Moral and philosophical issues of N.V. Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls”. Gogol's religious and moral quest

The idea of ​​a three-volume poem was connected with the values ​​of the Christian faith Gogol's Dead souls. The author, together with the reader and the heroes, had to follow the path of spiritual rebirth from hell (volume one) to purgatory (volume two) and then to heaven (volume three). It was assumed that the word “dead” in the title of the poem would indicate the inevitable future rebirth of the soul; in fact, the soul cannot die and must be resurrected. Heads of the Dead showers are a kind of steps on the spiritual ladder along which the reader walks.

However, the idea poems Dead soul turned out to be too grandiose even for brilliant writer. Gogol sought to write such an intelligible and convincing book that every Russian person would definitely read, and after reading it, he realized that it was impossible to live the way he lived before, and he would completely change his life. Hence the writer’s spiritual crisis

No matter how good the second volume was, it still could not fully satisfy the artist because his goal, in essence, was to create something similar to a new Gospel (a book that changes the lives of peoples!) The Gospel of Nikolai Gogol.

In another work, Selected passages from correspondence with friends. Gogol tried to reveal his own “spiritual quests (the work was created during the work on the second volume Dead souls) and show Russian people the path of personal self-improvement. At the same time, the writer sought to achieve the unity of the word-revelation (gospel) in the word-sermon explaining the revelation. In the Selected Places, Gogol organically combined confession and sermon, the worldly word and the religious word.

The problems associated with the interpretation of “Dead Souls” required not only an expansion of the time frame of the study. Along with the analysis of the writer’s religious views, for the first time in connection with the concept of the poem, the views of Gogol as a historian became the subject of close attention. Gogol's historical views as a whole have not yet been sufficiently studied. Accordingly, in works about him artistic creativity little attention is paid to the fact that all his works, starting from the earliest, were written not only by a faithful observer of everyday life, a subtle connoisseur human soul, but also an original, deep historian. The seriousness of Gogol’s studies in history is evidenced by the fact that for a number of years he taught history in two educational institutions Petersburg - Patriotic Institute and Imperial University. The study of Gogol's historical views turns out to be very promising for understanding the meaning of his artistic creatures. This work represents the first experience of such a syncretic approach to Gogol’s legacy.

The fundamental novelty in the approach to the interpretation of the images of “Dead Souls” is based on a careful study of the author’s intention of the poem, analysis of Gogol’s statements related to his heroes. The interpretive part receives evidence from textual observations and from the study of Gogol’s biography. The work analyzes in detail the reviews of readers and critics on the publication of the first volume of “Dead Souls” (this issue is covered in the work with maximum completeness), as well as the influence exerted by the first listeners of the poem in the author’s reading on its content.

The problem of the second volume of “Dead Souls” from the point of view of the holistic concept of the work requires a careful study of the surviving “primary sources” that Gogol used when creating the remaining unfinished part of the poem. An analysis of the relationship between the chapters of the second volume that have come down to us and the problems of the first makes it necessary to turn to key points Gogol's worldview. Understanding the meaning of a work in many cases is inseparable from textual analysis, which significantly clarifies creative history text and helps to avoid arbitrary subjective interpretations.

In the second and third volumes, Gogol wanted to show morally perfect Russian people, and moral perfection for Gogol was associated with Christianity, with divine commandments.

While working on Dead Souls, Gogol became convinced that the events he experienced revealed Higher will. After serious illness, which befell him when he left the poem for a while and began to write a long-planned play, and unexpected quick healing, he said: “... I am glad of everything, everything that happens to me in life and, as soon as I see, for what wonderful benefits and what is called failure in the world led me to good things, then my touched soul cannot find words to thank the invisible hand that guides me.”

Researcher of Gogol’s work, Yuri Vladimirovich Mann, said that Gogol’s plan was this: in the second volume to bring out significant characters in the poem, “to lift the curtain on the treasure trove that hides the “countless wealth of the Russian spirit.” But he wanted these characters to be vital, so that “wealth” would not look illusory and deceptive, but real. He wanted to convince “everyone” and, moreover, to convey the idea that any Russian can achieve the desired ideal, if only he wants to. But the planned program, Gogol believes, did not come true.”

Gogol believed that “Dead Souls” was being written slowly, because Gogol himself was an obstacle to this: “At every step and at every line, I feel such a need to grow wiser, and moreover, the very subject and matter is so connected with my own inner upbringing that I am in no way able to write past myself, but must wait for myself. I go forward and the composition comes along, I stopped and the composition doesn’t come along.”

