The main idea of ​​the work is dead souls. Does the end of the means justify the arguments of dead souls

Dead Souls is a poem for the ages. The plasticity of the depicted reality, the comical nature of situations and the artistic skill of N.V. Gogol paint the image of Russia not only of the past, but also of the future. Grotesque satirical reality in harmony with patriotic notes create an unforgettable melody of life that resounds through the centuries.

Collegiate adviser Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov goes to distant provinces to buy serfs. However, he is not interested in people, but only the names of the dead. This is necessary to submit the list to the Board of Trustees, which "promises" a lot of money. A nobleman with so many peasants had all the doors open. To implement his plan, he pays visits to the landowners and officials of the city of NN. All of them reveal their selfish disposition, so the hero manages to get what he wants. He also plans a profitable marriage. However, the result is deplorable: the hero is forced to flee, as his plans become well known thanks to the landowner Korobochka.

History of creation

N.V. Gogol considered A.S. Pushkin by his teacher, who “given” a story about the adventures of Chichikov to a grateful student. The poet was sure that only Nikolai Vasilievich, who had a unique talent from God, was able to realize this “idea”.

The writer loved Italy, Rome. In the land of the great Dante, he began work on a book involving a three-part composition in 1835. The poem was supposed to be similar to Dante's Divine Comedy, depicting the hero's immersion in hell, his wanderings in purgatory and the resurrection of his soul in paradise.

The creative process continued for six years. The idea of ​​a grandiose picture, depicting not only "all of Rus'" present, but also the future, revealed "the incalculable riches of the Russian spirit." In February 1837, Pushkin dies, whose “sacred testament” for Gogol is “Dead Souls”: “Not a single line was written without me imagining him before me.” The first volume was completed in the summer of 1841, but did not immediately find its reader. The censors were outraged by The Tale of Captain Kopeikin, and the title was perplexing. I had to make concessions, starting the headline with the intriguing phrase "The Adventures of Chichikov." Therefore, the book was published only in 1842.

Some time later, Gogol writes the second volume, but, dissatisfied with the result, burns it.

The meaning of the name

The title of the work causes conflicting interpretations. The used oxymoron technique gives rise to numerous questions that you want to get answers as soon as possible. The title is symbolic and ambiguous, so the “secret” is not revealed to everyone.

In the literal sense, "dead souls" are representatives of the common people who have gone to another world, but are still listed as their masters. Gradually, the concept is being rethought. The "form" seems to "come to life": real serfs, with their habits and shortcomings, appear before the reader's eyes.

Characteristics of the main characters

1. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov - "gentleman of the middle hand." Somewhat cloying manners in dealing with people are not without sophistication. Educated, neat and delicate. “Not handsome, but not bad-looking, not ... fat, nor .... thin…”. Prudent and careful. He collects unnecessary knickknacks in his chest: maybe it will come in handy! Seeking profit in everything. The creation of the worst sides of an enterprising and energetic person of a new type, opposed to landowners and officials. We wrote about it in more detail in the essay "".
2. Manilov - "knight of the void." Blond "sweet" talker "with blue eyes". The poverty of thought, the avoidance of real difficulties, he covers up with a beautiful-hearted phrase. It lacks living aspirations and any interests. His faithful companions are fruitless fantasy and thoughtless chatter.
3. The box is "club-headed". Vulgar, stupid, stingy and stingy nature. She fenced herself off from everything around, shutting herself in her estate - the “box”. Turned into a stupid and greedy woman. Limited, stubborn and unspiritual.
4. Nozdrev is a "historical man". He can easily lie what he pleases and deceive anyone. Empty, absurd. Thinks of himself as a broad kind. However, the actions expose the careless, chaotically weak-willed and at the same time arrogant, shameless "tyrant". Record holder for getting into tricky and ridiculous situations.
5. Sobakevich is a "patriot of the Russian stomach." Outwardly, it resembles a bear: clumsy and indefatigable. Totally incapable of understanding the most elementary things. A special type of "drive" that can quickly adapt to the new requirements of our time. Interested in nothing but housekeeping. we described in the essay of the same name.
6. Plyushkin - "a hole in humanity." A creature of unknown gender. A vivid example of a moral fall that has completely lost its natural appearance. The only character (except Chichikov) who has a biography that "reflects" the gradual process of personality degradation. Complete nothingness. Plyushkin's maniacal hoarding "results" into "cosmic" proportions. And the more this passion seizes him, the less of a person remains in him. We analyzed his image in detail in the essay. .

Genre and composition

Initially, the work was born as an adventurous - picaresque novel. But the breadth of the events described and the historical truthfulness, as if "compressed" among themselves, gave rise to "talk about" the realistic method. Making accurate remarks, inserting philosophical reasoning, referring to different generations, Gogol saturated "his offspring" with lyrical digressions. One cannot but agree with the opinion that the creation of Nikolai Vasilyevich is a comedy, since it actively uses the techniques of irony, humor and satire, which most fully reflect the absurdity and arbitrariness of the "squadron of flies that dominate Rus'."

The composition is circular: the britzka, which entered the city of NN at the beginning of the story, leaves it after all the vicissitudes that happened to the hero. Episodes are woven into this “ring”, without which the integrity of the poem is violated. The first chapter describes the provincial city NN and local officials. From the second to the sixth chapters, the author introduces readers to the estates of Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Sobakevich and Plyushkin. The seventh - tenth chapters - a satirical image of officials, the execution of completed transactions. The string of these events ends with a ball, where Nozdrev "narrates" about Chichikov's scam. The reaction of society to his statement is unambiguous - gossip, which, like a snowball, is overgrown with fables that have found refraction, including in the short story ("The Tale of Captain Kopeikin") and the parable (about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich). The introduction of these episodes makes it possible to emphasize that the fate of the motherland directly depends on the people living in it. It is impossible to look indifferently at the outrages that are happening around. Certain forms of protest are brewing in the country. The eleventh chapter is a biography of the hero forming the plot, explaining what he was guided by when performing this or that act.

The connecting thread of the composition is the image of the road (you can learn more about this by reading the essay “ » ), symbolizing the path that the state “under the modest name of Rus” passes in its development.

Why does Chichikov need dead souls?

Chichikov is not only cunning, but also pragmatic. His sophisticated mind is ready to “make candy” out of nothing. Not having sufficient capital, he, being a good psychologist, having gone through a good life school, mastering the art of “flattering everyone” and fulfilling his father’s precept “save a penny”, starts a great speculation. It consists in a simple deception of "those in power" in order to "warm up their hands", in other words, to help out a huge amount of money, thereby providing for themselves and their future family, which Pavel Ivanovich dreamed of.

The names of the dead peasants bought for a pittance were recorded in a document that Chichikov could take to the Treasury Chamber under the guise of a pledge in order to obtain a loan. He would pawn the serfs like a brooch in a pawnshop, and could re-pawn them all his life, since none of the officials checked the physical condition of people. For this money, the businessman would have bought both real workers and an estate, and would have lived on a grand scale, taking advantage of the favor of the nobles, because the wealth of the landowner was measured by the representatives of the nobility in the number of souls (peasants were then called “souls” in noble slang). In addition, Gogol's hero hoped to win trust in society and profitably marry a rich heiress.

main idea

A hymn to the motherland and people, the hallmark of which is diligence, sounds on the pages of the poem. Masters of golden hands became famous for their inventions, their creativity. The Russian peasant is always "rich in invention." But there are those citizens who hinder the development of the country. These are vicious officials, ignorant and inactive landowners and swindlers like Chichikov. For their own good, the good of Russia and the world, they must take the path of correction, realizing the ugliness of their inner world. To do this, Gogol mercilessly ridicules them throughout the entire first volume, however, in the subsequent parts of the work, the author intended to show the resurrection of the spirit of these people using the protagonist as an example. Perhaps he felt the falsity of subsequent chapters, lost faith that his dream was feasible, so he burned it along with the second part of Dead Souls.

Nevertheless, the author showed that the main wealth of the country is the broad soul of the people. It is no coincidence that this word is placed in the title. The writer believed that the revival of Russia would begin with the revival of human souls, pure, unstained by any sins, selfless. Not just believing in the free future of the country, but making a lot of efforts on this swift road to happiness. "Rus, where are you going?" This question runs like a refrain throughout the book and emphasizes the main thing: the country must live in constant movement towards the best, advanced, progressive. Only on this path "other peoples and states give it way." We wrote a separate essay about the path of Russia: ?

Why did Gogol burn the second volume of Dead Souls?

At some point, the thought of the messiah begins to dominate in the mind of the writer, allowing him to "foresee" the revival of Chichikov and even Plyushkin. The progressive "transformation" of a person into a "dead man" Gogol hopes to reverse. But, faced with reality, the author is deeply disappointed: the heroes and their destinies come out from under the pen far-fetched, lifeless. Did not work out. The impending crisis in worldview became the reason for the destruction of the second book.

In the surviving passages from the second volume, it is clearly seen that the writer depicts Chichikov not in the process of repentance, but in flight to the abyss. He still succeeds in adventures, dresses in a devilish red coat and breaks the law. His exposure does not bode well, because in his reaction the reader will not see a sudden insight or a paint of shame. He does not even believe in the possibility of the existence of such fragments at least ever. Gogol did not want to sacrifice artistic truth even for the sake of realizing his own idea.

Issues

1. Thorns on the way of the development of the Motherland is the main problem in the poem "Dead Souls", which the author was worried about. These include bribery and embezzlement of officials, infantilism and inactivity of the nobility, ignorance and poverty of the peasants. The writer sought to make his contribution to the prosperity of Russia, condemning and ridiculing vices, educating new generations of people. For example, Gogol despised doxology as a cover for the emptiness and idleness of existence. The life of a citizen should be useful for society, and most of the heroes of the poem are frankly harmful.
2. Moral problems. He considers the absence of moral norms among the representatives of the ruling class as the result of their ugly passion for hoarding. The landowners are ready to shake the soul out of the peasant for the sake of profit. Also, the problem of selfishness comes to the fore: the nobles, like officials, think only about their own interests, the homeland for them is an empty weightless word. High society does not care about the common people, they just use them for their own purposes.
3. Crisis of humanism. People are sold like animals, lost at cards like things, pawned like jewelry. Slavery is legal and is not considered something immoral or unnatural. Gogol covered the problem of serfdom in Russia globally, showing both sides of the coin: the mentality of a serf, inherent in a serf, and the tyranny of the owner, confident in his superiority. All these are the consequences of the tyranny that pervades relationships in all walks of life. It corrupts people and destroys the country.
4. The author's humanism is manifested in attention to the "little man", critical exposure of the vices of the state system. Gogol did not even try to avoid political problems. He described a bureaucracy functioning only on the basis of bribery, nepotism, embezzlement and hypocrisy.
5. Gogol's characters are characterized by the problem of ignorance, moral blindness. Because of it, they do not see their moral squalor and are not able to independently get out of the quagmire of vulgarity that is engulfing them.

What is the originality of the work?

Adventurism, realistic reality, a sense of the presence of the irrational, philosophical discussions about earthly good - all this is closely intertwined, creating an "encyclopedic" picture of the first half of the 19th century.

Gogol achieves this by using various techniques of satire, humor, pictorial means, numerous details, a rich vocabulary, and compositional features.

• Symbolism plays an important role. Falling into the mud "predicts" the future exposure of the main character. The spider weaves its webs to capture the next victim. Like an "unpleasant" insect, Chichikov skillfully conducts his "business", "weaving" the landowners and officials with a noble lie. “sounds” like the pathos of the forward movement of Rus' and affirms human self-improvement.
• We observe the heroes through the prism of "comic" situations, apt author's expressions and characteristics given by other characters, sometimes built on the antithesis: "he was a prominent person" - but only "at a glance".
• The vices of the heroes of "Dead Souls" become a continuation of the positive character traits. For example, Plyushkin's monstrous stinginess is a distortion of former frugality and thriftiness.
• In small lyrical "inserts" - the thoughts of the writer, hard thoughts, anxious "I". In them we feel the highest creative message: to help humanity change for the better.
• The fate of people who create works for the people or not for the sake of "those in power" does not leave Gogol indifferent, because in literature he saw a force capable of "re-educating" society and contributing to its civilized development. The social strata of society, their position in relation to everything national: culture, language, traditions - occupy a serious place in the author's digressions. When it comes to Rus' and its future, through the centuries we hear the confident voice of the “prophet”, predicting the future of the Fatherland, which is not easy, but striving towards a bright dream.
• Philosophical reflections on the frailty of being, on the bygone youth and impending old age, evoke sadness. That is why the gentle “fatherly” appeal to the youth is so natural, on whose energy, diligence and education depends on what “path” the development of Russia will take.
• The language is truly folk. The forms of colloquial, bookish and written-business speech are harmoniously woven into the fabric of the poem. Rhetorical questions and exclamations, the rhythmic construction of individual phrases, the use of Slavicisms, archaisms, sonorous epithets create a certain structure of speech that sounds solemn, excited and sincere, without a shadow of irony. When describing landowners' estates and their owners, vocabulary is used that is characteristic of everyday speech. The image of the bureaucratic world is saturated with the vocabulary of the depicted environment. we described in the essay of the same name.
• The solemnity of comparisons, high style, combined with original speech, create a sublimely ironic manner of narration that serves to debunk the base, vulgar world of the owners.

The idea of ​​the poem "Dead Souls" and its embodiment. Meaning of the title of the poem. Subject

The idea of ​​the poem dates back to 1835. The plot of the work was suggested to Gogol by Pushkin. The first volume of Dead Souls was completed in 1841 year and published in 1842 year under the title "The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls".

Gogol conceived a grandiose work in which he was going to reflect all aspects of Russian life. Gogol wrote to V.A. Zhukovsky about the concept of his work: "All Rus' will appear in it."

The concept of Dead Souls is comparable to that of Dante's Divine Comedy. The writer intended to write a work in three volumes. In the first volume, Gogol was going to show the negative aspects of life in Russia. Chichikov - the central character of the poem - and most of the other characters are depicted in a satirical manner. In the second volume, the writer sought to outline for his heroes the path to spiritual rebirth. In the third volume, Gogol wanted to embody his ideas about the true existence of man.

Connected with the writer's intention is the meaning of the title works. The very name "Dead Souls" contains, as you know, a paradox: the soul is immortal, which means that it cannot be dead in any way. The word "dead" is used here in a figurative, metaphorical sense. Firstly, we are talking here about the dead serfs, who are listed as alive in the revision tales. Secondly, speaking of "dead souls", Gogol means representatives of the ruling classes - landowners, officials, whose souls "dead", being in the grip of passions.

Gogol managed to complete only the first volume of Dead Souls. The writer worked on the second volume of the work until the end of his life. Gogol apparently destroyed the last version of the manuscript of the second volume shortly before his death. Only separate chapters of the two original editions of the second volume have survived. Gogol did not start writing the third volume.

