Characteristics of the main characters are dead souls. Gogol “Dead Souls” - analysis

Plan

1.Introduction

2. The meaning of the name " Dead Souls»

3. Genre and essence of the poem

4. Heroes and images

5. Composition of the work

6. Conclusion

In May 1842, the printed edition “”, authored by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, was published. From the very first days of its existence, the work interested readers, being not just a poem, but a reflection of all of Russia. Although initially the author wanted to show the country only “from one side.” After writing the first volume, Gogol had a desire to further and deeper reveal the essence of the work, but, unfortunately, the second volume was partially burned, and the third was not written at all. The idea of ​​​​creating a poem came to Nikolai Vasilyevich after a conversation with the great Russian poet A. S. Pushkin on the topic of fraud with dead souls somewhere in Pskov. Initially, I wanted to take up the work myself, but I “gave” the idea to a young talent.

The meaning of the name “Dead Souls” is multifaceted and multi-level. As you delve further into the reading, the author’s intention becomes clear. When serfdom existed, dead peasants were “excluded from the list of the living” only once every four years when carrying out an audit. Until this moment, they were listed as alive and unscrupulous owners or other officials took advantage of this, selling or buying them for their own selfish purposes. It is these peasants who are the “dead souls” in the first chapters. Next, the author introduces us to the officials and landowners who are precisely responsible for the movement of non-existent serfs. Their greed, inhumanity and thirst for profit speak of the callousness of their soul, or its absence altogether. This is who the real “dead souls” are.

The literary genre of this unique work is also not so simple. Before starting to write Dead Souls, he positioned the work as adventurous - picaresque or social novel. But in the process of work, a lot changed, and the writer realized that love affair not at all what he wanted to show to his contemporaries and descendants. During the publication of the first volume, the author insisted that the work be framed as a poem. Nikolai Vasilyevich’s desire was completely justified.

Firstly, it was planned to write two more volumes, in which the topic of the work would be revealed from a different angle. And secondly, multiple digressions of a lyrical nature also indicate this literary genre. Gogol himself explained this by saying that the events in the poem unfold around one main character, on whose path he encounters various difficulties and events that reflect the essence of a given time.

This poem is based on the brainchild of Dante Alighieri “ The Divine Comedy" The main path actor Chichikova had to go through hell, purgatory and heaven, growing new shoots in his mutilated soul good man. Social system and way of life folk life plays a significant role in the development of the personality of each individual hero. The situation in the country as a whole, in a particular city or estate and a person’s attitude towards this social life are an expression of the vicious sides of the personality. It is not for nothing that the author believed that the soul dies mainly from circumstances and living conditions.

Earlier in his works, Gogol revealed the life of the Russian people only in one specific area. In “Dead Souls” the entire Russian land and the life of various segments of the population are covered - from serfs to the prosecutor. From the provinces to the capital, the problems that worried the people were closely interconnected and clearly, but rather sharply outlined by the author. Unpunished corruption, theft, cruelty and destruction were the main problems. But, despite all this, the Russian people did not stop believing in a bright future, standing out against the gray background with their sublimity and nobility of purpose. This is probably why the poem acquired such significance and popularity, which has survived to this day.

The positive characters of “Dead Souls” can be counted on one hand. This is the writer and landowner Kostanzhoglo himself. Having scientific knowledge, the landowner differed from other heroes of the poem in his prudence, responsibility, and the logic of his deeds. Having fallen precisely under his influence, Chichikov begins to take a closer look at his actions, comprehend them and take the first steps towards positive correction. The image of the writer himself, as the hero of the work, is presented by a man tragically rooting for his country.

Corruption and unrest reigning everywhere mercilessly wound him to the very heart and involuntarily make him deeply feel responsibility for the wrongdoings committed by others. The images of the remaining characters are negative and appear in the plot as they decline morally. All officials and landowners are negative individuals. They are driven by the thirst for profit. All their actions and thoughts are justified only by absurdity and madness, and are absolutely beyond logical explanation.

The author draws attention to the fact that each specific hero describes not the person himself, but the human type, in general. For example, about Korobochka the author writes “...one of those...”. It is a kind of collective image, symbolizing a box, like a vessel full of thirst for profit and accumulation of other people's goods. And about Manilov it is said that he “...belongs to so-so people...”.

