The negative image of Chichikov in the poem Dead Souls. The image of Chichikov in the poem “Dead Souls”: description of appearance and character with quotes

Poem by N.V. Gogol's "Dead Souls" represents the philosophical quest of the author in the 30s. 19th century. The plot of the poem was predicted to him by A.S. Pushkin, promising the work certain success.

Indeed - the main one active hero“Dead Souls” Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov became the embodiment of the hero of his time, the first image of an entrepreneur in Russian literature, a man who got out of poverty through sometimes dishonest actions.

Chichikov's childhood

To better understand the image of the hero, you should turn to his childhood. His family was poor, his father, taking out his dissatisfaction with life on his son, showered him with endless reproaches. All the old man had any interest in was collecting and storing “penny money.” Before his death, he bequeathed to his son to flatter and obey more significant people, study hard and save “a pretty penny.”

Pavel Ivanovich carried out his father's will with precision. Already at school, currying favor with the teacher, he became his favorite. Gradually he realized that he could find an approach to any person. Promising to marry the boss's daughter, he took an honorable position. Having convinced the customs officials of his incorruptibility, he contacted smugglers and made a decent fortune.

Earning money any way

The hero never loses heart, nothing can stop him on the path to earning money - not even morality. Therefore, a plan matures in his head to buy up dead souls from landowners and then sell them as living ones.

On the way to his goal, he encounters a number of landowners, each of whom is the embodiment of one particular trait of his character. Manilov, completely unadapted to life, only does what he dreams. With him Chichikov is flattering and helpful. The box is rude and boorish. The hero talks to her in the same way. Difficulties arise in his communication with Nozdryov - Pavel Ivanovich does not accept familiarity. However, to achieve the goal, he continues to be in the landowner’s house and even switches to “you” in conversation with him. Sobakevich is dull, but he is economical. Chichikov behaves straightforwardly with him. And Plyushkin is “a hole in the body of humanity,” an extreme miser. But even here Chichikov finds required argument to buy souls - convinces Plyushkin of saving on taxes on dead peasants.

When Pavel Ivanovich is left alone with himself, you can notice how all these traits manifest themselves in his character: he carefully tears off the poster in order to calmly read it at home, collects all sorts of little things and stores them in a small chest.

Dead soul

Sincere feelings inherent to an ordinary person, are alien to Chichikov. In fact, he himself, like other landowners, is a dead soul. For the sake of profit, he killed the joy of simple life.

Renaissance

However, the author believes in its revival. He endows Chichikov with spiritual impulses that can push him to move forward in the future. For example, the way Chichikov was speechless and numb before the beauty of the general’s young daughter speaks of human feelings hidden somewhere deep in the soul.

As far as I know, in the second volume Gogol intended to show the path of the hero’s rebirth, the cleansing of his soul from sins and stinginess of feelings. However, the second volume was burned, and we do not know how the revival of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov took place.

Each chapter expands our understanding of Chichikov’s capabilities and leads us to think about his amazing variability: with Manilov he is cloyingly amiable, with Korobochka he is petty, persistent and rude, with Nozdryov he is assertive and cowardly, with Sobakevich he bargains insidiously and relentlessly, Plyushkina conquers with his "magnanimity".

Chichikov is a magnificent actor, for the sake of his goal he gives each landowner a performance according to his taste. He could not play a role that was kind to Nozdryov. This means that the issue here is not a talented transformation. Maybe Chichikov is a far-sighted psychologist, able to see all the curves human soul? But then he would not have awakened Korobochka’s stingy suspicion, would not have deceived Nozdryov, would not have provoked the jealousy of the provincial yes... What allows Chichikov to adapt so quickly and successfully to each of his interlocutors?

Let's take a closer look at Chichikov in those moments when he is left alone with himself, when he does not need to disguise himself and change himself for the sake of adaptation. Here Chichikov is looking around the city of N: “On the way, I tore off a poster nailed to a post, so that when I got home I could read it thoroughly,” and having read it. “I rolled it up neatly and put it in my little chest, where I used to put everything that came across.” This collection of unnecessary things, careful storage of trash is reminiscent of Plyushkin’s habits.

