Who is Chichikov in the poem Dead Souls? Essay “The Image of Chichikov Who is Chichikov in the poem Dead Souls.
The image of Chichikov is the leading image of the poem "Dead Souls"
.
“It is very doubtful,” writes Gogol, “that the hero we have chosen will please the readers.” By appearance This person is very pleasant and courteous. He knows how to talk to everyone, tell a person a pleasant compliment, insert a good word into a conversation at the right time and appropriately, charm a person with his behavior and good manners, and, finally, show off his intelligence and experience. However, all this is only the external mask of a notorious rogue and swindler, a cunning businessman.
Since childhood, Chichikov took the path of acquisition and school days steadily followed the advice of his father: “Most of all, take care and save a penny, this thing is more reliable than anything in the world.” Even as a child, he quickly added to the fifty dollars given by his father: “he molded a bullfinch out of wax, painted it and sold it very profitably,” and then embarked on other speculations. Having accumulated one bag of money, he began to save another.
At the school, having “understood” the spirit of his superiors, Chichikov groveled and kowtowed to the teachers; in his certification he always had a note about “exemplary diligence and trustworthy behavior.” Ahead he imagined life “in all comforts, with all sorts of prosperity, carriages, a well-appointed house, delicious dinners...”
Upon leaving school, he zealously took up his service and tried to please his superiors in everything. Having become a police officer, he immediately began to take bribes, but soon a “much more extensive” field of activity opened up before him: he ended up on the commission for the construction of a “very capital” building. Here Chichikov quickly became rich, but unexpectedly his thieves' tricks were discovered, and he lost everything. Tirelessly and energetically, Chichikov again sets about creating a career and gets a job at customs, where he earns over five hundred thousand rubles. Having suffered a wreck here too, he decided on a new adventure: the acquisition of “dead souls.”
His new enterprise was based on the fact that it was beneficial for the landowners to get rid of taxes for peasants who died after the audit, since they had to pay these taxes before the next audit, which brought significant damage to the “soul owners”. Peasants who died during the period between revisions were officially listed as alive, and therefore they could be pledged to the guardianship council and thus receive a lot of money.
In order to buy dead souls, Chichikov comes to the provincial town of N.
With greater caution and foresight, he sets about implementing a far-fetched plan and, in the very first steps, displays exceptional ability to navigate. “He asked with extreme accuracy who the governor of the city was, who the chairman of the chamber was, who the prosecutor was, in a word, he did not miss a single significant official, but with even greater accuracy, if not even with participation, he asked about all the significant landowners: how many souls did they have? peasants, how far they live from the city, what their character is and how often they come to the city; asked carefully about the state of the region: were there any diseases in their province, epidemic fevers, any killer fevers, smallpox and the like, and all this and with such accuracy that showed more than just simple curiosity.” Chichikov learned in detail how to get to all public places, and made visits to “all city dignitaries,” deftly flattering everyone. Meanwhile, he had already identified the landowners he needed to visit.
In city N, he makes acquaintance with precisely those officials who, in his opinion, can be useful in preparing documents for “ dead Souls" In order to ensure complete success in the upcoming business, he strives to arouse the trust and appreciation of officials, which he achieves without much difficulty.
Chichikov's ability to adapt to any situation is revealed even more clearly on a trip to the landowners. With great skill, he recognizes the character of each landowner and deftly determines his attitude towards them: pretending to be a sensitive and dreamy person, he receives “dead souls” from Manilov for free, persuades Korobochka to sell “dead souls” with a promise to buy honey, hemp, flour from her, rump and feathers. He managed to win over even the “fist” Sobakevich.
And Chichikov’s weight cannot be considered only the personification of a rogue entrepreneur. Chichikov appears before us as a living person, with the feelings of joy and grief, love and disappointment inherent in every person. True, these character traits do not make Chichikov attractive. They only create the vital fullness of the image. The constant desire for personal gain, narrowly selfish calculations and the absence of any public interests turn Chichikov into a sharply negative type. Giving a generalized description of your hero. Gogol speaks of him not only as an owner-acquirer, but also as a scoundrel.
In the image of Chichikov, Gogol exposed the new hero of Russian life, who imperiously declared the right to his existence - a bourgeois businessman, a clever entrepreneur whose goal was personal enrichment.
E.V. Amelina
“The buyer of a living human conscience, Chichikov, is a real devil, a true provocateur of life” (A. Bely)
“The immortal merit of Russian literature to the entire culture is that in the person of Gogol it met the hero of business, the hero of “conformism”, the hero of personal career, with its destructive laughter and his dead soul and his final mortal doom, covered with self-confidence and respectability,” wrote V. Ermilov.
