Starting work on the poem "Dead Souls", Gogol set himself the goal of "showing at least one side of all Rus'." The poem is built on the basis of a story about adventures Chichikov - official buying up "dead souls". Such a composition allowed the author to talk about different landowners and their villages, which Chichikov visits in order to make his deal. According to Gogol, heroes follow us, "one more vulgar than the other." We get to know each of the landowners only during the time (as a rule, no more than one day) that Chichikov spends with him. But Gogol chooses such a way of depicting, based on a combination of typical features with individual characteristics, which allows you to get an idea not only about one of the characters, but also about the whole layer of Russian landowners, embodied in this hero.
Very important role is given to Chichikov. Adventurer swindler to achieve his goal - the purchase of "dead souls" - cannot be limited to a superficial look at people: he needs to know all the subtleties of the psychological appearance of the landowner with whom he is to conclude a very strange deal. After all, the landowner can give consent to it only if Chichikov succeeds in persuading him by pressing the necessary levers. In each case they will be different, because the people with whom Chichikov has to deal are different. And in each chapter, Chichikov himself changes somewhat, trying to somehow resemble the given landowner: in his manner of behavior, speech, expressed ideas. This the right way win over a person, force him to make not only a strange, but, in fact, a criminal deal, which means becoming an accomplice in a crime. That is why Chichikov tries so hard to hide his true motives, providing each of the landowners as an explanation of the reasons for his interest in "dead souls" that this particular person can be most understandable.
Thus, Chichikov in the poem is not just a swindler, his role is more important: the author needs him as a powerful tool in order to test other characters, show their essence hidden from prying eyes, and reveal their main features. This is exactly what we see in Chapter 2, devoted to Chichikov's visit to the village of Manilov. The image of all landowners is based on the same microplot. His “spring” is the actions of Chichikov, the buyer of “dead souls”. Indispensable participants in each of the five such microplots are two characters: Chichikov and the landowner to whom he comes, in this case, these are Chichikov and Manilov.
In each of the five chapters devoted to the landlords, the author builds the story as a successive change of episodes: entry into the estate, meeting, refreshment, Chichikov's offer to sell him "dead souls", departure. These are not ordinary plot episodes: it is not the events themselves that are of interest to the author, but the opportunity to show that object world surrounding the landowners, which most fully reflects the personality of each of them; not only to give information about the content of the conversation between Chichikov and the landowner, but to show in the manner of communication of each of the characters that which carries both typical and individual features.
The scene of the sale and purchase of "dead souls", which I will analyze, occupies a central place in the chapters on each of the landowners. Before her, the reader, together with Chichikov, can already form a certain idea of the landowner with whom the swindler is talking. It is on the basis of this impression that Chichikov builds a conversation about "dead souls." And therefore, his success entirely depends on how correctly and fully he, and therefore the readers, managed to understand this human type with his individual characteristics.
What do we manage to learn about Manilov before Chichikov proceeds to the most important thing for him - a conversation about "dead souls"?
The chapter on Manilov begins with a description of his estate. The landscape is designed in gray-blue tones and everything, even a gray day, when Chichikov visits Manilov, sets us up for a meeting with a very boring - "gray" - person: "the village of Manilov could lure a few." Gogol writes about Manilov himself as follows: “He was a so-so person, neither this nor that: neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan.” A number of phraseological units are used here, as if strung on top of each other, which together allow us to conclude how empty the inner world Manilov, devoid, as the author says, of some kind of internal "enthusiasm".
This is also evidenced by the portrait of the landowner. Manilov at first seems like the most pleasant person: kind, hospitable and moderately disinterested. “He smiled enticingly, was blond, with blue eyes". But the author notices not in vain that Manilov's "pleasantness" was "too much transferred to sugar; in his manners and turns there was something ingratiating himself with location and acquaintance. Such sweetness also slips into his family relations with his wife and children. It is not for nothing that the sensitive Chichikov immediately, having tuned in to Manilov’s wave, begins to admire his pretty wife and quite ordinary children, whose “partially Greek” names clearly betray his father’s claim and his constant desire to “work for the viewer”.
The same is true for everything else. So, Manilov's claim to elegance and enlightenment and its complete failure is shown through the details of the interior of his room. There is beautiful furniture here - and right there are two unfinished chairs covered with matting; a dandy candlestick, and next to it “some just a copper invalid, lame, curled up on the side and covered in fat.” To all readers dead souls”, of course, the book in Manilov’s office is also memorable,“ bookmarked on the fourteenth page, which he had been reading for two years already.
Manilov's famous politeness also turns out to be just an empty form without content: after all, this quality, which should facilitate and make people's communication pleasant, in Manilov develops into its opposite. What is the scene when Chichikov is forced to stand in front of the doors to the living room for several minutes, as he seeks to outdo the owner in polite manner, letting him go ahead, and as a result, they both "entered the door sideways and squeezed each other a little." Thus, in a particular case, the author’s remark is realized that at the first minute one can only say about Manilov: “What a pleasant and a kind person!”, then “you won’t say anything, but on the third you’ll say:“ The devil knows what it is! ”- and move away; if you don’t move away, you will feel mortal boredom.”
But Manilov himself considers himself a cultured, educated, well-mannered person. This is how he sees not only Chichikov, clearly trying with all his might to please the tastes of the owner, but also all the people around him. This is very clearly seen from the conversation with Chichikov about city officials. Both of them vied with each other to praise them, calling everyone beautiful, "nice", "most kind" people, not at all caring about whether this corresponds to the truth. For Chichikov, this is a cunning move that helps win over Manilov (in the chapter on Sobakevich, he will give very unflattering characteristics to the same officials, indulging the taste of the owner). Manilov generally represents the relationship between people in the spirit of idyllic pastorals. After all, life in his perception is a complete, perfect harmony. This is what Chichikov wants to "play" on, intending to conclude his strange deal with Manilov.
But there are other trump cards in his deck, allowing you to easily "beat" the beautiful-hearted landowner. Manilov not only lives in illusory world: the very process of fantasizing gives him real pleasure. Hence his love for a beautiful phrase and, in general, for any kind of posing - exactly as shown in the scene of buying and selling "dead souls", he reacts to Chichikov's proposal. But the most important thing is that, apart from empty dreams, Manilov simply cannot do anything - after all, one cannot, in fact, consider that knocking out pipes and lining up piles of ashes in “beautiful rows” is a worthy occupation for an enlightened landowner. He is a sentimental dreamer, completely incapable of action. No wonder his surname became common noun expressing the corresponding concept - "Manilovism".
Idleness and idleness entered the flesh and blood of this hero and became an integral part of his nature. Sentimental-idyllic ideas about the world, dreams, "in which he is immersed most of his time, lead to the fact that his economy goes "somehow by itself", without much participation on his part, and gradually falls apart. swindler-clerk, and the owner does not even know how many peasants have died since the last census.To answer this question of Chichikov, the owner of the estate has to turn to the clerk, but it turns out that there are many dead, but "no one counted them." And only at the urgent request of Chichikov, the clerk is ordered to count them and draw up a "detailed register".
But the further course of the pleasant conversation plunges Manilov into complete amazement. To a completely logical question why an outsider is so interested in the affairs of his estate, Manilov receives a shocking answer: Chichikov is ready to buy peasants, but “not exactly peasants,” but dead ones! It must be admitted that not only such an impractical person as Manilova, but also any other person, such a proposal can discourage. However, Chichikov, having coped with his excitement, immediately clarifies:
"I suppose to acquire the dead, which, however, would be listed as alive according to the revision."
