The image of Chichikov, an unusual hero for his time, is central in N. V. Gogol's poem “Dead Souls.” This hero is the protagonist of all the chapters of the poem. It was he who came up with the idea of the scam with dead souls, it was he who travels around Russia, meeting with a variety of characters and getting into a variety of situations.
And pleasant communication: he made an excellent impression on all the guests at the governor’s party, “showed” himself as an experienced socialite, keeping up the conversation on a variety of topics, skillfully flattered the governor, police chief, officials and made the most flattering opinion about himself.
Then the development of the plot continues: Chichikov received invitations from the landowners and goes to visit them, to which the next five chapters are devoted, then he returns and draws up bills of sale for dead souls in the city, showing a fair knowledge of bureaucratic procedures. Then the most incredible rumors spread around the city, sown by Korobochka
And embellished by Nozdryov, but Chichikov, having caught a cold and not leaving the hotel for some time, found out about everything only when they refused to receive him in all the familiar houses. And only in the last chapter, when Chichikov is already leaving the city, does the author give the hero's background, explaining the formation of his enterprising character and the birth of a brilliant scam with dead souls.
Gogol immediately says that he did not take a “virtuous person” as a hero, he immediately stipulates that his hero is a scoundrel. His origin is “dark and modest”, his childhood is boring and harsh. And although there are no “special abilities” for science in Pavlush Chichikov, “he turned out to have a great mind” from the practical side. Father's order: take care of a penny, since “this thing is the most reliable thing in the world,” Pavlusha fulfills it sacredly, indulging in numerous speculations and achieving an “increment” to the fifty given by his father. He behaves especially smartly towards his superiors, demonstrating obedience and obsequiousness from a young age. After graduating from the school, his moral deafness, a complete lack of conscience are revealed: when his teacher was expelled from the school, with whom Chichikov was a favorite, he did not give anything for the old teacher, except for a nickel in silver. On the path of betrayal, he continued to go further: he deceived an old official, caring for his daughter in order to be promoted. He deftly learned to take bribes, having suffered for it, he does not lose heart, he is ready to start all over again.
The customs service became a new test for Chichikov: having almost achieved his goal, he becomes a victim of his own strife with his companion and is again shamefully set aside from a warm place. But Chichikov demonstrates not only the ability to hide the traces of a crime and avoid punishment, but also a kind of unsinkability: he is again ready to start all over again. Thus was born the idea of a scam with dead souls. The hero is smart and enterprising: the sluggishness of the Russian bureaucratic system allows him to accumulate initial capital without particularly risking anything. Gogol says about him that he is "the owner, the acquirer" and that a particle of Chichikov lives in the soul of many of us readers.
Chichikov is also a typical character for Russian reality, the character of a capitalist entrepreneur. And it cannot be said that he was defeated in the finale of the poem: yes, he was denied the best houses in the city, his reputation was damaged, but the operation to acquire dead souls was fixed on paper and, having acquired a legal status, became a reality. And there is no doubt that the hero will once again show his unsinkability by showing up in a new place, in another city where strange rumors about him have not yet reached.
Chichikov's selflessness and patience allow him to constantly be reborn. No "heap of disasters" can bury him. In the character of Chichikov there is also Manilov's love for the phrase, for the "noble" gesture, and the petty stinginess of Korobochka, and the narcissism of Nozdryov, and the rude stinginess, the cold cynicism of Sobakevich, and the hoarding of Plyushkin. It is easy for Chichikov to be a mirror of any of these interlocutors, because he has all the qualities that form the basis of their characters.
And this “versatility” of Chichikov, his affinity with the “dead souls” of the landlords, makes it possible to make him the main character of the poem. The character of Chichikov, and not just his scam, unites the chapters of Dead Souls. Differing from the landlords in efficiency, he is also a "dead soul", because the "shining joy" of life is inaccessible to him. The happiness of this “decent person” is based on money. Calculation ousted all human feelings from the hero of modern times and brought them closer to the “dead souls”, the masters of life.
Chichikov's characterization is the topic of this article. What can be said about this hero from the work "Dead Souls"? Belinsky, a well-known Russian critic, noted in 1846 that, as an acquirer, Chichikov is no less, and perhaps more than Pechorin, a hero of our time. He can buy "dead souls", collect donations for various charitable institutions, purchase railroad shares. It doesn't matter what kind of activity people like him are engaged in. Their essence remains unchanged.