In his work, Gogol reflected the life of Russia in the first third of the 19th century, the life and customs of landowners, officials of the provincial city, and peasants. In addition, in digressions and other non-plot elements of the work, topics such as Petersburg, war of 1812, Russian language, youth and old age, writer's vocation, nature, future of Russia and many others.

The main problem and ideological orientation of the work

The main problem with Dead Souls is spiritual death and spiritual rebirth of man.

At the same time, Gogol, a writer with a Christian worldview, does not lose hope for the spiritual awakening of his heroes. Gogol was going to write about the spiritual resurrection of Chichikov and Plyushkin in the second and third volumes of his work, but this plan was not destined to come true.

"Dead Souls" is dominated by satirical pathos: the writer denounces the morals of landowners and officials, pernicious passions, vices of representatives of the ruling classes.

Approving start in a poem related to the theme of the people: Gogol admires his heroic strength and lively mind, his apt word, all kinds of talents. Gogol believes in a better future for Russia and the Russian people.

Genre

Gogol himself subtitle to "Dead Souls" called his work poem.

In the prospectus of the "Educational Book of Literature for Russian Youth" compiled by the writer, there is a section "Smaller genera of the epic", which characterizes poem How a genre intermediate between the epic and the novel.Hero such a work - "a private and invisible face". The author leads the hero of the poem through adventure chain, to show a picture of "shortcomings, abuses, vices."

K.S. Aksakov saw in the work of Gogol features of the ancient epic. “The ancient epic rises before us,” wrote Aksakov. The critic compared Dead Souls with Homer's Iliad. Aksakov was struck by both the grandiosity of Gogol's idea and the grandeur of its embodiment already in the first volume of Dead Souls.

In Gogol's poem, Aksakov saw a wise, calm, majestic contemplation of the world, characteristic of ancient authors. One can partly agree with this point of view. Elements of the poem as a glorifying genre we find primarily in the author's digressions about Rus', about the troika bird.

At the same time, Aksakov underestimated the satirical pathos of Dead Souls. V.G. Belinsky, entering into a polemic with Aksakov, emphasized first of all satirical orientation"Dead Souls". Belinsky saw in Gogol's work a wonderful sample of satire.

In "Dead Souls" there are also features of an adventure novel. The main storyline of the work is built on the adventure of the protagonist. At the same time, the love affair, so important in most novels, is relegated to the background in Gogol's work and sustained in a comic vein (the story of Chichikov and the governor's daughter, rumors about her possible abduction by the hero, etc.).

Thus, Gogol's poem is a complex work in terms of genre. "Dead Souls" combines the features of an ancient epic, adventure novel, satire.

Composition: the general construction of the work

The first volume of Dead Souls is complex artistic whole.

Consider plot works. As you know, it was presented to Gogol by Pushkin. The plot of the work is based on the adventurous story of Chichikov's acquisition of dead souls peasants who, according to the documents, are considered alive. Such a plot is consistent with Gogol's definition of the genre of the poem as "a lesser kind of epic" (see the section on genre). Chichikov turns out storyline character. The role of Chichikov is akin to the role of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General": the hero appears in the city of NN, makes a commotion in it, hastily leaves the city when the situation becomes dangerous.

Note that the composition of the work is dominated by spatialmaterial organization principle. Here we find a fundamental difference between the construction of "Dead Souls" and, say, "Eugene Onegin", where "time is calculated according to the calendar", or "Hero of Our Time", where the chronology, on the contrary, is broken, and the narrative is based on the gradual disclosure of the inner world Main character. In Gogol's poem, the composition is based not on the temporal organization of events and not on the tasks of psychological analysis, but on spatial images - provincial towns, landowners' estates, and finally, all of Russia, whose boundless expanses appear before us in digressions about Rus' and about the trio bird.

The first chapter can be seen as exposure the whole action of the poem. Reader meets Chichikov- the central character of the work. The author gives a description of Chichikov's appearance, makes several remarks about his character and habits. In the first chapter, we are introduced to external appearance of the provincial city NN, as well as with its inhabitants. Gogol gives a short but very capacious satirical picture of the life of officials.

Chapters 2 to 6 the writer presents the reader gallery of landowners. In the image of each landowner, Gogol adheres to a certain compositional principle (a description of the landowner's estate, his portrait, the interior of the house, comic situations, the most important of which are the dinner scene and the scene of the sale of dead souls).

In the seventh chapter the action is again transferred to the provincial city. The most important episodes of the seventh chapter - scenes in the treasury And description of breakfast at the police chief.

Central episode the eighth chapter - a ball at the governor. Here it develops love affair, outlined in the fifth chapter (the collision of Chichikov's britzka with a carriage in which two ladies were sitting, one of whom, as it turned out later, was the governor's daughter). In the ninth chapterrumors and gossip about Chichikov grow. Ladies are the main distributors. The most persistent rumor about Chichikov is that the hero is going to kidnap the governor's daughter. Love affair passes Thus from the realm of the real to the realm of rumors and gossip about Chichikov.

In the tenth chapter, the central place is occupied by scene in the house of the police chief. A special place in the tenth chapter and in the work as a whole is occupied by an insertion episode - "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin". The tenth chapter ends with the news of the death of the prosecutor. Prosecutor's funeral scene in the eleventh chapter completes the theme of the city.

Chichikov's flight from the city of NN in the eleventh chapter ends the main storyline poems.

Characters

Gallery of landowners

Central to the poem is gallery of landowners. Their characteristics are devoted five chapters first volume - from the second to the sixth. Gogol showed close-ups of five characters. This Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Sobakevich and Plyushkin. All landowners embody the idea of ​​the spiritual impoverishment of man.

When creating images of landowners, Gogol makes extensive use of means of artistic expression, bringing together literary creativity with painting: it is description of the estate, interior, portrait.

Also important speech characteristics heroes, proverbs revealing the essence of their nature, comic situations, first of all the dinner scene and the scene of the sale of dead souls.

A special role in Gogol's work is played by details- landscape, subject, portrait, details of speech characteristics and others.

Let us briefly characterize each of the landowners.

Manilov- Human outwardly attractive, benevolent, located to acquaintance, communicative. This is the only character who speaks well of Chichikov to the end. In addition, he appears to us as good family man who loves his wife and takes care of his children.

But still main features Manilova is empty daydreaming, projecting, inability to manage the household. The hero dreams of building a house with a belvedere, from where a view of Moscow would open. He also dreams that the sovereign, having learned about their friendship with Chichikov, "granted them generals."

The description of the Manilov estate leaves the impression of monotony: “The village of Manilovka could lure a few with its location. The master's house stood alone in the south, that is, on a hill, open to all the winds, whichever it takes to blow. An interesting detail of the landscape sketch is a gazebo with the inscription "Temple of Solitary Reflection". This detail characterizes the hero as a sentimental person who likes to indulge in empty dreams.

Now about the details of the interior of the Manilov house. His study had fine furniture, but two armchairs had been upholstered in matting for several years. In the same place lay some kind of book, all the time laid on the fourteenth page. On both windows there are “heaps of ash knocked out of a pipe”. Some rooms had no furniture at all. A dandy candlestick was placed on the table, and some kind of copper invalid was placed next to it. All this speaks of Manilov's inability to manage the household, that he cannot complete the work he has begun.

Consider the portrait of Manilov. The appearance of the hero testifies to the sweetness of his character. In appearance he was a rather pleasant person, "but this pleasantness seemed to have been transferred too much sugar." The hero had attractive facial features, but in his eyes it was "transferred to sugar." The hero smiled like a cat that has been tickled behind the ears with a finger.

Manilov's speech is wordy, ornate. The hero loves to say beautiful phrases. "May day... name day of the heart!" he greets Chichikov.

Gogol characterizes his hero, resorting to the proverb: "Neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan."

Note also the scene of the dinner and the scene of the sale of dead souls. Manilov treats Chichikov, as usual in the village, with all his heart. Chichikov's request to sell dead souls causes surprise in Manilov and high-flown arguments: “Will this negotiation be inconsistent with civil decrees and further views of Russia?”

box distinguishes love of hoarding and at the same time clubhead". This landowner appears before us as a woman limited, with a straightforward character, slow-witted, thrifty to the point of stinginess.

At the same time, Korobochka lets Chichikov into her house at night, which speaks of her responsiveness And hospitality.

From the description of Korobochka's estate, we see that the landowner cares not so much about the appearance of the estate, but about successful housekeeping and prosperity. Chichikov notices the well-being of peasant households. Box - practical hostess.

Meanwhile, in Korobochka's house, in the room where Chichikov fit in, "behind every mirror there was either a letter, or an old deck of cards, or a stocking"; all these substantive details emphasize the landowner's passion for collecting unnecessary things.

During lunch, all kinds of homemade supplies and pastries are placed on the table, which testifies to the patriarchal customs and hospitality of the hostess. Meanwhile, the Box cautiously accepts offer Chichikov about selling dead souls to him and even goes to the city to find out how much dead souls are now. Therefore, Chichikov, using a proverb, characterizes Korobochka as a "mutt in the hay", who does not eat herself and does not give to others.

Nozdrev–spendthrift, swindler, swindler,"historical man" because some kind of story always happens to him. This character is distinguished by constant lies, gambling, dishonesty,familiarity with the people around him boastfulness, a penchant for scandalous stories.

The description of the Nozdryov estate reflects the original character of its owner. We see that the hero is not engaged in farming. So, in his estate "the field in many places consisted of hummocks." Only Nozdryov's kennel is in order, which testifies to his passion for dog hunting.

The interior of Nozdrev's house is interesting. In his office hung “Turkish daggers, on one of which was mistakenly carved: “Master Savely Sibiryakov”.” Among the details of the interior, we also note Turkish pipes and a hurdy-gurdy - objects that reflect the range of interests of the character.

A curious portrait detail speaks of the propensity of the hero to a riotous life: one of Nozdryov's sideburns was somewhat thicker than the other - a consequence of a tavern fight.

In the story about Nozdryov, Gogol uses hyperbole: the hero says that he, being at the fair, “alone drank seventeen bottles of champagne during dinner,” which indicates the hero’s tendency to brag and lie.

At dinner, during which disgustingly cooked dishes were served, Nozdryov tried to get Chichikov drunk with cheap wine of dubious quality.

Speaking about the scene of buying and selling dead souls, we note that Nozdrev perceives Chichikov's offer as an excuse for gambling. As a result, a quarrel arises, which only by chance does not end with the beating of Chichikov.

Sobakevich- This landowner-fist who leads a strong economy and at the same time is distinguished rudeness And straightforwardness. This landowner appears before us as a man surly,clumsy,speaking badly of everyone. Meanwhile, he gives unusually well-aimed, albeit very rude, characteristics to the officials of the city.

Describing the estate of Sobakevich, Gogol notes the following. During the construction of the master's house, "the architect constantly fought with the taste of the owner", so the house turned out to be asymmetrical, although very durable.

Let's pay attention to the interior of Sobakevich's house. Portraits of Greek generals hung on the walls. “All these heroes,” Gogol notes, “were with such thick thighs and unheard-of mustaches that a shiver passed through the body,” which is quite consistent with the appearance and character of the owner of the estate. In the room stood "a walnut office on absurd four legs, a perfect bear ... Every object, every chair seemed to say:" And I, too, Sobakevich "".

Gogol's character and his appearance also resembles a "medium-sized bear", which indicates the rudeness, uncouthness of the landowner. The writer notes that “the tail coat on him was completely bearish in color, the sleeves were long, the pantaloons were long, he stepped with his feet and at random and stepped incessantly on other people's legs.” It is no coincidence that the hero is characterized by the proverb: "It is not right, but it is tightly sewn." In the story about Sobakevich, Gogol resorts to the technique hyperbole. Sobakevich's "heroism" is manifested, in particular, in the fact that his foot is shod "in a boot of such gigantic size, which is unlikely to be found anywhere to meet the foot."

Gogol also uses hyperbole when describing dinner at Sobakevich's, who was obsessed with a passion for gluttony: a turkey "as tall as a calf" was served at the table. In general, lunch in the hero's house is distinguished by unpretentious dishes. “When I have pork - put the whole pig on the table, lamb - drag the whole ram, goose - just the goose! I'd rather eat two dishes, but eat in moderation, as my soul requires, ”says Sobakevich.

Discussing the terms of the sale of dead souls with Chichikov, Sobakevich is diligently bargaining, and when Chichikov tries to refuse the purchase, he hints at a possible denunciation.

Plushkin personifies stinginess carried to the point of absurdity. This is an old, unfriendly, untidy and inhospitable person.

From the description of the estate and Plyushkin's house, we see that his farm is in complete desolation. Greed ruined both the well-being and the soul of the hero.

The appearance of the owner of the estate is nondescript. “His face was nothing special; it was almost the same as that of many thin old men, only one chin protruded very far forward, so that he had to cover it with a handkerchief every time so as not to spit, ”writes Gogol. “The little eyes had not yet gone out and were running from under high-growing eyebrows like mice.”

Of particular importance when creating the image of Plushkin is subject detail. On the bureau in the hero's office, the reader finds a mountain of various trifles. There are a lot of objects here: “a bunch of small papers covered with small papers, covered with a green marble press with an egg on top, some old book in leather binding with a red edge, a lemon, all dried up, no larger than a hazelnut, a broken arm of an armchair, a glass with some kind of liquid and three flies, covered with a letter, a piece of sealing wax, a piece of some kind of raised rag, two feathers stained with ink, dried up, as in consumption, a toothpick, completely yellowed, with which the owner, perhaps, picked his teeth even before the invasion of Moscow the French." We find the same pile in the corner of Plyushkin's room. As you know, psychological analysis can take different forms. For example, Lermontov draws a psychological portrait of Pechorin, revealing the inner world of the hero through the details of his appearance. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy resort to extensive internal monologues. Gogol recreates character's state of mind predominantly through the subject world. The "tina of trifles" surrounding Plyushkin symbolizes his stingy, petty, "dried" soul, like a forgotten lemon.

For lunch, the hero offers Chichikov a cracker (the remains of an Easter cake) and an old liqueur, from which Plyushkin himself extracted the worms. Upon learning of Chichikov's proposal, Plyushkin is sincerely happy, since Chichikov will relieve him of the need to pay taxes for the numerous peasants who died or fled from the stingy owner who starved them.

It is very important to note that Gogol resorts to such a technique as excursion into the past of the hero(retrospection): it is important for the author to show how the hero used to be and to what meanness he has now sunk. In the past, Plyushkin was a zealous owner, a happy family man. In the present - "a hole in humanity", in the words of the writer.

Gogol in his work satirically depicted the various types and characters of Russian landowners. Their names have become household names.

We also note the significance of the gallery of landowners symbolizing the process of spiritual degradation of a person. As Gogol wrote, his heroes are "one more vulgar than the other." If Manilov has some attractive features, then Plyushkin is an example of the extreme impoverishment of the soul.

The image of the provincial city: officials, ladies' society

Along with the gallery of landowners, an important place in the work is occupied by image of the provincial city NN. city ​​theme opens in the first chapter,resumes in the seventh chapter the first volume of "Dead Souls" and ends at the beginning of the eleventh chapter.

