Dead souls summary 2 6. Brief retelling of "dead souls" by chapter
For more than a century and a half, interest in the amazing work written by N.V. Gogol has not disappeared. "Dead Souls" (a brief retelling of the chapters is given below) is a poem about modern Russia for the writer, its vices and shortcomings. Unfortunately, many things described in the first half of the 19th century by Nikolai Vasilyevich still exist, which makes the work relevant today.
Chapter 1. Acquaintance with Chichikov
A britzka drove into the provincial town of NN, in which a gentleman of ordinary appearance was sitting. She stopped at a tavern where she could rent a room for two rubles. Selifan, the coachman, and Petrushka, the footman, brought into the room a suitcase and a chest, whose appearance indicated that they were often on the road. So you can start a brief retelling of "Dead Souls".
Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the visitor - collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. He immediately went to the hall, where he ordered dinner and began to question the servant about local officials and landowners. And the next day, the hero paid visits to all important people in the city, including the governor. When meeting, Pavel Ivanovich reported that he was looking for a new place of residence for himself. He made a very pleasant impression, as he could flatter and show respect to everyone. As a result, Chichikov immediately received a lot of invitations: to a party with the governor and for tea with other officials.
A brief retelling of the first chapter of "Dead Souls" continues with a description of the reception at the mayor. The author gives an eloquent assessment of the high society of the city of NN, comparing the governor's guests with flies hovering over refined sugar. Gogol also notes that all men here, however, as elsewhere, were divided into "thin" and "thick" - he attributed the main character to the latter. The position of the former was unstable and unstable. But the latter, if they sit somewhere, then forever.
For Chichikov, the evening was beneficial: he met the wealthy landowners Manilov and Sobakevich and received an invitation from them to visit. The main question that interested Pavel Ivanovich in a conversation with them was how many souls they have.
In the next few days, the visitor visited the officials and charmed all the noble inhabitants of the city.
Chapter 2
More than a week passed, and Chichikov finally decided to visit Manilov and Sobakevich.
A brief retelling of the 2nd chapter of "Dead Souls" needs to start the hero's servants. Petrushka was not talkative, but he liked to read. He also never undressed and wore his own special smell everywhere, which caused Chichikov's displeasure. This is what the author writes about him.
But back to the hero. He traveled quite a lot before he saw the Manilov estate. The two-story manor house stood alone on a turf-decorated jura. It was surrounded by shrubs, flower beds, a pond. Particular attention was drawn to the pavilion with a strange inscription "Temple of solitary reflection." The peasant huts looked gray and neglected.
A brief retelling of "Dead Souls" continues with a description of the meeting of the host and guest. Smiling Manilov kissed Pavel Ivanovich and invited him into the house, which was just as unfurnished inside as the whole estate. So, one chair was not upholstered, and on the windowsill in the office the owner was laying out mounds of ashes from a pipe. The landowner kept dreaming about some projects that remained unrealized. At the same time, he did not notice that his economy was increasingly falling into decay.
Gogol especially notes Manilov's relationship with his wife: they cooed, trying to please each other in everything. The officials of the city were the most beautiful people for them. And they gave their children strange ancient names, and at dinner everyone tried to show their education. In general, talking about the landowner, the author emphasizes the following idea: so much sugariness emanated from the external appearance of the owner that the first impression of his attractiveness quickly changed. And by the end of the meeting, it already seemed that Manilov was neither one nor the other. This characterization of this hero is given by the author.
But let's continue with the shortest retelling. Dead souls soon became the subject of conversation between the guest and Manilov. Chichikov asked to sell him the dead peasants, who, according to the audit documents, were still considered alive. The owner was at first confused, and then gave them to the guest just like that. There was no way he could take money from such a good man.
Chapter 3
Saying goodbye to Manilov, Chichikov went to Sobakevich. But along the way, he got lost, got caught in the rain, and after dark ended up in some village. He was met by the hostess herself - Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka.
The hero slept well on a soft feather bed and, waking up, noticed his cleaned dress. Through the window, he saw many birds and strong peasant huts. The decor of the room and the behavior of the hostess testified to her frugality and economy.
During breakfast, Chichikov, without ceremony, started talking about the dead peasants. At first, Nastasya Petrovna did not understand how it was possible to sell a non-existent product. Then she was afraid to sell everything, saying that the business was new for her. The box was not as simple as it seemed at first, - a brief retelling of "Dead Souls" leads to such an idea. Chapter 3 ends with Chichikov promising the landowner to buy honey and hemp in the fall. After that, the guest and the hostess finally agreed on a price and concluded a bill of sale.
Chapter 4
The road was so washed out from the rain that by noon the carriage got out onto the pole. Chichikov decided to stop by the tavern, where he met Nozdryov. They met at the prosecutor's, and now the landowner behaved as if Pavel Ivanovich was his best friend. Having no way to get rid of Nozdryov, the hero went to his estate. You will learn about the trouble that came out there if you read the further brief retelling of Dead Souls.
Chapter 4 introduces the reader to the landowner, who has earned the fame of a brawler and instigator of scandals, a gambler and a money changer. "Svintus" and other similar words were common in his vocabulary. Not a single meeting with this man ended peacefully, and most of all went to people who had the misfortune to get to know him closely.
Upon arrival, Nozdryov took his son-in-law and Chichikov to look at the empty stalls, the kennel, and the fields. Our hero felt overwhelmed and disappointed. But the main thing was ahead. At dinner there was a quarrel, which was continued the next morning. As the shortest retelling shows, dead souls were the cause. When Chichikov started a conversation, for which he went to the landowners, Nozdryov easily promised to give him non-existent peasants. The guest was only required to buy from him a horse, a hurdy-gurdy and a dog. And in the morning the owner offered to play checkers for souls and began to cheat. Pavel Ivanovich, who discovered this, was almost beaten. It is difficult to describe how delighted he was at the appearance in the house of the police captain, who had come to arrest Nozdryov.
Chapter 5
On the way there was another trouble. The unreasonableness of Selifan caused Chichikov's carriage to collide with another cart, which was harnessed by six horses. The peasants who came running from the village took part in unraveling the horses. And the hero himself drew attention to a sweet blond young lady sitting in a stroller.
A brief retelling of Gogol's "Dead Souls" continues with a description of the meeting with Sobakevich, which finally took place. The village and the house that appeared before the eyes of the hero were great. Everything was good quality and durable. The landowner himself resembled a bear: both in appearance, and in gait, and in the color of his clothes. And all the objects in the house looked like the owner. Sobakevich was laconic. He ate a lot at dinner, and spoke negatively about the mayors.
He took the offer to sell dead souls calmly and immediately set a rather high price (two rubles and a half), since all the peasants were recorded with him and each of them had some special quality. The guest did not like it very much, but he accepted the conditions.
Then Pavel Ivanovich went to Plyushkin, whom he learned about from Sobakevich. According to the latter, his peasants were dying like flies, and the hero hoped to profitably acquire them. The correctness of this decision is confirmed by a brief retelling ("Dead Souls").
Chapter 6 patched
Such a nickname was given to the master by a peasant, whom Chichikov asked for directions. And Plyushkin's appearance fully justified him.