In each chapter, Gogol pays special attention not only to dialogues, but also to colorful descriptions of village landscapes, the furnishings of houses and estates, as well as portrait characteristics hero. The image of Stepan Plyushkin turned out to be especially vivid and memorable. “...Oh, woman! Oh, No!...". The first impressions of this landowner did not give a clear answer to what gender he was, “... the dress she was wearing was completely vague, very similar to a woman’s hood, on her head was a cap worn by village courtyard women...”. The landowner's character was quite bright, despite his stinginess, greed and sloppiness. People around him described him as a miser, a swindler, a dog, in which “... human feelings, which were not deep in him anyway, became shallow every minute...” Despite the fact that Plyushkin manifests himself in the highest degree of degradation and sloppiness, and Chichikov is full of absurd greed, the author presents them to us as people capable of better changes.

Despite high level of literary significance, the plot of the work is quite simple. This is the use of those very dead peasant souls for their own ignoble purposes. For example, the visiting official Chichikov bought them in order to pawn non-existent workers and get a considerable amount for them. The composition of the poem is divided into three parts, each of which contains a certain number of chapters. The first compositional part of “Dead Souls” shows the landowner types that existed during the work of N. Gogol. Their images include Manilov, Nozdryov, Korobochka, Sobakevich and Plyushkin.

The appearance of Chichikov in the city and his trips to the estates are also described in detail. The first link at first seems like empty movements of the protagonist from one estate to another. But in fact, this is a kind of peculiar preparation of the reader for the denouement of the poem. More energetic and interesting events follow in the plot. Making “purchases” of souls and talking about the cases carried out by Chichikov and the prosecutor. Besides main character finds time to become infatuated with the governor's daughter. At the end of this link, death awaits the prosecutor, since he cannot withstand the reproach of his conscience in front of his actions.

The last chapter of the first volume is the last link and the beginning next job writer. In the part of the second volume that has reached us, deeper and more tragic feelings about the resale of the unfortunate souls of dead peasants are revealed. The plot can still be called unexpected and completely incomprehensible. The appearance of the main character comes out of nowhere and he also leaves for nowhere. The ambiguity of his actions points more to the theme of character than to the country's widespread misfortune.

With his poem, Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol not only exposes officials, showing us their callousness, rottenness and hypocrisy, but also draws attention to the fact that each of us can grow a seed of cruelty and indifference in our souls. “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me?...” With these words, the author warns the reader, forcing him to listen to his inner world and eradicate existing depravity in him.

The author in his work devoted considerable importance to the theme of love for one’s Motherland, respect for work, humanity, both in general and for each individual. The volumes of Dead Souls were supposed to identify the past, present and future of the country. But unfortunately, the third volume was not written. Perhaps, in this way, the writer gives a chance to create the future on his own?

Presentation on the topic: Characteristics of heroes in the poem “Dead Souls” by N. V. Gogol

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Presentation on the topic: Characteristics of the heroes in the poem “Dead Souls” by N. V. Gogol

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In the poem “Dead Souls,” Gogol created a picture of contemporary Russia that was extraordinary in scope and breadth, depicting it in all its grandeur, but at the same time with all its vices. He managed to immerse the reader into the depths of the souls of his heroes with such force that the work has not ceased to make a stunning impression on readers over the years. At the center of the narrative of the poem is feudal Rus', a country in which the entire land with its riches, its people belonged to the ruling noble class. The nobility occupied a privileged position and was responsible for the economic and cultural development states. Representatives of this class are landowners, “masters” of life, owners of serf souls.

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Manilov The gallery of images of landowners is opened by Manilov, whose estate is called the front facade of landowner Russia. At the first meeting, this hero makes a pleasant impression of a cultured, delicate person. But already in this runaway author's description one cannot help but notice the irony. In the appearance of this hero, a sugary sweetness clearly appears, as evidenced by the comparison of his eyes with sugar. Further, it becomes clear that under the pleasantly courteous behavior with people lies an empty soul. In the image of Manilov, many people are represented, about whom, according to Gogol, one can say: “people are so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan nor in the village of Selifan.” They live in the countryside, have a penchant for refined, florid turns of speech, because they want to seem enlightened and highly educated people, look at everything with a calm gaze, and, smoking a pipe, dream of doing something good, for example, building a stone bridge across the pond and set up shops on it. But all their dreams are meaningless and unrealizable.