This recognition means that Gogol connected the process of working on the second volume with self-education, with liberation from one’s own shortcomings and the acquisition of such moral virtues that would allow the writer to see further and deeper than anyone else. For failures, the author blamed only himself: since he didn’t see the best people, it means that he did not cultivate in himself the ability to see the best, did not reach the highest level of perfection.

Unlike Nozdryov, Sobakevich cannot be considered a person with his head in the clouds. This hero stands firmly on the ground, does not indulge himself with illusions, soberly evaluates people and life, knows how to act and achieve what he wants. Given the character of his life, Gogol is in everything...

Gogol, according to V. G. Belinsky, “was the first to look boldly and directly at Russian reality.” The writer's satire was directed against the “general order of things”, and not against individuals, bad executors of the law. Predatory money-grubber Chichikov, landowners...

In June 1836, after difficult experiences caused by the premiere of "The Inspector General", Gogol went abroad. And working on a new work becomes the main task of the writer. The plot of "Dead Souls", as well as the plot of "The Inspector General",...

The episode “Chichikov at Plyushkin’s” is interesting from an ideological and artistic point of view. The author managed to draw living, bright pictures Chichikov’s meeting with the most repulsive landowner, with “a hole in humanity.” Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich was the last to visit Plyushkin...

Poem " Dead Souls"(1842) is a deeply original, nationally original work. This is a work about the contrast and uncertainty of Russian reality, and the title of the poem is no coincidence. To Gogol's contemporaries such a name seemed surprising...

25. Spiritual quest and mysticism of Nikolai Gogol

Being in the full presence of memory and common sense, I express here my last will.

I. I bequeath my body not to be buried until obvious signs of decomposition appear. I mention this because even during the illness itself, moments of vital numbness came over me, my heart and pulse stopped beating.

II. I bequeath not to erect any monument over me and not to think about such a trifle, unworthy of a Christian.

III. I bequeath to no one at all to mourn me, and the one who begins to regard my death as some kind of significant or universal loss will take a sin on his soul.

V. I bequeath after my death not to rush into either praise or condemnation of my works in public sheets and magazines: everything will be just as biased as during life. In my writings there is much Furthermore what is to be condemned rather than what is to be praised. All attacks on them were more or less justified.

N.V. Gogol. “Selected passages from correspondence with friends

About the great Russian writer N.V. So much has been written about Gogol that there is no need to retell it all again. Let us dwell on just one feature of this by all recognized genius to show it contradictory nature– his spiritual quest and mysticism, which permeate not only many of his works, but even his entire life, and also, so to speak, the posthumous existence of the writer.

Gogol was born on March 20, 1809 in the family of a Little Russian landowner. mediocre. It is believed that he received many of his character traits from his mother, a suspicious and superstitious woman, which were strengthened by her stories to little Kolya about witches, devils, mermaids and other evil spirits that filled the folklore of the then Ukraine. Subsequently, all this was reflected in the writer’s work. It is not difficult to notice that not only Gogol’s “Petersburg Tales”, but also his scary stories on a Little Russian theme are permeated with mysticism.

In fact, he was one of the first in Russia to write in the horror genre. They say that the now famous Stephen King, after reading Gogol’s Viy, said: “I’m still far from this guy...”

Let us add that even quite realistic works Gogol's films, which do not belong to the category of horror films, often ended with the death of the main characters or were kept in minor tones. It can be noted that the gloominess in his stories gradually increases over the time they were written. If in "The Missing Letter" or "The Night Before Christmas" devilry shown in a ridiculous and funny, then in “Terrible Revenge” or “Viye” humor gives way to horror. All this fully corresponded to the change in the character of the writer himself over the years, who in his youth was full of life aspirations and optimism, while in maturity pessimism and thoughts about death prevailed in him.

From birth, Gogol’s mother surrounded her son with adoration, which subsequently took root in him in the form of ideas about himself as a outstanding personality, towering above the rest. All this was most paradoxically combined with his fragile health and constant fears of death, doomsday and hellish torments experienced by sinners. Death younger brother Ivan, as well as the death of his father, also contributed to the negative state of mind future writer. And when he entered the Nizhyn gymnasium, at first he was afraid of everything, kept to himself, was absent-minded, sloppy, careless and sluggish in his studies and was not distinguished by diligence. No one then thought that this proud and reserved young man would someday become a great writer. The only teacher, teacher Latin language, left his memories of young Gogol, among which was this derogatory description: “He studied with me for three years and learned nothing...”.

