Several times Chichikov managed to erect the shaky edifice of his well-being on fraudulent tricks of all kinds; Several times he was close to realizing his ideals, and every time everything collapsed, he had to build everything all over again.

Chichikov's willpower and intelligence

The main character of Dead Souls is distinguished by considerable willpower. “Your destiny is to be a great man,” Murazov tells him, reproaching him for the fact that the great power of his soul, his energy, was always directed towards an impure goal. Gogol also speaks about Chichikov’s energy more than once in “Dead Souls,” at least when telling his arduous “odyssey” when he had to organize his life all over again. In addition to willpower, Chichikov is endowed with a great mind, not only a practical one - intelligence, ingenuity, cunning and resourcefulness, but also that contemplative, “philosophical” mind that puts him above all other heroes of the poem.

No wonder Gogol puts deep thoughts into his head about the fate of the Russian man (reading the list of bought men). In addition, Chichikov talks sensibly about the vulgarity of the life of a prosecutor, about the upbringing that spoils a girl in Russia. It is not for nothing that he understands not only human weaknesses, but also virtues; it is not without reason that, when faced with honest people (Governor General, Murazov), he turns out to be able, precisely at the moment of his humiliation, to rise morally. In their society, he is portrayed not only as a resourceful and crafty rogue, but as a fallen man who understands the depth and shame of his fall. “He never respected a single person for his intelligence,” says Gogol, until fate brought him (in the second volume) with Kostanzhoglo, Murazov, and others. He did not respect him because he himself was smarter than everyone he had met before.

In the practical rogue hero of Dead Souls, Gogol noted another characteristic feature - a tendency towards poetry and daydreaming. Chichikov’s momentary infatuation with a young lady he met on the way, his pure infatuation with the governor’s daughter, his mood in the Platonovs’ house, his pleasure in the evening at the Rooster’s estate, in the spring in the village of Tentetnikov, his very dreams of quiet, beautiful family happiness are full of real poetry...

At the same time, Chichikov has a very high opinion of himself: he respects himself for his energy, for his intelligence, for his ability to live. He loves himself for his “pure dreams,” which he zealously serves; he loves himself for his good looks, for his elegant suit, for his noble manners - in a word, for the fact that, having come out of a dirty hole, from the dirty company of his father, he managed to become, in his opinion, a “decent man.”

Chichikov in society

Gogol's image of Chichikov immediately becomes vulgar when he finds himself in a society of vulgar people. This happens because he always adapts to the people with whom he deals: he even speaks and behaves differently in the company of Manilov, Sobakevich and Korobochka. With the first, Chichikov becomes sentimental, dreams, rubs into his sensitive heart; with the second he is businesslike, and responds to the owner’s distrust with the same distrust (scene with money and receipt); He shouts at the harmless, stupid Korobochka, promising her “damn.” When Chichikov finds himself in “society”, he imitates the “tone” of this society, adopts those manners that are considered “decent” here - and therefore for the crowd he will always be “decent”, “well-intentioned”, “pleasant”... He will not go, like Chatsky in Griboedov’s “Woe from Wit,” against the whole of Moscow—Molchalin’s policy is more convenient and easier for him.

Chichikov understands people and knows how to make a favorable impression - in the second part of “Dead Souls” he charms even the smart Kostanzhoglo, and wins the distrustful brother Platonov in his favor. In addition, he is careful - even when tipsy, he knows how to keep his tongue from being too talkative: life, obviously, has taught him caution. However, sometimes Chichikov makes mistakes: he made a mistake in Nozdryov, and he made a mistake with Korobochka. But this mistake is explained by the fact that these two characters in “Dead Souls” also have such unique characters that even Chichikov did not immediately comprehend.

The complexity and contradictory nature of Chichikov

The passion for “acquisition” has left a certain stamp of “pettiness” on the protagonist of “Dead Souls” - he even collects old posters in his box - a trait worthy of Plyushkin. The structure of his box, with drawers and secret compartments, is reminiscent of Korobochka's chest of drawers, with its bags for ten-kopeck, two-kopeck coins. At school, Chichikov saved money using the Korobochka method. Chichikov’s pettiness is also expressed in his curiosity: he always questions the sex workers, servants, collects all kinds of information “just in case,” just as Plyushkin collected various objects in his office.

Not without irony, Gogol casually notes in “Dead Souls” another feature of Chichikov - his “compassion” - he always gave pennies to the poor. But this compassion is “penny” - it is far from the ability of self-sacrifice, renunciation of some benefits in favor of one’s neighbor. Chichikov has no love for his neighbor at all. He did not rise beyond the ideals of family love, which were essentially selfish.