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This is also evidenced by the description of Manilov’s estate, which is Gogol’s most important method of characterizing landowners: by the state of the estate one can judge the character of the owner. Manilov is not involved in farming: everything “went somehow by itself” for him; and his dreamy inaction is reflected in everything; an indefinite, light gray color predominates in the description of the landscape. Social events Manilov visits because other landowners visit them. The same is true in family life and in the house. The spouses love to kiss, give toothpick cases, and do not show much concern for landscaping: there is always some kind of drawback in their house, for example, if all the furniture is upholstered in dandy fabric, there will definitely be two chairs covered in canvas.

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Manilov's character is expressed in his speech and in the way he behaves during the deal with Chichikov. When Chichikov suggested that Manilov sell him dead souls, he was at a loss. But, even realizing that the guest’s offer was clearly contrary to the law, he could not refuse such a pleasant person, and only began to think about “whether this negotiation would not be in accordance with civil regulations and future views of Russia?” The author does not hide the irony: a man who does not know how many peasants have died, who does not know how to organize his own economy, shows concern for politics. The surname Manilov corresponds to his character and was formed by the author from the dialect word “manila” - the one who beckons, promises and deceives, a flattering pleaser.

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Korobochka Another type of landowner appears before us in the image of Korobochka. Unlike Manilov, she is economical and practical, she knows the value of a penny. The description of her village suggests that she brought order to everyone. The net on the fruit trees and the cap on the scarecrow confirm that the housewife has her hands on everything and nothing goes to waste in her household. Looking around Korobochka's house, Chichikov notices that the wallpaper in the room is old and the mirrors are antique. But in front of everyone individual characteristics she is distinguished by the same vulgarity and “deadness” as Manilov.

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When selling an unusual product to Chichikov, she is afraid of selling it too cheap. After bargaining with Korobochka, Chichikov “was covered in sweat, like in a river: everything he was wearing, from his shirt to his stockings, was all wet.” The owner killed him with her cudgel-headedness, stupidity, stinginess and desire to delay the sale unusual goods. “Perhaps merchants will come in large numbers, and I’ll adjust the prices,” she says to Chichikov. She looks at dead souls the same way as at lard, hemp or honey, thinking that they too might be needed on the farm.

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Nozdrev On the high road, in a wooden tavern, I met Chichikov Nozdrev - “ historical person", whom I met back in the city. And it is in the tavern that you can most often meet such people, of whom, as the author notes, there are many in Rus'. Speaking about one hero, the author at the same time gives characteristics to people like him. The irony of the author lies in the fact that in the first part of the phrase he characterizes the Nozdrevs as “good and faithful comrades,” and then adds: “... and for all that, they can be beaten very painfully.” This type of people is known in Rus' under the name of the “broken fellow.” The third time they say “you” to an acquaintance, at fairs they buy everything that comes to mind: collars, smoking candles, a stallion, a dress for a nanny, tobacco, pistols, etc., thoughtlessly and easily spend money on carousing and card games, they like to lie and “mess up” a person for no reason. The source of his income, like that of other landowners, are serfs.

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Such qualities of Nozdryov as blatant lies, boorish attitude towards people, dishonesty, thoughtlessness, are reflected in his fragmentary, fast speech, in the fact that he constantly jumps from one subject to another, in his insulting, abusive, cynical expressions: “a kind of cattle breeder “,” “You’re a jerk for this,” “such rubbish.” He is constantly looking for adventure and does not do housework at all. This is evidenced by the unfinished repairs in the house, empty stalls, a faulty barrel organ, a lost britzka and the pitiful situation of his serfs, from whom he beats everything possible.

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Sobakevich Nozdryov gives way to Sobakevich. This hero represents the type of landowners for whom everything is distinguished by good quality and durability. The character of Sobakevich helps to understand the description of his estate: an awkward house, full-weight and thick logs from which the stable, barn and kitchen are built, dense peasant huts, portraits in the rooms depicting “heroes with thick thighs and unheard-of mustaches,” a walnut bureau on absurd four legs. In a word, everything looks like its owner, whom the author compares to a “medium-sized bear,” emphasizing its animal essence. When depicting the image of Sobakevich, the writer widely uses the technique of hyperbolization; just remember his monstrous appetite.