This clarification already allows us to guess a lot. Sobakevich, for example, did not need any explanation at all - he immediately grasped the essence of the illegal transaction. But to Manilov, who does not understand anything even in the usual affairs for a landowner, this does not mean anything, and his amazement goes beyond all boundaries:
“Manilov immediately dropped the chibouk with his pipe on the floor, and as he opened his mouth, he remained with his mouth open for several minutes.”
Chichikov pauses and begins the offensive. His calculation is accurate: having already well understood with whom he is dealing, the swindler knows that Manilov will not allow anyone to think that he, an enlightened, educated landowner, is not able to catch the essence of the conversation. Convinced that he is not insane, but still the same “brilliantly educated” person, as he reveres Chichikov, the owner of the house wants to “not fall face down in the dirt,” as they say. But what can be said about such a really crazy proposal?
“Manilov was completely at a loss. He felt that he needed to do something, to propose a question, and what question - the devil knows. In the end, he remains “in his repertoire”: “Won’t this negotiation be inconsistent with civil decrees and further views of Russia?” he asks, showing ostentatious interest in state affairs. However, it must be said that he is generally the only one of the landowners who, in a conversation with Chichikov about "dead souls", recalls the law and the interests of the country. True, in his mouth these arguments take on an absurd character, especially since, upon hearing Chichikov's answer: “Oh! pardon, not at all, ”Manilov completely calms down.
But Chichikov's cunning calculation, based on a subtle understanding of the internal impulses of the interlocutor's actions, even exceeded all expectations. Manilov, who believes that the only form of human connection is sensitive, tender friendship and cordial affection, cannot miss the opportunity to show generosity and disinterestedness towards his new friend Chichikov. He is ready not to sell, but to give him such an unusual, but for some reason necessary “object” to a friend.
Such a turn of events was unexpected even for Chichikov, and for the first time during the entire scene he slightly revealed his true face: in the strongest impulses of joy.
Even Manilov noticed this impulse and "looked at him in some bewilderment." But Chichikov, immediately recollecting himself, again takes everything into his own hands: all he has to do is express his gratitude and gratitude properly, and the host is already "all confused, blushing," in turn assuring that "I would like to prove something cordial attraction, magnetism of the soul. But here a dissonant note breaks into a long series of courtesies: it turns out that for him "dead souls are in some way perfect rubbish."
It is not for nothing that Gogol, a man of deep and sincere faith, puts this blasphemous phrase into Manilov's mouth. Indeed, in the person of Manilov, we see a parody of an enlightened Russian landowner, in whose mind the phenomena of culture and universal values are vulgarized. Some of his external attractiveness in comparison with other landowners is only an appearance, a mirage. In his heart he is as dead as they are.
“Very much not rubbish,” Chichikov vividly retorts, not at all embarrassed by the fact that he is going to cash in on the death of people, human misfortunes and suffering. Moreover, he is already ready to describe his troubles and sufferings, which he allegedly endured for “that he kept the truth, that he was pure in his conscience, that he gave a hand to both a helpless widow and a miserable orphan!” Well, here Chichikov was clearly skidded, almost like Manilov. About what he really experienced “persecution” and how he helped others, the reader will learn only in the last chapter, but it is clearly not appropriate for him, the organizer of this immoral scam, to talk about conscience.
But all this does not bother Manilov in the least. After seeing Chichikov off, he again indulges in his beloved and only "business": thinking about the "well-being of a friendly life", about how "it would be nice to live with a friend on the banks of some river." Dreams take him further and further away from reality, where a swindler roams freely around Russia, who, taking advantage of the gullibility and promiscuity of people, the lack of desire and ability to deal with the affairs of people like Manilov, is ready to deceive not only them, but also "cheat" state treasury.
The whole scene looks very comical, but it's "laughter through tears." No wonder Gogol compares Manilov with a too smart minister:
“... Manilov, making a slight movement of his head, looked very significantly into Chichikov’s face, showing in all the features of his face and in compressed lips such a deep expression, which, perhaps, was not seen on a human face, except for some some too smart minister, and even then at the moment of the most puzzling case.
Here the author's irony invades the forbidden sphere - the highest echelons of power. This could only mean that another minister is the personification of the highest state power- is not so different from Manilov and that "Manilovism" is a typical property of this world. It is terrible if ruined under the rule of negligent landowners Agriculture, the basis of the economy Russia XIX century, can be captured by such dishonest, immoral businessmen of the new era, as the "scoundrel-purchaser" Chichikov. But it is even worse if, with the connivance of the authorities, who care only about the external form, about their reputation, all power in the country will pass to people like Chichikov. And Gogol addresses this formidable warning not only to his contemporaries, but also to us, people of the 21st century. Let us be attentive to the word of the writer and try, without falling into Manilovism, to notice in time and remove our today's Chichikovs away from the affairs.
CHAPTER TWO
For more than a week the visiting gentleman had been living in the city, driving around for parties and dinners, and thus spending, as they say, a very pleasant time. Finally, he decided to postpone his visits outside the city and visit the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich, to whom he gave his word. Perhaps another, more significant reason prompted him to do this, a more serious matter, closer to his heart ... But the reader will learn about all this gradually and in due time, if he only has the patience to read the proposed story, which is very long, having to move apart after wider and more spacious as you approach the end that crowns the case. The coachman Selifan was ordered early in the morning to put the horses into a well-known britzka; Petrushka was ordered to stay at home, to look after the room and the suitcase. It will not be superfluous for the reader to get acquainted with these two serfs of our hero. Although, of course, their faces are not so noticeable, and what are called secondary or even tertiary, although the main moves and springs of the poem are not approved on them and only in some places touch and easily hook them, but the author loves to be extremely thorough in everything and from this side, despite the fact that the person himself is Russian, he wants to be accurate, like a German. This, however, will not take much time and space, because not much needs to be added to what the reader already knows, that is, that Petrushka went around in a somewhat wide brown frock coat from the master’s shoulder and, as was customary for people of his rank, had a large nose and lips. . He was more silent than talkative in character; he even had a noble impulse to enlightenment, that is, to read books, the content of which did not bother him: it made absolutely no difference to him whether it was the adventure of a hero in love, just a primer or a prayer book - he read everything with equal attention; if he had been given chemo, he would not have refused it either. He liked not what he read about, but rather the reading itself, or, to put it better, the process of reading itself, that some word always comes out of the letters, which sometimes the devil knows what it means. This reading was done more in a lying position in the hallway, on the bed and on the mattress, which became dead and thin as a cake from such a circumstance. In addition to his passion for reading, he had two more habits, which constituted two of his other characteristic features: to sleep without undressing, as he was, in the same frock coat, and always to carry with him some kind of special air, of his own smell, that reverberated somewhat living peace, so that it was enough for him to just add his bed somewhere, even in a hitherto uninhabited room, and drag his overcoat and belongings there, and it already seemed that people had lived in this room for ten years. Chichikov, being a very ticklish and even in some cases fastidious person, drawing air into his fresh nose in the morning, only grimaced and shook his head, saying: “You, brother, the devil knows you, are you sweating or something. ". To which Petrushka made no answer and tried to get down to business at once; or approached with a whip to the lord's hanging tailcoat, or simply tidied up something. What he thought at the time when he was silent - perhaps he was saying to himself: "And you, however, are good, you are not tired of repeating the same thing forty times" - God knows, it's hard to know what the courtyard thinks a serf at that time, the master gives him instructions. So, here is what for the first time can be said about Petrushka. The coachman Selifan was a completely different person ... But the author is very ashamed to keep his readers busy for so long with people of the low class, knowing from experience how reluctantly they get acquainted with the low classes. Such is already a Russian man: a strong passion to become arrogant with someone who would be at least one rank higher than him, and a captive acquaintance with a count or prince is better for him than any close friendly relations. The author even fears for his hero, who is only a collegiate adviser. Court advisers, perhaps, will get to know him, but those who have already crept up to the ranks of generals, those, God knows, may even cast one of those contemptuous glances that a man proudly throws at everything that does not grovel at his feet. , or, even worse, perhaps they will pass by a fatal inattention for the author. But no matter how regrettable one or the other, but all the same, it is necessary to return to the hero. So, having given the necessary orders since the evening, waking up very early in the morning, having washed, wiping from head to toe with a wet sponge, which was done only Sundays- and on that day Sunday happened - having shaved in such a way that his cheeks became a real satin in an argument of smoothness and gloss, putting on a lingonberry-colored tailcoat with a spark and then an overcoat on big bears, he went down the stairs, supported by the arm then with one, then on the other side as a tavern servant, and sat in the britzka. With a thunder, the britzka drove out from under the gate of the hotel into the street. The passing priest took off his hat, several boys in soiled shirts held out their hands, saying: "Master, give to the orphan!" The coachman, noticing that one of them was a big fan of standing on the heel, whipped him with a whip, and the britzka went to jump over the stones. Not without joy, a striped barrier was seen in the distance, letting know that the pavement, like any other torment, would soon end; and hitting his head quite hard on the truck a few more times, Chichikov finally rushed across the soft earth. As soon as the city had gone back, they began to write, according to our custom, nonsense and game on both sides of the road: tussocks, fir groves, low thin bushes of young pines, burnt trunks of old ones, wild heather and such nonsense. There were villages stretched out along a string, built like old stacked firewood, covered with gray roofs with carved wooden decorations underneath in the form of hanging embroidered towels. Several peasants, as usual, yawned, sitting on benches in front of the gates in their sheepskin coats. Babas with fat faces and bandaged breasts looked out of the upper windows; a calf peeped out from below, or a pig stuck out its blind muzzle. In a word, the species are known. Having traveled the fifteenth verst, he remembered that here, according to Manilov, should be his village, but even the sixteenth verst flew past, and the village was still not visible, and if not for two peasants. who came across, then they would hardly have had a chance to please them in a good way. When asked how far the village of Zamanilovka was, the peasants took off their hats, and one of them, who was smarter and wore a beard in a wedge, answered:
Manilovka, maybe not Zamanilovka?
