INSTRUCTIONS AND PROPHECIES OF THE Blessed MOTHER ALIPIA GOLOSEEVSKY, Kyiv...
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 1 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Chichikov
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 2 - briefly
A few days later, Chichikov moved his visits outside the city and first of all visited the Manilov estate. Saccharine Manilov claimed enlightened humanity, European education, and liked to build fantastic projects, such as building a huge bridge across his pond, from where one could see Moscow during tea drinking. But, mired in dreams, he never put them into practice, distinguished by complete impracticality and mismanagement. (See Description of Manilov, his estate and dinner with him.)
Accepting Chichikov, Manilov demonstrated his refined courtesy. But in a private conversation, Chichikov made him an unexpected and strange offer to buy from him for a small amount of recently deceased peasants (who were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit). Manilov was extremely surprised at this, but out of politeness he could not refuse the guest.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 2 - a summary of the full text of this chapter.
Manilov. Artist A. Laptev
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 3 - briefly
From Manilov, Chichikov thought of going to Sobakevich, but the drunken coachman Selifan drove him in a completely different direction. Once in a thunderstorm, the travelers barely reached a village - and found an overnight stay at the local landowner Korobochka.
The widow Korobochka was a rustic and hoarding old woman. (See Description Korobochka, her estate and dinner with her.) The next morning, over tea, Chichikov made her the same offer as before to Manilov. The box bulged at first, but then calmed down, most of all caring about how not to sell the dead people cheap. She even began to refuse Chichikov, intending first to "apply to the prices of other merchants." But her dodgy guest pretended to be a state-owned contractor and promised to soon buy flour, cereals, bacon and feathers in bulk from Korobochka. In anticipation of such a lucrative deal, Korobochka agreed to sell the dead souls.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 3 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 4 - briefly
Leaving Korobochka, Chichikov went to dine at a roadside tavern and met there the landowner Nozdryov, whom he had previously met at a party with the governor. The incorrigible reveler and reveler, the liar and cheater Nozdryov (see his description) was returning from the fair, having completely lost his cards there. He invited Chichikov to his estate. He agreed to go there, hoping that the broken Nozdryov would give him dead souls for nothing.
On his estate, Nozdryov took Chichikov around the stable and kennel for a long time, assuring him that his horses and dogs were worth many thousands of rubles. When the guest started talking about dead souls ah, Nozdryov offered to play cards on them and immediately took out a deck. Thoroughly suspecting that she was marked, Chichikov refused.
The next morning, Nozdryov suggested playing the dead peasants not at cards, but at checkers, where cheating is impossible. Chichikov agreed, but during the game Nozdryov began to move several checkers at once with the cuffs of his robe in one move. Chichikov protested. Nozdryov in response called two hefty serfs and ordered them to beat the guest. Chichikov barely managed to escape unscathed thanks to the arrival of the police captain: he brought Nozdryov a summons to court for an insult inflicted on the landowner Maksimov in a drunken state.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 4 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
The Adventures of Chichikov (Nozdrev). An excerpt from the cartoon based on the plot of Gogol's "Dead Souls"
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 5 - briefly
Having galloped away from Nozdryov, Chichikov finally reached the estate of Sobakevich - a man who, by nature, was the opposite of Manilov. Sobakevich deeply despised wandering in the clouds and was guided in everything only by material benefits. (See Portrait of Sobakevich, Description of the estate and interior of Sobakevich's house.)
Explaining human actions by one desire for selfish gain, rejecting any idealism, Sobakevich certified city officials as swindlers, robbers and Christ-sellers. In figure and posture, he resembled medium size bear. At the table, Sobakevich neglected the low-nutrient overseas delicacies, dined simple meals but devoured them in huge chunks. (See Lunch at Sobakevich's.)
Unlike the others, the practical Sobakevich was not at all surprised by Chichikov's request to sell dead souls. However, he broke an exorbitant price for them - 100 rubles each, explaining it by the fact that his peasants, although dead, were “selected goods”, because they used to be excellent craftsmen and hard workers. Chichikov ridiculed this argument, but only after a long bargain did Sobakevich lower the price to two and a half rubles per capita. (See the text of their bargaining scene.)
In a conversation with Chichikov, Sobakevich let slip that the unusually stingy landowner Plyushkin lives not far from him, and that this owner has more than a thousand peasants who are dying like flies. Leaving Sobakevich, Chichikov immediately found out the way to Plyushkin.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 5 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Sobakevich. Artist Boklevsky
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 6 - briefly
Plushkin. Figure Kukryniksy
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 7 - briefly
Returning to the provincial town of N, Chichikov took up finalization merchant's fortresses in the State Chancellery. This chamber was located on the main city square. Inside it, many officials were diligently poring over papers. The noise from their feathers sounded like several wagons loaded with brushwood were passing through a forest littered with withered leaves. For speeding up the case, Chichikov had to give a bribe to the clerk Ivan Antonovich with long nose, colloquially called a jug snout.
Manilov and Sobakevich arrived at the signing of the deeds themselves, while the rest of the sellers acted through attorneys. Not knowing that all the peasants bought by Chichikov were dead, the chairman of the chamber asked what land he intended to settle them on. Chichikov lied about his alleged estate in the Kherson province.
To “splash” the purchase, everyone went to the chief of police. Among the city fathers, he was known as a miracle worker: he had only to blink, passing by a fish row or a cellar, and the merchants themselves carried a snack in great abundance. At a noisy feast, Sobakevich especially distinguished himself: while the other guests were drinking, in a quarter of an hour he secretly pissed alone to the bones of a huge sturgeon, and then pretended that he had nothing to do with it.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 7 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 8 - briefly
Chichikov bought dead souls from the landlords for a penny, but on the paper in the bill of sale it appeared that he had paid about a hundred thousand for all. Such a large purchase caused the liveliest talk in the city. The rumor that Chichikov was a millionaire raised him greatly in all eyes. In the opinion of the ladies, he became a real hero, and they even began to find in his appearance something similar to Mars.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 9 - briefly
Nozdryov's words were at first considered drunken nonsense. However, soon the news of Chichikov's buying up the dead was confirmed by Korobochka, who came to the city to find out if she had been cheap in her deal with him. The wife of a local archpriest gave the story of Korobochka to a well-known in the city society nice lady, and she - to her friend - lady, pleasant in every way. From these two ladies, the rumor spread to everyone else.
