Gogol Nikolai Vasilievich the significance of his work. Life and work of Gogol N.V.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was born on April 1, 1809 in the town of Velikiye Sorochintsy, Mirgorod district, Poltava province, into the family of a landowner. The Gogol family had a large estate, about a thousand acres of land and about four hundred peasant souls.

Gogol spent his entire childhood on the Yanovshchina estate, which belonged to Nikolai Vasilyevich’s parents. His mother tried very hard to instill in her son a love of religion. Gogol was interested in this, but not so much religion in general as the prophecies about the Last Judgment and about the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bretribution after death. Also in childhood, Gogol began to write poetry.

Nikolai Vasilyevich began to study. At first it was the Poltava district school, then private lessons, and then Nikolai Vasilyevich entered the gymnasium of higher sciences in Nizhyn. Here he begins to try himself in different literary genres, but he is not going to associate himself with this, because he dreams of a legal career.

After graduating from high school in 1828, Gogol goes to St. Petersburg, but there he is met with failure.

The poem “Idyll in Pictures” he wrote evokes laughter and condescension. Then Nikolai Vasilyevich suddenly leaves for Germany, and just as suddenly he returns. But here again he fails, he does not enter the stage as a dramatic actor.

At the end of 1829, he served in the department of state economy and public buildings of the Ministry of the Interior. Between 1830 and 1831 he served in the department of appanages.

This experience gave Gogol disappointment in public service and a passion for literature. He begins to devote a lot of time to this matter. His works are beginning to be published. Gogol begins to spend a lot of time in the circle of Pushkin and Zhukovsky.

And finally, in 1831–1832, “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” was published. After the release of the second part of this work, Gogol becomes famous, he goes to Moscow. But then he begins to have difficulties with censorship.

Gogol became more and more interested in history, and several times tried to teach at universities, but he was not accepted. A little later he became an adjunct professor at the Department of World History.

In parallel with this, he wrote stories that had their own style, a striking example of this was the work “The Nose” and “Taras Bulba”.

When Gogol wrote the work “The Inspector General,” the reaction to his work was mixed. The fact is that just two months after completing the comedy, Gogol was already staging it on stage. But after some time, criticism fell on Nikolai Vasilyevich, which greatly upset Gogol. The deterioration of relations with Pushkin also added fuel to the fire.

Nikolai Vasilyevich begins to spend a lot of time abroad. He goes to Germany, then to Switzerland. And at the same time he is working on the work “ Dead Souls", the idea of ​​which, like the idea of ​​"The Inspector General", was suggested by Pushkin. And while in France, Gogol learns about his death. Then Nikolai Vasilyevich decided that this work, like a certain “ sacred testament"poet.

Since 1837, Gogol has been on the road again: Rome, Turin, Baden-Baden, Frankfurt, Geneva and Rome again.

Then Nikolai Vasilyevich’s life is in full swing. He goes to Moscow, reads the chapters of the first volume of Dead Souls, receives good feedback, leaves again, burns some chapters of the work, completes it and submits it for censorship check. And when he decided to write the second volume, Gogol began to have a crisis. He travels a lot, but the work is very difficult to write. And in the end he burns it.

Nikolai Vasilyevich begins his first mental crisis, he is being treated and only by the autumn of 1845 he began to feel better. He again moves on to the second volume of Dead Souls, but everything is just as difficult. Gogol is distracted a lot by other things. After writing the book “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends,” Gogol receives another blow. They start to criticize him a lot. This had a very bad effect on Nikolai Vasilyevich. After this, he reads a lot and decides to go on a pilgrimage to holy places. In 1849 - 1850, Nikolai Vasilyevich decided to read some chapters of the second volume of “Dead Souls” and Gogol’s friends liked them. Then he decides to finally think about family life and proposes to Anna Mikhailovna Vielgorskaya, but she refuses the writer.

Gogol continues to work on the second volume of Dead Souls. He leads a fairly active lifestyle, and in 1852 he completes the second volume, but Gogol begins a crisis. He meets with Father Matvey, and on February 7 he confesses and receives communion. On the night of 11 to 12, he burns the entire second volume, leaving only drafts of five chapters. On February 21, in the morning, Gogol died.