In the first chapter Gogol gives general description of the city. He's drawing appearance of the city, describes streets, hotel.

The urban landscape is monotonous. Gogol writes: "The yellow paint on the stone houses was strong in the eyes and the gray on the wooden houses was modestly dark." Some signs are curious, for example: "Foreigner Vasily Fedorov."

IN hotel description Gogol uses bright subjectdetails, resorts to artistic comparisons. The writer draws the darkened walls of the "common hall", cockroaches peeking out like prunes from all corners of Chichikov's room.

The urban landscape, the description of the hotel help the author to recreate an atmosphere of vulgarity reigning in the provincial city.

Already in the first chapter, Gogol calls the majority officials cities. These are the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, police chief, chairman of the chamber, inspector of the medical board, city architect, postmaster, and some other officials.

In the description of the city, provincial officials, their characters and mores, a pronounced satirical focus. The writer sharply criticizes the Russian bureaucratic system, the vices and abuses of officials. Gogol denounces such phenomena as bureaucracy, bribery, embezzlement, gross arbitrariness, and idle lifestyle, gluttony, propensity to play cards, idle talk, gossip, ignorance, vanity and many other vices.

In "Dead Souls" officials are depicted much more generally than in The Inspector General. They are not named by their last names. Most often, Gogol indicates the position of an official, thereby emphasizing the social role of the character. Sometimes the name and patronymic of the acting person are indicated. We learn that chairman of the chamber name is Ivan Grigorievich,police chief - Alexei Ivanovich, postmaster - Ivan Andreevich.

To some officials Gogol gives brief characteristics. For example, he notices that governor was "neither fat nor thin, had Anna around his neck" and "sometimes embroidered on tulle." prosecutor had thick eyebrows and winked his left eye, as if inviting the visitor to go into another room.

Police Chief Alexei Ivanovich, "father and philanthropist" in the city, like the mayor from the "Auditor", he visited the shops and the gostiny yard as if in his own pantry. At the same time, the police chief knew how to win the favor of the merchants, who said that Alexei Ivanovich "although he will take it, he will certainly not give you away." It is clear that the police chief covered up the machinations of the merchants. Chichikov speaks of the police chief as follows: “What a well-read person! We lost to him in whist ... until the very last cocks. Here the writer uses irony.

Gogol gives a vivid description of a petty bribery official Ivan Antonovich "jug snout", who knowingly takes Chichikov's "gratitude" for the registration of the deed of sale. Ivan Antonovich had a remarkable appearance: the entire middle of his face "came forward and went into the nose", hence the nickname of this official - the master of bribery.

And here postmaster"almost" did not take bribes: firstly, they did not offer him: the wrong position; secondly, he raised only one little son, and the state salary was basically enough. The character of Ivan Andreevich was sociable; according to the author, it was "wit and philosopher".

Concerning chairman of the chamber, then he knew by heart "Lyudmila" Zhukovsky. Other officials, as Gogol notes, were also "enlightened people": some read Karamzin, some "Moskovskie Vedomosti", some even read nothing at all. Here Gogol again resorts to the device irony. For example, about the game of officials in cards, the author notes that this is "a sensible occupation."

According to the writer, there were no duels between officials, because, as Gogol writes, they were all civil officials, but one tried to harm the other where possible, which, as you know, is sometimes harder than any duel.

In the center of the "Tale of Captain Kopeikin", told by the postmaster in the tenth chapter, there are two characters: this is an invalid of the war of 1812, "little man" Captain Kopeikin And "significant person"- a senior official, a minister who did not want to help the veteran, who showed callousness and indifference towards him.

Persons from the bureaucratic world also appear in Chichikov's biography in the eleventh chapter: this Chichikov himself, povytchik, whom Chichikov deftly deceived by not marrying his daughter, commission members for the construction of a government building, colleagues Chichikov at customs, other persons from the bureaucratic world.

Consider some episodes poems, where the characters of officials, their way of life are most clearly revealed.

The central episode of the first chapter is the scene parties at the governor's. Already here such features of the provincial bureaucracy are revealed, such as idleness, love of a card game, idle talk. Here we find digression about fat and thin officials, where the writer hints at the unrighteous incomes of the fat ones and the extravagance of the thin ones.

In the seventh chapter, Gogol returns to the theme of the city. Writer with irony describes Treasury Chamber. This is "a stone house, all white as chalk, probably to depict the purity of the souls of the positions placed in it." About the court, the author notes that it is "an incorruptible zemstvo court"; about judicial officials, he says that they have "the incorruptible heads of the priests of Themis." An apt characterization of officials is given by the mouth of Sobakevich. “They all burden the earth for nothing,” the hero remarks. Close-up showing bribe episode: Ivan Antonovich "jug snout" masterfully accepts "white" from Chichikov.

In the scene breakfast at the police chief reveals such traits of officials as gluttony And love for booze. Here Gogol again resorts to the technique hyperbole: Sobakevich alone eats a nine-pood sturgeon.

With undisguised irony, Gogol describes ladies' society. The ladies of the city were presentable", according to the author. Women's society is especially vividly depicted in the scenes ball at the governor's. Ladies perform in "Dead Souls" as trendsetters and public opinion. This becomes especially obvious in connection with Chichikov's courtship of the governor's daughter: the ladies are outraged by Chichikov's inattention to them.

The subject of ladies' gossip is further developed in ninth chapter, where the author showed a close-up Sofia Ivanovna And Anna Grigorievna - "just a nice lady" And "a lady pleasant in every way." Thanks to their efforts, a rumor is born that Chichikov is going to kidnap the governor's daughter.

Central episode of the tenth chapter–meeting of officials at the police chief, where the most incredible rumors about who Chichikov is are discussed. This episode is reminiscent of the scene in the mayor's house in the first act of The Government Inspector. The officials gathered to find out who Chichikov was. They remember their "sins" and at the same time utter the most incredible judgments about Chichikov. Opinions are expressed that this is the auditor, the manufacturer of counterfeit banknotes, Napoleon, and finally, Captain Kopeikin, about whom the postmaster tells the audience.

Death of a prosecutor, which is mentioned at the end of the tenth chapter, is a symbolic result of the author's reflections on the meaningless, empty life of the city. Mental impoverishment touched, according to Gogol, not only landowners, but also officials. The "discovery" of the inhabitants of the city, made in connection with the death of the prosecutor, is curious. “Then only with condolences did they find out that the deceased had, for sure, a soul, although he, due to his modesty, never showed it,” the writer notes with irony. Painting of the prosecutor's funeral in the eleventh chapter completes the story about the city. Chichikov exclaims, watching the funeral procession: “Here, prosecutor! Lived, lived, and then died! And now they will print in the newspapers that he died, to the regret of his subordinates and all of humanity, a respectable citizen, a rare father, an exemplary spouse ... but if you take a good look at the matter, then in fact you only had thick eyebrows.

Thus, creating the image of a provincial city, Gogol showed the life of the Russian bureaucracy, its vices and abuses. The images of officials, along with the images of landlords, help the reader understand the meaning of the poem about dead souls distorted by sin.

Petersburg theme. "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin"

Gogol's attitude to Petersburg has already been considered in the analysis of the comedy The Inspector General. Recall that St. Petersburg was for the writer not only the capital of an autocratic state, the justice of which he did not doubt, but also the focus of the worst manifestations of Western civilization - such as the cult of material values, pseudo-enlightenment, vanity; moreover, Petersburg in Gogol's view is a symbol of a soulless bureaucratic system that humiliates and suppresses the "little man".

We find references to St. Petersburg, comparisons of provincial life with life in the capital, already in the first chapter of Dead Souls, in the description of a party at the governor's. The author discusses the insignificance of the gastronomic subtleties of St. Petersburg in comparison with the simple and plentiful food of the provincial landowners, "gentlemen of the middle hand", at the beginning of the fourth chapter. Chichikov, thinking about Sobakevich, tries to imagine who Sobakevich would become if he lived in St. Petersburg. Talking about the governor's ball, the author notes with irony: "No, this is not a province, this is the capital, this is Paris itself." The theme of St. Petersburg is also connected with Chichikov’s remarks in the eleventh chapter on the ruin of the landowners’ estates: “Everything climbed into St. Petersburg to serve; estates are abandoned.

The theme of St. Petersburg is most clearly revealed in "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin", which the postmaster tells in the tenth chapter. "The Tale..." is based on folk traditions. One of her sources–folk song about the robber Kopeikin. Hence the elements skaz: we note such expressions of the postmaster as “my sir”, “you know”, “you can imagine”, “in some way”.

The hero of the story, a disabled veteran of the war of 1812, who went to St. Petersburg to ask for “monarchal mercy”, “suddenly found himself in the capital, which, so to speak, does not exist in the world! Suddenly there is a light in front of him, so to speak: a certain field of life, a fabulous Scheherazade. This description of Petersburg reminds us of hyperbolic images in the scene of Khlestakov's lies in the comedy "The Inspector General": the captain sees in luxurious shop windows “cherries - five rubles each”, “huge watermelon”.

In the center of the "Tale" - confrontation "little man" Captain Kopeikin And "significant person" - the minister, who personifies the bureaucratic machine, indifferent to the needs of ordinary people. It is curious to note that Gogol himself protects the tsar from criticism: at the time of Kopeikin's arrival in St. Petersburg, the sovereign was still on foreign campaigns and did not have time to make the necessary orders to help the disabled.

It is important that the author denounces the Petersburg bureaucracy from the position of a man from the people. The general meaning of the "Tale ..." is as follows. If the government does not turn its face to the needs of the people, a revolt against it is inevitable. It is no coincidence that Captain Kopeikin, not finding the truth in St. Petersburg, became, according to rumors, the chieftain of a gang of robbers.

Chichikov, his ideological and compositional role

The image of Chichikov performs two main functions - independent And compositional. On the one hand, Chichikov is a new type of Russian life, a type of acquirer-adventurer. On the other hand, Chichikov is plot-forming character; his adventures form the basis of the plot of the work.

Consider the independent role of Chichikov. This, according to Gogol, owner, purchaser.

Chichikov - a native of the environment poor and humble nobility. This official, who served the rank of collegiate adviser and accumulated his initial capital, engaging in embezzlement and bribes. At the same time, the hero acts as Kherson landowner who he claims to be. Chichikov needs the status of a landowner to acquire dead souls.

Gogol believed that the spirit of gain came to Russia from the West and acquired ugly forms here. Hence the hero's criminal paths to material well-being.

Chichikov distinguishes hypocrisy. By doing lawlessness, the hero declares his respect for the law. "The law - I am dumb before the law!" he says to Manilov.

It should be noted that Chichikov is attracted not by money per se, but by the opportunity rich and beautiful life. “He dreamed ahead of life in all contentment, with all prosperity; carriages, a house perfectly arranged, that's what constantly rushed about in his head, ”Gogol writes about his hero.

The pursuit of material values ​​distorted the soul of the hero. Chichikov, like landlords and officials, can be classified as "dead souls".

Consider now compositional the role of the image of Chichikov. This central character"Dead Souls". His main role in the work is plot-forming. This role is associated primarily with the genre of the work. As already noted, Gogol defines the poem as "a lesser kind of epic." The hero of such a work is “a private and invisible person”. The author leads him through a chain of adventures and changes in order to show a picture of modern life, a picture of shortcomings, abuses, vices. In "Dead Souls" the adventures of such a hero - Chichikov - become the basis of the plot and allow the author to show the negative aspects of contemporary Russian reality, human passions and delusions.

At the same time, the compositional role of Chichikov's image is not limited to the plot-forming function alone. Chichikov turns out, paradoxically, author's confidant. In his poem, Gogol looks at many phenomena of Russian life through the eyes of Chichikov. A vivid example is the hero's reflections on the souls of the dead and fugitive peasants (Chapter 7). These thoughts formally belong to Chichikov, although the author's own view is clearly felt here. Let's take another example. Chichikov talks about the extravagance of provincial officials and their wives against the backdrop of national disasters (chapter eight). It is clear that the denunciation of the exorbitant luxury of officials and sympathy for the common people come from the author, but are put into the mouth of the hero. The same can be said about Chichikov's assessment of many characters. Chichikov calls Korobochka a "clubhead", Sobakevich a "fist". It is clear that these judgments reflect the view of the writer himself on these characters.

The unusualness of this role of Chichikov lies in the fact that "confidant" author becomes a negative character. However, this role is understandable in the light of Gogol's Christian worldview, his ideas about the sinful state of modern man and the possibility of his spiritual rebirth. At the end of the eleventh chapter, Gogol writes that many people have vices that make them no better than Chichikov. “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me too?” - the author of the poem asks himself and the reader a question. At the same time, intending to bring the hero to spiritual rebirth in the second and third volumes of his work, the writer thereby expressed the hope for the spiritual rebirth of every fallen person.

Consider some artistic means creating the image of Chichikov

Chichikov - type averaged. It's underlined description appearance hero. Gogol writes about Chichikov that he is "not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, but not too thin, one cannot say that he is old, but not so that he is too young." Chichikov wears lingonberry-colored tailcoat with a sparkle. This detail of the hero's appearance emphasizes his desire to look decent and at the same time make a good impression of himself, sometimes even shine in the light, splurge.

The most important character trait of Chichikov is adaptability to others, a kind of "chameleon". It's confirmed speech hero. “Whatever the conversation was about, he always knew how to support it,” writes Gogol. Chichikov knew how to talk about horses, and about dogs, and about virtue, and about making hot wine. With each of the five landowners, Chichikov speaks differently. He talks to Manilov in a florid and grandiloquent way. Chichikov does not stand on ceremony with Korobochka; at the decisive moment, irritated by her stupidity, he even promises her the devil. Chichikov is cautious with Nozdryov, business-like with Sobakevich, and laconic with Plyushkin. curious Chichikov's monologue in the seventh chapter (the scene of breakfast at the police chief). The hero reminds us of Khlestakov. Chichikov imagines himself a Kherson landowner, speaks of various improvements, of a three-field economy, of the happiness and bliss of two souls.

Chichikov's speech often contains proverbs. “Don't have money, have good people to convert,” he says to Manilov. “Hooked - dragged, broke - do not ask,” the hero argues in connection with an unsuccessful scam in the commission for the construction of a government building. “Oh, I’m Akim-simplicity, I’m looking for mittens, and both are behind my belt!” - Chichikov exclaims on the occasion of the idea that came to his mind to buy up dead souls.

An important role in creating the image of Chichikov plays subject detail. casket the hero is a kind of mirror of his soul, obsessed with a passion for acquisitions. chaise Chichikov is also a symbolic image. It is inseparable from the way of life of the hero, prone to all sorts of adventures.

Love affair in Dead Souls, as in The Government Inspector, it turns out in the background. At the same time, it is important both for revealing the character of Chichikov and for recreating the atmosphere of rumors and gossip in the provincial town. Talk about the fact that Chichikov allegedly sought to kidnap the governor's daughter opens up a series of fables that accompany the hero until the moment he leaves the city.