The whole city was at a loss: why did Chichikov buy dead souls? In the female half of society prone to frivolous romance, a strange idea arose that he wanted to cover up preparations for the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. The more down-to-earth male officials wondered if there was a strange visitor - the auditor, sent to their province to investigate due to official omissions, and "dead souls" - some kind of conditional phrase, whose meaning is known only to Chichikov himself and the highest authorities. The bewilderment came to true awe when the governor received two papers from above, saying that a well-known counterfeiter and a dangerous fugitive robber could be in their area.
For more details, see Gogol's separate article "Dead Souls", Chapter 9 - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 10 - briefly
The city fathers gathered for a meeting with the police chief to decide who Chichikov was and what to do with him. Here the most daring hypotheses were put forward. Some considered Chichikov a forger of banknotes, others - an investigator who would soon arrest them all, and others - a murderer. There was even an opinion that he was Napoleon in disguise, released by the British from St. Helena, and the postmaster saw in Chichikov Captain Kopeikin, a disabled veteran of the war against the French, who did not receive a pension from the authorities for his injury and took revenge on them with the help of a gang of robbers recruited in the Ryazan forests.
Remembering that Nozdryov was the first to speak about dead souls, they decided to send for him. But this famous liar, having come to the meeting, began to confirm all the assumptions at once. He said that Chichikov had previously kept two million counterfeit money and that he even managed to slip away with them from the police who surrounded the house. According to Nozdryov, Chichikov really wanted to kidnap the governor's daughter, prepared horses at all stations and bribed for a secret wedding for 75 rubles a priest - Father Sidor in the village of Trukhmachevka.
Realizing that Nozdryov was carrying game, those present drove him away. He went to Chichikov, who was ill and did not know anything about the city's rumors. Nozdryov "out of friendship" told Chichikov: everyone in the city considers him a counterfeiter and an extremely dangerous person. Shaken, Chichikov decided to leave early in the morning in a hurry.
For more details, see separate articles Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 10 - summary and Gogol "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" - summary. You can also read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol "Dead Souls", chapter 11 - briefly
The next day, Chichikov almost fled from the city of N. His chaise rolled along the high road, and Gogol, during this journey, told the readers the life story of his hero and finally explained for what purpose he acquired dead souls.
Chichikov's parents were nobles, but very poor. As a young boy, he was taken from the village to the city and sent to a school. (See Chichikov's childhood.) Finally, the father gave his son advice to please the bosses and save a penny.
Chichikov always followed this parental instruction. He did not have brilliant talents, but he constantly fawned over teachers - and graduated from school with an excellent certificate. Greed, the desire to break out of the poor into wealthy people were the main properties of his soul. After school, Chichikov entered the lowest official position, achieved a promotion, promising to marry the ugly daughter of his boss, but deceived him. Through lies and hypocrisy, Chichikov twice reached prominent official posts, but the first time he plundered the money allocated for government construction, and the second time he acted as the patron of a gang of smugglers. On both occasions, he was exposed and narrowly escaped prison.
He had to be satisfied with the position of a court attorney. At that time, loans under the mortgage of landowners' estates to the treasury were spreading. Being engaged in one such case, Chichikov suddenly found out that the dead serfs were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit, which took place in Russia only once every few years. When mortgaging estates, the nobles received from the treasury amounts according to the number of their peasant souls - 200 rubles per person. Chichikov came up with the idea of traveling around the provinces, buying up for a penny the dead, but not yet marked as such in the audit, peasant souls, then pawn them in bulk - and so get a rich jackpot ...
Chichikov could not recover for a long time after visiting Nozdryov. Selifan was also dissatisfied with the landowner, because the horses were not given oats. The britzka flew at full speed until it collided with a carriage with six horses and almost overhead came the cry of the ladies and the cursing of the coachman. Selifan, although he felt his mistake, nevertheless began to quarrel with a strange coachman.
At this time, the ladies sitting in the britzka - an old woman and a young fair-haired girl - watched everything that happened with fear. Chichikov stared at the sixteen-year-old beauty. Finally, they began to disperse, but the horses stood opposite each other as if rooted to the spot and did not want to disperse. They were taken up by men who had come running from a nearby village. While bred in different sides horses, Pavel Ivanovich looked at the young stranger and even wanted to talk to her, however, while he was getting ready, the carriage left, taking the beauty with it.
Since Chichikov had long since passed the age when they instantly fall in love, and then stand for a long time, seeing off their beloved with a suffering look, he ordered to go further. However, he thought about the stranger, deciding that she was good because she had just left the boarding house. Very little time will pass, and being in the care of various mothers and aunts, she will learn to lie and "finally will begin to lie all her life."
Soon the village of Sobakevich appeared, and Chichikov's thoughts returned to their usual subject. The estate was large, two forests stretched to the right and left - birch and pine. The house with a mezzanine looked like a military settlement of German colonists. The yard was surrounded by a thick wooden lattice. The landowner cared more about strength than about beauty. Even village houses were solid and durable, without any patterned decorations.
The owner himself outwardly resembled an average bear. Nature didn’t philosophize here for a long time: “she grabbed with an ax once - her nose came out, she grabbed another one - her lips came out, she poked her eyes with a large drill and, without scraping, let her out into the light, saying: “lives!”
Seeing the guest, Sobakevich briefly said: “Please!” - and led him to the inner chambers.
