Chapter 1
A certain gentleman arrives in the provincial town of NN, staying at a hotel and “with extreme subtlety” began asking the servants about the local officials and landowners. The curious gentleman turns out to be collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. The next day he visited many city officials, starting with the governor. In conversations with them, Chichikov was exceptionally kind and was modest (or rather, secretive) every time when it was necessary to say something about himself. Soon the gentleman, as if by chance, found himself at the governor's party, where he met several landowners, including Manilov and Sobakevich. The next day, Chichikov attended a party with the police chief, where he struck up an acquaintance with the landowner Nozdryov. All officials spoke of the guest as a “nice person.”
Chapter 2
Chichikov is invited to visit the landowner Manilov. Most of their conversation is spent on compliments and pleasantries, since this is in Manilov’s character. During their lunch together, Chichikov gets to know Manilov's family better. After dinner, the guest informed the landowner that he had to discuss an important matter with him, and both locked themselves in the office. Here Chichikov negotiates with Manilov to buy dead serfs “for a good purpose.” Manilov, in order to please the guest, agrees to draw up a bill of sale at his own expense and give away the dead souls for free.
Chapter 3
From Manilov, Chichikov quickly goes to Sobakevich. On the way, it began to rain heavily, and the coachman Selifan, who was treated to vodka by the servant Manilov, managed to overturn the chaise, so that Chichikov fell into the mud. Fortunately, a dog barking was heard nearby, which indicated the proximity of the village. The coachman started barking, and soon the chaise stopped at the house of the landowner Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, to whom Chichikov asked to spend the night. From the conversation with her, Pavel Ivanovich realized that he had gone far. In the morning he talked with Korobochka and also offered her a deal with the peasants. The landowner turned out to be “club-headed” and haggled for a long time so as not to sell herself short, which completely infuriated Chichikov.
Chapter 4
From Korobochka Chichikov goes to the nearest tavern to give the horses a break and to refresh himself. Here he finds out from the hostess how to get to Sobakevich’s estate. At this time, Nozdryov and a friend show up at the tavern. They argue about the last card game, in which Nozdryov “lost it.” Nozdryov brags about his puppy to Chichikov, and at the same time dissuades Pavel Ivanovich from going to Sobakevich, offering to have fun at his place. In the end, Chichikov agrees to go to Nozdryov with the idea of profiting from something. The landowner shows the guest the kennel and his possessions, then treats him to wine. Chichikov begins to negotiate with Noz-drevy about the purchase dead souls, but he certainly wants to know why they are for the guest. The landowner considers all of Chichikov’s explanations to be a lie, since he sees the guest as a big scoundrel. Then Nozdryov begins to impose, in addition to the dead serfs, either a horse or a purebred dog. Chichikov does not agree, and the friends quarrel, although the guest stays overnight with the landowner. In the morning, Nozdryov persuaded Chichikov to play checkers for the souls. As usual, the landowner began to cheat, and when the guest who noticed this refused to play, he decided to beat him. Luckily, the police captain appeared at the door to take Noz-drevo to trial on some matter. Without waiting for the end of the conversation between the landowner and the police officer, Chichikov slipped out the door and got into his chaise.
Chapter 5
In a bad mood from his meeting with Nozdryov, Chichikov takes a chaise to the village of Mikhail Semyonovich Sobakevich, in which everything was “in some kind of strong and clumsy order.” After a short conversation, during which Sobakevich cursed all city officials, Chichikov learns about the stingy landowner Plyushkin, whom he also intends to visit. Then the conversation turns to buying dead souls. Sobakevich turns out to be dexterous in trade affairs, he strives to sell souls for high price, without going into why the guest needed them. After tiring bargaining, Chichikov acquired a large number of souls and, pleased with himself, said goodbye to Sobakevich.
Chapter 6
From Sobakevich, Chichikov goes to Plyushkin and soon finds himself at his dilapidated house, overgrown with mold and ivy. The guest is greeted by the owner himself, whom Chi-chikov at first takes for the housekeeper because of his incomprehensible outfit - an old, patched robe. Plyushkin earnestly complains about life, and Chichikov, supposedly out of pity and compassion, expresses his readiness to buy dead souls. Without much bargaining, Plyushkin sells him all the dead serfs. Satisfied, Chichikov returns to the city, to his hotel, where, after dinner, he goes to bed.
Chapter 7
about the lives of these peasants, showing a rare knowledge of people from the lower classes. Then, after some delay reading the papers, he hurried to the civil chamber to conclude the deed. Before reaching the ward a little, he met Manilov, who decided to go with a friend. In the ward, the friends had a not very pleasant conversation with the official Ivan Antonovich “jug snout”. However, Chichikov “realized what the problem was” in time and slipped the official a bribe, which he very cleverly took, as if without noticing. Then Chichikov meets Sobakevich in the ward and draws up a bill of sale for his peasants. The officials, having double-checked everything with excessive suspicion, filled out the necessary papers. After these matters, the landowners, together with Chichikov, went to the police chief to mark the deal.
Chapter 8
Soon the whole city was talking about Chichikov's purchases. Everyone decided that he was a millionaire, which is why they “loved him even more deeply.” The author again gives a general picture of city bureaucracy, this time touching on intellectual pursuits “ powerful of the world this." Soon Chichikov receives an anonymous invitation from a certain lady to the governor’s ball and, intrigued, decides to go there. Here the ladies keep the guest busy with conversations, so Chichikov at first forgets to express his respect to the hostess. But the governor’s wife herself finds Chichikov and introduces him to her daughter, whose appearance somewhat unsettled the guest, making him timid and absent-minded. This made all the other ladies quite angry. Suddenly, a drunken Nozdryov appeared at the ball and began to pester Chichikov with questions, simultaneously telling everyone that the guest of the city NN tried to buy dead souls from him, the landowner. Fortunately, Nozdryov was soon taken out of the hall, and Chichikov hoped that these words would be attributed to the usual deceit of the absurd landowner. Completely upset, Chichikov curses the balls to himself.
Chapter 9
The author introduces the reader to “a lady pleasant in all respects” (Anna Grigorievna), whose name at first he prefers not to give in order to avoid misunderstandings. This lady discusses with another, “just a pleasant lady” (Sofia Grigorievna) the complaints of Korobochka, who was still afraid that Chichikov paid her less than she was supposed to. In the end, the ladies agree that the mysterious guest came to take away the governor’s daughter, and invented the story of buying dead souls as a diversion. Of course, after some time the whole city was talking only about dead souls and the governor’s daughter. Since the city was waiting for the appointment of a new governor-general, the officials were seriously scared: something would happen when rumors about the purchase of dead serfs reached them? In Chichikov they are ready to see both a robber and an auditor.
Chapter 10Material from the site
The completely bewildered officials realized that they could not guess who Chichikov really was. Therefore, they decided to discuss this issue together, enlisting the help of the police chief. During the discussion, the postmaster makes an amazing “discovery.” He begins to claim that Chichikov is none other than Captain Kopeikin. Next, the author, as if from the words of the postmaster, sets out the story of Captain Kopeikin, a hero of the War of 1812. Returning from the war as an invalid, Kopeikin settled in St. Petersburg, but soon realized that he could not afford life here. Then he went to the official whom he was advised to negotiate to receive government benefits. However, the matter with the resolution for benefits dragged on to the point that the hungry officer caused a scandal in the official’s reception room, for which he was arrested. According to rumors, the captain later led a band of robbers. After listening to the postmaster, the officials, however, doubted that Chichikov was Kopeikin. Meanwhile, rumors about Chichikov’s personality multiplied more and more. Chichikov, who did not suspect anything, learned about this gossip from Nozdryov, who praised him for his resourcefulness and ingenuity. Chichikov realized that the time had come to leave the city.