Chichikov, a clever businessman-entrepreneur, becomes such a hero in Gogol. Pavel Ivanovich's main life goal is material wealth, comfort and position in society. And to achieve this goal, according to the hero, any means of deception, trickery, and embezzlement are good. The affairs carried out by Pavel Ivanovich, as the writer noted, were called “not very clean.” However, Chichikov’s main adventure becomes the “acquisition” of dead souls. He buys the souls of dead peasants in order to pawn them in a bank as living ones until the new census and obtain a significant fortune. For this purpose, Pavel Ivanovich comes to the provincial town of NN.
And the first thing that interests Chichikov is “the state of the region: were there any diseases in their province - epidemic fevers, any killer fevers, smallpox and the like.” Pavel Ivanovich’s interest is understandable - the number of dead peasants and, accordingly, the number of souls that can be pledged in the bank depend on widespread diseases. However, in his “enterprise” Chichikov shows more than just the rational interest of a business person. As V. Ermilov notes, the hero exposes his feelings, emotions, and Chichikov’s reaction to reports of deaths, illnesses, and fires is the opposite of the normal human reaction. Having agreed with Manilov, who did not want to take money “for souls that in some way ended their existence,” Chichikov “almost even made a leap like a goat, which, as is known, is carried out only in the strongest impulses of joy.” Pavel Ivanovich feels the most lively impatience when he hears from Sobakevich that Plyushkin, whose people “are dying like flies,” lives only five miles away. Finally, having “acquired” from Plyushkin a large number of the souls of dead and runaway peasants. Chichikov even sings. The hero's joy and happiness are determined not by life, but by death.
Associations with evil spirits and their possibilities of transformation are evoked by the portrait of the hero, the variability of his behavior, and the variability of his very image in the eyes of others. Chichikov has many faces, and Gogol emphasizes this in the very description of the hero’s appearance. “In the chaise sat a gentleman, not handsome, but not of bad appearance, neither too fat nor too thin, one cannot say that he is old, but not that he is too young.”
Pavel Ivanovich's manners are also vague. He speaks “neither loudly nor quietly, but absolutely as it should.” Chichikov can easily carry on a conversation on almost any topic - about a horse farm, about playing billiards, about making hot wine, about virtue.
Pavel Ivanovich can easily adapt to any person. With Manilov he becomes a “pleasant conversationalist,” amiable and good-natured, with Korobochka - a simple, old patriarchal gentleman, with Plyushkin - a sedate, sensible official.
The variability and diversity of Chichikov is reflected in the perception of him by those around him. For residents of the provincial town, Pavel Ivanovich is first a “well-intentioned person”, then a “Kherson landowner”, but by the end of the novel his image sharply declines - Chichikov is considered “an official sent from the office of the Governor General”, Captain Kopeikin, “disguised as Napoleon”, “ a spy,” a “maker of counterfeit papers,” even the Antichrist.
The devil motif also appears in certain plot situations of the poem. Pavel Ivanovich summons the devil, thoughtlessly staying overnight with Nozdryov. Covered in mud. Chichikov reminds Korobochka of a hog. Finally, having left the ball, the annoyed Pavel Ivanovich classifies this entertainment as a non-Russian, demonic activity: “It’s just a rubbish ball, not in the Russian spirit, not in Russian nature; God knows what it is: an adult, a full-age adult, will suddenly jump out all in black, plucked, dressed like a devil, and let’s knead with our feet.”
The motif of devilry and demonism also appears in the very plot of the poem. Chichikov’s adventure is immoral in its very essence, since the immortal human soul cannot be the subject of bargaining. However, the hero does not care about the moral side of the issue. Like Mephistopheles, he draws provincial landowners into his demonic enterprise. Moreover, Chichikov tempts each of them in his own way. In this transaction, Manilov is given the opportunity to show his “niceness,” courtesy, and “education.” The thrifty Korobochka, not understanding the essence of the deal, is tempted by the thought of government contracts, the opportunity to sell flour and lard to the treasury. The practical, businesslike Sobakevich is also tempted by the obvious benefits of the deal. Plyushkin satisfies his own greed. It is characteristic that Chichikov fails to drag only Nozdryov into the scam. However, this is not due to the latter’s virtue, but, perhaps, on the contrary, due to his extreme carelessness and unpredictability.
