Heroes who live well in Rus' for a short time. “Who Lives Well in Rus'” by Nekrasov: analysis of the poem, quotes, characteristics of the heroes
Chapter 11
In the morning it turned out that there was no way to leave immediately, since the horses were not shod, and the tires on the wheel needed to be changed. Chichikov, beside himself with indignation, ordered Selifan to immediately find craftsmen so that all the work would be done within two hours. Finally, after five hours, Pavel Ivanovich was able to leave the city. He crossed himself and ordered them to drive.
Next, the author talks about the life of Chichikov. His parents were from ruined nobles. As soon as the boy grew up a little, his sick father began to force him to rewrite various instructions. As soon as the child was distracted, he immediately long fingers They twisted my ear painfully. The time came, and Pavlusha was sent to the city, to school. Before leaving, the father gave the following instruction to his son: “... study, don’t be stupid and don’t hang around, but most of all please your teachers and bosses. If you please your bosses, then, even though you won’t succeed in science and God hasn’t given you talent, you’ll put everything into action and get ahead of everyone else. Don’t hang out with your comrades... hang out with those who are richer, so that on occasion they can be useful to you. Don’t treat or treat anyone... take care and save a penny. You will do everything, you will ruin everything in the world with a penny.” Pavlusha diligently followed his father's instructions. In the classroom, he distinguished himself more by his diligence than by his ability in science. He quickly recognized the teacher's penchant for obedient students and did his best to please him. As a result, he graduated from college with a certificate of merit. Subsequently, when this teacher fell ill, Chichikov spared him money for medicine.
After graduating from school, Chichikov and with great difficulty got a job in the government chamber in a miserable place. However, he tried so hard that he fell into favor with his boss and even became the groom of his daughter. Quite soon, the old police officer tried his best, and Pavel Ivanovich himself sat down as a police officer in the vacant position. The next day Chichikov left his bride. Gradually he became a noticeable person. He even turned the persecution of any bribes in the office to his advantage. From now on, only secretaries and clerks took bribes, and they shared them with their superiors.
As a result, it was the lower officials who turned out to be scammers. Chichikov joined some architectural commission and did not suffer until the general was replaced.
The new boss didn’t like Chichikov at all, so he was soon left without a job and his savings. After much ordeal, our hero got a job at customs, where he established himself as an excellent worker. Having become a boss, Chichikov began to carry out fraud, as a result of which he turned out to be the owner of quite a decent capital. However, he quarreled with his accomplice and again lost almost everything. Having become an attorney, Chichikov quite accidentally learned that even dead peasants who were considered alive according to audit tales can be pledged to the board of guardians, thereby receiving considerable capital that can work for their owner. Pavel Ivanovich began to zealously put his dream into practice.
To the estate of General Betrishchev. Chichikov ordered to report about himself and was taken to Betrishchev’s office. The general struck him with his majestic appearance, courageous face and thick neck - he was one of those picture generals with whom the famous 12th year was so rich.
General Betrishchev had a lot of advantages and a lot of disadvantages. In decisive moments, he could show magnanimity, courage, generosity, intelligence, but he combined with this whims, ambition and pride. He was a champion of enlightenment and loved to show off his knowledge of what others did not know, but he did not like people who knew something that he did not know. Brought up by a semi-foreign upbringing, he wanted to play at the same time the role of a Russian master. From his voice to the slightest body movement, everything about him was powerful, commanding, inspiring, if not respect, then at least timidity.
Gogol. Dead Souls. Volume 2, chapter 2. Audiobook
Chichikov immediately understood what kind of person he was. Respectfully tilting his head to the side and spreading his hands out to fly away, as if preparing to lift a tray with cups with them, he amazingly deftly bent down in front of the general and said: “Having respect for the valor of the men who saved the fatherland on the battlefield, I considered it my duty to introduce myself personally to your Excellency.”
The general liked it. He immediately got into conversation with Chichikov and asked where he served. Chichikov replied that his service flowed according to different places, but everywhere - like a ship among the waves, from the intrigues of numerous enemies who even attempted on his life. “Now I’m staying with your neighbor Tentetnikov, who greatly repents of his previous quarrel with your Excellency, for he knows how to appreciate men who saved the fatherland.”