It turns out that gossip and rumors about the hero also an important means of creating his image. They characterize it from different angles. According to the inhabitants of the city, Chichikov is both an auditor, and a manufacturer of fake banknotes, and even Napoleon. Napoleon theme in "Dead Souls" is not accidental. Napoleon is a symbol of Western civilization, extreme individualism, the desire to achieve the goal by any means.

Of particular importance in the poem is biography Chichikov, placed in the eleventh chapter. Let's name the main stages and events of Chichikov's life path. This joyless childhood, life in poverty, in an atmosphere of family despotism; leaving the parental home and the beginning of studies, marked parting words of the father: "Most of all, take care and save a penny!". IN school years the hero was carried away petty speculation, he did not forget about toadying before the teacher, to whom later, in a difficult moment, he treated very callously, callously. Chichikov hypocritically taking care of the daughter of an elderly for the purpose of promotion. Then he worked "ennobled" forms of bribery(through subordinates), theft in the commission for the construction of a government building, after exposure – fraud while serving at customs(story with Brabant lace). Finally, he started dead souls scam.

Recall that almost all the heroes of "Dead Souls" are depicted by the writer statically. Chichikov (like Plyushkin) is an exception. And this is no coincidence. It is important for Gogol to show the origins of the spiritual impoverishment of his hero, which began in his very childhood and early youth, to trace how the passion for a rich and beautiful life gradually destroyed his soul.

The theme of the people

As already noted, the idea of ​​the poem "Dead Souls" was to show in it "all of Rus'". Gogol paid the main attention to representatives of the nobility - landowners and officials. At the same time, he touched themes of the people.

The writer showed in "Dead Souls" dark sides the life of the peasantry rudeness, ignorance, drunkenness.

The serfs of Chichikov are a footman Parsley and coachman Selifan– unclean, uneducated, limited for their own mental interests. Petrushka reads books without understanding anything in them. Selifan is addicted to drinking. Fortress Wench Pelagia does not know where the right side is, where the left side is. Uncle Mityai and Uncle Minyay they cannot unravel the harness of horses harnessed to two carriages.

At the same time, Gogol notes talent, creativity Russian people, his heroic strength And free spirit. These features of the people are especially clearly reflected in author's digressions (about the well-aimed Russian word, about Rus', about the troika bird), as well as in Sobakevich's reasoning about the dead peasant craftsmen(This bricklayer Milushkin, Eremey Sorokoplekhin, who, being engaged in trade, brought quitrent of 500 rubles, carriage maker Mikheev, carpenter Stepan Cork, shoemaker Maxim Telyatnikov); in Chichikov's reflections on purchased dead souls, which express the position of the author himself (in addition to the already named peasants of Sobakevich, the hero mentions the fugitive peasants of Plyushkin, in particular Abakuma Fyrova, which was probably brought to the Volga; he became a barge hauler and gave himself up to the revelry of a free life).

Gogol also notes rebellious spirit people. The writer believes that if the arbitrariness of the authorities is not stopped, if the needs of the people are not satisfied, then a revolt is possible. This view of the author is evidenced by at least two episodes in the poem. This murder men assessor Drobyazhkin who, being possessed by fornication, molested girls and young women, and the story of captain kopeikin, who probably became a robber.

An important place in the poem is copyright digressions:satirical,journalistic,lyrical,philosophical and others. In their content, some are close to digressions. Chichikov's reasoning, conveying the author's position. How can a digression be considered and such an off-plot element, How parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich in the eleventh chapter.

In addition to retreats, plays an important role in identifying the author's position "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" told by the postmaster (chapter ten).

Let us name the main digressions contained in the first volume of Dead Souls. These are the thoughts of the author. about fat and thin officials(first chapter, scene of a party at the governor); his judgment about the ability to deal with people(third chapter); witty editorial remarks about a healthy stomach gentlemen of the middle class(beginning of the fourth chapter). We also note the digressions about a well-aimed Russian word(end of chapter 5) about youth(the beginning of the sixth chapter and the passage “Take it with you on the road ...”). Of fundamental importance for understanding the author's position is a digression about two writers(beginning of the seventh chapter).

Retreats can be equated Chichikov's reasoning about purchased peasant souls(the beginning of the seventh chapter, after a digression about two writers), and also reflections hero about the idle life of the mighty of the world against the backdrop of the misfortunes of the people (end of the eighth chapter).

Note also the philosophical digression about the delusions of mankind(tenth chapter). The author's reflections in the eleventh chapter complete the list of digressions: about Rus'(“Rus! Rus!.. I see you…”), about the road, about human passions. We especially note parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich and retreat about the trio bird, which concludes the first volume of Dead Souls.

Let's look at some of the deviations in more detail. Author's reflections about a well-aimed Russian word completes the fifth chapter of the poem. In the strength and accuracy of the Russian word, Gogol sees a manifestation of the mind, creative abilities, and talent of the Russian people. Gogol compares the Russian language with the languages ​​of other peoples: “The word of a Briton will echo with the knowledge of the heart and the wise knowledge of life; The short-lived word of a Frenchman will flash and scatter like a light dandy; the German will intricately invent his own, not accessible to everyone, cleverly thin word; but there is no word that would be so bold, brisk, so burst out from under the very heart, so seething and vibrant, like the aptly spoken Russian word. Discussing the Russian language and the languages ​​of other peoples, Gogol resorts to the technique figurative parallelism: the multitude of peoples living on earth is likened to the multitude of churches in Holy Rus'.

At the beginning of the sixth chapter we find a digression about youth. The author, telling the reader about his road impressions in his youth and in his mature years, notices that in youth a person is characterized by a freshness of world perception, which he subsequently loses. The saddest thing, according to the writer, is that over time a person can lose those moral qualities that were laid in him in his youth. It is not for nothing that Gogol continues the theme of youth in the further narrative, in connection with the story of Plyushkin, about his spiritual degradation. The author addresses the youth with tremulous words: “Take with you on the road, emerging from your soft youthful years into a severe hardening courage, take with you all human movements, do not leave them on the road, you will not pick them up later!”

Retreat about two writers, which opens the seventh chapter, is also built on figurative parallelism. Writers are like travelers: a romantic writer is like a happy family man, a satirist writer is like a lonely bachelor.

The romantic writer shows only the bright side of life; satirist portrays "terrible mire of trifles" and exposes her to the eyes of the people.

Gogol says that romantic writer accompanies lifetime glory, satirist are waiting reproaches and persecution. Gogol writes: “This is not the fate of the writer who dared to bring out everything that every minute is before his eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see, all the terrible, amazing mire of trifles that have entangled our life, the whole depth of cold, fragmented, everyday characters.”

In a digression about two writers, Gogol formulates own creative principles which later became known as realism. Here Gogol says about the meaning of high laughter- the most valuable gift of a satirist writer. The fate of such a writer “look around” life “through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to it tears”.

in retreat about the delusions of mankind in the tenth chapter the main idea of ​​"Dead Souls", component the essence of Gogol's Christian worldview. According to the writer, mankind in its history often deviated from the true path outlined by God. Hence the delusions of both past generations and the present. “What twisted, deaf, narrow, impassable, drifting roads mankind has chosen, striving to achieve eternal truth, while the whole straight path was open before it, similar to the path leading to the magnificent temple appointed by the king to the palaces. It is wider and more luxurious than all other paths, illuminated by the sun and illuminated by lights all night, but people were flowing past it in the dead darkness,” writes Gogol. The life of Gogol's heroes - landowners, officials, Chichikov - is a vivid example of human delusions, deviation from the right path, loss of the true meaning of life.

in retreat about Rus'(“Rus! Rus! I see you, I see you from my wonderful, beautiful far away…”) Gogol contemplates Russia from distant Rome, where, as we remember, he created the first volume of Dead Souls.

The author of the poem compares the nature of Russia with the nature of Italy. He is aware that Russian nature, unlike the luxurious Italian, no external beauty; at the same time, endless Russian expanses cause in the mind of a writer deep feeling.

Gogol says about the song in which the Russian character is expressed. The writer also thinks O boundless thought And about heroism characteristic of the Russian people. It is no coincidence that the author concludes his thoughts about Rus' with the words: “Is it not here, in you, that an infinite thought is born, when you yourself are without end? Is it not possible for a hero to be here when there is a place where he can turn around and walk around? And menacingly embraces me mighty space, with terrible power reflected in my depths; my eyes lit up with an unnatural power: wow! what a sparkling, wonderful, unfamiliar distance to the earth! Rus!.."

Parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich both in form and content resembles the author's digression. The images of father and son - Kifa Mokievich and Mokiy Kifovich - reflect Gogol's understanding of the Russian national character. Gogol believes that there are two main types of Russian people - type of philosopher And type of hero. According to Gogol, the misfortune of the Russian people lies in the fact that both thinkers and heroes in Rus' degenerate. A philosopher in his current state can only indulge in empty dreams, and a hero can destroy everything around him.

Completes the first volume of "Dead Souls" digression about the trio bird. Here Gogol expresses his faith in a better future for Russia, he connects him with the Russian people: it is not for nothing that the craftsman is mentioned here - "Yaroslavl agile man"- Yes dashing coachman, famously managing the rushing troika.

Questions and tasks

1. Give the full title of Dead Souls. Tell us about the history of the poem. What did Gogol write about the idea of ​​his creation to Zhukovsky? Did the writer manage to fully realize his plan? In what year was the first volume of the work completed and in what year was it published? What do you know about the fate of the second and third volumes?

Comment on the title of the piece. What is the paradox here? Why is the phrase "dead souls" interpreted as metaphorical?

Name the main themes of Gogol's poem. Which of these topics are covered in the main narrative, which in digressions?

2. How can you determine the main problem of the piece? How is it related to Gogol's Christian worldview?

What pathos prevails in Gogol's poem? What is the theme of the affirmative beginning?

3. What genre definition did Gogol give to "Dead Souls" in the subtitle to the work? How did the writer himself interpret this genre in the prospectus of the Educational Book of Literature for Russian Youth? Features of what genres did K.S. Aksakov and V.G. Belinsky see in “Dead Souls”? How does Gogol's work resemble an adventurous adventure novel?

4. Who gave Gogol the plot of "Dead Souls"? How is the plot of the work connected with Gogol's understanding of the genre of the poem? Which character is the main character in the story and why?

What principle of material organization prevails in Gogol's work? What spatial images do we find here?

What elements of the first chapter are relevant to the exposition? What place does the gallery of landowners occupy in the work? Name the main episodes of the subsequent chapters, revealing the image of the provincial city. What place does love intrigue occupy in the composition of the work? What is its peculiarity in the poem?

What place does Chichikov's biography take in Dead Souls? What extra-plot elements of the poem can you name?

5. Briefly describe the gallery of landowners. According to what plan does Gogol tell about each of them? What artistic means does the writer use to create their images? Tell us about each of the landowners depicted by Gogol. Reveal the value of the entire gallery.

6. Which chapters of Dead Souls cover the topic of the city? Tell us about the exposure of the image of the city in the first chapter. What descriptions, characteristics does it include?

List the maximum number of city officials, naming their positions and surname and patronymic, if they are indicated by the author. Give a general description of the officials and each separately. What human passions, vices do they personify?

List the main episodes that reveal the theme of the city, identify the ideological and compositional role of each of them.

7. In what chapters and in what episodes of "Dead Souls" are Petersburg, Petersburg life mentioned? In which chapter, which of the characters and in what connection does the Tale of Captain Kopeikin tell? What folklore source does it go back to? What is the originality of the narration in the story about Kopeikin? How is Petersburg depicted here? What literary device is the author using here? What is the main conflict in The Tale...? What idea did the author want to convey to the reader by including the story of Kopeikin in the main text of Dead Souls?

8. What functions does the image of Chichikov perform in Dead Souls? What type of Russian life does he represent? What is the compositional role of Chichikov, what is the unusualness of this role? Consider the artistic means of creating the image of a hero, give examples of these means; pay special attention to the biography of the hero.

9. What aspects of the life of the people are revealed in Dead Souls? Tell us about the serf servants of Chichikov, about episodic characters - representatives of the people. Name the crafty peasants from among the "dead souls" sold to Chichikov by Sobakevich, briefly describe them. Name the fugitive peasant Plyushkin, who loved the free life. Which episodes of Dead Souls contain hints of the people's ability to revolt?

10. List all the author's digressions and other extra-plot elements of Dead Souls known to you. Consider in detail the digressions about the apt Russian word, about youth, about two writers, about the delusions of mankind, about Rus', the parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich, as well as the digression about the trinity bird. How does the author of the work appear in these digressions?

11. Make a detailed outline and prepare an oral report on the topic: "Artistic means and techniques in the poem" Dead Souls "" (landscape, interior, portrait, comic situations, speech characteristics of heroes, proverbs; figurative parallelism, comparison, hyperbole, irony ).

12. Write an essay on the topic: "Varieties and artistic functions of details in N.V. Gogol's Dead Souls."

The work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol "Dead Souls" is one of the most striking works of the author. This poem, the plot of which is connected with the description of the Russian reality of the 19th century, is of great value for Russian literature. It was also significant for Gogol himself. No wonder he called it a "national poem" and explained that in this way he tried to expose the shortcomings of the Russian Empire, and then change the face of his homeland for the better.

Birth of a genre

The idea that Gogol wrote "Dead Souls" was suggested to the author by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. Initially, the work was conceived as a light humorous novel. However, after the start of work on the work Dead Souls, the genre in which the text was originally supposed to be presented was changed.

The fact is that Gogol considered the plot to be very original and gave the presentation a different, deeper meaning. As a result, a year after the start of work on the work Dead Souls, its genre became more extensive. The author decided that his offspring should be nothing more than a poem.

Main idea

The writer divided his work into 3 parts. In the first of them, he decided to point out all the shortcomings that took place in contemporary society. In the second part, he planned to show how the process of correcting people takes place, and in the third part, the life of the heroes who have already changed for the better.

In 1841 Gogol completed the first volume of Dead Souls. The plot of the book shocked the entire reading country, causing a lot of controversy. After the release of the first part, the author began work on the continuation of his poem. However, he was never able to finish what he started. The second volume of the poem seemed to him imperfect, and nine days before his death he burned the only copy of the manuscript. For us, only drafts of the first five chapters have survived, which today are considered a separate work.

Unfortunately, the trilogy was never completed. But the poem "Dead Souls" should have had a significant meaning. Its main purpose was to describe the movement of the soul, which went through a fall, purification, and then rebirth. This path to the ideal had to be passed by the main character of the poem, Chichikov.

Plot

The story told in the first volume of Dead Souls takes us to the nineteenth century. It tells about a journey through Russia undertaken by the main character Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov to acquire the so-called dead souls from the landowners. The plot of the work provides the reader with a complete picture of the customs and life of the people of that time.

Let's look at the chapters of "Dead Souls" with their plot in a little more detail. This will give a general idea of ​​\u200b\u200ba bright literary work.

Chapter first. Start

How does the work "Dead Souls" begin? The theme raised in it describes the events that took place at the time when the French were finally expelled from the territory of Russia.

