Chichikov as an unscrupulous and cunning man in Gogol's poem. Why do people become dishonest? The problem of honor and dishonor
Honor and dishonor.
Each of us has encountered people of honor. People who can selflessly help a person. Such people can even help to a stranger without demanding anything in return. But there is, and dark side honor, the one that gains its strength day by day. Dishonor is negative quality a person, which is expressed in meanness, deceit, deception and betrayal. Dishonest people value only their ego; they help others for their own benefit. Can such people be trusted? Is it possible to rely on them in Hard time? Of course not.
Today we understand that dishonor is growing, gaining momentum, while destroying moral values person. Nowadays it is difficult to find a person who will help, understand and console.
“Take care of your honor from a young age,” - this is exactly the epigraph of the story by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin “ Captain's daughter" The concept of honor became central to the work. Honor is decency moral purity heroes such as Pyotr Grinev, his parents, the entire family of Captain Mironov; This is military honor, loyalty to the oath, this, by and large, is love for the Motherland. The story contrasts Pyotr Grinev and Alexey Shvabrin. Both are young noble class, officers, but how different they are in character and moral principles. Grinev is a man of honor, whether it concerns his relationship with Masha Mironova, or his loyalty to the oath, perseverance to the end during the Pugachev rebellion. Without honor and conscience Alexey Shvabrin. He is rude to Masha, it costs him nothing to go over to the rebels, violating the officer’s honor. Captain Mironov, commandant, evokes deep sympathy Belogorsk fortress. He did not lose his dignity, remained faithful to his oath, and did not bend his knee to Pugachev. In the Grinev family, the concept of honor was the basis of the character of Father Petrusha. Despite the fact that Peter, like all children, loved to play pranks, the main thing was brought up in him - human dignity, decency, and this is honor. The hero shows it by returning the gambling debt and not being humiliated by betrayal, as Shvabrin did.
Let us turn to the work “Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, the young guardsman and swashbuckling merchant Kalashnikov" by Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. The writer touches on one of the the most important problems facing a person is a problem of honor. How to protect the honor of yourself and your loved ones, no matter what, how to remain human in any situation?
The action takes place in the distant sixteenth century, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, when the guardsmen could commit outrages, knowing that they would not be punished by the tsar. Kiribeevich is shown as such a guardsman, who, without thinking about the fate of the woman, Alena Dmitrievna, puts her in a terrible position. The neighbors see him trying to caress her - married woman, which in those years was considered the greatest sin. Shame on an innocent woman. Her husband, the merchant Kalashnikov, is outraged and challenges the guardsman to open battle. Defending the honor of his wife and family, he went to the duel, realizing that he would not have mercy from the king in any case. And here a duel is played out between truth, honor and dishonor. Because of a man devoid of morality, the noble Kalashnikov dies, his children are left without a father, and a young innocent girl is left a widow. So Kiribeevich ruined the life not only of himself, but also of the woman he loved. And all because of this, that a person who does not have spiritual values will never be able to comprehend true love, which raises to good deeds, in which honor remains pure and innocent. This work teaches a lot: that you always need to defend the honor of your family and loved ones, and not to offend anyone.
In conclusion, I would like to call people to conscience. To what has always been the concept of honor. Honor is one of the highest moral qualities personality. It is formed from childhood. After all, the foundations of human dignity are a long and thorny path from selfishness to mortgage moral principles. From person to person, from generation to generation, the basics of honor, etiquette and human dignity have been passed on, and only the person himself chooses which moral ideals to choose as a guide in this life. So let us not be dishonest people, let us not become like those who have already been swallowed up by their own ego, selfishness and selfishness. After all, the manifestation of honor is a feat not only for oneself, but also for the whole world!
Dubrovny Egor
It is better to be poor with honor than rich with dishonor.
Honor... What is it? Honor is the moral qualities of a person, his principles, worthy of respect and pride, this is a high spiritual force that can keep a person from meanness, betrayal, lies and cowardice. Without honor a man has no real life. It is better to be poor with honor than rich with dishonor.