Well, yes, Manilovka.
Manilovka! and as you drive another mile, so here you are, that is, straight ahead to the right.
Right? said the coachman.
Right, said the man. - This will be your way to Manilovka; and there is no lure. She is called that, that is, her nickname is Manilovka, and Zamanilovka is not here at all. There, right on the mountain, you will see a house, stone, two stories high, the master's house, in which, that is, the master himself lives. This is what Manilovka is for you, and there is no Zamanilovka at all here and never was.
Let's go look for Manilovka. Having traveled two versts, they met a turn onto a country road, but already two, and three, and four versts, it seems, had been made, and the stone house on two floors was still not visible. Here Chichikov remembered that if a friend invites him to his village fifteen miles away, it means that there are sure thirty. 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 that only take it into their head to blow; the slope of the mountain on which he stood was dressed in trimmed turf. Two or three flowerbeds with lilac and yellow acacia bushes were scattered on it in the English style; here and there five or six birches in small clusters raised their small-leaved thin tops. Beneath two of them was a gazebo with a flat green dome, blue wooden columns and the inscription: "Temple of Solitary Reflection"; lower down is a pond covered with greenery, which, however, is not a wonder in the English gardens of Russian landowners. At the foot of this elevation, and partly along the slope itself, gray log huts darkened up and down, which our hero, for unknown reasons, immediately began to count and counted more than two hundred; nowhere between them is a growing tree or some kind of greenery; everywhere looked only one log. The view was enlivened by two women, who, picturesquely picking up their dresses and tucking themselves in from all sides, wandered knee-deep in the pond, dragging a tattered log by two wooden nags, where two entangled crayfish were visible and a caught roach glittered; the women seemed to be at odds with one another and were squabbling over something. At some distance, to the side, it darkened with some dull bluish color. Pine forest. Even the weather itself was very helpful: the day was either clear or gloomy, but somehow light gray, which happens only on the old uniforms of garrison soldiers, this, however, a peaceful army, but partly drunk on Sundays. To complete the picture, there was no lack of a rooster, a harbinger of changeable weather, which, despite the fact that the head was gouged to the very brain by the noses of other roosters in known deeds of red tape, bawled very loudly and even flapped its wings, torn like old matting. Approaching the courtyard, Chichikov noticed the owner himself on the porch, who was standing in a green chalon frock coat, with his hand to his forehead in the form of an umbrella over his eyes, in order to get a better look at the approaching carriage. As the britzka drew nearer to the porch, his eyes grew merrier and his smile widened more and more.
Pavel Ivanovich! he cried at last, when Chichikov got out of the britzka. - Violently you did remember us!
Both friends kissed very warmly, and Manilov led his guest into the room. Although the time during which they will pass through the entrance hall, the hallway and the dining room is somewhat short, we will try to see if we can somehow use it and say something about the owner of the house. But here the author must admit that such an undertaking is very difficult. Much easier to portray characters big size: there, just throw paint with all your hands onto the canvas, black scorching eyes, hanging eyebrows, a forehead cut with a wrinkle, a cloak thrown over your shoulder, black or scarlet like fire, and the portrait is ready; but all these gentlemen, of whom there are many in the world, who look very similar to each other, but meanwhile, if you look closely, you will see many of the most elusive features - these gentlemen are terribly difficult for portraits. Here you will have to strain your attention strongly until you force all the subtle, almost invisible features to stand out before you, and in general you will have to deepen your gaze, already sophisticated in the science of probing.