Chichikov, at a meeting with the police chief, daydreamed in a completely Manilov spirit, although next to him was not Manilov, but Sobakevich: “Chichikov never felt in such a cheerful mood, he already imagined himself as a real Kherson landowner, talked about various improvements: about three-field farming, about happiness and the bliss of two souls - and began to read to Sobakevich a message in verse from Werther to Charlotte, to which he batted his eyes.”

Chichikov is also brought closer to Manilov by uncertainty, due to which all assumptions about him turn out to be equally possible. Nozdryov notices that Chichikov is similar to Sobakevich: “... no indifference, no sincerity! Perfect Sobakevich." And in fact, Chichikov reveals suspicion and prudence not only in the presence of Sobakevich. And the famous Chichikov box! Everything in it is laid out with minute pedantry, exactly like in Nastasya Petrovna’s chest of drawers.

In Chichikov’s character there is Manilov’s love for a phrase, for a “noble” gesture, and Korobochka’s petty stinginess, and Nozdryov’s narcissism, and the rude tight-fistedness, the cold cynicism of Sobakevich, and Plyushkin’s hoarding. It is easy for Chichikov to turn out 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 kinship “ dead souls landowners allows him to be the main character of the poem. The character of Chichikov, and not just his scam, unite the chapters of Dead Souls.

However, Chichikov’s success is explained not only by “ complex composition"his personality. His scam is supported by the general disorder in the country, the plight of the peasants: “And now the time is convenient, recently there was an epidemic, the people died out, thank God, quite a few. The landowners played cards, went on a spree and squandered everything, everyone went to St. Petersburg to serve: the estates were abandoned, it was becoming more difficult to manage every year, so everyone would happily give them up to me, just so as not to pay per capita money for them ... "

In Chichikov, “everything turned out to be necessary for this world: pleasantness in turns and actions, and sprightliness in business games" With “reasonable will,” Chichikov pacifies his blood, which “played strongly,” and gets rid of the life of human feelings almost completely. The idea of ​​success, enterprise, and practicality overshadow all human motives in him. Differing from the landowners in efficiency, he is also a “dead soul.” For even the “brilliant joy” of life is inaccessible to him.

The happiness of this hero is based not on love, but on money. Gogol notes that in Chichikov there is no dull automatism of Plyushkin: “He had no attachment to money for the sake of money, he was not possessed by miserliness and stinginess. No, it was not they who moved him - he imagined a life ahead of him with all the pleasures... So that finally, later, over time, he would definitely taste all this, that’s what the penny was saved for...”

Chichikov’s “self-sacrifice” and patience allow him to constantly be reborn. No “mass of disaster” can bury him. It is so difficult to combine in Gogol’s assessment the verdict on Chichikov, his classification as a “dead soul” and the consciousness that the type of bourgeois businessman is practical, not spiritual, but very viable.

Chichikov's image - unusual hero for its time - is central to N.V. Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls” “This hero is actor all chapters of the poem. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​the scam with dead souls, it is he who travels around Russia, meeting with the most different characters and getting into a variety of situations.

The characteristics of Chichikov are given by the author in the first chapter. His portrait is given very vaguely: “not too thick, but not too thin either.” The author pays much more attention to his manners and pleasant communication: he made an excellent impression on all the guests at the governor’s party, “showed” himself as an experienced socialite, maintaining a conversation on the most different topics, skillfully flattered the governor, police chief, and officials and formed the most flattering opinion of himself.

Further development of the plot continues: Chichikov received invitations from landowners and goes to visit them, which is the subject of the next five chapters, then returns and draws up deeds of sale for dead souls in the city, showing a fair knowledge of bureaucratic procedures. Then the most incredible rumors spread throughout 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 his 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 origin of the brilliant scam with dead souls.