- What about him? But I'm not angry! - said the softened general.
Chichikov immediately told him that Tentetnikov was writing a serious essay.
- Which one?
Chichikov hesitated, not knowing what to answer, and suddenly said:
– A story about the generals of 12, Your Excellency.
Mentally, he almost spat and said to himself: “Lord, what kind of nonsense am I talking about!” But Betrishchev immediately perked up and began to be surprised:
- Why doesn’t Tentetnikov come to me? I could give him a lot of interesting materials.
Just then the door opened and Ulinka entered, striking Chichikov with her cuteness and beauty.
- I recommend you my pampered girl! - said the general. - Ulinka, Pavel Ivanovich just told me that our neighbor Tentetnikov is not at all as stupid a person as we thought. He studies the history of the twelfth year generals.
Ulinka said that she had not previously considered Tentetnikov stupid. She went home, and the general asked Chichikov:
- After all You I hope you're having lunch with me?
Chichikov, contrary to Tentetnikov, did not take offense at the word You. Meanwhile, the valet appeared with a washstand.
-Will you let me dress on my own? – Betrishchev asked Pavel Ivanovich.
- Not only get dressed, but you can do in front of me whatever your Excellency pleases.
The general began to wash himself so that water and soap flew in all directions. Noticing his goodwill, Chichikov decided to move on to the main matter.
“Your Excellency,” he said when the valet left. - I have an uncle, a decrepit old man. He has an estate of three hundred souls, of which I am the only heir. But my uncle is a strange man and does not want to bequeath his estate to me, saying: let the nephew first prove that he is not a spendthrift, but reliable person. Let him first make at least three hundred souls of peasants, then I will give him my three hundred souls.
- Isn’t he a fool? – asked Betrishchev.
- Yes, he’s old and out of his mind. But I came up with this. If you, Your Excellency, hand over all the dead souls of your village to me as if they were alive, I would then present this deed of sale to the old man, and he would give me the inheritance.
The general fell into his chair and laughed so loudly that Ulinka and the valet came running.
- Uncle, uncle! what a fool he will be,” he shouted. - Ha, ha, ha! He will receive the dead instead of the living. After all, he is a donkey! I would give God knows what to see you present him with a bill of sale for them.
- Donkey! – Chichikov confirmed.
- Is he old?
- Eighty years old.
- Are there any more teeth?
“Two teeth in total, Your Excellency,” Chichikov laughed.
- Yes, for such an invention I will give you the dead with land and housing! Take the entire cemetery for yourself!
And the general’s laughter began to reverberate again through the general’s quarters.
[The end of the 2nd chapter of the 2nd volume of “Dead Souls” is missing from Gogol. In the first edition of this book (1855) there is a note: “The reconciliation of General Betrishchev with Tentetnikov is omitted here; dinner with the general and their conversation about the twelfth year; Ulinka's engagement to Tentetnikov; her prayer and crying at her mother’s grave; conversation between the engaged in the garden. Chichikov goes, on behalf of General Betrishchev, to his relatives to notify his daughter’s engagement, and goes to one of these relatives, Colonel Koshkarev.”]
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 1 – summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Chichikov
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 2 – briefly
A few days later, Chichikov moved his visits out of town and first visited Manilov’s estate. Sweet Manilov claimed enlightened humanity, European education and loved to build fantastic projects, like building a huge bridge across your pond, from where you could see Moscow during tea time. But, mired in dreams, he never put them into practice, being characterized by complete impracticality and mismanagement. (See Description of Manilov, his estate and dinner with him.)
Receiving Chichikov, Manilov demonstrated his refined courtesy. But in a private conversation, Chichikov made him an unexpected and strange offer to buy from him for a small sum recently deceased peasants (who, until the next financial audit, were listed as alive on paper). Manilov was extremely surprised by this, but out of courtesy he could not refuse the guest.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, Chapter 2 - summary of the full text of this chapter.