The work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is literary heritage, which can be compared to a large and multifaceted diamond, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.

Despite the fact that Nikolai Vasilyevich’s life was short-lived (1809-1852), and in the last ten years he did not finish a single work, the writer made an invaluable contribution to Russian classical literature.

Gogol was looked upon as a hoaxer, a satirist, a romantic and simply a wonderful storyteller. Such versatility was attractive as a phenomenon even during the writer’s lifetime. Incredible situations were attributed to him, and sometimes ridiculous rumors were spread. But Nikolai Vasilyevich did not refute them. He understood that over time all this would turn into legends.

The writer's literary destiny is enviable. Not every author can boast that all of his works were published during his lifetime, and each work attracted the attention of critics.

Start

It's hard to say what prompted young Nicholas write this strange piece, probably a passion for German romanticism. But the poem was not a success. And as soon as the first ones appeared negative reviews, the young author, together with his servant Yakim, bought all the remaining copies and simply burned them.

This act became something of a ring-shaped composition in creativity. Nikolai Vasilievich began literary path with the burning of his works and ended with his burning. Yes, Gogol treated his works cruelly when he felt some kind of failure.

But then a second work came out, which was mixed with Ukrainian folklore and Russian ancient literature- "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka". The author managed to laugh at the evil spirits, at the devil himself, to unite the past and the present, reality and fiction, and paint it all in cheerful tones.

All the stories described in the two volumes were received with delight. Pushkin, who was an authority for Nikolai Vasilyevich, wrote: “What poetry!.. All this is so unusual in our current literature.” Belinsky also put his “quality mark”. It was a success.

Genius

Mirgorod- these are only four stories. But each work is a true masterpiece.

A story about two old men who live in their estate. Nothing happens in their life. At the end of the story they die.

This story can be approached in different ways. What was the author trying to achieve: sympathy, pity, compassion? Maybe this is how the writer sees the idyll of the twilight part of a person’s life?

A very young Gogol (he was only 26 years old at the time of working on the story) decided to show true, genuine love. He moved away from generally accepted stereotypes: romance between young people, wild passions, betrayals, confessions.

Two old men, Afanasy Ivanovich and Pulcheria Ivanovna, do not show any special love for each other, there is no talk of carnal needs, and there are no anxious worries. Their life is caring for each other, the desire to predict, not yet voiced desires, to play a joke.

But their affection for each other is so great that after the death of Pulcheria Ivanovna, Afanasy Ivanovich simply cannot live without her. Afanasy Ivanovich is weakening, deteriorating, just like old manor, and asks before his death: “Put me near Pulcheria Ivanovna.”

This is a daily, deep feeling.

The story of Taras Bulba

And although Nikolai Vasilyevich did not have reliable historical facts about Ukraine, contented folk legends, with scant chronicle data, Ukrainian folk songs, and sometimes simply turning to mythology and his own imagination, he perfectly managed to show the heroism of the Cossacks. The story was literally stretched out catchphrases, which remain relevant even now: “I gave birth to you, I will kill you!”, “Be patient, Cossack, and you will be an ataman!”, “Is there still gunpowder in the flasks?!”

The mystical basis of the work, where evil spirits and evil spirits, united against the main character, form the basis of the plot of perhaps the most incredible Gogol story.

The main action takes place in the temple. Here the author allowed himself to fall into doubt: can evil spirits be defeated? Is faith capable of resisting this demonic revelry, when neither the word of God nor the performance of special sacraments helps?

Even the name of the main character - Khoma Brut, was chosen from deep meaning. Homa is a religious principle (that was the name of one of Christ’s disciples, Thomas), and Brutus, as you know, is the killer of Caesar and an apostate.

Bursak Brutus had to spend three nights in the church reading prayers. But the fear of the lady who had risen from the grave forced him to turn to non-God-pleasing protection.

Gogol's character fights the lady with two methods. On the one hand, with the help of prayers, on the other hand, with the help of pagan rituals, drawing a circle and spells. His behavior is explained philosophical views on life and doubts about the existence of God.