God alone could not say what the character of Manilov was. There is a kind of people known by the name: people are so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan nor in the village of Selifan, according to the proverb. Perhaps Manilov should join them. In his eyes he was a prominent person; his features were not devoid of pleasantness, but this pleasantness seemed to have been conveyed too much sugar; in his manners and turns there was something ingratiating himself with favors and acquaintances. He smiled enticingly, was blond, with blue eyes. In the first minute of a conversation with him, you cannot but say: "What a pleasant and kind person!" In the next minute you will say nothing, and in the third you will say: "The devil knows what it is!" - and move away if you don’t move away, you will feel mortal boredom. You will not expect any lively or even arrogant word from him, which you can hear from almost anyone if you touch the subject that torments him. Everyone has his own enthusiasm: one has turned his enthusiasm to greyhounds; to another it seems that he is a strong lover of music and surprisingly feels all the deep places in it; the third is a master of famously dine; the fourth to play a role at least one inch higher than the one assigned to him; the fifth, with a more limited desire, sleeps and dreams about how to go on a walk with the adjutant wing, showing off to his friends, acquaintances and even strangers; the sixth is already gifted with such a hand that feels a supernatural desire to break the corner of some diamond ace or deuce, while the hand of the seventh climbs somewhere to make order somewhere, to get closer to the personality stationmaster or coachmen - in a word, everyone has his own, but Manilov had nothing. At home he spoke very little and for the most part thought and thought, but what he thought, too, unless God knew. It cannot be said that he was engaged in farming, he never even went to the fields, farming somehow went on by itself. When the clerk said: “It would be nice, sir, to do this and that,” “Yes, not bad,” he usually answered, smoking a pipe, which he made a habit of smoking when he still served in the army, where he was considered the most modest, most delicate and most educated officer "Yes, it's not bad," he repeated. When a peasant came to him and, scratching the back of his head with his hand, said: , and it didn’t even occur to him that the peasant was going to get drunk. Sometimes, looking from the porch at the yard and at the pond, he would talk about how nice it would be if all of a sudden to lead an underground passage from the house or build a stone bridge across the pond, on which there would be benches on both sides, and so that people would sit in them. merchants and sold various small goods necessary for the peasants. At the same time, his eyes became extremely sweet and his face assumed the most contented expression; however, all these projects ended in only one word. In his study there was always some kind of book, bookmarked on the fourteenth page, which he had been constantly reading for two years. Something was always missing in his house: in the living room there was beautiful furniture, upholstered in smart silk fabric, which, no doubt, was very expensive; but it was not enough for two armchairs, and the armchairs were upholstered simply with matting; however, for several years, the host warned his guest every time with the words: "Do not sit on these chairs, they are not yet ready." In another room there was no furniture at all, although it was said in the first days after the marriage: "Darling, tomorrow you will have to work hard to put furniture in this room at least for a while." In the evening, a very smart candlestick made of dark bronze with three antique graces, with a mother-of-pearl smart shield, was served on the table, and next to it was placed some kind of simply copper invalid, lame, curled up on the side and covered in fat, although neither the owner nor mistress, no servant. His wife ... however, they were completely pleased with each other. Despite the fact that more than eight years of their marriage had passed, each of them still brought to the other either a piece of an apple, or a candy, or a nut and said in a touchingly tender voice expressing perfect love: “Open up your mouth, darling, I’ll put this a piece". It goes without saying that the mouth opened very gracefully on this occasion. There were surprises being prepared for the birthday: some kind of beaded case for a toothpick. And quite often, sitting on the sofa, suddenly, for absolutely no reason at all, one, leaving his pipe, and the other work, if only it was held in their hands at that time, they impressed each other with such a languid and long kiss that in continuation of it one could easily smoke a small straw cigar. In a word, they were, as they say, happy. Of course, one would notice that there are many other things to do in the house besides long kisses and surprises, and many requests could be made. Why, for example, stupidly and uselessly preparing in the kitchen? Why is the pantry so empty? why is the key thief? Why are servants unclean and drunkards? why do all the domestics sleep in an unmerciful way and hang around the rest of the time? But all these subjects are low, and Manilova was brought up well. A good upbringing, as you know, is obtained in boarding schools. And in boarding schools, as you know, three main subjects form the basis of human virtues: the French language, necessary for the happiness of family life, the pianoforte, for making pleasant minutes for the spouse, and, finally, the economic part itself: knitting purses and other surprises. However, there are various improvements and changes in methods, especially at the present time; all this depends more on the prudence and abilities of the hostesses themselves. French, and there is already an economic part. And sometimes it also happens that first the economic part, that is, knitting surprises, then the French language, and then the pianoforte. There are different methods. It doesn’t hurt to make the remark that Manilova ... but, I confess, I’m very afraid to talk about ladies, and besides, it’s time for me to return to our heroes, who have been standing for several minutes in front of the living room doors, mutually begging each other go forward.
Do me a favor, don't worry like that for me, I'll go after, - said Chichikov.
No, Pavel Ivanovich, no, you are a guest, ”Manilov said, pointing to the door with his hand.
Don't be embarrassed, please don't be embarrassed. Please come in, - said Chichikov.
No, I'm sorry, I won't let such a pleasant, educated guest pass behind me.
Why educated? .. Please come in.
Well, you are welcome to pass.
Why?
Well, that's why! said Manilov with a pleasant smile.
Finally, both friends entered the door sideways and squeezed each other a little.
Allow me to introduce my wife to you,” said Manilov. - Darling! Pavel Ivanovich!
Chichikov, as if, saw a lady, whom he completely did not notice, bowing at the door with Manilov. She was not bad, dressed to her face. A pale silk cloth hood sat well on her; her thin, small hand threw something hastily on the table and clutched a cambric handkerchief with embroidered corners. She got up from the sofa she was sitting on; Chichikov approached her hand, not without pleasure. Manilova said, even burping a little, that he had made them very happy with his arrival, and that her husband did not go a day without thinking of him.
Yes, - said Manilov, - she used to keep asking me: "But why isn't your friend coming?" - "Wait, darling, he will come." But you finally honored us with your visit. Really, it was such a pleasure ... May day ... name day of the heart ...
Chichikov, hearing that it had already come to the name day of the heart, was even somewhat embarrassed and replied modestly that he had neither a big name, nor even a noticeable rank.
You have everything,” Manilov interrupted with the same pleasant smile, “you have everything, even more.
How do you feel about our city? Manilova said. - Did you have a good time there?
A very good city, a beautiful city, - answered Chichikov, - and he spent a very pleasant time: the society is most courteous.
How did you find our governor? Manilova said.
Is it not true that the most honorable and most amiable person? added Manilov.
Absolutely true, - said Chichikov, - a most respectable person. And how he entered his position, how he understands it! We need to want more people like this.
How can he, you know, accept everyone like that, observe delicacy in his actions, ”Manilov added with a smile and almost completely closed his eyes with pleasure, like a cat whose finger has been lightly tickled behind the ears.
A very courteous and pleasant man," Chichikov went on, "and what an expert! I couldn't even imagine it. How well he embroiders various home patterns! He showed me his wallet: a rare lady can embroider so skillfully.
And the lieutenant governor, isn't it, what a nice man? said Manilov, screwing up his eyes somewhat again.
Very very worthy person- answered Chichikov.
Well, excuse me, how did the police chief seem to you? Isn't it true that a very nice person?
Extremely pleasant, and what a smart, what a well-read person! We played whist with him, together with the prosecutor and the chairman of the chamber, until the very last cocks; very, very worthy person.
Well, what do you think of the police chief's wife? added Manilova. “Isn’t it true, dear woman?”
Oh this is one of worthy women, which only I know, - answered Chichikov
Therefore, they did not let the chairman of the chamber, the postmaster, and thus went through almost all the officials of the city, who all turned out to be the most worthy people.
Do you always spend time in the village? - finally, in turn, asked Chichikov a question.
More in the countryside, replied Manilov. - however, we come to the city only to see educated people. You go wild, you know, you will live locked up all the time.
True, true, - said Chichikov.
Of course," continued Manilov, "it would be another matter if the neighborhood were good, if, for example, there was such a person with whom one could talk in some way about courtesy, about good treatment, follow some kind of science to stir up the soul, it would give, so to speak, a sort of guy ... - Here he still wanted to express something, but, noticing that he had somewhat reported, he only fiddled with his hand in the air and continued: - Then, of course, the village and solitude would have very many amenities. But there is definitely no one ... Only sometimes you read "Son of the Fatherland".
Chichikov agreed with this completely, adding that nothing could be more pleasant than living in solitude, enjoying the spectacle of nature, and occasionally reading some book...
Oh, that's fair, that's perfectly fair! interrupted Chichikov. - What are all the treasures then in the world! "Have no money, have good people to convert," said a wise man.
And you know, Pavel Ivanovich! - said Manilov, showing in his face an expression not only sweet, but even cloying, like the mixture that the dexterous worldly doctor sweetened mercilessly, imagining to please the patient with it. “Then you feel some sort of spiritual pleasure... Here’s how, for example, now that chance has brought me happiness, one can say exemplary, talking to you and enjoying your pleasant conversations...”
Excuse me, what a pleasant conversation?.. An insignificant person, and nothing more, - answered Chichikov.
ABOUT! Pavel Ivanovich, allow me to be frank: I would gladly give half of my entire fortune in order to have a part of those advantages that you have! ..
On the contrary, I would consider for my part the greatest..
It is not known what the mutual outpouring of feelings of both friends would have reached if the servant who entered had not reported that the food was ready.