The master's living room was hung with paintings depicting Greek generals in full height. Chichikov met Sobakevich's wife, Feodulia Ivanovna, a tall lady, straight as a palm tree.
There was silence for about five minutes, after which the guest was the first to start talking about the chairman of the chamber, to which he heard in response that the chairman was "such a fool as the world did not produce."
Enumerating city officials, Sobakevich scolded each and each gave an unflattering definition. At dinner, the owner praised the dishes served and scolded the cuisine of other landowners and city officials.
Sobakevich tells Chichikov about Plyushkin, who has eight hundred souls, but lives and dines worse than any shepherd. Pavel Ivanovich learns that Sobakevich's neighbor is a rare miser, he starved all his peasants to death, while others ran away.
Carefully, the guest found out in which direction and where Plyushkin's estate was located.
After a hearty dinner, the host and guest retired to the living room, where Chichikov spoke about his business. Sobakevich quickly realized that the purchase of dead souls brought some benefit to the guest, so he immediately broke a hundred rubles per soul. When Pavel Ivanovich became indignant, the owner began to list the merits of each dead peasant. In the process of hard bargaining, they agreed on two rubles and a half for each soul. The guest asked for a list of the peasants he had bought, and Sobakevich, with his own hand, by name, indicating laudable qualities, began to copy the dead souls. When the note was ready, the owner demanded a deposit of fifty rubles from Chichikov. New friends again began to bargain and agreed on twenty-five rubles. Having received the money, Sobakevich looked at the banknotes for a long time and complained that one of them was old.
the carriage enters. She is met by men chatting about nothing. They look at the wheel and try to figure out how far it can go. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov turns out to be a guest of the city. He came to the city on business about which there is no exact information - "according to his needs."
The young landowner has an interesting appearance:
- narrow short pantaloons of white canine fabric;
- tailcoat for fashion;
- pin in the form of a bronze pistol.
The next day the guest of the city shone visits. He managed to pick up for everyone good word, flattery penetrated the heart of officials. The city was talking about a nice person who visited them. Moreover, Chichikov managed to charm not only men, but also ladies. Pavel Ivanovich was invited by landowners who were in the city on business: Manilov and Sobakevich. At a dinner with the chief of police, he met Nozdryov. The hero of the poem managed to make a good impression on everyone, even on those who rarely spoke positively about someone.
Chapter 2
Pavel Ivanovich had been in the city for more than a week. He attended parties, dinners and balls. Chichikov decided to visit the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. The reason for this decision was different. The master had two serfs: Petrushka and Selifan. The first silent reader. He read everything that came to hand, in any position. He liked unknown and incomprehensible words. His other passions are: sleeping in clothes, keeping his scent. The coachman Selifan was completely different. In the morning we went to Manilov. They searched for the estate for a long time, it turned out to be more than 15 miles away, about which the landowner spoke. The master's house stood open to all winds. The architecture tuned in to the English manner, but only remotely resembled it. Manilov broke into a smile as the guest approached. The nature of the owner is difficult to describe. The impression changes with how close a person converges with him. The landowner has an alluring smile, blond hair and blue eyes. The first impression is a very pleasant man, then the opinion begins to change. They began to get tired of him, because they did not hear a single living word. The business went on by itself. Dreams were absurd and impossible: underground passage, for example. He could read one page for several years in a row. There was not enough furniture. The relationship between wife and husband was like a voluptuous meal. They kissed, created surprises for each other. Everything else didn't bother them. The conversation begins with questions about the inhabitants of the city. All Manilov considers pleasant people, nice and amiable. The amplifying particle pre- is constantly added to the characteristics: most amiable, most esteemed and others. The conversation turned into an exchange of compliments. The owner had two sons, the names surprised Chichikov: Themistoclus and Alkid. Slowly, but Chichikov decides to ask the owner about the dead on his estate. Manilov did not know how many people died, he ordered the clerk to write down everyone by name. When the landowner heard about the desire to buy dead souls, he was simply dumbfounded. I could not imagine how to draw up a bill of sale for those who were no longer among the living. Manilov donates souls for nothing, even pays the costs of transferring them to Chichikov. The farewell was as sweet as the meeting. Manilov stood on the porch for a long time, watching the guest, then plunged into dreams, but the strange request of the guest did not fit in his head, he twisted it until dinner.Chapter 3
The hero in excellent spirits goes to Sobakevich. The weather turned bad. The rain made the road look like a field. Chichikov realized that they were lost. When it seemed that the situation was becoming unbearable, the barking of dogs was heard, and a village appeared. Pavel Ivanovich asked to come into the house. He dreamed only of a warm lodging for the night. The hostess did not know anyone whose names were mentioned by the guest. They straightened the sofa for him, and he woke up only the next day, already quite late. The clothes were cleaned and dried. Chichikov went out to the hostess, he communicated with her more freely than with the former landowners. The hostess introduced herself - the collegiate secretary Korobochka. Pavel Ivanovich finds out if her peasants died. The box says eighteen people. Chichikov asks them to sell. The woman does not understand, she imagines how the dead are dug out of the ground. The guest reassures, explains the benefits of the deal. The old woman doubts, she never sold the dead. All the arguments about the benefits were clear, but the very essence of the deal was surprising. Chichikov silently called Korobochka a clubhead, but continued to persuade. The old woman decided to wait, suddenly there will be more buyers and prices are higher. The conversation did not work out, Pavel Ivanovich began to swear. He was so dispersed that the sweat rolled off him in three streams. The box liked the guest's chest, paper. While the deal was being processed, pies and other homemade food appeared on the table. Chichikov ate the pancakes, ordered the britzka to be loaded and a guide given to him. The box gave the girl, but asked not to take her away, otherwise the merchants had already taken one.Chapter 4