As a result, Home Brutus did not have enough faith. He rejected inner voice, prompting: “Don’t look at Viy.” But in magic he turned out to be weak compared to the surrounding entities, and lost this battle. He was a few minutes short of the last rooster crow. Salvation was so close, but the student did not take advantage of it. But the church remained desolate, desecrated by evil spirits.

The story of how Ivan Ivanovich quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich

A sinful passion for hatred and strife - this is the vice the author points out. Gogol laughs at the petty tricks and intrigues that the main characters plot against each other. This enmity makes their whole life petty and vulgar.

The story is full of satire, grotesque, irony. And when the author says with admiration that both Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich beautiful people, the reader understands all the baseness and vulgarity of the main characters. Out of boredom, landowners look for reasons to litigate and this becomes their meaning of life. And it’s sad because these gentlemen have no other goal.

Petersburg stories

Some works should be described in more detail.

The most significant of these St. Petersburg works is considered to be the story “The Overcoat”. No wonder Dostoevsky once said: “We all came out of Gogol’s Overcoat.” Yes it key work for Russian writers.

In "The Overcoat" it is shown classic look little person. The reader is presented with a downtrodden titular adviser, insignificant in the service, whom anyone can offend.

Here Gogol made another discovery - small man interesting to everyone. After all, a worthy depiction in literature early XIX centuries were considered problems at the state level, heroic deeds, stormy or sentimental feelings, bright passions, strong characters.

And so, against the backdrop of prominent characters, Nikolai Vasilyevich “releases into the public” a petty official who should be completely uninteresting. There are no state secrets here, no struggle for the glory of the Fatherland. There is no place for sentimentality and sighs here. starry sky. And the most courageous thoughts in Akaki Akakievich’s head: “Shouldn’t we put a marten on the collar of our overcoat?”

The writer showed an insignificant person whose meaning in life is his overcoat. His goals are very small. Bashmachkin first dreams of an overcoat, then saves money for it, and when it is stolen, he simply dies. And readers sympathize with the unfortunate adviser, considering the issue of social injustice.

Gogol definitely wanted to show the stupidity, inconsistency and mediocrity of Akaki Akakievich, who can only deal with copying papers. But it is compassion for this to an insignificant person gives rise to a warm feeling in the reader.

It is impossible to ignore this masterpiece. The play has always been a success, including because the author gives the actors a good basis for creativity. The play's first release was a triumph. It is known that the example of “The Inspector General” was Emperor Nicholas I himself, who perceived the production favorably and assessed it as a criticism of bureaucracy. This is exactly how everyone else saw the comedy.

But Gogol did not rejoice. His work was not understood! We can say that Nikolai Vasilyevich took up self-flagellation. It is with “The Inspector General” that the writer begins to evaluate his work more harshly, raising the literary bar higher and higher after any of his publications.

As for “The Inspector General,” the author had long hoped that he would be understood. But this did not happen even ten years later. Then the writer created the work “Dénouement to The Inspector General,” in which he explains to the reader and viewer how to correctly understand this comedy.

First of all, the author states that he is not criticizing anything. And a city where all the officials are freaks cannot exist in Russia: “Even if there are two or three, there will be decent ones.” And the city shown in the play is a spiritual city that sits inside everyone.

It turns out that Gogol showed the soul of a person in his comedy, and called on people to understand their apostasy and repent. The author put all his efforts into the epigraph: “There is no point in blaming the mirror if your face is crooked.” And after he was not understood, he turned this phrase against himself.

But the poem was also perceived as criticism landowner Russia. They also saw a call to fight serfdom, although, in fact, Gogol was not an opponent of serfdom.

In the second volume of Dead Souls the writer wanted to show positive examples. For example, he painted the image of the landowner Kostanzhoglo as so decent, hardworking and fair that the men of the neighboring landowner come to him and ask him to buy them.

All the author’s ideas were brilliant, but he himself believed that everything was going wrong. Not everyone knows that Gogol burned the second volume of Dead Souls for the first time back in 1845. This is not an aesthetic failure. The surviving rough works show that Gogol's talent has not at all dried up, as some critics try to claim. The burning of the second volume reveals the author's demands, not his insanity.