Chapter 11
Chichikov is unable to leave the city quickly, since the chaise, as it turns out, needs repairs. Finally, the chaise is ready, and the collegiate adviser sets off. What follows is a lyrical digression by the author, who, following the description of the road, talks about the greatness and fate of Rus'. Then the author undertakes to tell the biography of his hero. Despite Chichikov’s noble origins, life initially stared him in the face “sourly and unpleasantly.” Everything changed after my father gave “valuable advice” to please the authorities and save a penny. Having received his first position at the cost of servility, Pavel Ivanovich overcame the first, most difficult threshold, and then began to advance more successfully. His career, however, was more than once ruined either by envious people or by anti-bribery fighters. Chichikov always made plans to get rich again and find a decent job. His last plan was to buy dead souls, and this plan, apparently, was a success. The author ends the first volume with a lyrical description of Rus' in the image of the “irresistible troika.”
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Chapter one
The action takes place in the provincial town of NN, where collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives. He is a middle-aged man of average build and good appearance. His servants arrived with him - the footman Petrushka and the coachman Selifan. The time of the events described is several years after the War of 1812.
Chichikov checks into a hotel, has lunch at a tavern and interviews a servant there about the surrounding landowners. He is also interested in whether there was some kind of epidemic in these places, from which many people died. Chichikov's goal is to buy dead peasant souls.
The next day the official pays visits to important persons. At the governor's party, he meets the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, who invite Chichikov to their estates. And at the police chief, Pavel Ivanovich makes acquaintance with another landowner - Nozdryov. The city society is delighted with Chichikov.
Chapter two
Pavel Ivanovich, accompanied by Petrushka and Selifan, leaves the city to visit Manilov and Sobakevich. The first on his way is the village of Manilovka, the owner of which greets Chichikov with great joy.
Gogol characterizes Manilov as a characterless person - “neither this nor that”, and also “cloying” in communication. Manilov constantly talks about his unrealizable and unnecessary ideas. He is a bad owner, just like his wife. No one here takes care of either the house or the fields. Servants without the master's eye steal, idle and get drunk.
After dinner, Chichikov explains to Manilov the reason for his arrival: he wants to buy peasants who are still listed as alive, but have already died. The owner does not understand why the guest needs this. But, wanting to do something nice, he agrees. To register the deed of sale, they agree to meet in the city. After Chichikov's departure, Manilov remains perplexed for a long time.
Chapter Three
On the way to Sobakevich, the hero gets caught in a rainstorm and loses his way. The seeker of dead souls is forced to spend the night in the first place he comes across, which turns out to be the estate of the landowner Korobochka.
In the morning, Chichikov examines the estate and notes the thoroughness and thriftiness in everything. The elderly widow Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka was a slow-witted woman and completely impossible to talk to. Only after long explanations does Chichikov manage to buy dead souls from the landowner. True, I had to promise to buy lard and feathers from Korobochka in return. Nastasya Petrovna doubts for a long time: did she sell herself short in this deal?
Chapter Four
Chichikov stops by at a tavern, where he meets Nozdryov, and then accepts the landowner’s invitation to visit his village. Nozdryov, according to Gogol, was a historical man because he constantly found himself in various stories. He is an incorrigible talker, a liar, a gossip, a carouser, a reckless driver and a braggart. Nozdryov loves cards and others gambling. At the table he constantly cheats and is often beaten for it, but remains on friendly terms with everyone.
Chichikov expresses to Nozdryov his request for dead souls. The owner does not want to sell the peasants, but offers to play cards or exchange them. Having quarreled with Nozdryov, Pavel Ivanovich goes to bed. But in the morning the owner again offers to play for dead souls, now in checkers. During the game, Nozdryov openly cheats. A scandal breaks out and turns into a fight. Suddenly the police captain appears with a message about a lawsuit against Nozdryov. His visit saves Chichikov from beatings. Without stopping for a minute, Pavel Ivanovich rushes out and orders the coachman to drive at full speed.
Chapter Five
On the way, Chichikov's chaise collides with a carriage in which an elderly lady and a lovely girl are traveling. All the way to Sobakevich's estate, Pavel Ivanovich indulges in dreams of a beautiful stranger.
Sobakevich is a thorough owner. He himself is large and clumsy like a bear, he surrounds himself with the same strong and durable things. Pavel Ivanovich sets out his case, Sobakevich bargains desperately, but in the end the deal is concluded. The parties agree to arrange everything in the city. In a conversation with Sobakevich, Chichikov learns about the landowner Plyushkin, whose serfs are “dying like flies.” Pavel Ivanovich goes with his proposal to the new owner.
Chapter Six
The village of Plyushkina evokes a depressing impression: desolation and ruin reign everywhere. In the courtyard of a completely decrepit manor house, Chichikov meets a strange creature of unknown gender. Pavel Ivanovich at first mistakes him for the housekeeper, but it turns out that this is the owner of the house - Plyushkin. Chichikov is shocked by the old man's beggarly appearance. Having a huge estate, colossal reserves of provisions and various goods, Plyushkin walks around the village every day and collects various little things: strings, feathers, etc. He puts all this in his room.
Chichikov easily bargained with the miser for 120 dead souls and another 70 fugitives. Having refused the treat, which has long since turned into something fossilized, happy Pavel Ivanovich returns to the hotel.
Chapter Seven
The next day, as agreed, the hero meets with Sobakevich and Manilov to finalize the deal. They also concluded a deed of sale for the peasants of Plyushkin. They began to celebrate the deal and make a lot of toasts. They didn’t forget to drink to the future wife of the newly-minted landowner. Chichikov shared his plans to take the purchased peasants to the Kherson province.
Chapter Eight
The rumor about Chichikov's purchases quickly spreads throughout the city, everyone calls the hero a “millionaire.” A big stir begins among the ladies. Pavel Ivanovich even receives an anonymous love letter, and also an invitation to the governor’s ball.
Chichikov is in a great mood. At the ball he is surrounded by ladies, among whom Pavel Ivanovich is trying to guess the one who sent the letter. It turns out that the young lady who captivated his imagination is the daughter of the governor. Chichikov is shocked by the unexpected meeting and neglects the other ladies, which causes their displeasure. To top off the troubles, Nozdryov appears and tells how Chichikov traded dead souls with him. And although no one believes Nozdryov for a long time, Pavel Ivanovich begins to worry, he leaves the ball in confusion. At this time, the landowner Korobochka arrives in the city. She is going to find out how much dead souls are today.
Chapter Nine
In the morning, rumors spread around the city that Chichikov, with the help of Nozdryov, wants to kidnap the governor’s daughter. The gossip reaches the governor's wife, and she subjects her daughter to strict interrogation. Chichikov was ordered not to be allowed on the threshold. Society is puzzled by the question: who is Pavel Ivanovich? To understand and discuss everything, the city elite gathers with the police chief.
Chapter Ten
Here officials discuss Chichikov and the oddities associated with him for a long time. The postmaster talks about Captain Kopeikin, suggesting that this is Pavel Ivanovich.
During the War of 1812, Captain Kopeikin lost an arm and a leg. He turned to St. Petersburg with a request for a pension. While officials were delaying the matter, Kopeikin ran out of money. In desperation, the captain decided to seize the ministry, but he was caught and expelled from the city. Two months later, a gang of robbers led by Kopeikin began to hunt in the forests.