World classics fiction have created many works that tell about heroes who have different attitudes to the concept of honor and dignity. Thus, in the prose poem “The Counterfeit Coin” by Charles Baudelaire, the meanness of man and the choice of dishonor are shown. The main character gives a poor man a counterfeit coin, not thinking that this unfortunate man might be arrested. An arrest was the least that could be done; he could have been flogged, beaten, or even simply killed. This poor fellow's life is already not so good, but it will become even worse. The person who gave this coin committed dishonest act, he chose wealth instead of honor, although one coin would not have made him poor. The author wants to convey to us the idea that it is unforgivable to be evil, and even worse - to do evil out of stupidity. This is the most dishonest thing! Even the most good deed in the depths there may be enormous meanness hidden.
In Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls” main character Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov serves a shining example dishonor. Throughout the poem he deceives people for his own benefit. Pavel Ivanovich wanted to get rich by buying up “dead souls.” These were documents for the ownership of peasants who died but were considered alive. Chichikov buys up “dead souls” in order to deceive the entire society. Pavel Ivanovich did not think about people, he blatantly lied to them and did everything for himself. Looking at these two examples, we see that more often people choose wealth. But I believe that it is better to be poor with honor than rich with dishonor.
"Honor is like gem“: the slightest spot takes away its shine and takes away its entire value,” Edmond Pierre Beauchene once said. Yes, this is indeed true. And everyone, sooner or later, will have to decide how to live - with honor or without it.
Cheboltasov Igor
Where do dishonest people come from?
Dishonor is a negative quality of a person, which is expressed in meanness, deceit, deceit and betrayal. It entails shame, destruction of oneself as an individual. Even in the most difficult moment, a person must continue to follow an honest path, without doubting for a second. From birth, parents raise their children to be honest, so where do dishonest people come from?
It seems that different answers can be given to this question, but I believe that dishonor is, first of all, a lack of respect for oneself and others. Therefore, it is very important that we understand that main value in life there are honor and conscience. But, unfortunately, not everyone understands this and chooses the wrong path. By committing any deception, we are approaching dishonor. And with each subsequent betrayal we become dishonest.
The theme of dishonor is touched upon in the story “The Captain's Daughter” by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. In this work, two heroes are contrasted: Pyotr Grinev and Alexey Shvabrin. You can judge a person by his actions in difficult times. For the heroes, the test was the capture of the Belogorsk fortress by Pugachev, where Shvabrin showed his dishonor. He saves his life by deception. We see him on the side of the rebels, while whispering something in Pugachev’s ear. Grinev is ready to share the fate of Captain Mironov and stand for his Motherland.
Let us turn to Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”. The main character Anatol Kuragin is an irresponsible and hypocritical person. He does not think about the consequences of his actions, does not think about the future and does not pay attention to the opinions of others. Kuragin's dishonor is his desire to marry Marya Bolkonskaya because of her wealth. It shows how the hero, for his own good and his own benefit, is ready for any dishonorable act. The author wants to convey to us that a dishonest person is ready to commit a vile act for his own benefit.
Summarizing what has been said, we can conclude that dishonor means the loss of one’s moral character. Having acted dishonestly once, a person cannot stop, becoming a traitor and a liar. We often meet nowadays dishonest people, but I would like there to be as many honest people as possible.
Evstropova Victoria
Gogol wrote his poem at a time when a change in the traditional foundations of society was brewing in Russia and everything indicated that reforms were not far off. It was clear that such changes could not take place without the birth of a new type of person. And one of the purposes of writing the poem for Gogol was a portrait of this new man, who was already beginning to give his voice.
In this regard, it is immediately worth noting that Chichikov, central character V " Dead souls", is not a separate personality, but is a type, a composite image of the newly created "class" of businessmen. Apparently, this is why the author says about him: "not too fat, not too thin", "not handsome, but not bad-looking". That is, in other words, there are no striking features in his appearance.
In addition, despite the fact that Chichikov is present on almost every page of the book, he is by no means the main character. He plays an important ideological and compositional role, he is the center of the poem, but it cannot be said that revealing his character was Gogol’s main goal. Since the plot of the work represents Chichikov’s journey, the original framework of the poem is the road (in the abstract, a line), around which various events develop. Consequently, Chichikov contributes to the education and development of the plot. This is undoubtedly an important function, but not the main one. Neither the reader nor Gogol himself is interested in the biography of this hero - it is not for nothing that it is placed only at the very end of the poem. Initially, it is his activity itself that arouses interest, that is, why is he buying up “dead souls”; this is a kind of external interest. And only after Gogol introduced the reader to the peculiarities of Chichikov’s thinking, an explanation appears in the work of where to look for the roots, the reasons for this strange and unexpected act - the purchase of “dead” souls.