Gogol immediately says that he did not take him as a hero “ virtuous person”, immediately stipulates that his hero is a scoundrel. His origins are “dark and modest,” his childhood is boring and harsh. And although Pavlush Chichikov does not have “special abilities” for science, “he turned out to have a great mind” on the practical side. Pavlusha fulfills his father’s order: save a penny, since “this thing is more reliable than anything else in the world,” indulges in numerous speculations and achieves an “increment” to the fifty kopecks given by his father. He behaves especially smartly in relation to his superiors, with youth demonstrating obedience and obsequiousness. After leaving school, his moral deafness and complete lack of conscience are revealed: when his teacher, with whom Chichikov was a favorite, was expelled from the school, he gave nothing for the old teacher except a silver nickel. Along the path of betrayal, he continued to go further: he deceived an old official, courting his daughter for a promotion. 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 quarrels with his companion and is again pushed away from a warm place in disgrace. But Chichikov demonstrates not only the ability to hide traces of a crime and avoid punishment, but also a kind of unsinkability: he is again ready to start all over again. This is how the idea of ​​a scam with dead souls was born. The hero is smart and enterprising: the slowness of the Russian bureaucratic system allows him to accumulate initial capital without risking much. Gogol says about him that he is “the owner, the acquirer” and that a particle of Chichikov lives in the souls 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 suffered defeat at the end of the poem: yes, he was denied best houses city, its reputation is ruined, but the operation to acquire dead souls is enshrined on paper and, having acquired legal status, has become a reality. And there is no doubt that the hero will once again demonstrate his unsinkability by appearing in a new place, in another city, where strange rumors about him have not yet reached.

Chichikov's dedication and patience allow him to constantly be reborn. No “mass of disaster” can bury him. In Chichikov’s character there is Manilov’s love for a phrase, for a “noble” gesture, and Korobochka’s petty stinginess, and Nozdrev’s narcissism, and the rough tight-fistedness, cold cynicism of Sobakevich, and Plyushkin’s hoarding. It is easy for Chichikov to turn out 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 kinship with the “dead souls” of the landowners allows us 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 landowners in efficiency, he is also a “dead soul,” because the “brilliant joy” of life is inaccessible to him. The happiness of this decent person” is based on money. Calculation has displaced everything from the hero of modern times. human feelings and brought him closer to “dead souls”, the masters of life.

Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov - main character poem "Dead Souls" by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol.

Chichikov in a poem of middle age. Was born in poor family. The parents did not want such a life for their son, so they raised him, instilling in him the ability to make money. When sending his son to study, his father ordered Pavel to please the teachers, save every penny and deny himself many things. Don't make friends like that. how they are of no use, and only be friends with the rich, who will benefit them.

Pavel Ivanovich did just that and completed his studies with good recommendations from teachers. He played tricks on his classmates: he made them share them with him, and then sold them these things. Chichikov was a very capable young man, smart. One day he made a wax figurine and sold it, got a mouse, started training it and also sold it for good money. He could quickly do arithmetic in his head and had a penchant for mathematical sciences.

Outwardly, Chichikov was attractive. A little full, but in moderation. He really liked his face, especially his chin.

Pavel Ivanovich really wanted to get rich. But he didn’t want wealth just to have it. He wanted to enjoy these benefits with all his heart and live a luxurious life. I wanted to provide for my future children and leave them an inheritance. After studying he entered the service. He pleased his superiors in every possible way, which endeared them to him. Having got used to it, he began to take bribes, which they found out about, and Chichikov had to leave the service. He managed to save a lot of money, but nothing came of it either.

But even after this, Chichikov did not give up and decided on a new adventure: to buy up dead souls, and then sell them for good money, as if they were alive. He had well developed psychological qualities. Because of his ability to please people, Pavel Ivanovich learned the psychology of people and knew how to find an approach to everyone. He carefully studied the habits of the gentlemen from high society and learned to apply them to myself. He also knew how to masterfully dissemble in order to achieve his own benefit, posing as honest and noble man. The fact that Chichikov is from common people The only thing that betrayed him was his ignorance of French.