But rumors about Nikolai Vasilyevich’s mild insanity quickly spread. Even the writer’s inner circle, people who were far from stupid, could not understand what the writer wanted from life. All this gave rise to additional fictions.

But there was also an idea for the third volume, where the heroes from the first two volumes were supposed to meet. One can only guess what the author deprived us of by destroying his manuscripts.

Nikolai Vasilievich admitted that at the beginning life path, while still in adolescence, he was not easily worried about the question of good and evil. The boy wanted to find a way to fight evil. The search for an answer to this question redefined his calling.

The method was found - satire and humor. Anything that seems unattractive, unsightly or ugly should be made funny. Gogol said: “Even those who are not afraid of anything are afraid of laughter.”

The writer has so developed the ability to turn a situation around with a funny side that his humor has acquired a special, subtle basis. Visible to the world laughter hid in itself tears, disappointment, and grief, something that cannot amuse, but, on the contrary, leads to sad thoughts.

For example, in the very funny story “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” after funny story about irreconcilable neighbors, the author concludes: “It’s boring in this world, gentlemen!” The goal has been achieved. The reader is sad because the situation played out is not funny at all. The same effect occurs after reading the story “Notes of a Madman,” where a whole tragedy is played out, although it is presented from a comedic perspective.

And if early work is distinguished by true cheerfulness, for example, “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”, then with age the author wants deeper investigations, and calls on the reader and viewer to this.

Nikolai Vasilyevich understood that laughter could be dangerous and resorted to various tricks to circumvent censorship. For example, stage fate“The Inspector General” might not have happened at all if Zhukovsky had not convinced the emperor himself that there was nothing unreliable in mocking untrustworthy officials.

Like many, Gogol’s road to Orthodoxy was not easy. He painfully, making mistakes and doubting, searched for his path to the truth. But it was not enough for him to find this road himself. He wanted to point it out to others. He wanted to cleanse himself of everything bad and suggested that everyone do this.

WITH youth the boy studied both Orthodoxy and Catholicism, comparing religions, noting similarities and differences. And this search for truth was reflected in many of his works. Gogol not only read the Gospel, he made extracts.

Having become famous as a great mystifier, he was not understood in his last unfinished work, “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends.” And the church reacted negatively to “Selected Places,” believing that it was unacceptable for the author of “Dead Souls” to read sermons.

Herself christian book was truly instructive. The author explains what happens at the liturgy. Which symbolic meaning has one effect or another. But this work was not completed. At all, last years The life of a writer is a turn from external to internal.

Nikolai Vasilyevich travels a lot to monasteries, especially often visiting the Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, where he has a spiritual mentor, Elder Macarius. In 1949, Gogol met a priest, Father Matvey Konstantinovsky.

Disputes often occur between the writer and Archpriest Matvey. Moreover, Nikolai’s humility and piety are not enough for the priest; he demands: “Renounce Pushkin.”

And although Gogol did not commit any renunciation, the opinion of his spiritual mentor hovered over him as an undeniable authority. The writer persuades the archpriest to read the second volume of “Dead Souls” in its final version. And although the priest initially refused, he later decided to give his assessment of the work.

Archpriest Matthew is the only lifetime reader of the Gogol manuscript of the 2nd part. Returning the clean original to the author, the priest did not easily give a negative assessment of the prose poem; he advised it to be destroyed. In fact, this is who influenced the fate of the work of the great classic.

The conviction of Konstantinovsky, and a number of other circumstances, prompted the writer to abandon his work. Gogol begins to analyze his works. He almost refused food. Dark thoughts overcome him more and more.

Since everything was happening in the house of Count Tolstoy, Gogol asked him to hand over the manuscripts to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow. With the best of intentions, the count refused to fulfill such a request. Then late at night Nikolai Vasilyevich woke up Semyon's servant so that he would open the stove valves and burn all his manuscripts.

It seems that this event predetermined imminent death writer. He continued to fast and rejected any help from friends and doctors. It was as if he was purifying himself, preparing for death.