Manilov. Artist A. Laptev
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 3 – briefly
From Manilov, Chichikov thought of going to Sobakevich, but the drunken coachman Selifan took him in a completely different direction. Caught in a thunderstorm, the travelers barely made it to some village - and found accommodation for the night with the local landowner Korobochka.
The widow Korobochka was a simple-minded and frugal old woman. (See Description of Korobochka, her estate and lunch with her.) The next morning, over tea, Chichikov made her the same proposal as before to Manilov. The box at first widened its eyes, but then calmed down, most of all caring about how not to make a cheap sale when selling the dead. She even began to refuse Chichikov, intending first to “apply to the prices of other merchants.” But her resourceful guest pretended to be a government contractor and promised to soon buy flour, cereals, lard and feathers in bulk from Korobochka. Looking forward to this good deal Korobochka agreed to sell the dead souls.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 3 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 4 – briefly
After leaving Korobochka, Chichikov stopped for lunch at a roadside tavern and met there the landowner Nozdryov, whom he had previously met at a party with the governor. An incorrigible reveler and reveler, a liar and a sharpie, Nozdryov (see his description) was returning from the fair, having completely lost at cards there. He invited Chichikov to his estate. He agreed to go there, hoping that the broken Nozdryov would give him the dead souls for free.
On his estate, Nozdryov led Chichikov around the stables and kennels for a long time, assuring him that his horses and dogs were worth many thousands of rubles. When the guest started talking about dead souls, Nozdryov offered to play cards with them and immediately took out the deck. Thoroughly suspecting that it was marked, Chichikov refused.
The next morning Nozdryov suggested playing dead peasants not at cards, but at checkers, where cheating is impossible. Chichikov agreed, but during the game Nozdryov began to move several checkers at once with the cuffs of his robe in one move. Chichikov protested. Nozdryov responded by calling two hefty serfs and ordering them to beat the guest. Chichikov barely managed to escape unharmed thanks to the arrival of the police captain: he brought Nozdryov a summons to trial for an insult inflicted while drunk with rods on the landowner Maximov.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 4 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
The Adventures of Chichikov (Nozdryov). An excerpt from a cartoon based on the plot of Gogol’s “Dead Souls”
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 5 – briefly
Having galloped away at full speed from Nozdryov, Chichikov finally reached the estate of Sobakevich - a man whose character was the opposite of Manilov. Sobakevich deeply despised having his head in the clouds and was guided in everything only by material benefit. (See Portrait of Sobakevich, Description of the estate and interior of Sobakevich's house.)
Explaining human actions solely by the desire for selfish gain, rejecting any idealism, Sobakevich certified city officials as swindlers, robbers and sellers of Christ. In figure and posture he resembled a medium-sized bear. At the table, Sobakevich neglected the low-nutritive overseas delicacies and dined simple dishes, but absorbed them in huge pieces. (See Lunch at Sobakevich's.)
Unlike others, the practical Sobakevich was not at all surprised by Chichikov’s request to sell dead souls. However, he charged an exorbitant price for them - 100 rubles each, explaining it by the fact that his peasants, although dead, were “select goods”, because they used to be excellent craftsmen and hard workers. Chichikov laughed at this argument, but Sobakevich only after a long bargaining reduced the price to two rubles and a half per head. (See the text of the scene of their bargaining.)
In a conversation with Chichikov, Sobakevich let it slip that an unusually stingy landowner Plyushkin lives not far from him, and this owner of more than a thousand peasants has people dying like flies. Having left Sobakevich, Chichikov immediately found out the way to Plyushkin.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 5 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Sobakevich. Artist Boklevsky
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 6 – briefly
Plyushkin. Drawing by Kukryniksy
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 7 – briefly
Back in provincial town N, Chichikov took up the final registration of deeds of sale in the state chancellery. This chamber was located in the main city square. Inside it, many officials were diligently poring over papers. The noise from their feathers sounded as if several carts with brushwood were passing through a forest littered with withered leaves. To speed up the matter, Chichikov had to bribe the clerk Ivan Antonovich with long nose, colloquially called a pitcher's snout.