Having passed through strange dilapidated streets, which spoke of the fact that there was once a strong economy here, the carriage stopped at the manor's invalid house. A certain creature was standing in the yard and quarreling with a peasant. It was impossible to immediately determine his gender and position. Seeing a bunch of keys on his belt, Chichikov decided that it was a housekeeper and ordered the owner to be called. What was his surprise when he found out: in front of him was one of the richest landowners in the district. In Plyushkin's appearance, Gogol draws attention to the lively shifty eyes.
A brief retelling of "Dead Souls" chapter by chapter allows us to note only the essential features of the landowners who became the heroes of the poem. Plyushkin is distinguished by the fact that the author tells the story of his life. Once he was a frugal and hospitable host. However, after the death of his wife, Plyushkin became more and more stingy. As a result, the son shot himself, as the father did not help pay the debts. One daughter ran away and was cursed, the other died. Over the years, the landowner turned into such a miser that he picked up all the garbage on the street. He and his household turned into rot. Gogol calls Plyushkin "a hole in humanity", the reason for which, unfortunately, can not be fully explained by a brief retelling.
Dead souls Chichikov bought from the landowner at a very favorable price for himself. It was enough to tell Plyushkin that this exempted him from paying duties for the peasants who had not existed for a long time, as he gladly agreed to everything.
Chapter 7. Paperwork
Chichikov, who returned to the city, woke up in the morning in a good mood. He immediately rushed to review the lists of purchased souls. He was especially interested in the paper compiled by Sobakevich. The landowner gave a complete description of each peasant. Before the hero, the Russian peasants seem to come to life, in connection with which he indulges in reasoning about their difficult fate. Everyone, as a rule, has one fate - to pull the strap until the end of their days. Recollecting himself, Pavel Ivanovich got ready to go to the ward for paperwork.
A brief retelling of "Dead Souls" takes the reader into the world of officials. On the street Chichikov met Manilov, still as caring and good-natured. And in the ward, to his happiness, was Sobakevich. Pavel Ivanovich walked from one office to another for a long time and patiently explained the purpose of his visit. Finally, he gave a bribe, and the case was immediately completed. And the legend of the hero that he takes the peasants for export to the Kherson province did not raise questions from anyone. At the end of the day, everyone went to the chairman, where they drank to the health of the new landowner, wished him good luck and promised to find a bride.
Chapter 8
Rumors of a large purchase of peasants soon spread throughout the city, and Chichikov began to be considered a millionaire. Everywhere he was given signs of attention, especially since the hero, as a brief retelling of "Dead Souls" chapter by chapter shows, could easily endear people to him. However, the unexpected soon happened.
The governor gave a ball, and, of course, Pavel Ivanovich was in the center of attention. Now everyone wants to please him. Suddenly, the hero noticed the very young lady (she turned out to be the daughter of the governor), whom he met on the way from Korobochka to Nozdryov. Even at the first meeting, she charmed Chichikov. And now all the attention of the hero was drawn to the girl, which caused the anger of other ladies. They suddenly saw in Pavel Ivanovich a terrible enemy.
The second trouble that happened that day was that Nozdryov appeared at the ball and began to talk about the fact that Chichikov was buying up the souls of dead peasants. And although no one attached importance to his words, Pavel Ivanovich felt uncomfortable all evening and returned to his room ahead of time.
After the guest's departure, the box kept wondering if it was cheap. Exhausted, the landowner decided to go to the city to find out how much the dead peasants are selling now. The next chapter (its brief retelling) will tell about the consequences of this. "Dead Souls" Gogol continues with a description of how unsuccessfully events began to develop for the protagonist.
Chapter 9 Chichikov at the center of the scandal
The next morning, two ladies met: one is simply pleasant, the other is pleasant in every way. They discussed the latest news, the main of which was Korobochka's story. Let's give a very brief retelling of it (this was directly related to dead souls).
According to the guest, the first lady, Nastasya Petrovna stopped at the house of her friend. It was she who told her about how the armed Pavel Ivanovich appeared at the estate at night and began to demand that the souls of the dead be sold to him. The second lady added that her husband had heard about such a purchase from Nozdryov. After discussing the incident, the women decided that all this was just a cover. The true goal of Chichikov is to kidnap the governor's daughter. They immediately shared their guess with the prosecutor who entered the room and went to the city. Soon all its inhabitants were divided into two halves. The ladies discussed the version of the kidnapping, and the men - the purchase of dead souls. The governor's wife ordered Chichikov's servants not to be allowed on the threshold. And the officials gathered at the police chief and tried to find an explanation for what had happened.
Chapter 10 The story of Kopeikin
We went over many options for who Pavel Ivanovich could be. Suddenly the postmaster exclaimed: "Captain Kopeikin!" And he told the story of the life of a mysterious man, about whom those present knew nothing. It is with her that we continue a brief retelling of the 10th chapter of Dead Souls.
In 1912, Kopeikin lost an arm and a leg in the war. He could not earn money himself, and therefore he went to the capital to ask for well-deserved help from the monarch. In St. Petersburg he stopped at a tavern, found a commission and began to wait for an appointment. The nobleman immediately noticed the disabled person and, having learned about his problem, advised him to come in a few days. The next time he assured me that soon everything would certainly be decided and a pension would be appointed. And at the third meeting, Kopeikin, who had not received anything, made a fuss and was expelled from the city. No one knew exactly where the disabled person was taken. But when a gang of robbers appeared in the Ryazan region, everyone decided that its leader was none other than ... Further, all the officials agreed that Chichikov could not be Kopeikin: he had both an arm and a leg in place. Someone suggested that Pavel Ivanovich was Napoleon. After some more discussion, the officials dispersed. And the prosecutor, having come home, died of shock. On this, a brief retelling of "Dead Souls" comes to an end.
All this time, the perpetrator of the scandal sat in the sick room and was surprised that no one was visiting him. Feeling a little better, he decided to go on visits. But the governor Pavel Ivanovich was not accepted, and the rest obviously avoided the meeting. Everything was explained by Nozdryov's arrival at the hotel. It was he who said that Chichikov was accused of preparing the kidnapping and making false banknotes. Pavel Ivanovich immediately ordered Petrushka and Selifan to prepare for their departure early in the morning.
Chapter 11
However, the hero woke up later than planned. Then Selifan declared that it was necessary. Finally, they set off and on the way they met a funeral procession - they were burying the prosecutor. Chichikov hid behind a curtain and secretly examined the officials. But they didn't even notice him. Now they were worried about something else: what would be the new governor-general. As a result, the hero decided that it was good to meet the funeral. And the carriage moved forward. And the author cites the life story of Pavel Ivanovich (hereinafter we will give a brief retelling of it). Dead souls (Chapter 11 points to this) came to Chichikov's head not by chance.
Pavlusha's childhood can hardly be called happy. His mother died early, and his father often punished him. Then Chichikov Sr. took his son to the city school and left him to live with a relative. At parting, he gave some advice. Please teachers. Be friends only with rich classmates. Do not treat anyone, but arrange everything so that they treat themselves. And most importantly - save a penny. Pavlusha fulfilled all the precepts of his father. To the fifty kopeck left at parting, he soon added his earned money. He conquered the teachers with diligence: no one could sit so roughly in the lessons as he did. And although he received a good certificate, he began to work from the bottom. In addition, after the death of his father, only a dilapidated house was inherited, which Chichikov sold for a thousand, and servants.