Despite his qualities, inherent only to vile people, Pavel Ivanovich also had ordinary ones. He was a compassionate man and always gave coins to the poor. He did not hang out with women, because he knew that it would not lead to good things. Chichikov completely lacked romantic inclinations. The thought, other than that the woman is beautiful, did not develop further in him.

If you look at the poem carefully, you will notice that Chichikov has the same qualities as the people from whom he bought souls. This explains the fact that he quickly found a common language with them.

Essay about Chichikov

The writer’s famous poem is one of those unforgettable works of art that represent a generalization in the form of artistic scales aimed at solving the problems of human life. The emptiness in the spiritual worldview of people is hidden not only in the conditions of society, but also in the characteristics of the personality.

In a special way, the author of one of these representatives, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, clearly showed. Lack of interest in life this character is emphasized by the fact that there are no changes in his spiritual actions, he is all in some kind of vanity. His chaise does not leave some vicious circle for a long time. All life is subordinated to one goal - enrichment for the sake of achieving good conditions. This simple dream fuels his energy. The main character does not forget his father’s advice that he needs to take care of every coin. Chichikov ceases to sympathize with people. This can be seen from his life. He abandons the teacher, who is completely drunk, commits betrayal against his superior, indulges in the joy of the high mortality rate of the peasants, but can please everyone, especially high-ranking officials.

While studying at the school, Chichikov, thanks to his neatness and diligence, becomes one of his favorite students. In the service he also seeks recognition from his superiors. Arriving in the city of NN, he also continues to speak flattering words to local officials. From every conversation Pavel Ivanovich takes some benefit for himself. Even Gogol, depicting his image, emphasizes some uncertainty in his appearance. So, talking with Manilov, he appears to us as a young man, endlessly admiring everything, and in a conversation with Plyushkin sits an important gentleman who has seen a lot in life. Straightforwardness is alien to Chichikov. He is happy only from what he does good deal. Chichikov even hums after he successfully acquired dead souls from Plyushkin. We see that even speech is filled in vulgar words, this is especially presented in a conversation with Nozdrev about beautiful blonde. Chichikov is forced to flee the city, but this time he achieved his goal, he came one step closer to his happy moments, and everything else is not important to him.

Detailed hero analysis

Chichikov is considered mainly around whom the plot of the poem is set. This can be understood from the first pages, when the author begins to describe the character of the hero and his environment. Gogol himself was not sure that readers would like Chichikov. Such a statement seems absurd only until the moment Pavel Ivanovich shows his true nature.

Initially Gogol shows positive sides Chichikov: his ability to conduct a conversation, direct it in the right direction, the ability to stop in time or, conversely, to notice many details with just one well-aimed word. This all shows the character’s experience, good manners, noble behavior and intelligence. Everyone with whom the hero communicated notes different positive traits his character. This suggests that Pavel Ivanovich skillfully knew how to select the keys to communicating with absolutely different people, both by age and status.

Gogol considers it important to show a biography in the image of the hero, during the narration of which he notes why the character became what he is now. The construction of Chichikov’s existing appearance began in childhood, when his father explained little boy simple truths, like the fact that every penny should be saved. As a result, this led to the fact that Pavel Ivanovich learned to find benefits in many ways. There are even words that Chichikov made a living by creating and selling wax and beautifully painted bullfinches.

As he gets older, the character learns to understand people. Having learned well from his institute authorities, he easily found ways to communicate. As a result, he was given a good certificate with a mark of proper behavior. Thinking about what would happen to him next, it was easiest for Chichikov to imagine himself in the role of a rich and accomplished person.

The bad character of the hero is especially evident during the moments of his service in different organizations. Through bribes and fraud, the character quickly becomes rich. But wrong behavior is noticed, it is quickly exposed and the result of all affairs is complete failure. After several failures, Chichikov decides: he needs to acquire dead souls.