I humbly ask, - said Manilov. - Excuse me if we don’t have such a dinner as on the parquets and in the capitals, we just have, according to Russian custom, cabbage soup, but from pure heart. I kindly ask.
Here they argued for some more time about who should go in first, and finally Chichikov entered the dining room sideways.
Two boys were already standing in the dining room, Manilov's sons, who were of those years when they already seat children at the table, but still on high chairs. The teacher stood beside them, bowing politely and with a smile. The hostess sat down to her soup bowl; the guest was seated between the host and the hostess, the servant tied napkins around the children's necks.
What nice little children, - said Chichikov, looking at them, - and what year?
The eldest is eighth, and the youngest has only just passed six yesterday,” said Manilova.
Themistoclus! - said Manilov, turning to the elder, who was trying to free his chin, which was tied up in a napkin by the footman.
Chichikov raised a few eyebrows, hearing this in part. Greek name, to which, for some unknown reason, Manilov gave the ending in "yus", but he tried at the same time to bring his face back to its usual position.
Themistoclus, tell me which one best city in France?
Here the teacher turned all his attention to Themistoclus and seemed to want to jump into his eyes, but at last he completely calmed down and nodded his head when Themistoclus said: "Paris."
What is our best city? asked Manilov again.
The teacher turned his attention back.
Petersburg, answered Themistoclus.
And what else?
Moscow, answered Themistoclus.
Clever, sweetie! Chichikov said to this. “Tell me, but…” he continued, turning immediately to the Manilovs with a certain look of amazement, “in such years and already such information! I must tell you that this child will have great abilities.
Oh, you don’t know him yet,” answered Manilov, he has an extremely large amount of wit. Here is the smaller one, Alkid, that one is not so fast, but this one now, if he meets something, a bug, a goat, his eyes suddenly start to run; run after her and immediately pay attention. I'll read it on the diplomatic side. Themistoclus,” he continued, turning to him again, “do you want to be a messenger?
I want it, - answered Themistoclus, chewing bread and shaking his head right and left.
At this time, the footman who was standing behind wiped the envoy's nose, and he did it very well, otherwise a pretty extraneous drop would have sunk into the soup. The conversation began around the table about the pleasures of a quiet life, interrupted by the remarks of the hostess about the city theater and about the actors. The teacher looked very attentively at the speakers, and as soon as he noticed that they were ready to grin, at that very moment he opened his mouth and laughed with zeal. He was probably a grateful man and wanted to pay this owner for good treatment. Once, however, his face took on a stern look, and he sternly pounded on the table, fixing his eyes on the children sitting across from him. This was near the spot, because Themistoclusus bit Alcides on the ear, and Alcides, closing his eyes and opening his mouth, was ready to sob in the most miserable way, but, sensing that for this it was easy to lose the dish, he returned his mouth to its previous position and began with gnawed with tears at a mutton bone, from which both cheeks were shiny with fat. The hostess very often turned to Chichikov with the words: "You don't eat anything, you took very little." To which Chichikov replied every time: "Thank you most humbly, I'm full, pleasant conversation is better than any meal."
Already got up from the table. Manilov was exceedingly pleased and, supporting his guest's back with his hand, was preparing to escort him into the drawing room in this way, when suddenly the guest announced with a very significant air that he intended to talk to him about one very necessary matter.
In that case, let me ask you to my office, ”Manilov said and led him into a small room with a window overlooking a blue forest. “Here is my corner,” said Manilov.
Pleasant little room," said Chichikov, glancing over it with his eyes.
The room was, as it were, not without pleasantness: the walls were painted with some kind of blue paint, like gray, four chairs, one armchair, a table on which lay a book with a bookmark, which we have already had occasion to mention, a few scribbled papers, but more everything was tobacco. It was in different forms: in caps and in a tobacco box, and, finally, it was simply poured in a heap on the table. At their windows, too, were placed mounds of ash knocked out of a pipe, arranged, not without diligence, in very beautiful rows. It was noticeable that this sometimes gave the owner a pastime.
Allow me to ask you to sit in these chairs, - said Manilov. - Here you will be calmer.
Let me sit on a chair.
Allow me not to allow this, ”said Manilov with a smile. - This chair I have already assigned for the guest: for the sake of it or not for the sake of it, but they must sit down.
Chichikov sat down.
Let me treat you with a pipe.
No, I don’t smoke,” Chichikov answered affectionately and, as it were, with an air of regret.
From what? said Manilov, also affectionately and with an air of regret.
Didn't make a habit, I'm afraid; they say the pipe dries.
Let me tell you that this is a prejudice. I even think that smoking a pipe is much healthier than sniffing tobacco. In our regiment there was a lieutenant, a most excellent and most educated man who never let his pipe out of his mouth, not only at the table, but even, so to speak, in all other places. And now he is already over forty years old, but, thank God, he is still as healthy as possible.
Chichikov noticed that this certainly happened, and that there were many things in nature that were inexplicable even to an extensive mind.
But first, allow me one request...” he uttered in a voice in which some strange or almost strange expression was heard, and after that he looked back for some unknown reason. - How long ago did you deign to submit a revision tale?
Yes, a long time ago; I'd rather not remember.
How many peasants have died since that time?
But I can't know; about this, I think, you need to ask the clerk. Hey man! call the clerk, he should be here today.
The clerk has arrived. He was a man of about forty, who shaved his beard, walked in a frock coat, and, apparently, led a very quiet life, because his face looked like some kind of plump fullness, and the yellowish complexion and small eyes showed that he knew too well, what are down jackets and feather beds. One could immediately see that he had completed his career, as all the master's clerks do: he had previously been just a literate boy in the house, then he married some Agashka the housekeeper, a mistress's favorite, became a housekeeper himself, and then a clerk. And having become a clerk, he acted, of course, like all clerks: he hung out and mingled with those who were richer in the village, added to the poorer taxes, waking up at nine o'clock in the morning, waited for the samovar and drank tea.
Listen, dear! how many peasants have died in our country since the revision was filed?
Yes, how much? Many have died since then,” said the clerk, and at the same time he hiccupped, covering his mouth slightly with his hand, like a shield.
Yes, I confess, but I myself thought so, - Manilov picked up, - exactly, very many died! - Here he turned to Chichikov and added: - Exactly, very many.
How about a number, for example? Chichikov asked.
Yes, how many? - picked up Manilov.
How to say number? After all, it is not known how many died, no one counted them.
Yes, exactly, - said Manilov, turning to Chichikov, - I also assumed a high mortality; it is not known how many died.
You, please, re-read them, - said Chichikov, - and make a detailed register of everyone by name.
Yes, all by name, - said Manilov.
The clerk said: "Listen!" - and left.
For what reasons do you need it? Manilov asked the clerk as he left.
This question seemed to embarrass the guest, his face showed some kind of tense expression, from which he even blushed, - the tension to express something, not quite submissive to words. And in fact, Manilov finally heard such strange and unusual things that human ears had never heard before.
For what reason, you ask? The reasons are as follows: I would like to buy the peasants ... - said Chichikov, stammered and did not finish his speech.
But let me ask you, - said Manilov, - how do you want to buy the peasants: with land or just for withdrawal, that is, without land?
No, I'm not exactly peasants, - said Chichikov, - I want to have dead ...
How? excuse me... I'm a little hard of hearing, I heard a strange word...
I suppose to acquire the dead, which, however, would be listed as alive according to the revision, - said Chichikov.