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PlyushkinCompletes the gallery of persons with whom Chichikov enters into transactions, the landowner Plyushkin is “a hole in humanity.” Gogol notes that such a phenomenon is rare in Rus', where everything likes to unfold rather than shrink. The acquaintance with this hero is preceded by a landscape, the details of which reveal the soul of the hero. Dilapidated wooden buildings, dark old logs on the huts, roofs resembling a sieve, windows without glass, covered with rags, reveal Plyushkin as a bad owner with a deadened soul. But the picture of the garden, although dead and deaf, creates a different impression. When describing it, Gogol used happier and lighter colors - trees, “a regular sparkling marble column”, “air”, “cleanliness”, “neatness”... And through all this one can see the life of the owner himself, whose soul has faded away, like nature in the wilderness this garden.

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In Plyushkin’s house, too, everything speaks of the spiritual disintegration of his personality: piled-up furniture, a broken chair, a dried lemon, a piece of rag, a toothpick... And he himself looks like an old housekeeper, only his gray eyes, like mice, dart from under his high eyebrows. Everything dies, rots and collapses around Plyushkin. The story of the transformation of a smart person into a “hole in humanity,” which the author introduces us to, leaves an indelible impression. Chichikov quickly finds mutual language with Plyushkin. The “patched” master is only concerned about one thing: how to avoid incurring losses when making a deed of sale.

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However, in the chapter devoted to revealing Plyushkin’s character, there are many details that have a positive meaning. The chapter begins with a lyrical digression about youth; the author tells the story of the hero’s life; light colors predominate in the description of the garden; Plyushkin's eyes have not yet dimmed. On the hero’s wooden face you can still see “a flicker of joy” and “ warm ray" All this suggests that Plyushkin, unlike other landowners, still has the possibility of moral revival. Plyushkin's soul was once pure, which means it can still be reborn. It is no coincidence that the “patched” master completes the gallery of images of “old world” landowners.

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The author sought not only to tell the story of Plyushkin, but also to warn readers that anyone could follow the path of this landowner. Gogol believed in the spiritual revival of Plyushkin, just as he believed in the strength of Russia and its people. This is confirmed by numerous lyrical digressions, filled with deep lyricism and poetry.

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"Dead Souls"- a work by the writer Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, the genre of which the author himself designated as a poem.
characteristics of heroes dead souls. The main characters of "Dead Souls" were supposed to depict the three main Russian classes: landowners, peasants and officials. Particular attention is paid to landowners who have Chichikov buys up dead souls: Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Plyushkin and Sobakevich.

Officials in this poem they are quite similar to the landowners. A very expressive character is the provincial prosecutor, who dies of shock after learning about Chichikov’s scam. So it turns out that he also knew how to feel. But in general, according to Gogol, officials only know how to take bribes.

Peasants are episodic characters, there are very few of them in the poem: serfs of landowners, random people they meet... Peasants are a mystery. Chichikov thinks for a long time about the Russian people, fantasizes, looking at long list dead souls.

And finally, the main character, Chichikov, does not fully belong to any of the classes. In his image, Gogol creates fundamentally new type The hero is the owner-acquirer, whose main goal is to accumulate more funds.

To some extent, he can be called a superman, but Chichikov intends to rise above all others not because of his outstanding qualities, but due to his ability to save a penny.

The main characters of "Dead Souls"

• Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich
• Manilov
• Mikhailo Semenych Sobakevich
• Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka
• Nozdryov
• Plyushkin

Characteristics of Plyushkin in the poem"Dead Souls"