The hero goes to a tavern for lunch. The hostess, the old woman, pleases him with the fact that there is a pig with horseradish and sour cream. Chichikov asks the woman about business, income, family. The old woman tells about all the local landowners, who eats what. During dinner, two people arrived at the tavern: a blond one and a black one. The blond entered the room first. The hero had already almost begun acquaintance, as the second one appeared. It was Nozdryov. He gave out a lot of information in one minute. He argues with the blond that he can handle 17 bottles of wine. But he does not agree to the bet. Nozdryov calls Pavel Ivanovich to his place. The servant brought the puppy into the tavern. The owner examined whether there were fleas, and ordered them to be carried back. Chichikov hopes that the lost landowner will sell him the peasants cheaper. The author describes Nozdryov. The appearance of a broken little one, of which there are many in Russia. They quickly make friends, switch to "you". Nozdryov could not stay at home, his wife quickly died, the children were looked after by a nanny. The master constantly got into trouble, but after a while he reappeared in the company of those who beat him. All three crews drove up to the estate. First, the owner showed the stable, half empty, then the wolf cub, the pond. The blond doubted everything Nozdryov said. They came to the kennel. Here the landowner was among his own. He knew each puppy's name. One of the dogs licked Chichikov and immediately spat out of disgust. Nozdryov composed at every step: in the field you can catch hares with your hands, he recently bought timber abroad. After examining the property, the men returned to the house. The dinner was not very successful: something burned, the other did not finish cooking. The owner leaned on the wine. The blond son-in-law began to ask to go home. Nozdryov did not want to let him go, but Chichikov supported the desire to leave. The men went into the room, Pavel Ivanovich saw the owner of the card in the hands. He started a conversation about dead souls, asked to give them. Nozdryov demanded to explain why he needed them; the guest's arguments did not satisfy him. Nozdryov called Pavel a swindler, which offended him very much. Chichikov offered a deal, but Nozdryov offered a stallion, a mare and a gray horse. The guest didn't need any of that. Nozdryov haggles further: dogs, hurdy-gurdy. Begins to offer an exchange for a chaise. Trade turns into a dispute. The owner's rampage frightens the hero, he refuses to drink, to play. Nozdryov becomes more and more inflamed, he insults Chichikov, calls him names. Pavel Ivanovich stayed for the night, but scolded himself for his imprudence. He shouldn't have started a conversation with Nozdryov about the purpose of his visit. The morning starts again with a game. Nozdryov insists, Chichikov agrees to checkers. But during the game, the checkers seemed to move on their own. The argument almost turned into a fight. The guest turned pale as a sheet when he saw Nozdryov swinging his hand. It is not known how a visit to the estate would have ended if a stranger had not entered the house. It was the police captain who informed Nozdryov about the trial. He inflicted bodily harm on the landowner with rods. Chichikov did not wait for the end of the conversation, he slipped out of the room, jumped into the britzka and ordered Selifan to rush at full speed away from this house. Dead souls could not be bought.Chapter 5
The hero was very frightened, threw himself into the britzka and rushed quickly from the village of Nozdreva. His heart was beating so fast that nothing could calm him down. Chichikov was afraid to imagine what might have happened if the police officer had not appeared. Selifan was indignant that the horse was left unfed. Everyone's thoughts were interrupted by the collision with the six horses. The strange coachman scolded, Selifan tried to defend himself. There was confusion. The horses moved apart, then huddled together. While all this was going on, Chichikov examined the unfamiliar blonde. A pretty young girl caught his attention. He did not even notice how the britzkas disengaged and parted in different directions. Beauty melted like a vision. Pavel began to dream of a girl, especially if he has a large dowry. A village appeared ahead. The hero looks at the village with interest. The houses are strong, but the order in which they were built was clumsy. The owner is Sobakevich. It looks like a bear. The clothes made the resemblance even more precise: a brown tailcoat, long sleeves, a clumsy gait. The barin constantly stepped on his feet. The owner invited the guest to the house. The design was interesting: full-length paintings of the generals of Greece, a Greek heroine with strong thick legs. The hostess was a tall woman, resembling a palm tree. All the decoration of the room, the furniture spoke about the owner, about the resemblance to him. The conversation didn't go well at first. Everyone whom Chichikov tried to praise caused criticism from Sobakevich. The guest tried to praise the table of the city officials, but even here the host interrupted him. All food was bad. Sobakevich ate with an appetite one could only dream of. He said that there was a landowner, Plyushkin, whose people were dying like flies. They ate for a very long time, Chichikov felt that he had gained a whole pound in weight after dinner.Chichikov began to talk about his business. Dead souls he called non-existent. Sobakevich, to the surprise of the guest, calmly called a spade a spade. He offered to sell them even before Chichikov said about it. Then the trading began. Moreover, Sobakevich raised the price for the fact that his men were strong, healthy peasants, not like others. He described each deceased. Chichikov was amazed and asked to return to the topic of the deal. But Sobakevich stood his ground: his dead are dear. We bargained for a long time, agreed on the price of Chichikov. Sobakevich prepared a note with a list of sold peasants. It indicated in detail the craft, age, marital status, in the margins additional notes on behavior and attitudes towards drunkenness. The owner asked for a deposit for the paper. The lines of transferring money in exchange for an inventory of the peasants cause a smile. The exchange passed with disbelief. Chichikov asked to leave the deal between them, not to disclose information about it. Chichikov leaves the estate. He wants to go to Plyushkin, whose men are dying like flies, but he does not want Sobakevich to know about it. And he stands at the door of the house to see where the guest will turn.