And these reasons are in childhood. Features of the family, the impossibility of getting everything you want, as well as the father’s order before letting his son go “to the people” - to please the bosses and take care and save a penny. So Chichikov grew up - an enterprising businessman with considerable patience and ability to work (since he achieves everything himself, without anyone’s help). Gogol pays tribute to the “irresistible force of his character,” because understands that Chichikov, if you think about it, is accomplishing a grandiose task alone, which not everyone can do. He has practical worldly savvy about everything that smells of money. But the writer also pays considerable attention on the pages of his work to the fact that Chichikov was an ordinary child, kind, sensitive, playful, inquisitive, he actively showed interest in the world around him and sought to learn everything on his own (remember, for example, how he ran away from his nanny and explored places where he was forbidden to go).
Based on all this, it cannot be argued that he is driven only by the thirst for profit. He committed all these machinations with one goal - to realize his dream, which, in fact, is innocent, bright and not even original - it is a dream of own home, the hostess, a bunch of little children and, most importantly, the memory of descendants. This bright dream, I think, began to take shape since childhood, spent in Oblomovka. It was this reason that prompted Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov to commit a scam with dead souls and on a journey through Rus', as a result of the description of which the reader becomes acquainted with representatives of the so-called gallery of dying landowner souls.
It is worth noting that Chichikov in the poem can be viewed from one more angle, namely in comparison with various literary and historical figures. It's about about how landowners and city officials see in him Napoleon, the Antichrist - and in general about the image that they developed after communicating with Chichikov. So, according to rumors, he broke into Korobochka “like Rinald Rinaldin” (a kind of romantic robber); officials compare him to Napoleon, who returned from Helena Island, and when the gossip reached its climax, they already saw the Antichrist in Chichikov. Pavel Ivanovich did not escape the fate of being “recognized” by Captain Kopeikin. Of course, on the one hand, this situation is comical - the postmaster, the author of this theory, did not pay attention to the fact that Chichikov has both arms and legs, unlike that captain. But, nevertheless, this comparison has great importance: Captain Kopeikin, Napoleon is romantic heroes, which were admired by many of the writer’s contemporaries. And Chichikov? Gogol wanted to say by this that the current ideals and objects of admiration were crushed, the great commanders and people's defenders were replaced by the Chichikovs.
It is known that Gogol conceived " Dead Souls"as a three-part work. Unfortunately, he never succeeded in realizing this; we have only a small excerpt from volume II. Here, according to the author’s plan, Chichikov had to repent of all his sins and take the path of purification. In principle, this is how he did, but he repented, crawling at the feet of the governor-general and kissing these very feet. Despite the fact that repentance took place in such a low and even humiliating way, Chichikov’s tricks in general forced some of the heroes of the poem to conduct long discussions about honesty and dishonor, justice and untruth. It is Chichikov in “Dead Souls” who is one of the few business people, capable of action. The hero's goal is petty and selfish, but movement towards it is better than complete inaction.
Over the years, critics have assessed differently the personality and essence of the character of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. Someone labels him a soulless businessman, citing as evidence that he uses everything to achieve his own selfish goal. And someone, on the contrary, emphasizes that Pavel Ivanovich started this fraud with dead souls only in order to realize his dream of his own cozy house, O fairytale beauty Militrisa Kirbityevna, that is, he was motivated by the ideals of home and family - those ideals that almost everyone dreams of. Of course, both critics have fair arguments; but, I think, the most exact description Chichikov's personality can be given by combining these two opinions. The character of this hero is much more complex; he does not fit into the framework of either the positive or the negative character. This is a versatile personality, which is characterized by both selfish interests and bright feelings - that is, Gogol managed to portray a hero very close to real life.
Summary of a literature lesson in 9th grade
The image of Chichikov in Gogol's poem "Dead Souls"
Khorosheva Olga Alexandrovna
Goal: to summarize and systematize the material in the image of Chichikov.
Objectives: - develop the ability to generalize material and draw conclusions;
Develop speaking skills;
Develop correct moral guidelines.
Lesson type: learning new material.
Leading technology: problem-based learning.