Chichikov knew that the audit and taxes paid by landowners during its implementation hit the owners of souls painfully in their wallets. It works out much cheaper if we count those who died during the break between revisions as alive.

That is why the hero is in provincial town. His target is dead souls. As soon as he was in the city, he had to act. He intensively attended city events, visited officials, got to know them and flattered them. Chichikov tried to find out who could provide him with dead souls. This suggests that there is a place for cold-blooded prudence in the image.

It was not difficult for Chichikov to make friends here. He skillfully built the connections he needed even with such individuals whose quirks are not easy to come to terms with and understand. Showing his qualities as a dreamer, Pavel Ivanovich received free Manilova dead souls, he also received them from Sobakevich and from Korobochka.
“Scoundrel” - that’s what his author says about Chichikov.

And indeed, no matter how lively and interesting was added to the image of Pavel Ivanovich, his negative qualities do not remain on the sidelines. This “bad” side of him completely covers up all the good that could be observed. Selfishness, reluctance to take someone else's side, the desire to get a high income and non-participation in public affairs - this is what Gogol's hero Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich mainly combines. And the existing manifestations of a condescending attitude and understanding in in rare cases, the ability to have fun are just qualities that show a living person.

Gogol very skillfully emphasized the uncertainty in the image of Chichikov; outwardly, his character is neither fat nor thin, neither handsome nor ugly. The character's character is quite complex; it is sometimes difficult to understand him. Gogol, carefully examining the actions and thoughts of the hero, leads the reader to the idea that there is some justice in Chichikov’s reasoning, but at the same time calls him a scoundrel.

The main focus in " Dead souls“has become a new type of “owner, acquirer” in Russian literature. The purpose of depicting this hero is “to stare at him with an inquisitive gaze, to probe him to the original causes” and to remove the veneer of external decency:

Everything was reflected in him that is needed for this world: pleasantness in turns and actions, and agility in business affairs...

The newcomer somehow knew how to find his way around everything and showed himself to be an experienced socialite. Whatever the conversation was about, he always knew how to support it... He argued, but somehow extremely skillfully, so that everyone saw that he was arguing, and yet he was arguing pleasantly. He never said: “you went,” but “you deigned to go,” “I had the honor to cover your deuce,” and the like. He spoke neither loudly nor quietly, but absolutely as he should. In a word, no matter where you turn, he was a very decent person.

But it is not only the ability to hide his vices under the guise of virtue that distinguishes Chichikov from other heroes. “We must do justice to the irresistible force of his character,” writes Gogol. Energy, enterprise, and business acumen seem to lift Chichikov above the frozen world of “dead souls.” It was with the image of Chichikov that Gogol’s plans for the spiritual resurrection and rebirth of man were connected. Echoes of these ideas can already be heard in the first volume, although Gogol wrote it on the model of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, and Chichikov plays the role of Virgil, a guide to “hell” of “dead souls”.

“Living” and “dead” are closely intertwined in Chichikov. The hero needs money not as a goal, but as a means. And although Gogol ironizes Chichikov’s concern for non-existent descendants, nevertheless, dreams of home and family are deeply significant for the author. And if Plyushkin destroys his family with his stinginess, then Chichikov, as soon as he has funds, starts a house and begins to look after the owner. Striving for family happiness This is also due to the attention paid to the governor’s daughter. Chichikov’s thoughts about the girl’s fate echo the author’s thoughts about “initial causes”, about the conditions for the formation of characters:

She is now like a child, everything about her is simple, she will say whatever she wants, laugh wherever she wants to laugh. You can make anything out of her, she can be a miracle, or she can turn out to be rubbish, and she will turn out to be rubbish1.. Where does the pout and primness come from, she will begin to toss and turn according to the established instructions, she will begin to rack her brains and figure out with whom, and how, and how much you need to say how to look at someone, every minute she will be afraid, so as not to say more than necessary, she will finally get confused herself, and will end up lying all her life, and it will just come out like God knows what!