Stepan Plyushkin is the last “seller” of dead souls. This hero personifies the complete death of the human soul. In the image of P. the author shows the death of the bright and strong personality, consumed by the passion of stinginess.
Description of Plyushkin's estate(“he does not grow rich in God”) depicts the desolation and “cluttering” of the hero’s soul. The entrance is dilapidated, there is a special disrepair everywhere, the roofs are like a sieve, the windows are covered with rags. Everything here is lifeless - even the two churches, which should be the soul of the estate.
P.’s estate seems to be falling apart into details and fragments; even the house - in some places one floor, in others two. This indicates the collapse of the owner’s consciousness, who forgot about the main thing and focused on the tertiary. He no longer knows what is going on in his household, but he strictly monitors the level of liquor in his decanter.
Portrait of Plyushkin(either a woman or a man; a long chin covered with a scarf so as not to spit; small, not yet extinguished eyes, running around like mice; a greasy robe; a rag around the neck instead of a scarf) speaks of the hero’s complete “loss” from the image of a rich landowner and from life in general.
P. has, the only one of all the landowners, quite detailed biography. Before the death of his wife, P. was a zealous and wealthy owner. He carefully raised his children. But with the death of his beloved wife, something broke in him: he became more suspicious and stingier. After troubles with the children (my son lost at cards, eldest daughter ran away, and the youngest died) P.’s soul finally became hardened - “a wolfish hunger of stinginess took possession of him.” But, oddly enough, greed did not take control of the hero’s heart to the last limit. Having sold Chichikov is dead souls, P. wonders who could help him draw up a bill of sale in the city. He recalls that the Chairman was his schoolmate. This memory suddenly revives the hero: “... on this wooden face... expressed... a pale reflection of feeling.” But this is only a momentary glimpse of life, although the author believes that P. is capable of rebirth. At the end of the chapter about P. Gogol describes a twilight landscape in which shadow and light are “completely mixed” - just like in P.’s unfortunate soul.

Characteristics of Nozdryov in the poem"Dead Souls"

Nozdryov is the third landowner from whom Chichikov is trying to buy dead souls. This is a dashing 35-year-old “talker, carouser, reckless driver.” N. lies constantly, bullies everyone indiscriminately; he is very passionate, ready to “take a shit” to the best friend without any purpose. All of N.’s behavior is explained by his dominant quality: “nimbleness and liveliness of character,” i.e. unrestrained, bordering on unconsciousness. N. doesn’t think or plan anything; he simply does not know the limits in anything. On the way to Sobakevich, in the tavern, N. intercepts Chichikov and takes him to his estate. There he quarrels to death with Chichikov: he does not agree to play cards for dead souls, and also does not want to buy a stallion of “Arab blood” and receive souls in addition. The next morning, forgetting about all the grievances, N. persuades Chichikov to play checkers with him for dead souls.

Caught in cheating, N. orders Chichikov to be beaten, and only the appearance of the police captain calms him down. It is N. who almost destroys Chichikov. Confronted with him at the ball, N. shouts out loud: “he sells dead souls!”, which gives rise to a lot of the most incredible rumors. When officials call on N. to sort things out, the hero confirms all the rumors at once, without being embarrassed by their inconsistency. Later he comes to Chichikov and himself talks about all these rumors. Instantly forgetting about the insult he had caused, he sincerely offers to help Chichikov take away the governor’s daughter. The home environment fully reflects N.’s chaotic character. Everything at home is stupid: there are goats in the middle of the dining room, there are no books or papers in the office, etc. We can say that N.’s boundless lies are the other side of the Russian prowess with which N. endowed in abundance. N. is not completely empty, it’s just that his unbridled energy does not find proper use. With N. in the poem begins a series of heroes who have retained something alive in themselves. Therefore, in the “hierarchy” of heroes, he occupies a relatively high – third – place.

Image Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna"Dead Souls"

Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna is a widow-landowner, the second “saleswoman” of dead souls to Chichikov. Main feature her character is commercial businesslike. Every person for K. is only a potential buyer.
K.'s inner world reflects her household. Everything in it is neat and strong: both the house and the yard. It's just that there are a lot of flies everywhere. This detail personifies the frozen, stopped world of the heroine. The hissing clock and the “outdated” portraits on the walls in K’s house speak about this.
But such “fading” is still better than the complete timelessness of Manilov’s world. At least K. has a past (husband and everything connected with him). K. has character: she begins to frantically bargain with Chichikov until she extracts from him a promise to buy many other things in addition to souls. It is noteworthy that K. remembers all his dead peasants by heart. But K. is stupid: later she will come to the city to find out the price of dead souls, and thereby expose Chichikov. Even the location of the village K. (aside from the main road, away from real life) indicates the impossibility of its correction and revival. In this she is similar to Manilov and occupies one of the lowest places in the “hierarchy” of the heroes of the poem.

The image of Sobakevich "Dead Souls"

Mikhailo Semenych Sobakevich is the fourth “seller” of dead souls. The name itself and appearance This hero (he looks like a “medium-sized bear”, besides, his tailcoat is also bear-colored, his gait is at odds and ends, his face is “hardened and hot”) speak of the excessive power of his nature.
Literally from the very beginning, the image of money, calculation and thriftiness is firmly attached to Sobakevich. He is a very direct and open person.