The author's characterization of Chichikov at the beginning of the work
It is indisputable that Chichikov is an immortal type. You can meet people like him everywhere. This hero belongs to all times and all countries, only takes on different forms, depending on time and place. In the poem "Dead Souls" the action begins with the fact that the reader gets acquainted with the main character. What is the characteristic of Chichikov? This is the "golden mean", neither this nor that. The author, describing him, notes that he is not a handsome man, but not a "bad-looking" person, not very thin, but not too fat, not old, but not young either. Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich - honorable collegiate adviser. Such is the characterization of Chichikov at the beginning of the work.
Visits made by Chichikov in the city
How does he begin his stay in the city? From numerous visits: to the prosecutor, vice-governor, governor, tax farmer, chief of police, head of local state-owned factories, etc. Chichikov, behaving like a well-intentioned person, knew how to very skillfully flatter everyone in conversations with these rulers. So, for example, he praised the governor for the "velvet roads" in the province subject to him, and Chichikov said something flattering about the city guards to the police chief. He mistakenly called the chairman of the chamber and the vice-governor twice "your excellency." Chichikov made a compliment to the governor's wife, which is decent for a middle-aged man who has not too low, but not too high rank. The citation characteristic of Chichikov will complement the image created by the author. Pavel Ivanovich called himself nothing more than an "insignificant worm", lamenting that he had to experience a lot in his lifetime, endure for the truth in his service, make many enemies who even attempted on his life.
Ability to hold a conversation
The characterization of Chichikov ("Dead Souls") can be supplemented by his masterful ability to keep up the conversation. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol writes that if it was about a horse farm, he spoke about it, but he could also make sensible remarks about good dogs. Moreover, Chichikov did this with "some sort of gravity," he spoke neither softly nor loudly, but exactly as he should, he knew how to behave well. As we see, he learned to wear a mask of imaginary decency and vulgarity masterfully. Under this guise of a completely decent, decent gentleman, the true characterization of Chichikov ("Dead Souls"), the content of his actions and thoughts, was hidden.
Author's attitude to Chichikov in the first chapter
The author in the first chapter only allegorically, indirectly expresses his attitude towards Chichikov and his actions. And this hero himself, talking about the world of thick and thin, hints at his true vision of the world around him. He says the fat ones do a better job than the "thin ones" who mostly do special errands and "wander around." The citation characteristic of Chichikov helps to better understand this image. The main character is referred by Gogol to the world of fat, firmly and securely sitting in their places. Confirming the appearance of who Chichikov seems to be, thus, the author is preparing his exposure, revealing the truth about him.
First successful deals
The deal with Manilov is the first success. It strengthens Pavel Ivanovich's confidence in the safety and ease of the scam he conceived. The hero, inspired by the first success, is in a hurry to make new deals. On the way to Sobakevich, Chichikov meets Korobochka, who showed him that the enterprise conceived by him requires caution and subtlety, and not just perseverance. This lesson, however, did not go to Chichikov's future. He hurries to Sobakevich, but unexpectedly meets Nozdryov and decides to go to him.
Chichikov at Nozdrev
Among the main properties of Nozdryov, almost the main thing was the passion to "spoil his neighbor", sometimes without any reason. And Pavel Ivanovich involuntarily falls for this bait. Nozdryov finally reveals the true purpose of Chichikov's acquisition of "dead souls". This episode reveals the frivolity and weakness of the hero. Subsequently, of course, Chichikov scolded himself for acting carelessly, talking about such a delicate matter with Nozdryov. As we can see, purposefulness and perseverance in cases where they go too far, turn into a disadvantage.
Buying "dead souls" from Sobakevich
Chichikov finally arrives at Sobakevich's. An interesting characterization of Chichikov by other characters. They all have different characters, and they all relate to the main character in their own way. Sobakevich is a persistent and quirky person when it comes to his benefits. He guesses, most likely, why Chichikov needs "dead souls". Sobakevich godlessly bargains, besides, he also praises his dead peasants. He says that Yeremey Sorokoplekhin, who traded in Moscow, brought 500 rubles per quitrent. This is not like the peasants of some Plyushkin.