It must be said that Nikolai Vasilyevich was not abandoned. The literary community sent the best doctors to the patient's bedside. A whole council of professors was assembled. But, apparently, the decision to begin compulsory treatment was belated. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol died.

It is not surprising that a writer who wrote so much about evil spirits, deepened in faith. Everyone on earth has their own path.

There is no need to talk here about certain circumstances of Gogol’s childhood. All this, as well as many other facts of his biography, was often described in detail in various books. In this work, the main focus is on Gogol’s work, and in this chapter we will look at the main stages of his work.

Gogol’s first book is the poem “Ganz Küchelgarten” (published in 1829 under the pseudonym V. Alov; written, apparently, back in 1827 at the Nizhyn Gymnasium of Higher Sciences, where he studied future writer) - was still clearly imitative in nature. Nevertheless, the combination of various, sometimes sharply contrasting, influences revealed the young writer’s own creative aspirations.

“Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” (publ. 1831 (part 1), 1832 (part 2)) not only testified to the amazingly rapid maturation of Gogol’s talent, but also brought him to the forefront of the Russian and - objectively - European romanticism. In the minds of the Russian public and partly critics, the inimitable originality of “Evenings” created their reputation for a long time artistic phenomenon, which has no precedents or analogies. Belinsky wrote in 1840: “...indicate in European or Russian literature at least something similar to these first experiments young man... Isn’t this, on the contrary, a completely new, unprecedented world of art?..”

After the appearance of “Evenings,” Gogol is one of the leading Russian writers; he is on friendly terms with Zhukovsky, Pletnev, Pushkin (whom he met on May 20, 1831); he is greeted with enthusiasm in Moscow - I.V. Kireevsky, S.P. Shevyrev, M.P. Pogodin... There is a growing premonition in society that as soon as a writer who has just entered the literary field will say a completely new word, and this premonition has come true.

In the stories of the Mirgorod cycle “Old World Landowners”, “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” and the “St. Petersburg stories” “Portrait”, “Notes of a Madman” and “Nevsky Prospekt” there is a decisive restructuring of sentimental and romantic conflicts, as well as a significant change in type and speech style.

Gogol's historicism led him directly to The Inspector General, a comedy with exceptionally deep, truly philosophical content(staged for the first time on April 19, 1836 in St. Petersburg Alexandrinsky Theater; came out around the same time separate publication). “In “The Inspector General” I decided to collect in one pile everything bad in Russia... all the injustices that are done in those places and in those cases where justice is most required from a person, and at once laugh at everyone” (“Author’s confession").

Gogol's other comedies, while inferior to The Inspector General in the breadth and synthetic setting, developed and, in a sense, deepened its latent grotesque basis. In “The Marriage” (1833-1841, published 1842), this was achieved by subtly re-emphasizing the traditional couple of an “indecisive” groom and an enterprising, assertive assistant (friend, servant, etc.).

Gogol's drama - almost unknown during his lifetime, or, more precisely, just beginning to become famous outside Russia - objectively formed an important and original link in the world artistic development. The clarity of the stage design, even the partial observance of the unity of place and time (in “The Government Inspector”), was influenced by the theater of classicism; however, Gogol created something new in the old, and found the unknown in the known.

Since the autumn of 1835, Gogol has been busy writing “Dead Souls”, which, with the writer’s departure abroad - from June 1836 - and especially towards the end of his life, become his main creative work(Vol. 1 published in 1842; surviving draft chapters of Vol. 2 published posthumously in 1855). “Dead Souls” is the only work with which Gogol associated his place in world literature; the relationship between the new book and his previous works should have been the same as between “Don Quixote” and other “stories” of Cervantes (“Author’s Confession”).

By the effort to transfer utopia into life, onto the soil modern material noted “Selected passages from correspondence with friends” (published 1847) - the book is very complex both in ideological and genre composition: deep literary and aesthetic analyzes and characteristics were combined in it with social journalism, sometimes quite tendentious. Gogol proceeded from the idea of ​​preserving existing feudal-serf relations, which caused a severe rebuke from many of his contemporaries.