Manilov immediately dropped the chibouk with his pipe on the floor, and as he opened his mouth, he remained with his mouth open for several minutes. The two friends, who were talking about the pleasures of a friendly life, remained motionless, gazing at each other, like those portraits that in the old days were hung one against the other on both sides of the mirror. Finally Manilov picked up the pipe with the chibouk and looked down into his face, trying to see if there was any kind of smile on his lips, if he was joking; but nothing of the kind was visible, on the contrary, the face even seemed more sedate than usual; then he wondered if the guest had somehow accidentally lost his mind, and looked intently at him with fear; but the visitor's eyes were perfectly clear, there was no wild, restless fire in them, which runs in the eyes of a crazy person, everything was decent and in order. No matter how Manilov thought out how to be and what to do, he could not think of anything else but to let out the remaining smoke from his mouth in a very thin stream.
So, I would like to know, can you give me those who are not really alive, but alive in relation to the legal form, to transfer, to cede, or as you please better?
But Manilov was so embarrassed and confused that he only looked at him.
It seems to me that you are at a loss? .. - Chichikov remarked.
I? .. no, I'm not that, - said Manilov, - but I can't comprehend ... excuse me ... I, of course, could not receive such a brilliant education, which, so to speak, is visible in your every movement; I do not have high art to be expressed ... Maybe here ... in this explanation you have just expressed ... something else is hidden ... Maybe you deigned to express yourself like that for the beauty of the style?
No, - Chichikov picked up, - no, I mean the subject as it is, that is, those souls who, for sure, have already died.
Manilov was completely at a loss. He felt that he needed to do something, to propose a question, and what question - the devil knows. He finally ended by exhaling smoke again, only not through his mouth, but through his nasal nostrils.
So, if there are no obstacles, then with God it would be possible to start making a fortress, - said Chichikov.
How about a bill of sale for dead souls?
Ah, no! Chichikov said. - We will write that they are alive, as it really is in the revision tale. I am used to not deviating from civil laws in anything, although I suffered for this in the service, but excuse me: duty is a sacred thing for me, the law - I am dumb before the law.
Manilov liked the last words, but he still did not penetrate into the meaning of the matter itself, and instead of answering, he began to suck his chibouk so hard that he finally began to wheeze like a bassoon. It seemed as if he wanted to extract from him an opinion on such an unheard-of circumstance; but the chubuk wheezed and nothing more.
Maybe you have any doubts?
ABOUT! sorry, nothing. I'm not talking about having some, that is, critical prejudice against you. But allow me to report whether this enterprise or, to put it even more, so to speak, negotiation, will not this negotiation be inconsistent with civil decrees and further types of Russia?
Here Manilov, making a slight movement of his head, looked very significantly into Chichikov's face, showing in all the features of his face and compressed lips such a deep expression, which, perhaps, could not be seen on a human face, except for some too intelligent minister. , and even then at the moment of the most puzzling case.
But Chichikov simply said that such an undertaking, or negotiation, would in no way be inconsistent with civil decrees and further types of Russia, and a minute later he added that the treasury would even receive benefits, for it would receive legal duties.
So you think?..
I believe it will be good.
But if it’s good, that’s another matter: I’m against it, ”said Manilov and completely calmed down.
Now it remains to agree on a price.
How about the price? said Manilov again and stopped. “Do you really think that I would take money for souls that, in some way, ended their existence?” If you have received such, so to speak, a fantastic desire, then for my part I pass them on to you without interest and take over the bill of sale.
A great reproach would be given to the historian of the proposed events if he neglected to say that pleasure overwhelmed the guest after such words uttered by Manilov. No matter how sedate and reasonable he was, he almost even made a leap after the model of a goat, which, as you know, is done only in the strongest outbursts of joy. He twisted so violently in his chair that the woolen material that covered the pillow snapped; Manilov himself looked at him in some bewilderment. Prompted by gratitude, he immediately uttered so many thanks that he became confused, blushed all over, made a negative gesture with his head, and finally expressed himself that this being is nothing, that he, exactly, would like to prove in some way the heart's attraction, the magnetism of the soul, and the dead souls are, in a way, complete rubbish.
Don't be very rubbish,' said Chichikov, shaking his hand. A very deep sigh was let out here. He seemed to be in the mood for outpourings of the heart; not without feeling and expression, he finally uttered the following words: - If you only knew what service you rendered to this, apparently, rubbish, to a man without tribe and family! And indeed, what did I not tolerate? like some kind of barge among the ferocious waves ... What kind of persecution, what persecution did not experience, what grief did not taste, but for what? for keeping the truth, for being pure in his conscience, for giving a hand to both the helpless widow and the miserable orphan!.. - Here he even wiped away a tear with a handkerchief.
Manilov was completely moved. Both friends shook each other's hands for a long time and looked silently into each other's eyes for a long time, in which tears were visible. Manilov did not want to let go of our hero's hand and continued to press it so fervently that he no longer knew how to rescue it. Finally, pulling it out slowly, he said that it would not be a bad thing to complete the bill of sale as soon as possible, and it would be good if he himself visited the city. Then he took his hat and began to take his leave.
How? do you want to go? - said Manilov, suddenly waking up and almost frightened.
At this time, she entered Manilov's office.
Lizanka,” said Manilov with a somewhat pitiful look, “Pavel Ivanovich is leaving us!”
Because we are tired of Pavel Ivanovich, - answered Manilova.
Madam! here, - said Chichikov, - here, here, - here he put his hand on his heart, - yes, here will be the pleasantness of the time spent with you! and believe me, there would be no greater bliss for me than to live with you, if not in the same house, then at least in the very nearest neighborhood.
Do you know, Pavel Ivanovich,” said Manilov, who was very pleased with such an idea, “how nice it would really be if we could live like that together, under the same roof, or under the shade of some elm tree, philosophize about something, go deeper! ..
ABOUT! it would be heavenly life! said Chichikov, sighing. - Farewell, ma'am! he continued, going up to Manilova's pen. - Farewell, dearest friend! Don't forget the requests!
Oh, be sure! - answered Manilov. “I shall part with you no longer than for two days.
Everyone went to the dining room.
Farewell, little darlings! - said Chichikov, seeing Alkid and Themistoclus, who were busy with some kind of wooden hussar, who no longer had either a hand or a nose. - Farewell, my little ones. You will excuse me that I did not bring you a present, because, I confess, I did not even know if you lived in the world, but now, when I arrive, I will certainly bring it. I will bring you a saber; do you want a sword?
I want, - replied Themistoclus.
And you have a drum; don't you, you drum? he continued, leaning towards Alcides.
Parapan, - Alkid answered in a whisper and bowed his head.
Okay, I'll bring you a drum. Such a glorious drum, everything will be like this: turrr ... ru ... tra-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta ... Farewell, darling! Goodbye! - Here he kissed him on the head and turned to Manilov and his wife with a slight laugh, with which parents are usually addressed, letting them know about the innocence of the desires of their children.
Really, stay, Pavel Ivanovich! - said Manilov, when everyone had already gone out onto the porch. - Look at the clouds.
These are little clouds, - answered Chichikov.
Do you know the way to Sobakevich?
I want to ask you about this.
Let me tell your coachman now. -
Here Manilov, with the same kindness, told the matter to the coachman and even said to him "you" once.
The coachman, hearing that it was necessary to skip two turns and turn on the third, said: "Let's have fun, your honor," - and Chichikov drove off, accompanied by long bows and waving of a handkerchief from the hosts who were rising on tiptoe.
Manilov stood for a long time on the porch, following the retreating britzka with his eyes, and when it was no longer visible at all, he was still standing, smoking his pipe. At last he entered the room, sat down on a chair and gave himself over to reflection, sincerely glad that he had given his guest a little pleasure. Then his thoughts drifted imperceptibly to other objects, and finally drifted to God knows where. He thought about the well-being of a friendly life, about how nice it would be to live with a friend on the banks of some river, then a bridge began to be built across this river, then a huge house with such a high belvedere that you can even see Moscow from there and there drink tea in the evening outdoors and talk about some nice things. Then, that they, together with Chichikov, arrived at some kind of society in good carriages, where they enchant everyone with pleasant treatment, and that it was as if the sovereign, having learned about their friendship, granted them generals, and then, finally, God knows what is, what he himself could not make out. Chichikov's strange request suddenly interrupted all his dreams. The thought of her somehow did not particularly boil in his head: no matter how he turned it over, he could not explain it to himself, and all the time he sat and smoked his pipe, which lasted until dinner.