Comparative characteristics of Chichikov and Plyushkin
Let's compare these two characters. Comparative characteristics of Chichikov and Plyushkin are very interesting. After all, Pavel Ivanovich was a service nobleman, and Plyushkin was a landowner. These are the two classes on which tsarist Russia of that time rested. Meanwhile, the lack of understanding of the need for daily work, the inability to do any useful thing makes these heroes related, leading them to a deplorable result. The characterization of Chichikov and Plyushkin is very unattractive. And this is the backbone of the state, the "tables of society"! Curious connections help to discover in the work a comparative description of Chichikov ...
Deal with Plushkin
The enterprise conceived by Chichikov ends with a deal with Plyushkin. With this landowner, even money comes out of the living circulation. He put them in one of the boxes, where, probably, they were destined to lie until his death. Chichikov is now on top. All papers are signed, and he turns into a "millionaire" in the eyes of the townsfolk. This is a magic word that opens all roads and affects both scoundrels and good people.
The real biography of Chichikov
Soon, however, Chichikov's triumph ends with the exposure of Nozdrev, who informed the authorities that he was trading in dead souls. Confusion and turmoil begin in the city, as well as in the mind of the reader. The author saved the true biography of his hero for the finale of the work, in which, finally, a complete and true characterization of Chichikov in the poem "Dead Souls" is given. Throughout its entire length, Pavel Ivanovich seemed virtuous and decent, but under this guise, as it turned out, a completely different essence was hidden. The characterization of Chichikov in the poem "Dead Souls", given by the author in the final, is as follows.
It turned out that this was the son of a half-impoverished nobleman, who did not even look like his mother or father. As a child, he had no friends or comrades. And so the father one fine day decided to send the child to the city school. During parting with him there were no tears, but Chichikov was given one clever and important instruction: to study, not to fool, not to hang out, to please bosses and teachers, to save a penny more than anything, since this thing is the most reliable thing in the world.
The unsociable and lonely Pavlusha accepted this instruction with all his heart and was guided by it all his life. He quickly grasped the spirit of the authorities in the classrooms of the school and understood what the “correct” behavior should be. Chichikov sat quietly in the classroom and as a result, not possessing special talents and abilities, he received a certificate at graduation, as well as a special book for trustworthy behavior and exemplary diligence. After graduating from college, Pavlusha plunged into reality: his father died, leaving him as a legacy only 4 jerseys, irretrievably worn out, 2 old frock coats and a small amount of money.
At the same time, which is remarkable, another event occurs that reveals the true qualities of Chichikov, the future swindler. So fond of a humble student, the teacher was fired from the school. He disappeared in a forgotten kennel without a piece of bread. Former arrogant and recalcitrant students raised money for him, and only Pavel Ivanovich limited himself to a penny, while citing his extreme need.
The means by which Chichikov was promoted
Chichikov, it should be noted, was not stingy. However, he imagined a future life with prosperity and in all allowances: a well-arranged house, carriages, delicious meals and expensive entertainment. For this, Pavel Ivanovich agreed to starve and selflessly engage in service. He soon realized that honest work would not bring him what he wanted. And Chichikov begins, looking for new opportunities to improve his position, to take care of his boss's daughter. When he finally gets a promotion, he completely forgets about this family. Scams, bribes - this is the path Pavlusha took. He gradually achieves some visible well-being. But now, in the place of his former boss, they appoint a military, strict man, to whom Chichikov could not ingratiate himself. And he is forced to look for other ways to arrange his well-being.
How Pavel Ivanovich "suffered in the service"
The protagonist of the poem goes to another city. Here, by a lucky chance, he becomes a customs officer and begins to conduct "commercial" relations with smugglers. This criminal conspiracy was revealed after some time, and all those responsible for it, including Chichikov, were brought to justice. This is how, in reality, Pavel Ivanovich "suffered in the service." Chichikov, taking care of his offspring, decides to commit another scam, which Gogol describes in detail in the poem Dead Souls.
Chichikov - the hero of our time
So, Chichikov, who was brought face to face with the usual, traditional order of things, contributes by his actions to the destruction of the existing order. He lays the foundation for the new. Therefore, we can say in this sense that Chichikov is rightfully the hero of our time.