Under other circumstances, the ingenuous inhabitants of the estates probably would not have even thought about the possibility of such a “deal.” However, Chichikov appears, and the heroes become participants in an immoral enterprise, hostages of their own weaknesses, their own way of life and worldview. At the same time, the images of Gogol’s landowners themselves are far from the images of demonic villains. However, their life, according to Gogol, is unspiritual, devoid of meaningful content, the moral fulfillment necessary for a person. Under these conditions, any positive quality (in Gogol's landowners there are also positive features) becomes, according to the writer, inactive and useless, and a person succumbs to temptation.
Involving each of the landowners in his scam. Chichikov appears in the poem as a real demon-tempter. His adventures are not just the entertaining adventures of a rogue swindler, they are an attack on the basis of the foundations of life, they are disrespect for the “great and holy duties” of man. And this is the deep, inner meaning of the poem.
In the image of Chichikov, such traits as the desire for success at any cost, enterprise, practicality, the ability to pacify one’s desires with a “reasonable will”, that is, qualities characteristic of the emerging Russian bourgeoisie, combined with unprincipledness and selfishness, received artistic embodiment. This is not the kind of hero Gogol is waiting for: after all, the thirst for acquisition kills the best human feelings in Chichikov and leaves no room for a “living” soul. Chichikov has knowledge of people, but he needs this to successfully complete his terrible “business” - buying “dead souls”. He is a force, but “terrible and vile.”
Article menu:
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 idea of the need to improve one's financial situation never left Pavel Ivanovich, despite the fact that it was born 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 full 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 is the owner 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 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 new boss, appointed “in place of the former 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 attributes social life– neatly folds letters and papers, monitors the condition of his clothes and stroller - everything in 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 fiction The writer gives the reader 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.
You may also be interested
The main character of N. V. Gogol’s poem is multifaceted: he cannot be called pronounced negative hero past era. Who is Chichikov in the poem “Dead Souls”? A real man, which combines many qualities: Chichikov sets himself the goal of getting rich and he changes his attitude towards the mystery of the afterlife, making it an object of sale and profit.
Negative personality traits
Similarities with Chichikov and real people began to be found immediately after the publication of the poem. The Chichikovs walked around the balls, not dancing, but looking at the guests. In any society there were those who liked to eat not with their own money, but at the expense of others. Real prototypes hypocritically deceived those around them, pretending to be upset and offended. They lie easily, cry, causing pity. Hypocrisy always carries a meaning - to achieve something. The Chichikovs talk about honesty, but they deceive and take bribes.
Adventurous plans cause fear in normal person, and Pavel Ivanovich calmly and politely conduct conversations about them.
Everything becomes an object for hypocritical adventurers, even love. A woman is an object that will produce offspring and provide free pleasure. Love becomes synonymous with meanness; it is dangerous and ugly. Love in their perception does not elevate a person, but, on the contrary, devastates the soul.
Positive traits
A real person cannot be bad or good. It contains everything in a complex. Chichikov is no exception. What features should be highlighted as positive?
Pavel Ivanovich leads a healthy lifestyle, he does not smoke, does not abuse alcohol, does not use foul language, and does not fight. The landowner does not like gambling, in which you need to have the ability to deceive, to be a sharper. An enterprising man tries to observe Christian rituals. He gets baptized before an important meeting and gives alms. Chichikov is neat. He takes care of things and keeps order around him.
Main character poems, he is firmly convinced of the correctness of his actions. He is purposeful, moving towards solving his life’s tasks. The strength of character that Gogol endowed him with helps him not to give up and move forward. This is not to say that the character's life is easy. Another would have retreated long ago and established himself in some office; Chichikov is not like that. He is trying to become richer and enter the society of strong landowners, stand on the same level with them or rise higher. Chichikov's personality is extraordinary and courageous.
Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is the main character of the poem “Dead Souls” by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol.
Chichikov in a poem of middle age. Born into a poor family. The parents did not want such a life for their son, so they raised him, instilling in him the ability to make money. When sending his son to study, his father ordered Pavel to please the teachers, save every penny and deny himself many things. Don't make friends like that. how they are of no use, and only be friends with the rich, who will benefit them.
Pavel Ivanovich did just that and completed his studies with good recommendations from his teachers. He played tricks on his classmates: he made them share them with him, and then sold them these things. Chichikov was a very capable young man, smart. One day he made a wax figurine and sold it, got a mouse, started training it and also sold it for good money. He could quickly do arithmetic in his head and had a penchant for mathematical sciences.