Having entered the service, Pavel Ivanovich showed incredible zeal: he worked a lot, slept in the office. At the same time, he always looked great and pleased everyone. Upon learning that the boss has a daughter, he began to look after her, and things even went to the wedding. But as soon as Chichikov was promoted, he moved out from the boss to another apartment, and soon everyone somehow forgot about the engagement. It was the most difficult step on the way to the goal. And the hero dreamed of great wealth and an important place in society.
When the fight against bribery began, Pavel Ivanovich made his first fortune. But he did everything through secretaries and clerks, so he himself remained clean and earned a reputation with the leadership. Thanks to this, he was able to settle down for construction - instead of the planned buildings, officials, including the hero, got new houses. But here Chichikov failed: the arrival of a new boss deprived him of both his position and his fortune.
Career began to build from the very beginning. Miraculously got to customs - a fertile place. Thanks to his diligence and servility, he achieved a lot. But suddenly he quarreled with a fellow official (they did business with smugglers together), and he wrote a denunciation. Pavel Ivanovich was again left with nothing. He managed to hide only ten thousand and two servants.
The way out of the situation was suggested by the secretary of the office, in which Chichikov, on duty of the new service, was supposed to mortgage the estate. When it came to the number of peasants, the official remarked: “They have died, but they are still on the revision lists. Some will not be, others will be born - everything is good for business. It was then that the idea came to buy dead souls. It will be difficult to prove that there are no peasants: Chichikov purchased them for export. For this, he also acquired land in the Kherson province in advance. And the board of trustees will give two hundred rubles for every registered soul. Here is the state. So the reader is revealed the intention of the protagonist and the essence of all his actions. The main thing is to be careful, and everything will work out. The carriage rushed on, and Chichikov, who loved fast driving, only smiled.
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Poem "Dead souls of Gogol in brief summary in 10 minutes.
Acquaintance with Chichikov
A middle-aged gentleman of rather pleasant appearance arrived at a hotel in a provincial town in a small britzka. He rented a room in the hotel, examined it and went to the common room to dine, leaving the servants to settle in a new place. It was a collegiate adviser, landowner Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov.
After dinner, he went to inspect the city and found that it was no different from other provincial cities. The newcomer devoted the whole next day to visits. I visited the governor, the police chief, the vice-governor and other officials, each of whom he managed to win over by saying something pleasant about his department. For the evening he had already received an invitation to the governor.
Arriving at the governor's house, Chichikov, among other things, made the acquaintance of Manilov, a very courteous and courteous man, and the somewhat clumsy Sobakevich, and behaved so pleasantly with them that he completely charmed them, and both landowners invited the new friend to visit them. The next day, at a dinner at the police chief's, Pavel Ivanovich also made acquaintance with Nozdryov, a broken fellow of about thirty, with whom they immediately switched to you.
For more than a week the visitor lived in the city, driving around for parties and dinners, he proved to be a very pleasant conversationalist, able to talk on any topic. He knew how to behave well, had a degree. In general, everyone in the city came to the opinion that this is an exceptionally decent and well-meaning
human.
Chichikov at Manilov
Finally, Chichikov decided to visit the landowners he knew and went out of town. First he went to Manilov. With some difficulty he found the village of Manilovka, which turned out to be not fifteen, but thirty versts from the city. Manilov met his new acquaintance very cordially, they kissed and entered the house, for a long time letting each other pass at the door. Manilov was, in general, a pleasant person, somehow sugary-sweet, had no special hobbies, except for fruitless dreams, and did not take care of the household.
His wife was brought up in a boarding school, where she was taught the three main subjects necessary for family happiness: French, the piano and knitting purses. She was pretty and well dressed. Her husband introduced Pavel Ivanovich to her. They talked a little, and the hosts invited the guest to dinner. The seven-year-old sons of the Manilovs, Themistoclus, and six-year-old Alkid, were already waiting in the dining room, for whom the teacher had tied napkins. The guest was shown the erudition of the children, the teacher made a remark to the boys only once, when the elder bit the younger on the ear.
After dinner, Chichikov announced that he intended to talk to the owner about a very important matter, and both went to the study. The guest started a conversation about the peasants and offered the host to buy dead souls from him, that is, those peasants who have already died, but according to the audit are still considered alive. Manilov could not understand anything for a long time, then he doubted the legitimacy of such a bill of sale, but nevertheless agreed from
respect for the guest. When Pavel Ivanovich spoke about the price, the owner was offended and even took upon himself the drafting of the bill of sale.
Chichikov did not know how to thank Manilov. They said goodbye cordially, and Pavel Ivanovich drove off, promising to come again and bring gifts to the children.
Chichikov at Korobochka
Chichikov was about to make his next visit to Sobakevich, but it started to rain, and the carriage drove into some field. Selifan turned the wagon around so clumsily that the gentleman fell out of it and was covered in mud. Luckily, dogs barked. They went to the village and asked to spend the night in a house. It turned out that this was the estate of a certain landowner Korobochka.
In the morning Pavel Ivanovich met the hostess, Nastasya Petrovna, a middle-aged woman, one of those who always complain about the lack of money, but little by little saves and collects a decent fortune. The village was quite large, the houses were strong, the peasants lived well. The hostess invited the unexpected guest to drink tea, the conversation turned to the household, and Chichikov offered to buy dead souls from her.
Korobochka was extremely frightened by such a proposal, not really understanding what they wanted from her. After much explanation and persuasion, she finally agreed and wrote Chichikov a power of attorney, trying to sell him a hemp as well.
After eating a cake and pancakes baked especially for him, the guest drove on, accompanied by a girl who was supposed to take the carriage to the main road. Seeing the tavern, which was already standing on a high road, they let the girl off, who, having received a copper penny as a reward, wandered home, and drove there.
Chichikov at Nozdrev
In a tavern, Chichikov ordered a pig with horseradish and sour cream, and, knowing it, asked the hostess about the surrounding landowners. At this time, two gentlemen drove up to the tavern, one of whom was Nozdrev, and the second was his son-in-law Mizhuev. Nozdryov, a well-built fellow, what is called blood and milk, with thick black hair and sideburns, ruddy cheeks and very white teeth,
recognized Chichikov and began to tell him how they walked at the fair, how much champagne they drank and how he lost at cards.
Mizhuev, a tall fair-haired man with a tanned face and a red mustache, was constantly accusing his friend of exaggeration. Nozdryov persuaded Chichikov to go to him, Mizhuev, reluctantly, also went with them.
It must be said that Nozdryov's wife died, leaving him two children, whom he did not care about, and he moved from one fair to another, from one party to another. Everywhere he played cards and roulette and usually lost, although he did not hesitate to cheat, for which he was sometimes beaten by partners. He was cheerful, considered a good comrade, but he always managed to spoil his friends: upset the wedding, disrupt the deal.
At the estate, after ordering dinner from the cook, Nozdryov took the guest to inspect the farm, which was nothing special, and drove around for two hours, telling tales that were incredible in lies, so that Chichikov was very tired. Lunch was served, the dishes of which were somehow burnt, some were undercooked, and numerous wines of dubious quality.
The owner refilled the guests, but he hardly drank himself. After dinner, Mizhuev, who had become very intoxicated, was sent home to his wife, and Chichikov started a conversation with Nozdryov about dead souls. The landowner flatly refused to sell them, but offered to play cards with them, and when the guest refused, to exchange them for Chichikov's horses or a britzka. Pavel Ivanovich also rejected this offer and went to bed. The next day, the restless Nozdryov persuaded him to fight for souls in checkers. During the game, Chichikov noticed that the owner was playing dishonestly and told him about it.