The characterization of the hero of the work "Dead Souls" (Chichikov) was presented in this article. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol wrote the poem we are interested in in 1842. In it, he was able to talentedly and eloquently depict the perniciousness of the serfdom that existed at that time, its horrific consequences for the entire Russian society. Not just individual people degenerate - the people and the whole state are destroyed along with it. It can be said with certainty that the anti-serf works of Nikolai Vasilyevich played a certain role in bringing about the abolition in our country.
Composition grade 9
Plan
1. Collective image of Chichikov.
2. Cunning crow.
3. Everything is driven by money.
4. The most decent person in the world and the character of an official.
Chichikov is one of the brightest and most realistic Gogol characters. To some extent, it is he who unites the images of many of Gogol's heroes. Nevertheless, it is difficult to describe the character of Pavel Ivanovich: these were the intentions of the author, who wanted to show the collective nature of the image of his hero. Indeed, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is a hero who unites many mean, cunning and hypocritical people. He is diverse, ready to find a common language with any interlocutor and adapt to him, and he can and is ready to behave differently.
In communicating with his interlocutors, Chichikov successfully copies the manners of their behavior. In a conversation with Korobochka, Chichikov confirms this: millions of souls have their own shades. In his person, Gogol exposes the criminal thieves and bureaucratic world of Russia. With each of his interlocutors, Chichikov behaves pragmatically. He says what his interlocutor wants to hear. In dealing with Manilov, he is arrogant and flattering. In a conversation with Korobochka, he behaves rather rudely and shamelessly, no longer paying attention to ethical standards - his manner of communication is close to the character of the hostess.
Communication with the cunning insolent Nozdryov is more difficult, because Pavel Ivanovich despises familiarity. But a good deal forces him to become like the familiar and boorish tone of the owner. The image of Sobakevich is more thorough and intelligent. On this basis, Pavel Ivanovich conducts a thorough dialogue about dead souls. Finally, he enjoys attention in Plyushkin's eyes. This man, living alone, broke away from the outside world and forgot the rules of good manners.
Based on all this, Chichikov demonstrates who he is dealing with in the mirror, from the side. shows in the poem the formation of the character of his hero. Already in childhood, Pavlusha was a cunning and enterprising guy. His goal was only profit, Chichikov sought to gain profit at any cost. The hero did not care about people, because his priority was money. But there were reasons for this. Chichikov came from a poor family, and his goal was to join high society, and this could only be done by accumulating money. Realizing where in the future you can fill your wallet, Chichikov went to the bureaucracy, which is known for its wide opportunities for fraud.
Ethical norms in the type of activity, purity of actions, never worried Pavel Ivanovich, who was always looking for benefits in order to obtain as much profit as possible. Gogol calls Chichikov the most decent person in the world. However, it should be understood that it is material gain that drives this decency.
Behind the mask of decency of the main character in "Dead Souls" lies the nature of a cunning, indifferent, intelligent, cold and prudent official who knows how to get the most benefit. The reader sees Chichikov's decorum as fake. The hero carefully hides his true character. He has mastered secular manners well, but uses them excessively. So much so that in other situations, in their absence, he cannot behave properly. Pavel Ivanovich has manners, but not enough money. And he is ready to get them at any cost, becoming a more dangerous character. In Chichikovo, Gogol revealed the image of an official, and one cannot disagree with him. Indeed, in modern Russia there are such Chichikovs.
The poem "Dead Souls" is one of the most remarkable works of Russian literature. The great realist writer N.V. Gogol showed the whole of modern Russia, satirically depicting the local nobility and provincial bureaucracy. But in the poem there is also a completely new hero in Russian literature, a representative of the emerging class of "acquirers". In the image of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, Gogol brought to public view the features of the “knight of the penny”.
Chichikov at first glance gives the impression of a slippery, many-sided person. This is emphasized by appearance: “The gentleman was sitting in the britzka, not handsome, but not bad-looking, neither too fat nor too thin, one cannot say that he was old, but not so that he was too young.”