Equipment: computer, projector, presentation for the lesson, handouts for group work, route sheet for individual work students, text of the work.
During the classes.
1. Organizing time.
2. Updating knowledge. (slide 1)
In books, as in life, we meet “good” and “bad” people. After reading piece of art After watching a film, we evaluate the characters in approximately the same way, dividing them, as a rule, into two categories - positive and negative.
Think about what qualities positive characters should have and what qualities negative ones should have? Write your answers on the route sheet. Please comment.
3. Formulating the topic and purpose of the lesson.
In today's lesson we will talk about one of the heroes of Gogol's poem "Dead Souls".
Critics' opinions towards him are very mixed. Eg, modern literary scholars Pyotr Weil and Alexander Genis believe that Chichikov is an “ordinary, gray” Mr. mediocre" A small man with small passions, who is too small for Russia.” (slide 2)
But V. Kozhinov calls this hero “a truly strong personality.” (slide 3)
The Russian writer V. Nabokov called Chichikov “a colossal spherical vulgar” and believed that “the fool in him is visible because from the very beginning he makes one mistake after another.” (slide 4)
But researcher I. Zolotussky, although he considers Chichikov a scoundrel, says that “he’s still some kind of strange scoundrel...” (slide 5)
Such directly opposite opinions only confirm the remark of the young Chernyshevsky that Gogol “has the most difficult character.” (slide 6)
So who are we talking about? And what do you think is the topic of our lesson?
So, who is Chichikov: bright, strong personality or ordinary " small man"? The most “dead” of all Gogol’s characters or new hero era?
Trying to answer all these questions is the goal of our lesson.
Write down the topic and purpose of the lesson on the route sheet. (slide 7)
4. Working with text in groups.
Tell me, what do you need to know to form an opinion about a person?
(you need to know what he is like, how he was brought up, what actions he commits, you need to find out the qualities of his personality) (slide 8)
Right. And now I suggest you work in groups on the question: “Chichikov: what is he like?”
Your task is to analyze a certain stage of the hero’s life, his relationships with other characters and formulate the most striking qualities of his personality, those qualities that helped him become what we see him at the end of Volume I of Gogol’s poem.
Each of you will have to write down the results of this work in a table in the route sheet.
You will fill in the remaining space in the table by listening to the answers of other groups.
In a group, I suggest you share responsibilities. (slide 9)
Comment on your work in the group.
5. Working on a problem situation.
So, before us is a detailed description of Chichikov.
Now answer the question posed in the topic of the lesson: who is he? A bright, strong personality or an ordinary “little person”?
It seems that everything is clear, but for some reason it is impossible to answer the question unambiguously. I think it’s impossible to call Chichikov ordinary, especially compared to the rest of the characters in the poem, but for some reason it’s also not possible to agree that he is a bright, strong personality. And why?
First, think and answer the question: what is “personality” and what qualities should a bright, outstanding personality have? (individual task)
Does Chichikov have these qualities? What prevents him from becoming positive hero?
6. Working with a completed table.
Refer once again to the table you have already filled out and emphasize those qualities of the hero that occur most often. Is there love, compassion, empathy, a desire to help among them?
In the “ladder of types” Chichikov is on the last step.
The main thing that prevents Chichikov from becoming a positive hero is the complete absence of living people in him. human feelings, moral ideals and guidelines, lack of conscience, soul, moral quest, throwing and, above all, love, as the brightest and strongest human feeling. Chichikov's soul is practically killed, crushed by his upbringing and, above all, by himself. And even when the timid shoots of a living feeling try to break through (remember the meeting with the blonde), they immediately die under the influence of his unprecedented practicality and passion for acquisition.
The hero's immorality, his conscious suppression and systematic extermination of all human feelings in himself - main reason, according to which Gogol places him at the very bottom of his “ladder of types.” And this same reason allows us to consider Chichikov the most “dead.”
7. Conversation.
Gogol constantly sneers at Chichikov, and in Chapter XI openly calls him a scoundrel (“scoundrel” is a scoundrel; a vile, low, immoral, dishonest person).
Well, it seems that a word has been found to define the essence of our hero. But... the poem is not finished yet. On the last pages of Volume I, Gogol paints a majestic image of Rus'-troika, whose run is directed into the future...