Manilov and Sobakevich arrived to sign the bills of sale themselves, and the rest of the sellers acted through attorneys. Not knowing that all the peasants bought by Chichikov were dead, the chairman of the chamber asked what land he intended to settle them on. Chichikov lied about allegedly having an estate in the Kherson province.
To “sprinkle” the purchase, everyone went to the police chief. Among the city fathers, he was known as a miracle worker: he only had to blink when passing a fish row or a cellar, and the merchants themselves would carry snacks in great abundance. At the noisy feast, Sobakevich especially distinguished himself: while the other guests were drinking, he secretly ate a huge sturgeon to the bones in a quarter of an hour, and then pretended that he had nothing to do with it.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 7 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 8 – briefly
Chichikov bought from landowners are dead souls for pennies, but on the paper in the deeds of sale it was stated that he had paid about a hundred thousand for everyone. Such a large purchase caused the most lively talk in the city. The rumor that Chichikov was a millionaire greatly raised his profile in everyone's eyes. In the opinion of the ladies he became a true hero, and they even began to find something similar to Mars in his appearance.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 9 – briefly
Nozdryov’s words were initially considered drunken nonsense. However, soon the news of Chichikov’s purchase of the dead was confirmed by Korobochka, who came to the city to find out if she had gone cheap in her deal with him. The wife of a local archpriest told Korobochka’s story to one well-known in the city world nice lady, and she - to her friend - lady, pleasant in every way. From these two ladies the word spread to everyone else.
The whole city was at a loss: why did Chichikov buy dead souls? Prone to frivolous romance female half Society had a strange idea that he wanted to cover up the preparations for the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. More down-to-earth male officials wondered whether there was a strange visitor - an auditor sent to their province to investigate official omissions, and "dead souls" - some kind of conventional phrase, whose meaning is known only to Chichikov himself and the top authorities. The bewilderment reached the point of true trepidation when the governor received two papers from above, informing them that a well-known counterfeiter and a dangerous fugitive robber might be in their area.
For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 9 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 10 – briefly
The city fathers gathered for a meeting with the police chief to decide who Chichikov was and what to do with him. The most daring hypotheses were put forward here. Some considered Chichikov a forger of banknotes, others - an investigator who would soon arrest them all, and still others - a murderer. There was even an opinion that he was Napoleon in disguise, released by the British from the island of St. Helena, and the postmaster saw in Chichikov Captain Kopeikin, a disabled war veteran against the French, who did not receive a pension from the authorities for his injury and took revenge on them with the help of a gang of robbers recruited in the Ryazan forests.
Remembering that Nozdryov was the first to talk about dead souls, they decided to send for him. But this famous liar, having come to the meeting, began to confirm all the assumptions at once. He said that Chichikov had previously kept two million counterfeit money and that he even managed to escape with it from the police who surrounded the house. According to Nozdryov, Chichikov really wanted to kidnap the governor’s daughter, prepared horses at all stations and bribed the priest, Father Sidor, in the village of Trukhmachevka for a secret wedding for 75 rubles.
Realizing that Nozdryov was carrying game, those present drove him away. He went to Chichikov, who was ill and knew nothing about the city rumors. Nozdryov “out of friendship” told Chichikov: everyone in the city considers him a counterfeiter and an extremely dangerous person. Shocked, Chichikov decided to hastily leave early tomorrow morning.
For more details, see the separate articles Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 10 – summary and Gogol “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin” – summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.
Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 11 – briefly
The next day, Chichikov almost escaped from the city of N. His chaise rolled along the high road, and during this journey Gogol told the readers the life story of his hero and finally explained for what purpose he acquired dead souls.
Chichikov's parents were nobles, but very poor. As a young boy, he was taken from the village to the city and sent to school. (See Chichikov's childhood.) The father finally gave his son advice to please his bosses and save a penny.
Chichikov always followed this parental instruction. He did not have brilliant talents, but he constantly curried favor with teachers - and graduated from school with an excellent certificate. Selfishness, the thirst to rise from the poor into wealthy people were the main properties of his soul. After school, Chichikov entered the lowest bureaucratic position, achieved a promotion by promising to marry the ugly daughter of his boss, but deceived him. Through lies and hypocrisy, Chichikov twice achieved prominent official positions, but the first time he stole money allocated for government construction, and the second time he acted as the patron of a gang of smugglers. On both occasions he was exposed and narrowly escaped prison.