Chichikov, like a chameleon, is constantly changing. He is able to give his face the right expression to seem like a pleasant conversationalist. Speaking with officials, the hero of the poem "very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone." Therefore, he quickly gains the necessary reputation in the city. Chichikov also finds a common language with the landowners, from whom he buys dead peasants. With Manilov, he looks like a particularly amiable and courteous person, which charms the owner. At Korobochka, Noz-tree, Sobakevich and Plyushkin, Chichikov behaves in accordance with the situation and knows how to find an approach to everyone. Only he did not catch Nozdryov in his nets. But this was Chichikov's only failure.
He uses all his ability to charm a person to achieve a result. And he has one goal - wealth, and for this Pavel Ivanovich is ready to be hypocritical, practicing for hours at the mirror. The main thing for him is money. The hero of the poem needs them not by themselves, but as a means of further accumulation. Even as a child, Chichikov well learned his father's order to please the bosses, to be friends "with those who are richer" and to save "penny". Father's words sunk into the boy's soul: "You will do everything and break everything in the world with a penny."
Possessing a great mind "from the side of practice," Chichikov began to save money at school, profiting from his comrades and being especially stingy. Already in those years, the soul of this “acquirer” manifested itself. By deceit, toadying, Chichikov fought his way through, stopping at nothing. He is cunning, robs the state, "inflates" his colleagues. Bribery becomes his element.
Gradually, Chichikov's scams gained more and more scope. From a modest clerk to a customs official, Gogol traces the path of his hero. By any means he seeks to increase the state. The hero immediately grabs the idea of buying "dead souls". Chichikov's entrepreneurial talent is not consistent with moral standards. There are no moral principles for him. Chichikov concludes with joy: “But now the time is convenient, not long ago there was an epidemic, the people died out, thank God, a lot.” On human grief, on other people's deaths, he builds his well-being.
Chichikov is the same product of time as Onegin or Pechorin. Belinsky wrote about this, noting that "Chichikov, as an acquirer, no less, if not more than Pechorin, is a hero of our time." This hero, with all the power of his skill, is shown by Gogol in the wonderful poem "Dead Souls", which has become an example of accusatory satire. The image of Chichikov should serve as a warning to those who are trying to get rich in any way, turning into a ruthless predator.
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It often happens that we don’t know enough about the actions or opinions of another person, we want to have a complete picture of him, even when his external data does not in any way affect his type of activity or is not related to the subject of discussion. This pattern has its reasons. Often, peering into a person's face, we try to lament something secret, something that he does not seek to talk about. Therefore, the appearance of any character has an important place for comparing his characteristics and actions.
Who is Chichikov
Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is a former official of a "cautiously chilled character."
Until the last chapter of the work, many facts of the biography and origin of Pavel Ivanovich remain hidden for us, we can guess about some points based on the hints of the hero, and only after reading the last pages, we will find out the true picture.
Chichikov of humble origin. As he himself says, "without clan and tribe." And this is not an exaggeration. His parents really were ordinary people, this fact confuses Pavel Ivanovich, but, nevertheless, at some points he makes mention of this in society, referring to the fact that such a position in society will help win over the landowners and they will become more accommodating. Despite his humble origins, Pavel Ivanovich managed to become a man of "brilliant education", but "Chchichikov did not know French at all" (this is the privilege of aristocrats). Especially he was given the exact sciences, he quickly and easily made a calculation in his mind - "he was strong in arithmetic."
Passion for saving money
The judgment that the events that occurred in childhood properly influence the character, the process of formation of the principles and moral foundations of a person, has long passed from the category of assumptions into the category of axioms. We find confirmation of this in Chichikov.
Having worked for the proper time as a collegiate official, he resigned and began to seriously look for a way to enrich himself. By the way, the idea of the need to improve his financial situation never left Pavel Ivanovich, despite the fact that it was born in him from an early age.
The reason for this was the humble origin of the protagonist and the poverty experienced in childhood. This is confirmed in the last paragraphs of the work, where the reader can observe the picture of the departure of the young Chichikov to study. Parents ardently and reverently say goodbye to him, give advice that would help their son take a more advantageous position in society:
“Look, Pavlusha, study, do not be a fool and do not hang out, but most of all please teachers and bosses. Don't hang out with your comrades, they won't teach you good things; hang out with those who are richer, so that they can be useful to you on occasion. Do not treat or treat anyone, take care and save a penny: this thing is more reliable than anything in the world. A comrade or friend will cheat you and in trouble will be the first to betray you, but a penny will not betray you, no matter what trouble you are in. You will do everything and break everything in the world with a penny.