After listening to the story, society protested: Kopeikin was disabled, but Chichikov’s arms and legs were intact. It was decided to send for Nozdryov and question him thoroughly. Nozdryov immediately declares Chichikov a counterfeiter, a kidnapper of the governor's daughter and a spy. These rumors upset the prosecutor so much that he dies.
Now Pavel Ivanovich is not received by the governor. The situation is clarified by Nozdryov, who came to Chichikov at the hotel. Having learned that the official is accused of forging banknotes, the failed kidnapping of the governor's daughter, as well as the death of the prosecutor, Chichikov decides to urgently flee the city.
Chapter Eleven
We learn the story of the main character. Chichikov was from poor nobles, his mother died early, and his father was often ill. He took little Pavlusha to study in the city. The boy did not shine with his abilities, but he graduated from college with an award for diligent behavior. From an early age, he showed a talent for finding ways to make money.
Chichikov had barely graduated from college when his father died, leaving Pavel a penny inheritance. The young man zealously took up the service, but without patronage he could only get a seedy place. However, Chichikov came up with a cunning plan and wooed the boss’s ugly daughter. As soon as he was appointed to good place, the groom immediately pretended that he had not promised anything.
After changing several positions, where he slowly took bribes, Pavel Ivanovich got a job at customs. There he became known as a terror for smugglers. When the authorities, convinced of the loyalty of their employee, gave Chichikov full powers, he conspired with the smugglers. After several scams, Pavel Ivanovich became incredibly rich. However, while drunk, he quarreled with one of his accomplices, who handed him over to justice. Chichikov still managed to avoid prison, but almost nothing was left of his huge fortune.
Pavel Ivanovich again began to earn money from lower positions. One day Chichikov learned that dead peasants, who, according to the audit fairy tale, were still alive, could be appointed to the guardianship council. So he came up with the idea of acquiring dead souls.
And now Chichikov’s chaise, drawn by three horses, rushes on.
Volume two
As you know, Gogol burned the second volume of his work. Only a few drafts survived, from which it was possible to restore some of the chapters.
Chapter one
The author describes the magnificent landscape that opens from the balcony of landowner Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, a very lazy man. He rubs his eyes for two hours in the morning, sits for the same amount of time over tea and writes a global work on the structure of Russia. But which year has not advanced even a page in this essay.
And the young man started out quite worthy, showing great promise. But when his teacher died, Tentetnikov was disappointed in his further studies. Having entered the service under patronage, Andrei Ivanovich initially wanted to benefit the state, but soon became disillusioned with the service. He retired and returned to his estate.
One day, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov appears in his lonely house and lingers there for some time. Having learned about the owner’s quarrel with his neighbor, the general, whose daughter was intended to be Tentetnikov’s bride, Chichikov volunteers to settle the matter and goes to the military man.
Chapter two
Pavel Ivanovich meets the general and his daughter, manages to reconcile the old man with Tentetnikov and composes a fable about his uncle in order to buy dead souls from the general...
This is where the text of the chapter ends.
Chapter Three
Chichikov goes to Colonel Koshkarev, but ends up in a completely different estate - to Pyotr Petrovich Rooster. The hospitable owner turns out to be a food lover. Just in time for dinner, his neighbor Platon Mikhailovich Platonov arrives - a handsome man, languishing in the village from boredom. Chichikov has the idea of taking Plato on his travels. He agrees, but first demands to stop by his estate for a while.
The next day, the heroes go to the village, which belongs to Platonov’s son-in-law Konstantin Konstanzhoglo. This is an amazingly economical person whose estate is thriving. Chichikov is so impressed that he asks Konstanzhoglo to teach him his wits and tell him how to successfully conduct business. The owner of the estate advises Chichikov to go to Koshkarev, and then return and live with him for a couple of days.
Koshkarev is considered crazy, not without reason. His village is a massive construction site. New, official-looking houses have signs like “Depot for agricultural implements.” Every business with Koshkarev goes through a lot of paperwork. Even oats cannot be given to horses without a whole bunch of bureaucratic permits.
Realizing that it will not be possible to buy dead souls here due to the terrible disorder and bureaucracy, Chichikov returns to Konstanjoglo in irritation. Over lunch, the owner shared his experience of farming and told how you can start a profitable business from any waste. The conversation also turns to the richest tax farmer Murazov, who started from scratch and now has a fortune of millions. Chichikov goes to bed with a firm determination to buy an estate and start a farm like Konstanzhoglo’s. He hopes to purchase the neighboring Khlobuev estate.
Chapter Four
Chichikov, Platonov and Konstanzhoglo go to Khlobuev to negotiate the sale of the estate. The village and the owner's house are in severe desolation. We agreed on 35 thousand rubles. Then we went to Platonov, where Chichikov met his brother Vasily. It turns out that he is in trouble - his neighbor Lenitsin has captured the wasteland. Pavel Ivanovich volunteers to help with this problem and talk with the offender. At Lenitsin's, Chichikov starts his signature conversation about buying dead souls. The owner has doubts, but then his wife appears with their one-year-old son. Pavel Ivanovich begins to play with the child, and he “marks” Chichikov’s new tailcoat. To hush up the trouble, Lenitsin agrees to a deal.
Retelling plan
1. Chichikov arrives in the provincial town of NN.
2. Chichikov’s visits to city officials.
3. Visit to Manilov.
4. Chichikov ends up at Korobochka.
5. Meeting Nozdryov and a trip to his estate.
6. Chichikov at Sobakevich’s.
7. Visit to Plyushkin.
8. Registration of deeds of sale for “dead souls” purchased from landowners.
9. The attention of townspeople to Chichikov, the “millionaire.”
10. Nozdryov reveals Chichikov’s secret.
11. The Tale of Captain Kopeikin.
12. Rumors about who Chichikov is.
13. Chichikov hastily leaves the city.
14. A story about the origin of Chichikov.
15. The author’s reasoning about the essence of Chichikov.
Retelling
Volume I
Chapter 1
A beautiful spring britzka drove into the gates of the provincial town of NN. In it sat “a gentleman, not handsome, but not bad-looking, neither too fat nor too thin; I can’t say that I’m old, but I can’t say that I’m too young.” His arrival did not make any noise in the city. The hotel in which he stayed “was of a well-known type, that is, exactly the same as there are hotels in provincial cities, where for two rubles a day travelers get a quiet room with cockroaches...” The visitor, while waiting for lunch, managed to ask who was in significant officials in the city, about all the significant landowners, who has how many souls, etc.
After lunch, having rested in his room, he wrote on a piece of paper to report to the police: “Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, landowner, according to his needs,” and he himself went to the city. “The city was in no way inferior to other provincial cities: the yellow paint on the stone houses and the gray darkened modestly on the wooden ones... There were signs almost washed away by the rain with pretzels and boots, where there was a store with caps and the inscription: “Foreigner Vasily Fedorov”, where a billiard was painted... with the inscription: “And here is the establishment.” Most often the inscription came across: “Drinking house.”