Penetration of Gogol's works into foreign literature began during the writer’s lifetime. By the end of the 30s, “Notes of a Madman” and “Old World Landowners” were published in German, “Taras Bulba” - in Czech languages. In the 40s, French, Danish, Serbian, new German and Czech translations followed. In 1846, the first translation of “The Inspector General” appeared - (in Polish language) and "Dead Souls" (in German). By the end of Gogol's life, most of his works appeared in many European languages.

Let's arrange Gogol's works in time; we will consider the first edition as the time of writing: “Taras Bulba”, “The Overcoat”, “The Inspector General” - worked out much later. Let us remember: the stages into which Gogol’s work is usually divided are conventional: they correspond to groups of works united by related features.

Works of the first group predominate in the first period; this group Ukrainian stories. They emphasize folklore, history and fantasy; Ukrainian is depicted, peasant life, mixed with Cossack; both were hardly known to the small estate lord “Nikosha” Gogol.

The commonality of plot and style establishes a group of works of the first period, written in youth: no earlier than 1829 and no later than 1831, with the exception of “Ivan Fedorovich Shponka” and “Old World Landowners” (there is no exact information about the time of their writing). “Viy” was written in 1833, “Taras Bulba” - in 1834 (the revision of 1839-1842 did not change either the style or melodies of the first edition; the modifications were a retouching trend).

The second group of stories and comedies covers mainly the period from 1833 to 1836, ending with the time of departure abroad (“Marriage” began in 1833). This group of stories, united by a number of features, intersects with the stories of the first phase: “Ivan Fedorovich Shponka” was published in “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”; “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” and “Old World Landowners” in “Mirgorod”, as if on purpose, are juxtaposed with “Viy” and “Taras Bulba” to emphasize antithesis second phase comparison with thesis first.

At the other end, the group of everyday themes and their reflections in comedies intersects in the circle of thoughts about them with the third phase. At this time, the first volume of “Dead Souls” was being written, which had already begun in St. Petersburg; however, it is the beginning of the third phase.

The plot of “The Inspector General” and the plot of “Dead Souls” have much in common; but they, meeting like an end and a beginning, are drawn into completely different phases; in “The Inspector General” there are still bursts of a completely different laughter and a different attitude to reality in comparison with “ Dead souls", Gogol's central epic. In "The Inspector General" Gogol more looks back at the abandoned yesterday. IN " Dead souls» already the door is ajar: into death.

Three groups of themes, each united by its own characteristics, are attached to three eras of Gogol’s life; the first reflects the pre-Petersburg era of life; the second - St. Petersburg; the third is the era of life outside Russia and in Moscow.

Next we will talk about the St. Petersburg period of Gogol’s work, namely the “Petersburg Tales”. We will analyze the image of St. Petersburg, artistic principles Gogol in the image of Gogol, and also consider the fiction of “Petersburg Tales”.

Gogol's fantastic tale of Petersburg

Born on March 20 (April 1), 1809 in the village of Sorochintsy, Poltava province, in the family of a landowner. Gogol was the third child, and in total there were 12 children in the family.

Training in the biography of Gogol took place at the Poltava School. Then in 1821 he entered the class of the Nizhyn gymnasium, where he studied justice. IN school years the writer did not have any special academic abilities. He was only good at drawing lessons and studying Russian literature. He was only able to write mediocre works.

The beginning of a literary journey

In 1828, Gogol’s life took place when he moved to St. Petersburg. There he served as an official, tried to get a job as an actor in the theater and studied literature. Actor career things didn’t go well, and the service did not bring Gogol any pleasure, and at times even became a burden. And the writer decided to prove himself in the literary field.

In 1831, Gogol met representatives of the literary circles of Zhukovsky and Pushkin; undoubtedly, these acquaintances greatly influenced him future fate and literary activity.

Gogol and theater

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol showed interest in theater in his youth, after the death of his father, a wonderful playwright and storyteller.