Gogol really could not study well, since science did not interest him, and the education system of that time itself was based on ordinary cramming, for which he felt only disgust. At first, his comrades did not like him either, making fun of the unsociable student, giving him the nickname “mysterious dwarf”... He was unsociable, but surprisingly observant and sharp-tongued, amazingly imitating the speech and manner of teachers, which often infuriated them, but amused his comrades.

In his heart, Gogol compared himself with Childe Harold, the hero of Byron’s work, who was dissatisfied with life, considering himself an outstanding, but lonely and unappreciated person by society.

It is noteworthy that later, until the end of his days, Gogol did not like physical exercise, was not interested in women, did not play gambling, was not fond of alcohol and generally neglected the earthly joys characteristic of his circle, preferring spiritual life, which, however, did not always turn out to be pleasant for him.

In 1828, after graduating from high school, he and his friend, A.S. Danilevsky, goes to St. Petersburg to try to make a career there for the benefit of society, having the most vague and naive idea about all this. However northern capital does not live up to his expectations. He immediately senses its inhuman, mechanical character - everything that he will later reflect in his “Petersburg Tales”. Instead of seeing in others honest service for the good of society, he meets “little people” filled with servility and selfish thoughts. He literally lives in poverty, joining the crowd of “Akakiev Akakievichs” leading a semi-beggarly lifestyle. Young Gogol received another disappointment when he was not accepted as an actor, which he dreamed of while studying in Nizhyn, when he played in amateur performances. Having published the poetic poem “Hans Küchelgarten” with his own money, which no one bought, he finally lost faith in success when he read just one cold note as a review that it was better to keep this writing under wraps and not show it to anyone. Desperate, Gogol buys all copies of his book and burns them in the same way as he would later do with the second volume of Dead Souls...

It is noteworthy that almost immediately upon his arrival in St. Petersburg, it was with this manuscript that he tried to visit Pushkin at his apartment. However, the poet’s servant, not letting him in further than the threshold, answered gloomily that the master would like to rest and could not receive him. Gogol timidly asked if the master had been working all night? To which he received an answer that confused him: of course, he had been playing cards all night. But if Pushkin had read his opus, then, without a doubt, he could have smashed the manuscript young writer to smithereens.

After some time, Gogol, realizing the futility of his advancement in the bureaucratic service, under the patronage of the poet Zhukovsky, first got a job at the Patriotic Institute, and then at St. Petersburg University, where he lectured on ancient history. However, in this field too he fails. His lectures are boring and not interesting not only to students, but also to himself, and therefore he soon quits and in search of life path travels abroad, traveling around different cities and countries.

Later, he explained his repeated voyages outside Russia by the fact that God himself showed him the way to a foreign land or even referred to unrequited love, which he had only in the form of infantile fantasies.

In essence, he was running away from himself, from what he believed was his unsettled life, despite the fact that he was already a recognized author of several works.

By this time, in St. Petersburg, he had written “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”, “Petersburg Stories”, “The Inspector General” and “Mirgorod”, and while abroad, he also finished his famous poem “Dead Souls”...

In fact, Gogol was made entirely of paradoxes. Sigmund Freud would say that this writer's high literary talent was generated solely by his unsatisfied sexuality. It is also known that even earlier, the Italian psychiatrist Cesare Lombroso in his book “Genius and Madness” mentioned the case of Gogol, as the clearest example that there is a causal connection between genius and disease.

Gogol was generally distinguished by various quirks. For example, he felt awkward in the presence strangers and was afraid of thunderstorms. His passion for cooking and handicrafts also turned out to be unusual. Gogol’s oddities also include his morbid suspiciousness, paradoxically combined with a sense of superiority over others, religiosity and belief in pagan dark forces, a mocking attitude towards reality, combined with despondency and frightening visions. He quite realistically felt the interference of demonic forces in human life, considered women the cause of sinfulness, was never married, burned the second volume of “Dead Souls” and did not have his own home...

It is known that even in his youth he began to be overcome by attacks of melancholy, combined with a sharp decrease in appetite, catastrophic weight loss and pain in the various parts bodies that were interspersed with periods of high mood, excessive gluttony and a desire for vigorous activity. These were the moments when his depression and suspiciousness instantly disappeared. He began to feel healthy and youthful again.