Outwardly, Chichikov was attractive. A little full, but in moderation. He really liked his face, especially his chin.
Pavel Ivanovich really wanted to get rich. But he didn’t want wealth just to have it. He wanted to enjoy these benefits with all his heart and live a luxurious life. I wanted to provide for my future children and leave them an inheritance. After studying he entered the service. He pleased his superiors in every possible way, which endeared them to him. Having gotten used to it, he began to take bribes, which they found out about, and Chichikov had to leave the service. He managed to save a lot of money, but nothing came of it either.
But even after this, Chichikov did not give up and decided on a new adventure: to buy up dead souls, and then sell them for good money, as if they were alive. He had well-developed psychological qualities. Because of his ability to please people, Pavel Ivanovich learned the psychology of people and knew how to find an approach to everyone. He carefully studied the habits of gentlemen from high society and learned to apply them to himself. He also knew how to masterfully dissemble in order to achieve his own benefit, posing as an honest and noble person. The fact that Chichikov was from the common people was revealed only by his ignorance of French.
Despite his qualities, inherent only to vile people, Pavel Ivanovich also had ordinary ones. He was a compassionate man and always gave coins to the poor. He did not hang out with women, because he knew that it would not lead to good things. Chichikov completely lacked romantic inclinations. The thought, other than that the woman is beautiful, did not develop further in him.
If you look at the poem carefully, you will notice that Chichikov has the same qualities as the people from whom he bought souls. This explains the fact that he quickly found a common language with them.
Essay about Chichikov
The writer’s famous poem is one of those unforgettable works of art that represent a generalization in the form of artistic scales aimed at solving the problems of human life. The emptiness in the spiritual worldview of people is hidden not only in the conditions of society, but also in the characteristics of the personality.
In a special way, the author of one of these representatives, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, clearly showed. The lack of interest in the life of this character is emphasized by the fact that there are no changes in his spiritual actions, he is all in some kind of vanity. His chaise does not leave some vicious circle for a long time. All life is subordinated to one goal - enrichment for the sake of achieving good conditions. This simple dream fuels his energy. The main character does not forget his father’s advice that he needs to take care of every coin. Chichikov ceases to sympathize with people. This can be seen from his life. He abandons the teacher, who is completely drunk, commits betrayal against his superior, indulges in the joy of the high mortality rate of the peasants, but can please everyone, especially high-ranking officials.
While studying at the school, Chichikov, thanks to his neatness and diligence, becomes one of his favorite students. In the service he also seeks recognition from his superiors. Arriving in the city of NN, he also continues to speak flattering words to local officials. From every conversation Pavel Ivanovich takes some benefit for himself. Even Gogol, depicting his image, emphasizes some uncertainty in his appearance. So, talking with Manilov, he appears to us as a young man, endlessly admiring everything, and in a conversation with Plyushkin sits an important gentleman who has seen a lot in life. Straightforwardness is alien to Chichikov. He is happy only because he is making a profitable deal. Chichikov even hums after he successfully acquired dead souls from Plyushkin. We see that even the speech is filled with vulgar words, especially in the conversation with Nozdryov about the beautiful blonde. Chichikov is forced to flee the city, but this time he has achieved his goal, he has moved one step closer to his happy moments, and everything else is not important to him.
Detailed hero analysis
Chichikov is considered mainly around whom the plot of the poem is set. This can be understood from the first pages, when the author begins to describe the character of the hero and his environment. Gogol himself was not sure that readers would like Chichikov. Such a statement seems absurd only until the moment Pavel Ivanovich shows his true nature.
Initially Gogol shows positive sides Chichikov: his ability to conduct a conversation, direct it in the right direction, the ability to stop in time or, conversely, to notice many details with just one well-aimed word. This all shows the character’s experience, good manners, noble behavior and intelligence. Everyone with whom the hero communicated notes different positive traits his character. This suggests that Pavel Ivanovich skillfully knew how to select the keys to communicating with absolutely different people, both by age and status.
Gogol considers it important to show a biography in the image of the hero, during the narration of which he notes why the character became what he is now. The construction of Chichikov’s existing appearance began in childhood, when his father explained to the little boy simple truths, such as the fact that every penny should be saved. As a result, this led to the fact that Pavel Ivanovich learned to find benefits in many ways. There are even words that Chichikov made a living by creating and selling wax and beautifully painted bullfinches.