When communicating with Chichikov, despite his thin hints, Sobakevich immediately gets to the heart of the question: “Do you need dead souls?” He is a true entrepreneur. The main thing for him is the deal, the money, the rest is secondary. Sobakevich skillfully defends his position, bargains well, not disdaining cheating (even slips Chichikov “ female soul"—Elizabeth Sparrow).

All the things around him reflect him spiritual appearance. Sobakevich’s house has been cleared of all unnecessary and “useless” architectural creations. The huts of his subordinates are also very austere and built without unnecessary decoration. In Sobakevich’s house you can only find paintings ancient greek heroes, in some places similar to the owner.

Image and characteristics of Manilov"Dead Souls"

Manilov- a businesslike, sentimental landowner, is the first “seller” of dead souls. Behind the hero's sugary pleasantness and sense of smell lies a callous emptiness and insignificance, which Gogol tries to emphasize with the details of his estate.

Manilov's house is dilapidated, open to all winds. Slender birch trees can be seen everywhere. The pond is completely overgrown with duckweed. The only tidy place on his estate is a neat gazebo, which he calls the “Temple of Solitary Thinking.” His office is not particularly beautiful either - it is covered with cheap blue paint, which from the outside looks gray.

This detail indicates the lifelessness of the character, from whom not a single living word can be squeezed out.

Manilov's thoughts are chaotic. Having caught on to one topic, they can fly far away and renounce reality. He is not able to think about the present, much less accept any important decisions this character has no power. He tries to wrap his whole life in exquisite verbal formulas - action, time, and meaning.

As soon as Chichikov mentioned his desire to acquire dead souls, Manilov, without hesitation, gives his consent, although earlier his hair would have stood on end from such a proposal.

The image and characteristics of Chichikov"Dead Souls"

Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich, a character in N.V. Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls”.
Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov stands out clearly against the background of other various characters. The author tried to combine the various qualities of the landowners of that time.

Up until the eleventh chapter, we remain in the dark about the appearance of such traits in his character, and about the formation of his character in particular. Pavel Ivanovich came from a poor noble family. In my father’s dying will there was a handful of copper coins and a covenant - to please bosses and teachers, study diligently and, most importantly, save and take care of a penny.

There was not a word in the will about duty, dignity and honor. Then Chichikov quickly realized that high moral principles only harm the achievement of his cherished goals. Therefore, he decides to make his way into respected and revered people through his own efforts.

At school he was an exemplary student. He studied well, was a model of good manners, politeness and submissive obedience. All the teachers were delighted with such a capable student. The first instance after studying in his career ladder becomes the state chamber, where he easily gets a job. Chichikov immediately begins to please the boss, and even tries to look after his pretty daughter...

After some time, Chichikov became an attorney and, during the troubles of pledging the peasants, he formed a plan in his head, began to travel around the expanses of Rus', so that, having bought dead souls and pawning them in the treasury as if they were alive, he would receive money, perhaps buy a village and provide for future offspring...

The main work created by Gogol is “Dead Souls”. He wrote it for 17 long years, often rethinking and rewriting chapters, changing characters. I worked on the first volume alone for 6 years. Pushkin gave him the idea to write such a work. Alexander Sergeevich himself wanted to use this plot, but decided that Gogol would do it better. And so it happened.

The title of the poem reflects the process of selling dead serfs, as well as the truly “dead” souls of soulless, immoral landowners who were engaged in such sales for the purpose of enrichment.

The main theme of the work is the immorality that reigned in Rus' in the 30s of the 19th century and the vices that emanated from it. The author has covered this topic very broadly and deeply.

The plot of the work is that Chichikov travels around Russia with the goal of buying up “dead souls” in order to later get rich from it. This plot allowed the author to widely show the whole life of Russia from the inside, as it is.

The composition of the poem consists of 11 published chapters of the first volume and several more surviving chapters of the second volume. These chapters are united by the image of the main character Chichikov. Gogol finished the second volume shortly before his death. But only a few chapters remained from it that have come down to us. There are different opinions about where the manuscript went. Some literary scholars say that he burned it himself, while others say that he gave it to his fellow writers, who later lost it. But we will never know for sure. He never got around to writing the third volume.