The landowner was offended, began to scold the guest and ordered the servants to beat him. Chichikov was saved by the appearance of the police captain, who announced that Nozdryov was on trial and accused of inflicting personal insult on the landowner Maximov with rods while drunk. Pavel Ivanovich did not wait for the denouement, ran out of the house and left.
Chichikov at Sobakevich's
On the way to Sobakevich, an unpleasant incident happened. Selifan, lost in thought, did not give way to a carriage drawn by six horses that was overtaking them, and the harness of both carriages became so entangled that it took a long time to re-harness. In the carriage sat an old woman and a sixteen-year-old girl, whom Pavel Ivanovich liked very much ...
Soon they arrived at Sobakevich's estate. Everything was strong, solid, solid. The owner, stout, with a face as if hewn with an axe, very similar to a learned bear, met the guest and led him into the house. The furniture was to match the owner - heavy, durable. Paintings depicting ancient generals hung on the walls.
The conversation turned to city officials, each of whom the owner gave a negative description. The hostess entered, Sobakevich introduced her guest and invited him to dinner. Lunch was not very varied, but tasty and satisfying. During dinner the host mentioned the landowner Plyushkin, who lived five versts from him, where people were dying like flies, and Chichikov took note of this.
After a very hearty dinner, the men retired to the living room, and Pavel Ivanovich got down to business. Sobakevich listened to him without saying a word. Without asking any questions, he agreed to sell the dead souls to the guest, but raised the price for them, as for living people.
They bargained for a long time and agreed on two and a half rubles per head, and Sobakevich demanded a deposit. He compiled a list of peasants, gave each one a description of his business qualities and wrote a receipt for receiving a deposit, striking Chichikov with how sensibly everything was written. They parted, satisfied with each other, and Chichikov went to Plyushkin.
Chichikov at Plushkin's
He drove into a large village, striking in its poverty: the huts were almost without roofs, the windows in them were covered with bull bladders or plugged with rags. The master's house is large, with many outbuildings for household needs, but all of them are almost collapsed, only two windows are open, the rest are boarded up or closed with shutters. The house gave the impression of being uninhabited.
Chichikov noticed a figure so strangely dressed that it was impossible to immediately recognize whether it was a woman or a man. Paying attention to the bunch of keys on his belt, Pavel Ivanovich decided that this was the housekeeper, and turned to her, calling her "mother" and asking where the master was. The housekeeper told him to go into the house and disappeared. He entered and marveled at the disorder that reigned there. Everything is covered in dust, dried-up bits of wood lie on the table, a bunch of some incomprehensible things are piled in the corner. The housekeeper came in, and Chichikov asked the master again. She said that the master was in front of him.
I must say that Plyushkin was not always like that. Once he had a family and was just a thrifty, albeit somewhat stingy owner. His wife was distinguished by her hospitality, and there were often guests in the house. Then the wife died, the eldest daughter ran away with an officer, and her father cursed her, because he could not stand the military. The son went to the city to enter the civil service. but enlisted in the regiment. Plushkin cursed him too. When the youngest daughter died, the landowner was left alone in the house.
His stinginess assumed terrifying proportions, he dragged into the house all the rubbish found in the village, right down to the old sole. The quitrent was collected from the peasants in the same amount, but since Plyushkin asked for an exorbitant price for the goods, no one bought anything from him, and everything rotted in the manor's yard. Twice his daughter came to him, first with one child, then with two, brought him gifts and asked for help, but the father did not give a penny. His son lost his game and also asked for money, but he also received nothing. Plyushkin himself looked like if Chichikov had met him near the church, he would have given him a penny.
While Pavel Ivanovich was thinking about how to start talking about dead souls, the owner began to complain about the hard life: the peasants were dying, and the tax had to be paid for them. The guest offered to bear these expenses. Plyushkin gladly agreed, ordered the samovar to be put up and the remains of the Easter cake brought from the pantry, which his daughter had once brought and from which it was necessary to scrape off the mold first.
Then he suddenly began to doubt the honesty of Chichikov's intentions, and he offered to draw up a merchant's fortress for the dead peasants. Plyushkin decided to foist some runaway peasants on Chichikov, and after bargaining, Pavel Ivanovich took them thirty kopecks apiece. After that, he (much to the delight of the host) refused dinner and tea and left, being in a great mood.
Chichikov turns a scam with "dead souls"
On the way to the hotel, Chichikov even sang. The next day he woke up in a great mood and immediately sat down at the table to write merchant's fortresses. At twelve o'clock I got dressed and, with the papers under my arm, went to the civil ward. Leaving the hotel, Pavel Ivanovich ran into Manilov, who was walking towards him.
They kissed each other in such a way that both of them had toothaches all day long, and Manilov volunteered to accompany Chichikov. In the Civil Chamber, it was not without difficulty that they found an official who dealt with merchants, who, only after receiving a bribe, sent Pavel Ivanovich to the chairman, Ivan Grigorievich. Sobakevich was already sitting in the chairman's office. Ivan Grigoryevich gave instructions to the same
the official to draw up all the papers and collect witnesses.
When everything was properly arranged, the chairman proposed to spray the purchase. Chichikov wanted to supply them with champagne, but Ivan Grigoryevich said that they would go to the police chief, who would only wink at the merchants in the fish and meat rows, and a wonderful dinner would be ready.
And so it happened. The merchants considered the police chief to be their own person, who, although he robbed them, did not show any kindness and even willingly baptized merchant children. The dinner was magnificent, the guests drank and ate well, and Sobakevich alone ate a huge sturgeon and then did not eat anything, but only silently sat in an armchair. Everyone was amused and did not want to let Chichikov leave the city, but decided to marry him, to which he gladly agreed.
Feeling that he was already talking too much, Pavel Ivanovich asked for a carriage and arrived at the hotel completely drunk in the prosecutor's droshky. With difficulty, Petrushka undressed the master, cleaned his suit, and, making sure that the owner was fast asleep, went with Selifan to the nearest tavern, from where they left in an embrace and collapsed to sleep across on the same bed.
Chichikov's purchases caused a lot of talk in the city, everyone took an active part in his affairs, they discussed how difficult it would be for him to resettle such a number of serfs in the Kherson province. Of course, Chichikov did not spread that he was acquiring dead peasants, everyone believed that they were bought alive, and a rumor spread around the city that Pavel Ivanovich was a millionaire. He was immediately interested in the ladies, who in this city were very presentable, traveled only in carriages, dressed fashionably and spoke elegantly. Chichikov could not fail to notice such attention to himself. One day they brought him an anonymous love letter with poems, at the end of which it was written that his own heart would help him guess who wrote it.
Chichikov at the governor's ball
After some time, Pavel Ivanovich was invited to the governor's ball. His appearance at the ball caused great enthusiasm among all those present. The men greeted him with loud exclamations and strong hugs, the ladies surrounded him, forming a multi-colored garland. He tried to guess which one of them had written the letter, but he couldn't.
Chichikov was rescued from their entourage by the governor's wife, holding by the arm a pretty sixteen-year-old girl, whom Pavel Ivanovich recognized as a blonde from a carriage that ran into him on the way from Nozdryov. It turned out that the girl was the governor's daughter, just released from the institute. Chichikov turned all his attention to her and spoke only to her, although the girl got bored from his stories and began to yawn. the ladies did not like this behavior of their idol at all, because each had her own views on Pavel Ivanovich. They became indignant and condemned the poor college girl.