How can a scoundrel, a dishonest and immoral person, be in the troika that personifies God-inspired Rus'? Why does Gogol send the most “dead” of all his characters into the future, where this Rus'-troika is rushing? Did the writer really see the future of Russia as so terrible?
To answer all these questions, let's pay attention to what name Gogol gives to his hero and why? (Pavel Ivanovich)
A student's individual message, prepared in advance, about the Apostle Paul. (slide 10)
A). While listening to the message, formulate three questions about this material in your route sheets.
b). Now let's try again to answer the questions posed earlier.
Thus, we see that Chichikov is a man of a new, bourgeois formation - an “acquirer”, a predator, a master. This is the hero of a new historical era.
We can say that this is a transitional type, combining both the properties of the “old” and the signs of the emerging “new”.
Chichikov is a “collector” of the main features of almost all the characters in the poem; he has qualities that landowners and officials do not have, namely: energy, will, determination, tenacity, survival in any conditions and at any time, patience, perseverance. (slide 11)
If you look at these qualities from a distance, take them separately from Chichikov’s personality, what will they be: negative or positive? Is it bad to be energetic, purposeful, patient?
We can say with confidence that this is a person whose positive inclinations have acquired a vile orientation.
This, of course, does not justify the hero at all, but it shows that he is capable of change. Therefore, it was Chichikov, according to Gogol’s plan, who had to go through the crucible of trials and suffering, realize the unrighteousness of his path and be reborn to a new life.
And therefore it is Chichikov who is being carried by the “God-inspired” Rus-troika. (slide 12,13)
8. Reflection.
I think that during the lesson you have already formed a certain opinion about the hero.
Working in pairs, I propose to reflect it in the form of a syncwine or a cluster of your choice.
9. Summarizing.
A) Commenting on pair work. (syncwines and clusters)
The study of Chichikov’s character in Volume I ends with words addressed to the readers: “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me too? - Yes, no matter how it is! - Gogol saw that Chichikovism, penetrating into society, brings the destruction of humanity. Therefore, the world of Chichikovism, the lowest circle, ends with the first volume of the poem, covering all those phenomena that deserve the satirical denial of the writer.
Multifaceted and controversial image Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, created by the great Gogol, makes you think about a lot. But the most important thing, which, it seems to me, the writer wanted to show in the image of Chichikov, is that man is an arena of constant, incessant struggle between light and dark forces for a living human soul.
9A. Written work: mini-essay * (if you have time)
And now I suggest you, summarizing everything that was said in the lesson, answer the question in writing: So who is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov: trouble or hope for Russia? Please justify your opinion. Volume of work - 5 - 8 sentences. Operating time - 5 minutes.
B) Self-assessment based on the results of the lesson (participation in group work, knowledge of the text, activity during the lesson, work in pairs)
C) Impressions from the lesson.
10. Homework. (slide 14,15)
At home, I invite you to reflect on the question: “Is the image of Chichikov relevant today?”
The theme of the road and the image of Chichikov unite all the various scenes-pictures in the poem “Dead Souls”. Externally, the plot is structured as a description of Chichikov’s travels through a certain Russian province, the story about Pavel Ivanovich runs through the entire work, other characters are characterized not only by themselves, but also through their relationships with Chichikov. However, the content of “Dead Souls” is not limited to the story about Chichikov and his life. The theme of the work is deeper and more significant: Gogol wanted to write a poem about the past, present and future of Russia, and Chichikov, according to the author, expresses precisely the present of Russian life. Along with him, the work contains landowners, officials representing the past of Russia; men, city people, servants, etc. flash in the episodes. All these heroes have their own problems and life goals, which, intricately intertwined, form a social novel.
Chichikov in the poem represents the growing class of Russian entrepreneurs; Gogol calls him “master” (chapter 11). Since childhood, the hero remembered his father’s behest - “to save a penny”, which “will not give out, no matter what trouble he is in” (ibid.). However, the father only knew how to give wise advice- Chichikov inherited four old sweatshirts, two serfs, a house and land worth a thousand rubles. In other words, Pavel Ivanovich had to make his own way in life, not stinting on his means, as his father advised him. Gogol tells in detail the biography of the hero. If the characters of the landowners, except Plyushkin, and all officials are shown as static, that is, they have no history in the poem, then the image of Chichikov is given in development and formation, in the process of realizing his plans.