Chichikov is the only hero whose life is presented not in separate episodes, but sequentially, step by step. True, in the poem itself Chichikov appears and acts as an already established character, but in the exposition (chapter 11) his formation is shown.

Analyzing chapter 11, pay attention to how Chichikov mastered the “science of life”, highlight the main stages of character development:

Origin (“The origin of our hero is dark and modest. His parents were nobles, but whether they were important or personal, God knows”);

Childhood (“At the beginning, life looked at him somehow sourly and unpleasantly, no friend, no comrade in childhood!”);

Father’s instructions (“Look, Pavlusha, study, don’t be stupid and don’t hang around, but most of all please your teachers and bosses.. Don’t hang out with your comrades, they won’t teach you any good; and if it comes to that, hang out with those who are richer , so that on occasion they can be useful to you... and most of all, take care and save a penny, this thing is more reliable than anything in the world... a penny will not give you away, no matter what trouble you are in");

Studying at school (“He suddenly realized and understood the matter and behaved in relation to his comrades in exactly the same way that they treated him, and he not only never, but sometimes even hid the received treat and then sold it to them”);

Service in the treasury chamber;

Work at customs;

The idea of ​​​​buying up “dead souls” (“Yes, if I bought all these who died out, have not yet submitted new revision tales, buy them, let’s say, a thousand, yes, let’s say, the guardianship council will give two hundred rubles per soul: that’s two hundred thousand capital1")

Complete the examples provided with analysis from Chapter 11.

Does it typify the psychology of Chichikov - the “acquirer”? Compare his statements with the reasoning of officials in “The Inspector General”:

Who is yawning in office now? - everyone buys. I didn’t make anyone unhappy: I didn’t rob the widow, I didn’t let anyone go around the world, I used the excess, I took where anyone would take; If I hadn't used it, others would have.

What side of Chichikov's character is revealed in the episode with governor's daughter? Refer to the text of Chapter 8, consider the hero’s behavior at the ball. Why does Chichikov retreat from his role of “pleasing all people without exception,” because he “very skillfully knew how to flatter everyone”?

Pay attention to the details (speech, forms of behavior), which not only prove Chichikov’s ability to “flatter everyone,” but show the hero’s transformation, the ability to speak with everyone in his language:

Farewell to Manilov:

“Here,” here he put his hand on his heart, “yes, here will be the pleasure of the time spent with you. And believe me, there would be no greater bliss for me than to live with you, if not in the same house, then at least in the immediate neighborhood... Oh, it would be a heavenly life! Farewell, most respected friend!

Conversation with Sobakevich:

Just give me a receipt.

Okay, give me the money here!

What's the money for? I have them in my hand! As soon as you write a receipt, you will take them that very minute.

Excuse me, how can I write a receipt? First you need to see the money!

About the conversation with Korobochka:

Here Chichikov went completely beyond the limits of all patience, slammed the chair on the floor in his heart and promised her the devil.

What episodes of the poem does Gogol refer the reader to in explaining the character of the hero? Does Chichikov have anything in common with such “acquirers” as Korobochka and Sobakevich? Is it only on the “environment” that the author places the blame for the “scoundrel” hero? Compare thoughts about human passions with discussions about the path of man, about youth and old age, remember what Gogol calls young people to. What features of Chichikov can be the key to a possible resurrection? How in Gogol's world environment, man, “heaven” are related) Answer the questions based on the analysis of Chichikov’s image:

It is fairer to call him: owner, acquirer. Acquisition is the fault of everything; because of him, deeds were born, to which the light gives the name not very pure... Countless, like the sands of the sea, human passions, and all are different from one another, and all of them, low and beautiful, are all at first submissive to man, and then they become his terrible rulers... And, perhaps, in this very Chichikov, the passion that attracts him is no longer from him, and in his cold existence lies what will later bring man to dust and to his knees before the wisdom of heaven.