Chapter 6
Chichikov, thinking about the nicknames that the peasants gave to Plyushkin, drives up to his village. A large village met the guest with a log pavement. The logs rose like piano keys. A rare rider could drive without a bump or a bruise. All buildings were dilapidated and old. Chichikov examines the village with signs of poverty: leaky houses, old stacks of bread, roof ribs, windows stuffed with rags. The owner's house looked even stranger: the long castle looked like an invalid. The windows except two were closed or barred. open windows didn't look normal. The strange appearance of the garden, located behind the master's castle, corrected. Chichikov drove up to the house and noticed a figure whose gender was difficult to determine. Pavel Ivanovich decided that it was the housekeeper. He asked if the master was at home. The answer was negative. The housekeeper offered to come into the house. The house was just as creepy as the outside. It was a dump of furniture, heaps of papers, broken objects, rags. Chichikov saw a toothpick that turned yellow as if it had lain there for centuries. Paintings hung on the walls, a chandelier in a bag hung from the ceiling. It looked like a big cocoon of dust with a worm inside. There was a pile in the corner of the room, it would hardly have been possible to understand what was collected in it. Chichikov realized that he was mistaken in determining the sex of a person. Rather, it was the key. The man had a strange beard, like an iron wire comb. The guest, after waiting a long time in silence, decided to ask where the gentleman was. The keymaster replied that it was him. Chichikov was taken aback. Plyushkin's appearance struck him, his clothes amazed him. He looked like a beggar standing at the door of a church. There was nothing to do with the landowner. Plyushkin had more than a thousand souls, full pantries and barns of grain and flour. The house has a lot of wood products, utensils. Everything that was accumulated by Plyushkin would be enough for more than one village. But the landowner went out into the street and dragged into the house everything he found: an old sole, a rag, a nail, a broken piece of dishes. He put the found objects in a pile, which was located in the room. He took into his hands what the women left. True, if he was convicted of this, he did not argue, he returned it. He was just thrifty, but he became stingy. The character changed, first he cursed the daughter who had run away with the military, then the son who lost in cards. Income was replenished, but Plyushkin kept reducing expenses, depriving even himself of small pleasures. The landowner was visited by his daughter, but he held his grandchildren on his knees and gave them money.There are few such landowners in Russia. The majority are more willing to live beautifully and widely, and only a few can shrink like Plyushkin.
Chichikov could not start a conversation for a long time, there were no words in his head to explain his visit. In the end, Chichikov started talking about the economy, which he wanted to see personally.
Plyushkin does not treat Pavel Ivanovich, explaining that he has a very bad kitchen. The conversation about souls begins. Plyushkin has more than a hundred dead souls. People are dying of hunger, of diseases, some simply run away. To the surprise of the stingy owner, Chichikov offers a deal. Plyushkin is indescribably happy, he considers the guest a stupid dragger after the actresses. The deal was done quickly. Plyushkin offered to wash the deal with liquor. But when he described that there were boogers and insects in the wine, the guest refused. Having copied the dead on a piece of paper, the landowner asked if anyone needed the fugitives. Chichikov was delighted and bought from him after small trade 78 runaway souls. Satisfied with the acquisition of more than 200 souls, Pavel Ivanovich returned to the city.
Chapter 7
Chichikov got enough sleep and went to the chambers to register ownership of the purchased peasants. To do this, he began to rewrite the papers received from the landowners. The men of Korobochka had their own names. Plushkin's description was short. Sobakevich painted each peasant with detail and qualities. Each had a description of his father and mother. There were people behind the names and nicknames, Chichikov tried to present them. So Pavel Ivanovich was busy with papers until 12 o'clock. On the street he met Manilov. Friends froze in an embrace that lasted more than a quarter of an hour. The paper with the inventory of the peasants was folded into a tube, tied with a pink ribbon. The list was designed beautifully with an ornate border. Hand in hand, the men went to the ward. In the chambers, Chichikov searched for the table he needed for a long time, then carefully gave a bribe, went to the chairman for an order allowing him to complete the deal quickly. There he met Sobakevich. The chairman gave orders to gather all the people needed for the deal, gave the order to complete it quickly. The chairman asked why Chichikov needed peasants without land, but he himself answered the question. People gathered, the purchase ended quickly and successfully. The chairman suggested that the acquisition be celebrated. Everyone went to the police chief's house. The officials decided that they definitely need to marry Chichikov. During the evening he clinked glasses with everyone more than once, noticing that it was time for him, Pavel Ivanovich left for the hotel. Selifan and Petrushka, as soon as the master fell asleep, went to the cellar, where they stayed almost until morning, when they returned, they lay down so that it was impossible to move them.Chapter 8
Everyone in the city was talking about Chichikov's purchases. They tried to calculate his wealth, recognized that he was rich. Officials tried to calculate whether it was profitable to acquire peasants for resettlement, which peasants the landowner bought. The officials scolded the peasants, felt sorry for Chichikov, who had to transport such a lot of people. There were miscalculations about a possible riot. Some began to give Pavel Ivanovich advice, they offered to escort the procession, but Chichikov reassured him, saying that he had bought meek, calm men who were willing to leave. Chichikov was especially treated by the ladies of the city of N. As soon as they counted his millions, he became interesting to them. Pavel Ivanovich noticed a new extraordinary attention to himself. One day he found a letter from a lady on his desk. She called him to leave the city for the desert, out of desperation she completed the message with verses about the death of a bird. The letter was anonymous, Chichikov really wanted to unravel the author. The governor has a ball. The hero of the story appears on it. The eyes of all the guests are turned to him. Everyone had joy on their faces. Chichikov tried to figure out who the messenger of the letter to him was. Ladies showed interest in him, looked for attractive features in him. Pavel was so carried away by conversations with the ladies that he forgot about decency - to come up and introduce himself to the hostess of the ball. The governor herself approached him. Chichikov turned to her and was already preparing to utter some phrase, when he broke off. Two women stood in front of him. One of them is a blonde who charmed him on the road when he was returning from Nozdryov. Chichikov was embarrassed. The governor introduced her daughter to him. Pavel Ivanovich tried to get out, but he did not succeed very well. The ladies tried to distract him, but they did not succeed. Chichikov is trying to attract the attention of his daughter, but she is not interested in him. The women began to show that they were not happy with such behavior, but Chichikov could not help himself. He tried to charm the beautiful blonde. At that moment, Nozdryov appeared at the ball. He began shouting loudly and asking Chichikov about dead souls. Made a speech to the governor. His words left everyone confused. His speeches were insane. The guests began to look at each other, Chichikov noticed the evil lights in the eyes of the ladies. The embarrassment passed, Nozdryov's words were taken by some for a lie, stupidity, slander. Pavel decided to complain about his health. He was reassured, saying that the brawler Nozdryov had already been taken out, but Chichikov did not become calmer.At this time, an event occurred in the city that further increased the troubles of the hero. A carriage that looked like a watermelon drove in. The woman who got out of their wagons is the landowner Korobochka. She suffered for a long time from the thought that she had made a mistake in the deal, she decided to go to the city, to find out at what price dead souls are sold here. The author does not convey her conversation, but what he led to is easy to learn from the next chapter.