At school he was in excellent standing, as he demonstrated meek behavior and lackey respect for teachers. But the obsequiousness of a sycophant has nothing to do with respect. This was understood by the teacher, whom Pavlush’s beloved student did not want to help when the poor old man was dying of hunger. Chichikov deceived his first boss: he cleverly played the role of someone in love with his daughter in order to receive another rank. While serving in various departments, Pavel Ivanovich always took advantage of his official position, that is, he took bribes (for example, from smugglers at customs) or simply stole government funds (for example, during the construction of a major building). The desire to acquire a “penny” turned into a thirst for wealth, so that “life would be in all comforts” (chapter 11).
In the image of each landowner, one or two traits are highlighted that define the essence of the hero: Manilov has great spirit, Korobochka has stupidity, Nozdryov has recklessness, etc. Chichikov has several defining features: interest in people, remarkable adaptability, resourceful mind, extreme selfishness, although there are main feature- unbending determination. Misfortunes haunt him: a scam with a government building brought him considerable income, but everything collapsed because of the new boss, “the enemy of untruth”; The talkativeness of a colleague at customs stopped the successful activity of allowing contraband to cross the border. But, thanks to his determination, Chichikov, after another “career crash,” gets back on his feet, while his accomplices either drink themselves to death, or shoot themselves, or irrevocably sink “to the bottom.” The scam with dead souls best demonstrates Chichikov’s unsinkability.
If landowners are characterized by the state of the estate and the decoration of the house, then Chichikov is very similar to his box with a double bottom, which is why it is so difficult to decipher him: outwardly he is sociable, but in essence he is extremely closed; outwardly decent, quickly wins the favor of others, but in essence a person without honor and conscience, ready to do any baseness for the sake of a “penny”. Behind the external softness and grace hides a calculating and predatory nature. Adaptability does not testify to the weakness of his character, but, on the contrary, to firmness and stability.
In the poem, Chichikov, unlike all other heroes, experiences something similar to love. This feeling was aroused in him by the young governor’s daughter. The author himself is ironically surprised at the unexpected sentimentality of such a calculating person as Chichikov: “Apparently, this is how it happens in the world; Apparently, the Chichikovs also turn into poets for a few minutes in their lives; but the word “poet” would be too much. At least he felt quite something like young man, almost a hussar” (chapter 8). At the ball, Chichikov sits down with a charming blonde. And what? His incomparable ability to charm others suddenly betrays him. Pleasant and interesting companion In a conversation with a girl, he turns into a boring man who, with his reasoning, only makes his neighbor sad. Thus, the feeling of love, which usually elevates a person, reveals vulgarity in Chichikov. Along with the pose that is repressed sincere feeling, all his attractiveness disappears, but his prosaic essence comes out.
Gogol considered it necessary to openly express his attitude towards Chichikov. A lot is dedicated to this author's digression in the eleventh chapter, large, since the author tries to explain the complexity and ambiguity of the hero’s character. The first thing that comes to mind about Chichikov is the idea that he is a dishonest hero, capable of any baseness, that is, a “scoundrel.” But the author suddenly begins to defend his hero: “He is wise who does not disdain any character, but, fixing an inquiring gaze on it, probes it to its original causes. (...) And, perhaps, in this same Chichikov, the passion that attracts him is no longer from him. And in his cold existence lies something that will later bring a person to dust and to his knees before the wisdom of heaven” (chapter 11). In other words, this is a hint-recognition that it is Chichikov who the author chooses for spiritual resurrection in subsequent volumes“Dead Souls”: after all, Chichikov’s egoism is manifested not only in contempt for the world around him, but also in the desire to rule in it, that is, Chichikov has at least some serious interest in life, unlike landowners and officials. Gogol’s idea was to find not only “ living soul"How many are alive in dead soul. No wonder the writer admitted: “My subject has always been man and the soul of man.”
To summarize, we note that the image of Chichikov plays two roles in the poem. important roles- compositional and ideological. The poem is structured as a chain of adventures of Pavel Ivanovich, but at the same time, “Dead Souls” cannot be called an adventure novel, because in his work Gogol depicted “all of Rus',” and not just the cunning adventures of the plow hero.