“How huge, what original story! What a varied bunch! All Rus' will appear in it!” - Gogol wrote to Zhukovsky. How much did the writer manage to complete the task) How fully “all Rus'” appeared in “Dead Souls”) Compare the image of Russia in the epic narrative and lyrical digressions.

And nameless suffering...

Dear mom, today is exactly three months since you kissed me and left for your important business trip. Don’t think, everything is fine with us, dad and I have almost learned how to cook breakfast and clean up after ourselves

The image of Chichikov in N. Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls”

N.V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" was the most important stage in the development of Russian critical realism and was the top artistic creativity writer. In his work, Gogol ridiculed the vices of feudal Russia from bottom to top: from the provincial wilderness to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Gogol, according to Herzen, “flaunted Russia’s nobles, serf-owners, whom we saw coming out of palaces and houses without masks...”

The central character of Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. The story about him runs through the entire poem, and all the other characters are characterized through his attitude towards them. It is about him that the author writes in Chapter XI: “Here he is the complete master, and wherever he pleases, we must drag ourselves there too.” Of course, the writer did not reduce his work to the story of one person; He saw his task as analyzing the various phenomena of life. However, Chichikov is the main character of the poem, holding the entire narrative together.

Chichikov, who moves in the circle of landowners, represents a person with other life principles. Before us Gogol creates typical image representative of the emerging bourgeoisie. By origin he also belongs to noble class, but the estate, where he could start farming, does not bring him income. Chichikov's father was not rich, but he left his son four worn-out sweatshirts, two old frock coats and an insignificant amount of money. Chichikov, unlike other landowners, made his own way in life. While still at school, he showed amazing resourcefulness in terms of making money. Practicality, prudence, and trickery were already inherent in Chichikov’s character. His imagination quickly worked on the invention of various types of commercial operations. In addition, he deftly knew how to gain the trust of school mentors, and therefore was “in excellent standing” at school and upon graduation received a book “with letters of gold for exemplary diligence and trustworthy behavior.” However, Chichikov and early years I learned to evaluate my relationships with people from the point of view of real benefits. So, for example, he refuses to help the school mentor, although earlier (as a student) he curried favor with him. Indifference to other people's beans is another trait in the character of this character.

All of Chichikov’s low spiritual qualities manifest themselves with particular force when he embarks on the path of independent life activity. The desire to make an “increment by fifty dollars”, which guided him since early childhood, has now turned into a passionate thirst for hoarding. Chichikov is greatly impressed by pictures of a rich, luxurious life. “When a rich man rushed past him on a beautiful flying droshky, on trotters in a rich harness, he stopped rooted to the spot and then, waking up, as if after a long sleep, said: “But there was a clerk, he wore his hair in a circle!”

Having set his goal to become a rich man, he shows exceptional perseverance, enormous energy and ingenuity. Chichikov indulges in any scams and speculations if they promise profits.

Having appeared in the provincial town under the guise of a landowner for his own needs, Chichikov extremely quickly not only enters the “selected society”, but also wins everyone’s sympathy, since as a result of long life practice he brilliantly developed the ability to adapt. He knows how to show himself as a man of good secular upbringing, possessing a large and diverse cult. But main strength His influence lay in the fact that he knew how to find his own approach to everyone. With the dexterity of a virtuoso, Chichikov could play on the weak strings of the human soul. All the officials, and even the governor himself, were pleased with the arrival of a new interesting person.

Gogol shows that Chichikov “reincarnates” very easily, quickly moves from one manner of behavior to another, without, however, betraying himself or his goals in any way. So, for example, in a conversation with Manilov, he easily grasps his manner of behavior. Pael Ivanovich is also gallant and courteous, has a penchant for “high” matters, and is filled with sentimental sensitivity. But Chichikov does not show gallantry with Korobochka. The conversation with her is of a completely different nature. The experienced hero quickly unravels the essence of the landowner’s character and therefore acts very unceremoniously. He does not consider it necessary to be particularly shy - after all, delicacy here will not achieve a concession in the acquisition of dead souls.