He had to be content with the position of trial attorney. At that time, loans against the mortgaging of landowners' estates to the treasury became widespread. While doing one such thing, Chichikov suddenly learned that dead serfs were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit, which took place in Russia only once every few years. When mortgaging their estates, the nobles received from the treasury amounts according to the number of their peasant souls - 200 rubles per person. Chichikov came up with the idea of traveling around the provinces, buying dead ones for pennies, but not yet marked as such in the audit. peasant souls, then pawn them in bulk - and thus get a rich sum...
Chichikov spent more than a week in the city, traveling to parties and dinners. Finally, he decided to visit 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...” He ordered the coachman Selifan to put the horses into the famous chaise early in the morning, and Petrushka to stay at home, watch the room and suitcase. Here it makes sense to say a few words about these two serfs.
Petrushka wore a somewhat wide brown frock coat from a lord's shoulder and, according to the custom of people of his rank, had a large nose and lips. His character was more silent than talkative; he “even had a noble impulse towards enlightenment, that is, reading books, the content of which did not bother him; he read everything with equal attention.” He usually slept without undressing, “and always carried with him some special air...” - when he placed his bed “in a previously uninhabited room” and transferred his overcoat and belongings there, it immediately seemed that there were already ten in this room people lived for years. Chichikov, a scrupulous man, sometimes frowned in the morning and said displeasedly: “You, brother, the devil knows, you’re sweating or something. You should at least go to the bathhouse.” Parsley did not answer anything and hurried to go about his business. The coachman Selifan was a completely different person...
But we need to return to the main character. So, having given the necessary orders in the evening, Chichikov woke up early in the morning, washed himself, wiped himself from head to toe with a wet sponge, which he usually did only after Sundays, shaved thoroughly, put on a tailcoat, and then an overcoat, went down the stairs and got into the chaise.
With a thunder, the chaise drove out from under the hotel gates and onto the street. A passing priest took off his hat, several boys in soiled shirts extended their hands, saying: “Master, give it to the orphan!” The coachman, noticing that one of them was a great hunter of standing on his heels, lashed him with a whip, and the chaise began to jump over the stones. It was not without joy that he saw a striped barrier in the distance, letting him know that the pavement, like any other torment, would soon end; and hitting his head quite hard several times into the back of the car, Chichikov finally rushed along the soft ground... There were villages stretched out along the cord, with a structure similar to old stacked firewood, covered with gray roofs with carved wooden decorations underneath them in the form of hanging wipers embroidered with patterns. Several men, as usual, yawned, sitting on benches in front of the gate in their sheepskin coats. Women with fat faces and bandaged breasts looked out from the upper windows; a calf looked out from below, or a pig stuck out its blind muzzle. In a word, the species are known. Having driven the fifteenth mile, he remembered that here, according to Manilov, his village should be, but even the sixteenth mile flew past, and the village was still not visible...
Let's go find Manilovka. Having traveled two miles, we came across a turn onto a country road, but two, three, and four miles had already gone, it seems, and the two-story stone house was still not visible. Then Chichikov remembered that if a friend invites you to his village fifteen miles away, it means that there are thirty faithful to her.
“The village of Manilovka could lure few people with its location.” Lord's house, open to all winds, stood alone on a hill; “the slope of the mountain was covered with trimmed turf.” Here and there on the mountain there were plants scattered and a gazebo with a flat green dome, wooden blue columns and the inscription: “Temple of Solitary Reflection.” Below was an overgrown pond. In the lowland, partly along the slope itself, darkened gray log huts, which Chichikov, for unknown reasons, immediately began to count and counted more than two hundred. Everything around was bare, only a pine forest darkened to the side.
Approaching the yard, Chichikov noticed the owner himself on the porch, who stood in a green shallot frock coat, putting 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 chaise approached the porch, his eyes became more cheerful and his smile widened more and more.
Pavel Ivanovich! - he finally cried out when Chichikov climbed out of the chaise. - You really remembered us!