Later, while in Italy, he apparently suffered from malaria, which resulted in encephalitis, complicating his already disastrous state of mind. It was after Italy that Gogol began to experience fainting spells, ending in a long, painful sleep. The writer began to fear that he would die, or, worse than that that during one such attack he would be mistaken for dead and buried. And therefore, for more than ten subsequent years, he did not go to bed, preferring to doze while sitting in a chair.

The worst thing is that over the years, periods of optimism, accompanied by a thirst for activity and a cult of food, became shorter and shorter, and then completely disappeared. IN last years Throughout his life, Gogol was in a constantly depressed mood, burdened by a painful suspicion that everything he had done previously was a serious mistake.

In an attempt to improve his mental state, Gogol visited monasteries, prayed for a long time, and fasted, but all in vain.

Being in Jerusalem at the Holy Sepulcher, Gogol did not feel any reverence, except for the coldness of his heart, ultimately deciding that he was such an inveterate sinner that nothing could correct him. He even decides to go to a monastery and become a monk, but monasticism did not take place. His situation was aggravated by many hours of conversations with Archpriest Matthew Konstantinovsky, a religious fanatic who was an absolute spiritual authority for Gogol, who now, a century and a half later, can be called evil genius writer. It was Matthew who constantly impressed upon Gogol not only his sinfulness, frightening him with death and the torments of hell, but also forced him to renounce Pushkin, whom Gogol valued very highly, to renounce literary creativity and destroy the already written second volume of Dead Souls. According to eyewitnesses, one of the conversations between the priest and the writer ended with Gogol shouting: “Enough!.. Leave it!.. I can’t listen any longer!.. It’s too scary!..”

Many hours of conversations with a clergyman, as well as the death of his friend’s wife Ekaterina Khomyatova from typhus, yielded negative results - Gogol abandoned literary creativity and read only books of spiritual content. Dejected and depressed by thoughts of his sinfulness, he prescribed severe asceticism for himself, starting to fast a week before Lent. Moreover, he tried to sleep less, although this in no way fit into Orthodox dogma. He completely weakened, and then fell ill and did not rise until his death...

One night it seemed to Gogol that he had already died and was in hell. He screamed wildly, woke up the servant and, making sure that he was still alive, sent him for the priest. But the priest, seeing the patient, although unsteady, but on his feet, persuaded him to wait with communion. Metropolitan Philaret also became interested in the case, and asked the writer to obey the doctors, saying that this was not sinful, but Gogol, who was in prostration, ignored the admonitions of the church hierarch. He sat in his chair for days on end, without washing or combing his hair, eating very little, and after a few days he announced that he was refusing to eat at all.

After some time, a consultation was held at the writer’s bedside medical luminaries. After the examination, treatment was prescribed. The patient was forcibly placed in a hot bath, and ice water was poured over his head. It was believed to help with the “meningitis” and “acute cerebral anemia” that he was found to have. After the procedure, Gogol felt chills for a long time, but the writer was forcibly kept without clothes. They then placed eight leeches on his nose, causing him to bleed. Gogol tried to resist the execution, but the forces were clearly unequal.

Nowadays, after conducting a retrospective analysis, doctors came to the conclusion that the writer suffered from nutritional dystrophy and a decline in cardiovascular activity against the background of a protracted depressive phase of manic-depressive psychosis. The doctors of that time were frankly mistaken when they prescribed treatment, which only caused unnecessary suffering to the writer and hastened his death.

It is noteworthy that back in 1845, seven years before his death, Gogol wrote his spiritual will as the opening chapter of his book “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends,” where the very first paragraph is the following words: “I bequeath my body not to be buried until then.” until obvious signs of decomposition appear..." However, this was not done. The cause was cholera, which was rampant in those years, and Gogol was buried on the same day he died. In 1931, they decided to rebury Gogol’s remains; when they opened the coffin, they discovered that the corpse was lying on its side in a crooked position, and the silk lining inside the coffin was scratched, as if he wanted to get out...

Gogol did not know peace during his life; he did not know it after death either. On May 31, 1931, the writer’s ashes were transferred from the liquidated graveyard of the Danilov Monastery in Moscow to Novodevichy Cemetery. When opening the decayed house and moving the remains to a new coffin, it turned out that the writer... had no head. Where Gogol's skull went is still a mystery. Moreover, the writers Vladimir Lidin and Vsevolod Ivanov, who were present during the exhumation, “grabbed” a well-preserved piece of Gogol’s frock coat and his rib as souvenirs, and the Komsomol workers observing this took the writer’s tibia and shoes.