Unexpectedly, Nozdryov, accompanied by the prosecutor, appeared from the living room where the card game was going on and, seeing Chichikov, immediately shouted to the whole hall: What? Did you trade a lot for the dead? Pavel Ivanovich did not know where to go, and meanwhile the landowner, with great pleasure, began to tell everyone about Chichikov's scam. Everyone knew that Nozdryov was a liar, nevertheless, his words caused confusion and gossip. Frustrated, Chichikov, anticipating a scandal, did not wait until dinner was over and went to the hotel.
While he was sitting in his room cursing Nozdryov and all his relatives, a carriage with Korobochka drove into the city. This club-headed landowner, worrying whether Chichikov had deceived her in some cunning way, decided to personally find out how much dead souls are now. The next day, the ladies stirred up the whole city.
They could not understand the essence of the scam with dead souls and decided that the purchase was made to avert their eyes, but in fact Chichikov came to the city to kidnap the governor's daughter. The governor's wife, having heard about this, interrogated her unsuspecting daughter and ordered Pavel Ivanovich not to be received any more. Men also could not understand anything, but they did not really believe in abduction.
At this time, a new governor-general was appointed to the province, and the officials even thought that Chichikov had come to them in the city on his behalf to check. Then they decided that Chichikov was a counterfeiter, then that he was a robber. Selifan and Petrushka were interrogated, but they could not say anything intelligible. They also had a chat with Nozdryov, who, without blinking an eye, confirmed all their guesses. The prosecutor was so worried that he had a stroke and died.
Chichikov knew nothing about all this. He caught a cold, sat in his room for three days and wondered why none of his new acquaintances visited him. Finally, he recovered, dressed warmer and went to the governor for a visit. Imagine Pavel Ivanovich's surprise when the footman said that he was not ordered to be received! Then he went to other officials, but everyone received him so strangely, they carried on such a forced and incomprehensible conversation that he doubted their health.
chichikov leaves the city
Chichikov wandered aimlessly around the city for a long time, and in the evening Nozdrev showed up to him, offering his help in kidnapping the governor's daughter for three thousand rubles. The reason for the scandal became clear to Pavel Ivanovich, and he immediately ordered Selifan to lay the horses, and he himself began to collect things. But it turned out that the horses needed to be shod, and they left only the next day. When we drove through the city, we had to skip the funeral procession: they were burying the prosecutor. Chichikov drew the curtains. Luckily no one paid any attention to him.
essence of the scam with dead souls
Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov was born into a poor noble family. Sending his son to school, his father ordered him to live economically, behave well, please teachers, be friends only with the children of wealthy parents, and most of all in life value a penny. Pavlusha conscientiously fulfilled all this and succeeded very much in this. not disdaining to speculate on edibles. Not distinguished by intelligence and knowledge, he earned a certificate and a commendation sheet after graduating from college by his behavior.
Most of all, he dreamed of a quiet, rich life, but for now he denied himself everything. He began to serve, but did not receive a promotion, no matter how he pleased his boss. Then, having passed. that the boss had an ugly and no longer young daughter, Chichikov began to look after her. It even got to the point that he settled in the boss's house, began to call him dad and kissed his hand. Soon Pavel Ivanovich received a new position and immediately moved to his apartment. and the matter of the wedding was hushed up. Time passed, Chichikov prospered. He himself did not take bribes, but received money from subordinates, who began to take three times more. After some time, a commission was organized in the city for the construction of some kind of capital structure, and Pavel Ivanovich attached himself there. The structure did not grow higher than the foundation, but the members of the commission set up beautiful large houses for themselves. Unfortunately, the chief was replaced, the new one demanded reports from the commission, and all the houses were confiscated to the treasury. Chichikov was fired, and he was forced to start his career anew.
He changed two or three positions, and then he was lucky: he got a job in customs, where he showed himself from the best side, was incorruptible, knew how to find contraband best of all and deserved a promotion. As soon as this happened, the incorruptible Pavel Ivanovich conspired with a large gang of smugglers, attracted another official to the case, and together they pulled off several scams, thanks to which they put four hundred thousand in the bank. But once the official quarreled with Chichikov and wrote a denunciation against him, the case was revealed, the money was confiscated from both, and they themselves were fired from customs. Fortunately, they managed to avoid a trial, Pavel Ivanovich had some money hidden, and he began to arrange life again. He had to act as an attorney, and it was this service that prompted him to think about dead souls. Once he applied for a pledge to the board of trustees of several hundred peasants of a ruined landowner. In the meantime, Chichikov explained to the secretary that half of the peasants had died out and he doubted the success of the case. The secretary said that if the souls are listed in the audit inventory, then nothing terrible can happen. It was then that Pavel Ivanovich decided to buy more dead souls and pledge them to the board of trustees, receiving money for them as if they were alive. The city in which Chichikov and I met was the first on his path to the realization of his plans, and now Pavel Ivanovich rode on in his britzka drawn by three horses.
4.3 / 5. 12
Year of writing: 1835
Genre: prose poem, novel
Main characters: nobleman Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, Manilov - landowner, Korobochka - landowner, landowners Nozdrev and Sobakevich.
Plot: In the work, the story is about a gentleman whose identity remains a mystery. This man arrives in a small town, the name of which the author did not voice, in order to give free rein to the reader's imagination. The character's name is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. Who he is and why he came is not yet known. Genuine purpose: buying dead souls, peasants. Chapter 1 talks about who Chichikov is and about those who will surround him to implement his plan.
Our protagonist has developed a good skill: to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of a person. It also adapts well to changing environments. Chapters 2 to 6 speak of landowners and their possessions. In the work, we learn that one of his friends is a gossip leading a wild life. This terrible man puts Chichikov's position in jeopardy, and after the rapid development of some events, he flees the city. The post-war period is presented in the poem.
Detailed retelling
A certain Mr. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives in the provincial town of NN, accompanied by the coachman Selifan and the footman Petrushka. The man himself was not too old, but not too young, not handsome, but it cannot be said that he was bad-looking, not fat, but not thin either. He settles in a hotel and almost immediately begins a conversation with the sexual, asking him many questions about the officials of this city and the most prosperous landowners. Having settled down, Chichikov begins to pay visits to all city officials, attends an evening with the governor, where he makes many useful acquaintances. He charmed all those present with his manners, behaved like an aristocrat, retaining an "unpleasant" impression of himself.
Having tested the ground, Chichikov, without wasting a minute, proceeds to pay visits to the landowners, but already of a business nature. The essence of his scam was to buy dead peasants from them, who on paper were still considered alive. Having a certain number of "souls", he could receive land from the state where he planned to establish his estate.
First, he visits the village of Manilov, the road to which took an order of time. Chichikov found the estate rather neglected, although Manilov himself did not care. Unburdened by everyday trifles, he lived in a fantasy world and reveled in his fantasies. He found the visitor's offer very strange, but after he convinced him of the legitimacy, he calmed down and gave his souls for nothing.