Both friends kissed very hard, and Manilov took his guest into the room...
God alone could have said what Manilov’s character was. There is a kind of people known by the name: so-so people, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan nor in the village of Selifan, according to the proverb. Maybe Manilov should join them. In appearance he was a distinguished man; His facial features were not devoid of pleasantness, but this pleasantness seemed to have too much sugar in it; in his techniques and turns there was something ingratiating favor and acquaintance.
He smiled enticingly, was blond, with blue eyes. In the first minute of conversation with him you can’t help but say: “What a pleasant and a kind person! The next minute you won’t say anything, and the third you’ll say: “The devil knows what it is!” - and move away; If you don’t leave, you will feel mortal boredom. You won’t get any lively or even arrogant words from him, which you can hear from almost anyone if you touch an object that offends him. Everyone has their own enthusiasm: one of them turned his enthusiasm to greyhounds; to another it seems that he is a strong lover of music and has an amazing feeling for everything deep places in it; the third master of a dashing lunch; 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 of going on a walk with the adjutant, in front of his friends, acquaintances and even strangers; the sixth is already gifted with a hand that feels a supernatural desire to bend the corner of some ace or deuce of diamonds, while the hand of the seventh is trying to create order somewhere, to get closer to the person stationmaster or coachmen - in a word, everyone has their own, but Manilov had nothing.
At home he spoke very little and for the most part pondered and thought, but what he was thinking about, only God knew. The farming went on by itself, he never even went to the fields. Sometimes, looking from the porch at the yard and the pond, he talked about how nice it would be if suddenly an underground passage was built from the house or a stone bridge was built across the pond, on which there would be benches on both sides, and so that people could sit in them merchants sold various small goods needed by the peasants. But it all ended in talk.
In Manilov’s office there was a book with a bookmark on page fourteen, which he had been constantly reading for two years. There was always something missing in his house: all the chairs were upholstered in beautiful silk, but there was not enough fabric for two chairs. Some rooms had no furniture at all. In the evening, a very smart candlestick was served on the table and next to it was placed a simple copper invalid, lame and covered in grease.
The wife was a match for her husband. Although eight years of their marriage had passed, each of them tried to please each other with an apple or candy, saying at the same time: “Open your mouth, darling, I’ll put this piece for you.” “And his mouth opened very gracefully on this occasion.” Sometimes, without any reason, they would give each other a long kiss, during which they could smoke a pipe. For his birthday, the wife always prepared some gift for her husband, for example, a beaded case for a toothpick. In a word, they were happy. Of course, it should be noted that there were many other activities in the house, besides long kisses and surprises... In the kitchen they cooked stupidly and to no avail, the pantry was empty, the housekeeper stole, the servants drank... “But these are all low things, and Manilova was brought up well, in a boarding school where they teach the three foundations of virtue: French, piano and knitting purses and other surprises.”
Meanwhile, Chichikov and Manilov were stuck at the door, trying to be sure to let their companion through first. Finally both squeezed through sideways. Manilov introduced his wife, and Chichikov noted to himself that she was “pretty good-looking and well-dressed.”
Manilova said, even burbling somewhat, that he made them very happy with his arrival and that her husband did not go by a day without thinking about him.
Yes,” Manilov said, “she used to keep asking me: “Why isn’t your friend coming?” - “Wait, darling, he’ll come.” And now you have finally honored us with your visit. Truly such a delight... May day... the name day of the heart...
Chichikov, having heard that it had already come to the name day of his heart, was even somewhat embarrassed and answered modestly, no matter what. big name does not have even a noticeable rank.
“You have everything,” Manilov interrupted with the same pleasant smile, “you have everything, even more.”
How did our city seem to you? - Manilova said. - Did you have a pleasant time there?
“It’s a very good city, a wonderful city,” Chichikov answered, “and I spent a very pleasant time: the company was most courteous.”
An empty conversation ensued, during which officials familiar to those present were discussed: the governor, vice-governor, police chief and his wife, chairman of the chamber, etc. And they all turned out to be “the most worthy people" Then Chichikov and Manilov started talking about how pleasant it is to live in the countryside and enjoy nature in the company of good people. educated people, and it is unknown how the “mutual outpouring of feelings” would have ended, but a servant entered the room and reported that “the food is ready.”