The governor received two papers, which reported on a fugitive robber and a counterfeiter. Two messages were combined into one, the Rogue and the counterfeiter were hiding in the image of Chichikov. First, we decided to ask about him those who communicated with him. Manilov spoke flatteringly about the landowner and vouched for him. Sobakevich recognized in Pavel Ivanovich good man. Officials were seized with fear, they decided to get together and discuss the problem. The gathering place is at the police chief.
Chapter 10
The officials, having gathered together, first discussed the changes in their appearance. Events led to the fact that they lost weight. The discussion was pointless. Everyone talked about Chichikov. Some decided that he was a maker of state banknotes. Others suggested that he was an official from the office of the governor-general. They tried to prove to themselves that he could not be a robber. The appearance of the guest was very well-intentioned. The officials did not find the violent acts that are characteristic of the robbers. The postmaster interrupted their argument with a startling shout. Chichikov - Captain Kopeikin. Many did not know about the captain. The postmaster tells them The Tale of Captain Kopeikin. The captain's arm and leg were torn off in the war, and no laws were passed regarding the wounded. He went to his father, he refused him shelter. He himself did not have enough for bread. Kopeikin went to the sovereign. Came to the capital and was confused. He was given a commission. The captain got to her, waited more than 4 hours. The room was full of people like beans. The minister noticed Kopeikin and ordered him to come in a few days. Out of joy and hope, he went into a tavern and had a drink. The next day, Kopeikin received a refusal from the nobleman and an explanation that no orders had yet been issued regarding the disabled. The captain went to the minister several times, but they stopped accepting him. Kopeikin waited for the grandee to come out, asked for money, but he said that he could not help, there were many important things. He ordered the captain himself to look for means of subsistence. But Kopeikin began to demand a resolution. He was thrown into a cart and taken away by force from the city. And after a while, a gang of robbers appeared. Who was its leader? But the police chief did not have time to pronounce the name. He was interrupted. Chichikov had both an arm and a leg. How could he be Kopeikin. The officials decided that the chief of police had gone too far in his fantasies. They came to the decision to call Nozdryov to them for a conversation. His testimony was completely bewildering. Nozdryov composed a bunch of fables about Chichikov.The hero of their conversations and disputes at this time, suspecting nothing, was ill. He decided to lie down for three days. Chichikov gargled his throat, applied decoctions of herbs to the flux. As soon as he felt better, he went to the governor. The porter said that he was not ordered to receive. Continuing his walk, he went to the chairman of the chamber, who was very embarrassed. Pavel Ivanovich was surprised: they either did not receive him, or they met him very strangely. In the evening Nozdryov came to his hotel. He explained the incomprehensible behavior of city officials: false papers, the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. Chichikov realized that he needed to get out of the city as quickly as possible. He sent Nozdryov out, told him to pack his suitcase, and was getting ready to leave. Petrushka and Selifan were not very happy with this decision, but there was nothing to be done.
Chapter 11
Chichikov is going on the road. But unforeseen problems arise that delay him in the city. They are quickly resolved, and the strange guest leaves. The road is blocked by a funeral procession. The prosecutor was buried. All the noble officials and residents of the city walked in the procession. She was absorbed in thoughts about the future governor-general, how to impress him, so as not to lose what she had acquired, not to change her position in society. The women thought about the forthcoming, about the appointment of a new face, balls and holidays. Chichikov thought to himself that this good omen: to meet a dead person on the way - fortunately. The author digresses from the description of the trip of the protagonist. He reflects on Russia, songs and distances. Then his thoughts are interrupted by the state carriage, which almost collided with Chichikov's chaise. Dreams go to the word road. The author describes where and how he appeared main character. The origin of Chichikov is very modest: he was born into a family of nobles, but went out neither to his mother nor to his father. Childhood in the village ended, and the father took the boy to a relative in the city. Here he began to go to classes, to study. He quickly understood how to succeed, began to please the teachers and received a certificate and a book with gold embossing: "For exemplary diligence and trustworthy behavior." After the death of his father, Pavel was left with an estate, which he sold, deciding to live in the city. The father's instruction was left as a legacy: "Take care and save a penny." Chichikov began with zeal, then with sycophancy. Having made his way into the family of the promoter, he got a vacancy and changed his attitude towards the one who promoted him in the service. The first meanness was the most difficult, then everything went easier. Pavel Ivanovich was a pious man, he loved cleanliness and did not use foul language. Chichikov dreamed of serving in customs. His zealous service did its job, the dream came true. But luck was cut short, and the hero had to again look for ways to make money and create wealth. One of the assignments - to lay the peasants in the Board of Trustees - led him to think about how to change his condition. He decided to buy dead souls, so that later he could resell them for settlement underground. Strange idea difficult to understand common man, only the cunningly intertwined schemes in Chichikov's head could fit into the enrichment system. During the author's reasoning, the hero sleeps peacefully. The author compares RussiaChapter first
The action takes place in the provincial town of NN, where collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov arrives. He is a middle-aged man of medium build and good looks. His servants, the lackey Petrushka and the coachman Selifan, arrived with him. The time of the events described is a few years after the war of 1812.