As he gets older, the character learns to understand people. Having learned well from his institute authorities, he easily found ways to communicate. As a result, he was given a good certificate with a mark of proper behavior. Thinking about what would happen to him next, it was easiest for Chichikov to imagine himself in the role of a rich and accomplished person.
The hero’s bad character is especially evident during his service in various organizations. Through bribes and fraud, the character quickly becomes rich. But wrong behavior is noticed, it is quickly exposed and the result of all affairs is complete failure. After several failures, Chichikov decides: he needs to acquire dead souls.
Chichikov knew that the audit and taxes paid by landowners during its implementation hit the owners of souls painfully in their wallets. It works out much cheaper if we count those who died during the break between revisions as alive.
That is why the hero ends up in the provincial city. His target is dead souls. As soon as he was in the city, he had to act. He intensively attended city events, visited officials, got to know them and flattered them. Chichikov tried to find out who could provide him with dead souls. This suggests that there is a place for cold-blooded prudence in the image.
It was not difficult for Chichikov to make friends here. He skillfully built the connections he needed even with such individuals whose quirks are not easy to come to terms with and understand. Showing his qualities as a dreamer, Pavel Ivanovich received free Manilova dead souls, he also received them from Sobakevich and from Korobochka.
“Scoundrel” - that’s what his author says about Chichikov.
And indeed, no matter how much lively and interesting things are added to the image of Pavel Ivanovich, his negative qualities do not remain aside. This “bad” side of him completely covers up all the good that could be observed. Selfishness, reluctance to take someone else's side, the desire to get a high income and non-participation in public affairs - this is what Gogol's hero Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich mainly combines. And the existing manifestations of a condescending attitude and understanding in rare cases, the ability to have fun are only qualities that show a living person.
Gogol very skillfully emphasized the uncertainty in the image of Chichikov; outwardly, his character is neither fat nor thin, neither handsome nor ugly. The character's character is quite complex; it is sometimes difficult to understand him. Gogol, carefully examining the actions and thoughts of the hero, leads the reader to the idea that there is some justice in Chichikov’s reasoning, but at the same time calls him a scoundrel.
The main focus in " Dead souls“has become a new type of “owner, acquirer” in Russian literature. The purpose of depicting this hero is “to stare at him with an inquisitive gaze, to probe him to the original causes” and to remove the veneer of external decency:
Everything was reflected in him that is needed for this world: pleasantness in turns and actions, and agility in business affairs...
The newcomer somehow knew how to find himself in everything and showed himself to be experienced socialite. Whatever the conversation was about, he always knew how to support it... He argued, but somehow extremely skillfully, so that everyone saw that he was arguing, and yet he was arguing pleasantly. He never said: “you went,” but “you deigned to go,” “I had the honor to cover your deuce,” and the like. He spoke neither loudly nor quietly, but absolutely as he should. In a word, no matter where you turn, he was a very decent person.
But it is not only the ability to hide his vices under the guise of virtue that distinguishes Chichikov from other heroes. “We must do justice to the irresistible force of his character,” writes Gogol. Energy, enterprise, and business acumen seem to lift Chichikov above the frozen world of “dead souls.” It was with the image of Chichikov that Gogol’s plans for the spiritual resurrection and rebirth of man were connected. Echoes of these ideas can already be heard in the first volume, although Gogol wrote it on the model of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, and Chichikov plays the role of Virgil, a guide to “hell” of “dead souls”.
“Living” and “dead” are closely intertwined in Chichikov. The hero needs money not as a goal, but as a means. And although Gogol ironizes Chichikov’s concern for non-existent descendants, nevertheless, dreams of home and family are deeply significant for the author. And if Plyushkin destroys his family with his stinginess, then Chichikov, as soon as he has funds, starts a house and begins to look after the owner. Striving for family happiness This is also due to the attention paid to the governor’s daughter. Chichikov’s thoughts about the girl’s fate echo the author’s thoughts about “initial causes”, about the conditions for the formation of characters:
She is now like a child, everything about her is simple, she will say whatever she wants, laugh wherever she wants to laugh. You can make anything out of her, she can be a miracle, or she can turn out to be rubbish, and she will turn out to be rubbish1.. Where does the pout and primness come from, she will begin to toss and turn according to the established instructions, she will begin to rack her brains and figure out with whom, and how, and how much you need to say how to look at someone, every minute she will be afraid, so as not to say more than necessary, she will finally get confused herself, and will end up lying all her life, and it will just come out like God knows what!