There were already two boys in the dining room, the sons of Manilov. The teacher was standing with them. The hostess sat down to her soup cup; the guest was seated between the owner and the hostess, the servant tied napkins around the children's necks.
“What cute children,” Chichikov said, looking at them, “and what year is it?”
The eldest is eighth, and the youngest only turned six yesterday,” said Manilova.
Themistoclus! - said Manilov, turning to the elder, who was trying to free his chin, which the footman had tied in a napkin.
Chichikov raised a few eyebrows when he heard this partly Greek name, to which, for some unknown reason, Manilov ended in “yus,” but immediately tried to bring his face back to its normal position.
Themistoclus, tell me which one best city in France?
Here the teacher turned all his attention to Themistocles and seemed to want to jump into his eyes, but finally calmed down completely and nodded his head when Themistocles said: “Paris.”
What is our best city? - Manilov asked again.
The teacher focused his attention again.
Petersburg,” answered Themistoklus.
And what else?
Moscow,” answered Themistoclius.
Clever girl, darling! - Chichikov said to this. “Tell me, however...” he continued, immediately turning 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. The smaller one, Alcides, is not so fast, but this one now, if he meets something, a bug, a booger, his eyes suddenly start running; will run after her and immediately pay attention. I read it on the diplomatic side. Themistoclus,” he continued, turning to him again, “do you want to be a messenger?”
“I want,” answered Themistoklus, chewing bread and shaking his head to right and left.
At this time, the footman standing behind wiped the messenger’s nose, and did a very good job, otherwise a fair amount of extraneous drop would have sunk into the soup. The conversation began at the table about the pleasures of a quiet life, interrupted by the hostess's remarks about the city theater and the actors.
After dinner, Manilov intended to escort the guest to the living room, 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 come to my office,” Manilov said and led him into a small room with a window facing the blue forest. “Here is my corner,” said Manilov.
“It’s a pleasant room,” said Chichikov, looking around it with his eyes.
The room was definitely 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 already had occasion to mention, several papers written on, but more it was all tobacco. He was in different types: in caps and in a tobacco box, and, finally, it was simply poured in a heap on the table. On both windows there were also piles of ash knocked out of the pipe, arranged, not without effort, in very beautiful rows. It was noticeable that this sometimes gave the owner a good time.
Let me ask you to sit in these chairs,” said Manilov. - You will be calmer here.
Let me sit on the chair.
Let me not let you do this,” Manilov said with a smile. - I have already allocated this chair for a guest: for the sake of it or not, but they must sit down.
Chichikov sat down.
Let me treat you to a straw.
No, I don’t smoke,” Chichikov answered affectionately and as if with an air of regret...
But let me make one request first... - he said in a voice that conveyed some strange or almost strange expression, and after that, for some unknown reason, he looked back. - How long ago did you deign to submit a revision tale ( name list serfs, represented by landowners during the audit, census of peasants - approx. ed.)?
Yes, for a long time; or better yet, I don’t remember.
How many of your peasants have died since then?
But I can’t know; I think you need to ask the clerk about this. Hey man! call the clerk, he should be here today.
The clerk appeared...
Listen, my dear! How many of our peasants have died since the audit was submitted?
How much? “Many have died since then,” said the clerk, and at the same time hiccupped, slightly covering his mouth with his hand, like a shield.
Yes, I admit, I thought so myself,” Manilov picked up, “namely, a lot of people died!” - Here he turned to Chichikov and added: - Exactly, very many.
How about, for example, a number? - asked Chichikov.
Yes, how many in number? - Manilov picked up.
How can I say it in numbers? After all, it is unknown how many died; no one counted them.
Yes, exactly,” said Manilov, turning to Chichikov, “I also assumed a high mortality rate; It is completely unknown how many died.
Please, read them,” said Chichikov, “and make a detailed register of everyone by name.”
Yes, everyone by name,” said Manilov.
The clerk said: “I’m listening!” - and left.