The entire next day was devoted to visits to city officials: the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, chairman of the chamber, police chief, and even the inspector of the medical board and the city architect. The governor, “like Chichikov, was neither fat nor thin, however, he was a great good-natured man and sometimes even embroidered on tulle himself.” Chichikov “very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone.” He spoke little about himself and in some general phrases. In the evening, the governor had a “party” for which Chichikov carefully prepared. There were men here, as everywhere else, of two kinds: some thin, hovering around the ladies, and others fat or the same as Chichikov, i.e. not too thick, but not thin either; on the contrary, they moved back from the ladies. “Fat people know how to manage their affairs in this world better than thin people. The thin ones serve more on special assignments or are just registered and wander here and there. Fat people never occupy indirect places, but all are straight, and if they sit somewhere, they will sit securely and firmly.” Chichikov thought and joined the fat ones. He met the landowners: the very polite Manilov and the somewhat clumsy Sobakevich. Having completely charmed them with their pleasant treatment, Chichikov immediately asked how many peasant souls they had and what condition their estates were in.
Manilov, “not yet an old man at all, who had eyes as sweet as sugar... was crazy about him,” invited him to his estate. Chichikov received an invitation from Sobakevich.
The next day, while visiting the postmaster, Chichikov met the landowner Nozdryov, “a man of about thirty, a broken fellow, who after three or four words began to say “you” to him. He communicated with everyone in a friendly manner, but when they sat down to play whist, the prosecutor and the postmaster looked closely at his bribes.
Chichikov spent the next few days in the city. Everyone had a very flattering opinion of him. He gave the impression of a secular man who knows how to carry on a conversation on any topic and at the same time speak “neither loudly nor quietly, but absolutely as it should.”
Chapter 2
Chichikov went to the village to see Manilov. They looked for Manilov’s house for a long time: “The village of Manilovka could lure few people with its location. The manor house stood alone on the south... open to all the winds...” A gazebo with a flat green dome, wooden blue columns and the inscription: “Temple of Solitary Reflection” was visible. An overgrown pond was visible below. In the lowlands there were dark gray log huts, which Chichikov immediately began to count and counted more than two hundred. A pine forest darkened in the distance. The owner himself met Chichikov on the porch.
Manilov was very pleased with the guest. “God alone could have said what Manilov’s character was. There is a kind of people known by the name: so-so people, neither this nor that... He was a prominent man; His facial features were not devoid of pleasantness... He smiled alluringly, was blond, with blue eyes. In the first minute of conversation with him, you can’t help but say: “What a pleasant and kind person! The next minute you won’t say anything, and the third you’ll say: “The devil knows what it is!” - and you will move further away... At home he spoke little and mostly meditated and thought, but what he was thinking about was also unknown to God. It’s impossible to say that he was busy with the housework... it somehow went by itself... Sometimes... he talked about how nice it would be if suddenly an underground passage was built from the house or a stone bridge was built across the pond, on which there would be shops on both sides, and merchants would sit in them and sell various small goods... However, it ended with only words.”
In his office there was some kind of book, folded on one page, which he had been reading for two years. In the living room there was expensive, smart furniture: all the chairs were upholstered in red silk, but there weren’t enough for two, and for two years now the owner had been telling everyone that they were not finished yet.
Manilov’s wife... “however, they were completely happy with each other”: after eight years of marriage, for her husband’s birthday, she always prepared “some kind of beaded case for a toothpick.” The cooking in the house was poor, the pantry was empty, the housekeeper stole, the servants were unclean and drunkards. But “all these are low subjects, and Manilova was brought up well,” in a boarding school where they teach three virtues: French, piano and knitting purses and other surprises.
Manilov and Chichikov showed unnatural courtesy: they tried to let each other through the door first. Finally, they both squeezed through the door at the same time. This was followed by an acquaintance with Manilov’s wife and an empty conversation about mutual acquaintances. The opinion about everyone is the same: “a pleasant, most respectable, most amiable person.” Then everyone sat down to dinner. Manilov introduced Chichikov to his sons: Themistoclus (seven years old) and Alcides (six years old). Themistoclus's nose is running, he bites his brother's ear, and he, overflowing with tears and smeared with fat, devolves lunch. After dinner, “the guest announced with a very significant air that he intended to talk about one very necessary matter.”
The conversation took place in an office, the walls of which were painted with some kind of blue paint, even more likely gray; There were several scribbled papers on the table, but most of all there was tobacco. Chichikov asked Manilov for a detailed register of peasants (revision tales), asked about how many peasants had died since the last census of the register. Manilov didn’t remember exactly and asked why Chichikov needed to know this? He replied that he wanted to buy dead souls, which would be listed in the audit as living. Manilov was so taken aback that “he opened his mouth and remained with his mouth open for several minutes.” Chichikov convinced Manilov that there would be no violation of the law, the treasury would even receive benefits in the form of legal duties. When Chichikov started talking about the price, Manilov decided to give away the dead souls for free and even took over the bill of sale, which aroused immoderate delight and gratitude from the guest. Having seen Chichikov off, Manilov again indulged in daydreaming, and now he imagined that the sovereign himself, having learned about his strong friendship with Chichikov, had rewarded them with generals.
Chapter 3
Chichikov went to the village of Sobakevich. Suddenly it started to rain heavily and the driver lost his way. It turned out he was very drunk. Chichikov ended up on the estate of landowner Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. Chichikov was led into a room hung with old striped wallpaper, on the walls there are paintings with some birds, between the windows there are old small mirrors with dark frames in the form of curled leaves. The hostess entered; “one of those mothers, small landowners who cry about crop failures and losses and keep their heads somewhat to one side, and meanwhile, little by little, they collect money in colorful bags placed in dresser drawers...”
Chichikov stayed overnight. In the morning, first of all, he examined the peasant huts: “Yes, her village is not small.” At breakfast the hostess finally introduced herself. Chichikov started a conversation about buying dead souls. The box could not understand why he needed this, and offered to buy hemp or honey. She, apparently, was afraid of selling herself cheap, began to fuss, and Chichikov, persuading her, lost patience: “Well, the woman seems to be strong-minded!” Korobochka still couldn’t make up her mind to sell the dead: “Or maybe they’ll be needed on the farm somehow...”
Only when Chichikov mentioned that he was conducting government contracts did he manage to convince Korobochka. She wrote a power of attorney to execute the deed. After much haggling, the deal was finally done. At parting, Korobochka generously treated the guest to pies, pancakes, flatbreads with various toppings and other foods. Chichikov asked Korobochka to tell her how to get onto the main road, which puzzled her: “How can I do this? It’s a tricky story to tell, there are a lot of twists and turns.” She gave a girl to accompany her, otherwise it would have been difficult for the crew to leave: “the roads spread out in all directions, like caught crayfish when they are poured out of a bag.” Chichikov finally reached the tavern, which stood on the highway.
Chapter 4
While having lunch at a tavern, Chichikov saw through the window a light chaise with two men driving up. Chichikov recognized Nozdryov in one of them. Nozdryov “was of average height, a very well-built fellow with full rosy cheeks, teeth white as snow and jet-black sideburns.” This landowner, Chichikov recalled, whom he met at the prosecutor’s, within a few minutes began to say “you” to him, although Chichikov did not give a reason. Without stopping for a minute, Nozdryov began to speak, without waiting for the interlocutor’s answers: “Where did you go? And I, brother, am from the fair. Congratulations: I was blown away!.. But what a party we had in the first days!.. Would you believe that I alone drank seventeen bottles of champagne during dinner!” Nozdryov, without stopping for a minute, spoke all sorts of nonsense. He pulled out from Chichikov that he was going to see Sobakevich, and persuaded him to stop by to see him first. Chichikov decided that he could “beg something for nothing” from the lost Nozdryov, and agreed.