The happy businessman leaves Manilov and goes to the property of Sobakevich, with whom he met at a reception at the governor. But on the way, a thunderstorm catches the travelers, and the britzka goes astray. So Chichikov finds himself in the village with another landowner, Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. He does not miss the opportunity to bargain with her for the dead peasants. The box was very surprised at such a case, but her second thought was the desire to sell as profitably as possible and not to sell too cheap. Noticing that the widow is very suspicious and timid, he explains to her that he himself will pay taxes for the purchased peasants, after which she agrees. Tired of bargaining with Box, departs, leaving her in extreme anxiety.
On the way to Sobakevich, he stops at a tavern for lunch, and meets there the landowner Nozdrev, whom he met at a dinner with the prosecutor. The young serf-owner, bursting with energy and health, is glad to meet him and immediately takes Pavel Ivanovich to his house. Hearing Chichikov's request, the gambler Nozdryov gets excited and offers to play cards for dead souls instead of buying. He agrees, but immediately notices that the owner is cheating and also begins to play dishonestly. This was followed by a quarrel, which almost escalated to a fight, but Nozdryov very quickly thawed out and Chichikov manages to slip away from his estate.
After all the misadventures, he finally reaches the estate of Mikhail Sobakevich. The owner looked like a big clumsy bear, and his dwelling was like a rough and strong lair. Making a deal with him was not so easy. Although he did not have a lively mind and beauty of speech, he bargained and counted money regularly. Pavel Ivanovich parted ways with Sobakevich in extreme indignation.
The final point of the schemer's route is the estate of Stepan Plyushkin, in the past an economic and economical landowner. This frugality soon turned into stinginess, and then completely into morbid greed. The guest, entering the village, sees the collapse and desolation, the owner's house looks no less deplorable. They make a deal without problems: seduced by the possibility of not paying taxes for the dead, Plyushkin agrees.
In the province, rumors spread about the newly-made rich gentleman Chichikov. For a short time, he made a splash on everyone and attracted everyone's attention. However, soon his trick with the stingy peasants became obvious, and Pavel Ivanovich, realizing what was going on, hastily retires, leaving his discouraged inhabitants in bewilderment.
This work shows us the whole truth of Russian life of that time. The poem is relevant at all times, as it teaches us to live honestly and not to pursue material wealth. Gogol condemns such qualities of people as hypocrisy and venality, and calls to change life for the better.
Picture or drawing Dead souls
Other retellings and reviews for the reader's diary
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- Summary of Nosov Druzhok
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- Summary Brothers Terence
The story of old Mikion deprived of the joy of fatherhood. He lived all his life alone, while his brother, Demea, fate measured happiness in a double amount - two sons, Ctesiphon and Aeschines.
- Summary The village of Stepanchikovo and its inhabitants of Dostoevsky
Stepanchikovo - the estate of Yegor Ilyich Rostanev. A widowed retired colonel lived here with his mother, sister and daughter. In addition, Foma Opiskin lived under the same roof with them, who, with his flattery and ability to interpret dreams, gained confidence in the female half of the house.
- Summary of the Countess de Monsoro Dumas
Life is a difficult thing, but you need to know how to love it, otherwise it will simply be impossible to live normally. Sixteenth century - or rather the end of this century. France. At this time, very interesting and dangerous events take place there.
VOLUME ONE
The proposed history, as will become clear from what follows, took place somewhat shortly after the "glorious expulsion of the French." A collegiate adviser arrives in the provincial city of NN Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov(he is not old and not too young, not fat and not thin, his appearance is rather pleasant and somewhat rounded) and settles in a hotel. He makes a lot of questions to the tavern servant - both regarding the owner and income of the tavern, and revealing the solidity of it: about city officials, the most significant landowners, asks about the state of the region and whether there were "what diseases in their province, epidemic fevers" and other similar adversity.
Having gone on visits, the visitor discovers extraordinary activity (visiting everyone, from the governor to the inspector of the medical board) and courtesy, for he knows how to say something pleasant to everyone. About himself, he speaks somehow vaguely (that he “experienced a lot in his lifetime, endured in the service for the truth, had many enemies who even attempted on his life,” and now he is looking for a place to live). At the governor's house party, he manages to gain general favor and, among other things, make acquaintance with the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. In the following days, he dined with the chief of police (where he met the landowner Nozdryov), visited the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor, the farmer and the prosecutor, and went to the Manilov estate (which, however, was preceded by a fair author's digression, where, justified by love for detail, the author certifies in detail Petrushka, the visitor's servant: his passion for "the process of reading itself" and the ability to carry with him a special smell, "responding somewhat to residential peace").
Having traveled, against the promised, not fifteen, but all thirty miles, Chichikov falls into Manilovka, into the arms of an affectionate owner. House Manilova, standing in a jura, surrounded by several English-style flower beds and a gazebo with the inscription "Temple of Solitary Reflection", could characterize the owner, who was "neither this nor that", not weighed down by any passions, only unnecessarily cloying. After Manilov's confessions that Chichikov's visit was "a May day, a name day of the heart", and a dinner in the company of the hostess and two sons, Themistoclus and Alkid, Chichikov discovers the reason for his arrival: he would like to acquire peasants who have died, but have not yet been declared as such in the revision help, having issued everything legally, as if on the living (“the law - I am dumb before the law”). The first fright and bewilderment are replaced by the perfect disposition of the kind host, and, having made a deal, Chichikov leaves for Sobakevich, and Manilov indulges in dreams of Chichikov's life in the neighborhood across the river, of the construction of a bridge, of a house with such a belvedere that Moscow is visible from there, and of their friendship, having learned about which the sovereign would grant them generals. Chichikov's coachman Selifan, much favored by Manilov's yard people, in conversations with his horses misses the right turn and, at the sound of a downpour, knocks the master over into the mud. In the dark, they find lodging for the night at Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka, a somewhat timid landowner, with whom Chichikov also begins to trade in the morning. dead souls. Explaining that he himself would now pay taxes for them, cursing the old woman’s stupidity, promising to buy both hemp and lard, but another time, Chichikov buys souls from her for fifteen rubles, receives a detailed list of them (in which Pyotr Savelyev is especially struck by Disrespect -Trough) and, having eaten an unleavened egg pie, pancakes, pies and other things, departs, leaving the hostess in great concern as to whether she had sold too cheap.
Having driven out onto the main road to the tavern, Chichikov stops for a bite to eat; the author provides some enterprises with a lengthy discourse on the properties of the appetite of middle-class gentlemen. Here Nozdryov meets him, returning from the fair in the britzka of his son-in-law Mizhuev, for he lost everything with his horses and even the watch chain. Describing the charms of the fair, the drinking qualities of dragoon officers, a certain Kuvshinnikov, a great lover of "to use about strawberries" and, finally, presenting a puppy, "a real face", Nozdryov takes Chichikov (thinking to get hold of here too) to himself, taking away his son-in-law, who is resisting. Having described Nozdryov, “in some respects a historical person” (for wherever he was, there was history), his possessions, the unpretentiousness of dinner with an abundance, however, drinks of dubious quality, the author sends his son-in-law to his wife (Nozdryov admonishes him with abuse and a word “fetyuk”), and Chichikova is forced to turn to her subject; but he can neither beg nor buy souls: Nozdryov offers to exchange them, take them in addition to the stallion or make a bet in a card game, finally scolds, quarrels, and they part for the night. Persuasion resumes in the morning, and, having agreed to play checkers, Chichikov notices that Nozdryov is shamelessly cheating. Chichikov, whom the owner and the servants are already trying to beat, manages to escape in view of the appearance of the police captain, who announces that Nozdryov is on trial. On the road, Chichikov's carriage collides with a certain carriage, and while the onlookers who come running are breeding tangled horses, Chichikov admires the sixteen-year-old young lady, indulges in reasoning about her and dreams of family life. A visit to Sobakevich in his strong, like himself, estate is accompanied by a thorough dinner, a discussion of city officials, who, according to the owner, are all swindlers (one prosecutor is a decent person, “and even that one, to tell the truth, is a pig”), and is crowned with an interesting guest deal. Not at all frightened by the strangeness of the object, Sobakevich bargains, characterizes the favorable qualities of each serf, provides Chichikov with a detailed list and forces him to give a deposit.