At the beginning of the story, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, who served as a collegiate adviser, arrived in one of the provincial cities. When analyzing "Dead Souls", the image of the protagonist becomes clear. The author shows him as a middle-aged man with an average build and good looks. Pavel Ivanovich is extremely inquisitive. There are situations when you can even talk about his importunity and annoying. So, at the tavern servant, he is interested in the income of the owner, and also tries to find out about all the officials of the city and about the most noble landowners. He is also interested in the state of the region to which he arrived.

The collegiate adviser does not sit alone. He visits all officials, finding the right approach to them and choosing words that are pleasant for people. That is why they treat him just as well, which even surprises Chichikov a little, who has experienced many negative reactions towards himself and even survived the assassination attempt.

The main purpose of Pavel Ivanovich's arrival is to find a place for a quiet life. To do this, when attending a party in the governor's house, he meets two landowners - Manilov and Sobakevich. At a dinner at the police chief's, Chichikov became friends with the landowner Nozdrev.

Chapter two. Manilov

The continuation of the plot is connected with Chichikov's trip to Manilov. The landowner met the official on the threshold of his estate and led him into the house. The road to Manilov's dwelling lay among the pavilions, on which signs were hung with inscriptions indicating that these were places for reflection and solitude.

Analyzing "Dead Souls", Manilov can be easily characterized by this decoration. This is a landowner who has no problems, but at the same time is too cloying. Manilov says that the arrival of such a guest is comparable for him to a sunny day and the happiest holiday. He invites Chichikov to dine. The mistress of the estate and the two sons of the landowner, Themistoclus and Alkid, are present at the table.

After a hearty dinner, Pavel Ivanovich decides to tell about the reason that brought him to these parts. Chichikov wants to buy peasants who have already died, but their death has not yet been reflected in the audit certificate. His goal is to draw up all the documents, supposedly these peasants are still alive.

How does Manilov react to this? He has dead souls. However, the landowner is initially surprised by such a proposal. But then he agrees to the deal. Chichikov leaves the estate and goes to Sobakevich. Meanwhile, Manilov begins to dream about how Pavel Ivanovich will live next door to him and what good friends they will become after he moves.

Chapter three. Getting to know the Box

On the way to Sobakevich, Selifan (Chichikov's coachman) accidentally missed the right turn. And then it began to rain heavily, besides, Chichikov fell into the mud. All this forces the official to look for lodging for the night, which he found at the landowner Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka. Analysis of "Dead Souls" indicates that this lady is afraid of everything and everyone. However, Chichikov did not waste time in vain and offered to purchase deceased peasants from her. At first, the old woman was intractable, but after a visiting official promised to buy all the lard and hemp from her (but next time), she agrees.

The deal went through. The box treated Chichikov with pancakes and pies. Pavel Ivanovich, having eaten a hearty meal, drove on. And the landowner became very worried that she took little money for dead souls.

Chapter Four. Nozdrev

After visiting Korobochka, Chichikov drove out onto the main road. He decided to visit an inn along the way to have a bite to eat. And here the author wanted to give this action a certain mystery. He makes lyrical digressions. In Dead Souls, he reflects on the properties of appetite inherent in people like the protagonist of his work.

While in the tavern, Chichikov meets Nozdryov. The landowner complained that he had lost money at the fair. Then they follow to the estate of Nozdrev, where Pavel Ivanovich intends to profit well.

By analyzing "Dead Souls", you can understand what Nozdrev is. This is a man who loves all sorts of stories. He tells them everywhere, wherever he is. After a hearty dinner, Chichikov decides to bargain. However, Pavel Ivanovich cannot beg for dead souls or buy them. Nozdrev sets his own conditions, which consist in an exchange or in a purchase in addition to something. The landowner even offers to use dead souls as a bet in the game.

Serious disagreements arise between Chichikov and Nozdryov, and they postpone the conversation until morning. The next day, the men agreed to play checkers. However, Nozdryov tried to deceive his opponent, which was noticed by Chichikov. In addition, it turned out that the landowner was on trial. And Chichikov had no choice but to run when he saw the police captain.

Chapter five. Sobakevich

Sobakevich continues the images of the landowners in Dead Souls. It is to him that Chichikov comes after Nozdryov. The estate he visited is a match for his master. Just as strong. The host treats the guest to dinner, talking during the meal about city officials, calling them all swindlers.

Chichikov talks about his plans. They did not frighten Sobakevich at all, and the men quickly moved on to making a deal. However, trouble began for Chichikov. Sobakevich began to bargain, talking about the best qualities of the peasants who had already died. However, Chichikov does not need such characteristics, and he insists on his own. And here Sobakevich begins to hint at the illegality of such a deal, threatening to tell whoever needs to know about it. Chichikov had to agree to the price offered by the landowner. They sign the document, still fearing a dirty trick from each other.

There are lyrical digressions in "Dead Souls" in the fifth chapter. The author finishes the story about Chichikov's visit to Sobakevich with a discussion about the Russian language. Gogol emphasizes the diversity, strength and richness of the Russian language. Here he points to the peculiarity of our people to give each nickname associated with various misconduct or with the course of circumstances. They do not leave their master until his death.

Chapter six. Plushkin

A very interesting hero is Plyushkin. "Dead Souls" shows him as a very greedy person. The landowner does not even throw away his old sole, which has fallen off his boot, and carries it into a rather decent pile of such rubbish.

However, Plyushkin sells dead souls very quickly and without bargaining. Pavel Ivanovich is very happy about this and refuses the tea with cracker offered by the owner.

Chapter seven. Deal

Having reached his original goal, Chichikov is sent to the civil chamber to finally resolve the issue. Manilov and Sobakevich have already arrived in the city. The chairman agrees to become an attorney for Plyushkin and all other sellers. The deal went through, and champagne was opened for the health of the new landowner.

Chapter eight. Gossip. Ball

The city began to discuss Chichikov. Many thought he was a millionaire. The girls began to go crazy for him and send love messages. Once at the ball to the governor, he literally finds himself in the arms of the ladies. However, a sixteen-year-old blonde catches his attention. At this time, Nozdryov comes to the ball, loudly interested in buying dead souls. Chichikov had to leave in complete confusion and sadness.

Chapter nine. Benefit or love?

At this time, the landowner Korobochka arrived in the city. She decided to check if she had miscalculated with the cost of dead souls. The news about the amazing sale and purchase becomes the property of the residents of the city. People believe that dead souls are a cover for Chichikov, but in fact he dreams of taking away the blonde he likes, who is the daughter of the governor.

Chapter ten. Versions

The city literally revived. The news comes one after another. They talk about the appointment of a new governor, about the presence of supporting papers about fake banknotes, about an insidious robber who escaped from the police, etc. There are many versions, and they all relate to Chichikov's personality. The excitation of people negatively affects the prosecutor. He dies on impact.

Chapter Eleven. Purpose of the event

Chichikov does not know what the city is talking about him. He goes to the governor, but he is not received there. In addition, people who meet him on the way shy away from the official in different directions. Everything becomes clear after Nozdryov comes to the hotel. The landowner tries to convince Chichikov that he was trying to help him kidnap the governor's daughter.

And here Gogol decides to tell about his hero and why Chichikov is buying up dead souls. The author tells the reader about childhood and schooling, where Pavel Ivanovich already showed the ingenuity given to him by nature. Gogol also tells about Chichikov's relationship with his comrades and teachers, about his service and work in the commission, which was located in the government building, as well as about the transition to service in customs.

The analysis of "Dead Souls" clearly indicates the protagonist's inclinations, which he used to complete his deal described in the work. Indeed, at all places of work, Pavel Ivanovich managed to make a lot of money by concluding fake contracts and collusion. In addition, he did not disdain to work with smuggling. In order to avoid criminal punishment, Chichikov resigned. Having gone to work as an attorney, he immediately put together an insidious plan in his head. Chichikov wanted to buy dead souls in order to pawn, as if alive, into the treasury for the sake of receiving money. Further in his plans was the purchase of a village for the sake of providing future offspring.

In part, Gogol justifies his hero. He considers him the owner, who built such an entertaining chain of transactions with his mind.

Images of landlords

These heroes of "Dead Souls" are especially vividly presented in five chapters. Moreover, each of them is dedicated to only one landowner. There is a certain pattern in the placement of chapters. The images of the landlords of "Dead Souls" are arranged in them according to the degree of their degradation. Let's remember who was the first of them? Manilov. Dead Souls describes this landowner as lazy and dreamy, sentimental and practically unadapted to life. This is confirmed by many details, for example, the farm that has fallen into disrepair and the house standing southward, open to all winds. The author, using the amazing artistic power of the word, shows his reader the deadness of Manilov and the worthlessness of his life path. After all, behind external attractiveness there is a spiritual emptiness.

What other vivid images are created in the work "Dead Souls"? Heroes-landlords in the image of the Box are people who are focused only on their household. Not without reason, at the end of the third chapter, the author draws an analogy of this landowner with all aristocratic ladies. The box is distrustful and stingy, superstitious and stubborn. In addition, she is narrow-minded, petty and narrow-minded.

Next in terms of degradation is Nozdrev. Like many other landowners, he does not change with age, without even trying to develop internally. The image of Nozdryov embodies a portrait of a reveler and a braggart, a drunkard and a cheater. This landowner is passionate and energetic, but all his positive qualities are wasted. The image of Nozdryov is as typical as the previous landowners. And this is emphasized by the author in his statements.

Describing Sobakevich, Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol resorts to comparing him with a bear. In addition to clumsiness, the author describes his parodic inverted heroic power, earthiness and rudeness.

But the ultimate degree of degradation is described by Gogol in the form of the richest landowner in the province - Plyushkin. During his biography, this man went from a thrifty owner to a half-crazy miser. And it was not social conditions that brought him to this state. Plyushkin's moral decline provoked loneliness.

Thus, all the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" are united by such features as idleness and inhumanity, as well as spiritual emptiness. And he opposes this world of truly "dead souls" with faith in the inexhaustible potential of the "mysterious" Russian people. Not without reason, in the finale of the work, an image of an endless road appears, along which a trinity bird rushes. And in this movement, the writer's confidence in the possibility of the spiritual transformation of mankind and in the great destiny of Russia is manifested.

Text essay:

Does the end always justify the means? It is this question that the Russian writer Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol asks in the text offered to me.

Arguing about this problem on the pages of the poem "Dead Souls", the author draws a dual image of the protagonist. On the one hand, he (Chichikov) has a great desire to "do a hot service, conquer and overcome everything." We see a selfless, patient and self-limiting person in all needs. On the other hand, the writer clarifies by what means the hero achieved his goal: he "began to please his boss in all sorts of inconspicuous little things", began to look after his daughter and even promised to marry her. The author shows that in order to achieve a successful career, Chichikov neglects the laws of morality: he is deceitful, prudent, hypocritical and cynical. It is no coincidence that in the final part of the fragment, N.V. Gogol emphasizes that the moral “threshold” was the most difficult and after that it was not difficult for the hero to deceive, please and be mean in order to achieve his goals. So the author warns the reader: it is easy to turn off the moral path - it is difficult to return to it. Gogol suggests thinking: is it worth it to go against universal principles, to become a scoundrel even for the sake of achieving what you want?

Of course, I agree with this point of view and I believe that the desire to achieve what you want at any cost not only does not lead to happiness and well-being, but can also affect the lives of other people.

I would like to substantiate my point of view by referring to the novel by Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy "War and Peace". On the example of his heroine Helen Kuragina, a woman of impeccable external beauty and gloss, we understand what a selfish desire to achieve one's own can lead to. Hunting for the wealth of Count Bezukhov, she achieves her goal: she marries Pierre, becomes one of the richest women in St. Petersburg. But marriage does not bring happiness to young people: Helen does not love her husband, does not respect him, continues to lead her usual way of life. We see how the cynical calculation of the heroine leads to the collapse of the family. The story of Helen and Pierre makes you think about whether it makes sense to achieve the desired goal by any means.

I would like to justify my position by referring to Richard Matheson's story "Press the Button". Before us is the average Lewis family. At first glance, we cannot reproach Arthur and Norma with lack of spirituality, because at first Mr. Stewart's offer to exchange the life of a stranger for fifty thousand dollars causes disgust and indignation among the spouses. Unfortunately, the very next day, the heroine begins to seriously think about the tempting, in her opinion, offer of the agent. We see how in this difficult internal struggle the dream of traveling around Europe, a new cottage, fashionable clothes wins... Reading this story, you understand that the inability to prioritize, the rejection of generally accepted values ​​is detrimental to a person: the price of Norma's desires was the life of her husband Arthur. Thus, Richard Matheson showed what the desire to achieve what you want at any cost can lead to.

The works of N.V. Gogol, L.N. Tolstoy and R. Matheson make it possible to understand that a person should not set goals for himself, the achievement of which requires the rejection of the universal laws of morality.

Text by N. V. Gogol

Leaving the school, he did not even want to rest: he had such a strong desire to soon set to work and service. He got an insignificant place, a salary of thirty or forty rubles a year. But he decided to hotly engage in service, to conquer and overcome everything. And, precisely, self-sacrifice, patience and limitation of needs, he showed unheard of. Among other officials, Chichikov could not help but be noticed and distinguished, representing in everything the perfect opposite, both in the goodness of his face, and the friendliness of his voice, and the complete non-use of any strong drinks.

But for all that, his path was difficult. He fell under the command of an already elderly assistant, who was the image of some kind of stone insensitivity and indestructibility. It seemed that there was no human strength to get close to such a person and attract his favor, but Chichikov tried. At first he began to please in all sorts of inconspicuous trifles: he carefully examined the feathers with which he wrote, and, having prepared several according to their model, put them under his arm each time; he blew and swept sand and tobacco from his table; got a new rag for his inkwell; I found somewhere his hat, the worst hat that ever existed in the world, and every time I put it near him a minute before the end of the presence; cleaned his back if he stained it with chalk against the wall. But all this was decidedly left without any comment, as if nothing of this had been done. Finally, he sniffed out his domestic, family life: he found out that he had a mature daughter, with a nondescript face, exactly like that of an old man. From this side he came up with the idea of ​​inducing an attack. He found out what church she went to on Sundays, every time he stood against her, cleanly dressed, having starched his shirt-front heavily, and the matter was a success: the stern priest staggered and called him for tea! And in the office they didn’t have time to look back, how things turned out in such a way that Chichikov moved into his house, became a necessary and necessary person, bought flour and sugar, treated his daughter like a bride, a father’s assistant and kissed him on the hand. Everyone put in the ward that at the end of February, before Lent, there would be a wedding. The stern assistant even began to fuss with the chief for him, and after a while Chichikov himself was appointed assistant to one vacant position that had opened up. This, it seemed, was the main purpose of his connections with the old associate, because he immediately sent his chest secretly home and the next day found himself in another apartment. The clerk ceased to call him papa and did not kiss his hand again, and the matter of the wedding was so hushed up, as if nothing had happened at all. However, every time he met him, he affectionately shook his hand and invited him to tea, so that the old clerk, in spite of his eternal immobility and callous indifference, shook his head every time and said under his breath: !"