Author's description of Nozdrev. Such people “are called broken fellows, they are reputed even in childhood and at school for being good comrades, and at the same time they can be beaten very painfully... They are always talkers, carousers, reckless drivers, prominent people...” Nozdryov had a habit of even with his closest friends “start with satin stitch, and end with reptile.” At thirty-five he was the same as he was at eighteen. His deceased wife left behind two children, whom he did not need at all. He didn’t spend more than two days at home, always wandering around fairs, playing cards “not entirely sinlessly and purely.” “Nozdryov was in some respects a historical person. Not a single meeting where he attended was complete without a story: either the gendarmes would take him out of the hall, or his friends would be forced to push him out... or he would cut himself at the buffet, or he would lie... The closer someone got to know him, the more he most likely to annoy everyone: he spread a tall tale, the stupidest of which is difficult to invent, upset a wedding, a deal, and did not at all consider himself your enemy.” He had a passion for “trading whatever you have for whatever you want.” All this came from some kind of restless nimbleness and liveliness of character.”
At his estate, the owner immediately ordered the guests to inspect everything he had, which took a little over two hours. Everything was in disrepair except the kennel. In the owner’s office there hung only sabers and two guns, as well as “real” Turkish daggers, on which “by mistake” was carved: “Master Savely Sibiryakov.” Over a poorly prepared dinner, Nozdryov tried to get Chichikov drunk, but he managed to pour out the contents of his glass. Nozdryov suggested playing cards, but the guest flatly refused and finally started talking about business. Nozdryov, sensing that the matter was unclean, pestered Chichikov with questions: why does he need dead souls? After much bickering, Nozdryov agreed, but on the condition that Chichikov would also buy a stallion, a mare, a dog, a barrel organ, etc.
Chichikov, having stayed overnight, regretted that he had stopped by Nozdryov and talked to him about the matter. In the morning it turned out that Nozdryov had not given up his intention to play for the soul, and they eventually settled on checkers. During the game, Chichikov noticed that his opponent was cheating and refused to continue the game. Nozdryov shouted to the servants: “Beat him!” and he himself, “all hot and sweaty,” began to break through to Chichikov. The guest's soul sank to his feet. At that moment, a cart with a police captain arrived at the house, who announced that Nozdryov was on trial for “inflicting a personal insult on the landowner Maximov with rods while drunk.” Chichikov, not listening to the bickering, quietly slipped out onto the porch, sat in the chaise and ordered Selifan to “drive the horses at full speed.”
Chapter 5
Chichikov could not get over his fear. Suddenly his chaise collided with a carriage in which two ladies were sitting: one old, the other young, of extraordinary charm. With difficulty they parted, but Chichikov thought for a long time about the unexpected meeting and about the beautiful stranger.
The village of Sobakevich seemed to Chichikov “quite large... The yard was surrounded by a strong and prohibitively thick wooden lattice. ...The village huts of the peasants were also cut down in a marvelous way... everything was fitted tightly and properly. ...In a word, everything... was stubborn, without shaking, in some kind of strong and clumsy order.” “When Chichikov looked sideways at Sobakevich, he seemed to him very similar to a medium-sized bear.” “The tailcoat he was wearing was completely bear-colored... He walked with his feet this way and that, constantly stepping on other people’s feet. The complexion had a red-hot, hot complexion, like what happens on a copper coin.” "Bear! The perfect bear! His name was even Mikhail Semenovich,” thought Chichikov.
Entering the living room, Chichikov noticed that everything in it was solid, awkward and had some strange resemblance to the owner himself. Every object, every chair seemed to say: “And I, too, Sobakevich!” The guest tried to start a pleasant conversation, but it turned out that Sobakevich considered all his mutual acquaintances - the governor, the postmaster, the chairman of the chamber - to be swindlers and fools. “Chichikov remembered that Sobakevich did not like to speak well of anyone.”
Over a hearty dinner, Sobakevich “threw half a side of lamb onto his plate, ate it all, gnawed it, sucked it to the last bone... The side of lamb was followed by cheesecakes, each of which was much larger than the plate, then a turkey the size of a calf...” Sobakevich started talking about his neighbor Plyushkin, an extremely stingy man who owned eight hundred peasants, who “starved all the people to death.” Chichikov became interested. After dinner, hearing that Chichikov wanted to buy dead souls, Sobakevich was not at all surprised: “It seemed that there was no soul in this body at all.” He started haggling and charged an exorbitant price. He spoke about dead souls as if they were alive: “I have everything for selection: not a craftsman, but some other healthy man”: carriage maker Mikheev, carpenter Stepan Probka, Milushkin, brickmaker... “That’s what kind of people they are!” Chichikov finally interrupted him: “But excuse me, why are you counting all their qualities? After all, these are all dead people.” In the end, they agreed on three rubles per head and decided to be in the city tomorrow and deal with the deed of sale. Sobakevich demanded a deposit, Chichikov, in turn, insisted that Sobakevich give him a receipt and asked not to tell anyone about the deal. “Fist, fist! - thought Chichikov, “and a beast to boot!”
So that Sobakevich would not see, Chichikov went to Plyushkin in a roundabout way. The peasant whom Chichikov asks for directions to the estate calls Plyushkin “patched.” The chapter ends with a lyrical digression about the Russian language. “The Russian people express themselves strongly!.. What is pronounced accurately, is the same as what is written, is not cut down with an ax... the lively and lively Russian mind... does not reach into its pocket for a word, but sticks it in immediately, like a passport to an eternal wear... no a word that would be so sweeping, lively, would burst out from under the very heart, would boil and vibrate like a well-spoken Russian word.”
Chapter 6
The chapter opens with a lyrical digression about travel: “Long ago, in the summer of my youth, it was fun for me to drive up to an unfamiliar place for the first time; a child’s curious gaze revealed a lot of curious things in it... Now I indifferently approach any unfamiliar village and indifferently look at its vulgar appearance... and indifferent silence are kept by my motionless lips. O my youth! Oh my freshness!
Laughing at Plyushkin’s nickname, Chichikov unnoticed found himself in the middle of a vast village. “He noticed some special disrepair in all the village buildings: many of the roofs showed through like a sieve... The windows in the huts were without glass...” Then the manor’s house appeared: “This strange castle looked like some kind of decrepit invalid... In some places it was on one floor, in places two... The walls of the house were cracked in places by bare plaster lattice and, apparently, they had suffered a lot from all sorts of bad weather... The garden overlooking the village... seemed to have one thing that refreshed this vast village, and one was quite picturesque..."
“Everything said that farming had once taken place here on a large scale, and everything now looked gloomy... Near one of the buildings Chichikov noticed a figure... For a long time he could not recognize what gender the figure was: a woman or a man ... the dress is indefinite, there is a cap on the head, the robe is sewn from who knows what. Chichikov concluded that this was probably the housekeeper.” Entering the house, he “was struck by the chaos that appeared”: there were cobwebs all around, broken furniture, a pile of papers, “a glass with some kind of liquid and three flies... a piece of rag,” dust, a pile of garbage in the middle of the room. The same housekeeper entered. Taking a closer look, Chichikov realized that it was most likely the housekeeper. Chichikov asked where the master was. “What, father, are they blind, or what? - said the key keeper. “But I’m the owner!”