The first chapter introduces us to the main character Chichikov and the residents of the city. Chapters 2-6 are devoted to landowners, a description of their life and way of life, their morals. Reading these chapters, we become acquainted with the portraits of landowners, which the author so subtly portrayed satirically. But the next 4 chapters are devoted to the ugly way of life of officials. Bribery, tyranny and other vices characteristic of most officials flourish here.

The poem is written in the style of realism, although it also has romantic notes: a beautiful description of nature, philosophical reflections, lyrical digressions. So, at the end of the work, the author reflects on the future of Rus', on its strength and power.

Gogol, using the suggested idea, developed the plot. For him, cases with “dead souls” were very familiar. He had heard a lot about such scams, because in Russia at that time the purchase and sale of dead people, but according to official documents those who were considered serfs, was a common thing. The population census was carried out every 10 years, and during these 10 years the dead serfs were given, sold, or mortgaged in order to get rich.

At first the author thought of writing his work as satirical novel, but then he realized that it was impossible to fit into a novel everything that he wanted to write about, that is, all the ins and outs of the life of Rus'. Gogol changes the genre of the work to a poem. He intended to write a poem in 3 volumes, similar to Dante's poem. And although many literary scholars call “Dead Souls” a novel, it is customary to call the work a poem, exactly as the author intended.

Option 2

N.V. Gogol is one of the unique and mysterious writers XIX century. The scale of his work has amazed readers for several centuries. The writer's originality is manifested in all his works. The truth about Russian reality of the nineteenth century is one of the leading themes of his works.

One of the most brilliant works N.V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" is considered. The creator’s seventeen-year work was not in vain. Subtle psychologist human souls in the images of the heroes of his poem he recreated real story that time. There is a deep hidden in the name itself. philosophical meaning conceived by the writer. Dead souls - are they the dead people whom the main character collected, or are they Chichikov himself and his entourage.

The plot is unusual and at the same time simple. Collegiate adviser Chichikov buys dead but still registered serfs from landowners, dreaming of getting rich from this. Each party to the transaction benefits. One sells air, the other buys it. The author shrouded in mystery the origin of the main character, his age until the last 11th chapter, in which the secret of adviser Chichikov was revealed. The writer is deliberately in development storyline does not focus on the hero's past. For Gogol, he was unremarkable, an “average” man. Revealing the secret of Chichikov's birth, the writer wants to emphasize the mediocrity of his hero.

The topic suggested to the writer by A.S. Pushkin is the reality of that time. Fraud, cynicism, the desire for profit by any means - Gogol exposes in his creation.

Compositionally, the poem consists of the first volume and several chapters of the second volume. Vivid lyrical digressions complement the atmosphere of Russian life. Six portraits are drawn before the reader’s eyes by the poet Gogol. In full color, Chichikov, Sobakevich, Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdryov, Plyushkin appear before our eyes. The writer describes his characters with undisguised humor: tyranny, stupidity, prudence are their main character traits. 11 chapters of the poem reveal the entire inner essence of society of that time. The literary genre of the work is amazing - the poem (as the author himself called it). But the absence of poetic rhyme, the structure would rather resemble a novel. Gogol called his creation a poem because large quantity digressions of a lyrical nature, philosophical reflections author. To this day, the monologue about the Russian troika, which traces the present and future of Russia, evokes admiration.

The relevance of the work has not faded to this day. Aren't there people now who want to get wealth out of nothing? And the Manilovs who dream but do nothing for it? Stupid and stingy Boxes? Undoubtedly there are, they are nearby and if you just take a good look, you will meet Gogol’s heroes in our days. This is where the immortality of N.V. Gogol’s creation called “Dead Souls” manifests itself.

Dead Souls Analysis

The poem “Dead Souls” is one of the most significant works N.V. Gogol. The author spent 17 years writing it. Initially, the work was conceived as comic, but the further the development of the storyline progressed, the more logical the transition to realism seemed. After its publication, the poem became the subject of widespread controversy and created excitement in literary society. The theme of the present and future of Russia, which greatly worried the author himself, can be traced throughout the work. It is transmitted in Chichikov’s relationships with the same charlatans and swindlers.