Chichikov is the only hero whose life is presented not in separate episodes, but sequentially, step by step. True, in the poem itself Chichikov appears and acts as an already established character, but in the exposition (Chapter 11) his formation is shown.
Analyzing chapter 11, pay attention to how Chichikov mastered the “science of life”, highlight the main stages of character development:
Origin (“The origin of our hero is dark and modest. His parents were nobles, but whether they were important or personal, God knows”);
Childhood (“At the beginning, life looked at him somehow sourly and unpleasantly, no friend, no comrade in childhood!”);
Father’s instructions (“Look, Pavlusha, 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, they won’t teach you any good; and if it comes to that, hang out with those who are richer , so that on occasion they can be useful to you... and most of all, take care and save a penny, this thing is more reliable than anything in the world... a penny will not give you away, no matter what trouble you are in");
Studying at school (“He suddenly realized and understood the matter and behaved in relation to his comrades in exactly the same way that they treated him, and he not only never, but sometimes even hid the received treat and then sold it to them”);
Service in the treasury chamber;
Work at customs;
The idea of buying up “dead souls” (“Yes, if I bought all these who died out, have not yet submitted new revision tales, buy them, let’s say, a thousand, yes, let’s say, the guardianship council will give two hundred rubles per soul: that’s two hundred thousand capital1")
Complete the examples provided with analysis from Chapter 11.
Does it typify the psychology of Chichikov - the “acquirer”? Compare his statements with the reasoning of officials in “The Inspector General”:
Who is yawning in office now? - everyone buys. I didn’t make anyone unhappy: I didn’t rob the widow, I didn’t let anyone go around the world, I used the excess, I took where anyone would take; If I hadn't used it, others would have.
What side of Chichikov’s character is revealed in the episode with the governor’s daughter? Refer to the text of Chapter 8, consider the hero’s behavior at the ball. Why does Chichikov retreat from his role of “pleasing all people without exception,” because he “very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone”?
Pay attention to the details (speech, forms of behavior), which not only prove Chichikov’s ability to “flatter everyone,” but show the hero’s transformation, the ability to speak with everyone in his language:
Farewell to Manilov:
“Here,” here he put his hand on his heart, “yes, here will be the pleasure of the time spent with you. And believe me, there would be no greater bliss for me than to live with you, if not in the same house, then at least in the immediate neighborhood... Oh, it would be a heavenly life! Farewell, most respected friend!
Conversation with Sobakevich:
Just give me a receipt.
Okay, give me the money here!
What's the money for? I have them in my hand! As soon as you write a receipt, you will take them that very minute.
Excuse me, how can I write a receipt? First you need to see the money!
About the conversation with Korobochka:
Here Chichikov completely went beyond the limits of all patience, slammed his chair on the floor in his heart and promised her the devil.
What episodes of the poem does Gogol refer the reader to in explaining the character of the hero? Does Chichikov have anything in common with such “acquirers” as Korobochka and Sobakevich? Is it only on the “environment” that the author places the blame for the “scoundrel” hero? Compare thoughts about human passions with discussions about the path of man, about youth and old age, remember what Gogol calls young people to. What features of Chichikov can be the key to a possible resurrection? How do environment, man, “heaven” relate in Gogol’s world?) Answer the questions based on the analysis of Chichikov’s image:
It is fairer to call him: owner, acquirer. Acquisition is the fault of everything; because of him, deeds were born to which the light gives the name not very pure... Countless as sea sands, human passions, and all are different from one another, and all of them, low and beautiful, are all at first submissive to man, and then they become his terrible masters... And, perhaps, in this very Chichikov, the passion that attracts him is no longer from him, and in his cold existence lies that which will later bring man to dust and to his knees before the wisdom of heaven.
“How huge, what original story! What a varied bunch! All Rus' will appear in it!” - Gogol wrote to Zhukovsky. How much did the writer manage to complete the task) How fully “all Rus'” appeared in “Dead Souls”) Compare the image of Russia in the epic narrative and lyrical digressions.
And nameless suffering...
Mayakovsky's work cannot be called unambiguous. Quite conventionally, creativity can be divided before the revolution and after the revolution. After moving to Moscow from Georgia, he falls under the influence of members of the RSDLP
Mikhei Andreevich Tarantiev first appears in Oblomov’s house at the very beginning of the novel. Almost nothing is known about his background. The reader only knows that the village of Tarantiev
This work was created by V.M. Garshin in 1884. Literary scholars believe that the impetus for writing the story was an incident that occurred during the concert of A.G. Rubinstein.