The author describes Plyushkin's appearance and his story. “The chin protruded far forward, the small eyes had not yet gone out and ran from under the high eyebrows, like mice”; the sleeves and upper flaps of the robe were so “greasy and shiny that they looked like yuft, the kind that goes on boots,” and there was something like a stocking or a garter on his neck, but not a tie at all. “But it was not a beggar who stood in front of him, a landowner stood in front of him. This landowner had more than a thousand souls,” the storerooms were full of grain, a lot of linens, sheepskins, vegetables, dishes, etc. But even this seemed not enough for Plyushkin. “Everything he came across: an old sole, a woman’s rag, an iron nail, a clay shard, he dragged everything to him and put it in a heap.” “But there was a time when he was just a thrifty owner! He was married and a family man; mills were moving, cloth factories were working, carpentry machines, spinning mills... Intelligence was visible in the eyes... But the good housewife died, Plyushkin became more restless, suspicious and stingy.” He cursed his eldest daughter, who ran away and married an officer of a cavalry regiment. The youngest daughter died, and the son, sent to the city to serve, joined the military - and the house was completely empty.
His “savings” have reached the point of absurdity (he keeps the Easter cake bread that his daughter brought him as a gift for several months, he always knows how much liqueur is left in the decanter, he writes neatly on paper, so that the lines overlap each other). At first Chichikov did not know how to explain to him the reason for his visit. But, having started a conversation about Plyushkin’s household, Chichikov found out that about one hundred and twenty serfs had died. Chichikov showed “a readiness to accept the obligation to pay taxes for all dead peasants. The proposal seemed to completely amaze Plyushkin.” He couldn't even speak for joy. Chichikov invited him to complete the deed of sale and even agreed to bear all the costs. Plyushkin, from an excess of feelings, does not know what to treat his dear guest with: he orders to put on the samovar, take out a spoiled cracker from the Easter cake, wants to treat him to a liqueur from which he pulled out “boogers and all sorts of rubbish.” Chichikov refused such a treat with disgust.
“And a person could stoop to such insignificance, pettiness, and disgustingness! Could have changed so much!” - exclaims the author.
It turned out that Plyushkin had many runaway peasants. And Chichikov bought them too, while Plyushkin bargained for every penny. To the great joy of the owner, Chichikov soon left “in the most cheerful mood”: he acquired “more than two hundred people” from Plyushkin.
Chapter 7
The chapter opens with a sad, lyrical discussion about two types of writers.
In the morning, Chichikov was thinking about who the peasants were during their lifetime, whom he now owns (now he has four hundred dead souls). In order not to pay clerks, he himself began to build fortresses. At two o'clock everything was ready, and he went to the civil chamber. On the street he ran into Manilov, who began to kiss and hug him. Together they went to the ward, where they turned to the official Ivan Antonovich with a face “called a jug’s snout,” to whom, in order to speed up the matter, Chichikov gave a bribe. Sobakevich was also sitting here. Chichikov agreed to complete the deal during the day. The documents were completed. After such a successful completion of affairs, the chairman suggested going to lunch with the police chief. During dinner, the tipsy and cheerful guests tried to persuade Chichikov not to leave and to get married here. Drunk, Chichikov chatted about his “Kherson estate” and already believed in everything he said.
Chapter 8
The whole city was discussing Chichikov's purchases. Some even offered their help in relocating the peasants, some even began to think that Chichikov was a millionaire, so they “loved him even more sincerely.” The residents of the city lived in harmony with each other, many were not without education: “some read Karamzin, some Moskovskie Vedomosti, some even read nothing at all.”
Chichikov made a special impression on the ladies. “The ladies of the city of N were what they call presentable.” How to behave, maintain tone, maintain etiquette, and especially follow fashion in the very last detail - in this they were ahead of the ladies of St. Petersburg and even Moscow. The ladies of the city of N were distinguished by “extraordinary caution and decency in words and expressions. They never said: “I blew my nose,” “I sweated,” “I spat,” but they said: “I relieved my nose,” “I managed with a handkerchief.” The word "millionaire" has an effect on the ladies magical effect, one of them even sent Chichikov a sweet love letter.
Chichikov was invited to a ball with the governor. Before the ball, Chichikov spent an hour looking at himself in the mirror, taking significant poses. At the ball, being the center of attention, he tried to guess the author of the letter. The governor's wife introduced Chichikov to her daughter, and he recognized the girl whom he had once met on the road: “she was the only one who turned white and came out transparent and bright from the muddy and opaque crowd.” The lovely young girl made such an impression on Chichikov that he “felt completely like something young man, almost a hussar.” The rest of the ladies felt offended by his discourtesy and lack of attention to them and began to “talk about him in different angles in the most unfavorable way."
Nozdryov appeared and innocently told everyone that Chichikov had tried to buy dead souls from him. The ladies, as if not believing the news, picked it up. Chichikov “began to feel awkward, something was wrong” and, without waiting for the end of dinner, he left. Meanwhile, Korobochka arrived in the city at night and began to find out the prices of dead souls, fearing that she had sold too cheap.
Chapter 9
Early in the morning, ahead of the time appointed for visits, “a lady pleasant in all respects” went to visit “just a pleasant lady.” The guest told the news: at night Chichikov, disguised as a robber, came to Korobochka demanding that they sell him dead souls. The hostess remembered that she heard something from Nozdryov, but the guest has her own thoughts: dead souls are just a cover, in fact Chichikov wants to kidnap the governor’s daughter, and Nozdryov is his accomplice. Then they discussed the appearance of the governor’s daughter and did not find anything attractive in her.
Then the prosecutor appeared, they told him about their findings, which completely confused him. The ladies went in different directions, and now the news spread throughout the city. The men turned their attention to the purchase of dead souls, and the women began discussing the “kidnapping” of the governor’s daughter. Rumors were retold in houses where Chichikov had never even been. He was suspected of a rebellion among the peasants of the village of Borovka and that he had been sent for some kind of inspection. To top it off, the governor received two notices about a counterfeiter and about an escaped robber with an order to detain both... They began to suspect that one of them was Chichikov. Then they remembered that they knew almost nothing about him... They tried to find out, but did not achieve clarity. We decided to meet with the police chief.
Chapter 10
All officials were concerned about the situation with Chichikov. Gathering at the chief of police, many noticed that they were thin from the latest news.
The author makes a lyrical digression about the “peculiarities of holding meetings or charitable gatherings”: “... In all our meetings... there is a fair amount of confusion... The only meetings that are successful are those that are organized in order to go out for a treat or have lunch.” But here it turned out completely differently. Some were inclined to think that Chichikov was a maker of banknotes, and then they themselves added: “Or maybe not a maker.” Others believed that he was an official of the Governor General’s Office and immediately: “But, the devil knows.” And the postmaster said that Chichikov was Captain Kopeikin, and told the following story.
THE TALE ABOUT CAPTAIN KOPEYKIN
During the War of 1812, the captain's arm and leg were torn off. There were no orders about the wounded yet, and he went home to his father. He refused him the house, saying that there was nothing to feed him, and Kopeikin went to seek the truth to the sovereign in St. Petersburg. I asked where to go. The sovereign was not in the capital, and Kopeikin went to the “high commission, to the general-in-chief.” He waited in the reception area for a long time, then they told him to come in three or four days. The next time the nobleman said that we had to wait for the king, without his special permission, he could not do anything.
Kopeikin was running out of money, he decided to go and explain that he couldn’t wait any longer, he simply had nothing to eat. He was not allowed to see the nobleman, but he managed to slip into the reception room with some visitor. He explained that he was dying of hunger and could not earn money. The general rudely escorted him out and sent him to his place of residence at government expense. “Where Kopeikin went is unknown; but not even two months had passed before a gang of robbers appeared in the Ryazan forests, and the ataman of this gang was none other...”