Realizing the power of the theater, Gogol took up drama. Gogol's work "The Inspector General" was written in 1835, and first staged in 1836. Due to the negative reaction of the public to the production of “The Inspector General,” the writer leaves the country.

last years of life

In 1836, the biography of Nikolai Gogol included trips to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, as well as a short stay in Paris. Then, from March 1837, work continued in Rome on the first volume of Gogol’s greatest work, “Dead Souls,” which was conceived by the author in St. Petersburg. After returning home from Rome, the writer publishes the first volume of the poem. While working on the second volume, Gogol experienced a spiritual crisis. Even a trip to Jerusalem did not help improve the situation.

At the beginning of 1843, Gogol’s famous story “The Overcoat” was first published.

Nikolai Gogol appears. His books are familiar to everyone. Films and performances are based on his works. The work of this writer is very diverse. It contains both romantic stories and works of realistic prose.

Biography

Nikolai Gogol was born in Ukraine into the family of a regimental clerk. His talent as a satirist showed up early. Gogol showed a tireless thirst for knowledge already in childhood. Books played a big role in his life. At the Nizhyn school, where he received his education, he was not given sufficient knowledge. That’s why he subscribed to additional literary magazines and almanacs.

Even during his school years, he began to compose witty epigrams. The subject of ridicule of the future writer were teachers. But the lyceum student did not attach any importance to such creative explorations. special significance. After completing the course, he dreamed of leaving for St. Petersburg, believing that there he could get a job in the civil service.

Service in the office

The dream came true, and the lyceum graduate left his native land. However, in St. Petersburg he was able to get only a modest position in the chancellery. In parallel with this work, he created small ones. But they were bad, and he bought almost all copies of the first poem, which was called “Hans Küchelgarten,” in a bookstore and burned it with his own hands.

Longing for my small homeland

Soon, failures in creativity and financial difficulties plunged Gogol into despondency. northern capital began to cause melancholy in his soul. And more and more often the employee of the small office remembered the Ukrainian landscapes dear to his heart. Not everyone knows which book brought Gogol fame. But there is not a schoolchild in our country who would not be familiar with the work “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka.” The creation of this book was inspired by longing for small homeland. And that's exactly what literary work brought fame to Gogol and allowed him to gain recognition from his fellow writers. Gogol was awarded a laudatory review by Pushkin himself. The books of the great poet and writer had a decisive influence on him in his youth. Therefore, the opinion of the luminary of literature was especially valuable for the young author.

"Petersburg Tales" and other works

Since then, Gogol was included in literary circles. He communicated closely with Pushkin and Zhukovsky, which could not but influence his work. From now on, writing became the meaning of life for him. He began to take this matter very seriously. And the result was not long in coming.

During this period, the most famous books Gogol. The list of them suggests that the writer worked in an extremely intensive mode and did not give particular preference to one genre or another. His works caused a stir in the world of literature. Belinsky wrote about the talent of the young prose writer, who was distinguished by his amazing ability to recognize unique abilities at an early stage. Realistic direction, laid down by Pushkin, developed at a decent level, as evidenced by Gogol’s books. Their list includes the following works:

• "Portrait".
• "Diary of a Madman".
• "Nose".
• "Nevsky Avenue".
• "Taras Bulba".

Each of them is unique in its own way. In a sense, Nikolai Gogol became an innovator. His books were distinguished by the fact that for the first time in the history of Russian literature the topic was touched upon. It was done superficially, but before that the fate of thousands ordinary people portrayed in fiction only in passing.

But no matter how strong and unique the talent of the creator of “The Overcoat” was, he still made a special contribution to literature thanks to the writing of “The Inspector General” and “Dead Souls.”

Satire

Gogol's early works brought success. However, the writer was not satisfied with this. Gogol did not want to remain just a contemplator of life. The realization that the writer’s mission was extremely great grew stronger and stronger in his soul. The artist is able to convey his vision to his readers modern reality, thereby influencing the consciousness of the masses. From now on, Gogol worked for the good of Russia and its people. His books testify to this good aspiration. The poem "Dead Souls" became greatest work in literature. However, after the release of the first volume, the writer was subjected to severe attacks from adherents of conservative views.

The difficult situation that arose in the life and work of the writer led to the fact that he was never able to complete the poem. The second volume, which was written shortly before his death, was burned by the writer.