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is a recognized classic of Russian literature. A greatest names in one way or another connected with innovation. In this sense, Nikolai Vasilyevich is no exception. For example, he called the work "Dead Souls" a poem, although it was written in prose, not poetry. By this he emphasized the special significance of his creation. The poem, we recall, is a lyrical epic voluminous work, which is distinguished by a wide coverage of the events presented, as well as the depth of content. However, Gogol's innovation is not limited to this.
Critical realism of Gogol
In Russian literature with the advent satirical works, created by this author, is strengthened at that time in realistic literature critical direction. Gogol's realism is saturated with scourging, accusatory power - this is its main difference from contemporaries and predecessors. the writer received the appropriate name. It is called critical realism. In Gogol, the sharpening of the main characters is new. Hyperbole becomes his favorite technique. This is an exaggerated depiction of the main features that enhances the impression.
Chapter on Manilov among other chapters on landlords
Before considering Chichikov's attitude to Manilov, let us briefly describe the structure of the work, the role of these two characters in it. Chapters on landlords - important component poems. More than half of the volume of the first volume is devoted to them. Gogol has arranged them in an order that is strictly thought out: first, Manilov, a wasteful dreamer, who is succeeded by the thrifty hostess Korobochka; the latter is opposed by Nozdryov, a rogue, a ruined landowner; after that, again follows a turn to the landowner-kulak - the economic Sobakevich. Closes the gallery Plyushkin - a miser who embodies the extreme degree of degeneration of this class.
Techniques used by the author
We notice, reading the work, that the author repeats the techniques in the image of each of the landowners. At first goes description villages, houses, appearance of this or that hero. This is followed by a story about how he reacted to Chichikov's proposal. Then comes the image of the relationship of this hero to each of the landlords, and, finally, the scene of the sale. And this is no coincidence. The vicious circle of techniques was created by the author in order to show backwardness, conservatism provincial life, limited and isolated landlords. It emphasizes dying and stagnation.
his attitude towards Manilov
Chichikov remains a stranger to the reader almost until the last chapter of the work. The main character doesn't talk about himself throughout the book. The activity of this person unfolds only around shopping dead shower. One gets the feeling that he himself can be counted among them. Other characters also fill up this series. human nature each of them distorts in its own way, which is reflected in the poem "Dead Souls".
The image of Chichikov belongs to the type of "average man". Passion for profit replaces everything else for him. He refers to landowners according to their behavior in relation to the transaction. The main thing for him is to get dead souls. To those who easily provide him with such an opportunity, he treats with gratitude. We will see this on the example of Manilov ("Dead Souls"). The image of Chichikov, in accordance with the Gogol tradition, hyperbolically depicts one main feature. In his case, it is a passion for profit. Committing a crime, Chichikov must be a subtle psychologist and physiognomist. However, he sees in the heroes only the particular, which Gogol seeks to elevate to the general, generic. What generalizes images is already author's characteristic. Chichikov's attitude to Manilov, as well as to other landowners, is entirely based on the degree of success of business relations.
Image of Manilov
About Manilov, a courteous and "very courteous" landowner, we learn from the first chapter of Dead Souls. In it, the author depicts the appearance of this hero, emphasizing his eyes, "sweet as sugar." The character of Manilov manifests itself in a special manner of conversation, in the use of the most delicate speech turns. This hero's ignorance of people, his good-heartedness are revealed when he evaluates city officials as "the most amiable" and "most respectable" people. Takova
Gogol, step by step, inexorably denounces the vulgarity of this man. Satire replaces irony. The children of this landowner (Themistoclus and Alkid) are named after the ancient Greek commanders in order to show that their parents were educated. Manilov is tearfully complacent, devoid of real feelings and lively thoughts. Himself is dead soul doomed to destruction like the entire autocratic-feudal system of our country at that time. Socially dangerous, harmful "manilov". The saddest economic consequences can be expected from their management.
Two faces of Manilov
What is Chichikov's attitude towards Manilov? He meets this seemingly pleasant person on the main character immediately receives an invitation from him to visit his estate - Manilovka. After this, Chichikov meets Manilov in the village.
The first impression of the protagonist: this is a nice fellow. However, subsequently the characteristics of the landowner change. We are already looking at him through the eyes of Gogol, who says that he is "neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan." Hiding behind the external sweetness of this person, as we see, is selfishness and callousness, which reveals the author's characterization of Manilov. The landowner is busy only with his own person. He doesn't take care of the house at all. The affairs are managed by the housekeeper and the clerk, theft flourishes in his household. This character is not particularly interested in anything. His leisure is completely occupied with empty reflections. He speaks very little, and it is not clear what is on his mind. There was always a book on the table of this landowner, which was laid on one page. Incompleteness reigned even in the furnishings of his house. For many years some of the armchairs had been upholstered in matting, and there was a lack of furniture in some rooms. This reveals the character of the landowner in the best possible way. Manilov is rather a collective image, rather than a specific person. It represents landowners belonging to the Nikolaev era.
Manilov's office
Let's continue the analysis of the episode "Chichikov at Manilov's". After a long lunch with numerous compliments to the visitor and the hosts, communication moves to the next stage. Chichikov proceeds to a business proposal. The description of Manilov's office shows how he really is not disposed to any kind of labor activity. Armchair, four chairs, walls painted gray or blue. But mostly tobacco. It is located in different corners of the office in various types. Desolation and disorder reign everywhere.
Dreams of Manilov
It turns out during the conversation that this landowner does not even have an idea about the number of peasants who died from him. There are more important things for him than housekeeping. He dreams of building a large bridge across the river, on which merchants will sell every little thing for the peasants. Manilov has a desire to alleviate the fate of the serf, but care for him in practice is not realized in any way. Chichikov therefore did not manage to find out the number of dead souls in this person. But that doesn't stop him.
How Manilov reacted to Chichikov's proposal
Manilov's reaction to Chichikov's proposal is interesting. This hero immediately dropped his pipe on the floor and opened his mouth, remaining in this position for several minutes. The landowner was completely taken aback. Only assurances about the legality of such an operation brought him a little to his senses. Manilov is too stupid to convict Chichikov of fraud, but nevertheless agrees to hand over the dead souls "uninterestingly". Of course, this statement greatly pleased the guest. Chichikov uttered many thanks to the landowner, "prompted by gratitude." Immediately Manilov forgets about the confusion.
Its already by and large does not care why the guest needs dead souls. He is glad that he did a nice person a favor. Such is the landowner Manilov. Concluding the scene of the visit, Gogol writes that both friends shook hands with each other for a long time and looked into each other's eyes, which were filled with tears. An interesting detail that clearly characterizes both. Chichikov's attitude towards Manilov is fully revealed in this final scene. The deal was very easy for him.
1. What was Manilov doing at home?
Manilov, a ghostly dreamer, cut off from reality and having done nothing useful in life. Courteous, polite and hospitable host, sees only the good and lives in "pink" glasses. Manilov is immersed in dreams that are not destined to come true. A dead soul that has not done anything good in his life. At home, he smokes a pipe, makes grandiose plans, but in reality nothing is finished, repairs have begun, the bridge is in dreams, the book is read for two years on one page.