Chichikov checks into a hotel, dine in a tavern and asks the servant there about the surrounding landowners. He is also interested in whether there was any epidemic in these places, from which many people died. Chichikov's goal is to buy dead peasant souls.
The next day, the official pays visits to important people. At a party at the governor's, he meets the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, who invite Chichikov to their estates. And at the police chief, Pavel Ivanovich makes acquaintance with another landowner - Nozdryov. The city society is delighted with Chichikov.
Chapter Two
Pavel Ivanovich, accompanied by Petrushka and Selifan, leaves the city to visit Manilov and Sobakevich. The first on his way is the village of Manilovka, the owner of which meets Chichikov with great joy.
Gogol characterizes Manilov as a spineless person - "neither this nor that", and in communication also "sweet". Manilov constantly talks about his unrealizable and unnecessary ideas. He is a bad owner, as is his wife. Nobody cares about the house or the fields here. Servants without a master's eye steal, mess around and get drunk.
After dinner, Chichikov explains to Manilov the reason for his arrival: he wants to buy the peasants, who are still listed as alive, but have already died. The owner does not understand why the guest needs it. But, wanting to do something pleasant, he agrees. To register the bill of sale, they agree to meet in the city. After Chichikov's departure, Manilov remained perplexed for a long time.
Chapter Three
On the way to Sobakevich, the hero gets caught in a downpour and loses his way. The seeker of dead souls is forced to spend the night in the first place that comes across, which turns out to be the estate of the landowner Korobochka.
In the morning, Chichikov inspects the estate and notes the thoroughness and thriftiness in everything. The elderly widow Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka was a slow-witted woman and completely impossible to talk to. Only after long explanations Chichikov manages to buy dead souls from the landowner. True, I had to promise to buy fat and feathers from Korobochka. Nastasya Petrovna doubts for a long time: did she sell too cheap in this deal?
Chapter Four
Chichikov stops at a tavern, where he meets Nozdryov, and then accepts the landowner's invitation to visit his village. Nozdryov, according to Gogol, was a historical man, because he constantly fell into various stories. He is an incorrigible talker, a liar, a gossip, a reveler, a scorcher and a braggart. Nozdrev loves cards and other games of chance. He constantly cheats at the table and is often beaten for it, but remains on friendly terms with everyone.
Chichikov makes his request for dead souls to Nozdryov. The owner does not want to sell the peasants, but offers to play cards for them or exchange them. Having quarreled with Nozdryov, Pavel Ivanovich goes to bed. But in the morning the owner again offers to play for dead souls, now - in checkers. During the game, Nozdryov openly cheats. A scandal breaks out, turning into a fight. Suddenly, the police captain appears with a message about a lawsuit against Nozdryov. His visit saves Chichikov from beatings. Without a moment's delay, Pavel Ivanovich rushes out and orders the coachman to drive at full speed.
Chapter Five
On the way, Chichikov's britzka runs into a carriage in which an elderly lady and a lovely girl are riding. All the way to the estate of Sobakevich, Pavel Ivanovich indulges in dreams of a beautiful stranger.
Sobakevich is a thorough host. Himself large and clumsy as a bear, he surrounds himself with the same strong and durable things. Pavel Ivanovich sets out his case, Sobakevich is desperately bargaining, but in the end the deal is nevertheless concluded. The parties agree to arrange everything in the city. In a conversation with Sobakevich, Chichikov learns about the landowner Plyushkin, whose serfs are "dying like flies." Pavel Ivanovich goes with his proposal to the new owner.
Chapter Six
The village of Plyushkin evokes a depressing impression: desolation and devastation reign everywhere. In the courtyard of a completely decrepit manor house, Chichikov meets a strange creature of an incomprehensible gender. Pavel Ivanovich at first takes him for a housekeeper, but it turns out that this is the owner of the house - Plyushkin. Chichikov is shocked by the beggarly appearance of the old man. Having a huge estate, colossal supplies of provisions and various goods, Plyushkin daily walks around the village and collects various little things: strings, feathers, etc. He puts all this in his room.
Chichikov easily bargained for 120 dead souls and 70 more fugitives from the miser. Having refused the treat, which has long turned into something petrified, the happy Pavel Ivanovich returns to the hotel.
Chapter Seven
The next day, as agreed, the hero meets with Sobakevich and Manilov to finalize the deal. They concluded a bill of sale for the peasants of Plyushkin. The deal began to celebrate, to say a lot of toasts. They did not forget to drink to the future wife of the newly-minted landowner. Chichikov shared his plans to take the purchased peasants to the Kherson province.
Chapter Eight
The rumor about Chichikov's purchases quickly spreads around the city, everyone calls the hero a "millionaire". There is a big stir among the ladies. Pavel Ivanovich even receives an anonymous love letter, as well as an invitation to the governor to the ball.
Chichikov is in a great mood. At the ball, he is surrounded by ladies, among whom Pavel Ivanovich tries to guess the one that sent the letter. It turns out that the young lady who captivated his imagination is the governor's daughter. Chichikov is shocked by an unexpected meeting and neglects other ladies, which causes their displeasure. To complete the trouble, Nozdryov appears and tells how Chichikov traded dead souls with him. And although no one believes Nozdryov for a long time, Pavel Ivanovich begins to worry, he leaves the ball in disarray. At this time, the landowner Korobochka arrives in the city. She is going to find out: how much the dead souls are now.
Chapter Nine
In the morning, rumors are spreading around the city that Chichikov, with the help of Nozdryov, wants to kidnap the governor's daughter. Gossip reaches the governor's wife, and she inflicts a strict interrogation on her daughter. Chichikov was ordered not to be allowed on the threshold. Society is puzzled by the question: so who is Pavel Ivanovich? In order to understand and discuss everything, the city elite gathers at the police chief.