If Gogol really wanted to show in Chichikov the revival of a vicious person for good, then we must admit that he made a successful choice of the hero of Dead Souls. Chichikov's complex nature is rich in a wide variety of qualities. His amazing energy was combined with intelligence, common sense, cunning, great flexibility and tirelessness.

But, besides all this, Gogol noted in him a “man-inventor”, capable of inventing something “new”, telling a society mired in inertia his new, albeit criminal, word. Chichikov has no inertia - his mind is free and his imagination is winged. But all these qualities are, so to speak, “neutral” - they can be equally aimed at evil and good. But Gogol emphasized the presence of consciousness in the soul of this hero of “Dead Souls” - Chichikov knows that he is doing evil, but consoles himself with the thought that “doing evil” in his life is only a “transitional moment.” In this ability to distinguish between “good” and “evil” lies the source of Chichikov’s revival. It is all the easier for him because, in essence, his life ideals (“pure family happiness”) were, if not particularly high, then, nevertheless, impeccable. Moreover, in his soul there are soft elements of poetry and dreaminess. Probably, on all these positive qualities of Chichikov, Gogol wanted to further development of the action of “Dead Souls” build its revival.

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It often happens that it is not enough for us to know about the actions or opinions of another person; we want to have a complete understanding of him, even when his external data in no way affects his type of activity or is not relevant to the subject of discussion. This pattern has its reasons. Often, peering into a person’s face, we try to lament something hidden, something that he does not want to talk about. Therefore, the appearance of any character is important for comparing his characteristics and actions.

Who is Chichikov

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is a former official of a “cautious and chilled character.”
Until the last chapter of the work, many facts of the biography and origin of Pavel Ivanovich remain hidden for us; we can guess about some points based on their hints from the hero, and only after reading the last pages will we learn the true picture.

Chichikov is of humble origin. As he himself says, “without family or tribe.” And this is not an exaggeration. His parents really were simple people, this fact confuses Pavel Ivanovich, but, nevertheless, at some points he makes mention of this in society, citing the fact that such a position in society will help win over the landowners and they will become more accommodating. Despite his humble origins, Pavel Ivanovich managed to become a man of “brilliant education,” but “Chichikov did not know French at all” (this is the privilege of aristocrats). He was especially gifted in the exact sciences; he could quickly and easily make calculations in his head - “he was strong in arithmetic.”

Passion for accumulating money

The judgment that events that occurred in childhood properly influence the character, the process of formation of principles and moral principles of a person, has long passed from the category of assumptions to the category of axioms. We find confirmation of this in Chichikov.

After working for some time as a collegiate official, he resigned and seriously began to look for a way to enrich himself. By the way, the thought of the need to improve his financial situation never left Pavel Ivanovich, despite the fact that it arose in him from an early age.

The reason for this was the humble origin of the protagonist and the poverty he experienced in his childhood. This is confirmed in the last paragraphs of the work, where the reader can observe the picture of young Chichikov’s departure to study. His parents warmly and reverently say goodbye to him, giving advice that would help their son take a more advantageous position in society:

“Look, Pavlusha, study, don’t be stupid and don’t act out, but most of all please your teachers and bosses. Don’t hang out with your comrades, they won’t teach you any good; hang out with those who are richer, so that on occasion they can be useful to you. Don’t treat or treat anyone, take care and save a penny: this thing is more reliable than anything in the world. A comrade or friend will deceive you and in trouble will be the first to betray you, but a penny will not betray you, no matter what trouble you are in. You will do everything and ruin everything in the world with a penny.”

Gogol does not depict in detail the life of Pavel’s parents - a few snatched facts do not give a complete picture, but Nikolai Vasilyevich manages to achieve understanding among readers that the parents were honest and respectable people. They have felt the burden of earning a piece of bread and do not want their son to work hard as well, which is why they give him such unusual recommendations.

Chichikov tries his best to follow his parents' advice. And therefore, he manages to achieve significant results, but not as high as he wanted.

He learned to earn money and save it, denying himself everything he could. True, his earnings were based on an unfair and insidious method: in his behavior with his classmates, he was able to arrange the situation in such a way that “they treated him, and he, having hidden the received treat, then sold it to them.” “He didn’t have any special abilities for any science,” but he could skillfully craft, for example, he molded a bullfinch from wax and managed to sell it at a good price. He knew how to communicate with animals, and he had a talent for training animals. Pavlusha - caught a mouse and taught it several tricks: it “stood on its hind legs, lay down and stood up when ordered.” They also managed to sell such a curiosity for a decent sum.