2. How did he feel about running his household? What does he think about after Chichikov's departure?
Manilov and his wife do not follow the household, everything is left to chance. There are many problems in the economy, but Manilov prefers not to notice them. Accounting for souls is not kept, how many peasants, no one knows for sure. Taking into account only men, Manilov does not know how many of them are in each house. There are many grandiose plans, but these are just dreams. An egoist, busy only with himself, a callous and worthless person.
After Chichikov's departure, Manilov indulges in dreams of friendship. It's good to live with a friend, the banks of the river, sublime dreams, and Manilov plunges into his dreams.
3. How is Manilov's mismanagement revealed in the description of his village, home?
Desolation and disorder reigns everywhere, the house was built in the most uncomfortable and windy place. The village is in desolation, the pond is overgrown with duckweed, only the gazebo for dreams looks decent. There are no trees in the village, everything is cut down, the peasants are lazy and drink. Manilov is not the owner, he is 200 houses managed to count, but how many people, what and how they live, he does not know, and does not want to know.
4. How did Manilov react to Chichikov's proposal to sell dead souls? How does he characterize his buying and selling scenes?
He dropped the phone and opened his mouth. The first impression was shock, but Manilov is stupid to suspect fraud. He is ready to give his soul, he doesn’t need anything in return. He is glad of Chichikov’s flattery, compliments are also pleasant to him. peasants. He is hopelessly stupid, but this is from his indifference to everything, laziness, which does not allow him to delve into the essence of things, and connivance, just not to cause trouble to anyone, a small soul.
5. What can be said about the situation of the peasants of Manilov?
Manilov does not starve the peasants, does not exhaust with work, but is absolutely indifferent to their problems and destinies. He does not try to help, improve their hard life. The peasants are not afraid, but they do not respect the master. saying they are going to work. The peasants, like the owner, are polite and friendly people.
Plan of the 3rd chapter: "Visiting the Korobochka".
1) Loss of the way, lodging for the night in the wilderness.
2) "Oak-headed" widow, the burden of communication.
3) Korobochka's farm and Chichikov's proposal.
4) Bargaining for souls, an attempt at a "sale" and the happiness of leaving.
N.V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" was first published in 1842, almost twenty years before the abolition of serfdom in Russia, in the years when the first sprouts of a new, capitalist formation began to appear in the country.
The main theme in the poem is the image of landlord Russia. The main characters are landowners, the first estate Russian state, the basis of the foundations of autocracy, people on whom the economic and social status countries.
The central place in the first volume is occupied by five "portrait" chapters (from the second to the sixth). These chapters, built according to the same plan, show how, on the basis of serfdom, different types serfs and how serfdom in the 20-30s of the 19th century, due to the growth of capitalist forces, led the landowning class to economic decline.
The plot of the poem "Dead Souls", prompted by A.S. Pushkin, is very simple. Gogol told in his work about the adventures of a certain adventurer who came up with a kind of enrichment plan: he bought dead peasants from the landlords in order to pledge them as living in the Board of Trustees.
And so Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, a man of "dark and modest origin", a rogue and a sly one, goes to the landowners' estates in searching for the dead shower. On his way, the protagonist encounters a very various representatives landowner's world.
The gallery of portraits of landlords opens with the image of Manilov. “In his eyes he was a prominent person; his features were not devoid of pleasantness, but this pleasantness seemed to be too sugary; in his manners and turns there was something ingratiating with location and acquaintance. blue eyes." Living on the estate, he "sometimes comes to the city ... to see the most educated people." Against the background of the inhabitants of the city and estates, he seems to be a "very courteous and courteous landowner", on which lies some kind of imprint of a "semi-enlightened" environment. And he even gave names to his young children ancient Greek philosophers- Themistoclus and Alkid.
Approaching the landowner's house, Chichikov realized that the village of Manilovka, located in a place "open to all winds," "could lure few with its location." But Chichikov's eye was attracted by the gazebo located under two stunted birches with the eloquent inscription "Temple of Solitary Reflection" and he was once again convinced that he was to meet with a very refined gentleman.
The hospitable owner of the estate met the guest on the porch of his house. The scene in which the heroes of the episode entered the house cannot but cause a smile. "Do me a favor, don't worry like that for me, I'll go after," said Chichikov. “No, Pavel Ivanovich, no, you are a guest,” Manilov said, pointing to the door with his hand ... Finally, both friends entered the door sideways and squeezed each other a little. ”They entered the dining room in the same manner, where dinner was served.
At dinner, "the guest was seated between the host and the hostess," there was a pleasant conversation, the hostess very often kindly reproached the guest for moderation in food, to which he certainly replied that "... a pleasant conversation is better than any meal."
N.V. Gogol described this room with a few strokes "not without pleasantness": a book with a bookmark, several scribbled papers and tobacco "in various forms: in caps and a tobacco box ... On both windows there were also mounds of ash knocked out of a pipe, arranged not without efforts in very beautiful rows. It was noticeable that this sometimes gave the owner a pastime.
Interesting is Manilov's reaction to Chichikov's proposal to acquire "dead" peasants, who, however, would be listed as living according to the audit. He did not immediately even realize the essence of this proposal, he doubted the legitimacy of the transaction. However, having received assurances from Chichikov that not only everything would be in accordance with the law, but that "the treasury would even receive benefits," he easily agreed to give the guest the peasants for free.
The episode of Pavel Ivanovich's reception by Manilov serves to reveal the image of this landowner, his character, gives an idea of his attitude to the economy, about his way of life. Gogol shows the utter emptiness and worthlessness of this "existent".
By nature, Manilov is kind, courteous, polite, but all this has taken on funny, ugly forms with him. At the same time, the writer emphasizes Manilov's laziness and sugary, senseless daydreaming. Good-heartedness is the most striking distinguishing feature of Manilov. In essence, this landowner had no living interests. He did not take care of the household, entrusting it to the clerk. He didn't even know if his peasants had died since the last revision. Instead of the shady garden that usually surrounded the manor's house, Manilov has "only five or six birches ..." with liquid tops.
Manilov spends his life in idleness. He has retired from all work, he doesn’t even read anything: for two years a book has been lying in his office, all laid down on the same fourteenth page. Manilov brightens up his idleness with groundless dreams and meaningless "projects", such as building an underground passage for a house, a stone bridge across a pond.
Instead of a real feeling, Manilov has a "pleasant smile", instead of a thought - some kind of incoherent, stupid reasoning, instead of activity - empty dreams. However, he is the only landowner in the work who presented, rather than sold, dead souls to Chichikov.
And what do we learn from this episode about Manilov's guest - Mr. Chichikov? He was kind, in a conversation about the city and its inhabitants he was very delicate in his assessments, he admired the projects of the owner. But, having settled his "very necessary business," he lost all interest in further conversation and, without hesitation, hastened to take his leave. The outcome of the deal turned out to be much more favorable for him than he could have imagined, and therefore he left Manilovka with a satisfied smile on his face.
Explaining the idea of "Dead Souls", Gogol wrote that the images of the poem -
"not at all portraits with worthless people On the contrary, they contain the features of those who consider themselves better than others. "Manilov, the first of the landowners met by Chichikov, is perhaps the most harmless type of Russian gentleman who does not benefit anyone, but does not do much harm either. The word" Manilovism "became a household word, denoting people who look at the world through "rose-colored glasses", replacing reality with an empty fantasy. There were such people in the last century, they live today, but it is more and more difficult to be Manilov in our time. Do you want to?
Tasks and tests on the topic "CHICHIKOV AT MANILOV. THE ROLE OF THE EPISODE"
- The role of soft and hard signs - Spelling of vowels and consonants in significant parts of the word Grade 4
Lessons: 1 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1