It was the most difficult threshold he had crossed. Since then, things have gotten easier and more successful. He became a prominent person. Everything turned out to be in him that is necessary for this world: both pleasantness in turns and actions, and glibness in business affairs.

(According to N.V. Gogol)

The idea of ​​the poem "Dead Souls" and its embodiment. Meaning of the title of the poem. Subject

The idea of ​​the poem dates back to 1835. The plot of the work was suggested to Gogol by Pushkin. The first volume of Dead Souls was completed in 1841 year and published in 1842 year under the title "The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls".

Gogol conceived a grandiose work in which he was going to reflect all aspects of Russian life. Gogol wrote to V.A. Zhukovsky about the concept of his work: "All Rus' will appear in it."

The concept of Dead Souls is comparable to that of Dante's Divine Comedy. The writer intended to write a work in three volumes. In the first volume, Gogol was going to show the negative aspects of life in Russia. Chichikov - the central character of the poem - and most of the other characters are depicted in a satirical manner. In the second volume, the writer sought to outline for his heroes the path to spiritual rebirth. In the third volume, Gogol wanted to embody his ideas about the true existence of man.

Connected with the writer's intention is the meaning of the title works. The very name "Dead Souls" contains, as you know, a paradox: the soul is immortal, which means that it cannot be dead in any way. The word "dead" is used here in a figurative, metaphorical sense. Firstly, we are talking here about the dead serfs, who are listed as alive in the revision tales. Secondly, speaking of "dead souls", Gogol means representatives of the ruling classes - landowners, officials, whose souls "dead", being in the grip of passions.

Gogol managed to complete only the first volume of Dead Souls. The writer worked on the second volume of the work until the end of his life. Gogol apparently destroyed the last version of the manuscript of the second volume shortly before his death. Only separate chapters of the two original editions of the second volume have survived. Gogol did not start writing the third volume.

In his work, Gogol reflected the life of Russia in the first third of the 19th century, the life and customs of landowners, officials of the provincial city, and peasants. In addition, in digressions and other non-plot elements of the work, topics such as Petersburg, war of 1812, Russian language, youth and old age, writer's vocation, nature, future of Russia and many others.

The main problem and ideological orientation of the work

The main problem with Dead Souls is spiritual death and spiritual rebirth of man.

At the same time, Gogol, a writer with a Christian worldview, does not lose hope for the spiritual awakening of his heroes. Gogol was going to write about the spiritual resurrection of Chichikov and Plyushkin in the second and third volumes of his work, but this plan was not destined to come true.

"Dead Souls" is dominated by satirical pathos: the writer denounces the morals of landowners and officials, pernicious passions, vices of representatives of the ruling classes.

Approving start in a poem related to the theme of the people: Gogol admires his heroic strength and lively mind, his apt word, all kinds of talents. Gogol believes in a better future for Russia and the Russian people.

Genre

Gogol himself subtitle to "Dead Souls" called his work poem.

In the prospectus of the "Educational Book of Literature for Russian Youth" compiled by the writer, there is a section "Smaller genera of the epic", which characterizes poem How a genre intermediate between the epic and the novel.Hero such a work - "a private and invisible face". The author leads the hero of the poem through adventure chain, to show a picture of "shortcomings, abuses, vices."

K.S. Aksakov saw in the work of Gogol features of the ancient epic. “The ancient epic rises before us,” wrote Aksakov. The critic compared Dead Souls with Homer's Iliad. Aksakov was struck by both the grandiosity of Gogol's idea and the grandeur of its embodiment already in the first volume of Dead Souls.

In Gogol's poem, Aksakov saw a wise, calm, majestic contemplation of the world, characteristic of ancient authors. One can partly agree with this point of view. Elements of the poem as a glorifying genre we find primarily in the author's digressions about Rus', about the troika bird.

At the same time, Aksakov underestimated the satirical pathos of Dead Souls. V.G. Belinsky, entering into a polemic with Aksakov, emphasized first of all satirical orientation"Dead Souls". Belinsky saw in Gogol's work a wonderful sample of satire.

In "Dead Souls" there are also features of an adventure novel. The main storyline of the work is built on the adventure of the protagonist. At the same time, the love affair, so important in most novels, is relegated to the background in Gogol's work and sustained in a comic vein (the story of Chichikov and the governor's daughter, rumors about her possible abduction by the hero, etc.).

Thus, Gogol's poem is a complex work in terms of genre. "Dead Souls" combines the features of an ancient epic, adventure novel, satire.

Composition: the general construction of the work

The first volume of Dead Souls is complex artistic whole.

Consider plot works. As you know, it was presented to Gogol by Pushkin. The plot of the work is based on the adventurous story of Chichikov's acquisition of dead souls peasants who, according to the documents, are considered alive. Such a plot is consistent with Gogol's definition of the genre of the poem as "a lesser kind of epic" (see the section on genre). Chichikov turns out storyline character. The role of Chichikov is akin to the role of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General": the hero appears in the city of NN, makes a commotion in it, hastily leaves the city when the situation becomes dangerous.

Note that the composition of the work is dominated by spatialmaterial organization principle. Here we find a fundamental difference between the construction of "Dead Souls" and, say, "Eugene Onegin", where "time is calculated according to the calendar", or "Hero of Our Time", where the chronology, on the contrary, is broken, and the narrative is based on the gradual disclosure of the inner world Main character. In Gogol's poem, the composition is based not on the temporal organization of events and not on the tasks of psychological analysis, but on spatial images - provincial towns, landowners' estates, and finally, all of Russia, whose boundless expanses appear before us in digressions about Rus' and about the trio bird.

The first chapter can be seen as exposure the whole action of the poem. Reader meets Chichikov- the central character of the work. The author gives a description of Chichikov's appearance, makes several remarks about his character and habits. In the first chapter, we are introduced to external appearance of the provincial city NN, as well as with its inhabitants. Gogol gives a short but very capacious satirical picture of the life of officials.

Chapters 2 to 6 the writer presents the reader gallery of landowners. In the image of each landowner, Gogol adheres to a certain compositional principle (a description of the landowner's estate, his portrait, the interior of the house, comic situations, the most important of which are the dinner scene and the scene of the sale of dead souls).

In the seventh chapter the action is again transferred to the provincial city. The most important episodes of the seventh chapter - scenes in the treasury And description of breakfast at the police chief.

Central episode the eighth chapter - a ball at the governor. Here it develops love affair, outlined in the fifth chapter (the collision of Chichikov's britzka with a carriage in which two ladies were sitting, one of whom, as it turned out later, was the governor's daughter). In the ninth chapterrumors and gossip about Chichikov grow. Ladies are the main distributors. The most persistent rumor about Chichikov is that the hero is going to kidnap the governor's daughter. Love affair passes Thus from the realm of the real to the realm of rumors and gossip about Chichikov.

In the tenth chapter, the central place is occupied by scene in the house of the police chief. A special place in the tenth chapter and in the work as a whole is occupied by an insertion episode - "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin". The tenth chapter ends with the news of the death of the prosecutor. Prosecutor's funeral scene in the eleventh chapter completes the theme of the city.

Chichikov's flight from the city of NN in the eleventh chapter ends the main storyline poems.

Characters

Gallery of landowners

Central to the poem is gallery of landowners. Their characteristics are devoted five chapters first volume - from the second to the sixth. Gogol showed close-ups of five characters. This Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Sobakevich and Plyushkin. All landowners embody the idea of ​​the spiritual impoverishment of man.

When creating images of landowners, Gogol makes extensive use of means of artistic expression, bringing together literary creativity with painting: it is description of the estate, interior, portrait.

Also important speech characteristics heroes, proverbs revealing the essence of their nature, comic situations, first of all the dinner scene and the scene of the sale of dead souls.

A special role in Gogol's work is played by details- landscape, subject, portrait, details of speech characteristics and others.

Let us briefly characterize each of the landowners.

Manilov- Human outwardly attractive, benevolent, located to acquaintance, communicative. This is the only character who speaks well of Chichikov to the end. In addition, he appears to us as good family man who loves his wife and takes care of his children.

But still main features Manilova is empty daydreaming, projecting, inability to manage the household. The hero dreams of building a house with a belvedere, from where a view of Moscow would open. He also dreams that the sovereign, having learned about their friendship with Chichikov, "granted them generals."

The description of the Manilov estate leaves the impression of monotony: “The village of Manilovka could lure a few with its location. The master's house stood alone in the south, that is, on a hill, open to all the winds, whichever it takes to blow. An interesting detail of the landscape sketch is a gazebo with the inscription "Temple of Solitary Reflection". This detail characterizes the hero as a sentimental person who likes to indulge in empty dreams.

Now about the details of the interior of the Manilov house. His study had fine furniture, but two armchairs had been upholstered in matting for several years. In the same place lay some kind of book, all the time laid on the fourteenth page. On both windows there are “heaps of ash knocked out of a pipe”. Some rooms had no furniture at all. A dandy candlestick was placed on the table, and some kind of copper invalid was placed next to it. All this speaks of Manilov's inability to manage the household, that he cannot complete the work he has begun.

Consider the portrait of Manilov. The appearance of the hero testifies to the sweetness of his character. In appearance he was a rather pleasant person, "but this pleasantness seemed to have been transferred too much sugar." The hero had attractive facial features, but in his eyes it was "transferred to sugar." The hero smiled like a cat that has been tickled behind the ears with a finger.

Manilov's speech is wordy, ornate. The hero loves to say beautiful phrases. "May day... name day of the heart!" he greets Chichikov.

Gogol characterizes his hero, resorting to the proverb: "Neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan."

Note also the scene of the dinner and the scene of the sale of dead souls. Manilov treats Chichikov, as usual in the village, with all his heart. Chichikov's request to sell dead souls causes surprise in Manilov and high-flown arguments: “Will this negotiation be inconsistent with civil decrees and further views of Russia?”

box distinguishes love of hoarding and at the same time clubhead". This landowner appears before us as a woman limited, with a straightforward character, slow-witted, thrifty to the point of stinginess.

At the same time, Korobochka lets Chichikov into her house at night, which speaks of her responsiveness And hospitality.

From the description of Korobochka's estate, we see that the landowner cares not so much about the appearance of the estate, but about successful housekeeping and prosperity. Chichikov notices the well-being of peasant households. Box - practical hostess.

Meanwhile, in Korobochka's house, in the room where Chichikov fit in, "behind every mirror there was either a letter, or an old deck of cards, or a stocking"; all these substantive details emphasize the landowner's passion for collecting unnecessary things.

During lunch, all kinds of homemade supplies and pastries are placed on the table, which testifies to the patriarchal customs and hospitality of the hostess. Meanwhile, the Box cautiously accepts offer Chichikov about selling dead souls to him and even goes to the city to find out how much dead souls are now. Therefore, Chichikov, using a proverb, characterizes Korobochka as a "mutt in the hay", who does not eat herself and does not give to others.

Nozdrev–spendthrift, swindler, swindler,"historical man" because some kind of story always happens to him. This character is distinguished by constant lies, gambling, dishonesty,familiarity with the people around him boastfulness, a penchant for scandalous stories.

The description of the Nozdryov estate reflects the original character of its owner. We see that the hero is not engaged in farming. So, in his estate "the field in many places consisted of hummocks." Only Nozdryov's kennel is in order, which testifies to his passion for dog hunting.

The interior of Nozdrev's house is interesting. In his office hung “Turkish daggers, on one of which was mistakenly carved: “Master Savely Sibiryakov”.” Among the details of the interior, we also note Turkish pipes and a hurdy-gurdy - objects that reflect the range of interests of the character.

A curious portrait detail speaks of the propensity of the hero to a riotous life: one of Nozdryov's sideburns was somewhat thicker than the other - a consequence of a tavern fight.

In the story about Nozdryov, Gogol uses hyperbole: the hero says that he, being at the fair, “alone drank seventeen bottles of champagne during dinner,” which indicates the hero’s tendency to brag and lie.

At dinner, during which disgustingly cooked dishes were served, Nozdryov tried to get Chichikov drunk with cheap wine of dubious quality.

Speaking about the scene of buying and selling dead souls, we note that Nozdrev perceives Chichikov's offer as an excuse for gambling. As a result, a quarrel arises, which only by chance does not end with the beating of Chichikov.

Sobakevich- This landowner-fist who leads a strong economy and at the same time is distinguished rudeness And straightforwardness. This landowner appears before us as a man surly,clumsy,speaking badly of everyone. Meanwhile, he gives unusually well-aimed, albeit very rude, characteristics to the officials of the city.

Describing the estate of Sobakevich, Gogol notes the following. During the construction of the master's house, "the architect constantly fought with the taste of the owner", so the house turned out to be asymmetrical, although very durable.

Let's pay attention to the interior of Sobakevich's house. Portraits of Greek generals hung on the walls. “All these heroes,” Gogol notes, “were with such thick thighs and unheard-of mustaches that a shiver passed through the body,” which is quite consistent with the appearance and character of the owner of the estate. In the room stood "a walnut office on absurd four legs, a perfect bear ... Every object, every chair seemed to say:" And I, too, Sobakevich "".

Gogol's character and his appearance also resembles a "medium-sized bear", which indicates the rudeness, uncouthness of the landowner. The writer notes that “the tail coat on him was completely bearish in color, the sleeves were long, the pantaloons were long, he stepped with his feet and at random and stepped incessantly on other people's legs.” It is no coincidence that the hero is characterized by the proverb: "It is not right, but it is tightly sewn." In the story about Sobakevich, Gogol resorts to the technique hyperbole. Sobakevich's "heroism" is manifested, in particular, in the fact that his foot is shod "in a boot of such gigantic size, which is unlikely to be found anywhere to meet the foot."

Gogol also uses hyperbole when describing dinner at Sobakevich's, who was obsessed with a passion for gluttony: a turkey "as tall as a calf" was served at the table. In general, lunch in the hero's house is distinguished by unpretentious dishes. “When I have pork - put the whole pig on the table, lamb - drag the whole ram, goose - just the goose! I'd rather eat two dishes, but eat in moderation, as my soul requires, ”says Sobakevich.

Discussing the terms of the sale of dead souls with Chichikov, Sobakevich is diligently bargaining, and when Chichikov tries to refuse the purchase, he hints at a possible denunciation.

Plushkin personifies stinginess carried to the point of absurdity. This is an old, unfriendly, untidy and inhospitable person.

From the description of the estate and Plyushkin's house, we see that his farm is in complete desolation. Greed ruined both the well-being and the soul of the hero.

The appearance of the owner of the estate is nondescript. “His face was nothing special; it was almost the same as that of many thin old men, only one chin protruded very far forward, so that he had to cover it with a handkerchief every time so as not to spit, ”writes Gogol. “The little eyes had not yet gone out and were running from under high-growing eyebrows like mice.”