Gogol loved his country and his people very much. He described ordinary Russian people who would lead Russia into a bright future. But it also remains open question classes that are becoming obsolete, their souls are rotten and degraded. Hence the name of the poem, which in addition to its direct meaning also has a figurative meaning. Dead souls are peasants who have passed on to another world, but continue to be registered with the estate. Gogol also calls “dead souls” nobles and landowners who hinder the development of the country, have no interests and live out their lives in moral decay. These were precisely Manilov, Korobochka, Sobakevich, Plyushkin and others. We begin to get acquainted with these characters from the second chapter, when the collegiate adviser Chichikov leaves the city of NN and begins his journey through the nearby villages. There he meets landowners who are collective images nobility of Gogol's time.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different master. The chapters are constructed logically and sequentially, as if each of them is a separate story. Those in which landowners are described have similar compositions, which allows for a clear comparison of the images. Despite the logically constructed sequence, the author uses illogicalities and absurdity to convey the characters' personalities. The poem also contains lyrical digressions and short stories that do not relate to the main plot, but help to more fully understand the intent of the entire work.

The work itself is more like a story or novel, but Gogol calls it an epic poem. She has ring composition, but it has a certain originality. Thus, the last 11th chapter may be the informal beginning of the work and also its formal completion. The action in the poem begins with Chichikov's entry into the city of NN and ends when he leaves the city.

Mitrash is the main character of Prishvin’s work “The Pantry of the Sun”. He is ten years old

Every person in life encounters themselves many times different problems and obstacles. Most people overcome all difficulties and adversity

Prose poem “Dead Souls” - central work in the works of one of the most original and colorful Russian writers - Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol.

Gogol as a mirror of Russian landownership

In the work “Dead Souls” the main characters are representatives of one of the three main strata of Russian society in the first half of the nineteenth century - landowners. The other two classes - the bureaucracy and the peasantry - are shown somewhat schematically, without the special colors inherent in Gogol’s language, but the landowners... In this work you can see their different colors, characters and habits. Each of them represents some human weakness, even the vice inherent in people of this class (according to the author’s observations): low education, narrow-mindedness, greed, arbitrariness. Let's take a closer look at them.

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol, “Dead Souls”. Main characters

There is no need to retell the plot of the poem in prose here, since this would require a separate article. Let's just say that a certain man named Chichikov, a real fine fellow in modern times - resourceful, inventive, with original thinking, extremely sociable and, most importantly, absolutely unprincipled - decides to buy up "dead souls" from landowners in order to use them as a mortgage against which you can buy a real village with living peasants made of flesh and blood.

To implement his plan, Chichikov goes around the landowners and buys out “dead” peasants from them (the names listed in tax returns). In the end, he is exposed and escapes from the city of NN in a carriage carried away by the "three bird".

If we discuss who the main characters of the poem “Dead Souls” are, then the collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov will certainly top their list.

Images of landowners

The second number I would like to mention is the landowner Manilov - a sentimental, pompous, empty, but harmless man. He quietly dreams, sitting on his estate, looks at life through and makes unrealistic plans for the future. And although Manilov does not evoke much sympathy, he is still not the most unpleasant character in the poem “Dead Souls”. The main characters who appear before the reader further are much less harmless.

Korobochka is an elderly and narrow-minded woman. However, he knows his business well and holds the income from his small estate tightly in his wrinkled hands. She sells Chichikov a soul for fifteen rubles, and the only thing that confuses her about this strange deal is the price. The landowner is worried about selling things too cheap.

Continuing the list under the code title “Dead Souls - the Main Characters,” it is worth mentioning the gambler and reveler Nozdryov. He lives widely, cheerfully and noisily. Such a life rarely fits into generally accepted frameworks, and therefore is on trial.

Following Nozdryov, we meet the rude and stubborn Sobakevich, “a fist and a beast,” but now they would call him a “strong business executive.”

And the painfully stingy Plyushkin closes the row of sellers of “dead souls”. This landowner was so in the grip of his passion for thrift that he practically lost his human appearance; in any case, at first glance it is impossible to determine his gender and social affiliation- it's just some figure in rags.

In addition to them, Nikolai Vasilyevich mentions representatives of other classes: officials and their wives, peasants, military men, but it is the landowners in the work “Dead Souls” who are the main characters. Quite soon it becomes clear that it is their souls that have been dead, and for many years now, and it is at them that the writer and his sharp pen are aimed.