Gogol does not depict in detail the life of Pavel's parents - a few snatched facts do not give a complete picture, but Nikolai Vasilyevich manages to achieve an understanding from readers that his parents were honest and respectable people. They have felt the burden of earning a living and do not want their son to work hard, and therefore give him such unusual recommendations.
Chichikov tries to follow the advice of his parents with all his might. And therefore, he manages to achieve significant results, but not as high as he wanted.
He learned to earn money and save it by denying himself everything he could. True, his earnings were based on an unfair and insidious way: in his behavior with classmates, he was able to arrange the situation in such a way that “they treated him, and he, hiding the received treat, then sold it to them.” “He didn’t have any special abilities for any kind of science,” but he could skillfully craft, for example, he molded a bullfinch from wax and managed to sell it at a good price. He knew how to communicate with animals, he had a talent for animal training. Pavlusha - caught a mouse and taught her several tricks: she "stand on her hind legs, lay down and got up on orders." Such a curiosity also managed to be sold for a decent sum.
Gogol does not say how his father's death affected Chichikov. The only thing he tells the reader is that after his father, Pavel inherited “four irrevocably worn sweatshirts, two old frock coats lined with lambskins, and an insignificant amount of money.” And he adds a sarcastic comment - the father gladly gave advice on enrichment, but he himself could not save anything.
His further life passed according to the same principle - he stubbornly saved up money - "everything that resonated with wealth and contentment made an impression on him, incomprehensible to himself." But an economical life does not allow him to accumulate large capital, and this fact upsets him very much - he decides to enrich himself in any way. Over time, a loophole was found and Chichikov hurries to take advantage of it, trying to enrich himself by fraudulent means. To do this, he travels around the villages and tries to buy "dead souls" from local landlords, so that later, passing them off as real people, he can sell them at a better price.
Appearance and character traits
Pavel Ivanovich is a stately middle-aged man and “good-looking”: “neither too fat nor too thin; one cannot say that he is old, but it is not so that he is too young.
It has everything in moderation - if it were a little fuller - it would be overkill and significantly spoil it. Chichikov himself also finds himself attractive. In his opinion, he is the owner of a beautiful face with an unusually beautiful chin.
He doesn't smoke, doesn't play cards, doesn't dance, and doesn't like to drive fast. In fact, all these preferences are associated with the avoidance of financial costs: tobacco costs money, to which is added the fear that the "pipe dries", you can lose a lot in cards, in order to dance, you must first learn this, and this one is also a waste - and this does not impress the main character, he tries to save as much as possible, because "a penny opens any door."
The fact that Chichikov has an ignoble origin allowed him to outline the ideal of a person close to high society (he knows perfectly well what, besides the financial and social status, aristocrats stand out for, which first of all catches the eye and impresses people).
First of all, Chichikov is an undeniable pedant and a chirpy. He is very principled in terms of hygiene: when it was necessary to wash, he “rubbed both cheeks with soap for an extremely long time”, wiped his whole body with a damp sponge, “which was done only on Sundays”, diligently exterminated the hair that had come out of his nose. This makes an unusually positive impression on the district landlords - they are very surprised by such habits, I consider them a sign of high society.
The next qualities that distinguish him noticeably from the crowd are knowledge and understanding of the basics of psychology and the ability to flatter a person. His praises always know the measure - there are not many and not few - just enough so that a person does not suspect deceit: "he was very skillfully able to flatter everyone."
On duty and, looking at his origin, Chichikov witnessed a variety of scenes, he was able to study the types of behavior of different people and now in communication he easily found the key to the trust of any person. He understood perfectly well what, to whom and in what form it is necessary to say so that a person ceases to treat him with distrust: he, “who really knew the great secret, likes.”
Chichikov is a man of exceptional upbringing and tact in communication. Many find him charming, he has "charming qualities and techniques", and his behavior in society is admirable: "he did not like to allow familiar treatment with him in any case."
His efforts in the field of flattery are not in vain. The landlords, and the governor of the city N himself, soon speak of him as a man of the purest thoughts and aspirations. He is an ideal for them, an example to follow, everyone is ready to vouch for him.