Of particular importance when creating the image of Plushkin is subject detail. On the bureau in the hero's office, the reader finds a mountain of various trifles. There are a lot of objects here: “a bunch of small papers covered with small papers, covered with a green marble press with an egg on top, some old book in leather binding with a red edge, a lemon, all dried up, no larger than a hazelnut, a broken arm of an armchair, a glass with some kind of liquid and three flies, covered with a letter, a piece of sealing wax, a piece of some kind of raised rag, two feathers stained with ink, dried up, as in consumption, a toothpick, completely yellowed, with which the owner, perhaps, picked his teeth even before the invasion of Moscow the French." We find the same pile in the corner of Plyushkin's room. As you know, psychological analysis can take different forms. For example, Lermontov draws a psychological portrait of Pechorin, revealing the inner world of the hero through the details of his appearance. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy resort to extensive internal monologues. Gogol recreates character's state of mind predominantly through the subject world. The "tina of trifles" surrounding Plyushkin symbolizes his stingy, petty, "dried" soul, like a forgotten lemon.

For lunch, the hero offers Chichikov a cracker (the remains of an Easter cake) and an old liqueur, from which Plyushkin himself extracted the worms. Upon learning of Chichikov's proposal, Plyushkin is sincerely happy, since Chichikov will relieve him of the need to pay taxes for the numerous peasants who died or fled from the stingy owner who starved them.

It is very important to note that Gogol resorts to such a technique as excursion into the past of the hero(retrospection): it is important for the author to show how the hero used to be and to what meanness he has now sunk. In the past, Plyushkin was a zealous owner, a happy family man. In the present - "a hole in humanity", in the words of the writer.

Gogol in his work satirically depicted the various types and characters of Russian landowners. Their names have become household names.

We also note the significance of the gallery of landowners symbolizing the process of spiritual degradation of a person. As Gogol wrote, his heroes are "one more vulgar than the other." If Manilov has some attractive features, then Plyushkin is an example of the extreme impoverishment of the soul.

The image of the provincial city: officials, ladies' society

Along with the gallery of landowners, an important place in the work is occupied by image of the provincial city NN. city ​​theme opens in the first chapter,resumes in the seventh chapter the first volume of "Dead Souls" and ends at the beginning of the eleventh chapter.

In the first chapter Gogol gives general description of the city. He's drawing appearance of the city, describes streets, hotel.

The urban landscape is monotonous. Gogol writes: "The yellow paint on the stone houses was strong in the eyes and the gray on the wooden houses was modestly dark." Some signs are curious, for example: "Foreigner Vasily Fedorov."

IN hotel description Gogol uses bright subjectdetails, resorts to artistic comparisons. The writer draws the darkened walls of the "common hall", cockroaches peeking out like prunes from all corners of Chichikov's room.

The urban landscape, the description of the hotel help the author to recreate an atmosphere of vulgarity reigning in the provincial city.

Already in the first chapter, Gogol calls the majority officials cities. These are the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, police chief, chairman of the chamber, inspector of the medical board, city architect, postmaster, and some other officials.

In the description of the city, provincial officials, their characters and mores, a pronounced satirical focus. The writer sharply criticizes the Russian bureaucratic system, the vices and abuses of officials. Gogol denounces such phenomena as bureaucracy, bribery, embezzlement, gross arbitrariness, and idle lifestyle, gluttony, propensity to play cards, idle talk, gossip, ignorance, vanity and many other vices.

In "Dead Souls" officials are depicted much more generally than in The Inspector General. They are not named by their last names. Most often, Gogol indicates the position of an official, thereby emphasizing the social role of the character. Sometimes the name and patronymic of the acting person are indicated. We learn that chairman of the chamber name is Ivan Grigorievich,police chief - Alexei Ivanovich, postmaster - Ivan Andreevich.

To some officials Gogol gives brief characteristics. For example, he notices that governor was "neither fat nor thin, had Anna around his neck" and "sometimes embroidered on tulle." prosecutor had thick eyebrows and winked his left eye, as if inviting the visitor to go into another room.

Police Chief Alexei Ivanovich, "father and philanthropist" in the city, like the mayor from the "Auditor", he visited the shops and the gostiny yard as if in his own pantry. At the same time, the police chief knew how to win the favor of the merchants, who said that Alexei Ivanovich "although he will take it, he will certainly not give you away." It is clear that the police chief covered up the machinations of the merchants. Chichikov speaks of the police chief as follows: “What a well-read person! We lost to him in whist ... until the very last cocks. Here the writer uses irony.

Gogol gives a vivid description of a petty bribery official Ivan Antonovich "jug snout", who knowingly takes Chichikov's "gratitude" for the registration of the deed of sale. Ivan Antonovich had a remarkable appearance: the entire middle of his face "came forward and went into the nose", hence the nickname of this official - the master of bribery.

And here postmaster"almost" did not take bribes: firstly, they did not offer him: the wrong position; secondly, he raised only one little son, and the state salary was basically enough. The character of Ivan Andreevich was sociable; according to the author, it was "wit and philosopher".

Concerning chairman of the chamber, then he knew by heart "Lyudmila" Zhukovsky. Other officials, as Gogol notes, were also "enlightened people": some read Karamzin, some "Moskovskie Vedomosti", some even read nothing at all. Here Gogol again resorts to the device irony. For example, about the game of officials in cards, the author notes that this is "a sensible occupation."

According to the writer, there were no duels between officials, because, as Gogol writes, they were all civil officials, but one tried to harm the other where possible, which, as you know, is sometimes harder than any duel.

In the center of the "Tale of Captain Kopeikin", told by the postmaster in the tenth chapter, there are two characters: this is an invalid of the war of 1812, "little man" Captain Kopeikin And "significant person"- a senior official, a minister who did not want to help the veteran, who showed callousness and indifference towards him.

Persons from the bureaucratic world also appear in Chichikov's biography in the eleventh chapter: this Chichikov himself, povytchik, whom Chichikov deftly deceived by not marrying his daughter, commission members for the construction of a government building, colleagues Chichikov at customs, other persons from the bureaucratic world.

Consider some episodes poems, where the characters of officials, their way of life are most clearly revealed.

The central episode of the first chapter is the scene parties at the governor's. Already here such features of the provincial bureaucracy are revealed, such as idleness, love of a card game, idle talk. Here we find digression about fat and thin officials, where the writer hints at the unrighteous incomes of the fat ones and the extravagance of the thin ones.

In the seventh chapter, Gogol returns to the theme of the city. Writer with irony describes Treasury Chamber. This is "a stone house, all white as chalk, probably to depict the purity of the souls of the positions placed in it." About the court, the author notes that it is "an incorruptible zemstvo court"; about judicial officials, he says that they have "the incorruptible heads of the priests of Themis." An apt characterization of officials is given by the mouth of Sobakevich. “They all burden the earth for nothing,” the hero remarks. Close-up showing bribe episode: Ivan Antonovich "jug snout" masterfully accepts "white" from Chichikov.

In the scene breakfast at the police chief reveals such traits of officials as gluttony And love for booze. Here Gogol again resorts to the technique hyperbole: Sobakevich alone eats a nine-pood sturgeon.

With undisguised irony, Gogol describes ladies' society. The ladies of the city were presentable", according to the author. Women's society is especially vividly depicted in the scenes ball at the governor's. Ladies perform in "Dead Souls" as trendsetters and public opinion. This becomes especially obvious in connection with Chichikov's courtship of the governor's daughter: the ladies are outraged by Chichikov's inattention to them.

The subject of ladies' gossip is further developed in ninth chapter, where the author showed a close-up Sofia Ivanovna And Anna Grigorievna - "just a nice lady" And "a lady pleasant in every way." Thanks to their efforts, a rumor is born that Chichikov is going to kidnap the governor's daughter.

Central episode of the tenth chapter–meeting of officials at the police chief, where the most incredible rumors about who Chichikov is are discussed. This episode is reminiscent of the scene in the mayor's house in the first act of The Government Inspector. The officials gathered to find out who Chichikov was. They remember their "sins" and at the same time utter the most incredible judgments about Chichikov. Opinions are expressed that this is the auditor, the manufacturer of counterfeit banknotes, Napoleon, and finally, Captain Kopeikin, about whom the postmaster tells the audience.

Death of a prosecutor, which is mentioned at the end of the tenth chapter, is a symbolic result of the author's reflections on the meaningless, empty life of the city. Mental impoverishment touched, according to Gogol, not only landowners, but also officials. The "discovery" of the inhabitants of the city, made in connection with the death of the prosecutor, is curious. “Then only with condolences did they find out that the deceased had, for sure, a soul, although he, due to his modesty, never showed it,” the writer notes with irony. Painting of the prosecutor's funeral in the eleventh chapter completes the story about the city. Chichikov exclaims, watching the funeral procession: “Here, prosecutor! Lived, lived, and then died! And now they will print in the newspapers that he died, to the regret of his subordinates and all of humanity, a respectable citizen, a rare father, an exemplary spouse ... but if you take a good look at the matter, then in fact you only had thick eyebrows.

Thus, creating the image of a provincial city, Gogol showed the life of the Russian bureaucracy, its vices and abuses. The images of officials, along with the images of landlords, help the reader understand the meaning of the poem about dead souls distorted by sin.

Petersburg theme. "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin"

Gogol's attitude to Petersburg has already been considered in the analysis of the comedy The Inspector General. Recall that St. Petersburg was for the writer not only the capital of an autocratic state, the justice of which he did not doubt, but also the focus of the worst manifestations of Western civilization - such as the cult of material values, pseudo-enlightenment, vanity; moreover, Petersburg in Gogol's view is a symbol of a soulless bureaucratic system that humiliates and suppresses the "little man".

We find references to St. Petersburg, comparisons of provincial life with life in the capital, already in the first chapter of Dead Souls, in the description of a party at the governor's. The author discusses the insignificance of the gastronomic subtleties of St. Petersburg in comparison with the simple and plentiful food of the provincial landowners, "gentlemen of the middle hand", at the beginning of the fourth chapter. Chichikov, thinking about Sobakevich, tries to imagine who Sobakevich would become if he lived in St. Petersburg. Talking about the governor's ball, the author notes with irony: "No, this is not a province, this is the capital, this is Paris itself." The theme of St. Petersburg is also connected with Chichikov’s remarks in the eleventh chapter on the ruin of the landowners’ estates: “Everything climbed into St. Petersburg to serve; estates are abandoned.

The theme of St. Petersburg is most clearly revealed in "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin", which the postmaster tells in the tenth chapter. "The Tale..." is based on folk traditions. One of her sources–folk song about the robber Kopeikin. Hence the elements skaz: we note such expressions of the postmaster as “my sir”, “you know”, “you can imagine”, “in some way”.

The hero of the story, a disabled veteran of the war of 1812, who went to St. Petersburg to ask for “monarchal mercy”, “suddenly found himself in the capital, which, so to speak, does not exist in the world! Suddenly there is a light in front of him, so to speak: a certain field of life, a fabulous Scheherazade. This description of Petersburg reminds us of hyperbolic images in the scene of Khlestakov's lies in the comedy "The Inspector General": the captain sees in luxurious shop windows “cherries - five rubles each”, “huge watermelon”.

In the center of the "Tale" - confrontation "little man" Captain Kopeikin And "significant person" - the minister, who personifies the bureaucratic machine, indifferent to the needs of ordinary people. It is curious to note that Gogol himself protects the tsar from criticism: at the time of Kopeikin's arrival in St. Petersburg, the sovereign was still on foreign campaigns and did not have time to make the necessary orders to help the disabled.

It is important that the author denounces the Petersburg bureaucracy from the position of a man from the people. The general meaning of the "Tale ..." is as follows. If the government does not turn its face to the needs of the people, a revolt against it is inevitable. It is no coincidence that Captain Kopeikin, not finding the truth in St. Petersburg, became, according to rumors, the chieftain of a gang of robbers.

Chichikov, his ideological and compositional role

The image of Chichikov performs two main functions - independent And compositional. On the one hand, Chichikov is a new type of Russian life, a type of acquirer-adventurer. On the other hand, Chichikov is plot-forming character; his adventures form the basis of the plot of the work.

Consider the independent role of Chichikov. This, according to Gogol, owner, purchaser.

Chichikov - a native of the environment poor and humble nobility. This official, who served the rank of collegiate adviser and accumulated his initial capital, engaging in embezzlement and bribes. At the same time, the hero acts as Kherson landowner who he claims to be. Chichikov needs the status of a landowner to acquire dead souls.

Gogol believed that the spirit of gain came to Russia from the West and acquired ugly forms here. Hence the hero's criminal paths to material well-being.

Chichikov distinguishes hypocrisy. By doing lawlessness, the hero declares his respect for the law. "The law - I am dumb before the law!" he says to Manilov.

It should be noted that Chichikov is attracted not by money per se, but by the opportunity rich and beautiful life. “He dreamed ahead of life in all contentment, with all prosperity; carriages, a house perfectly arranged, that's what constantly rushed about in his head, ”Gogol writes about his hero.

The pursuit of material values ​​distorted the soul of the hero. Chichikov, like landlords and officials, can be classified as "dead souls".

Consider now compositional the role of the image of Chichikov. This central character"Dead Souls". His main role in the work is plot-forming. This role is associated primarily with the genre of the work. As already noted, Gogol defines the poem as "a lesser kind of epic." The hero of such a work is “a private and invisible person”. The author leads him through a chain of adventures and changes in order to show a picture of modern life, a picture of shortcomings, abuses, vices. In "Dead Souls" the adventures of such a hero - Chichikov - become the basis of the plot and allow the author to show the negative aspects of contemporary Russian reality, human passions and delusions.

At the same time, the compositional role of Chichikov's image is not limited to the plot-forming function alone. Chichikov turns out, paradoxically, author's confidant. In his poem, Gogol looks at many phenomena of Russian life through the eyes of Chichikov. A vivid example is the hero's reflections on the souls of the dead and fugitive peasants (Chapter 7). These thoughts formally belong to Chichikov, although the author's own view is clearly felt here. Let's take another example. Chichikov talks about the extravagance of provincial officials and their wives against the backdrop of national disasters (chapter eight). It is clear that the denunciation of the exorbitant luxury of officials and sympathy for the common people come from the author, but are put into the mouth of the hero. The same can be said about Chichikov's assessment of many characters. Chichikov calls Korobochka a "clubhead", Sobakevich a "fist". It is clear that these judgments reflect the view of the writer himself on these characters.

The unusualness of this role of Chichikov lies in the fact that "confidant" author becomes a negative character. However, this role is understandable in the light of Gogol's Christian worldview, his ideas about the sinful state of modern man and the possibility of his spiritual rebirth. At the end of the eleventh chapter, Gogol writes that many people have vices that make them no better than Chichikov. “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me too?” - the author of the poem asks himself and the reader a question. At the same time, intending to bring the hero to spiritual rebirth in the second and third volumes of his work, the writer thereby expressed the hope for the spiritual rebirth of every fallen person.