It occurred to the police chief that Kopeikin was missing an arm and a leg, but Chichikov had everything in place. They began to make other assumptions, even this: “Isn’t Chichikov Napoleon in disguise?” We decided to ask Nozdryov again, although he is a well-known liar. He was just busy making counterfeit cards, but he came. He said that he had sold Chichikov several thousand worth of dead souls, that he knew him from the school where they studied together, and Chichikov had been a spy and counterfeiter since that time, that Chichikov was really going to take away the governor’s daughter and Nozdryov was helping him. As a result, officials never found out who Chichikov was. Frightened by insoluble problems, the prosecutor died, he was struck down.
“Chichikov knew absolutely nothing about all this; he caught a cold and decided to stay at home.” He could not understand why no one was visiting him. Three days later he went out into the street and first of all went to the governor, but he was not received there, just like in many other houses. Nozdryov came and among other things told Chichikov: “... in the city everything is against you; they think that you are making false papers... they dressed you up as robbers and spies.” Chichikov couldn’t believe his ears: “...there’s no point in dawdling anymore, we need to get out of here as quickly as possible.”
He sent Nozdryov out and ordered Selifan to prepare for: departure.
Chapter 11
The next morning everything went upside down. At first Chichikov overslept, then it turned out that the chaise was not in order and the horses needed to be shod. But everything was settled, and Chichikov got into the chaise with a sigh of relief. On the way, he met a funeral procession (the prosecutor was being buried). Chichikov hid behind the curtain, afraid that he would be recognized. Finally Chichikov left the city.
The author tells the story of Chichikov: “The origins of our hero are dark and modest... At the beginning, life looked at him somehow sourly and unpleasantly: neither a friend nor a comrade in childhood!” His father, a poor nobleman, was constantly ill. One day, Pavlusha’s father took Pavlusha to the city to enroll in the city school: “The city streets flashed with unexpected splendor before the boy.” When parting, my father “gave a smart instruction: “Study, don’t be stupid and don’t hang around, but most of all please your teachers and bosses. Don’t hang out with your comrades, or hang out with the rich, so that on occasion they can be useful to you... most of all, take care and save a penny: this thing is more reliable than anything else in the world... You will do everything and lose everything in the world with a penny.”
“He didn’t have any special abilities for any science,” but he did have a practical mind. He made his comrades treat him, but he never treated them. And sometimes he even hid the treats and then sold them to them. “I didn’t spend a penny of the half-rupee given by my father; on the contrary, I added to it: I made a bullfinch out of wax and sold it very profitably”; I accidentally teased my hungry comrades with gingerbread and buns, and then sold them to them, trained the mouse for two months and then sold it very profitably. “In relation to his superiors, he behaved even smarter”: he curried favor with the teachers, pleased them, so he was in excellent standing and as a result “received a certificate and a book with golden letters for exemplary diligence and trustworthy behavior.”
His father left him a small inheritance. “At the same time, the poor teacher was expelled from the school,” out of grief he began to drink, drank it all and disappeared sick in some closet. All his former students collected money for him, but Chichikov made the excuse of not having enough and gave him a nickel of silver. “Everything that smacked of wealth and contentment made an impression on him that was incomprehensible to himself. He decided to get busy with his work, to conquer and overcome everything... From early morning until late evening he wrote, bogged down in office papers, did not go home, slept in the office rooms on tables... He fell under the command of an elderly police officer, who was an image of what “something of stony insensibility and unshakeability.” Chichikov began to please him in everything, “sniffed out his home life,” found out that he had an ugly daughter, began to come to church and stand opposite this girl. “And the matter was a success: the stern police officer staggered and invited him to tea!” He behaved like a groom, already called the police officer “daddy” and, through his future father-in-law, achieved the position of police officer. After this, “the matter of the wedding was hushed up.”
“Since then everything has been easier and more successful. He became a noticeable person... in a short time he got a place to earn money” and learned to deftly take bribes. Then he joined some kind of construction commission, but construction does not go “above the foundation,” but Chichikov managed to steal, like other members of the commission, significant funds. But suddenly a new boss was sent, an enemy of the bribe-takers, and the commission officials were removed from office. Chichikov moved to another city and started from scratch. “He decided to get to customs at any cost, and he got there. He took up his service with extraordinary zeal.” He became famous for his incorruptibility and honesty (“his honesty and incorruptibility were irresistible, almost unnatural”), and achieved a promotion. Having waited for the right moment, Chichikov received funds to carry out his project to capture all the smugglers. “Here in one year he could receive what he would not have won in twenty years of the most zealous service.” Having conspired with an official, he began smuggling. Everything was going smoothly, the accomplices were getting rich, but suddenly they quarreled and both ended up on trial. The property was confiscated, but Chichikov managed to save ten thousand, a chaise and two serfs. And so again he started over. As an attorney, he had to mortgage one estate, and then it dawned on him that he could put dead souls in a bank, take out a loan against them and hide. And he went to buy them in the city of N.
“So, here is our hero in full view... Who is he in terms of moral qualities? Scoundrel? Why a scoundrel? Now we don’t have scoundrels, we have well-intentioned, pleasant people... It’s most fair to call him: owner, acquirer... And which of you, not publicly, but in silence, alone, will deepen this difficult question into your own soul: “But no?” Is there some part of Chichikov in me too?” Yes, no matter how it is!”
Meanwhile, Chichikov woke up, and the chaise rushed faster, “And what Russian person doesn’t like driving fast?.. Isn’t it the same for you, Rus', that a brisk, unovertaken troika is rushing along? Rus', where are you going? Give me the answer. Doesn't give an answer. The bell rings with a wonderful ringing; The air, torn into pieces, thunders and becomes the wind; “everything that is on earth flies past, and, looking askance, other peoples and states step aside and give way to it.”
Dead souls. The poem, written by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol in 1841, had a grandiose plan. It was supposed to be a work in three parts. The first volume was supposed to introduce readers to a real Russian person, possessing many “gifts and riches” and, at the same time, a huge number of disadvantages. It was this first house that reached the modern reader in full. Since the manuscript of the second volume was burned by the great Russian writer shortly before his death, only some chapters have survived.
The poem “Dead Souls” is the story of Chichikov, who bought up dead serfs in order to run a scam that would bring him a huge amount of money. Narrating the adventures of Mr. Chichikov, the author reflects on problems of a social and philosophical nature. The very title of the poem “Dead Souls” has several meanings.
“Dead Souls” are, first of all, dead peasants whom Chichikov buys, following from landowner to landowner. But the situation when the sale and purchase of a person becomes an everyday matter makes living serfs “dead”; they are a commodity in the hands of powerful masters. Gradually, the concept of “dead souls” is transformed, acquiring a new meaning. It becomes clear to the reader that the dead souls are the landowners themselves, people mired in their passions for petty things, “petty inhabitants.” And although all 5 landowners visited by the main character, at first glance, are not similar to each other, they have something in common - worthlessness, emptiness.
"Dead Souls" summary
Chapters 1-6
Chapter 1 of the poem is an exposition. The reader meets Mr. Chichikov, who arrives in the city. The hero stops at a tavern and then pays visits to all available officials. During such visits, Chichikov meets some landowners: Manilov, Sobakevich, Nozdrev. He finds out how many souls each landowner supports, how far away their estates are.