Chapter Ten
Here, officials discuss Chichikov and the oddities associated with him for a long time. The postmaster talks about Captain Kopeikin, suggesting that this is Pavel Ivanovich.
During the War of 1812, Captain Kopeikin lost an arm and a leg. He appealed to St. Petersburg with a request for a pension. While the officials were dragging out the case, Kopeikin ran out of money. In desperation, the captain decided to take over the ministry, but he was caught and expelled from the city. Two months later, a band of robbers led by Kopeikin began to hunt in the forests.
After listening to the story, the society protested: Kopeikin was disabled, while Chichikov's arms and legs were intact. It was decided to send for Nozdryov and question him thoroughly. Nozdryov immediately declares Chichikov a counterfeiter, a kidnapper of the governor's daughter and a spy. These rumors upset the prosecutor so much that he dies.
Now Pavel Ivanovich is not received by the governor. The situation is clarified by Nozdrev, who appeared at Chichikov's hotel. Upon learning that the official is accused of forging banknotes, the failed kidnapping of the governor's daughter, and the death of the prosecutor, Chichikov decides to urgently flee the city.
Chapter Eleven
We learn the story of the main character. Chichikov from poor nobles, his mother died early, and his father was often sick. He took little Pavlush to study in the city. The boy did not shine with his abilities, but he graduated from college with an award for diligent behavior. FROM early years he showed a talent for finding ways to make money.
As soon as Chichikov graduated from college, his father died, leaving Pavel a penny inheritance. The young man zealously took up the service, but without patronage he could only get a seedy place. However, Chichikov came up with a cunning plan and wooed the boss's ugly daughter. As soon as he was appointed to a good place, the groom immediately pretended that he had not promised anything.
Having changed several positions, where he slowly took bribes, Pavel Ivanovich got a job at customs. There he was known as a storm of smugglers. When the authorities, convinced of the loyalty of their employee, gave Chichikov all powers, he conspired with the smugglers. After several scams, Pavel Ivanovich became incredibly rich. However, while drinking, he quarreled with one of his accomplices, who brought him to justice. Chichikov nevertheless managed to escape prison, but almost nothing remained of his huge fortune.
Pavel Ivanovich again began to earn money from lower positions. One day, Chichikov learned that dead peasants, who, according to the revision tale, were still alive, could be placed in the board of trustees. So he had the idea to acquire dead souls.
And now Chichikov's britzka, harnessed by a trio of horses, rushes on.
Volume two
As you know, Gogol burned the second volume of his work. Only a few drafts survived, according to which it was possible to restore some of the chapters.
Chapter first
The author describes the magnificent landscape that opens from the balcony of the landowner Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, a very lazy person. He rubs his eyes for two hours in the morning, sits at tea for the same amount of time and writes a global work on the structure of Russia. But which year did not advance even a page in this essay.
And the young man started quite worthy, showed great promise. But when his teacher died, further education caused disappointment in Tentetnikov. Entering the service under patronage, Andrei Ivanovich at first wanted to benefit the state, but soon became disillusioned with the service. He retired and returned to his estate.
One day, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov appears in his lonely house and lingers there for some time. Having learned about the quarrel between the owner and the neighbor-general, whose daughter was predicted to be Tentetnikov's bride, Chichikov volunteers to settle the matter and goes to the military.
Chapter Two
Pavel Ivanovich gets acquainted with the general and his daughter, manages to reconcile the old man with Tentetnikov and composes a fable about his uncle in order to buy dead souls from the general ...
This is where the text of the chapter ends.
Chapter Three
Chichikov goes to Colonel Koshkarev, but ends up in a completely different estate - to Pyotr Petrovich Petukh. The hospitable host turns out to be a lover of food. Just in time for dinner, his neighbor Platon Mikhailovich Platonov arrives - a hand-written handsome man, languishing in the village from boredom. Chichikov has the idea to take Plato on his wanderings. He agrees, but first requires a short visit to his estate.
The next day, the heroes leave for the village, which belongs to Platonov's son-in-law Konstantin Konstanzhoglo. This is a surprisingly economic man, whose estate is flourishing. Chichikov is so impressed that he asks Constanjoglo to teach him the mind and tell him how to successfully conduct business. The owner of the estate advises Chichikov to go to Koshkarev, and then return and stay with him for a couple of days.
Koshkarev, not without reason, is considered crazy. His village is a ubiquitous construction site. The new state-of-the-art houses are adorned with signs like "Depot for agricultural implements." Every business with Koshkarev goes through the execution of many papers. Even oats cannot be given to horses without a whole bunch of bureaucratic permits.
Realizing that it will not be possible to buy dead souls here because of the terrible mess and bureaucracy, Chichikov returns to Constanjoglo in annoyance. At dinner, the owner shared his experience of housekeeping and tells how a profitable business can be started from any waste. The conversation also turns to the richest farmer Murazov, who started from scratch, and now has a million dollar fortune. Chichikov goes to bed with a firm determination to buy an estate and start a household like Constantjoglo. He hopes to acquire the neighboring Khlobuev estate.
Chapter Four
Chichikov, Platonov and Konstanzhoglo go to Khlobuev to negotiate the sale of the estate. The village and the master's house are in a severe state of disrepair. We agreed for 35 thousand rubles. Then we went to Platonov, where Chichikov met his brother Vasily. It turns out that he is in trouble - the neighbor Lenitsin captured the wasteland. Pavel Ivanovich volunteers to help in this problem and talk with the offender. At Lenitsin's, Chichikov starts his signature conversation about buying dead souls. The owner doubts, but then his wife appears with a one-year-old son. Pavel Ivanovich begins to play with the child, and he "marks" Chichikov's new tailcoat. To hush up the trouble, Lenitsin agrees to a deal.