Consider some artistic means creating the image of Chichikov

Chichikov - type averaged. It's underlined description appearance hero. Gogol writes about Chichikov that he is "not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, but not too thin, one cannot say that he is old, but not so that he is too young." Chichikov wears lingonberry-colored tailcoat with a sparkle. This detail of the hero's appearance emphasizes his desire to look decent and at the same time make a good impression of himself, sometimes even shine in the light, splurge.

The most important character trait of Chichikov is adaptability to others, a kind of "chameleon". It's confirmed speech hero. “Whatever the conversation was about, he always knew how to support it,” writes Gogol. Chichikov knew how to talk about horses, and about dogs, and about virtue, and about making hot wine. With each of the five landowners, Chichikov speaks differently. He talks to Manilov in a florid and grandiloquent way. Chichikov does not stand on ceremony with Korobochka; at the decisive moment, irritated by her stupidity, he even promises her the devil. Chichikov is cautious with Nozdryov, business-like with Sobakevich, and laconic with Plyushkin. curious Chichikov's monologue in the seventh chapter (the scene of breakfast at the police chief). The hero reminds us of Khlestakov. Chichikov imagines himself a Kherson landowner, speaks of various improvements, of a three-field economy, of the happiness and bliss of two souls.

Chichikov's speech often contains proverbs. “Don't have money, have good people to convert,” he says to Manilov. “Hooked - dragged, broke - do not ask,” the hero argues in connection with an unsuccessful scam in the commission for the construction of a government building. “Oh, I’m Akim-simplicity, I’m looking for mittens, and both are behind my belt!” - Chichikov exclaims on the occasion of the idea that came to his mind to buy up dead souls.

An important role in creating the image of Chichikov plays subject detail. casket the hero is a kind of mirror of his soul, obsessed with a passion for acquisitions. chaise Chichikov is also a symbolic image. It is inseparable from the way of life of the hero, prone to all sorts of adventures.

Love affair in Dead Souls, as in The Government Inspector, it turns out in the background. At the same time, it is important both for revealing the character of Chichikov and for recreating the atmosphere of rumors and gossip in the provincial town. Talk about the fact that Chichikov allegedly sought to kidnap the governor's daughter opens up a series of fables that accompany the hero until the moment he leaves the city.

It turns out that gossip and rumors about the hero also an important means of creating his image. They characterize it from different angles. According to the inhabitants of the city, Chichikov is both an auditor, and a manufacturer of fake banknotes, and even Napoleon. Napoleon theme in "Dead Souls" is not accidental. Napoleon is a symbol of Western civilization, extreme individualism, the desire to achieve the goal by any means.

Of particular importance in the poem is biography Chichikov, placed in the eleventh chapter. Let's name the main stages and events of Chichikov's life path. This joyless childhood, life in poverty, in an atmosphere of family despotism; leaving the parental home and the beginning of studies, marked parting words of the father: "Most of all, take care and save a penny!". IN school years the hero was carried away petty speculation, he did not forget about toadying before the teacher, to whom later, in a difficult moment, he treated very callously, callously. Chichikov hypocritically taking care of the daughter of an elderly for the purpose of promotion. Then he worked "ennobled" forms of bribery(through subordinates), theft in the commission for the construction of a government building, after exposure – fraud while serving at customs(story with Brabant lace). Finally, he started dead souls scam.

Recall that almost all the heroes of "Dead Souls" are depicted by the writer statically. Chichikov (like Plyushkin) is an exception. And this is no coincidence. It is important for Gogol to show the origins of the spiritual impoverishment of his hero, which began in his very childhood and early youth, to trace how the passion for a rich and beautiful life gradually destroyed his soul.

The theme of the people

As already noted, the idea of ​​the poem "Dead Souls" was to show in it "all of Rus'". Gogol paid the main attention to representatives of the nobility - landowners and officials. At the same time, he touched themes of the people.

The writer showed in "Dead Souls" dark sides the life of the peasantry rudeness, ignorance, drunkenness.

The serfs of Chichikov are a footman Parsley and coachman Selifan– unclean, uneducated, limited for their own mental interests. Petrushka reads books without understanding anything in them. Selifan is addicted to drinking. Fortress Wench Pelagia does not know where the right side is, where the left side is. Uncle Mityai and Uncle Minyay they cannot unravel the harness of horses harnessed to two carriages.

At the same time, Gogol notes talent, creativity Russian people, his heroic strength And free spirit. These features of the people are especially clearly reflected in author's digressions (about the well-aimed Russian word, about Rus', about the troika bird), as well as in Sobakevich's reasoning about the dead peasant craftsmen(This bricklayer Milushkin, Eremey Sorokoplekhin, who, being engaged in trade, brought quitrent of 500 rubles, carriage maker Mikheev, carpenter Stepan Cork, shoemaker Maxim Telyatnikov); in Chichikov's reflections on purchased dead souls, which express the position of the author himself (in addition to the already named peasants of Sobakevich, the hero mentions the fugitive peasants of Plyushkin, in particular Abakuma Fyrova, which was probably brought to the Volga; he became a barge hauler and gave himself up to the revelry of a free life).

Gogol also notes rebellious spirit people. The writer believes that if the arbitrariness of the authorities is not stopped, if the needs of the people are not satisfied, then a revolt is possible. This view of the author is evidenced by at least two episodes in the poem. This murder men assessor Drobyazhkin who, being possessed by fornication, molested girls and young women, and the story of captain kopeikin, who probably became a robber.

An important place in the poem is copyright digressions:satirical,journalistic,lyrical,philosophical and others. In their content, some are close to digressions. Chichikov's reasoning, conveying the author's position. How can a digression be considered and such an off-plot element, How parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich in the eleventh chapter.

In addition to retreats, plays an important role in identifying the author's position "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" told by the postmaster (chapter ten).

Let us name the main digressions contained in the first volume of Dead Souls. These are the thoughts of the author. about fat and thin officials(first chapter, scene of a party at the governor); his judgment about the ability to deal with people(third chapter); witty editorial remarks about a healthy stomach gentlemen of the middle class(beginning of the fourth chapter). We also note the digressions about a well-aimed Russian word(end of chapter 5) about youth(the beginning of the sixth chapter and the passage “Take it with you on the road ...”). Of fundamental importance for understanding the author's position is a digression about two writers(beginning of the seventh chapter).

Retreats can be equated Chichikov's reasoning about purchased peasant souls(the beginning of the seventh chapter, after a digression about two writers), and also reflections hero about the idle life of the mighty of the world against the backdrop of the misfortunes of the people (end of the eighth chapter).

Note also the philosophical digression about the delusions of mankind(tenth chapter). The author's reflections in the eleventh chapter complete the list of digressions: about Rus'(“Rus! Rus!.. I see you…”), about the road, about human passions. We especially note parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich and retreat about the trio bird, which concludes the first volume of Dead Souls.

Let's look at some of the deviations in more detail. Author's reflections about a well-aimed Russian word completes the fifth chapter of the poem. In the strength and accuracy of the Russian word, Gogol sees a manifestation of the mind, creative abilities, and talent of the Russian people. Gogol compares the Russian language with the languages ​​of other peoples: “The word of a Briton will echo with the knowledge of the heart and the wise knowledge of life; The short-lived word of a Frenchman will flash and scatter like a light dandy; the German will intricately invent his own, not accessible to everyone, cleverly thin word; but there is no word that would be so bold, brisk, so burst out from under the very heart, so seething and vibrant, like the aptly spoken Russian word. Discussing the Russian language and the languages ​​of other peoples, Gogol resorts to the technique figurative parallelism: the multitude of peoples living on earth is likened to the multitude of churches in Holy Rus'.

At the beginning of the sixth chapter we find a digression about youth. The author, telling the reader about his road impressions in his youth and in his mature years, notices that in youth a person is characterized by a freshness of world perception, which he subsequently loses. The saddest thing, according to the writer, is that over time a person can lose those moral qualities that were laid in him in his youth. It is not for nothing that Gogol continues the theme of youth in the further narrative, in connection with the story of Plyushkin, about his spiritual degradation. The author addresses the youth with tremulous words: “Take with you on the road, emerging from your soft youthful years into a severe hardening courage, take with you all human movements, do not leave them on the road, you will not pick them up later!”

Retreat about two writers, which opens the seventh chapter, is also built on figurative parallelism. Writers are like travelers: a romantic writer is like a happy family man, a satirist writer is like a lonely bachelor.

The romantic writer shows only the bright side of life; satirist portrays "terrible mire of trifles" and exposes her to the eyes of the people.

Gogol says that romantic writer accompanies lifetime glory, satirist are waiting reproaches and persecution. Gogol writes: “This is not the fate of the writer who dared to bring out everything that every minute is before his eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see, all the terrible, amazing mire of trifles that have entangled our life, the whole depth of cold, fragmented, everyday characters.”

In a digression about two writers, Gogol formulates own creative principles which later became known as realism. Here Gogol says about the meaning of high laughter- the most valuable gift of a satirist writer. The fate of such a writer “look around” life “through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to it tears”.

in retreat about the delusions of mankind in the tenth chapter the main idea of ​​"Dead Souls", component the essence of Gogol's Christian worldview. According to the writer, mankind in its history often deviated from the true path outlined by God. Hence the delusions of both past generations and the present. “What twisted, deaf, narrow, impassable, drifting roads mankind has chosen, striving to achieve eternal truth, while the whole straight path was open before it, similar to the path leading to the magnificent temple appointed by the king to the palaces. It is wider and more luxurious than all other paths, illuminated by the sun and illuminated by lights all night, but people were flowing past it in the dead darkness,” writes Gogol. The life of Gogol's heroes - landowners, officials, Chichikov - is a vivid example of human delusions, deviation from the right path, loss of the true meaning of life.

in retreat about Rus'(“Rus! Rus! I see you, I see you from my wonderful, beautiful far away…”) Gogol contemplates Russia from distant Rome, where, as we remember, he created the first volume of Dead Souls.

The author of the poem compares the nature of Russia with the nature of Italy. He is aware that Russian nature, unlike the luxurious Italian, no external beauty; at the same time, endless Russian expanses cause in the mind of a writer deep feeling.

Gogol says about the song in which the Russian character is expressed. The writer also thinks O boundless thought And about heroism characteristic of the Russian people. It is no coincidence that the author concludes his thoughts about Rus' with the words: “Is it not here, in you, that an infinite thought is born, when you yourself are without end? Is it not possible for a hero to be here when there is a place where he can turn around and walk around? And menacingly embraces me mighty space, with terrible power reflected in my depths; my eyes lit up with an unnatural power: wow! what a sparkling, wonderful, unfamiliar distance to the earth! Rus!.."

Parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich both in form and content resembles the author's digression. The images of father and son - Kifa Mokievich and Mokiy Kifovich - reflect Gogol's understanding of the Russian national character. Gogol believes that there are two main types of Russian people - type of philosopher And type of hero. According to Gogol, the misfortune of the Russian people lies in the fact that both thinkers and heroes in Rus' degenerate. A philosopher in his current state can only indulge in empty dreams, and a hero can destroy everything around him.

Completes the first volume of "Dead Souls" digression about the trio bird. Here Gogol expresses his faith in a better future for Russia, he connects him with the Russian people: it is not for nothing that the craftsman is mentioned here - "Yaroslavl agile man"- Yes dashing coachman, famously managing the rushing troika.

Questions and tasks

1. Give the full title of Dead Souls. Tell us about the history of the poem. What did Gogol write about the idea of ​​his creation to Zhukovsky? Did the writer manage to fully realize his plan? In what year was the first volume of the work completed and in what year was it published? What do you know about the fate of the second and third volumes?

Comment on the title of the piece. What is the paradox here? Why is the phrase "dead souls" interpreted as metaphorical?

Name the main themes of Gogol's poem. Which of these topics are covered in the main narrative, which in digressions?

2. How can you determine the main problem of the piece? How is it related to Gogol's Christian worldview?

What pathos prevails in Gogol's poem? What is the theme of the affirmative beginning?

3. What genre definition did Gogol give to "Dead Souls" in the subtitle to the work? How did the writer himself interpret this genre in the prospectus of the Educational Book of Literature for Russian Youth? Features of what genres did K.S. Aksakov and V.G. Belinsky see in “Dead Souls”? How does Gogol's work resemble an adventurous adventure novel?

4. Who gave Gogol the plot of "Dead Souls"? How is the plot of the work connected with Gogol's understanding of the genre of the poem? Which character is the main character in the story and why?

What principle of material organization prevails in Gogol's work? What spatial images do we find here?

What elements of the first chapter are relevant to the exposition? What place does the gallery of landowners occupy in the work? Name the main episodes of the subsequent chapters, revealing the image of the provincial city. What place does love intrigue occupy in the composition of the work? What is its peculiarity in the poem?

What place does Chichikov's biography take in Dead Souls? What extra-plot elements of the poem can you name?

5. Briefly describe the gallery of landowners. According to what plan does Gogol tell about each of them? What artistic means does the writer use to create their images? Tell us about each of the landowners depicted by Gogol. Reveal the value of the entire gallery.

6. Which chapters of Dead Souls cover the topic of the city? Tell us about the exposure of the image of the city in the first chapter. What descriptions, characteristics does it include?

List the maximum number of city officials, naming their positions and surname and patronymic, if they are indicated by the author. Give a general description of the officials and each separately. What human passions, vices do they personify?

List the main episodes that reveal the theme of the city, identify the ideological and compositional role of each of them.

7. In what chapters and in what episodes of "Dead Souls" are Petersburg, Petersburg life mentioned? In which chapter, which of the characters and in what connection does the Tale of Captain Kopeikin tell? What folklore source does it go back to? What is the originality of the narration in the story about Kopeikin? How is Petersburg depicted here? What literary device is the author using here? What is the main conflict in The Tale...? What idea did the author want to convey to the reader by including the story of Kopeikin in the main text of Dead Souls?

8. What functions does the image of Chichikov perform in Dead Souls? What type of Russian life does he represent? What is the compositional role of Chichikov, what is the unusualness of this role? Consider the artistic means of creating the image of a hero, give examples of these means; pay special attention to the biography of the hero.

9. What aspects of the life of the people are revealed in Dead Souls? Tell us about the serf servants of Chichikov, about episodic characters - representatives of the people. Name the crafty peasants from among the "dead souls" sold to Chichikov by Sobakevich, briefly describe them. Name the fugitive peasant Plyushkin, who loved the free life. Which episodes of Dead Souls contain hints of the people's ability to revolt?

10. List all the author's digressions and other extra-plot elements of Dead Souls known to you. Consider in detail the digressions about the apt Russian word, about youth, about two writers, about the delusions of mankind, about Rus', the parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich, as well as the digression about the trinity bird. How does the author of the work appear in these digressions?

11. Make a detailed outline and prepare an oral report on the topic: "Artistic means and techniques in the poem" Dead Souls "" (landscape, interior, portrait, comic situations, speech characteristics of heroes, proverbs; figurative parallelism, comparison, hyperbole, irony ).

12. Write an essay on the topic: "Varieties and artistic functions of details in N.V. Gogol's Dead Souls."