Chapters 2-6 – Chichikov’s journey through the landowners. Main character visited 5 estates, met with five landowners: Manilov, Sobakevich, Nozdrev, Korobochka and Plyushkin. Having traveled 30 miles, instead of the promised 15, Chichikov comes to Manilov. His estate is located in the Jura, among English flower beds. The owner of the estate is very kind, but as it turns out, after a few minutes, he is too kind, too cloying. He does not delve into the affairs of the estate, but lives in illusions, dreams, all day long indulging in thoughts about unrealizable ideas. Chichikov has lunch with the Manilovs, and then informs the owner that he wants to buy from him the dead serfs who are listed as alive. Manilov begins to be frightened, but then, becoming emotional, he happily agrees. Chichikov leaves for Sobakevich.
The coachman Selifan misses the turn, which is why the travelers end up not with Sobakevich, but with Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. Korobochka is an elderly landowner, she is very homely. Nothing goes missing in her house, and the peasants have strong huts. For a long time she does not agree to give the dead serfs to Chichikov, she keeps wondering whether she will sell things too cheap, whether they will be useful to her. As a result, having paid fifteen rubles for each “dead soul”, Chichikov moves on.
On the highway, the hero stops to have a snack at a tavern. Here he meets the next landowner - Nozdryov. He returns with his son-in-law from the fair - Nozdryov lost his horses. Wherever Nozdryov appeared, everywhere a story happened to him, he is such a daring hooligan. The landowner takes Chichikov to his home, where the hero tries to persuade Nozdryov to sell him the dead peasants. Nozdryov is not that simple: he gets Chichikov involved in a game of checkers, where the bets are the “dead souls” so desired by Chichikov. As the game progresses, it becomes clear that Nozdryov is openly cheating. When it almost comes to a fight, the buyer of the dead is saved by a sudden visit from the police captain, who reports that Nozdryov is on trial. Chichikov manages to escape. On the road, the traveler's crew accidentally encounters an unfamiliar crew. While the means of transportation are being put in order, Chichikov admires the young, especially pleasant appearance and reflects on the pleasures of family life.
Sobakevich, the next landowner, thoroughly feeds the traveler lunch, at the same time discussing all the city officials. All of them, according to Sobakevich, are the lowest people, swindlers and pigs. Having learned that, or rather who, Chichikov wants to buy, Sobakevich is not at all surprised. He bargains and asks Chichikov to leave a deposit.
Chichikov's journey ends with a visit to the last landowner - Plyushkin. The author calls it “the hole of humanity.” Chichikov, seeing Plyushkin, thinks that this is the housekeeper or servant. The owner of the estate is dressed in rags, strange rags. Nothing is thrown away in his house, but on the contrary, even the sole of a shoe will be brought into the house. The room is piled high with rubbish, Plyushkin invites Chichikov to drink a drink, which he himself has re-filtered to remove dirt. Having talked about the obvious benefits of selling dead souls and having concluded a successful deal, Chichikov returns to the city.
Chapters 7-10
The chapters show another layer of society - bureaucracy. Chichikov, having prepared all the lists of peasants, goes to the ward, where Manilov and Sobakevich are already waiting for him. The chairman of the chamber helps to prepare all the documents and signs the bill of sale for Plyushkin. Chichikov informs the officials that he will send all the peasants to the Kherson province. After completing the paperwork, everyone present goes to the next room, where they eat and drink to the newly minted landowner and his future lucky wife.
Chichikov returns to the tavern, exhausted and very tired. The very next day, rumors began to circulate in the city that Chichikov was a millionaire. The ladies began to go crazy, the hero even received a letter with amorous poems from an unknown woman. And most importantly, he is invited to the governor's ball. At the ball, Chichikov enjoys breathtaking success. He moves from one hug to another, from one conversation to another. Women don't take their eyes off him. But Chichikov was interested in only one girl - a sixteen-year-old blonde whom he had once encountered on the road.
She turned out to be the governor's daughter. But such an excellent state of affairs is spoiled by Nozdryov: drunk, in public, he asks the new Kherson landowner how many dead souls he has traded. Society does not take the drunken man's words seriously, but Chichikov becomes noticeably upset, does not maintain a conversation, and makes a mistake in a card game. The next day, Korobochka comes to the city to find out how much dead souls are worth these days. Her arrival provides fertile ground for gossip that divides the city into two parties: male and female.
The men's party is trying to find out why Chichikov bought up dead souls, and the women's party believes that Chichikov wants to steal the governor's daughter. Officials, talking about Chichikov, get confused in riddles. Some believe that he is a maker of counterfeit notes, others that he is Captain Kopeikin. Nozdryov also adds fuel to the fire, confirming every guess with invented details. After these proceedings, the shocked prosecutor comes home and dies.
At this time, Chichikov is sick and does not understand why no one visits him. Fortunately, Nozdryov visits him and tells him who Chichikov is now in the eyes of the city residents. The hero decides to leave urgently, but when leaving the city he encounters a funeral procession. Chapter 11 occupies a special place; the author tells the biography of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. About his childhood, studies, career, service. Chichikov was poor, but had a practical mind, which helped him formulate a plan in his head on how to buy up dead peasants, and then, using the money, secure a calm future for himself.
DEAD SOULS
A small chaise with a middle-aged gentleman of good appearance, not fat, but not thin either, drove into the provincial town of NN. The arrival did not make any impression on the inhabitants of the city. The visitor stopped at a local tavern. During lunch, the new visitor asked the servant in detail who used to run this establishment and who now, how much income there was and what the owner was like. Then the visitor found out who was the governor of the city, who was the chairman of the chamber, who was the prosecutor, i.e., “he did not miss a single significant official.”
In addition to the city authorities, the visitor was interested in all the major landowners, as well as general condition region: were there any epidemics in the province or widespread famine. After lunch and a long rest, the gentleman wrote down his rank, first and last name on a piece of paper to report to the police. Coming down the stairs, the floor guard read: “Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, landowner, according to his needs.”
Chichikov devoted the next day to visiting all city officials. He even paid his respects to the inspector of the medical board and the city architect.
Pavel Ivanovich showed himself to be a good psychologist, since in almost every house he left the most favorable impressions of himself - “he very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone.” At the same time, Chichikov avoided talking about himself, but if the conversation turned to him, he got off with general phrases and somewhat bookish phrases. The newcomer began to receive invitations to the houses of officials. The first was an invitation to the governor. While getting ready, Chichikov very carefully put himself in order.
During the reception, the city guest managed to show himself as a skilled interlocutor; he successfully complimented the governor’s wife.
The male society was divided into two parts. Thin men hovered behind the ladies and danced, while the fat ones mostly concentrated at the gaming tables. Chichikov joined the latter. Here he met most of his old acquaintances. Pavel Ivanovich also met the wealthy landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, about whom he immediately made inquiries from the chairman and postmaster. Chichikov quickly charmed both of them and received two invitations to visit.
The next day the visitor went to the police chief, where they played whist from three o'clock in the afternoon until two o'clock in the morning. There Chichikov met Nozdryov, “a broken fellow, who, after three or four words, began to say you to him.” In turn, Chichikov visited all the officials, and in the city there was a general impression of him. good opinion. In any situation he could show himself to be a secular person. Whatever the conversation was about, Chichikov was able to support it. Moreover, “he knew how to dress it all up with some kind of sedateness, he knew how to behave well.”
Everyone was pleased with the arrival of a decent man. Even Sobakevich, who was rarely ever satisfied with his surroundings, recognized Pavel Ivanovich as “a most pleasant person.” This opinion in the city persisted until one strange circumstance led the inhabitants of the city of NN into bewilderment.
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