Chichikov's character is satirical, since the externally attractive image of the hero is strikingly different from the internal, immoral appearance. Chichikov does not recognize anything and does not believe in anything except money, in this sense he is a “hero of his time” even more than Pechorin. Appearing in society under the guise of virtue, he laughs at kindness and decency in his soul. Flaunting his benevolence towards people, he only thinks about how to make better use of their location. Only in his scams does he invest all of himself, his knowledge of life and his talents.
Gogol wanted to show the revival of Chichikov, so already in the first volume he gave him features that would allow him to do this in the future. When comparing the hero with the landowners, even the attractive traits of his character become clear. Manilov’s empty dreaminess is alien to him; he does not stop at coming up with tempting projects, but persistently strives for their real implementation. Chichikov does not look like the primitive hoarder Korobochka, but he is also far from such a reckless waster of life as Nozdryov. The main character compares favorably with Sobakevich in that, in addition to practical intelligence, he has courtesy and the ability to win people over, that is, liveliness of character.
At the same time, Chichikov and the landowners are brought together by the main thing: they all want to get settled in life, and not arrange it. Chichikov’s energy and determination were generated by a thirst for enrichment, and should have been directed, in the author’s opinion, to worthy causes. For the sake of a high spiritual goal, Gogol planned to show Chichikov’s rebirth in the second and third volumes of the poem, but failed.
The image of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov is perhaps the most successful of Gogol's caricatures. The life story of just this character playing main role in the poem “Dead Souls”, is revealed by the author in great detail. The novelty of the character he took on forced the writer to engage in such an artistic and comprehensive study.
Pavel Ivanovich combines many of the features of the landowners of that time. The hero would not be complete without a description in the eleventh chapter of the conditions in which his formation took place.
As an inheritance from an impoverished nobleman, Pavel Ivanovich received some copper and instructions to study well and please everyone, and to save and save money. He took the absence of lofty words about debt in the will literally. And life itself soon confirmed that these concepts did not lead to anything good (in his understanding). At school, Pavlushi’s knowledge, behavior, and respectfulness evoked only approval and praise from the teachers, who set the boy as an example to other students. Having entered the government chamber after studying, he continues to please his boss and show attention to his daughter. The same behavior is characteristic of him in any situation. Chichikov quickly realized: in order to please a person, you need to talk to him about his interests, about topics close to him. This behavior helps him remain his own person in any society. Gradually, Pavel Ivanovich drowns out his still living soul, tries not to hear the quiet voice of conscience, builds his happiness on the misfortune of others. And all this for their own benefit. The tools that Chichikov skillfully and actively uses are fraud and deception, theft from the treasury, insult, and bribery. Constant accumulation and acquisition become the meaning of life for the main character. And at the same time, Chichikov needs money not for its own sake. They serve as a means to achieve a good, prosperous life for his family. The image of Chichikov differs sharply from other characters in his determination and strength of character. He achieves his goal by any means, showing extraordinary resourcefulness, resourcefulness, and perseverance.
Chichikov in the poem “Dead Souls” is not like everyone else in his activity, activity, and enterprise. Manilov’s head in the clouds and Korobochka’s naivety are not characteristic of him. He cannot be compared with the miser Plyushkin, but Nozdryov’s careless wastefulness is also not for him. The entrepreneurial spirit of this hero is far from the businesslike nature of Sobakevich. All these qualities indicate the clear superiority of Pavel Ivanovich over other characters in the poem.
The image of Chichikov is incredibly multifaceted. People like him are very difficult to immediately unravel, to understand what they really are. Chichikov managed to please most residents of the city as soon as he appeared in it. He managed to present himself as a secular, developed and decent person. During the conversation, he finds an individual key to everyone in whom he is interested. His ostentatious goodwill is only a means to take advantage of his high position the right people. It costs nothing for Chichikov to reincarnate, change his behavior and at the same time not forget about his own goals. His ability to adapt to everyone is amazing. When Pavel Ivanovich bargains with Manilov, he shows delicacy, sensitivity and courtesy. But with Korobochka, on the contrary, he behaves assertively, rudely, and impatiently. He understands that Plyushkin is very easy to persuade; he must speak to Sobakevich in a businesslike manner. The energy of the main character is tireless, but it is aimed at low actions.
The image of Chichikov is an example of a trader and entrepreneur, a new type of person, whom Gogol defined as a vile, vile, “dead soul.”