Path Chichikov to the neighboring landowner Plyushkin, mentioned by Sobakevich, is interrupted by a conversation with a peasant who gave Plyushkin an apt, but not too printed nickname, and by the author's lyrical reflection on his former love for unfamiliar places and the indifference that has now appeared. Plyushkin, this "hole in humanity", Chichikov at first takes for a housekeeper or a beggar, whose place is on the porch. His most important feature is his amazing stinginess, and he even carries the old sole of his boot into a heap heaped in the master's chambers. Having shown the profitability of his proposal (namely, that he would take over the taxes for the dead and runaway peasants), Chichikov fully succeeds in his enterprise and, refusing tea with cracker, provided with a letter to the chairman of the chamber, departs in the most cheerful mood.
While Chichikov is sleeping in the hotel, the author reflects with sadness on the meanness of the objects he paints. Meanwhile, pleased Chichikov, waking up, composes merchant's fortresses, studies the lists of acquired peasants, reflects on their alleged fate, and finally goes to the civil chamber in order to conclude the case as soon as possible. Manilov, met at the gates of the hotel, accompanies him. Then follows a description of the official place, Chichikov's first ordeals and a bribe to a certain jug snout, until he enters the chairman's apartment, where, by the way, he also finds Sobakevich. The chairman agrees to be Plyushkin's attorney, and at the same time speeds up other transactions. The acquisition of Chichikov is discussed, with land or for withdrawal he bought peasants and in what places. Having found out that they were sent to the Kherson province, having discussed the properties of the sold peasants (here the chairman remembered that the coachman Mikheev seemed to have died, but Sobakevich assured that he was still alive and “became healthier than before”), they finish with champagne, they go to the chief of police, “father and a philanthropist in the city” (whose habits are immediately outlined), where they drink to the health of the new Kherson landowner, become completely excited, force Chichikov to stay and attempt to marry him.
Chichikov's purchases make a splash in the city, a rumor is circulating that he is a millionaire. Ladies are crazy about him. Several times trying to describe the ladies, the author becomes shy and retreats. On the eve of the governor's ball, Chichikov even receives a love letter, though unsigned. Having used, as usual, a lot of time on the toilet and being satisfied with the result, Chichikov goes to the ball, where he passes from one embrace to another. The ladies, among whom he is trying to find the sender of the letter, even quarrel, challenging his attention. But when the governor's wife approaches him, he forgets everything, for she is accompanied by her daughter ("Institute, just released"), a sixteen-year-old blonde, whose carriage he encountered on the road. He loses the favor of the ladies, because he starts a conversation with a fascinating blonde, scandalously neglecting the rest. To complete the trouble, Nozdryov appears and loudly asks if Chichikov has bought a lot of the dead. And although Nozdryov is obviously drunk and the embarrassed society is gradually distracted, Chichikov is not given a whist or the subsequent dinner, and he leaves upset.
At this time, a tarantass enters the city with the landowner Korobochka, whose growing anxiety forced her to come in order to still find out at what price dead Souls. The next morning, this news becomes the property of a certain pleasant lady, and she hurries to tell it to another, pleasant in all respects, the story is overgrown with amazing details (Chichikov, armed to the teeth, bursts into Korobochka at dead midnight, demands the souls who have died, inspires terrible fear - “ the whole village has come running, the children are crying, everyone is screaming. Her friend concludes that dead Souls only a cover, and Chichikov wants to take away the governor's daughter. After discussing the details of this enterprise, Nozdryov's undoubted participation in it and the qualities of the governor's daughter, both ladies dedicate the prosecutor to everything and set off to rebel the city.
In a short time, the city seethes, to which is added the news of the appointment of a new governor-general, as well as information about the papers received: about the fake banknote maker who showed up in the province, and about the robber who fled from legal persecution. Trying to understand who Chichikov is, they recall that he was certified very vaguely and even spoke about those who attempted on his life. The postmaster's statement that Chichikov, in his opinion, is Captain Kopeikin, who took up arms against the injustice of the world and became a robber, is rejected, since it follows from the entertaining postmaster's story that the captain is missing an arm and leg, and Chichikov is whole. An assumption arises whether Chichikov is Napoleon in disguise, and many begin to find a certain similarity, especially in profile. Inquiries from Korobochka, Manilov and Sobakevich do not yield results, and Nozdryov only multiplies the confusion, declaring that Chichikov is definitely a spy, a fake banknote maker and had an undoubted intention to take away the governor's daughter, in which Nozdryov undertook to help him (each of the versions was accompanied by detailed details up to the name priest who took up the wedding). All these rumors have a tremendous effect on the prosecutor, a blow happens to him, and he dies.
Chichikov himself, sitting in the hotel with a slight cold, is surprised that none of the officials visits him. Finally, having gone on visits, he discovers that they do not receive him at the governor's, and in other places they fearfully shun him. Nozdryov, visiting him at the hotel, among the general noise he made, partly clarifies the situation by announcing that he agrees to hasten the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. The next day, Chichikov hurriedly leaves, but is stopped by a funeral procession and forced to contemplate the whole world of bureaucracy flowing behind the coffin of the prosecutor Brichka leaves the city, and the open spaces on both sides of it evoke sad and encouraging thoughts about Russia, the road, and then only sad about their chosen hero. Concluding that it is time for the virtuous hero to give rest, but, on the contrary, to hide the scoundrel, the author sets out the life story of Pavel Ivanovich, his childhood, training in classes where he already showed a practical mind, his relationship with his comrades and teacher, his service later in the state chamber, some commission for the construction of a government building, where for the first time he gave vent to some of his weaknesses, his subsequent departure to other, not so profitable places, transfer to the customs service, where, showing honesty and incorruptibility almost unnatural, he made a lot of money in collusion with smugglers, went bankrupt, but dodged the criminal court, although he was forced to resign. He became a confidant, and during the fuss about the pledge of the peasants, he put together a plan in his head, began to go around the expanses of Russia, in order to buy dead souls and put them in the treasury as living, get money, buy, perhaps, a village and provide future offspring.
Having again complained about the properties of his hero’s nature and partly justified him, having found him the name of “owner, acquirer”, the author is distracted by the urged running of horses, the similarity of the flying troika with rushing Russia and the ringing of a bell completes the first volume.
VOLUME TWO
It opens with a description of the nature that makes up the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls "the smoker of the sky." The story of the stupidity of his pastime is followed by the story of a life inspired by hopes at the very beginning, overshadowed by the pettiness of service and troubles afterwards; he retires, intending to improve the estate, reads books, takes care of the peasant, but without experience, sometimes just human, this does not give the expected results, the peasant is idle, Tentetnikov gives up. He breaks off acquaintances with his neighbors, offended by the treatment of General Betrishchev, stops visiting him, although he cannot forget his daughter Ulinka. In a word, without someone who would tell him an invigorating “forward!”, He completely turns sour.