When meeting Nozdryov, Chichikov diligently adapts to the free and unceremonious style of behavior of his new acquaintance. Nozdryov does not recognize any relationship other than “friendly” (as he considers it to be), so Chichikov behaves as if he were friends with this landowner. When Nozdryov begins to brag, Chichikov prefers to remain silent, but is vigilantly careful not to fall into the net set by his newfound “friend.”

Chichikov's directness and spontaneity completely disappear when meeting Sobakevich and are replaced by a search correct forms behavior with this “clumsy bear”. Sobakevich is a businessman who knows how to respect his own benefit in everything. In a conversation with him, the main character shows himself to be a sophisticated businessman who knows all sorts of ways to influence his partner. “You can’t knock him down, he’s stubborn!” - Sobakevich thinks to himself.

Chichikov finds an approach to Plyushkin, taking on the appearance of a generous well-wisher who wants to help a lonely and defenseless old man. This was the only way to avoid arousing suspicion among the hoarder, who is most afraid of being robbed. Having completed all these metamorphoses, the hero again finds in the circle provincial society the appearance of a pleasant person, causing noisy delight. The ease of transformation reveals Chichikov's extraordinary energy and resourcefulness. We understand that behind Chichikov’s imaginary courtesy and gentleness hides a calculating and predatory nature. On his face is the mask of a pious and well-behaved person.

Chichikov does not admit anything and does not believe in anything except money. Appearing in society in the image of a decent person, he is not in the least inclined towards virtue. His mask of good nature and benevolence serves only as a means that helps him get things done.

Obsessed with a passion for wealth, Chichikov does not look like a selfless gambler losing his sense of proportion. He is prudent and careful. He is able to wait, long and patiently prepare what promises him profits. He does not think about the immorality of his actions, he is only interested in profit. Gogol sharply emphasizes his hero’s lack of any moral principles. Turning to Chichikov’s biography, the writer declares: “No, it’s time to hide the scoundrel.” So, acquisition, predation and immorality in the image of Chichikov are fused together.

By comparing Chichikov with the landowners, Gogol showed those new features that are characteristic of heroes who were formed outside the atmosphere of the lordly estate. Tenacity for life, extraordinary resourcefulness, and adventurism come to the fore here. Striving to achieve his goals, Chichikov knows no peace. He is in constant motion. Manilov’s contemplation is alien to him, but at the same time he is far from Korobochka’s innocence. Cunning and enterprising, he sees right through people and knows how to get their hands on them. But at the same time, he is not characterized by revelry and the desire to waste his life, which are an integral feature of Nozdryov’s appearance. If all of Nozdryov’s numerous undertakings lead to nothing, then everything that Chichikov undertakes bears the stamp of practical acumen and efficiency. In turn, this efficiency is not similar to the rude and straightforward prudence of Sobakevich. Courtesy and the ability to win over people give Chichikov great advantages over Sobakevich.

Thus, Chichikov is both better and worse than all the landowners depicted by Gogol in the poem. He, a representative of the new predatory entrepreneurship, does not oppose Manilov or Sobakevich. He merges with them, finds unity with the noble environment, but at the same time pursues his own interests. Chichikov absorbs all the most viable features of the outgoing relationship, discarding those that cannot serve the purpose of enrichment. As for morality and ethics, Chichikov does not burden himself with these concepts, just like those landowners with whom he meets.

Gogol shows the reasons for the death of the human soul in the image of Chichikov. A joyless childhood, a service in which bribery flourishes, a society of immoral people - all this molded him into a calculating scoundrel. If you look closely, Chichikov is bolder than Nozdryov and callouser than Sobakevich. Yes, he differs from the landowners in his enterprise, energy and intelligence. He gives people very accurate characteristics. However, Chichikov is a “dead soul” because he values ​​nothing in life except money. In the image of Chichikov, Gogol shows the emergence of a new man in Russian society, a representative of the emerging bourgeoisie. All high feelings, including love, are assessed by him only from the point of view of material gain.