And for what reasons do you need this? - Manilov asked after the clerk left.
This question seemed to make it difficult for the guest; a tense expression appeared on his face, from which he even blushed - a tension to express something, not entirely submissive to words. And in fact, Manilov finally heard such strange and extraordinary things as human ears had never heard before.
For what reasons, you ask? The reasons are this: I would like to buy peasants... - said Chichikov, stuttered and did not finish his speech.
But let me ask you,” said Manilov, “how do you want to buy the peasants: with land or simply for withdrawal, that is, without land?
No, I’m not exactly a peasant,” said Chichikov, “I want to have the dead...
How, sir? Sorry... I'm a little hard of hearing, I heard a strange word...
“I plan to acquire dead ones, which, however, would be listed as alive according to the audit,” Chichikov said.
Manilov immediately dropped his pipe and pipe onto the floor and, as he opened his mouth, remained with his mouth open for several minutes. Both friends, 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 his pipe and looked into his face from below, trying to see if there was any visible smile on his lips, if he was joking; but nothing like that was visible; on the contrary, the face even seemed more sedate than usual; then he thought whether the guest had somehow accidentally gone crazy, and looked at him closely with fear; but the guest’s eyes were completely clear, there was no wild, restless fire in them, which runs in the eyes crazy man, everything was decent and in order. No matter how hard Manilov thought about what he should do and what he should do, he could not think of anything else except to release the remaining smoke from his mouth in a very thin stream.
So, I would like to know if you can give me such, not living in reality, but living in relation to the legal form, transfer, assign, or whatever you prefer?
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.
Me?.. 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 every movement of yours; I do not have high art express yourself... Maybe here... in this explanation you just expressed... something else is hidden... Maybe you deigned to express yourself this way for the beauty of the style?
No,” Chichikov picked up, “no, I mean the object as it is, that is, those souls that, 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 finished by blowing out smoke again, but not through his mouth, but through his nasal nostrils.
So, if there are no obstacles, then with God we could begin to complete the deed of sale,” said Chichikov.
What, a bill of sale for dead souls?
Oh no! - said Chichikov. - We will write that they are alive, as it really is in the revision fairy 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 matter for me, the law - I am dumb before the law.
Manilov liked the last words, but he still did not understand the meaning of the matter itself and instead of answering, he began to suck on his chibouk so hard that it finally began to wheeze like a bassoon. It seemed as if he wanted to extract from him an opinion regarding such an unheard-of circumstance; but the chibouk wheezed and nothing more.
Maybe you have any doubts?
ABOUT! For mercy, not at all. I’m not saying that I have any, that is, critical, reproach about you. But allow me to report, whether this enterprise or, to put it even more, so to speak, a negotiation, will not this negotiation be inconsistent with civil regulations and further developments in Russia?
Chichikov nevertheless managed to convince Manilov that there would be no violation of civil law, that such an enterprise would in no way be inconsistent with civil regulations and further types of Russia. The treasury will even benefit in the form of legal duties. When Chichikov started talking about the price, Manilov was surprised:
How's the price? - Manilov said again and stopped. “Do you really think that I would take money for souls that have in some way ended their existence?” If you have come up with such a, so to speak, fantastic desire, then for my part I hand them over to you without interest and take over the deed of sale.
Chichikov was showered with gratitude, touching Manilov. After this, the guest got ready to leave, and, despite all the entreaties of the hosts to stay a little longer, he hastened to take his leave. Manilov stood on the porch for a long time, following the retreating chaise with his eyes. And when he returned to the room, he indulged in thoughts about how nice it would be to have a friend like Chichikov, to live next door to him, to spend time in pleasant conversations. I also dreamed that the sovereign, having learned about their friendship, would grant them generals. But Chichikov’s strange request interrupted his dreams. No matter how much he thought, he could not understand her, and all the time he sat and smoked his pipe.
Title of the work: Dead Souls
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol
Year of writing: 1835
Genre of the work: prose poem
Main characters: Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov- nobleman, Manilov- landowner, Korobochka Nastasya Petrovna- landowner, Nozdryov- landowner, Sobakevich Mikhail Semenovich- landowner.