Gogol does not talk about how his father’s death affected Chichikov. The only thing he tells the reader is that Pavel inherited from his father “four irretrievably worn sweatshirts, two old frock coats lined with sheepskin, and an insignificant amount of money.” And he adds a sarcastic comment - the father happily gave advice on getting rich, but he himself could not accumulate anything.

His further life followed the same principle - he stubbornly saved money - “everything that smacked of wealth and contentment made an impression on him that was incomprehensible to himself.” But an economical life does not allow him to accumulate large capital, and this fact saddens him very much - he decides to get rich in any way. Over time, a loophole was found and Chichikov rushes to take advantage of it, trying to get rich by fraud. To do this, he travels to villages and tries to buy “dead souls” from local landowners, so that later, passing them off as real living people, he can sell them at a better price.

Appearance and character traits

Pavel Ivanovich is a stately man of middle age and “pleasant 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.”

It has just the right amount of everything - if it were a little fuller it would be too much and spoil it significantly. Chichikov himself also finds himself attractive. In his opinion, he has a beautiful face with an unusually beautiful chin.

He doesn't smoke, doesn't play cards, doesn't dance and doesn't like to drive fast. In fact, all of these preferences are associated with avoiding financial costs: tobacco costs money, added to this is the fear that the “pipe will dry out,” you can lose significantly at cards, in order to dance, you first need to learn how to do it, and this is also a waste—and This does not impress the main character; he tries to save as much as possible, because “a penny opens any door.”

The fact that Chichikov has an ignoble origin allowed him to outline for himself the ideal of a person close to high society (he knows perfectly well what, in addition to financial and social status, distinguishes aristocrats, what first of all catches the eye and impresses people).

First of all, Chichikov is an undeniable pedant and a neat freak. He is very principled in terms of hygiene: when he needed to wash, he “rubbed both cheeks with soap for an extremely long time,” wiped his entire body with a damp sponge, “which was done only on Sundays,” and diligently exterminated the hair that came out of his nose. This has an unusually positive impression on the district landowners - they are very surprised by such habits, I consider them a sign of high society.

The following qualities that noticeably distinguish him from the crowd are knowledge and understanding of the basics of psychology and the ability to flatter a person. His praises always know the measure - there are not many and not little - just enough so that a person does not suspect deception: “he very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone.”

Due to his duty and, looking at his origin, Chichikov witnessed various scenes, he was able to study the types of behavior of different people and now in communication he easily found the key to the trust of any person. He understood perfectly well what, to whom and in what form he needed to be told so that a person would stop distrusting him: he, “who really knew the great secret, would be liked.”

Chichikov is a person of exceptional upbringing and tact in communication. Many people find him charming, he has “charming qualities and techniques,” and his behavior in society is admired: “he did not like to allow himself to be treated with familiarity in any case.”

His efforts in the area of ​​flattery are not in vain. The landowners, and even the governor of the city N himself, soon spoke of him as a man of the purest thoughts and aspirations. He is an ideal for them, an example to follow, everyone is ready to vouch for him.

But still, Chichikov does not always manage to find the key to the heart of the bosses and the aristocracy. The stumbling block was the new boss, appointed “in place of the previous mattress, a military man, strict, an enemy of bribe-takers and everything that is called untruth.” He didn’t like Chichikov right away, and no matter how hard Pavel Ivanovich tried, “he just couldn’t get in, no matter how hard he tried.”

He behaved carefully with women, because he knew that they were too destructive for men: “their eyes are such an endless state into which a person has driven - and remember what their name was.” In general, it was not particularly difficult for him to distance himself - romantic impulses were alien to him, he could find women beautiful, but the matter did not progress beyond these remarks.

Like any other person from ordinary people, he takes care of all the attributes of social life - he carefully folds letters and papers, monitors the condition of his clothes and stroller - everything about him must be impeccable. He must give the impression of a successful and promising person, so he always has a clean, rather expensive suit and a “beautiful small spring chaise.”

He thinks that any flaws, even the smallest ones, can cause a significant blow to his reputation.

In the story, justice prevails - Chichikov’s deception is revealed. He has no choice but to leave the city.

Thus, The Image of Chichikov is one of the examples when the writer’s fiction provides the reader with a unique basis for analyzing various problems of society. This is an indisputable fact, the character of the story has taken root in society so much that all global deceivers began to be called after him. The image itself is not devoid of positive character traits, but their number and significance against the general background of the image do not give the right to talk about Pavel Ivanovich as a positive person.

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