Chichikov comes to him, apologizing for a breakdown in the carriage, curiosity and a desire to pay respect. Having won the favor of the owner with his amazing ability to adapt to anyone, Chichikov, having lived with him for a while, goes to the general, to whom he spins a story about a absurd uncle and, as usual, begs for the dead. On the laughing general, the poem fails, and we find Chichikov heading towards Colonel Koshkarev. Against expectation, he gets to Pyotr Petrovich Petukh, whom at first he finds completely naked, carried away by the hunt for sturgeon. At the Rooster, having nothing to get hold of, for the estate is mortgaged, he only overeats terribly, gets acquainted with the bored landowner Platonov and, having incited him to travel together in Russia, goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, married to Platonov's sister. He talks about the ways of managing, by which he increased the income from the estate dozens of times, and Chichikov is terribly inspired.
Very promptly, he visits Colonel Koshkarev, who has divided his village into committees, expeditions and departments and has arranged a perfect paper production in the mortgaged estate, as it turns out. Returning, he listens to the curses of the bilious Costanjoglo to factories and manufactories that corrupt the peasant, to the absurd desire of the peasant to enlighten, and to his neighbor Khlobuev, who has run a hefty estate and is now lowering it for nothing. Having experienced tenderness and even a craving for honest work, after listening to the story of the farmer Murazov, who made forty millions in an impeccable way, Chichikov the next day, accompanied by Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, goes to Khlobuev, observes the unrest and debauchery of his household in the neighborhood of a governess for children, dressed in fashion wife and other traces of ridiculous luxury. Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he gives a deposit for the estate, intending to buy it, and goes to the Platonov estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who effectively manages the economy. Then he suddenly appears at their neighbor Lenitsyn, clearly a rogue, wins his sympathy with his skillfully tickling a child and receives dead souls.
After many seizures in the manuscript, Chichikov is found already in the city at a fair, where he buys fabric of a lingonberry color so dear to him with a spark. He runs into Khlobuev, whom, apparently, he cheated, either depriving him, or almost depriving him of his inheritance by some kind of forgery. Khlobuev, who missed him, is taken away by Murazov, who convinces Khlobuev of the need to work and determines for him to raise funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations against Chichikov are being discovered both about forgery and about dead souls. The tailor brings a new coat. Suddenly, a gendarme appears, dragging smart Chichikov to the governor-general, "angry as anger itself." Here all his atrocities become apparent, and he, kissing the general's boot, plunges into the prison. In a dark closet, tearing his hair and coat tails, mourning the loss of a box of papers, Murazov finds Chichikov, awakens in him with simple virtuous words the desire to live honestly and goes to soften the governor-general. At that time, officials who want to harm their wise superiors and receive a bribe from Chichikov deliver a box to him, kidnap an important witness and write many denunciations in order to completely confuse the matter. Unrest breaks out in the province itself, greatly worrying the governor-general. However, Murazov knows how to feel the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, which the Governor-General, having released Chichikov, is already going to use, as "the manuscript breaks off."
Chichikov spent a week in the city, making visits to officials. After that, he decided to take advantage of the invitations of the landowners. Having given orders to the servants since evening, Pavel Ivanovich woke up very early. It was Sunday, and therefore, according to his old habit, he washed himself, dried himself from head to toe with a wet sponge, shaved his cheeks to a gloss, put on a lingonberry-colored tailcoat, an overcoat on big bears and went down the stairs. Pretty soon a barrier appeared, indicating the end of the pavement. Hitting his head on the body for the last time, Chichikov rushed across the soft earth.
At the fifteenth verst, on which, according to Manilov, his village was supposed to be, Pavel Ivanovich became worried, since there was no village in sight. We passed the sixteenth verst. Finally, two peasants came across towards the britzka, who pointed in the right direction, promising that Manilovka would be a mile away. After driving about another six miles, Chichikov remembered that "if a friend invites you to his village for fifteen miles, it means that there are faithful thirty."
The village of Manilovka was nothing special. The master's house stood on a hill, accessible to all winds. The sloping side of the mountain was covered with trimmed turf, on which stood out a few round flower beds in the English manner. Visible was a wooden pavilion with blue columns and the inscription "temple of solitary contemplation."
Manilov met the guest on the porch, and the newly-made friends immediately kissed each other warmly. It was difficult to say anything definite about the character of the owner: “There is a kind of people known under the name people so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan ... His features were not without pleasantness, but in this pleasantness , it seemed, was too transferred to sugar; there was something ingratiating in his manners and turns ... In the first minute of a conversation with him, you cannot but say: “What a pleasant and kind person!” In the next minute you will not say anything, and in the third you will say: “The devil knows what it is!” - and move away if you don’t move away, you will feel mortal boredom.” Manilov practically did not take care of the household, and for the most part was silent at home, indulging in reflections and dreams. Either he planned to build an underground passage from the house, or to build a stone bridge, on which merchant shops would be located.
However, all this remained only a disembodied dream. There was always something missing in the house. For example, in the living room with beautiful furniture, upholstered in smart silk fabric, there were two armchairs on which there was not enough fabric. Some rooms had no furniture at all. However, this did not upset the owners at all.
Despite the fact that more than eight years of their marriage had already passed, they showed concern for each other: one brought to the other either a piece of an apple or a piece of candy and asked in a gentle voice to open his mouth.
Passing into the living room, the friends stopped at the door, begging each other to go forward, until at last they decided to enter sideways. In the room they were met by a pretty young woman, Manilov's wife. During mutual courtesies, the host stormily expressed his joy at a pleasant visit: “But you finally honored us with your visit. Really such, right, they gave pleasure ... May day ... name day of the heart. This somewhat discouraged Chichikov. During the conversation, the married couple and Pavel Ivanovich went through all the officials, extolling and noting only the pleasant side of each. Further, the guest and the host began to confess to each other in a sincere disposition or even in love. It is not known what it would have come to if it had not been for the servant who reported that the food was ready.
The dinner was no less pleasant than the conversation. Chichikov met the children of Manilov, whose names were Themistoclus and Alkid.
After dinner, Pavel Ivanovich and the owner retired to the office for a business conversation. The guest began to ask how many peasants had died since the last revision, to which Manilov could not give an intelligible answer. The clerk was called, who was also not aware of this. The servant was ordered to compile a list of names of all the dead serfs. When the clerk left, Manilov asked Chichikov the reason for the strange question. The guest replied that he would like to buy the dead peasants, who, according to the audit, were listed as living. The owner did not immediately believe what he heard: "as he opened his mouth, he remained with his mouth open for several minutes." Manilov did not understand why Chichikov needed dead souls, but he could not refuse the guest. Moreover, when it came to drawing up a bill of sale, the guest kindly offered a donation for all the dead peasants.
Seeing the genuine joy of the guest, the host was completely moved. The friends shook hands for a long time, and in the end Chichikov no longer knew how to free his own. Having finished his business, the guest began to hastily get ready for the journey, because he still wanted to have time to visit Sobakevich. After seeing off the guest, Manilov was in the most complacent mood. His thoughts were occupied with dreams of how he and Chichikov become good friends and the sovereign favors them with the rank of general, having learned about their friendship. Manilov again mentally returns to the request of the guest, but he still cannot explain it to himself.
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